ParserGirl says, "Oh, that's cheap!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to spear" 		
	

Floyd | You point at the spear.
Floyd |

Floyd | "A fine weapon," the plainswoman says, "far superior to your crude
Floyd | firearm."
Floyd |
Floyd | Something grey and amorphous squirms up between your toes.  You step
Floyd | to the side.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x amorphous" 		
	

Floyd | The word "amorphous" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to pot" 		
	

Floyd | You point at the pot of strange green fluid.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plainswoman adopts a serious expression.  "It is the highest
Floyd | aspiration to see one's consciousness join the Atmospheric Network,

Floyd | and the greatest magnanimity that they deign to help those of us still
Floyd | in physical form."
Floyd |
Floyd | You squint as a cloud of airborne dust passes by.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Are we gonna drink or not?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, it's early in the game, so why not?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "They don't call us No Throat Lawton fer nothin'" 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink" 		
	

Floyd | (the pot of strange green fluid)
Floyd | You bring the pot to your lips and gulp down the bubbling green

Floyd | liquid.  It smells foul, and it's burning hot.  The roof of your mouth
Floyd | tingles unpleasantly as you set the pot back down on the fire.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plainswoman studies you carefully as you grimace, the tingling in
Floyd | the roof of your mouth seeming to spread upwards, into your brain,
Floyd | dancing psychedelically before your eyes.  And then arcane symbols

Floyd | rise through the white noise oppressing your mind: ++GPS UPLINK
Floyd | VERIFIED++TEMPORARY THERMOBOT NETWORK++SEARCHING FOR USER...++USER
Floyd | LOCATED++CREATING INSTINCTUAL IMPRINT++CLOSING CONNECTION++THANK YOU
Floyd | FOR USING GPSNET++
Floyd |
Floyd | The vision fades.  Gradually you become aware of your surroundings

Floyd | again, the plainswoman watching you with mild concern.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You find the one you fear for?" she asks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You nod.  Yes, you know where he is now.  The way ahead is now
Floyd | obvious.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd | (If you'd prefer not to be notified about score changes in the future,
Floyd | type NOTIFY OFF.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Liquid networking. Scary." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Radiation Plains
Floyd | Rolling dunes stretch in every direction, ending in a distant horizon

Floyd | broken only by a few low, jagged mountains.  A small pile of sticks
Floyd | burns here, sending a thin trail of black smoke into the ruddy dawn
Floyd | sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pot of some strange green fluid sits bubbling on the fire.
Floyd |

Floyd | The plainswoman sits meditatively by the fire, her spear resting
Floyd | across her lap.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, guess we had to drink. Woo." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing, and are wearing a pair of dusty black jeans
Floyd | and a gun belt (which contains a six shooter and numerous bullets).
Floyd |
Floyd | Something slick and black scuttles past on several asymmetrical legs,

Floyd | before disappearing beneath a rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Forward?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Rocky Hill
Floyd | From the peak of this rocky hill you can see the town you once called
Floyd | home sprawl out over the landscape ahead.  Ramshackle iron and wood
Floyd | buildings are almost piled on top of one another, clustering around
Floyd | the shattered concrete dome of the old reactor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x reactor" 		
	

Floyd | A cathedral-like dome of grey concrete, pocked with gaping holes and
Floyd | coated in sickly weeds.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x buildings" 		
	

Floyd | From abject poverty to dehydrated affluence: the town's rooftops are

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x town" 		
	

Floyd | decorated with an eclectic array of vents, steam pipes, satellite
Floyd | dishes and good old-fashioned rust-eaten holes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | From abject poverty to dehydrated affluence: the town's rooftops are

Floyd | decorated with an eclectic array of vents, steam pipes, satellite
Floyd | dishes and good old-fashioned rust-eaten holes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Corral
Floyd | You're at the entrance to a street of low wooden buildings and
Floyd | corrugated iron shacks.  A small corral encircles part of the dusty
Floyd | ground here, home to a single broken robot and a trough of stagnant
Floyd | water.
Floyd |

Floyd | Vicious Sue faces you with one hand on her six shooter, smirking.
Floyd |
Floyd | Claw-Hand Hank stands by the water trough, legs apart, his one good
Floyd | hand ready to draw.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, well, well," Sue says, looking you over.  "Look who it ain't.

Floyd | Sheriff said you'd be through here.  But me, I didn't think you were
Floyd | quite so stupid."
Floyd |
Floyd | Hank spits out a wad of tobacco and chuckles, fingering the buckle of
Floyd | his gun belt with his good hand.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "x robot" 		
	

Floyd | Once some sort of multi-legged farming machine, it now disintegrates

Floyd | into the ground, rubber hoses and shattered circuit boards visible
Floyd | through its corroded sides.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hank bares his half-rotten teeth in a leering smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls exclaims, "very cool, first gun battle!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take cover" 		
	

Floyd | There's no cover here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hank's good hand twitches slightly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ack - 2 on 1." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And no cover." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x sue" 		
	

Floyd | A hawkish woman in jeans and a close-fitting jacket.  Her vulturine
Floyd | eyes peer out from beneath the rim of her stetson, flitting between
Floyd | your face and your hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hank touches his fingertip to the handle of his gun, then draws it
Floyd | back again uncertainly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "now that I've caught up from putting my son to nap, which one shall we shoot?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x trough" 		
	

Floyd | A shallow metal container, stained with mould and filled with putrid

Floyd | green water.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sue catches your eye and smiles evilly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Her. She insulted us." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x robot" 		
	

Floyd | Once some sort of multi-legged farming machine, it now disintegrates
Floyd | into the ground, rubber hoses and shattered circuit boards visible
Floyd | through its corroded sides.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hank unconsciously squints his left eye as he stares at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "draw" 		
	

Floyd | You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | Vicious Sue and Claw-Hand Hank go for their guns.  Sue has drawn her
Floyd | six shooter in a flash, but Hank fumbles with his holster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "maybe shoot the trough to get both of them" 	
			Catena exclaims, "sue!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "yay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot sue" 		
	

Floyd | You fire at Vicious Sue, hitting her square in the stomach.  She
Floyd | freezes for a moment, as if unsure what's happened, and then falls to
Floyd | the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hank finally manages to draw his gun.  He takes careful aim at you,
Floyd | squinting his left eye.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot hank" 		
	

Floyd | You shoot Claw-Hand Hank in the face.  His head jerks back with a puff
Floyd | of splintered teeth and he collapses into the water trough.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "reholster gun?" 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline pushes the That Was Easy button/ 	
			Catena asks, "who's the baddest?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "holster" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You slip your six shooter back into its holster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Cathy), "Good thinking." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search sue" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in Vicious Sue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "thanks" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search hank" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in Claw-Hand Hank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search trough" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing unusual in the water trough.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search robot" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in the broken robot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "so I like 'search'." 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "fix robot" 		
	

Floyd | The word "fix" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink water" 		
	

Floyd | That does not appear to be something you can drink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take robot" 		
	

Floyd | You don't need to weigh yourself down with anything other than your
Floyd | trusty six shooter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take sue" 		
	

Floyd | You don't need to weigh yourself down with anything other than your
Floyd | trusty six shooter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss sue" 		
	

Floyd | You'd sooner kiss a vampire spider-snake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Forward?" 	
			Cathy says, "yup" 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "find dark tower" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to look that up in?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Saloon Front
Floyd | This narrow, dusty street ends in a slat-fronted building bearing the
Floyd | name Rowdy Juanita's Saloon.  A broken-down tractor rests here, its

Floyd | dismantled engine spilling out onto the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deputy Gene stands in front of the saloon, brandishing a
Floyd | double-barrelled shotgun.
Floyd |
Floyd | "If you're planning on rescuing Elias," Gene snarls, "you're gonna

Floyd | have to shoot your way through the whole damn town.  I'd turn back now
Floyd | if you don't want to end up sleeping in a pine box with a tombstone
Floyd | pillow!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Gene takes careful aim at you with his shotgun, about to fire...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Let's find a vampire spider-snake!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Catena), "heh" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "cover?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take cover" 		
	

Floyd | You can't have that; it's part of the broken-down tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a powerful report, Gene fires.  The buckshot blast catches you
Floyd | square in the chest.  The last thing you see is the pink mist that was
Floyd | your lungs only an instant earlier.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 40 moves, you have scored 3 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a radiation plains drifter.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ACK" 	
			ParserGirl says, "What!" 	
			inky asks, "is it 'hide'?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "take cover".
Floyd |
Floyd | Saloon Front
Floyd | This narrow, dusty street ends in a slat-fronted building bearing the
Floyd | name Rowdy Juanita's Saloon.  A broken-down tractor rests here, its
Floyd | dismantled engine spilling out onto the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | Deputy Gene stands in front of the saloon, brandishing a
Floyd | double-barrelled shotgun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the broken-down tractor)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the broken-down tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the

Floyd | tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You ain't gettin' no further than this!" the deputy screams.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "It's 'duck' or 'take cover behind X'." 	
			Jacqueline | It's not always obvious what you can take cover behind, so simply typing TAKE COVER will always either move you behind cover. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Unless, y'know, there's a COVER to take." 	
			inky says, "lame" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Catena says, "it's like bullet time in Fallout country" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. I like these slow, one move at a time gun fights." 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "unholster gun" 		
	

Floyd | The word "unholster" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "draw" 		
	

Floyd | You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

Floyd |
Floyd | With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the
Floyd | tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Fight like a man!"  Gene shouts.  "And stand the fuck still!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "My." 	
			DavidW says, "tsk. language." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Gene" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gene breaks open the shotgun.  Two smoking cartridge cases are ejected
Floyd | from the breach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "RELOADING" 	
			DavidW says, "SHOOT HIM NOW!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That is so not true." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gene slots two new shells into his shotgun and closes the breech.  He
Floyd | takes careful aim at you once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "I think Miss Manners got radiation poinsoning from the green soup" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot gene" 		
	

Floyd | You and Gene both fire at the same time.  And your bodies hit the dirt
Floyd | within a few seconds of one another.
Floyd |

Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 44 moves, you have scored 3 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a radiation plains drifter.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO

Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		DavidW says, "drat" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Saloon Front (taking cover behind the broken-down tractor)

Floyd | This narrow, dusty street ends in a slat-fronted building bearing the
Floyd | name Rowdy Juanita's Saloon.  A broken-down tractor rests here, its
Floyd | dismantled engine spilling out onto the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deputy Gene stands in front of the saloon, brandishing a
Floyd | double-barrelled shotgun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Guess we have to go right after the second shot" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "draw" 		
	

Floyd | You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the
Floyd | tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Come out with your hands up!"  Gene yells.  "So I can shoot you!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | Gene breaks open the shotgun.  Two smoking cartridge cases are ejected
Floyd | from the breach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Gene slots two new shells into his shotgun and closes the breech.  He
Floyd | takes careful aim at you once more.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the
Floyd | tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gene growls with frustration.  "Get out from behind there, Mute!  I
Floyd | gotta deal out some double-barrel justice!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait one more turn, then go?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Yes" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the
Floyd | tractor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Fight like a man!"  Gene shouts.  "And stand the fuck still!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "yes" 	
			Catena says, "yup" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gene breaks open the shotgun.  Two smoking cartridge cases are ejected
Floyd | from the breach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Gene." 		
	

Floyd | You take careful aim at the deputy's head and squeeze the trigger.
Floyd | His hat flies off and he drops to the ground, the half-loaded shotgun
Floyd | still in his grip.
Floyd |

Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy exclaims, "well done!" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Did we kill him or just shoot his hat off?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Do we get the hat?" 	
			Catena says, "A little of the old ultra-violence, then" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take hat" 		
	

Floyd | You see no hat here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shotgun" 		
	

Floyd | A standard-issue WPSF side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "get hat" 		
	

Floyd | You see no hat here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline sings a bad rendition of 'I Shot the Sherriff.' 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take shotgun" 		
	

Floyd | You prefer to have six rounds to play with.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "heh, but we did shoot the deputy" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Er, Sheriff - gosh, so we did." 	
			DavidW asks, "Should we put the gun in the holster or just go forward?" 	
			Catena says, "holster" 	
			Cathy says, "seems like a good idea to keep it out; not like there's anything else to hold" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We could just walk around with it out, looking for blood." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Forward?" 	
			Catena says, "if it's in we might be able to get past a scene without getting shot at" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Catena), "True. I'm fine either way." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We will be saving heavily in any case." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "holster" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You slip your six shooter back into its holster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "yes, that kind of game" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Cathy says, "good point, although I think the point of the game is to shoot anything that moves..." 	
	Ghogg arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Ghogg greets 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "forward" 		
	

Floyd | Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and mostly clean.  A shady
Floyd | refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of harsh light shines in
Floyd | through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its
Floyd | glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully

Floyd | polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita stands behind the bar, a six shooter in each of her
Floyd | upper set of hands, a third being reloaded by her lower arms.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hi Mute," Juanita says cheerfully.  "Watch out!  The sheriff

Floyd | reprogrammed me to shoot you on sight!"
Floyd |
Floyd | And with that she starts firing wildly with both guns, wood
Floyd | splintering and glass shattering around the bar.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's a good thing I can't shoot worth a damn," Juanita says.  "You

Floyd | should be safe as long as you don't get too close to me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Crikey." 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Juanita." 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to draw your gun first.
Floyd |
Floyd | "By the way," Juanita says, "When you find the sheriff, be sure to
Floyd | blow the crap out of him for me."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait! Draw!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "draw" 		
	

Floyd | You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm really sorry about this," Juanita says.  "Believe me, the last
Floyd | thing I want to do is to shoot up my own bar."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot juanita" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to shoot Juanita.  She's always been nice to you, and
Floyd | it's not her fault if she's been reprogrammed to blow your brains out.
Floyd |
Floyd | You flinch as a bullet whips past your head.  "Sorry!"  Juanita calls

Floyd | out, apologetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "her insurance must be tremendous" 	
			DavidW says, "Old West + sci-fi tech is so strangely appealling." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Um, forward?" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "cover?" 	
			Ghogg says, "Westworld: The IF game" 	
			Cathy says, "I like forward" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think forward, too. Cover will keep us here." 	
			DavidW asks, "Forward is certain death, I think?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except forward may take us 'close to her'" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "or we could try pointing toward the (dead) sheriff" 	
			DavidW asks, "What's here?" 	
			Catena asks, "why?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and mostly clean.  A shady

Floyd | refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of harsh light shines in
Floyd | through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its
Floyd | glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully
Floyd | polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The floor is littered with splinters of wood and broken glass.

Floyd |
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita stands behind the bar, a six shooter in each of her
Floyd | upper set of hands, a third being reloaded by her lower arms.
Floyd |
Floyd | A whisky bottle on a nearby table explodes as a bullet hits it.  "Damn
Floyd | it," Juanita grumbles.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "since he's dead, she doesn't have to do his bidding" 	
			Jacqueline says, "He's the deputiy, Cathy. We did not shoot the sheriff, but we *did* shoot the deputy. I got it wrong." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x beams" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is criss-crossed with thick wooden beams.  Suspended among
Floyd | the beams you see a chandelier.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bullet strikes the leg of a table, causing it to collapse
Floyd | explosively.  Juanita sighs.  "Fixing all this is gonna cost me."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "ah, got it; sorry" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, I swear it was in self defense." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot chandelier" 		
	

Floyd | You take careful aim at the rope anchoring the chandelier to the
Floyd | ceiling, and fire.  For a second it seems to hang suspended in thin
Floyd | air.  And then it drops down on Juanita with a terrifying crash.  You
Floyd | race over to her, worried that you've done her permanent damage.
Floyd |
Floyd | Pinned beneath the chandelier, her weapons scattered across the bar,

Floyd | Juanita looks up at you and offers a vinyl-lipped smile.  "Nice work,
Floyd | Mute.  Now get moving and stop that execution!"
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "heh, no insurance" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kiss juanita" 		
	

Floyd | You kiss Juanita affectionately on the cheek.  She sighs.  "You always
Floyd | treated me right, Mute.  I never could figure out why you seemed so
Floyd | immune to my charms."

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yay." 	
			Ghogg says, "woo woo" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "nice" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "You haven't played this, right? That was brilliant." 	
			DavidW says, "I've never played this." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice job." 	
			Catena says, "that was cool" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Now forward?" 	
			DavidW says, "thanks" 	
			DavidW says, "yes, forward" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Train Station
Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run

Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it
Floyd | with fat iron bolts.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I been waiting for you!"  Fiona says, shouting over the whine of the
Floyd | turret's motors.  "I'm gonna make you into Swiss Cheese!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "drench her with the water" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Why not a G-name. Like, Gatling Gun Gert or something?" 	
			DavidW says (to Catena), "yeah, probably" 	
			Catena says, "he just saw shrek" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot tower" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't look like that would achieve much.
Floyd |
Floyd | With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns

Floyd | to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you.  Slowly but surely,
Floyd | the barrels begin to spin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You just stand right there," Fiona tells you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot tower".
Floyd |
Floyd | Train Station
Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run

Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it
Floyd | with fat iron bolts.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Did we reload?" 	
			Cathy says, "nope" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think so." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" 		
	

Floyd | Fiona has all your potential exits covered with her monstrous turrets.
Floyd |

Floyd | With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns
Floyd | to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you.  Slowly but surely,
Floyd | the barrels begin to spin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You just stand right there," Fiona tells you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "shoot her? yes, we reloaded" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "b".
Floyd |

Floyd | Train Station
Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run
Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it

Floyd | with fat iron bolts.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Fiona" 		
	

Floyd | You aim carefully at Fiona and squeeze the trigger.  The perspex
Floyd | shield protecting her deflects the bullet without even a scratch to

Floyd | show for it.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hey," Fiona yells, "you should learn when to just roll over and die!"
Floyd |
Floyd | With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns
Floyd | to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you.  Slowly but surely,

Floyd | the barrels begin to spin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You just stand right there," Fiona tells you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "If it's that slow, maybe we can run circles around her." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We may need to ricochet the round behind her shield." 	
			Cathy asks, "try closing the door to the car?" 	
			DavidW asks, "You think forward will help us?" 	
			Catena asks, "climb the water tower, maybe she shoots it and drenches herself?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Could try any of those." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb tower" 		
	

Floyd | There's no way up the water tower, and you'd be completely exposed up
Floyd | there anyway.
Floyd |

Floyd | With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge
Floyd | turret explodes into action.  The fast moving, high calibre bullets
Floyd | distintegrate you so fast you don't even notice it happening.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |

Floyd | In 62 moves, you have scored 6 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a threat to the peace.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Corporal_Touchy arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		ParserGirl says, "I think she'll run out of ammo." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That one was not the right one." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.

Floyd |
Floyd | Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and mostly clean.  A shady
Floyd | refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of harsh light shines in
Floyd | through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its
Floyd | glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully

Floyd | polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The floor is littered with splinters of wood and broken glass.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tattered and broken chandelier is propped up against the bar.
Floyd |

Floyd | Rowdy Juanita is lying half over the bar, trapped beneath a heavy
Floyd | chandelier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Train Station
Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run
Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it

Floyd | with fat iron bolts.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I been waiting for you!"  Fiona says, shouting over the whine of the

Floyd | turret's motors.  "I'm gonna make you into Swiss Cheese!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You see no door here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the water tower's legs)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the water tower's legs.

Floyd |
Floyd | With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns
Floyd | to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you.  Slowly but surely,
Floyd | the barrels begin to spin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona peers at you around the water tower.  "Come out, come out,

Floyd | wherever you are..." she coos.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Oh, maybe it's just the barrels that are slow." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot car" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge
Floyd | turret explodes into action.  Bullets strike the water tower's legs
Floyd | with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the
Floyd | onslaught.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "aha! let her take out all three legs" 	
			DavidW asks, "hm. wait?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Maybe we could knock the tower over on her." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The entire train station flickers with the muzzle flash from the

Floyd | turret - a glare brighter than the wasteland sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | You notice that Fiona seems to be uttering a constant stream of
Floyd | inaudible expletives as she douses the water tower with ammunition.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come
Floyd | to a juddering halt.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Gods damn it!"  Fiona screams.  She looks down at the stationary
Floyd | barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke.
Floyd | "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get
Floyd | back to killing you in a jiffy..."
Floyd |

Floyd | Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing
Floyd | buttons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "aha!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, she's still behind a shield." 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x control panel" 		
	

Floyd | It's difficult to see from this angle, but you're sure it has all
Floyd | sorts of neat buttons.
Floyd |

Floyd | The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan.  She
Floyd | takes hold of the controls again and grins.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank
Floyd | douse the barrels in some sort of liquid.  When the steam has cleared,
Floyd | the barrels are no longer glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "perhaps we shoulda looked at stuff instead of waiting around." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I wonder if we could get under the cart." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Or we could shoot the tank." 	
			DavidW asks, "Chemical tank?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Since it's the coolant system, apparently." 	
	Jacqueline Yeah. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot tank" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Back in business!"  Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back
Floyd | up to speed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot tank".
Floyd |
Floyd | Train Station (taking cover behind the water tower's legs)

Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run
Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it
Floyd | with fat iron bolts.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "grr" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "x control panel".
Floyd |
Floyd | Train Station (taking cover behind the water tower's legs)

Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run
Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it
Floyd | with fat iron bolts.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Flash Frozen Fiona... has a nice ring to it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan.  She

Floyd | takes hold of the controls again and grins.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank
Floyd | douse the barrels in some sort of liquid.  When the steam has cleared,
Floyd | the barrels are no longer glowing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot tank" 		
	

Floyd | You fire off a shot at the chemical tank.  The bullet richochets off
Floyd | of it harmlessly.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | "Back in business!"  Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back
Floyd | up to speed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot tank".
Floyd |
Floyd | Train Station
Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run

Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it
Floyd | with fat iron bolts.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Wonder if we can get under the car" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot controls" 		
	

Floyd | The word "controls" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot gyro" 		
	

Floyd | Your bullet bounces harmlessly off the turret's thick metal hide.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Back in business!"  Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back
Floyd | up to speed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot gyro".
Floyd |

Floyd | Train Station
Floyd | You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run
Floyd | through the town.  Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts
Floyd | its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered
Floyd | locomotives.  The only train in sight, however, is a single open
Floyd | railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it

Floyd | with fat iron bolts.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you
Floyd | with fierce, emerald green eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide under car" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide in car" 		
	

Floyd | You can't take cover behind that.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Back in business!"  Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back

Floyd | up to speed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Corporal_Touchy asks, "Why not just shoot fiona?" 		Catena says, "perspex shield" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Corporal_Touchy), "Because she's behind a shield. Also, we discuss the game on #ClubFloyd." 		* Jacqueline has added Corporal_Touchy to the channel. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hi, Corporal. Welcome." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the water tower's legs)

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the water tower's legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge
Floyd | turret explodes into action.  Bullets strike the water tower's legs
Floyd | with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the
Floyd | onslaught.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Maybe we can examine the platform." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we need to look at stuff around us more." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x platform" 		
	

Floyd | Better than standing on dirt as wait for a train.  Must make it easier
Floyd | to board as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona clings to the controls as the turret judders with the recoil of
Floyd | its own insane firepower.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x platform" 		
	

Floyd | Better than standing on dirt as wait for a train.  Must make it easier
Floyd | to board as well.
Floyd |

Floyd | Bullets whip either side of you in a terrifying stream of sparks,
Floyd | ricocheting off of the water tower and kicking up a thick cloud of
Floyd | dust.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x car" 		
	

Floyd | A flat bed of metal on wheels, sitting on the train tracks.  It would
Floyd | have to be towed by a locomotive to actually get anywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | The railroad car is currently home to a gyro-controlled,
Floyd | multi-barrelled turret.

Floyd |
Floyd | With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come
Floyd | to a juddering halt.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gods damn it!"  Fiona screams.  She looks down at the stationary
Floyd | barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke.

Floyd | "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get
Floyd | back to killing you in a jiffy..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing
Floyd | buttons.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tank" 		
	

Floyd | A fat metal cylinder is mounted on the train carriage behind the
Floyd | turret.  A number of colourful warning signs are plastered to its
Floyd | sides.

Floyd |
Floyd | The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan.  She
Floyd | takes hold of the controls again and grins.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank
Floyd | douse the barrels in some sort of liquid.  When the steam has cleared,

Floyd | the barrels are no longer glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read signs" 		Corporal_Touchy says, "thanks jacqueline" 	
	

Floyd | "Warning!  Extremely cold!  Handle with care!  Danger of severe
Floyd | injury!"
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Back in business!"  Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back
Floyd | up to speed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Maybe we could shoot the hose instead of the tank." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hoses" 		
	

Floyd | Thick, rubbery hoses, covered in a pale frost.  They're connected to a

Floyd | valve on the cylinder and disappear somewhere under the turret.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge
Floyd | turret explodes into action.  Bullets strike the water tower's legs
Floyd | with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the
Floyd | onslaught.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "okay, I do think we should probably take out that tank" 	
			DavidW says, "ooh, yes. Hoses sounds good." 	
			Jacqueline says (to CT), "Sure. Always glad to have another brain on the puzzles." 	
			Catena says, "maybe time it for when she's cooling" 	
			DavidW says, "I do hope the game calls her Flash Frozen Fiona." 	
			Cathy says, "yes, let's shoot the hoses next time Fiona's gun jams" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The barrels of the turret are a blur as they spit hundreds of rounds
Floyd | of high calibre ammunition at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tower" 		
	

Floyd | It's difficult to get a sense of what it looks like from up so close.
Floyd | You just get an impression of something large and metal blotting out a
Floyd | big chunk of the sky.
Floyd |

Floyd | The water tower's thick legs look like they could offer good cover
Floyd | from the turret.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can feel the staggering noise of the turret firing as it seems to
Floyd | rattle the whole desert.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There's a hose that emerges." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe we can shoot it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come
Floyd | to a juddering halt.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gods damn it!"  Fiona screams.  She looks down at the stationary

Floyd | barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke.
Floyd | "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get
Floyd | back to killing you in a jiffy..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing
Floyd | buttons.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |

Floyd | The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan.  She
Floyd | takes hold of the controls again and grins.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank
Floyd | douse the barrels in some sort of liquid.  When the steam has cleared,
Floyd | the barrels are no longer glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot hose" 		
	

Floyd | The bullet passes easily through one of the hoses, throwing up a
Floyd | little puff of snow.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Back in business!"  Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back
Floyd | up to speed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the water tower's legs)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the water tower's legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge

Floyd | turret explodes into action.  Bullets strike the water tower's legs
Floyd | with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the
Floyd | onslaught.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Damn." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Could be worth another try" 	
			DavidW says, "But next time, heh heh" 	
			DavidW says, "The hose may be punctured now." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hose" 		
	

Floyd | Thick, rubbery hoses, covered in a pale frost.  They're connected to a
Floyd | valve on the cylinder and disappear somewhere under the turret.  A
Floyd | little spray of something seems to be emerging from the hoses.
Floyd |
Floyd | The barrels of the turret are a blur as they spit hundreds of rounds
Floyd | of high calibre ammunition at you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe." 	
			DavidW says, "yup" 	
			Ghogg exclaims, "indeed!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wait>" 	
			Cathy says, "we could shoot it again next lull" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "er, wait?" 	
			DavidW says, "wait, yes" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | You can feel the staggering noise of the turret firing as it seems to
Floyd | rattle the whole desert.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "heh heh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Cathy), "Good idea." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come

Floyd | to a juddering halt.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gods damn it!"  Fiona screams.  She looks down at the stationary
Floyd | barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke.
Floyd | "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get
Floyd | back to killing you in a jiffy..."

Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing
Floyd | buttons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan.  She
Floyd | takes hold of the controls again and grins.

Floyd |
Floyd | And then the tank starts spurting a huge stream of coolant out of its
Floyd | side, up into the air and very far from the red hot gun barrels.
Floyd | Fiona spins round to watch this with wide-eyes, and then turns back to
Floyd | face you with a terrified, placating smile.  "Let's talk about this
Floyd | like reasonable human beings," she says, standing up from the turret's

Floyd | control seat and holding up her empty hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | And then she jumps off of the turret, hitting the ground running.
Floyd | She's disappeared before you're even sure how to react.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't think we need to shoot it again" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Didn't have to... nope." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We'll get her later." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I kind of liked her." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline stares at ParserGirl. 	
			DavidW asks, "save and forward?" 	
			Cathy asks, "save?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "what are we playing anyway?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Gun Mute." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Church of Wrathzor
Floyd | Between cold stone walls, orderly rows of wooden pews face the pulpit
Floyd | ahead.  Vengeful angels peer down on the absent congregation from
Floyd | lofty stained-glass windows.
Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Gun-Arm Joe stands in the pulpit.

Floyd |
Floyd | "We thought we'd never see you again, child," the reverend says.  His
Floyd | voice is quiet, but it echoes profoundly through the expanse of the
Floyd | church.  "Let us speak as equals.  Allow me to show you the path to
Floyd | happiness through peace.  Please, my son, put away your weapon."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Ghogg says (to Corporal_Touchy), "basically trying to shoot our way through each encounter" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm betting he wants to show us the path TO HEAVEN by KILLING US." 	
			DavidW says, "I bet Rev Joe has a gun for an arm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But that's what save is for." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "holster" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You slip your six shooter back into its holster.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Now," Reverend Joe says, "allow me to show you the true peace
Floyd | delivered by the Hand of Wrathzor..."
Floyd |
Floyd | He holds his right arm out to the side as something inside it seems to
Floyd | whir and click.  In a single smooth, mechanical motion, the preacher's
Floyd | arm splits in two, divulging a sleek, nickel-plated machinegun.  He

Floyd | aims his arm at you, bracing himself against the pulpit.  "May
Floyd | Wrathzor have mercy on your soul," he intones, solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha" 	
			DavidW says, "I KNEW IT" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the pews)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the pews.
Floyd |

Floyd | Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening
Floyd | staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls.  Bullets
Floyd | rip through the pews, cracking and splintering the wood.  You throw
Floyd | your arms over your head defensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | "There is no point hiding, my son," the reverend booms, "for it is

Floyd | Wrathzor's judgement that you die, and you cannot hide from Him."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there is no better name for a deity than Wrathzor" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "True dat." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "draw" 		
	

Floyd | You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | The powerful recoil of the reverend's gun arm sends his aim climbing
Floyd | too high.  For a moment, he totters on his feet, blasting chunks of

Floyd | stone out of the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.

Floyd |
Floyd | The reverend stops firing for a moment to regain his footing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot reverend" 		
	

Floyd | You aim at Reverend Joe.  He ducks behind the pulpit at the last
Floyd | moment, and your shot goes wide.
Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Joe steadies himself against the pulpit and aims at you with
Floyd | his machinegun arm.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot reverend" 		
	

Floyd | You aim at Reverend Joe.  He ducks behind the pulpit at the last
Floyd | moment, and your shot goes wide.
Floyd |

Floyd | Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening
Floyd | staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls.  Bullets
Floyd | whack into you, passing through your body and leaving you gasping for
Floyd | breath in a pool of blood on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Joe leaves the pulpit to stand over your broken form.  "Allow

Floyd | me to complete your journey to the Almighty," he says, aiming his
Floyd | gun-arm at your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 92 moves, you have scored 7 of a possible 20 points.  This makes

Floyd | you a threat to the peace.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Hey! He's using our own tricks against us." 	
			DavidW says, "no no, duck" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot reverend".
Floyd |

Floyd | Church of Wrathzor
Floyd | Between cold stone walls, orderly rows of wooden pews face the pulpit
Floyd | ahead.  Vengeful angels peer down on the absent congregation from
Floyd | lofty stained-glass windows.
Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Gun-Arm Joe stands in the pulpit.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "duck" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the pews)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the pews.

Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening
Floyd | staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls.  Bullets
Floyd | rip through the pews, cracking and splintering the wood.  You throw
Floyd | your arms over your head defensively.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You can find peace only through acceptance," the reverend intones.
Floyd | "Show yourself and receive your judgement."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x cross" 		
	

Floyd | The word "cross" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing unusual about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The powerful recoil of the reverend's gun arm sends his aim climbing
Floyd | too high.  For a moment, he totters on his feet, blasting chunks of
Floyd | stone out of the ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | The stained-glass windows depict warrior angels brandishing swords and
Floyd | cutting down swathes of wretched unbelievers.  Their eyes seem to
Floyd | follow you around the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | The reverend stops firing for a moment to regain his footing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing unusual about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Joe steadies himself against the pulpit and aims at you with
Floyd | his machinegun arm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pulpit" 		
	

Floyd | A raised wooden platform from which a man of Wrathzor can preach his
Floyd | message of fear and judgement.
Floyd |
Floyd | Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening

Floyd | staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls.  Bullets
Floyd | rip through the pews, cracking and splintering the wood.  You throw
Floyd | your arms over your head defensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Wood is but a thin veil for the hand of Wrathzor to part," the
Floyd | reverend booms.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "shoot stained glass?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or the pulpit." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, a desecration might make him turn reflexively." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm - good point." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The powerful recoil of the reverend's gun arm sends his aim climbing

Floyd | too high.  For a moment, he totters on his feet, blasting chunks of
Floyd | stone out of the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | The reverend stops firing for a moment to regain his footing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot glass" 		
	

Floyd | You blast one of the stained-glass windows with your six shooter.  It
Floyd | shatters spectacularly, multi-coloured shards of glass raining down on
Floyd | the pulpit.
Floyd |

Floyd | Joe screams as the glass cuts into him, ducking behind the pulpit.
Floyd | After the tinkling of glass on stone has ceased, he does not
Floyd | re-emerge.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nice, Jason." 	
			DavidW says, "huh" 	
			Catena says, "cool" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf9" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot pulpit" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't look like that would achieve much.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "catena" 		
	

Floyd | The word "catena" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x joe" 		
	

Floyd | A pale form slumped in the pulpit among creased, blood-soaked robes.
Floyd | His right arm seems to consist of a hollow plastic shell that has
Floyd | split in two to reveal a shiny, high-calibre machinegun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "I think we may have done it." 	
			Nitku says, "Oops, sorry" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh, that he went in there and bled to death, hence the point?" 	
			DavidW says, "sliced up by the glass." 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | The stained-glass windows depict warrior angels brandishing swords and
Floyd | cutting down swathes of wretched unbelievers.  Their eyes seem to

Floyd | follow you around the room.  One of the windows has been shattered,
Floyd | perhaps explaining the angels' angry demeanour.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | The word "pray" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "bah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "aw" 	
			Cathy asks, "forward?" 	
			Catena says, "c'mon, this isn't Vespers" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, forward." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Graveyard
Floyd | Chipped and crumbling headstones here sprout from the desiccated
Floyd | wasteland soil, their names obscured by weathering and dust.
Floyd |
Floyd | Metal-Skin Mickey stands among the graves, a six shooter clasped in

Floyd | his robotic hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | "TARGET IDENTIFIED," Mickey exclaims.  "ENGAGING!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "I just played that last night!" 	
			DavidW says, "Always pray in churches in IF." 	
			inky says, "or just to make it today" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot mickey" 		
	

Floyd | You blast Mickey with your six shooter.  The bullet bounces harmlessly

Floyd | off of his thick metal skin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mickey aims his single eye at you, a narrow thread of laser light
Floyd | projecting from it onto your forehead.
Floyd |
Floyd | "LOCK-ON ACQUIRED," Mickey states.  "PREPARING TO FIRE..."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Prayers to Wrathzor go unanswered." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the tombstones)

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the tombstones.
Floyd |
Floyd | A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth
Floyd | over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "duck, duck, duck..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x mickey" 		DavidW asks, "shoot the eye?" 	
	

Floyd | A cylindrical war-bot, dressed in chipped and peeling desert

Floyd | camouflage paint.  His face is featureless except for a single round,
Floyd | glassy eye.
Floyd |
Floyd | A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth
Floyd | over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "you got to pray to wrathzor just to fuck shit up today" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x gravestones" 		
	

Floyd | The word "gravestones" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "shoot his eye" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. The eye." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot eye" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.
Floyd |
Floyd | A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth
Floyd | over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline laughs and laughs at inky. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read headstones" 		
	

Floyd | Jagged, worn, broken, crumbling, in some cases even completely
Floyd | collapsed.  The tombstones are all made of stone, however, and might
Floyd | be sturdy enough to afford you some cover.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are taking cover behind the tombstones.
Floyd |
Floyd | A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth
Floyd | over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl asks, "Save?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Gotta stand to shoot." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want to restore?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf9" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.

Floyd |
Floyd | Church of Wrathzor
Floyd | Between cold stone walls, orderly rows of wooden pews face the pulpit
Floyd | ahead.  Vengeful angels peer down on the absent congregation from
Floyd | lofty stained-glass windows.
Floyd |

Floyd | One of the windows has been shattered.
Floyd |
Floyd | The dead body of Reverend Gun-Arm Joe is crumpled up in the pulpit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "forward" 		
	

Floyd | Graveyard
Floyd | Chipped and crumbling headstones here sprout from the desiccated
Floyd | wasteland soil, their names obscured by weathering and dust.
Floyd |

Floyd | Metal-Skin Mickey stands among the graves, a six shooter clasped in
Floyd | his robotic hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | "TARGET IDENTIFIED," Mickey exclaims.  "ENGAGING!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.
Floyd |

Floyd | Mickey aims his single eye at you, a narrow thread of laser light
Floyd | projecting from it onto your forehead.
Floyd |
Floyd | "LOCK-ON ACQUIRED," Mickey states.  "PREPARING TO FIRE..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "no, there's probably a way without restoring." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot eye" 		
	

Floyd | You aim at Mickey's eye and squeeze the trigger.  The eye shatters
Floyd | with a brittle crack, and Mickey freezes in place, sparking and
Floyd | whirring.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf10" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "Oops, sorry." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mickey" 		Jacqueline says, "He's dead, in any case." 	
	

Floyd | A cylindrical war-bot, dressed in chipped and peeling desert
Floyd | camouflage paint.  His face is featureless except for a single round,
Floyd | shattered eye.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mickey stands perfectly still.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "sorry, didn't mean to reload after we got here; tried to get it in after the reload..." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "take gun" 		
	

Floyd | You've already drawn your gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "I am suspicious." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're always sushpicioush." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push mickey" 		
	

Floyd | You're a gunslinger, not a wrestler.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss mickey" 		
	

Floyd | You'd sooner kiss a toaster in the shower.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Even a broken clock is the subject of a conspiracy twice a day." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Tell Mickey he is so fine." 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT

Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "ha ha ha Thank you. I was thinking that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Ghogg says, "and in a Jota game, it'd accept that" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			DavidW says (to Ghogg), "You know it." 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Jota wrote this?" 	
			DavidW says, "no" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Oh." 	
			Ghogg says (to ParserGirl), "this guy: [LINK]" 	
			DavidW says, "But Jota would be the author that would add in things like that." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Forward, Wrathzor Soldiers?" 	
			DavidW says, "This Elias better be worth it." 	
			Cathy says, "aye aye ma'am" 	
			inky says, "we are trampling down the vineyards where the grapes of wrathzor are stored" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I have a feeling he's very handsome." 	
			Jacqueline says, "YAY INKY" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Derelict Reactor

Floyd | You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete,
Floyd | an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far
Floyd | below.  An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | A broken catwalk hangs from the ceiling.A mass of tree roots protrude
Floyd | from one of the larger cracks in the concrete.A girder juts up from

Floyd | the toxic pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the rickety catwalk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You!"  Earl rasps, hoarsely.  "Execution or no, this is my reactor,
Floyd | and ain't no-one passing through here long as I breath!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "haha wow" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "This is so great." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes, it is." 	
			Jacqueline says, "This was a great choice." 	
			inky says, "it's a good pair with the second game, too" 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x reactor" 		
	

Floyd | You see no reactor here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I'll try the default, even though it won't work." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Earl." 		
	

Floyd | As you aim at Earl, he tenses his grotesquely long legs.  After you

Floyd | fire, but before the bullet hits him, he jumps up, high into the air,
Floyd | and lands on the tree roots.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What's the matter, Mute?"  Earl says, "too fast for you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "uh-oh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot Earl".

Floyd |
Floyd | Derelict Reactor
Floyd | You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete,
Floyd | an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far
Floyd | below.  An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.
Floyd |

Floyd | A broken catwalk hangs from the ceiling.A mass of tree roots protrude
Floyd | from one of the larger cracks in the concrete.A girder juts up from
Floyd | the toxic pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the rickety catwalk.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | Rusted right through and glowing faintly.  It's encrusted with strange
Floyd | dials and buttons.
Floyd |

Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "control panel probably changes the catwalk, or puts a steam of goo for him to jump into" 	
			Cathy asks, "shoot the catwalk?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the control panel)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl sends an arrow flying over your head.  "I know you're still in

Floyd | here!  You can't hide from me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The catwalk is probably an option, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, he'll have to load his bow." 	
			DavidW says, "You'll have to time things so we fire ... yeah, that." 	
			Cathy says, "ooh, or one of the cracks in the concrete (with the roots)" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "But that's two moves, and we sort of need three, dont' we?" 	
			Catena says, "Glowy Earl. A creature so mind-bogglingly stupid, once you take cover it forgets where it saw you." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x roots" 		
	

Floyd | Having broken through the concrete dome over slow years of growth, the
Floyd | tree roots now seem strangely sinister and monstrous: as if frozen in
Floyd | the act of an intelligent writhing motion.  Various objects from the

Floyd | reactor complex seem to have been snatched up by the roots over time,
Floyd | including a large, bright orange canister.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a
Floyd | coughing fit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW blinks. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x canister" 		
	

Floyd | A bright orange canister of some sort is caught up in the curled and
Floyd | grasping tree roots.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to ParserGirl), "I'll bet you like this guy, too." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read canister" 		
	

Floyd | The bright orange canister is too far away.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "Far to obvious." 	
			Cathy says, "let's shoot the canister" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Yeah." 	
			Catena says, "shoot canister when earl is either on or about to go to roots" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control

Floyd | panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stane" 		
	

Floyd | The word "stane" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |

Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait." 	
			DavidW says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Shoot him to make him jump, then shoot the canister?" 	
			Cathy says, "yes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or just shoot the canister now. The former, I'm thinking." 	
			inky asks, "doesn't he land in the same turn he jumps?" 	
			DavidW says, "no, shoot earl, then canister" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Earl." 		
	

Floyd | As you aim at Earl, he tenses his grotesquely long legs.  After you
Floyd | fire, but before the bullet hits him, he jumps up, high into the air,
Floyd | and lands on the tree roots.

Floyd |
Floyd | Earl shouts as loud as his weak, raspy voice will let him.  "Give up
Floyd | now!  The magic rays of the Ancients have made me immortal!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "yes; he lands in the roots" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot canister" 		
	

Floyd | You sight down your barrel at the bright orange canister, and squeeze
Floyd | the trigger.  The canister erupts into a sizeable fireball, consuming

Floyd | the tree roots and burning them to a crisp.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl jumps clear of the tree roots and lands on the catwalk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, I see" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot catwalk" 		
	

Floyd | There's a small splash of radioactive water, but no other evidence
Floyd | you're having an effect on the submerged catwalk.

Floyd |
Floyd | Earl draws back the string on his bow, taking aim at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "hide?" 	
			Ghogg says, "well, now he can't jump to the roots any more" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the control panel)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Come out of there!"  Earl yells.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "right" 	
			inky says, "true enough" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl growls with frustration.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x catwalk" 		
	

Floyd | Corroded in strange and unpleasant ways, it doesn't seem like it can
Floyd | keep up the fight against gravity for long.  It hangs from crooked
Floyd | bolts that half protrude from the ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl is standing on the rickety catwalk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a
Floyd | coughing fit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Bolts." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | "Come out of there!"  Earl yells.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "shoot control panel?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "He hasn't shot yet, right?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Does the coughing fit give us our chance?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot panel" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.
Floyd |

Floyd | Earl sends an arrow flying over your head.  "I know you're still in
Floyd | here!  You can't hide from me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe it would, David, yeah." 	
			Cathy says, "let's try shooting him now that the roots are gone" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |

Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "bolts, yes" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot earl" 		
	

Floyd | As you aim at Earl, he tenses his grotesquely long legs.  After you
Floyd | fire, but before the bullet hits him, he jumps up, high into the air,
Floyd | and lands on the girder.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What's the matter, Mute?"  Earl says, "too fast for you?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "girder?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot earl".
Floyd |
Floyd | Derelict Reactor
Floyd | You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete,
Floyd | an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far
Floyd | below.  An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.

Floyd |
Floyd | A broken catwalk hangs from the ceiling.A girder juts up from the
Floyd | toxic pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the rickety catwalk.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot bolts" 		
	

Floyd | You take aim at one of the ancient metal bolts and fire.  It shatters
Floyd | into a cloud of rust.  The catwalk creaks, and begins to move.  One by
Floyd | one, the rusted bolts pop out of the ceiling and the catwalk curls

Floyd | downward, sinking into the steaming nuclear waste below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl jumps clear of the catwalk and lands on the girder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "Please not another canister." 	
			DavidW says, "wait wait" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it's like the canister." 	
			DavidW asks, "What's the girder?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We have to eliminate one thing at a time." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the control panel)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.

Floyd |
Floyd | Earl growls with frustration.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x girder" 		
	

Floyd | The thick iron girder juts up at a crooked angle.  It seems to be
Floyd | propped up on a thick pipeline that traverses the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl is standing on the girder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "so shoot the pipeline?" 	
			inky says, ">GIRD LOINS WITH GIRDER" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Oooh, pipeline this time" 	
			ParserGirl says (to Jacqueline), "Belated, but I've just met the man!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pipeline" 		
	

Floyd | Blackened and heavily corroded, the pipeline emerges from a delicate
Floyd | husk of machinery and winds its way across the dome, disappearing into
Floyd | the distance.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control
Floyd | panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pipeline" 		
	

Floyd | You put a bullethole in the corroded metal of the pipeline.  It
Floyd | quivers slightly, but remains otherwise intact.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl draws back the string on his bow, taking aim at you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "if we shoot him now, where will he go?" 	
			Catena says, "In a deleted scene, Gun Mute is asked if he wants to star in a Silent Movie and says 'No,'" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the control panel)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a
Floyd | coughing fit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "hide".
Floyd |
Floyd | Derelict Reactor

Floyd | You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete,
Floyd | an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far
Floyd | below.  An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | A girder juts up from the toxic pool.
Floyd |

Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the girder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pipeline" 		
	

Floyd | You put a second bullethole in the pipeline, close to the first.  The

Floyd | pipeline creaks loudly, but stays in one piece.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl looses the arrow.  You look down and aren't entirely surprised to
Floyd | it sticking out of your chest.  You feel yourself falling off the
Floyd | platform as if it were happening somewhere very far away.
Floyd |

Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 133 moves, you have scored 9 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a quick-draw gunslinger.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO

Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl asks, "Have we tried shooting the vines?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot pipeline".
Floyd |
Floyd | Derelict Reactor
Floyd | You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete,
Floyd | an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far
Floyd | below.  An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.

Floyd |
Floyd | A girder juts up from the toxic pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the girder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the control panel)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "vines?" 	
			Ghogg says, "guessing it takes three shots" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | The tree roots are now just blackened claws of wood, shedding ash like
Floyd | tears.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vines" 		
	

Floyd | The word "vines" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | "Come out of there!"  Earl yells.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace

Floyd | them with live bullets.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl growls with frustration.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a
Floyd | coughing fit.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |

Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot pipeline" 		
	

Floyd | You put a second bullethole in the pipeline, close to the first.  The

Floyd | pipeline creaks loudly, but stays in one piece.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl draws back the string on his bow, taking aim at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | (behind the control panel)
Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control

Floyd | panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ah. Multiple hits to pipeline needed, then." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl sends an arrow flying over your head.  "I know you're still in
Floyd | here!  You can't hide from me!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Cough, dammit." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control
Floyd | panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl sends an arrow flying over your head.  "I know you're still in
Floyd | here!  You can't hide from me!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "undo" 	
			DavidW says, "No, stand when he fires." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "z".
Floyd |
Floyd | Derelict Reactor (taking cover behind the control panel)
Floyd | You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete,
Floyd | an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far
Floyd | below.  An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.

Floyd |
Floyd | A girder juts up from the toxic pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the girder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, just figured that out." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot pipeline" 		
	

Floyd | You put a third bullethole in the pipeline, in between the first two.
Floyd | For a moment, nothing happens.  And then the pipeline shatters into

Floyd | disparate shards of rust.  The girder leaning on it tips slowly to one
Floyd | side, smashing into the dome with the sound of heavy masonry
Floyd | shattering like glass.
Floyd |
Floyd | Earl jumps clear of the girder and flails uselessly in the air for
Floyd | longer than seems possible.  Then, inevitably, he drops - falling into

Floyd | the radioactive slime below with an infuriated yell.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Woo!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf11" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Ghogg says, "Although he'll be trickier later when he shows up with superpowers" 	
			Catena exclaims, "we will, we will' shoot you!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "HA" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good point, Ghogg." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Polluted Slums
Floyd | On the bank of a thick black river, you're surrounded on all sides by
Floyd | corroded tin shacks and heaps of rotting garbage.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's awfully quiet around here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ooh. quiet" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's never good when it's quiet, yeah." 	
			inky says, "TOO quiet" 	
			DavidW says, "Don't trust it." 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "take the third shack from the left!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We'd better call C3PO" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x garbage" 		
	

Floyd | Dirty rags, rotten food, human excrement... other things you don't
Floyd | want to look too closely at.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | You don't see anything to take cover behind, and there's no obvious
Floyd | danger anyway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shacks" 		
	

Floyd | Home to the physically diseased and the socially reviled.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | The river is black and viscous, emitting a fine, yellowish vapour.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "oh, where's the metal gear? under the garbage?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What metal gear?" 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | It's very quiet.  The river burbles quietly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x bank" 		
	

Floyd | The word "bank" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vapour" 		
	

Floyd | You try not to breath too deeply.  The river's noxious vapour probably
Floyd | does little to promote good health.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | The river is black and viscous, emitting a fine, yellowish vapour.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Forward?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "just try to f" 	
			Catena says, "a big robot from the PS2 game" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search garbage" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in the rotting garbage.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I know we'll die, but let's go forward." 	
			DavidW says, "I think this is just calm before firefight." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Catena), "Ah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | You start looking for a good route to move through the dreary shanty
Floyd | town, when a rhythmic pistoning reaches your ears from somewhere
Floyd | ahead.  Atomic April strides out from behind one of the shacks,
Floyd | blocking your path with her enormous metallic form.
Floyd |
Floyd | April's distorted voice booms from the metallic grill she has for a

Floyd | mouth.  "I'm gonna pummel you good, Mute."
Floyd |
Floyd | April raises her great metal fist into the air, blotting out the sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Not Atomic April!" 	
			DavidW says, "And no hiding spot!" 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x april" 		
	

Floyd | A towering metal figure, topped with a transparent brain jar, her
Floyd | right fist obscenely huge.  She totters on stilt-like mechanical legs.

Floyd | A bright yellow symbol adorns her chest.
Floyd |
Floyd | April's shoulder clunks loudly, letting out bursts of steam.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot april" 		
	

Floyd | You blast April right in the middle of the archaic symbol on her
Floyd | chest.  The bullet richochets without leaving a mark.
Floyd |
Floyd | April's massive form is knocked backwards.  She drops her arm and

Floyd | regains her footing in a slow and ungainly motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | April booms with laughter.  "A squishy meat-bag like you is no threat
Floyd | to a mechanical god!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "there's our metal gear" 	
			DavidW says, "Shoot her into the river." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot brain" 		
	

Floyd | You blast the see-through dome containing April's brain.  The bullet
Floyd | richochets off, leaving a few hairline cracks.

Floyd |
Floyd | "This is like pulling the legs off a fly..."  April muses.
Floyd |
Floyd | April raises her great metal fist into the air, blotting out the sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "shoot her into the river" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I wonder what the symbol is" 	
			DavidW says, "oh, maybe not." 	
			Catena says, "ohh, crack her brain" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking that the brain needs a few more bullets." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Catena), "Right." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot brain" 		
	

Floyd | You shoot April's brain jar again, fine cracks spreading across the
Floyd | dome.

Floyd |
Floyd | April laughs.  "I splatter insects like you without even thinking
Floyd | about it!"
Floyd |
Floyd | April's shoulder clunks loudly, letting out bursts of steam.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot brain" 		
	

Floyd | Your bullet completely shatters April's brain jar, showering glass
Floyd | over her shoulders.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Some meat-bags just don't know when they're obsolete."  April booms.
Floyd |
Floyd | April brings her huge fist down in one swift, mechanical motion.  It
Floyd | races down at you from the sky like a falling boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "but shoot her in between so she is pushed back" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot brain" 		
	

Floyd | Your bullet strikes April's exposed brain straight on, splattering it
Floyd | over her shattered head.  Her body suddenly goes limp and collapses
Floyd | into a heap with a loud metallic clattering, sliding slowly into the

Floyd | river, fumes rising where her body touches the acidic slime.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x symbol" 		
	

Floyd | The bright yellow radiation symbol adorns April's great metal upper
Floyd | torso.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "fair enough hehe" 	
			DavidW says, "woot!" 	
	Ghogg says (to floyd), "make cool pose" 		
	

Floyd | The word "make" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf12" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "strut" 		
	

Floyd | The word "strut" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "okay, I missed the brain jar, good spotting" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | You've got no sense of rhythm - save the rhythm of a single action
Floyd | revolver.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Thanks." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Did Jota test this, I wonder?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "credits" 		
	

Floyd | Gun Mute by C.E.J.  Pacian
Floyd | Released: 2008
Floyd |

Floyd | Developed using the TADS 3 language and library by Michael J.
Floyd | Roberts.  Eric Eve also deserves a mention for his excellent TADS 3
Floyd | tutorials.
Floyd |
Floyd | Extra special thanks to my lovely beta-testers: George Oliver, Terry
Floyd | Cavanagh and Konstantinos "Gnome" Dimopoulos.

Floyd |
Floyd | Additional thanks for bug and typo reports courtesy of Inane and
Floyd | Nillo.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nope. >DANCE is just becoming more common." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I dunno. The author's one of the TIGSource crowd." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Undertaker's

Floyd | A dark little office.  The bright sunlight shining through the window
Floyd | casts a perfect square of light on the polished floor, as if it were
Floyd | too timid to wander away from a straight line.  Coffins stand in rows
Floyd | against one wall, funereal garbs against the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | Solemn Gertrude is here, in a black suit and top hat.

Floyd |
Floyd | When she sees you arrive, Gertrude stands up from her chair by the
Floyd | window and unrolls her tape measure.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x gertrude" 		
	

Floyd | A tall, thin woman with almost albinic pale skin.  She wears a close
Floyd | fitting, jet-black suit and a shiny top hat.  Her movements are small
Floyd | and carefully calculated.  You remember Gertrude as being the one
Floyd | person in town more quiet than you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude steps lightly on one end of the tape measure, and holds it up
Floyd | to measure your height.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x tape measure" 		
	

Floyd | The word "tape" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x measure" 		
	

Floyd | The word "measure" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x hat" 		
	

Floyd | A rather intimidating piece of headwear, really.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude measures you across the shoulders.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I seem to recall there's a way to get a point or two here" 	
			Jacqueline says, "She's measuring us for a coffin. This is not cool." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "point to coffin" 		
	

Floyd | You point at the coffins.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude quickly pulls out a notepad to jot down your measurements.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "shoot the hat" 	
			Catena says, "if she threatens" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Why did our score go up? Because we didn't shoot her?" 	
			Ghogg says, "we let her measure" 	
			Catena says, "probably" 	
			inky says, "you stuck around long enough to have her measure you" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "haha" 	
			DavidW asks, "I don't know?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "full score" 		
	

Floyd | In 174 moves, you have scored 12 of a possible 20 points.  This makes

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to garb" 		
	

Floyd | you a renegade lawman.  Your score consists of:
Floyd |    1 point for drinking the plainswoman's potion
Floyd |    7 points for killing members of the sheriff's posse

Floyd |    1 point for trapping Juanita beneath the chandelier
Floyd |    1 point for kissing Juanita
Floyd |    1 point for scaring off Gatling Gun Fiona
Floyd |    1 point for getting measured for your coffin
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You point at the funereal garbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude stands moderately far away from you and studies the floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Ghogg says, "I think there is another point you can get here but I forget how" 	
			DavidW says, "oh. The measuring got the point, not the pointing." 	
			DavidW says (to Ghogg), "no tell!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			inky says, "right" 	
			Catena says, "she's about to do something" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "i want the hat" 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "read notepad" 		
	

Floyd | The word "notepad" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Seems like." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take hat" 		
	

Floyd | You don't need to weigh yourself down with anything other than your
Floyd | trusty six shooter.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude redirects her attention to the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in coffin" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in the coffins.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch Gertrude looking at you.  She turns her head sharply.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing unusual about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mute..."  Gertrude says, her voice almost a whisper.  "No, never

Floyd | mind."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "point to coffin" 		
	

Floyd | You point at the coffins.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude opens her mouth and then closes it again shortly after.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "point to me" 		
	

Floyd | You point at yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude steps over to you, looking down at her feet.  "Mute, I know
Floyd | that... you must have passed Fiona to get this far.  I was just
Floyd | wondering, well, is she okay?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | You nod your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude remains absolutely impassive for quite a while.  Slowly but
Floyd | surely, though, her lips start to form a smile.  "Okay," she says, so

Floyd | quietly you have to strain to hear her.  "I'm glad."
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Awwwww." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "the place of waiting for points" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf13" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to her" 		
	

Floyd | You point at Solemn Gertrude.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude just blushes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude smiles happily to herself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, I thought there was a way to have her ask that sooner" 	
			DavidW asks, "Do we kiss her?" 	
			inky says, "or get that point sooner" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss her" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to give her the wrong impression.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude cheerfully writes out a notice for the funeral of Vicious Sue
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "shall we try kissing her, too?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I don't think we swing that way." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I guess we just move on?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x notice" 		
	

Floyd | The word "notice" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x robes" 		
	

Floyd | The word "robes" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing out of the ordinary.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude files the funeral notice away neatly, humming to herself.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Undertaker's
Floyd | A dark little office.  The bright sunlight shining through the window

Floyd | casts a perfect square of light on the polished floor, as if it were
Floyd | too timid to wander away from a straight line.  Coffins stand in rows
Floyd | against one wall, funereal garbs against the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | Solemn Gertrude is here, in a black suit and top hat.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude cheerfully writes out a notice for the funeral of Claw-Hand
Floyd | Hank
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I'm pretty sure this is all the points you can get here" 	
			inky says, "although there might be other stuff to examine, I dunno" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x garbs" 		
	

Floyd | Rows of neatly pressed suits and dresses - all either black or white.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude files the funeral notice away neatly, humming to herself.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "we can probably come back after we kill (or don't) some more" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x square" 		
	

Floyd | The sun casts a perfect square of light onto the floor of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude cheerfully writes out a notice for the funeral of Deputy Gene
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read notice" 		
	

Floyd | The word "notice" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x floor" 		
	

Floyd | The floor is shiny, meticulously polished, cold underfoot.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gertrude files the funeral notice away neatly, humming to herself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | As you leave, Gertrude clears her throat - a soft sound a little like
Floyd | someone hitting a cloud with a ball of cotton wool.  "G-G-Good luck,"
Floyd | she stammers.  "If I see you again, I hope it's not in... a

Floyd | professional capacity."
Floyd |
Floyd | And then she unexpectedly races forward and throws her arms around
Floyd | your neck, her hands cold against your bare skin.  "Kill him," she
Floyd | whispers into your ear as she hugs you tightly.  "Don't hesitate to
Floyd | kill the sheriff.  If there has to be someone with a gun walking

Floyd | around the town shooting people, I want it to be you.  I trust you."
Floyd |
Floyd | She starts to let you go, blushing bright red.  You grab her roughly
Floyd | and kiss her on the cheek, your stubble scratching her pale skin.  She
Floyd | laughs with a shy happiness.
Floyd |

Floyd | You turn away from her and head out into the street.  The sun is high
Floyd | overhead.  It's almost time.
Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street
Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  A bare market stall stands here

Floyd | unattended.  A simple wooden cart blocks up the road.  A table sits
Floyd | here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby.  A
Floyd | small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  In the
Floyd | garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Mute!"  Raoul calls out.  "Don't try and come any closer.  You know
Floyd | I'm the fastest draw in the wastelands, and I'd hate to have to riddle
Floyd | an otherwise decent citizen such as yourself full of bullet-holes."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "x x Raoul Raoul" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf14" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x raoul" 		
	

Floyd | A dusky, unshaven man with a multitude of guns and bullets strapped to

Floyd | his body.  He's smiling mirthlessly, a sad glimmer to his eye.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hermano," Raoul pleads, "there's no bad blood between us.  Leave town
Floyd | while you still can."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | Two wheels and a large wooden bucket.  Nothing special, certainly, but
Floyd | it must do a pretty good job of carting things around.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards

Floyd | the many weapons he carries.  "Get out of here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "x cart".

Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street
Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  A bare market stall stands here
Floyd | unattended.  A simple wooden cart blocks up the road.  A table sits
Floyd | here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby.  A

Floyd | small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  In the
Floyd | garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Time to duck" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to be a little more specific here.  You can take cover
Floyd | behind: The market stall.  The cart.  The restaurant table.  The
Floyd | wooden fence.  The sickly tree.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards
Floyd | the many weapons he carries.  "Get out of here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide behind sickly tree" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the sickly tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | In a flash, Raoul has drawn a pair of six shooters.  He fires both in
Floyd | a rapid blur, a hail of bullets disintegrating the sickly tree.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(Just for fun.)" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Cart?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Mobile cover!" 	
			DavidW says, "Use up his bullets!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wow, we lived despite being behind a sickly tree." 	
	olethros arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "He has a ton of bullets and guns, though, David." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul's six shooters click empty.  He tosses them aside and pulls a
Floyd | lever-action rifle from over his shoulder.  He loads and fires the gun
Floyd | with inhuman efficiency, his hands a blur.  The high calibre bullets
Floyd | send you flying.  You're already dead by the time you land.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 193 moves, you have scored 13 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "we must be skinny" 	
	olethros asks, "Bin ich in club floyd?" 		Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm willing to hear other ideas." 	
			ParserGirl says, "The tree was destroyed." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf14" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |

Floyd | Back Street
Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  A bare market stall stands here
Floyd | unattended.  A simple wooden cart blocks up the road.  A table sits
Floyd | here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby.  A
Floyd | small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  In the

Floyd | garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide behind cart" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the cart.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hermano," Raoul pleads, "there's no bad blood between us.  Leave town
Floyd | while you still can."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We could at least try" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push cart" 		
	

Floyd | The cart cannot be moved.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards
Floyd | the many weapons he carries.  "Get out of here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Try what? Waiting him out?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "push cart".
Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street (taking cover behind the cart)

Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  A bare market stall stands here
Floyd | unattended.  A simple wooden cart blocks up the road.  A table sits
Floyd | here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby.  A
Floyd | small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  In the
Floyd | garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Why didn't we try shooting him first, again?" 	
			Cathy says, "why don't we just try shooting him? maybe the simple solution is best" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I mean, I know we'd die, but it'd be fun to see how?" 	
			DavidW says, "To hide behind e... because he's too fast for us." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf14" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >
Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street

Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  A bare market stall stands here
Floyd | unattended.  A simple wooden cart blocks up the road.  A table sits
Floyd | here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby.  A
Floyd | small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  In the
Floyd | garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.

Floyd |
Floyd | Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "He doesn't seem like a bad guy." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot Raoul." 		
	

Floyd | You take careful aim at Raoul and squeeze the trigger.  Before you
Floyd | actually fire, however, Raoul has drawn his gun and shot you three
Floyd | times.  You drop your six shooter and stagger about a bit, too
Floyd | surprised to actually die right away.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Sorry Mute," Raoul says softly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your legs give out and you collapse to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***

Floyd |
Floyd | In 190 moves, you have scored 13 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "I think we just use each cover till he does something different" 	
			DavidW says (to PG), "well, that's true too" 	
			ParserGirl says, ";Besides, he's apparently faster." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wow. He is very fast." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf14" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street
Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  A bare market stall stands here
Floyd | unattended.  A simple wooden cart blocks up the road.  A table sits

Floyd | here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby.  A
Floyd | small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  In the
Floyd | garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Okay, next plan... wait it out?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "hide behind market stall" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the market stall.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hermano," Raoul pleads, "there's no bad blood between us.  Leave town
Floyd | while you still can."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think we have to do the mobile hiding." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Behind the cart?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We may have to run from cover to cover as he destroys them until bullets run out." 	
			ParserGirl says, "That sounds promising." 	
			DavidW says, "What I said." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, see, when you said mobile cover I thought you meant the cart, but we can't move that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Now I see what you mean." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	schep arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		DavidW says, "No. Run from tree to cart to table etc." 	
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | "Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards
Floyd | the many weapons he carries.  "Get out of here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | In a flash, Raoul has drawn a pair of six shooters.  He fires both in
Floyd | a rapid blur, a hail of bullets disintegrating the market stall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Currently we're behind the stall" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide behind cart" 		ParserGirl says, "Currently we're out in the open." 	
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the cart.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul's six shooters click empty.  He tosses them aside and pulls a
Floyd | lever-action rifle from over his shoulder.  He loads and fires the gun
Floyd | with inhuman efficiency, his hands a blur.  The high-calibre bullets
Floyd | utterly destroy the cart you're taking cover behind.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "now we move" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Table and tree left." 	
			DavidW says, "and fence" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide behind fence" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the wooden fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul tosses the rifle aside and pulls a sawn-off shotgun from a thigh
Floyd | holster.  He aims at you and fires both barrels.  The wooden fence

Floyd | you're taking cover behind explodes in a shower of splinters.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Miseri arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, thanks - I was scrolling back to see our options." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "hide behind table" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the restaurant table.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul tosses the sawn-off shotgun aside and pulls an antique machine
Floyd | pistol from the back of his belt.  He fires indiscriminately, blowing

Floyd | apart the restaurant table in a series of shattering bullet strikes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to PG), "Tree." 	
			ParserGirl asks, "And Cart?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Think it's best if just one types here.)" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "hide behind tree" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now taking cover behind the sickly tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul drops the machine pistol to the ground and grabs a small laser

Floyd | gun from his bandolier.  He directs a beam of lethal blue light right
Floyd | at you, causing the sickly tree to spontaneously combust in a puff of
Floyd | smoke.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Cart is gone." 	
			DavidW says, "cart is gone" 	
			Catena asks, "tree was first?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, not this time." 	
			Ghogg says, "man, laser beam" 	
			ParserGirl says, "LASWER RIFLE" 	
			DavidW asks, "shoot him now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think we're out of cover, people." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf15" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "uh-huh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Shoot him, sure." 	
			schep says, "that or Z" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Let's type cover to be sure" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good idea." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | Raoul has destroyed all the cover in this location.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul throws down the laser gun and pulls a derringer from his boot.

Floyd | He looks at the tiny gun for a second and then shrugs.  "That's all
Floyd | folks!" he says, before bolting down a narrow alley and disappearing
Floyd | from view.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "woot" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh. Huh." 	
			Ghogg says, "woo woo" 	
			Catena exclaims, "yay!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | It's already fully loaded.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yay, we didn't kill him" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf16" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Run run Gun-Gun Raoul you beautiful bastard you." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Town Centre
Floyd | The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space,
Floyd | leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the
Floyd | towering wooden gallows at its centre.

Floyd |
Floyd | Elias stands on the gallows, the noose around his neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rotund execution bot sits by the gallows, its single metallic arm
Floyd | gripping the lever that works the trapdoor.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sheriff Clayton stands in your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mute," the sheriff says.  "Just in time."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Ghogg says, "showDOWN showDOWN" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Elias!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot sheriff" 		
	

Floyd | You shoot the sheriff, the bullet tearing right through his chest
Floyd | explosively.  He lets out a yelp of pain and staggers briefly, before

Floyd | regaining his footing.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damn you, Mute!" the sheriff screams, "you want shooting?  I'll give
Floyd | you shooting!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Clayton whirls round, draws his six shooter and takes aim at Elias.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "x bot?" 	
			Catena asks, "shoot rope of noose?" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Can we shoot the noose?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot noose" 		
	

Floyd | You put a bullet right through the rope dangling from the gallows.
Floyd | The noose falls slack around Elias' neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff fires, his bullet striking Elias right through the heart.

Floyd | The man you love looks at you, one hand held out into the blood
Floyd | gushing from his body.  The light leaves his eyes in a matter of
Floyd | seconds and he collapses onto the gallows.
Floyd |
Floyd | No!  You let your gun fall from your hands.
Floyd |

Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 201 moves, you have scored 14 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO

Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Guess we should have done that first." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf16" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.

Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street
Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  There seems to be an enormous amount of
Floyd | broken wood choking up the road.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Town Centre
Floyd | The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space,
Floyd | leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the

Floyd | towering wooden gallows at its centre.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias stands on the gallows, the noose around his neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rotund execution bot sits by the gallows, its single metallic arm
Floyd | gripping the lever that works the trapdoor.

Floyd |
Floyd | Sheriff Clayton stands in your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mute," the sheriff says.  "Just in time."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot noose" 		
	

Floyd | You put a bullet right through the rope dangling from the gallows.
Floyd | The noose falls slack around Elias' neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damn you, Mute!" the sheriff screams, "you want shooting?  I'll give

Floyd | you shooting!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Clayton whirls round, draws his six shooter and takes aim at Elias.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Now what?" 	
			schep asks, "shoot sheriff's gun?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot gun" 		
	

Floyd | Which gun do you mean, the six shooter, or your six shooter?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Shoot the lever." 	
			Catena says, "lever" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh - wait. Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot lever" 		
	

Floyd | The bullet ricochets off the lever, jerking it backwards.  The
Floyd | trapdoor beneath Elias' feet drops away.  With a short yell, Elias
Floyd | plummets downwards and disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff fires, his bullet passing through thin air.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by two points.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		schep says, "aha, clever" 	
			Catena exclaims, "hee!" 	
			DavidW high-fives everyone. 	
			Cathy exclaims, "nice plan!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee." 	
			Jacqueline high-fives back. 	
			DavidW asks, "Shoot sheriff?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We still have to kill this man, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "He needs killin." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf17" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "#belated I think the sheriff has a little speech if you don't shoot him right off" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Do we care? I guess we might." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to sherrif" 		
	

Floyd | You point at Sheriff Clayton.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sheriff stamps his foot in the dust.  "Quit it, Mute, I'm talking
Floyd | now!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff turns to face you.  "You piece of crap," he splutters, "I
Floyd | should have done this a long a time ago."
Floyd |

Floyd | He aims his six shooter at you and fires again and again, hitting you
Floyd | square in the chest with bullet after bullet.  You remain standing for
Floyd | a few seconds, unsure what's happening, and then the world begins to
Floyd | fade away.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** GAME OVER ***

Floyd |
Floyd | In 202 moves, you have scored 16 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman with a fistful of bullets and a vague sense of
Floyd | right and wrong.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO

Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "The problem with speeches is that it isn't killing." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "how true" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm - that is not a good ending." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Maybe inky meant when we first came onto the scene." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf17" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >
Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Town Centre

Floyd | The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space,
Floyd | leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the
Floyd | towering wooden gallows at its centre.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rotund execution bot sits by the gallows, its single metallic arm
Floyd | gripping the lever that works the trapdoor.

Floyd |
Floyd | Sheriff Clayton stands in your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "at least we saves Elias" 	
			inky says, "I meant -- yeah" 	
			schep asks, "hide behind bot?" 	
			Cathy says, "*saved" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh. Well, do you guys want me to go back another step to hear the speech?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf16" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Back Street
Floyd | This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the
Floyd | town centre, and your goal.  There seems to be an enormous amount of
Floyd | broken wood choking up the road.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Town Centre
Floyd | The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space,

Floyd | leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the
Floyd | towering wooden gallows at its centre.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias stands on the gallows, the noose around his neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rotund execution bot sits by the gallows, its single metallic arm

Floyd | gripping the lever that works the trapdoor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sheriff Clayton stands in your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mute," the sheriff says.  "Just in time."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Does shooting the sheriff not work after saving Elias?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We didn't try." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to elias" 		
	

Floyd | You point at Elias.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff stamps his foot in the dust.  "Quit it, Mute, I'm talking
Floyd | now!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm sorry about trying to kill you the way I did," the sheriff

Floyd | continues.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We will find out - we're going to see if he has something to say first." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | "I thought it'd be quick and painless.  I didn't anticipate you
Floyd | wandering the wastelands half-naked, nurturing a vendetta - no, not
Floyd | even a vendetta, a petty grudge against me."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff looks around at the shuttered buildings, as if

Floyd | grandstanding to a huge audience.  "I mean, come on Mute, you think
Floyd | I'm the bad guy here?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "gay radioactive scifi westen... I hope Fallout is as good" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | You nod your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course you do," the sheriff sneers.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sheriff points at you accusingly.  "You're the one shooting your
Floyd | way through the town, killing the only men and women who stand between
Floyd | its people and the marauders, the mutants and the savages!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "nod".
Floyd |
Floyd | Town Centre
Floyd | The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space,

Floyd | leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the
Floyd | towering wooden gallows at its centre.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias stands on the gallows, the noose around his neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rotund execution bot sits by the gallows, its single metallic arm

Floyd | gripping the lever that works the trapdoor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sheriff Clayton stands in your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shake head" 		
	

Floyd | You shake your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're damn right I'm not," the sheriff responds.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sheriff points at you accusingly.  "You're the one shooting your
Floyd | way through the town, killing the only men and women who stand between
Floyd | its people and the marauders, the mutants and the savages!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(Just checking.)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | "By the Gods, I know they were a motley crew of vagabonds, but as long

Floyd | as they were in my posse they were on the side of the Law!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Gosh, maybe he's right and we're a horrible person." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I doubt it, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff fixes his steely eyes on you.  "And whose side are you on,
Floyd | Mute?  Your own?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "But not on the side of GOOD, foolish lawman!," you reply, suddenly learning how to vocalize." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "How do we answer?" 	
			Catena says, "but love justifies everything" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Point to elias" 	
			DavidW says, "The sheriff's probably our ex." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to Elias" 		
	

Floyd | You point at Elias.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff stamps his foot in the dust.  "Quit it, Mute, I'm talking
Floyd | now!"
Floyd |
Floyd | He aims an accusing finger at Elias.  "What about his?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "NO REALLY" 	
			inky says, "oops, lameness" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, oh well." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | You nod your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "As long as you're not on the side of the Law," the sheriff hisses, "I
Floyd | don't owe you anything.  Because I will always see that the Law is

Floyd | obeyed."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | "Or better than obeyed...  feared."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff rests his hands on his hips.  "Well, Mute, it's your
Floyd | move."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Okay - noose, lever, sheriff?" 	
			Catena says, "he cribbed that from Machiavelli" 	
			Catena says, "yes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I hear no dissenting votes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot noose" 		
	

Floyd | You put a bullet right through the rope dangling from the gallows.
Floyd | The noose falls slack around Elias' neck.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damn you, Mute!" the sheriff screams, "you want shooting?  I'll give
Floyd | you shooting!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Clayton whirls round, draws his six shooter and takes aim at Elias.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "maybe the robot is important" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot lever" 		
	

Floyd | The bullet ricochets off the lever, jerking it backwards.  The
Floyd | trapdoor beneath Elias' feet drops away.  With a short yell, Elias
Floyd | plummets downwards and disappears.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sheriff fires, his bullet passing through thin air.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by two points.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I wonder what would happen if we gave our gun to him. Doubt Mute would do that, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot sheriff" 		
	

Floyd | You shoot the sheriff, the bullet tearing right through his chest
Floyd | explosively.  He lets out a yelp of pain and staggers briefly, before
Floyd | regaining his footing.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff turns to face you.  "You piece of crap," he splutters, "I
Floyd | should have done this a long a time ago."
Floyd |
Floyd | He aims his six shooter at you and fires.  Still reeling from his
Floyd | gunshot wound, the sheriff misses by a hair's breadth, the bullet

Floyd | whipping past your bare arm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot sheriff" 		
	

Floyd | You send a second bullet ripping through the sheriff's body.  He

Floyd | clutches his heart, blood gushing freely from his chest.  "You've
Floyd | killed me, Mute, but that ain't enough to stop me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff fires, but his hands are shaking and his knees seem weak.
Floyd | The shot goes wide.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot sheriff" 		
	

Floyd | You blast sheriff Clayton again.  He falls to his hands and knees,
Floyd | struggling to keep his gun trained on you.  "Long as you're dead," he
Floyd | rasps, blood dripping down his chin, "I can rest easy in the

Floyd | hereafter!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheriff fires, discharging his gun impotently into the dirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Running out of bullets..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot sheriff" 		
	

Floyd | You shoot the sheriff for the fourth time.  He arches his back,
Floyd | squealing in agony, teeth bared, and then falls forward: finally dead.
Floyd |

Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Note: Euphemism." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee." 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "reload" 		
	

Floyd | (your six shooter)
Floyd | You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace
Floyd | them with live bullets.
Floyd |
Floyd | The execution bot surveys the scene with its optical sensors and

Floyd | begins to trundle away discreetly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "He IS our ex!" 	
			inky says, "ok, *now* you shot the sheriff" 	
			ParserGirl says, "giggle" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Indeed." 	
			Cathy asks, "should we find elias?" 	
			schep says, "wow, smart bot" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Town Centre
Floyd | The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space,
Floyd | leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the
Floyd | towering wooden gallows at its centre.
Floyd |

Floyd | The execution bot trundles slowly away from the gallows.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sheriff Clayton lies on his front in a pool of blood.
Floyd |
Floyd | The execution bot disappears down an alleyway.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I suspect it is now time to reinact a scene from Brokeback Mountain." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x elias" 		
	

Floyd | You see no elias here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "where's our honey?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "gallows" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sheriff" 		
	

Floyd | You don't need to concern yourself with him anymore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "he dropped down through the trapdoor" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x gallows" 		
	

Floyd | A wooden platform with a wooden beam over it, from which dangles a
Floyd | rope noose.  A small trapdoor is set into the gallows, directly
Floyd | beneath the noose.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		schep asks, "l under gallows?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | The trapdoor is already open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get on gallows" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now standing on the gallows.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hole" 		
	

Floyd | The word "hole" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x trapdoor" 		
	

Floyd | This opens and the person on the gallows drops down, the noose
Floyd | snapping their neck or strangling them to death.  It's operated by the
Floyd | lever protruding from the back of the gallows.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter trapdoor" 		
	

Floyd | That is not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl asks, "Forward?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | (first getting off of the gallows)
Floyd |

Floyd | Under the Gallows
Floyd | You're in the shade beneath the gallows.  The air is deathly cold.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias lies on the ground here, unconscious.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "yeah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss Elias." 		
	

Floyd | You kneel down next to Elias, gently touching his cheek to turn his
Floyd | head.  He doesn't have any visible injuries.  As you run your fingers
Floyd | through his hair he winces, stirring slightly, but doesn't wake.

Floyd | Slowly, you lean down, touching your lips to his.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias opens his eyes and smiles.  "Mute," he whispers.  "I knew you'd
Floyd | save me."
Floyd |
Floyd | Lifeless Park

Floyd | The sun is low and red on the horizon, disappearing behind the
Floyd | buildings of the town.  The town looks about the same as ever, perhaps
Floyd | a little more run-down in some ways.  But the sheriff has been gone
Floyd | some time now.  Perhaps it's just you, but an oppressive air seems to
Floyd | have lifted.  People loiter on the streets, talking and bartering, the
Floyd | diseased slum-dwellers have been cleared out and moved to the new

Floyd | hospice.  It's still not much of a civilisation.  But it will do.
Floyd |
Floyd | The corpses of about a dozen mutant zomboids are laid out on the bone
Floyd | dry ground of the park.  Gun-Run Raoul watches over them, looking for
Floyd | any sign that they may not truly be dead.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gatling Gun Fiona and Solemn Gertrude stand nearby, chatting idly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias is close by your side.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "SO DREAMY" 	
			Jacqueline giggles at inky. 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "point to fiona" 		
	

Floyd | You point at Gatling Gun Fiona.
Floyd |
Floyd | "She's growing on me," Elias says.  "Very, very slowly."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Yay!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I want to give her a hug but I don't want to get burned on the turrets." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "point to gertrude" 		inky says, "is that what they're called" 	
	

Floyd | You point at Solemn Gertrude.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, she's such a sweetheart," Elias says.  "Go kill some more people
Floyd | so she has something to do."
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul rubs his unshaven jaw.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "point to raoul" 		
	

Floyd | You point at Gun-Run Raoul.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He's done a lot for the town, hasn't he?"  Elias says.  "But I'm not
Floyd | about to go running to him the next time there's a noose around my
Floyd | neck."
Floyd |

Floyd | Fiona absently fingers the action of her machinegun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "point to zomboids" 		
	

Floyd | You point at the mutant zomboids.

Floyd |
Floyd | Elias pulls a face.  "Are you sure they're dead now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona playfully pokes Gertrude in the ribs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x fiona" 		
	

Floyd | Fiona stands by Raoul, a machinegun propped up in the dirt next to
Floyd | her.  Her gaze repeatedly wanders from the mutant zomboids towards
Floyd | Solemn Gertrude.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude laughs shyly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "point to me" 		
	

Floyd | You point at yourself.

Floyd |
Floyd | Elias leans over to kiss you on the cheek.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul prods one of the mutant zomboids with the barrel of his rifle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So, it's not over yet. Hm." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Reckon they're dead?" 	
			inky says, "you can score a couple more points here, I guess" 	
	Cathy says (to floyd), "x zomboids" 		
	

Floyd | You're pretty sure they're dead for real this time.

Floyd |
Floyd | Fiona absently fingers the action of her machinegun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "kiss him again. The first just woke him." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x gertrude" 		
	

Floyd | Solemn Gertrude stands by Fiona, looking down at the ground as she
Floyd | twists the tip of her shoe into the dirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | Raoul prods one of the mutant zomboids with the barrel of his rifle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "but this is basically the epilogue" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're Mute Lawton.  A devilishly handsome cowboy with windswept black

Floyd | hair and roguish stubble.  Lean and tall, your tanned body is taut
Floyd | with cool, calculated strength.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're smartly dressed in a black suit and a three-quarter length
Floyd | overcoat.  A black stetson keeps the sun out of your eyes.
Floyd |

Floyd | Fiona playfully pokes Gertrude in the ribs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Ooh, fancy." 	
			DavidW asks, "We got dressed, eh?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss elias" 		
	

Floyd | You draw Elias closer and kiss him on the lips.  He folds easily into
Floyd | your embrace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x elias" 		
	

Floyd | Slender, dark haired, quite tall.  He regards you with kind, hazel
Floyd | eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "are we dressed for our wedding?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "For stubble this planned you need a draft from the zoning commission." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "marry elias" 		
	

Floyd | The word "marry" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "propose to elias" 		
	

Floyd | The word "propose" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "(I assume you do 'forward' again)" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "shoot zombies" 		
	

Floyd | Raoul and Fiona will deal with them if they start moving again.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gertrude laughs shyly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Probably, yeah." 	
	Corporal_Touchy says, "gaaaaayyy" 		Cathy asks, "maybe 'f' to a chapel or something?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Elias comes with you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon

Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean.  A
Floyd | shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines
Floyd | in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in
Floyd | its glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the
Floyd | carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high
Floyd | ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth
Floyd | in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita is hard at work
Floyd | tending to the needs of her many customers.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias is close by your side.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, if it isn't my two favourite patrons," Juanita exclaims.  "Your
Floyd | drinks are on the house."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "whoops." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Aww, execution bot found new work." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drink drink" 		
	

Floyd | You see no drink here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to floyd), "drink" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to drink?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "point to drink" 		
	

Floyd | You see no drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "point at boty" 		
	

Floyd | The word "boty" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "point to me" 		
	

Floyd | You point at yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias leans over to kiss you on the cheek.
Floyd |
Floyd | Juanita sets two glasses of wasteland wine on the bar.  Elias picks up

Floyd | one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "point at bot" 		
	

Floyd | You point at the execution bot.

Floyd |
Floyd | Elias sighs.  "I avoid him whenever I get the chance.  He's nice
Floyd | enough, but still..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take wine" 		
	

Floyd | As she sees you raising your glass, Juanita heads over to you,
Floyd | brandishing a small capsule of machine oil.  "A toast," she says.  "To
Floyd | love."
Floyd |

Floyd | Elias meets your eye.  "What do you think?" he asks.  "To love?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | You nod your head.

Floyd |
Floyd | Elias smiles and slips his arm in yours.  "To love, then," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "To love," Juanita repeats, her vinyl lips forming a wide smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | The three of you raise your glasses.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** THE END ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 242 moves, you have scored 18 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman with a fistful of bullets and a friendly
Floyd | demeanour.

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			ParserGirl says, "f Nod Suavely" 	
	schep says (to Floyd), "full" 		
	

Floyd | That isn't one of the options.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "full score" 		
	

Floyd | In 242 moves, you have scored 18 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman with a fistful of bullets and a friendly
Floyd | demeanour.  Your score consists of:
Floyd |    1 point for drinking the plainswoman's potion

Floyd |    7 points for killing members of the sheriff's posse
Floyd |    1 point for trapping Juanita beneath the chandelier
Floyd |    1 point for kissing Juanita
Floyd |    1 point for scaring off Gatling Gun Fiona
Floyd |    1 point for getting measured for your coffin
Floyd |    1 point for easing Solemn Gertrude's mind

Floyd |    1 point for surviving Gun-Run Raoul's onslaught
Floyd |    2 points for saving Elias
Floyd |    1 point for killing the sheriff
Floyd |    1 point for kissing Elias
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO

Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "amusing" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "teeheee - nice." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "amusing" 		
	

Floyd | Have you tried:
Floyd |
Floyd | Kissing everyone?

Floyd | Pointing at things around different people?
Floyd | Spending some time with Gertrude?
Floyd | Trying to deprogram Juanita?
Floyd | Looking at the sky as you progress?
Floyd | Talking, shouting, tasting or singing?
Floyd | Indulging the 'xyzzy' meme?

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh yeah, I forgot about deprogramming juanita" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It seemed like a bad time earlier." 	
			DavidW says, "It would never occur to me to try." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			inky says, "atfer she's trapped under the chandelier you can" 	
			inky says, "also" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "nod".
Floyd |

Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean.  A
Floyd | shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines
Floyd | in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in
Floyd | its glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the
Floyd | carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high

Floyd | ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth
Floyd | in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita stands nearby, a
Floyd | glass of machine oil in her hand.
Floyd |

Floyd | Elias is close by your side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shake" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wake?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, sure." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | You must be more specific about whom you want to talk to.

Floyd |
Floyd | "To love," Elias says, slipping his arm in yours.
Floyd |
Floyd | "To love," Juanita repeats, her vinyl lips forming a wide smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | The three of you raise your glasses.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** THE END ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 242 moves, you have scored 18 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman with a fistful of bullets and a friendly
Floyd | demeanour.

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, whoops" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "no".
Floyd |
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon

Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean.  A
Floyd | shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines
Floyd | in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in
Floyd | its glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the
Floyd | carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high
Floyd | ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth
Floyd | in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita stands nearby, a
Floyd | glass of machine oil in her hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias is close by your side.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "take wine".
Floyd |

Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean.  A
Floyd | shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines
Floyd | in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in
Floyd | its glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the
Floyd | carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high

Floyd | ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth
Floyd | in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita is hard at work
Floyd | tending to the needs of her many customers.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the bar is a glass of wasteland wine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias is close by your side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get glass" 		
	

Floyd | As she sees you raising your glass, Juanita heads over to you,
Floyd | brandishing a small capsule of machine oil.  "A toast," she says.  "To
Floyd | love."
Floyd |

Floyd | Elias meets your eye.  "What do you think?" he asks.  "To love?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | You must be more specific about whom you want to talk to.

Floyd |
Floyd | "To love," Elias says, slipping his arm in yours.
Floyd |
Floyd | "To love," Juanita repeats, her vinyl lips forming a wide smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | The three of you raise your glasses.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** THE END ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 242 moves, you have scored 18 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman with a fistful of bullets and a friendly
Floyd | demeanour.

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "...dammit" 	
			Jacqueline says, ">SHAKE HEAD" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "no".

Floyd |
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean.  A
Floyd | shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines
Floyd | in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in
Floyd | its glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the

Floyd | carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high
Floyd | ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth
Floyd | in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita stands nearby, a
Floyd | glass of machine oil in her hand.

Floyd |
Floyd | Elias is close by your side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "get glass".
Floyd |
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean.  A
Floyd | shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines
Floyd | in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in

Floyd | its glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the
Floyd | carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high
Floyd | ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth
Floyd | in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita is hard at work

Floyd | tending to the needs of her many customers.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the bar is a glass of wasteland wine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias is close by your side.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shake head" 		
	

Floyd | You shake your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "oops - I'll let you." 	
			ParserGirl says, "He hasn't asked yet." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get wine. shake head" 		
	

Floyd | As she sees you raising your glass, Juanita heads over to you,
Floyd | brandishing a small capsule of machine oil.  "A toast," she says.  "To

Floyd | love."
Floyd |
Floyd | Elias meets your eye.  "What do you think?" he asks.  "To love?"
Floyd |
Floyd | You shake your head.
Floyd |

Floyd | Elias cottons on immediately.  "No," he says to Juanita.  "A toast to
Floyd | the dead.  Especially those we wanted dead.  May they stay that way,
Floyd | and rest in peace."
Floyd |
Floyd | Juanita smiles.  "How noble.  Okay: to the dead."
Floyd |

Floyd | The three of you raise your glasses.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** THE END ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 243 moves, you have scored 19 of a possible 20 points.  This makes
Floyd | you a renegade lawman with a fistful of bullets and a gentle soul.

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO
Floyd | the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, there we go, the other point" 	
			DavidW says, "what the" 	
			inky says, "I wonder if yes/no questions at the ends of games are always supposed to be answered no" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, reprogramming is another point, you suppose?" 	
			Catena says, "last point is probably for deprogramming" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "what the? how did we get that last point?" 	
			DavidW says, "Toasting the dead, I guess." 	
			ParserGirl says, "No, I would not in fact like to be rescued from this dungeon with my bag full of treasure. ***Your Score Has Gone Up By 3 Points***" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Please select the saved position file to restore >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.

Floyd |
Floyd | Saloon
Floyd | Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and mostly clean.  A shady
Floyd | refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of harsh light shines in
Floyd | through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its
Floyd | glare.  A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully

Floyd | polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | The floor is littered with splinters of wood and broken glass.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tattered and broken chandelier is propped up against the bar.
Floyd |

Floyd | Rowdy Juanita is lying half over the bar, trapped beneath a heavy
Floyd | chandelier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		schep asks (of inky), "Do you want your possessions identified?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "reprogram juanita" 		
	

Floyd | The word "reprogram" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x juanita" 		
	

Floyd | Originally intended as a utilitarian synthetic wife for lonely
Floyd | wasteland farmers, Juanita is half farm machine, half sexbot.  Her
Floyd | figure has curvy, art deco proportions, while her four hydraulic arms
Floyd | can plough a whole field in minutes.

Floyd |
Floyd | Juanita is completely pinned down by a fallen chandelier.  Up close
Floyd | you can now see that a program crystal has been inserted into a port
Floyd | in the back of her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "program juanita" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x crystal" 		
	

Floyd | A thin, translucent shard of nanoscale computer memory.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Do you see something that doesn't belong?"  Juanita asks.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take crystal" 		
	

Floyd | You take hold of the program crystal and pull it out of Juanita's head
Floyd | socket.
Floyd |

Floyd | Juanita sighs with relief.  "Ah, I feel much better now."
Floyd |
Floyd | She wedges her upper arms against the the bar and they begin to emit a
Floyd | low, hydraulic hiss.  "Don't worry about me," she says.  "I'll be out
Floyd | of here in no time.  Go save Elias!"
Floyd |

Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There you go." 	
			inky says, "half farm machine, half sexbot" 	
			ParserGirl says, "With pouty vinyl lips." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, this took two hours." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do we want to save the other game for next week?" 	
	schep has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		ParserGirl says, "I don't have anywhere to go." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I actually should probably get going on some other things, myself." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But you guys can play and I'll just pop in and watch now and then." 	
			inky says, "I think it's slightly shorter than this one, but I imagine it's still a good 60-90 minutes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I really need to get some chores done. Company this evening." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Ah, ok." 	
			DavidW says, "Probably best to leave it for another day, then." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I'll go try some mud clients" 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "This is a lot of fun though!" 	
			inky says, "alrighty" 	
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		DavidW says, "I didn't know how long either would take. I just heard they were linear games." 	
	ParserGirl has had her fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says, "Okay, so next week, we do Attack of the Robot Yeti Zombies, then." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Heh. Yes, this was literally linear." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I rather liked the forward/backward thing." 	
			Nitku says, "I estimated this to take about 30 min, but I guess it takes a lot longer in CF sessions" 	
			inky says, "yeah, it does for some reason" 	
			Catena trembles in trope-ridden anticipation 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we discuss stuff." 	
			inky says, "though this style of game actually works pretty well for clubfloy" 	
			inky says, "d" 	
			inky says, "since there's no map that people get confused about" 	
			DavidW says, "That's true" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I love driving the FloydBus." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Not drawing a map is negligent anyway. hehe" 	
			ParserGirl says, "But I didn't really feel up to it today, which is good." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm glad I picked this game. I really wasn't sure what quality it was, but liked it a lot." 	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Attack of the Yeti Robot Zombies by Øyvind Thorsby
Fail-Safe by Jon Ingold
As played on ifMUD on July 20, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of two games: Attack of the Yeti Robot Zombies, written by Øyvind Thorsby, and Fail-Safe, written by Jon Ingold.

Attack of the Yeti Robot Zombies was originally released in 2006, and was a Xyzzy Awards finalist for the Best Use of Medium. You can learn more about AotRYZ, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide, and you can skip stright to the transcript of this game by clicking here.

Fail-Safe was originally released in 2000, and was also a Xyzzy Awards finalist, but for the Best Individual NPC. You can learn more about Fail-Safe, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide, and you can skip straight to the transcript of this game by clicking here.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing these games, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played these games, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline says, "Okay, we'll begin now. Please restrict comments to the #ClubFloyd channel from here on out, thanks." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load aotyrz" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Attack of the Yeti Robot Zombies

Floyd | This is a try-to-win-on-the-first-attempt game. The point of the game
Floyd | is to try to win on the first attempt. Or, failing that, to win in as
Floyd | few attempts as possible. You are not supposed to use "undo" or
Floyd | "restore" if things are going badly. (Though it is OK to use "save"
Floyd | and then later "restore" if you have to leave the game for a while.
Floyd | And it is OK to save the game as often as you like.)

Floyd | Get it? Yes or no?
Floyd |

	
			vimes says, "obvious answer is 'no', of course" 	
			DavidW says, "I think we need a designated driver for this game." 	
			ParserGirl says, "You can have my undo when you pry it from my poor squashed fingers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I could say no, sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "PG likes to drive the Floydbus." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "PG?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I do - I got a bit roughed up at work again but I'll do my best." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh, you mean you're possibly distracted and someone else should drive, or ... ?" 	
			ParserGirl flexes her joints. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Tell it we don't understand, I say." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I'm good for now but if I want someone else to take over later you'll know why." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | Please answer yes or no.>

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Ok, I will give an example. Say you are playing a game where you start
Floyd | in a burning building. If this were a normal game maybe you would want
Floyd | to search the building. Maybe you would find things. If you died you
Floyd | could just restart. But if you where playing a
Floyd | try-to-win-on-the-first-attempt game, you would probably want to run
Floyd | out, otherwise you might burn and die and then you would probably not

Floyd | win on the first attempt.
Floyd | Now do you understand? Yes or no?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Well I give up. Just play the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | Norway 1994. The country is overrun by yeti robot zombies! Death tolls

Floyd | are high. The cities are particularly strongly infested, and many
Floyd | people have fled to more desolate places. You too have escaped from a
Floyd | city, and have traveled to your cabin in Jotunheimen.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you are unfamiliar with interactive fiction, type HELP.
Floyd | Those who care can type CREDITS.

Floyd | Examine, look at, look inside, look under, look behind, look
Floyd | <direction> and search have not been implemented. You can still use
Floyd | look, inventory and read.
Floyd | No time passes when you use "look" or "inventory".
Floyd | You communicate by "talk to [whatever]".

Floyd | Should you wish to re-read the above information during the game, type
Floyd | ABOUT.
Floyd |
Floyd | Release 0 / Serial number 060825 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/11 S
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your cabin

Floyd | High up in Jotunheimen, on a path going west (where you came from) and
Floyd | east. To the north of you is your cabin, to the south a long drop.
Floyd | Behind your cabin is a steep tall mountain wall. The door to your
Floyd | cabin is gone. Bullet holes show it has been shot away. It must have
Floyd | been done by humans; yeti robot zombies don't carry guns.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "hahaha" 	
			Jacqueline giggles. 	
			vimes says, "hee hee" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "help" 		
	

Floyd | In interactive fiction games you type in commands to make your
Floyd | character do what you want. Commands can be things like:
Floyd | jump
Floyd | get sledgehammer
Floyd | get sledgehammer and banana

Floyd | get all
Floyd | drop everything except sledgehammer
Floyd | put sledgehammer in box
Floyd | put sledgehammer on table
Floyd | get all from table
Floyd | hit banana with sledgehammer

Floyd | give banana to bob
Floyd | throw banana at bob
Floyd | eat banana
Floyd | kill bob
Floyd | buy banana
Floyd | read sign

Floyd | open door
Floyd | close door
Floyd | unlock door with key
Floyd | lock door with key
Floyd | push rock
Floyd | push rock north

Floyd | pull rope
Floyd | enter car
Floyd | leave car
Floyd | wear hat
Floyd | remove hat
Floyd | touch hat

Floyd | sit on chair
Floyd | stand
Floyd |
Floyd | You should try to type your commands as simply as possible. Don't
Floyd | type: I sure would like to pick up that nice looking piece of fruit
Floyd | that I see lying here before me. The game won't understand that. Type

Floyd | instead: get fruit.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you want to have a look around, type: look. Or simply: l.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you want to have a look at what things you are carrying, type:
Floyd | inventory. Or simply: i.

Floyd |
Floyd | If you want to talk to another character, for instance Bob, type: talk
Floyd | to bob. Or simply: talk bob. Or simply: t bob.
Floyd |
Floyd | To move around, type in the direction you wish to go. To go north for
Floyd | instance, type: north. Or simply: n. Most games uses the directions

Floyd | north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest,
Floyd | up and down. Some games also use in and out.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you wish to wait for a short while, type: wait. Or simply: z.
Floyd |
Floyd | There are some special commands. If you have done something stupid,

Floyd | that you whish hadn't, you can type: undo. Other special commands are:
Floyd | save, restore, restart and quit.
Floyd |
Floyd | (In most games examine (x for short) and search are very important
Floyd | commands. But they don't exist in this game.)
Floyd |

Floyd | Most games have a few commands that you have to figure out for
Floyd | yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "oh my" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your cabin
Floyd | High up in Jotunheimen, on a path going west (where you came from) and
Floyd | east. To the north of you is your cabin, to the south a long drop.

Floyd | Behind your cabin is a steep tall mountain wall. The door to your
Floyd | cabin is gone. Bullet holes show it has been shot away. It must have
Floyd | been done by humans; yeti robot zombies don't carry guns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "They don't carry guns . . . YET." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | In this game examine, look at, look in, look under, look behind and
Floyd | search have not been implemented. You can still use look, inventory
Floyd | and read.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Inventory or go in." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "NO EXAMINE" 	
			ParserGirl says, "!" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The living room of your cabin
Floyd | It looks like some very heavy fighting has taken place here; all the
Floyd | furniture has been smashed to bits. Your bedroom is west, the outside
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The bedroom of your cabin
Floyd | All the furniture has been smashed here too, except for the large

Floyd | closet. It is open and empty. An extremely dead soldier lies all over
Floyd | the floor. A cell phone and a plasma rifle lie here. They are not
Floyd | yours. Maybe they belonged to the soldier. The only exit is east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "His other game also disabled examine." 	
	Guest1 arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "read soldier" 		
	

Floyd | It contains no writing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Guest1 says, "@joinc #clubfloyd" 		Jacqueline says, "So, >I and >L don't make time pass, though." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "take cell phone and rifle" 		
	

Floyd | cell phone: Taken.
Floyd | plasma rifle: You take the rifle. You notice it has 6 shots left.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cell phone rings. You answer it. "Hello?" you say.
Floyd | "Private H?rland is that you?" says a voice.
Floyd | "No, I'm afraid he is dead. I found him in my cabin, it looks like he

Floyd | was torn apart by a yeti robot zombie."
Floyd | "Fytti katta!" the voice curses.
Floyd | "Who is this?"
Floyd | "This is general Hansen."
Floyd | "And why is there a dead man in my cabin?"
Floyd | "He probably broke in to look for provisions. The yeti robot zombies

Floyd | have attacked our bases and eaten all our food. And the army. Private
Floyd | H?rland and me were the last ones left. And I can't fight much. My
Floyd | arms and legs have just been eaten. I barely managed to bite through
Floyd | the throat of the yeti robot zombie who attacked me. Then I dialed the
Floyd | phone with my nose."
Floyd | "Then... we have lost?" you say.

Floyd | "Maybe not. I have found out who the evil boss is that is behind all
Floyd | the yeti robot zombies. His headquarters are in Drammen."
Floyd | "Great. But who can stop him?"
Floyd | "It will have to be you."
Floyd | "Me? But I can't." you say.
Floyd | "You have to. There is nobody else left. But don't worry; I will guide

Floyd | you whilst slowly bleeding to death. First, do you have a gun?"
Floyd | "Yeah I have a rifle. There are six shots left."
Floyd | "That is is not enough. You are bound to encounter many yeti robot
Floyd | zombies on your mission. You must try to find a way to get past them
Floyd | without shooting them."
Floyd | "But how? I can't fight them with my hands. And I certainly can't talk

Floyd | to them."
Floyd | "I know. You just have to think of something. Now listen up. There is
Floyd | a cave east of your cabin. Go there. We have a small military base
Floyd | hidden inside it."
Floyd | "Very well."
Floyd |

Floyd | Just then you hear a Chewbaccaesque roar from the living room. There
Floyd | is a yeti robot zombie in your cabin! It could walk into the bedroom
Floyd | any minute now!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Guest), "I'm afraid guests can't join channels. You'll need an account, but they're easy to get." 		DavidW says, "Take phone. Take rifle. Heck, take all." 	
			ParserGirl says, "woah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess I could have whispered to the guest, sorry." 	
			ParserGirl says, "The phone rang." 	
			ParserGirl says, ""I will guide you whilst slowly bleeding to death"" 	
			DavidW says, "We must flee" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Negative points for misuse of "whilst"" 	
			Nitku says, "Disabling examine is a really good design choice imho. You don't want to stay and look around, just act." 	
	Guest1 goes home. 		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The bedroom of your cabin
Floyd | All the furniture has been smashed here too, except for the large

Floyd | closet. It is open and empty. An extremely dead soldier lies all over
Floyd | the floor. The only exit is east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Well, we could hide in the closet." 	
			DavidW asks, "or, can we take the soldier? Offer it to the zombie?" 	
			DavidW says, "Hiding is another option, sure." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Let's see" 	
	lemOnd arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "enter closet" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the roar of a yeti robot zombie in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "close closet" 		
	

Floyd | You close the closet and wait. Not long after you can hear something
Floyd | heavy walk into the room. You hold your breath. It sounds as if it is
Floyd | kicking the remains of the furniture around. Then you hear the roar of
Floyd | the yeti robot zombie. Then it hits the closet! The closet shakes.

Floyd | Have you been discovered? But then you hear the monster leave. You
Floyd | breathe out. You wait a while, then open the closet again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		* lemOnd has joined the channel. 	
			ParserGirl says, "Welcome!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "And hooray for Ellison's well timed @connect." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "take soldier" 		
	

Floyd | Yuck! You don't want to move a corpse around!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to get out of the closet first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "get out" 		
	

Floyd | You get out of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Welcome, lemOnd!" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The living room of your cabin
Floyd | It looks like some very heavy fighting has taken place here; all the

Floyd | furniture has been smashed to bits. Your bedroom is west, the outside
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Ellison arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your cabin
Floyd | High up in Jotunheimen, on a path going west (where you came from) and
Floyd | east. To the north of you is your cabin, to the south a long drop.

Floyd | Behind your cabin is a steep tall mountain wall. The door to your
Floyd | cabin is gone. Bullet holes show it has been shot away. It must have
Floyd | been done by humans; yeti robot zombies don't carry guns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	lemOnd says, "hello" 		DavidW says, "Go east" 	
			Ellison says, "hey all. lemme go check out what my connect is" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I guess our options are east and east." 	
			DavidW says, "The guy on the phone said east." 	
			Ellison says, "ah, yes, Fansy. go go good team!" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside a cave
Floyd | Just a couple of meters east of your cabin, and what do you know,

Floyd | there is a cave here! You had no idea! You can enter it by going
Floyd | north. To the south and east is a long drop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to lemOnd), "To speak on the channel, preface your words with #clubfloyd the first time. After you've designated which channel, you can just say ;WHATEVER (the semi-colon will indicate you want to talk on the channel rather than in the room)." 	
			ParserGirl says, "We had no idea!" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go northeast and northwest. South leads out.

Floyd |
Floyd | You speak into the cell phone. "Ok, I'm in the cave now."
Floyd | "Good. The entrance to our base should not be hard to find. It will
Floyd | however be locked. There is a soldier in the cave who has a ring of
Floyd | keys. One of the keys fits the lock. The soldier is off course dead.
Floyd | Torn apart by yeti robot zombies."

Floyd | "Yikes! That means there could be yeti robot zombies in the cave right
Floyd | now?"
Floyd | "Yes."
Floyd |
Floyd | Just then you hear a yeti robot zombie roar from the northeast. It
Floyd | seems to be getting closer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, since you showed up a touch late... this is a game where we think having just one person typing commands will work best, but you can suggest what she should type." 	
			ParserGirl says, "NW might be a good retreat." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, nw" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes, nw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "If we die, I'll have others to blame." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Recap: we are escaping Robot Yeti Zombie somethings and listing to commands from an exsanguinating limbless soldier over our stolen cellphone." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go southeast and northeast. A heavy-looking iron door leads
Floyd | west. It is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the southeast. It seems to be getting closer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | A cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "OH DARN IT" 	
			DavidW says, "hey! No undoing!" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Hi, lemOnd." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Well shoot." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the southeast. It seems to be getting closer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave

Floyd | Passages go southwest and southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We can probably circle around" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go northwest and southwest. Another dead soldier lies all
Floyd | over the place.
Floyd |
Floyd | A ring of keys lies here. There must be at least sixty keys on it!

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the southwest. It gets further and further away,
Floyd | then disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "get keys" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "circling" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hahaha I always love this kind of writing." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go northeast and northwest. South leads out.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the northwest. It gets further and further away,
Floyd | then disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go southeast and northeast. A heavy-looking iron door leads
Floyd | west. It is closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline | Another dead soldier lies all over the place. 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's great." 	
			ParserGirl says, "yay" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | You try one of the keys. It does not fit.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a roar from the northeast. It gets further and further away,
Floyd | then disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You try another key. It does not fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You try a new key. It does not fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the southeast. It seems to be getting closer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go southwest and southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go northwest and southwest. Another dead soldier lies all

Floyd | over the place.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar from the southwest. It gets further and further away,
Floyd | then disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go northeast and northwest. South leads out.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a roar from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | A cave
Floyd | Passages go southeast and northeast. A heavy-looking iron door leads
Floyd | west. It is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a yeti robot zombie here.
Floyd |

Floyd | The yeti robot zombie roars when it sees you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "oops" 	
			DavidW says, "oops" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You try to leave, but the yeti robot zombie grabs you and drags you
Floyd | back. You manage to shake loose from its grip.
Floyd |
Floyd | The yeti robot zombie roars.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl asks, "Should I try to shoot it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ack." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Put him down." 	
			DavidW says, "kill it, I think." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "shoot yeti" 		
	

Floyd | "Have a taste of plasma!" you say. A plasma beam evaporates the yeti
Floyd | robot zombie. Five shots left.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Did I hear a shot?" says the general on the phone. "Careful son, you
Floyd | gotta save the ammo. Find some way to avoid shooting the monsters."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Eep." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Thanks Chief." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | You try a new key. It does not fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | You try a new key. It fits. What luck! You unlock the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A small white room
Floyd | To the north is a doorway. To the east is a heavy-looking iron door.
Floyd | It is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | You speak into the cell phone "I am inside the base."
Floyd | "Excellent. On the second floor is a cabinet. It is locked, but one of
Floyd | your keys will open it. Inside the cabinet is an experimental
Floyd | teleporting device. Just push the button, and it will teleport you to
Floyd | our main base, on the other side of the mountain."
Floyd | "Very well."

Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly you hear a roar to the east. A yeti robot zombie must be just
Floyd | outside the door!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "CLOSE THE DOOR" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I think it is probably wise that I . . . yes." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a roar from the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | You lock the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | There comes a loud bang from the door, as if something large is being
Floyd | smashed against it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "For some reason I thought this might be a peaceful, serene game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(kidding)" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I wonder if we can push the cabinet against the door" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ooh - try." 	
			DavidW says, "The cabinet is UPSTAIRS." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ooh - don't try." 	
			ParserGirl says, "OH HEY" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Another small white room

Floyd | To the south and north are doorways.  Lots of useless debris blocks
Floyd | the north doorway. It is going to take several minutes to move it
Floyd | away.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a bang from the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "RIVETING DEBRIS CLEARING" 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "Hehe. Just get to the damn teleporter!" 	
			DavidW says (to CT), "We're trying, new guy." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I wonder if I can shut the south door" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "shut door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Doorway. Not door." 	
			ParserGirl says, "bah" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "clear debris" 		
	

Floyd | As you begin to move the debris, the bangs from the south get louder
Floyd | and more frequent. You hurry up. Soon the debris is out of the way.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear loud bangs and angry roaring from the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Yet another small white room
Floyd | To the south is a doorway. Stairs goes up.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a roar behind you and turn. A yeti robot zombie was standing
Floyd | up against the wall, besides the door. Now it moves in front of the

Floyd | door, blocking it. But the stairs are clear. And you know yeti robot
Floyd | zombies are really bad at walking up stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Well, I doubt errors cost us time, do they?" 	
			DavidW says, "Yes. Of course they do." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ack." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I thought we should just go up...sorry." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You mean game errors - like 'You can't see any such thing?'" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We know this, of course. We are tactical YRZ experts." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | One more small white room
Floyd | Stairs go down. A glass cabinet is here. It is closed. Inside it is a

Floyd | small black box with a round red button.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the clamor of a yeti robot zombie trying to walk up the
Floyd | stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "unlock the cabinet" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Wait, it's glass." 	
			DavidW asks, "or, hm. Break it?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "break cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You smash the cabinet to pieces with your fists. The small black box
Floyd | falls on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the clamor of a yeti robot zombie trying to walk up the
Floyd | stairs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | You push the button. Reality hiccups and you are somewhere else.
Floyd |
Floyd | An additional small white room

Floyd | A doorway leads south. Stairs go up.
Floyd |
Floyd | You notice you don't have the box with you. Or the keys. Oh well,
Floyd | let's just hope none of your more important internal organs got left
Floyd | behind.
Floyd | "The teleporter worked." you say in the phone.

Floyd | "It did? Really? That's great! Now walk up the stairs and you will
Floyd | find two doors. It doesn't matter which one you take, both will lead
Floyd | to a roof."
Floyd | "Then what?"
Floyd | "On each roof there will be a helicopter. I assume you know how to fly
Floyd | one?"

Floyd | "Off course."
Floyd | "Then it's off to Drammen."
Floyd | "Right!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Just then two yeti robot zombies, one thin and one fat, shamble in
Floyd | from the south. They roar when they see you. They are blocking your

Floyd | path to the south, but the stairs are clear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Hooray!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "GO GO GOOD TEAM" 	
			Ellison says, "hehe" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Wait,we're still in danger." 	
			DavidW says, "yes. We are." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I guess there are stairs again though." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I say we insult them till they fight each other." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Yet an additional small white room

Floyd | Stairs go down. There is a glass door to the east, and another one to
Floyd | the west. Both are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the clamor of two yeti robot zombies trying to walk up the
Floyd | stairs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We're still in danger and we might be missing our appendix, but I guess that's not a 'more important internal organ,' so that might be okay." 	
			ParserGirl says, "It doesn't matter which door, according to Corporal Torso." 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Bust em down?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Or maybe it's a death trap and they're unlocked." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Just try to open them." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The door is locked.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the clamor of two yeti robot zombies trying to walk up the
Floyd | stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't know what the default door handling is. I'd just try 'w'." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "break east door" 		
	

Floyd | You smash the door to pieces with your fists.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the clamor of two yeti robot zombies trying to walk up the
Floyd | stairs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A white small room

Floyd | A doorway leads west. Stairs go up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | A roof
Floyd | A small flat roof above/on the side of a large military base in the
Floyd | mountains. Stairs go down. You can enter a chopper to the north. In
Floyd | all other directions is a long drop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "UP and ATOM" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside a chopper
Floyd | There is a control panel here. The only thing interesting about it at

Floyd | the moment is the big button that starts the chopper. It is going to
Floyd | take several minutes to start up the chopper. You can leave south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Chopper!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "They do take some time to start." 	
			ParserGirl says, "We're probably going to have to get out and fight while it's firing up." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Really? Neat." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | You push the button. You sit waiting for the helicopter to take off.
Floyd | After a while the fat yeti robot zombie and the thin yeti robot zombie
Floyd | burst into the chopper.
Floyd |
Floyd | The yeti robot zombies roar.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Five shots, though, right?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Wait, they're in here already!" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Tilt the chopper" 	
			DavidW says, "run for the other chopper" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We have enough shots, but enough time? Maybe push the fat one into the thin one." 	
			ParserGirl says (to DW), "There were two doors but I think they both went to the same roof." 	
			DavidW says, "I know. So they get this chopper. We get the other one." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Or maybe he just named them like that to differentiate them." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It is a shame we can not push them into the rotor blades." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "That's probably doable." 	
			DavidW says, "But not from here." 	
			ParserGirl says, "They might not let us leave, so I see two options: fire or push." 	
			Jacqueline says, "If we push they might bite off our hands." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But, um, I guess I'm okay with that. Well, one hand, anyway." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Or just try launching" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "that's what they do in the movies..." 	
			DavidW says, "The other options are out and push button, I think." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Heck, let's blast 'em." 	
			DavidW says, "sigh." 	
			ParserGirl says, "pew pew" 	
			DavidW says, "Blasting is almost certainly a mistake." 	
			ParserGirl says, "That's quite a reasonable assumption." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says (to DavidW), "but we have 5 mistakes left. heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't like this whole 'no undo' business." 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Votes?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "launch. (even if it's silly)" 	
			DavidW says, "I vote "out"." 	
			Ellison asks, "is there no saving?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I, um, guess I'm okay with out." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Ok, worth a shot." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | The fat yeti robot zombie blocks the way.
Floyd |

Floyd | The yeti robot zombies shake their heads from side to side, roaring.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yes, we can save." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Ellison), "The author wants us not to." 	
			ParserGirl says, "The fat one is blocking the way." 	
			Ellison says, "but... but... who can save the author from himself?!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We also can't examine things." 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Push/kick?" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. I'd try to push the fat zombie, yeah." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push fat zombie" 		
	

Floyd | You try. It is like trying to move a mountain.
Floyd |

Floyd | The yeti robot zombies look right at you and roar A LOT.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Corporal_Touchy says, "mh..that sounds bad" 	
			DavidW says, "They're not killing us immediately though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hello, Catena... we moved the time. I guess I should have posted a reminder..." 	
			Catena says, "aha" 	
			ParserGirl says, "There are YetiRobotZombies(tm) in our choppah." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Should we still try to push the thin one?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oh, missed the new time." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You are here in time to help us, of course, Catena. That and we may end up playing another short game after this, depending on how long it takes." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I think we should shoot, but I'm not married to it." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, perhaps the thin one can be pushed, even if the fat one can't." 	
			Catena says, "oh, it is correct in the bb post" 	
			Catena says, "I didn't read carefully" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Me neither." 	
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun and funk. 		ParserGirl says, "Ok, I'll procede to push the thin one. Maybe he'll knock the fat one out." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push thin" 		
	

Floyd | You try. It is like trying to move a mountain.
Floyd |

Floyd | The yeti robot zombies roar even more than they have roared before.
Floyd | Then they try to hit you with their claws. You duck just in time.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hm." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I declare it is shooting time." 	
			DavidW asks, "We could 'look' again. Looking takes no game time, yes?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside a chopper
Floyd | There is a control panel here. The only thing interesting about it at
Floyd | the moment is the big button that starts the chopper. You have pushed
Floyd | it, and you can hear the chopper starting up. You can leave south.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a thin yeti robot zombie and a fat yeti robot zombie here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "Shoot [x]" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And yeah, I'm in favor of shooting, I think." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Or maybe try a melee attack..." 	
			DavidW says, "I think 'push button' has to be considered, even though I don't see how it could help." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I'm worried it might turn it off." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think it might shut the chopper down." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks (of DavidW), "didn't we push that to start the starting?" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Whih one should I shoot?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes, the chopper will turn off. But that might make the zombies leave for reasons unknown." 	
			DavidW says, "We don't know what the zombies want, after all." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Tell that to the guy on the phone." 	
			Catena says, "tea, I'm sure. and a towel" 	
			Fang asks (of DavidW), "Not brains? What game is this?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Hm, true." 	
			ParserGirl says (to Fang), "Bah! Only the most pedestrian zombie films involve brains." 	
			DavidW says (to Fang), "Attack of the Yeti Robot Zombies." 	
			Fang asks (of DavidW), "then consumerism, maybe?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "has this game no undo?" 	
			Catena asks, "what do we carry?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "They ate an entire army. I think we have their motivations down pretty well." 	
	Fang arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Corporal_Touchy says (to TS), "We're not supposed to use undo or save." 	
			Catena asks, "are we trying to kill or survive?" 	
			DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "The author asks the player to not use UNDO." 	
			ParserGirl says (to Catena), "Cell phone, with a legless armless general on the other end and a plasma rifle with about four shots left." 	
			Ellison says, "you'd think being part yeti, they'd be good at making themselves scarce" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We're supposed to be conserving ammo." 	
			Jacqueline | This is a try-to-win-on-the-first-attempt game. The point of the game is to try to win on the first attempt. Or, failing that, to win in as few attempts as possible. You are not supposed to use "undo" or "restore" if things are going badly. 	
			Jacqueline says, "That is the author's wish." 	
			Taleslinger says, "surely he didn't write that with CF in mind. ;-)" 	
			DavidW says, "oh. TALK TO the zombies." 	
			Catena asks, "okies. Are we at a dead end? what if we just let the chopper take off and crash?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "The yeti will eat us before that happens and we can't leave the chopper." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "how far in the game are you people?" 	
			DavidW says, "We're this far in." 	
			Catena says, "well, if we only have one action we must distroct them both" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Not far, but I don't think it's very long." 	
			ParserGirl says (to Catena), "We've had about four actions so far." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Haha. That is an illuminating answer." 	
			Taleslinger says, "i ask that because you might be able to spare the shots" 	
			DavidW asks, "Can we try TALK TO, please?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ooh - yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Talk to 'em." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I don't see why not." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside a chopper
Floyd | There is a control panel here. The only thing interesting about it at
Floyd | the moment is the big button that starts the chopper. You have pushed
Floyd | it, and you can hear the chopper starting up. You can leave south.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a thin yeti robot zombie and a fat yeti robot zombie here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Not that I think it will work, but I bet it'll be funny." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "talk to fat" 		
	

Floyd | You have no idea about how to communicate with a yeti robot zombie.
Floyd |
Floyd | The yeti robot zombies roar. Then they try to hit you. You just manage
Floyd | to jump to the side instead of being sliced to small chunks. Then the
Floyd | yeti robot zombies roar some more.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "okay. Talk to the phone." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "talk to phone" 		
	

Floyd | You speak into the phone "What was I supposed to do?"
Floyd | Hansen says "Upstairs you will find two doors. It doesn't matter which
Floyd | one you take, both will lead to a roof. On each roof there will be a
Floyd | helicopter. Fly it to Drammen."
Floyd |
Floyd | While roaring, the yeti robot zombies continue to try and hit you with

Floyd | their claws. You realize they are going to succeed real soon. BETTER
Floyd | DO SOMETHING!
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "damn" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We have a gun!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aw. It wasn't even funny!" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "roar" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "push the button or fly the chopper, I guess." 	
			Catena asks, "roll chopper to pitch them out?" 	
			DavidW says, "I dunno. We need options." 	
			ParserGirl says, "We haven't even tried to shoot them." 	
			Ellison asks, "throw the thing yeti into the blades?" 	
			Ellison says, "thin" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "shoot zombies" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "anything they grab might be torn off if we fly sideways" 	
			DavidW says, "We can't push the zombies. I doubt throwing will work." 	
			ParserGirl says, "They're immovable." 	
			DavidW says (to Fang), "Also, we're letting PG drive." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Shoot em." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "shoot fat" 		
	

Floyd | "I'll show you how to lose some weight, REAL QUICK!" you shout. A
Floyd | plasma beam evaporates the fat yeti robot zombie. Four shots left.
Floyd |
Floyd | The thin yeti robot zombie roars.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the hum of the chopper starting up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Heehee" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "shoot thin" 		
	

Floyd | "You found the wrong guy to mess with!" you say. A plasma beam
Floyd | evaporates the thin yeti robot zombie. Three shots left.
Floyd |
Floyd | After waiting a while the chopper takes off.
Floyd |
Floyd | A couple of hours later you speak into the phone: "Ok, I am now flying

Floyd | over Drammen."
Floyd | "You are doing great. The headquarters of the evil boss is in a new
Floyd | building. It's the tallest one in Drammen, close to the middle of the
Floyd | city. Can you see it?"
Floyd | "Yes."
Floyd |

Floyd | It must be over a hundred stories tall, and it easily dwarfs any of
Floyd | the other buildings. On the sides it has huge neon pentagrams. On the
Floyd | roof is a 30-meter tall statue of a yeti robot zombie.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Be careful." says General Hansen. "There are rumors that the closest
Floyd | servants of the evil boss are a group of Satanists!"

Floyd | "Holy crap!"
Floyd | "Indeed. They are very deadly in combat. And don't think for a minute
Floyd | that you can reason with them. They are at least as dangerous as the
Floyd | yeti robot zombies."
Floyd | "Understood."
Floyd |

Floyd | You fly closer to the building. You notice that the eyes of the statue
Floyd | of the yeti robot zombie are moving. They are following your chopper!
Floyd |
Floyd | The statues mouth opens. A rocket shoots out, straight towards you!
Floyd | You steer the chopper down. You avoid a full hit. Instead the rocket
Floyd | explodes against the propeller. The chopper is going down fast!

Floyd |
Floyd | Frantically, you steer the chopper towards the building. It smashes
Floyd | into, and goes halfway through, the roof! The impact makes the chopper
Floyd | door open, and you fall out! You land painfully on the floor below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Groaning, you slowly get up. You look around.

Floyd |
Floyd | West side of a hall
Floyd | You are on the west side of large black hall. Above you the chopper is
Floyd | sticking halfway through the ceiling. You can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the east side of the hall you can see the following:

Floyd | A large red metal barrel stands on the floor. On it is written, in
Floyd | large black letters: "DANGER! HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE!" A yeti robot zombie
Floyd | stands on one side of the barrel, a man on the other. He is wearing a
Floyd | hooded brown robe, which conceals his face. For some reason the yeti
Floyd | robot zombie shows no sign of wanting to attack the man. A doorway
Floyd | leads north.

Floyd |
Floyd | The man says "Ah, excellent. Another sacrifice to our master. But
Floyd | first a prayer." He begins to mutter something in Latin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "HOORAY" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Whoa" 	
			ParserGirl says, "hahahaha "Holy crap!"" 	
			Fang says, "I hope we haven't screwed ourselves" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think we're okay." 	
			DavidW says (to Fang), "Probably." 	
			Fang says, "in that there will be something requiring 4 shots later.." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a plasma rifle (with three shots left) and a cell phone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "We have three shots out of six. Conservation doesn't mean never using them at all." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I think you can get two with one shot here." 	
			DavidW says, "3 shots left." 	
			ParserGirl says, ""But first, several turns to give you the opportunity to defeat me while I mutter in Latin."" 	
			DavidW asks, "I suppose you want to shoot the barrel?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I do, but I need a quick afk. Someone else can take over" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Eep. Okay." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, shoot the barrel?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or pray?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking praying is bad... I was just kidding." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Or just run and save a shot?" 	
			Fang says, "praying sounds interesting" 	
			DavidW says, "There's a possibility that the monk (or whoever it is) has a gadget that means zombies don't attack you." 	
			Fang says, "either it'll save us, or it'll be unimplemented, I think" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks (of DavidW), "You mean like a brown robe?" 	
			Catena says, "I think we're overanalyzing this" 	
			Fang says, "that's my OOC perspective, anyways" 	
			Catena says, "shoot and take the robe" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay. So we have (a) run, (b) shoot barrel, (c) pray, (d) somehow figure out with limited verb implementation how to get the gadget from the evil monk dude." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks (of Catena), "Definitely. Isn't it fun?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Hooray! I return." 	
			DavidW says (to Catena), "If we're heading into the main HQ of zombie central, we need something. Maybe the robe *is* it." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | West side of a hall
Floyd | You are on the west side of large black hall. Above you the chopper is

Floyd | sticking halfway through the ceiling. You can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the east side of the hall you can see the following:
Floyd | A large red metal barrel stands on the floor. On it is written, in
Floyd | large black letters: "DANGER! HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE!" A yeti robot zombie
Floyd | stands on one side of the barrel, a man on the other. He is wearing a

Floyd | hooded brown robe, which conceals his face. For some reason the yeti
Floyd | robot zombie shows no sign of wanting to attack the man. A doorway
Floyd | leads north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "It is amusing how much we are indeed overanalyzing it given the author's constraint of no undo." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I'm with DavidW. That sentence really has a supercool gadget between the lines." 	
			Fang says, "I think we should give prayer a chance" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think we can risk a turn to pray." 	
			ParserGirl says, "The robe might still be intact if the guy is thrown from the explosion." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Sure, ok." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing practical results from your prayer.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man continues to mutter something in Latin.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "oh well" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Is pray a common verb or did you realy just come up with that?" 	
			DavidW says, "We can't search or examine anything. We'll need to kill the guy or maybe even grab the robe off him as he prays." 	
			DavidW says, "Pray is a standard verb." 	
			Catena says, "pray is in the default set of Inform 7 at least" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Well, we definitely can't shoot him directly. That would vaporize him and the robe along with it." 	
			DavidW says, "So hit him." 	
			Fang says, "I guess the obvious thing is to shoot the barrel" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Back to the barrel..." 	
			ParserGirl says (to DW), "The yeti might not like that." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I think we've analyzed enough now let's do the obvious thing hehe" 	
			DavidW says, "None of the options is safe." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Barrel blasting!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Life is all about mitigating risks." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "shoot barrel" 		
	

Floyd | "I love me some good fireworks!" you shout. The plasma beam hits the
Floyd | barrel and the barrel explodes. The man and the yeti robot zombie get

Floyd | thrown through the air in opposite directions. Both smash into a wall.
Floyd | Sparks start shooting out from all over the body of the yeti robot
Floyd | zombie, and then it explodes into nothing. The man slides down on the
Floyd | floor, dead. Two shots left.
Floyd |
Floyd | Happily you speak into the phone "Hey general Hansen! I just killed my

Floyd | fist human!"
Floyd | "I am proud of you, boy. When I argh. Blahaghr.
Floyd | Grablahaharghragghrablagragh. Glb."
Floyd | "General Hansen? GENERAL HANSEN?!"
Floyd | There is no answer. You realize he has bled to death. You look up and
Floyd | shout in anger: "CURSE YOU EVIL BOSS!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We might be able to get robe or possible gadget before the zombie can react." 	
			ParserGirl says, "hahaha" 	
	inky arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take robe" 		
	

Floyd | You are too far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says (to inky), "You just missed some great dialogue." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | East side of a hall
Floyd | You are on the east side of a large black hall. You can go west. A
Floyd | doorway leads north. The corpse of a man lies on the floor. He is

Floyd | wearing a hooded brown robe, which conceals his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the west side of the hall you can see the following:
Floyd | The chopper is sticking halfway through the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly you hear humming from the north. After a while you recognize

Floyd | the tune. It's a Metallica song! That means there must be another
Floyd | Satanist through the north doorway!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl asks, "Take robe?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			inky says, "I'll see it on the replay" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "haha" 	
			Fang asks, "wear robe?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "take robe" 		
	

Floyd | You take the robe. The dead guy doesn't look familiar.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear more satanic humming from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This whole game has been filled with stellar writing, actually." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "wear robe" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the brown robe. Your face is hidden in the shadow of the
Floyd | hood.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear more satanic humming from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "I think we're set . . . for SATAN." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A small black room
Floyd | A man stands here. He is wearing a black robe, without a hood. He has
Floyd | tall white hair. Doorways lead south and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man nods at you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "Seriously, evil bad guys need to use costumes for their henchmen that do not hide the wearer's identity" 	
			Fang asks, "nod back?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I think so." 	
			Catena says, "tell that to Vader" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "nod at man" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to nod.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | You nod your head to the man.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Onward!" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A large black office
Floyd | A man sits behind a desk, on one of them office chairs with little

Floyd | wheels. He is wearing a suit and a tie. He must be the boss! A
Floyd | steaming cup of coffee stands on the desk. A heavy-looking bookshelf
Floyd | stands against a wall, close to the desk. The shelf reaches almost to
Floyd | the ceiling. It is filled with old, black tomes. Directly behind the
Floyd | man is a large window going from floor to ceiling. Outside is Drammen.
Floyd | A doorway leads south.

Floyd |
Floyd | The man says "First of all, do not think for a moment that your
Floyd | disguise will work against me. Secondly, welcome to my humble abode."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "uh oh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Eep." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think he might be on to us." 	
			Catena asks, "drop the bookcase on him?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "We should totally push him through the window." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Let's see how he likes hot coffee! For him! In his face!" 	
			DavidW says, "yes. Boss through window seems the key." 	
			Fang says, "Let's wait while he explains his plans and put us in an easily escapable position" 	
			Catena exclaims, "three good ideas! four!" 	
			DavidW says, "But I bet it's done by books falling on desk, spilling hot coffee in lap, and boss backpedaling through window." 	
			ParserGirl says, "No one expects the yeti inquisition." 	
			Catena exclaims, "ooooh, chain reaction!" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Woah. Great plan." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Well, I guess we can start on the bookcase." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "How many shots do we have left? Two?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Yes." 	
			Catena says, "hold it' it's a mcdonalds cup, so won't spill because the victim was the evi/ boss' mother" 	
			DavidW asks, "Can we push/pull the bookshelf?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push bookshelf" 		
	

Floyd | You grab the bookshelf from the side. "I think you should have stuck
Floyd | to some LIGHT reading!" you say and push the shelf towards the man. He
Floyd | screams as heavy books rain down on him. Then the massive shelf
Floyd | smashes into his head. He falls off his chair. The body gets hidden
Floyd | beneath the shelf. It gets very quiet.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Is he dead?" you wonder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly the shelf explodes in flames! Up from the flaming debris
Floyd | rises the boss! But he has changed. He has green skin, short horns and
Floyd | long claws. He shoots red beams from his eyes, destroying the shelf

Floyd | and books further. Then he shreds the rest of the remains with his
Floyd | claws. The flames die down. He sits down on his chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man says "I am impressed you have made it so far."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "I'd say yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			ParserGirl says, "So. I'm guessing hot coffee might just tickle him." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Well maybe he's ticklish. Try it." 	
			Catena asks, "coffee time?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "throw coffee on him" 		
	

Floyd | "You should be careful; coffee can be DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH!" you
Floyd | shout grabbing the scalding coffee and throwing it at the man's head.
Floyd | Screaming he clutches at his face. He stands up, and stumbles

Floyd | backwards. He hits the window. It breaks and he falls through. You run
Floyd | over to the window and look down. The man is screaming and falling
Floyd | downwards in slow motion. He lands with a wet thud against the
Floyd | pavement.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He is dead." you think.

Floyd |
Floyd | The body transforms. The horns grow longer, tentacles shoots out from
Floyd | its head, and his shoes and pants burst as his legs grow huge and
Floyd | round like the legs of an elephant. He uses his tentacles to climb up
Floyd | the wall; they must have suckers on them. Soon he is at the window. He
Floyd | has to bend his head forward to get through, his horns are so long. He

Floyd | no longer looks remotely human. The boss sits down on his chair behind
Floyd | the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tentacle shoots out and grabs the empty cup from your hand. The
Floyd | tentacle crumbles the cup and throws it out the window.
Floyd |

Floyd | The man says "I will enjoy killing such a worthy opponent."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh dear. But we probably should try the coffee attack." 	
			ParserGirl says, "ahahaha" 	
			ParserGirl says, "(afk again - continue)" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A large black office
Floyd | A man sits behind a desk, on one of them office chairs with little

Floyd | wheels. He is wearing a suit and a tie. He must be the boss! He has
Floyd | green skin, long horns and long claws. Also: elephant legs and
Floyd | tentacles. Directly behind the man is a large broken window going from
Floyd | floor to ceiling. Outside is Drammen. A doorway leads south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW The chair is still on casters, of course. 		
	

Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "Maybe it's time for the Indiana Jones lesson.." 	
			DavidW says, "push chair" 	
			Fang asks, "push the chair?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I vote for shooting." 	
			Fang asks, "pull tie?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking the gun isn't going to work." 	
			ParserGirl says, "ok, back" 	
			Fang says, "I assume shooting is what we do last" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push chair" 		
	

Floyd | "You've got a nice view here. Why don't you take a CLOSER LOOK!" you
Floyd | say and push the man in the chest. His chair rolls backwards and hits
Floyd | the window. He and the chair falls through. You run over to the window

Floyd | and look down. The man is screaming and falling downwards in slow
Floyd | motion. He lands with a wet thud against the pavement.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He is dead." you think.
Floyd |
Floyd | The body turns to green sludge, which evaporates into nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You have a closer look at the desk. You notice it has lots of buttons.
Floyd | Two in particular interest you: a big red one that says "KILL ALL YETI
Floyd | ROBOT ZOMBIES", and a smaller yellow one that says "Secret exit".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "hah" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			ParserGirl says, "We had to kill that guy no fewer than three times. That was awesome." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, try it, but I think this is like Gun Mute where you do one thing, then another, then another, then another... but then, you're supposed to do all those things, so sure, shoot him." 	
			inky says, "it's also funny he basically falls out the window twice" 	
			DavidW says, "push red button, I guess. Then push yellow one." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, he really is dead." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't expect that." 	
			inky says (to Jacqueline), "or IS he" 	
			Fang says, "red sounds like a trap" 	
			inky says, "dunh dunh dunh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yellow sounds nice." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "It does sound like a trap. Push it anyway." 	
			Catena says, "uh, I don't think that this game is that deep" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Ok, pushing red then yellow." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push red" 		
	

Floyd | You push the button. You hear an explosion below you, somewhere in the
Floyd | building. Then another, and another, and another, several at once,

Floyd | more than you can count. The whole building is trembling. The shaking
Floyd | gets harder. You fall over. You look out the window. You see several
Floyd | explosions in Drammen, some inside buildings, some down near the
Floyd | street. Then the number of explosions starts to decrease. After a
Floyd | while all is quiet. Outside, several buildings are burning.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang says, "it could be: 'Kill, All robot yeti zombies'" 	
			inky says, "except that it turns out YOU TOO are a robot yeti zombie" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "push yellow" 		
	

Floyd | You push the button. The desk slides to the side, revealing stairs
Floyd | going down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "This game is apparently as deep as the convex side of a barn." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "HAHAHA" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You walk down, manage to sneak past a few Satanists and you are out.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     ***You saved the country, you big hero you!***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "Barns have convex sides?" 	
			DavidW says, "yay!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "ONE TRY WHAT UP" 	
			DavidW says, ">AMUSING" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "amusing" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | * Win the game with 4 shots left in the rifle.
Floyd | * That's it.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Ellison says, "good job, everyone" 	
			Catena says, "rofl, only takes more than one try if you don't do the obvious" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I meant we didn't die once." 	
			inky says, "it probably takes a second try to win with 4 bullets left" 	
			inky says, "(unless you guys are better at it than I was)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huzzah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We only had two shots left." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... wait. You can do it with 4 left?" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. So that means either the barrel or the chopper zombies don't need a shot." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, yeah - >AMUSING" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Well, if that yeti hadn't caught me in the circle I wouldn't have had to shoot it." 	
			Taleslinger says, "The last shot is for yourself, so we had one shot left." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Bland MacMcHero" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "the chopper zombies don't need a shot" 	
			inky says, "IIRC" 	
			DavidW says, "How many shots did we use altogether? Four, yes? Cave zombie, 2 chopper zombies, and barrel." 	
			ParserGirl asks (of inky), "Do you remember how?" 	
			inky says, "(the barrel is a way to avoid using more bullets on the guys directly)" 	
			Fang says, "that was, um, pretty easy" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "I think you might not have to shoot the cave zombie" 	
			inky says, "and might have to shoot only one of the chopper zombies" 	
			inky says, "there is some way to slow them down, I believe" 	
			DavidW asks, "oh. Open both glass doors, so they each take one?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, I missed that that was the "amusing" bit. Bah." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Yep." 	
			(from inky) Jacqueline says "We are not amused." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee. No." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, that took 1h10min. Another?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I'm game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Everything on the CF object is now uploaded, I think, so... there's probably another short game if people are up for it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You can >X CF to see the list." 	
			Nitku asks, "Is Fail-Safe long?" 	
			inky says (to DavidW), "that seems right, although I don't remember for sure" 	
			Fang says, "Failsafe is pretty short" 	
			DavidW says, "Fail-Safe is short, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm... well, I don't have a preference. If it's a short game, let's do that." 	
			DavidW says, "Probably a good match for this game." 	
			Nitku says, "I played it once but didn't get very far" 	
			Fang says, "oh yeah, hands up if you've played it before" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Can we use undo in Fail Safe? I'm all for using undo." 	
			Fang says, "(to completion)" 	
			Jacqueline puts both hands down. 	
			Fang says (to Jacq), "We can use undo, IIRC" 	
			DavidW says, "I think undo is permitted for FS." 	
			DavidW says, "We'll see if that helps you. :)" 	
			Fang says, "but not save, but I don't think either is required, anyways" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Who's played it to completion?" 	
			Fang says, "I've played it, so I'll avoid spoiling" 	
			DavidW says, "I have. It was a while back." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Me, same as nitku" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm trying to think of who suggested this. One sec and I'll go check." 	
	Jacqueline waves and makes an isquiesque departure for home. 		
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says, "Silly me, I think I destroyed the old lists rather than filing them away. Bah." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Anyway, Fail Safe, then, I take it?" 	
			vimes says, "Gotta head out. Thanks for the game so far. Cheers, and good luck!" 	
	vimes was passed by the passive voice. 		Fang exclaims (at Jacq), "You should go into politics!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bye, vimes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load failsafe" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |           With thanks to Vincent Lynch, Tom Lees, John Bichard.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                            [Please press SPACE to boot
Floyd | up.]

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt. Crackle. *Static*
Floyd |

Floyd | "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Locating/Tuning signal...
Floyd |
Floyd | ..
Floyd |

Floyd | ".. help. Repeat, can anybody hear me? Can you hear me? Hello.."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello? Hello! The .. <crackle> pretty bad. Are you receiving this?
Floyd | Over."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "..what? Can't quite make you out. .. we need help.  This is the space
Floyd | pod 'Serpentine'. We've been attacked, a small cruiser. They.. they
Floyd | came out of nowhere.. tried to board us.. ...stly dead.. systems are
Floyd | all messed up, we're drifting.. I need help to fix this.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm by the console, there's wires everywhere. The computer flashing
Floyd | something. What do I do? Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		ParserGirl says, "brb, need to make some phone calls." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fix it" 		
	

Floyd | "What it? I don't understand.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "He is not a rocket scientist." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "who am i" 		
	

Floyd | "Do what? I don't understand.. I didn't catch that right I think.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | "Too much static. Say the noun ... please.. I didn't underst.. you.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "identify yourself" 		
	

Floyd | "What was that..? The radio.. <crackle> ..ing up, Moon's interference,
Floyd | something.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Didn't think that'd work, of course." 	
	Ellison has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "read computer" 		
	

Floyd | "It's flashing 'SIDE ENGINES MALFUNCTIONING' and 'GENERAL POWER
Floyd | SHORTAGE -- Reconnect Auxiliary: Cross computer feed (G) with back-up
Floyd | power line (B)'. There's a couple of buttons by the side; Reset and
Floyd | Diagnose. Should I press one of these?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "I've pressed it.. nothing.. I think it must be broken.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | "There's about twenty of them; all looped up ...from under the
Floyd | console. Three of them have been cut, ends bared.. I think McThwaite..
Floyd | -"
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep -- accessing records: "McThwaite, Alistair: Born Cairo, 2412.
Floyd | Graduated..."
Floyd |
Floyd |  - Initiate Search for Salient Inf (Y/N)?

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | PLEASE WAIT - Filing to secondary processor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "- ..  was connecting them up, about to twist them together. But I.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The ship's spinning pretty fast - the Grav. Pad went in the first

Floyd | blast, but, the spinning - everything's kind of sticking near the
Floyd | walls."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "connect wires" 		
	

Floyd | "Which shall I connect? There's a red wire, a green, a blue... Any
Floyd | guesses, I don't know, don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "This must be the ship's cook or something." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "connect blue and green" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll.. twist the wire ends up... hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - nothing's blown up. Phew.."
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. McThwaite, Alistair - contracted to
Floyd | 'Serpentine' - Rank: Chef - <<FILE CLOSED>>
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena asks, "g=green, b=blue?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's what I was thinking, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Should I have him hit the reset?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, do we want a driver? Seems like maybe the tag-team approach might be bad." 	
			Nitku says, "If I had extra money, time and talent, I would so make a spoken version of this. Would be way cool." 	
			Fang says, "I can drive, I guess" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay - I vote for the reset." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "push reset" 		
	

Floyd | "The computer's stopped blinking. It's shutting down.. oh my God, what

Floyd | have I.. the lights.. hel.. he.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang exclaims, "Well done!" 	
			Fang says, "actually, maybe I shouldn't drive" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm sure it'll come back up." 	
			Fang says, "since I played it before" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says (to and), "now we wait." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | *static*
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hello?" 		
	

Floyd | *static*

		Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe oops." 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - signal offline. Retracing..
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | *static*
Floyd |
Floyd | .."God.. Thank God, the lights... Hello, are you there? Are you
Floyd | there.. Hello?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Ooh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, fantastic, so good to hear you! .. everything went dead.. thought

Floyd | I'd lost it all for a second.. Geez!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Computer's back on-line now. Shall I read the display to you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "I'll drive, since I've never played." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read display" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, it's still flashing 'SIDE ENGINES MALFUNCTIONING'. There's a
Floyd | couple of buttons by the side; Reset and Diagnose. Should I press one
Floyd | of these?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "sounds good" 	
			Nitku says, "If you can't see the prompt it means you have to push space" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So the general power issue was solved, then, it seems." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Another job well done." 	
			Fang says, "the signal interference also seems to be clearing up" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Have him diagnose the engines..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Push dianose button, then?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "Wait - yes, it's reading, it's pretty fast, I'll, hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damage to decks 1,2 - light. Damage to 3 - partial. Damage to 4 and
Floyd | below - total. That's the ..berths and equipment; damn! Hang on,
Floyd | there's more.. side engines offline, back thrusters erratic. We're

Floyd | going to need to use the lasers to cut them free, they're spinning us
Floyd | off.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't know how to operate them.. Are they not controlled from here?
Floyd | No, suppose must not be ... sealed off.. Shall I go down and look?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Going down to look sounds extraordinarily bad." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Yeah, sounds dangerous. Can we do any kind of lookups?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. but I'm going to need.. lasers.. pretty soon, okay..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | "You..? You ..what?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "Whaddya mean, lookups?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "inventory" 		
	

Floyd | "Sorry? Do.. what? ..I can't hear you, too much static.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "I think this is like Suspended, where we don't have actual inventory. Or did you mean *his* inventory?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "don't you understand standard code IF protocols?" 		
	

Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. don't that."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, let's see. The attack was tough, it's bad... ...console, with the
Floyd | computer screen on. The engineer, McThwaite was trying to fix that

Floyd | before.. ...shook up bad, he might be okay, I don't know. I don't
Floyd | think so....hatch, that leads down to the ring... engineering, store
Floyd | rooms and stuff. And there's the porthole."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x porthole" 		
	

Floyd | "The moon, it's .. uh .. it's approaching pretty fast. I'm going to
Floyd | need to sort out these engines.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "Maybe send him down if he doesn't sort this out he's a goner anyway..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | "Sorry? Do.. what? ..I can't hear you, too much static.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>
Floyd | "Sorry? Do.. what? ..I can't hear you, too much static.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, no save? Seriously?" 	
			Fang says, "No save" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought whoever said that before was kidding." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "that's cool" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't think I've ever played a game without >SAVE before." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "OMFGWHADDOWEDO?" 	
			Jacqueline tries to breathe. 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh what? Oh man, oh man.. I'm gonna die.. oh no..."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Jeez you're scaring the poor thing" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "hrhr" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I return." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, let's ralley, team. Options?" 	
			Nitku says, "Curious how CF makes people very cautious in their actions." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Send him down. Make him twist more wires. Look at more stuff." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, let's see.. it's bad up here. There's the console, with the
Floyd | computer screen on. The engineer, McThwaite was trying to fix that
Floyd | before he  - well he's here too. He's shook up bad, he might be okay,
Floyd | I don't know. I don't think so. And the hatch, that leads down to the
Floyd | ring section, airlocks, engineering, store rooms and stuff. And
Floyd | there's the porthole."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "oh, also investigate McThwaite's condition" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x McThwaite" 		
	

Floyd | "Says.. name on his overall.. He's bleeding.. a lot, red blood

Floyd | everywhere.. he was over by the console - I think it shorted, or when
Floyd | the last burst hit us.. he's dead I think.. yes, he's dead.. He died
Floyd | in the last attack - the shaking of the ship.. must have thrown him..
Floyd | something like that, yes that's it.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | "There's about twenty of them; all looped up ...from under the
Floyd | console. Three of them have been cut, ends bared.. I think McThwaite
Floyd | was connecting them up, about to twist them together. But I.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "They were too damn good for us... better firepower, defences,
Floyd | everything.. .. -"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- accessing records: "Species: G'hilga. First Contact: 2413.
Floyd | War declared 2423..."
Floyd |

Floyd |  - Initiate Search for Salient Inf (Y/N)?

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | PLEASE WAIT - Filing to secondary processor.
Floyd |

Floyd | "- ..  didn't stand a chance.. I guess we were outside the moon
Floyd | security field.. would have polished us off if we hadn't have broken
Floyd | through in time I suppose.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I've connected those two together; they seem to be holding."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "I am not seeing any hints that we should twist more wires." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Screw it. How do we send him down to look around (and die and then restart?)?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that ) is anti-banana." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Neither do I, just send him down" 	
			Fang exclaims, "well, our lives aren't on the line here!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | "Sorry? Do.. what? ..I can't hear you, too much static.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "The hatchway isn't open.. I can't.. through.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay - hang on.. turn the wheel, quite heavy.. Aaargh!.... Y...!"
Floyd |
Floyd | - Click - <Crkkzt>.. .<bzzt>..

Floyd |
Floyd | "..sorry.. slipped on something, cut my leg... I'm okay.. The hatch is
Floyd | open.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Physical form of G'hilga - height 3 foot,
Floyd | monopedal, climb using multiple claws situated over torso, translucent

Floyd | blood - Firepower - superior, though unable to penetrate Moon-shield -
Floyd | <<FILE CLOSED>>
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "This guy is a real winner." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "down" 		
	

Floyd | "What was that..? The radio.. <crackle> ..ing up, Moon's interference,
Floyd | something.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll just slip through.. right."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "Who was he anyway?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am thinking he was not on the engineering staff." 	
			Jacqueline says, "In fact, I think he may be one of the officer's children." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Not really.)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | "It's a solid bulkhead! ..sealed.. I can't find any sort of
Floyd | mechanism.. open it.. You think I really need to get this open.. might
Floyd | be a way.. Well?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Right, okay then.. Hang on; I'll give this a try.."
Floyd |

Floyd | ......Frrrraaaaagggg.... BOOM!.....
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, it's open."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "My." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter door" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'm .. now in the store room.. pretty cramped here.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "This isn't the laser room, I need the laser room.. ...hole in the

Floyd | wall, leading back to the hub, right size, straight through the
Floyd | bulkhead. And, let's see... ..body, just one here, a man. He's...
Floyd | ...some sort of recess, alcove, and another porthole like in all the
Floyd | rooms; Moon's pretty damn big.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x recess" 		
	

Floyd | "A square recess - no, it's a chute of some sort.. leads downwards.. I
Floyd | think it's a waste ejection system; there's a button above it labelled
Floyd | 'Flush'... to eject things into space I suppose."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Stop me anytime you guys want to..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm going back through the doorway."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "down" 		
	

Floyd | "What..? The radio's bad .. breaking up, Moon's ...thing.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "Search the body?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search bodies" 		
	

Floyd | "Too many.. in a such a mess... don't think there's anything there.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x debris" 		
	

Floyd | "...load of debris from the attack, blocking up something I think, a
Floyd | tunnel. They must have hit... ..mighty fine weaponry they've got
Floyd | there. I might be able to slip past into the tunnel.. <crrk>.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "You mean the one in that store room?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter" 		
	

Floyd | "Right. I'm climbing through now.. hang on.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, let's see. The attack was tough, it's bad... ...console, with the
Floyd | computer screen on. The engineer, McThwaite was trying to fix that
Floyd | before.. ..died....hatch, that leads down to the ring... engineering,
Floyd | store rooms and stuff. And there's the porthole."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Grr." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		Fang says, "nah, that just takes us back" 	
	

Floyd | "What do... want me to undo?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "teehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll just slip through.. right."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading

Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "Are you sure.. do I need to? It looks pretty burnt out down there, I
Floyd | don't know how safe it is.. Should I go?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Climbing down the ladder..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Incoming inf from Tracking Station Tranquility
Floyd | Base..

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,
Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand
Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's
Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been

Floyd | .. melted.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "I guess that's what DavidW meant by 'allows undo'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. Yeah." 	
			Fang says, "(actually, I forgot if there's a timer going)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It sort of seems like there is." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And that we might slam into the moon at any moment." 	
			Fang says, "(just to, you'know induce a bit more panic)" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "We could try to squeeze past the debris." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of CT), "What? Keep going down the ladder?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure we can." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "No go back to the hub where he mentioned it..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm climbing back up.. hard, the Grav's a little looser here.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading

Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Taleslinger says, "That is no moon! It's a spacestation!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | "..open already.. okay.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Enemy fleet massing just outside
Floyd | MoonShield perimeter - All batteries collecting for attack - All

Floyd | civilian/trade ships must land immediately - Boarding pods detected -
Floyd | <<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "oops" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't understand.. start again, please, help me.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "So he says there are a couple of doors, but there's not" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Oh. Crap." 	
			Fang says, "oh, I thought the game was over for a second" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks (of Jacqui), "try "squeeze past"?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past" 		
	

Floyd | "What do... want me to squeeze past?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Alright."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up

Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "There's not.. enough room for me.. don't think I can get past."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "meh" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "There's not.. enough room for me.. don't think I can get past."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Do what I say, Ensign." 		
	

Floyd | "Who's that.? There's no-one here like that.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena asks, "search debris?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Can we dig?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search debris" 		
	

Floyd | "There's.. there's some sort of room there, sure.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Nitku asks, "clear debris?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I'd also like to search the corpse in the storeroom." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where are these frickin' lasers?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter door" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'm .. now in the store room.. pretty cramped here.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "This isn't the laser room, I need the laser room.. There's the hole
Floyd | in the wall, leading back to the hub.. through the bulkhead. And..

Floyd | this place is a mess... another body, just one.. a man.. next to one
Floyd | wall, where's there's.. some sort of recess, alcove, another porthole
Floyd | like in all the rooms..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "on the sharks" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search body" 		
	

Floyd | "One hand is clutching.. a thick tangle of wiring.. short bits, ripped
Floyd | out I think.. connectors still attached to the end.. nothing else."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says (to Catena), "True." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | "Just scraps.. scraps of wire; torn out of somewhere I guess.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Not a lot of crew on board though... could have been worse I guess..
Floyd | just bad luck or something, huh..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "Can we dig through the debris?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm going back through the doorway."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up

Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Rig?.. I don't understand, there's nothing to rig up here.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The laser room's got to be around somewhere.. hope it's nearer the

Floyd | top of the ship.. accessible."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. I've hauled a bit out of the way.. not much better though.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. I've hauled a bit out of the way.. not much better though.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "enter tunnel" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't see.. I don't see what you mean at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "... is the central hub of the ship. Let's see; there's the hatch
Floyd | leading back up the bridge and a couple of other doors around the
Floyd | ring.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads down.. .. couple of bodies floating
Floyd | slightly, red blood.. passages, blocked up leading off into .. marked

Floyd | 'store room' on the door, pretty solid.. and a ladder down, and some
Floyd | debris opposite .. squeeze past, I don't know, I could try to squeeze
Floyd | past it, I think there's..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "It's going to be quite a squeeze.. hang on.. no, I'm through..
Floyd | okay.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The laser! The laser room - it's here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "..'s it! That's the control for the laser!.. Okay, let's... ..very
Floyd | proud of me.. ..ha!.. <crzzzkt>.. Gujt!.. No! D... ... not working
Floyd | either; d...  on, I'll take a closer look, maybe you can ..."
Floyd |

Floyd | "There's a panel by the side of the main controls, numeric pad above
Floyd | that... forced open, like someone.. apart. .."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "We should've brought the wires" 	
			Corporal_Touchy grins. 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do you think?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Whatever, look around first..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | "The outer casing.. access panel ripped open, hanging loose. The
Floyd | workings of the console are inside, I think.. By the side of it,
Floyd | there's a keypad, numeric keypad.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x keypad" 		
	

Floyd | ".. from 0 to 9, got a display at the top with.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | "The display is dark.. could be... ken, panel..."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press 5" 		
	

Floyd | "The what? I can't see anything.. Anything like that.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang asks, "can I give a hint?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | ".. static. Say the noun again please.. I didn't understand yo.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "No." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Please no.)" 	
			Fang says, "ok" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(I know it's maddening to watch, though.)" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Huh?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Alright. .. laser's here, the controls and everything, under the
Floyd | por... not much else, real mess. No bodies.. just the one doorway, a
Floyd | little blocked but okay I guess..."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Moon's getting pretty close.. I can see, damn, I can see the
Floyd | collision battery swinging around.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | "Too much static. Say the noun ... please.. I didn't underst.. you.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x laser" 		
	

Floyd | "There's a panel by the side of the main controls, numeric pad above
Floyd | that... forced open, like someone.. apart. .."
Floyd |
Floyd | "...the damn gun's lining up! The damn space junk gun is lining up!.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "I think we are about to die." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, this guy is, anyway." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sad for him." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "mhm" 	
			Fang says, "I guess no promotion for us" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Catena, CT? Ideas?" 	
			Fang says, "also, a few days of therapy" 	
			Fang says, "perhaps even weeks" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Try to figure out how to enter something, or repair the keypad?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Well, I wasn't looking to move up. I was quite happy with my current position. Gives me time with my family, y'see." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of CT), "Enter what?" 	
			Catena says, "repair keypad with wires from corpse" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Well isn't that keypad waiting for a code to fire the lasers?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That sounds like what CT wants, too. Why don't one of you drive..." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says (to Jacqui), "sorry didn't mean to bother you" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, no, I'm serious." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You guys should try that idea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Why don't you take the wheel for a bit? I'm just ready to relinquish it..." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Well if nobody cares anyway..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, I care." 	
			Jacqueline says, "If you want, I can still drive, I was just trying to be nice... :)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've squeezed back out.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "... is the central hub of the ship. Let's see; there's the hatch
Floyd | leading back up the bridge and a couple of other doors around the
Floyd | ring.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads down.. .. couple of bodies floating

Floyd | slightly, red blood.. passages, blocked up leading off into .. marked
Floyd | 'store room' on the door, pretty solid.. and a ladder down, and some
Floyd | debris opposite .. squeeze past, I don't know, I could try to squeeze
Floyd | past it, I think there's..."
Floyd | "Oh no, I don't believe it! The damn gun.. it oh sh.. ie! ...firing at
Floyd | us! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die!!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past" 		
	

Floyd | "What do... want me to squeeze past?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Alright."
Floyd |
Floyd | "..not going to be please.. ..failed... so close.. ..damn you, DAMN

Floyd | you, DAMN Y"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh dear." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "leave" 		
	

Floyd |  - Click -

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "eep" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hello?" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oopsie." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load failsafe" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |           With thanks to Vincent Lynch, Tom Lees, John Bichard.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                            [Please press SPACE to boot
Floyd | up.]

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt. Crackle. *Static*
Floyd |

Floyd | "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Locating/Tuning signal...
Floyd |
Floyd | ..
Floyd |

Floyd | ".. help. Repeat, can anybody hear me? Can you hear me? Hello.."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello? Hello! The .. <crackle> pretty bad. Are you receiving this?
Floyd | Over."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		ParserGirl says, "Oh hey, I can pay attention this time." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x yes" 		
	

Floyd | "..what? Can't quite make you out. .. we need help.  This is the space
Floyd | pod 'Serpentine'. We've been attacked, a small cruiser. They.. they
Floyd | came out of nowhere.. tried to board us.. ...stly dead.. systems are

Floyd | all messed up, we're drifting.. I need help to fix this.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm by the console, there's wires everywhere. The computer flashing
Floyd | something. What do I do? Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "er" 	
			Catena says, "damn us? without us he'd have been cooked anyway" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | "There's about twenty of them; all looped up ...from under the
Floyd | console. Three of them have been cut, ends bared.. I think McThwaite..

Floyd | -"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- accessing records: "McThwaite, Alistair: Born Cairo, 2412.
Floyd | Graduated..."
Floyd |
Floyd |  - Initiate Search for Salient Inf (Y/N)?

		Jacqueline says (to PG), "Woo!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | PLEASE WAIT - Filing to secondary processor.
Floyd |

Floyd | "- ..  was connecting them up, about to twist them together. But I.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Nitku says, "Sounds like a more natural reaction than "Hey, I'm gonna die but thanks for trying"" 	
			Catena says, "blue and green" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "twist blue and green" 		
	

Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. twist the wires."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "How did we find out which ones to connect again?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "twist blue and green wires" 		
	

Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. twist the wires."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang exclaims (at Niktu), "Not everyone is so affable!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We saw it written somewhere." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | "It's flashing 'SIDE ENGINES MALFUNCTIONING' and 'GENERAL POWER
Floyd | SHORTAGE -- Reconnect Auxiliary: Cross computer feed (G) with back-up
Floyd | power line (B)'. There's a couple of buttons by the side; Reset and

Floyd | Diagnose. Should I press one of these?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "I think connect worked." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "twist blue and green wires" 		
	

Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. twist the wires."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "twist blue with green" 		
	

Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. twist the wires."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "connect blue and green" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll.. twist the wire ends up... hang on.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - nothing's blown up. Phew.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. McThwaite, Alistair - contracted to
Floyd | 'Serpentine' - Rank: Chef - <<FILE CLOSED>>

Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "twist blue and green" 		
	

Floyd | >>
Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. twist the wires."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "resest" 		
	

Floyd | "Do what? I don't understand.. I didn't catch that right I think.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push reset" 		
	

Floyd | "The computer's stopped blinking. It's shutting down.. oh my God, what
Floyd | have I.. the lights.. hel.. he.."
Floyd |

Floyd | Bzzt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		Corporal_Touchy asks, "Do we really need to reset?" 	
	

Floyd | Bzzzt.. crackle..
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "twiddle thumbs" 		
	

Floyd | *static*

		Jacqueline says, "I think so, yes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - signal offline. Retracing..

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Bzzzt.. crackle..
Floyd |

Floyd | .."God.. Thank God, the lights... Hello, are you there? Are you
Floyd | there.. Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "Jeez, don't panic" 		
	

Floyd | "Who's that.? There's no-one here like that.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Okay. Now let's work with a driver." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll drive." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Go down?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "Yay! J ftw!" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Well we know where the damn lasers are..." 	
			Catena says, "yeah, get those wires from the coorpse behind the debris and see if they fix the laser" 	
			Nitku says, "This is about where I have played so I can join in now..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right. Go try to get the wires from the dead guy and go to the laser room." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "woo" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello..? The line's still a little weak, but I can hear you..? Thank

Floyd | God, thank God, I thought.. everything went dead.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The computer's back up and running now; shall I read the display?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read display" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, it's still flashing 'SIDE ENGINES MALFUNCTIONING'. There's a
Floyd | couple of buttons by the side; Reset and Diagnose. Should I press one
Floyd | of these?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "Wait - yes, it's reading, it's pretty fast, I'll, hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damage to decks 1,2 - light. Damage to 3 - partial. Damage to 4 and

Floyd | below - total. That's the ..berths and equipment; damn! Hang on,
Floyd | there's more.. side engines offline, back thrusters erratic. We're
Floyd | going to need to use the lasers to cut them free, they're spinning us
Floyd | off.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't know how to operate them.. Are they not controlled from here?

Floyd | No, suppose must not be ... sealed off.. Shall I go down and look?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "The hatchway isn't open.. I can't.. through.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay - hang on.. turn the wheel, quite heavy.. Aaargh!.... Y...!"
Floyd |
Floyd | - Click - <Crkkzt>.. .<bzzt>..
Floyd |

Floyd | "..sorry.. slipped on something, cut my leg... I'm okay.. The hatch is
Floyd | open.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll just slip through.. right."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading

Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | "It's a solid bulkhead! ..sealed.. I can't find any sort of
Floyd | mechanism.. open it.. You think I really need to get this open.. might
Floyd | be a way.. Well?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Right, okay then.. Hang on; I'll give this a try.."
Floyd |
Floyd | ......Frrrraaaaagggg.... BOOM!.....
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay, it's open."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter door" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'm .. now in the store room.. pretty cramped here.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "This isn't the laser room, I need the laser room.. There's the hole
Floyd | in the wall, leading back to the hub.. through the bulkhead. And..
Floyd | this place is a mess... another body, just one.. a man.. next to one
Floyd | wall, where's there's.. some sort of recess, alcove, another porthole
Floyd | like in all the rooms..."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		ParserGirl says, "haha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search body" 		
	

Floyd | "One hand is clutching.. a thick tangle of wiring.. short bits, ripped

Floyd | out I think.. connectors still attached to the end.. nothing else."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "so he s a soldier? that would make sense..." 	
			Jacqueline says (to PG), "Yeah, the guy is a winner." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take wires" 		
	

Floyd | "They're only tiny little bits.. I don't think I could use them..
Floyd | ..destroyed.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		ParserGirl says (to Jacqueline), "I just liked frag as a long drawn out sound effect." 	
			Corporal_Touchy coughs. 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, try again or try something new?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "This isn't the laser room, I need the laser room.. ...hole in the
Floyd | wall, leading back to the hub, right size, straight through the
Floyd | bulkhead. And, let's see... ..body, just one here, a man. He's...
Floyd | ...some sort of recess, alcove, and another porthole like in all the
Floyd | rooms; Moon's pretty damn big.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "grab the connectors" 	
			Nitku says, "Try to take the connectors" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take connectors" 		
	

Floyd | "They're only tiny little bits.. I don't think I could use them..
Floyd | ..destroyed.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Nitku says, "..timing" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x recess" 		
	

Floyd | "A square recess - no, it's a chute of some sort.. leads downwards.. I
Floyd | think it's a waste ejection system; there's a button above it labelled
Floyd | 'Flush'... to eject things into space I suppose."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		ParserGirl says, "Chef, flush thyself." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "We could still try to flush ourselves. Maybe it leads somehwere else..." 	
			Catena says, "if he's wearing a suit" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Or maybe it's broken and something great comes up hehe" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "look in recess" 		
	

Floyd | "I can't see anything.. goes a long way down though."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "I'm all for killing him again, sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter recess" 		
	

Floyd | "It's not large enough.. ..or me.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | "The... I can't ..e anything.. Anything like that here."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | "Must have died in the attack.. like all the others I guess... he's..
Floyd | lying near the recess in the wall, his hands still over the lip.. fell
Floyd | onto it perhaps, certainly facing ... lot of blood.. oh God.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "What's the point of this room?" 	
			Catena asks, "under him?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Setting?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under man" 		
	

Floyd | "Nothing.. there's nothing there.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "They were too damn good for us... better firepower, defences,
Floyd | everything.. .. -"
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep -- accessing records: "Species: G'hilga. First Contact: 2413.
Floyd | War declared 2423..."
Floyd |
Floyd |  - Initiate Search for Salient Inf (Y/N)?

		Fang asks, "Push flush?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | PLEASE WAIT - Filing to secondary processor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "- ..  didn't stand a chance.. I guess we were outside the moon
Floyd | security field.. would have polished us off if we hadn't have broken

Floyd | through in time I suppose.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push flush" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've pushed it.. nothing seems to be happening.. must be

Floyd | broken.. like everything.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Nitku says, "try to move the guy" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move man" 		
	

Floyd | "..moved a little.. didn't reveal anything.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Physical form of G'hilga - height 3 foot,
Floyd | monopedal, climb using multiple claws situated over torso, translucent
Floyd | blood - Firepower - superior, though unable to penetrate Moon-shield -
Floyd | <<FILE CLOSED>>

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "I guess we can try looking elsewhere" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I agree" 	
			Catena asks, "anything in the recess?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Shall we go to the--" (Jacqueline makes quotation marks in the air...) "LASER room?" 	
			Catena says, "sure" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm going back through the doorway."
Floyd |
Floyd | "... is the central hub of the ship. Let's see; there's the hatch
Floyd | leading back up the bridge and a couple of other doors around the
Floyd | ring.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads down.. .. couple of bodies floating

Floyd | slightly, red blood.. passages, blocked up leading off into .. marked
Floyd | 'store room' on the door, pretty solid.. and a ladder down, and some
Floyd | debris opposite .. squeeze past, I don't know, I could try to squeeze
Floyd | past it, I think there's..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. I've hauled a bit out of the way.. not much better though.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "It's going to be quite a squeeze.. hang on.. no, I'm through..
Floyd | okay.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The laser! The laser room - it's here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "..'s it! That's the control for the laser!.. Okay, let's... ..very
Floyd | proud of me.. ..ha!.. <crzzzkt>.. Gujt!.. No! D... ... not working
Floyd | either; d...  on, I'll take a closer look, maybe you can ..."
Floyd |

Floyd | "There's a panel by the side of the main controls, numeric pad above
Floyd | that... forced open, like someone.. apart. .."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Alright. .. laser's here, the controls and everything, under the
Floyd | por... not much else, real mess. No bodies.. just the one doorway, a
Floyd | little blocked but okay I guess..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | "The what? I.. I don't see anything like that here."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | "The outer casing.. access panel ripped open, hanging loose. The
Floyd | workings of the console are inside, I think.. By the side of it,

Floyd | there's a keypad, numeric keypad.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>
Floyd | "The outer casing.. access panel ripped open, hanging loose. The
Floyd | workings of the console are inside, I think.. By the side of it,
Floyd | there's a keypad, numeric keypad.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>
Floyd | "The outer casing.. access panel ripped open, hanging loose. The
Floyd | workings of the console are inside, I think.. By the side of it,
Floyd | there's a keypad, numeric keypad.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "hehe" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Monkeys...." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x keypad" 		
	

Floyd | "Keys,. .. to 9. There's a display, four... "
Floyd |
Floyd | "The display is dark.. could be... ken, panel..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't see - no I ....what you mean at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena asks, "workings?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "look in panel" 		
	

Floyd | "Inside.. there's a lot of tangled wiring, but ... anything broken...
Floyd | empty socket just under the numeric pad... one component missing...
Floyd | quite large, power source perhaps... to find it.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x workings" 		
	

Floyd | "The outer casing.. access panel ripped open, hanging loose. The
Floyd | workings of the console are inside, I think.. By the side of it,
Floyd | there's a keypad, numeric keypad.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "ha! we are looking for a battery" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do we need... a new... battery?" 	
			Catena asks, "in debris?" 	
			Fang says, "or downstairs, maybe" 	
			Fang says, "or upstairs" 	
			Nitku asks, "Was there one in the computer upstairs?" 	
			(from Jacqueline) Fang says, "or somewhere" 	
			Fang says, "(not hinting, I've actually forgotten this bit)" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, leave and search everything for a battery, I guess?" 	
			Fang will shut up now 	
			Catena says, "sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "leave" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay... tell what I need to do... ...help me, for God's sake.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've squeezed back out.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading

Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search debris" 		
	

Floyd | "There's.. there's some sort of room there, sure.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "store" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "You mean the storage room?" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "Is this about as far as you got last time?" 	
			Catena says, "sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter door" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'm .. now in the store room.. pretty cramped here.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "This isn't the laser room, I need the laser room.. There's the hole
Floyd | in the wall, leading back to the hub.. through the bulkhead. And..
Floyd | this place is a mess... another body, just one.. a man.. next to one
Floyd | wall, where's there's.. some sort of recess, alcove, another porthole
Floyd | like in all the rooms..."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "yes" 	
			ParserGirl asks, "What killed him?" 	
			Catena says, "planetary laser" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x alcove" 		
	

Floyd | "A square recess - no, it's a chute of some sort.. leads downwards.. I
Floyd | think it's a waste ejection system; there's a button above it labelled
Floyd | 'Flush'... to eject things into space I suppose."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm gonna need to fix that laser up pretty quickly.. can't be long

Floyd | now till Moon landing, you know?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in chute" 		
	

Floyd | "I can't see anything.. goes a long way down though."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under man" 		
	

Floyd | "Nothing.. there's nothing there.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "It could be anywhere this damn thing! I hope you know what we're
Floyd | looking for.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "Ideas?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or go upstairs and look/" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I vote for searching downstairs" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "er, ?" 	
			Fang says, "yes" 	
			Catena says, "maybe with the debris or down below... or maybe we can cannibalize the panel workings from upstairs" 	
			Fang says, "ilac" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, I thought everything was melted down there, but sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm going back through the doorway."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,

Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "Are you sure.. do I need to? It looks pretty burnt out down there, I

Floyd | don't know how safe it is.. Should I go?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Climbing down the ladder..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Incoming inf from Tracking Station Tranquility
Floyd | Base..
Floyd |

Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,
Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand
Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's
Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been
Floyd | .. melted.. "

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,

Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand
Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's
Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been
Floyd | .. melted.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x piping" 		
	

Floyd | "There's a lot of ... broken, torn pipes here, spewing white gas..
Floyd | it's all mangled up.. and a metal chute of some sort.. seems to be
Floyd | caught in a bulkhead, must have been flying outwards when it closed..
Floyd | all crunched up.."

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Enemy fleet massing just outside
Floyd | MoonShield perimeter - All batteries collecting for attack - All
Floyd | civilian/trade ships must land immediately - Boarding pods detected -
Floyd | <<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x chute" 		
	

Floyd | "Chute, running from the level above I think.. the other end is

Floyd | trapped in one of the bulkheads; it's squeezed the chute.. burst it
Floyd | open at the base, along a seam.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in chute" 		
	

Floyd | "..something..yes, there's something here. A component, it's little
Floyd | blackened, but it's some sort of component. Quite ... I've picked it
Floyd | up.. I've got it.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena says, "hee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "x component" 	
			Jacqueline says, "oops" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x component" 		
	

Floyd | "Is this it? ..all, a bit charred.. size of .. a man's fist, yes..
Floyd | gold attachments either end."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Sure, why not? Let's stick it in there and see if the guys blows up." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm climbing back up.. hard, the Grav's a little looser here.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads

Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Moon's getting pretty close.. I can see, damn, I can see the

Floyd | collision battery swinging around.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "Charred, but the magic smoke could still be in there" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't see - no I ....what you mean at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "It's going to be quite a squeeze.. hang on.. no, I'm through..
Floyd | okay.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Alright. .. laser's here, the controls and everything, under the
Floyd | por... not much else, real mess. No bodies.. just the one doorway, a
Floyd | little blocked but okay I guess..."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm still holding onto the blackened component."
Floyd |
Floyd | "...the damn gun's lining up! The damn space junk gun is lining up!.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Catena exclaims, "go magic smoke!" 	
			Fang says, "also, we might be about to run out of time again" 	
			Catena says, "timed puzzles, yay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put component in panel" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've slotted it in... hang on... it's powering up!.. oh, ..
Floyd | keypad, the keypad's powered up."
Floyd | "Keys,. .. to 9. There's a display, four... "
Floyd |
Floyd | "All powered up.. need an access code. What's the code?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep -- accessing memory -- Lasercodes: ENTER CLASSIFIED SECTOR:
Floyd | (Y/N)?

		Catena says, "the only annoying part of Anchorhead" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |

		Corporal_Touchy says, "oh my" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		Jacqueline says, "OH NO" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hello" 		Jacqueline says, "Crashed, I think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "This hasn't happened in forever." 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		Jacqueline says, "Not that we could save this game anyway..." 	
			Catena says, "eh, we were dead anyway, without the laser code" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/quit" 		
	

Floyd | Select type no:8 - 7 - 4 - 8
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- PLEASE WAIT -- Accessing lasercodes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "oh wait." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Weird." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "lag maybe" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 8748" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "
Floyd |
Floyd | "..it's flashing.. 'Type code match' ..hat good? What does it mea..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "...the damn gun's lining up! The damn space junk gun is lining up!.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | "Just ... the code, tell me the code now!! ... hear me, I need the
Floyd | code..."
Floyd |

Floyd | "...oh sh.. oh sh... I'm gonna die! The gun's firing.. I'm gonna
Floyd | die.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "I think he's going to die." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "just fire laser? or is that to abstract?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "fire" 		
	

Floyd | "What do... want me to fire?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "We're closer, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fire laser" 		
	

Floyd | "Just ... the code, tell me the code now!! ... hear me, I need the
Floyd | code..."
Floyd |

Floyd | "..not going to be please.. ..failed... so close.. ..damn you, DAMN
Floyd | you, DAMN Y"
Floyd |

		Catena says, "the computer is looking up the code" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |  - Click -
Floyd |

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "wtf?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "DEAD!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Nitku says, "I think it was just a special effect Floyd can't handle. You had to push enter 4 times and the numbers would come up one at a time." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load failsafe" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |           With thanks to Vincent Lynch, Tom Lees, John Bichard.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                            [Please press SPACE to boot
Floyd | up.]

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Okay. Strategy..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt. Crackle. *Static*

Floyd |
Floyd | "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Locating/Tuning signal...
Floyd |
Floyd | ..

Floyd |
Floyd | ".. help. Repeat, can anybody hear me? Can you hear me? Hello.."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Probably, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, maybe there's a code somewhere we should find." 	
			Fang asks, "Shall I drive us back to where we were?" 	
			Catena says, "we just have to have long enough to ... oh, we had the number, so we had to tell him to press 8748" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think that some of the stuff we're doing sped things up, perhaps." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks (of Jacqui), "I thought the computer was looking it up?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I told him to do that, Catena." 	
			Catena says, "oh" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello? Hello! The .. <crackle> pretty bad. Are you receiving this?
Floyd | Over."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "..what? Can't quite make you out. .. we need help.  This is the space
Floyd | pod 'Serpentine'. We've been attacked, a small cruiser. They.. they
Floyd | came out of nowhere.. tried to board us.. ...stly dead.. systems are
Floyd | all messed up, we're drifting.. I need help to fix this.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm by the console, there's wires everywhere. The computer flashing
Floyd | something. What do I do? Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "twist green and blue" 		
	

Floyd | "I only.. caught.. wanted me to.. twist the wires."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "I think 8748 may have just been the laser type and not the code...?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to CT), "Perhaps. (And please just call me 'Jacq' if you shorten it... hate Jacqui/Jackie/Jacky, etc...)" 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "connect green and blue" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll.. twist the wire ends up... hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - nothing's blown up. Phew.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "press reset" 		
	

Floyd | "The computer's stopped blinking. It's shutting down.. oh my God, what
Floyd | have I.. the lights.. hel.. he.."

Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says (to CT), "Hm... perhaps." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | *static*
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | *static*

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - signal offline. Retracing..

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Bzzzt.. crackle..
Floyd |

Floyd | .."God.. Thank God, the lights... Hello, are you there? Are you
Floyd | there.. Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says (to Jacq), "Jacq it is." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "press diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello..? The line's still a little weak, but I can hear you..? Thank
Floyd | God, thank God, I thought.. everything went dead.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The computer's back up and running now; shall I read the display?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says (to CT), "Thanks." 	
			Catena says, "okay, we have to do this fast enough to give the computer time to look up the laser code" 	
			ParserGirl says, "My best friend is named Jacqueline and she makes everyone call her Shiy." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "press diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "Wait - yes, it's reading, it's pretty fast, I'll, hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damage to decks 1,2 - light. Damage to 3 - partial. Damage to 4 and
Floyd | below - total. That's the ..berths and equipment; damn! Hang on,

Floyd | there's more.. side engines offline, back thrusters erratic. We're
Floyd | going to need to use the lasers to cut them free, they're spinning us
Floyd | off.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't know how to operate them.. Are they not controlled from here?
Floyd | No, suppose must not be ... sealed off.. Shall I go down and look?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Huh?.. right, yes, I'm on it.. "
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay - hang on.. turn the wheel, quite heavy.. Aaargh!.... Y...!"
Floyd |
Floyd | - Click - <Crkkzt>.. .<bzzt>..
Floyd |
Floyd | "..sorry.. slipped on something, cut my leg... I'm okay.. The hatch is

Floyd | open.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll just slip through.. right."

Floyd |
Floyd | "... is the central hub of the ship. Let's see; there's the hatch
Floyd | leading back up the bridge and a couple of other doors around the
Floyd | ring.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads down.. .. couple of bodies floating
Floyd | slightly, red blood.. passages, blocked up leading off into .. marked
Floyd | 'store room' on the door, pretty solid.. and a ladder down, and some

Floyd | debris opposite .. squeeze past, I don't know, I could try to squeeze
Floyd | past it, I think there's..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says (to PG), "? Huh." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | "Do what..? You're breaking up.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks (of PG), "How ist that even pronounced?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Shy." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "Are you sure.. do I need to? It looks pretty burnt out down there, I
Floyd | don't know how safe it is.. Should I go?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Climbing down the ladder..."

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Incoming inf from Tracking Station Tranquility
Floyd | Base..
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,

Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand
Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's
Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been
Floyd | .. melted.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x piping" 		
	

Floyd | "There's a lot of ... broken, torn pipes here, spewing white gas..
Floyd | it's all mangled up.. and a metal chute of some sort.. seems to be
Floyd | caught in a bulkhead, must have been flying outwards when it closed..
Floyd | all crunched up.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		ParserGirl says, "I guess Shi means death in some language. She's an odd one." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x chute" 		
	

Floyd | "Chute, running from the level above I think.. the other end is

Floyd | trapped in one of the bulkheads; it's squeezed the chute.. burst it
Floyd | open at the base, along a seam.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "They were too damn good for us... better firepower, defences,
Floyd | everything.. .. -"
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep -- accessing records: "Species: G'hilga. First Contact: 2413.
Floyd | War declared 2423..."
Floyd |
Floyd |  - Initiate Search for Salient Inf (Y/N)?

		Corporal_Touchy says, "I knew somebody who had a cat name shy. Quite a beast though - hehe" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | PLEASE WAIT - Filing to secondary processor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "- ..  didn't stand a chance.. I guess we were outside the moon
Floyd | security field.. would have polished us off if we hadn't have broken

Floyd | through in time I suppose.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Enemy fleet massing just outside
Floyd | MoonShield perimeter - All batteries collecting for attack - All
Floyd | civilian/trade ships must land immediately - Boarding pods detected -
Floyd | <<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "look in chute" 		
	

Floyd | "..something..yes, there's something here. A component, it's little

Floyd | blackened, but it's some sort of component. Quite ... I've picked it
Floyd | up.. I've got it.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,
Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand
Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's
Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been
Floyd | .. melted.. "

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Physical form of G'hilga - height 3 foot,
Floyd | monopedal, climb using multiple claws situated over torso, translucent
Floyd | blood - Firepower - superior, though unable to penetrate Moon-shield -
Floyd | <<FILE CLOSED>>

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline recalls that she rather hates SciFi. 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "aww" 	
			Jacqueline shrugs. 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x wiring" 		
	

Floyd | "There's a lot of ... broken, torn pipes here, spewing white gas..
Floyd | it's all mangled up.. and a metal chute of some sort.. seems to be
Floyd | caught in a bulkhead, must have been flying outwards when it closed..

Floyd | all crunched up.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Not a lot of crew on board though... could have been worse I guess..
Floyd | just bad luck or something, huh..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | "What..? The radio's bad .. breaking up, Moon's ...thing.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm climbing back up.. hard, the Grav's a little looser here.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads

Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "That's part of the good thing about CF, though... makes me play things I wouldn't play otherwise." 	
			Fang says, "Ok, you should be able to continue from here" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Damn but I wish we could save." 	
			Jacqueline shuts her eyes really tight and says, "BLEEEEE!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, we should be able to save now." 	
			ParserGirl says, "hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Who's driving?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Aren't you?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I can." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I think the dude is." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What's our approach this time?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to PG), "heh" 	
			Catena says, "plugin component, waith for laser code" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay... not looking around more, then." 	
			Jacqueline heads off to kill the guy again. 	
			Catena says, "no time" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. I've hauled a bit out of the way.. not much better though.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm still holding onto the blackened component."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "It's going to be quite a squeeze.. hang on.. no, I'm through..
Floyd | okay.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The laser! The laser room - it's here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "..'s it! That's the control for the laser!.. Okay, let's... ..very

Floyd | proud of me.. ..ha!.. <crzzzkt>.. Gujt!.. No! D... ... not working
Floyd | either; d...  on, I'll take a closer look, maybe you can ..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's a panel by the side of the main controls, numeric pad above
Floyd | that... forced open, like someone.. apart. .."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put component in panel" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've slotted it in... hang on... it's powering up!.. oh, ..
Floyd | keypad, the keypad's powered up."

Floyd | ".. from 0 to 9, got a display at the top with.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | "All powered up.. need an access code. What's the code?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- accessing memory -- Lasercodes: ENTER CLASSIFIED SECTOR:
Floyd | (Y/N)?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Select type no:8 - 7 - 4 - 8
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- PLEASE WAIT -- Accessing lasercodes...

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "So, >ENTER 8748?" 	
			Catena says, "sure" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "I don't think so" 	
			Nitku says, "go ahead" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "But since we re waiting anyway" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 8748" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "

Floyd |
Floyd | "..it's flashing.. 'Type code match' ..hat good? What does it mea..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Nitku says, "Now z until the computer coughs up the code" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | "What's the.. <pzpt>.. I need the engines free... WHAT'S THE DAMN
Floyd | CO... !.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- code accessed:  LASERCODES FOR TYPE 8-7-4-8:

Floyd |
Floyd | <<Highly Secured Material>>: Display Document (Y/N)?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | "Moon's getting pretty close.. I can see, damn, I can see the
Floyd | collision battery swinging around.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 8748" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "
Floyd |
Floyd | "..it's flashing.. 'Type code match' ..hat good? What does it mea..?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "...the damn gun's lining up! The damn space junk gun is lining up!.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "uh oh" 	
			DavidW says, "oops" 	
			Jacqueline says, "See, I think that what we've done accelerates things and there's no way 'round it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | "Just ... the code, tell me the code now!! ... hear me, I need the
Floyd | code..."
Floyd | "Oh no, I don't believe it! The damn gun.. it oh sh.. ie! ...firing at

Floyd | us! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die!!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 8748" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "

Floyd |
Floyd | "..it's flashing.. 'Type code match' ..hat good? What does it mea..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "..not going to be please.. ..failed... so close.. ..damn you, DAMN
Floyd | you, DAMN Y"
Floyd |

		Fang says, "huh" 	
			Nitku asks, "Should it have shown the code?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I hope our death is more exciting than just CLICK this time." 	
			DavidW says, "There should've been a display of the confidential info, I think." 	
			Catena says, "but the computer didn't say its secure doc yet. Appently, this is speed-play IF" 	
			Fang says, "I'll open up a parser" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "Why is the damn document not showing?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh wait... you think it's another special effect thing?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Thanks." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess Fang is checking to see if it's a Special Effect Which Floyd Can't Do sort of thing..." 	
			Jacqueline sits back, twiddles thumbs. 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "oh i c" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "we need a multiplayer if interpreter" 	
			DavidW says, "if it's a boxquote, for example." 	
			Fang says, "while I'm doing that, I think we die in one move, so you might wanna try restart" 	
			Catena says, "guncho" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "what s a boxquote?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's a quote that shows up inside a little box." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I think that Floyd displays those." 	
			Catena says, "CT, guncho.com lets multiple people play a game" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This lets multiple people play a game, too." 	
			Catena says, "in a different way" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though I admit I have not been to guncho." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I sort of have limited time these days." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Summer in Alaska is a very busy time for park rangers." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says (to Catena), "Is it really that differen? It uses the mud protocol, too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess I'll get us back to where Fang left us last time, while he's looking that up." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |  - Click -
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load failsafe" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |           With thanks to Vincent Lynch, Tom Lees, John Bichard.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                            [Please press SPACE to boot
Floyd | up.]

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt. Crackle. *Static*
Floyd |

Floyd | "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Locating/Tuning signal...
Floyd |
Floyd | ..
Floyd |

Floyd | ".. help. Repeat, can anybody hear me? Can you hear me? Hello.."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "ok" 	
			Fang says, "lasercodes" 	
			Nitku says (to CT), "Yes it is." 	
			Fang | -- LaserCode for type 8-7-4-8 reads: 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Fang), "What'd you find out?" 	
			Fang | -- LaserCode for type 8-7-4-8 reads: 	
			Fang | -- Ld Amm Type g1: 5764 -- Ld Amm Type y2: 3523 	
			Fang | -- Ld Amm Type p3: 1129 -- Fire/Tgt Wpn : 1374 	
			Fang | -- Dtnt At Dstrct: 7426 -- At Tgt EmyShp : 6126 	
			Fang | -- St Scat Rng v2: 2322 -- St Scat Rng v1: 9987 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh gosh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks." 	
			DavidW asks, "Why didn't that display?" 	
			Catena says, "guncho lets multiple players be in a game world, to, for example, all stand on platforms to activate something" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So.... 1374?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "We probably need to load and aim first since it's there..." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "maybe..." 	
			Fang | ;I'll tell you when the message is supposed to appear 	
			Fang | ;@endpaste 	
			Fang says, "gah" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello? Hello! The .. <crackle> pretty bad. Are you receiving this?
Floyd | Over."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang asks, "who's driving?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I can." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was just thinking that we should decide while your text was still on the screen so we don't have to scroll back, but I've copied it into my paste buffer now, so..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, thank God. Thank God.. ..emergency frequency.. We need help.
Floyd | This is the space pod 'Serpentine'. We've been attacked, a small
Floyd | cruiser. They.. they came out of nowhere.. tried to board us.. ...stly
Floyd | dead.. systems are all messed up, we're drifting.. I need help to fix

Floyd | this.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm by the console, there's wires everywhere. The computer flashing
Floyd | something. What do I do? Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "connect blue and green" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll.. twist the wire ends up... hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - nothing's blown up. Phew.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "I'll repaste it when the time comes up" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push reset" 		
	

Floyd | "The computer's stopped blinking. It's shutting down.. oh my God, what
Floyd | have I.. the lights.. hel.. he.."

Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Bzzzt.. crackle..
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Bzzzt.. crackle..

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - signal offline. Retracing..
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | *static*
Floyd |
Floyd | .."God.. Thank God, the lights... Hello, are you there? Are you

Floyd | there.. Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello..? The line's still a little weak, but I can hear you..? Thank

Floyd | God, thank God, I thought.. everything went dead.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The computer's back up and running now; shall I read the display?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, it's still flashing 'SIDE ENGINES MALFUNCTIONING'. There's a
Floyd | couple of buttons by the side; Reset and Diagnose. Should I press one
Floyd | of these?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		DavidW asks (of Fang), "But why didn't Floyd display it?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "Wait - yes, it's reading, it's pretty fast, I'll, hang on.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Damage to decks 1,2 - light. Damage to 3 - partial. Damage to 4 and
Floyd | below - total. That's the ..berths and equipment; damn! Hang on,
Floyd | there's more.. side engines offline, back thrusters erratic. We're
Floyd | going to need to use the lasers to cut them free, they're spinning us
Floyd | off.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I don't know how to operate them.. Are they not controlled from here?
Floyd | No, suppose must not be ... sealed off.. Shall I go down and look?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The hatchway isn't open.. I can't.. through.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "I have no idea" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay - hang on.. turn the wheel, quite heavy.. Aaargh!.... Y...!"
Floyd |
Floyd | - Click - <Crkkzt>.. .<bzzt>..

Floyd |
Floyd | "..sorry.. slipped on something, cut my leg... I'm okay.. The hatch is
Floyd | open.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "it's in weird font and has tabs, I suppose" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll just slip through.. right."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up

Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "Are you sure.. do I need to? It looks pretty burnt out down there, I
Floyd | don't know how safe it is.. Should I go?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take component" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't see.. I don't see what you mean at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "oops" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "Climbing down the ladder..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Incoming inf from Tracking Station Tranquility

Floyd | Base..
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,
Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand
Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's

Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been
Floyd | .. melted.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take component" 		
	

Floyd | "Too much static. Say the noun ... please.. I didn't underst.. you.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pipes" 		
	

Floyd | "There's a lot of ... broken, torn pipes here, spewing white gas..
Floyd | it's all mangled up.. and a metal chute of some sort.. seems to be
Floyd | caught in a bulkhead, must have been flying outwards when it closed..
Floyd | all crunched up.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x chute" 		
	

Floyd | "Chute, running from the level above I think.. the other end is
Floyd | trapped in one of the bulkheads; it's squeezed the chute.. burst it
Floyd | open at the base, along a seam.."
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Enemy fleet massing just outside
Floyd | MoonShield perimeter - All batteries collecting for attack - All
Floyd | civilian/trade ships must land immediately - Boarding pods detected -
Floyd | <<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in chute" 		
	

Floyd | "..something..yes, there's something here. A component, it's little
Floyd | blackened, but it's some sort of component. Quite ... I've picked it

Floyd | up.. I've got it.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm climbing back up.. hard, the Grav's a little looser here.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading
Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,

Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. I've hauled a bit out of the way.. not much better though.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm still holding onto the blackened component."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "It's going to be quite a squeeze.. hang on.. no, I'm through..
Floyd | okay.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The laser! The laser room - it's here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "..'s it! That's the control for the laser!.. Okay, let's... ..very

Floyd | proud of me.. ..ha!.. <crzzzkt>.. Gujt!.. No! D... ... not working
Floyd | either; d...  on, I'll take a closer look, maybe you can ..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's a panel by the side of the main controls, numeric pad above
Floyd | that... forced open, like someone.. apart. .."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put component in panel" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've slotted it in... hang on... it's powering up!.. oh, ..
Floyd | keypad, the keypad's powered up."

Floyd | ".. from 0 to 9, got a display at the top with.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | "All powered up.. need an access code. What's the code?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- accessing memory -- Lasercodes: ENTER CLASSIFIED SECTOR:
Floyd | (Y/N)?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | Select type no:8 - 7 - 4 - 8
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- PLEASE WAIT -- Accessing lasercodes...

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Now what." 	
			Fang says, "not yet" 	
			Fang says, "but slow down" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wait a few more?" 	
			Fang says, "yes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I will wait slowly, then." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | "Come on, hurry up.. .what's the code for the laser, what's the
Floyd | code??"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "I don't have him enter 8748?" 	
			Fang says, "up to you" 	
			Nitku asks, "Do it, no harm done, right?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Um, where are my helpers?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Oh, hi." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess no harm, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 8748" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "

Floyd |
Floyd | "..it's flashing.. 'Type code match' ..hat good? What does it mea..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Moon's getting pretty close.. I can see, damn, I can see the
Floyd | collision battery swinging around.."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "OK STOP" 	
			Fang | -- LaserCode for type 8-7-4-8 reads: 	
			Fang | -- Ld Amm Type g1: 5764 -- Ld Amm Type y2: 3523 	
			Fang | -- Ld Amm Type p3: 1129 -- Fire/Tgt Wpn : 1374 	
			Fang | -- Dtnt At Dstrct: 7426 -- At Tgt EmyShp : 6126 	
			Fang | -- St Scat Rng v2: 2322 -- St Scat Rng v1: 9987 	
			Fang | Document ends. 	
			Jacqueline says, "I will. Paste your code." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "i think 1374 is right but we need to load first" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Which type?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "P3 because it rhymes with PG?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do we have enough info to do more than guess?" 	
			Fang exclaims, "Why do lasers even need ammo!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Why do there have to be so many ambiguous abbreviations? Typical government computer, I guess." 	
			DavidW says (to Fang), "I'm not sure you're high enough clearance for that info. soldier." 	
			Nitku says, "You would think the computers in 25th century would have more than 8kb of memory" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You know, you would." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, we need to make a decision here, folks." 	
			Catena exclaims, "Robot Bill Gates' disembodied head says: 8k ought to be enough for anybody!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I suppose we should start by forming a committee and electing a president." 	
			Catena says, "happy dictator says load, aim, fire" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or we could just type 1374." 	
			Nitku says, "Vote for change, vote for Ammo Type G1" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And then when that fails I'll type to get us back here again." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "1374 ftw" 	
			Fang says, "1374 is HLEI backwards, if that doesn't help" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Was this game blasted on review sites for disallowing saves?" 	
			Fang says (to Jacq), "yes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Because, if not, I will make a point of doing that." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Oh, good." 	
			Jacqueline has one less thing to do today, then. 	
			Nitku says, "Try the 1374" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, so I'm going to type 1374. Objections?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Going once..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Going twiiiiice..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Going..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Three..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Times..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 1374" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "
Floyd |
Floyd | <bzzt> "the laser's powering up.. I have control of it! Gujt! I have
Floyd | ... of it! Do you hear me, Human? I have control of the laser!"

Floyd |
Floyd | BOOM
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline asks, "Boom?" 	
	Corporal_Touchy hm...well? 		Nitku says, "Uh oh" 	
	Corporal_Touchy oops. sry. 		Corporal_Touchy says, "wtf." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "...I thank you, Human, for your aid... <bzzt vrakk> You perhaps do
Floyd | not quite grasp the stupidity of what you have just done. The Empire
Floyd | will - "
Floyd |

Floyd | BOOM
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "idiot me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I blame you all for not stopping me from typing 1374 when you had the chance." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | " - be most - "
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - New Signal Located.. Locating/Tuning...
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hello? Alpha Station Computer, this is MoonDome Beta-3. We need your
Floyd | assistance, we've been attacked; they're through the shield. It's Frag
Floyd | firepower! I don't know how it's coming through the shield, but it's
Floyd | definitely Frag weaponry! We thought we could see some attachment to a
Floyd | civilian transport. Repeat: We need assistance. Require.."
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Channeling signal into secondary processor...
Floyd |
Floyd | " - where many have failed. Our long war is over, I think, Human. We
Floyd | have you to thank for that. You are a true hero. I - "
Floyd |
Floyd | BOOM

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy says, "well it seems like a valid end" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | - " wish you a good death."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Power source fluctuations. Memory sections damaged. Control
Floyd | un..
Floyd |
Floyd |             - BOOM -

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Jacqueline says, "Um. Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Gives us a second, Precious." 	
			Nitku says, "Hee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load failsafe" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |           With thanks to Vincent Lynch, Tom Lees, John Bichard.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                            [Please press SPACE to boot
Floyd | up.]

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt. Crackle. *Static*
Floyd |

Floyd | "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Locating/Tuning signal...
Floyd |
Floyd | ..
Floyd |

Floyd | ".. help. Repeat, can anybody hear me? Can you hear me? Hello.."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Fang says, "(There are alternate endings, btw)" 	
			DavidW says, "One more time for the real win, I guess." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | "Hello? Hello! The .. <crackle> pretty bad. Are you receiving this?
Floyd | Over."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, thank God. Thank God.. ..emergency frequency.. We need help.
Floyd | This is the space pod 'Serpentine'. We've been attacked, a small

Floyd | cruiser. They.. they came out of nowhere.. tried to board us.. ...stly
Floyd | dead.. systems are all messed up, we're drifting.. I need help to fix
Floyd | this.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm by the console, there's wires everywhere. The computer flashing
Floyd | something. What do I do? Hello?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "connect blue and green" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll.. twist the wire ends up... hang on.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay - nothing's blown up. Phew.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press reset" 		
	

Floyd | "The computer's stopped blinking. It's shutting down.. oh my God, what

Floyd | have I.. the lights.. hel.. he.."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bzzt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | *static*
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | *static*

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - signal offline. Retracing..

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | *static*
Floyd |

Floyd | .."God.. Thank God, the lights... Hello, are you there? Are you
Floyd | there.. Hello?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Hello" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, fantastic, so good to hear you! .. everything went dead.. thought
Floyd | I'd lost it all for a second.. Geez!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Computer's back on-line now. Shall I read the display to you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, it's still flashing 'SIDE ENGINES MALFUNCTIONING'. There's a
Floyd | couple of buttons by the side; Reset and Diagnose. Should I press one
Floyd | of these?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push diagnose" 		
	

Floyd | "Wait - yes, it's reading, it's pretty fast, I'll, hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Damage to decks 1,2 - light. Damage to 3 - partial. Damage to 4 and

Floyd | below - total. That's the ..berths and equipment; damn! Hang on,
Floyd | there's more.. side engines offline, back thrusters erratic. We're
Floyd | going to need to use the lasers to cut them free, they're spinning us
Floyd | off.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't know how to operate them.. Are they not controlled from here?

Floyd | No, suppose must not be ... sealed off.. Shall I go down and look?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."

Floyd |
Floyd | "The hatchway isn't open.. I can't.. through.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch, you idiot" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't think... can.. more than one at a time.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay - hang on.. turn the wheel, quite heavy.. Aaargh!.... Y...!"
Floyd |
Floyd | - Click - <Crkkzt>.. .<bzzt>..
Floyd |
Floyd | "..sorry.. slipped on something, cut my leg... I'm okay.. The hatch is

Floyd | open.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "Maybe we should ask him who he is?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "who are you" 		
	

Floyd | "Do what..? You're breaking up.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "I thought we tried that... yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter hatch" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll just slip through.. right."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay - this is the central hub... ..there's the hatch leading back up
Floyd | the bridge and a couple of other doors.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads
Floyd | down, scorch damage on walls.. ..couple of bodies.. <bzzt> ..leading

Floyd | off into... ...marked 'store room' on the door... and a ladder down,
Floyd | and some debris opposite the door.. ...squeeze past, I don't know.."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		DavidW asks (of CT), "You think they didn't try that, way back when?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "Are you sure.. do I need to? It looks pretty burnt out down there, I
Floyd | don't know how safe it is.. Should I go?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay then. Hang on.."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Climbing down the ladder..."
Floyd |

Floyd | Bleep - PLEASE WAIT - Incoming inf from Tracking Station Tranquility
Floyd | Base..
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh God.. it's a real mess down here.. ..third level.. the walkway
Floyd | mangled up in the middle, hairpin.. the walls are all crunched in,
Floyd | toward the base of the ladder, a V.. there's no floor space to stand

Floyd | on.. all the bulkheads around have closed, they're charred.. there's
Floyd | piping, wiring hissing from every crevice.. it's like it's just been
Floyd | .. melted.. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		DavidW says, "You get inconvenient static." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in chute" 		
	

Floyd | "..something..yes, there's something here. A component, it's little
Floyd | blackened, but it's some sort of component. Quite ... I've picked it
Floyd | up.. I've got it.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm climbing back up.. hard, the Grav's a little looser here.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "... is the central hub of the ship. Let's see; there's the hatch
Floyd | leading back up the bridge and a couple of other doors around the
Floyd | ring.. a lot sealed off; bulkheads down.. .. couple of bodies floating
Floyd | slightly, red blood.. passages, blocked up leading off into .. marked
Floyd | 'store room' on the door, pretty solid.. and a ladder down, and some
Floyd | debris opposite .. squeeze past, I don't know, I could try to squeeze

Floyd | past it, I think there's..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep - Processing complete. Enemy fleet massing just outside
Floyd | MoonShield perimeter - All batteries collecting for attack - All
Floyd | civilian/trade ships must land immediately - Boarding pods detected -
Floyd | <<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move debris" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay.. I've hauled a bit out of the way.. not much better though.."

Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't see - no I ....what you mean at all."
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "squeeze past debris" 		
	

Floyd | "It's going to be quite a squeeze.. hang on.. no, I'm through..
Floyd | okay.."
Floyd |

Floyd | "The laser! The laser room - it's here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "..'s it! That's the control for the laser!.. Okay, let's... ..very
Floyd | proud of me.. ..ha!.. <crzzzkt>.. Gujt!.. No! D... ... not working
Floyd | either; d...  on, I'll take a closer look, maybe you can ..."

Floyd |
Floyd | "There's a panel by the side of the main controls, numeric pad above
Floyd | that... forced open, like someone.. apart. .."
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put component in panel" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I've slotted it in... hang on... it's powering up!.. oh, ..
Floyd | keypad, the keypad's powered up."
Floyd | ".. from 0 to 9, got a display at the top with.. "
Floyd |

Floyd | "All powered up.. need an access code. What's the code?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- accessing memory -- Lasercodes: ENTER CLASSIFIED SECTOR:
Floyd | (Y/N)?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | Select type no:8 - 7 - 4 - 8
Floyd |
Floyd | Bleep -- PLEASE WAIT -- Accessing lasercodes...
Floyd |

Floyd | >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 8748" 		Fang | -- LaserCode for type 8-7-4-8 reads: 	
			Fang | -- Ld Amm Type g1: 5764 -- Ld Amm Type y2: 3523 	
			Fang | -- Ld Amm Type p3: 1129 -- Fire/Tgt Wpn : 1374 	
			Fang | -- Dtnt At Dstrct: 7426 -- At Tgt EmyShp : 6126 	
			Fang | -- St Scat Rng v2: 2322 -- St Scat Rng v1: 9987 	
			Fang | Document ends. 	
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "

Floyd |
Floyd | "..it's flashing.. 'Type code match' ..hat good? What does it mea..?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >>

		Jacqueline says, "Thanks, Fang." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says (to DW), "I hadn't realized that I have missed something. Sorry though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, let's discuss this." 	
			Catena says, "maybe we set range to 0 and blow ourselves up" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(This is going the be the longest ClubFloyd transcript EVAR, thankyouverymuch.)" 	
			DavidW says, "hardly longest." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, Catena, you've been heard. Does anyone have anything USEFUL?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Probably not, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Catena), "Kidding, of course. But I think we've actually blown ourselves up a few times already and I'm ready for something new." 	
			Catena says, "I said that because our chef here is apparently an enemy" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm... oh, I see what you're getting at." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought you were kidding, but I see." 	
			Nitku asks, "Could we change the ammo type to something less dangerous?" 	
			Catena asks, "we doomed ourself when we gave him the laser, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We did, yes." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So 9987, you're thinking?" 	
			Catena says, "and 2322" 	
			Fang asks, "I guess you should try reading the options and figure out what they stand for?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Wonder what the difference is between the two..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Maybe target the enemy ship?" 	
			Nitku asks, "Or, "attack target enemy ship" to blow up the dude's own ship?" 	
			Nitku says, "timing" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That seems a reasonable try, so it'll probably fail horribly." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Catena, mind if we try that?" 	
			Catena says, "not at all" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "CT, thoughts?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "CT may not be here just now." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "na- can't figure out what dstrct is supposed to mean" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "District?" 	
	olethros arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Corporal_Touchy says, "that is if dtnt is detonation" 	
			Catena says, "destruct" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, or destruct, yeah." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "well go and try that..." 	
			Fang says, "stupid anti-vowel future government" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "what you said i mean" 	
			Catena says, "I work with unix a lot, there's a ban on vowels" 	
			DavidW says, "In the future, vowels are a sign of weakness." 	
			Fang says (to Catena), "ALL YOUR FAULT" 	
			Jacqueline says, "h ddn't knw tht." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Probably the catholic fundamentalists hehe" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... 6126?" 	
			Fang asks (of DavidW), "and unix is finally ready for the desktop?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "...hello? Hello? Can... me? .. Anyone! Hel.... Need.. hello?" 	
			DavidW says, "I know too little about Unix to comment about its readiness for anything other than its acolytes." 	
			Catena says, "saying unix is not ready for the desktop is like saying race cars are not ready for the highway" 	
			(from DavidW) Jacqueline says, "I'm in the lighthouse! I need a new battery!" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of CT/Cat/Nitku), "6126?" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "just try it" 	
			Nitku says, "yeah, try that" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay. I need clearance from you three so that when it fails horribly I have someone to blame. Cool." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter 6126" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay, I'll type it in.. hang on... "
Floyd |
Floyd | <bzzt> "the laser's powering up... targetting is swinging round...

Floyd | ..the fleet, targetting our fleet... all automatic.. damn it! ... The
Floyd | fleet - the fleet's being ripped apart... I improved the laser
Floyd | cannon... oh no... damn you, Human..."
Floyd |
Floyd | <crkkt>

Floyd |
Floyd | "..firing back at me... what have I... damn you!!! DAMN YOU!!! DAMN Y
Floyd | -
Floyd |
Floyd | BOOM
Floyd |

Floyd |  - Click -
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "no damn u" 		
	Floyd says (to Fang), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		Jacqueline asks, "I... um... guess that was a win?" 	
			Fang says, "yeah" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "yeah...disappointing though" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "i don't feel good at all" 	
			Fang says, "I think you guys take way too long deciding stuff" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That... was... anti-climactic." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Fang says, "But I thought it was interesting, seeing it again if you know the twist" 	
			Fang says, "watching for the inconsistencies" 	
			Fang asks, "which ones did people notice?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Glad we could entertain you." 	
			Nitku says, "I liked it" 	
			Fang asks (of Jacq), "...sorry?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I would have liked it more if it had had a save command." 	
			(from Jacqueline) Jacqueline says, "And if it hadn't been so SciFi." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Oh, just that you enjoyed watching us flail. I would have enjoyed it, too, if I had played it before." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "inconsistencies...hm...nope didn't notice any" 	
			Fang says, "e.g. how he didn't know any of crew" 	
			Jacqueline says, "True." 	
			Fang says, "and said McThwaite was an engineer, when he was a chef" 	
			Jacqueline says, "He did a good job of faking that he was horrified, though." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "yeah - and that we couldn't find out who he is" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "well i really like the general idea" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "playing phone support is a lot more fun than actually doing it i guess" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It was good, yeah. Just the no-save thing was bad. Otherwise pretty good game." 	
			Fang says, "and also, he gave a bit away when he found the laser, which was was altogether too obsessed with" 	
			Fang says, "*he was" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, point." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, what should we play next week?" 	
			Fang says, "and also, how the battery had been flushed in the waste disposal" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Curses." 	
			Fang says, "haha" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says (to Fang), "Yeah but you really wouldn't ever try to blow him up on first try" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Just as impossible as to find the ink in bronze..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Um. Wouldn't it take weeks to play that, T? Try >X CF and let's choose from there." 	
			Fang says, "yeah, I didn't realise it either" 	
			Jacqueline adjusts the object to remove Fail-Safe. 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Which one was For a change again?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "I put Halothane on the list." 	
			Fang says (to Jacq), "I guess another issue was that Floyd crapped out on us twice" 	
			DavidW says, "For a Change is the one with the songlantern." 	
			Taleslinger says, "aaah, For a change then." 	
			Fang says, "I mean, we would have completed it the second time, I think, if the laser codes displayed" 	
			DavidW says, "y'know, The sun is gone, it must be brought, you have a rock." 	
			Fang asks, "how long is that?" 	
			DavidW says, "Pretty short. Comp size or slightly smaller." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "How about Halothane next week, since PG's never gotten to suggest a game yet, then For a Change the week after?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Hoot!" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Sorry, owl on keyboard."	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript: Halothane by Ravi Rajkumar
As played on ifMUD on July 27, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Halothane, written by Ravi Rajkumar. Halothane was originally released as part of the 1999 IF Competition, where it took sixth place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing these games, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played these games, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline says, "Okay, folks, let's begin." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load halothane" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		Taleslinger says, "I thought most mudders where from the American continent." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                               Halothane
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [depress SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You'll never really know how it all started.
Floyd |
Floyd | That's not surprising, because you're not even sure what happened in
Floyd | the first place. If it had been anything else, you would have dismissed

Floyd | it as ninety-nine per cent bad digestion and one percent fancy, much as
Floyd | Ebenezer Scrooge would have. Somehow, in this case, that explanation
Floyd | doesn't really grab you. Did it really mean anything? Or was it, as the
Floyd | physiologists would say, just a matter of a few neurons in your
Floyd | brainstem working overtime?
Floyd |

Floyd | But life is strange. It's almost impossible to predict - as Heisenberg
Floyd | pointed out - where exactly you might end up, even when you start in as
Floyd | mundane a place as your own home....
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom
Floyd | This is hardly the place for an adventure to begin. You know the

Floyd | furniture of this room - desk, chair, bed and bookcase - almost as well
Floyd | as the contents of your pockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the wooden desk is a dusty manuscript.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "most, but a lot are from EU" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, many are, but we have several Europeans, and I'd like more of 'em to attend ClubFloyd, so..." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Really? I can come up with Gunther, Nitku and me" 	
			olethros says, "several=TS, ghira, G, me, Iain, Storme... so 6 regulars" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "Oh, yeah, the british" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Oh, yeah, the british" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Not strictly European, though..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Harold Banks, auteur manqu?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		olethros says, "ich bin keine british" 	
	

Floyd | A hollow voice says, "Nice try, but no cigar!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | A pile of false starts to the Great Global Novel that you plan to
Floyd | complete someday. It deals with 25th century people who try to
Floyd | understand the lunacy of the 20th century by travelling in time to the
Floyd | 28th. It also includes no gratuitous sex or violence, which explains

Floyd | why no publisher's ever been interested in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The manuscript is in a state of disarray, which is strange considering
Floyd | that - since you live alone - no one else but you could have touched
Floyd | it. Pages 102 to 205 are spreadeagled, and you fancy you can see
Floyd | something buried under it - but you're not sure what.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under it" 		
	

Floyd | You rootle among the papers for a few seconds, and find a flower and a
Floyd | note buried amongst them. Funny, you don't remember putting them

Floyd | there....
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by four points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks (of olethros), "Where are you from?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x flower" 		
	

Floyd | It's unlike any flower you've ever seen before; it has, in blatant
Floyd | defiance of whatever the botanists say, an outer whorl containing six
Floyd | yellow petals, and an inner whorl of four pointed, unnatural-looking

Floyd | pink petals. You're sure you've seen it before, but you can't remember
Floyd | where...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x note" 		
	

Floyd | A small, nondescript scrap of paper. Strangely, though the paper itself
Floyd | looks like it was torn from one of your numerous notepads, the words on
Floyd | it are printed, rather than written in your sprawling hand.
Floyd | You can't help but feel that there's a purpose to all this.....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remember flower" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In a slanting, Old-World style font, the following words are printed -
Floyd | Fran?ois, Ch 1. Lines 34 - 39.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Let there be light", a Voice said. "But before there can be light", it
Floyd | continued, "there must be a source of light".
Floyd |
Floyd | "And", added the Author, "a light producer".
Floyd |
Floyd | "That might be a little difficult for the future generations to

Floyd | understand", the Voice rebuked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Very well", replied the Author. "We shall use an ancient word - the
Floyd | Greek halogenos, the light producer.
Floyd |
Floyd | "That is good", the Voice sighed. "But things have a knack of getting

Floyd | lost in transl....."
Floyd | [Here the line ends in mid-sentence, as if the printing process was
Floyd | suddenly interrupted.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jota arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	ls says (to Floyd), "examine pockets" 		
	

Floyd | Empty as usual.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "'Let there be a lightsource, and set it lit?" 	
			olethros says, "greece" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Didn't x note say it was in the PC's handwriting?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "and read note says Old World Font" 	
	Bert arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Jota has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "touch petals" 		ls says, "I think the x note said it wasn't in the PC's handwriting" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "smell flower" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You are carrying nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You take a deep breath - but smell absolutely nothing. Bizarre...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take note, flower, manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | small note: Taken.
Floyd | yellow flower: Taken.
Floyd | dusty manuscript: It's too late to work on them; you'd merely make a
Floyd | lot of embarrassing spelling mistakes if you did.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to ls), "Yeah." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "eat flower" 		
	

Floyd | Your keen nutritional sense tells you that this flower probably isn't

Floyd | too high on vitamins, so you give it a skip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | It's supposed to be a desk, but it's just the place you dump all your

Floyd | half-completed manuscripts on. Simple, functional - it doesn't even
Floyd | have drawers or anything like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | Ah, your trusty fan. You pull it out, anticipating a rather high
Floyd | nocturnal temperature.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by two points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x fan" 		
	

Floyd | A device to ensure that you get enough breeze to enable you to fall
Floyd | asleep without Valium, security blankets, or air-conditioning.
Floyd | Battery-powered, too, so you don't have to worry about tripping through
Floyd | wires.

Floyd | The fan is currently switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fan" 		
	

Floyd | A device to ensure that you get enough breeze to enable you to fall

Floyd | asleep without Valium, security blankets, or air-conditioning.
Floyd | Battery-powered, too, so you don't have to worry about tripping through
Floyd | wires.
Floyd | The fan is currently switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Haha keen nutritional sense." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "l in it" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take fan" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ah. Portable." 	
			olethros says, "hm can't take the batteries" 	
			olethros says, "yeah it's one of those useless portable battery powered fans" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "bookcases" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bookcases" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | Until about five years ago, other people could approach this bookcase
Floyd | with impunity, as it was cluttered with other people's writings.
Floyd | Currently, however, it is solely used to store your own. It's currently
Floyd | closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "not as useless as a USB fan" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | You open the bookcase, revealing a copy of your first novel.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x copy" 		
	

Floyd | It's a copy of your first novel, "Before Our Time", which deals with
Floyd | people of the 25th Century trying to understand the 20th Century by

Floyd | searching for the lost archives of the 22nd Century. It sold exactly
Floyd | forty copies (strange - the last time you counted your family members,
Floyd | there were only twenty-six), but you've given away about ten times that
Floyd | number as birthday presents.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | You know this one even more in detail than your untitled current
Floyd | effort. You even mumble the characters' names in your sleep, until
Floyd | people wonder whether you're a paranoid schizophrenic.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "what is my obsession with the 20th century?" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take copy" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom
Floyd | This is hardly the place for an adventure to begin. You know the
Floyd | furniture of this room - desk, chair, bed and bookcase - almost as well
Floyd | as the contents of your pockets.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the wooden desk is a dusty manuscript.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | It's not exactly ergonomic, but it sure is comfortable. It's propped up
Floyd | right next to your bed, as usual, just in case you feel like a spot of
Floyd | night-time reading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "write a new novel about a sexy harlot" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to write on?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I haven't seen a pen or pencil yet." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "examine bed" 		
	

Floyd | A nice model, or at least it was when you bought it twenty years ago.
Floyd | It looks as inviting as it always does after 11 p.m. on an average
Floyd | weekday.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing but dust. There used to be pages of your manuscript flying
Floyd | around there before, but ever since you had a brainwave and strung them

Floyd | together, that doesn't happen often.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "search for a pen" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x find pen" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "do people implement 'find' these days?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pages" 		
	

Floyd | A pile of false starts to the Great Global Novel that you plan to
Floyd | complete someday. It deals with 25th century people who try to
Floyd | understand the lunacy of the 20th century by travelling in time to the

Floyd | 28th. It also includes no gratuitous sex or violence, which explains
Floyd | why no publisher's ever been interested in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, I don't think so. But then, I never try it." 	
			DavidW says, "It's a standard verb in Adrift. Quite useful there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "find pen" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "leave" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Um, start guessing directions?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Guess there must be a compass rose in the status bar." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | It's way past your bedtime, and you're feeling too sleepy to do
Floyd | anything except get into bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls asks, "sleep?" 	
			Alex says (to ls), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that sleep is something that no real programmer needs." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter bed" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the old bed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | It's way too hot for you to fall asleep. Maybe if you had some
Floyd | ventilation.....
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on fan" 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "turn on fan" 		
	

Floyd | I doubt the fan would give you even a little ventilation in its current

Floyd | position.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | I doubt the fan would give you even a little ventilation in its current
Floyd | position.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "switch on fan" 		
	

Floyd | I doubt the fan would give you even a little ventilation in its current
Floyd | position.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get up" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the old bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom

Floyd | This is hardly the place for an adventure to begin. You know the
Floyd | furniture of this room - desk, chair, bed and bookcase - almost as well
Floyd | as the contents of your pockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the wooden desk is a dusty manuscript.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Try putting it on the desk?" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "put fan on chair" 		
	

Floyd | You put the fan on the chair; it's now pointing more or less towards
Floyd | your bed.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by four points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put fan on chair" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the fan before you can put it on top of
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "oops" 	
			Jacqueline says, "okay" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "get in bed" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the old bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh. Chair. looks good" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "turn on fan" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the fan on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You feel yourself drifting slowly into sleep. Strangely enough, the
Floyd | breeze from the fan doesn't quite smell like night air, or even like
Floyd | yesterday's leftovers...Your back touches cold metal, and your level of
Floyd | consciousness wavers. A voice floats around your head, in one ear

Floyd | first, the other next...
Floyd |
Floyd | "Welcome to your world."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Please press SPACE....]

		olethros says, "and now we shall dream about the 28th century" 	
			olethros says, ";or 25th" 	
			ls says, "very cool" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                       H  A  L  O  T  H  A  N  E
Floyd |                      An Interactive Restoration
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE to begin.....]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | HALOTHANE

Floyd | An Interactive Restoration
Floyd | Copyright 1999 by Quentin.D.Thompson.
Floyd | License 1999, The Theatre Of The Sensible.
Floyd | [Please type 'help' in times of doubt - or just for fun. To toggle
Floyd | between default and original colours, use 'colours on' and 'colours
Floyd | off'.]

Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 990928 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/8
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter One - Respiratory Distress
Floyd |
Floyd | Operating Room (on the operating table)

Floyd | This looks suspiciously like the operating room they took you to when
Floyd | you were much, much younger, to have your tonsils taken out. However,
Floyd | it's strangely empty. The only obvious exit is through a door to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Standing near the bed is a slightly broken trolley.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small gauze face mask, of the type worn by surgeons during an
Floyd | operation, lies discarded on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by seven points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "uhoh is this one of those virtual archaelogy projects as IF?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wait. Quentin D. Thompson?" 	
			olethros says, "even worse -- futorological virtual archaelogy project as IF" 	
			DavidW says, "Quentin was a pseudonym." 	
			DavidW says, "afaik" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was thinking this was by Ravi Rajkumar, so yeah." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "examine tonsils" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the operating table.
Floyd |
Floyd | Operating Room
Floyd | This looks suspiciously like the operating room they took you to when
Floyd | you were much, much younger, to have your tonsils taken out. However,
Floyd | it's strangely empty. The only obvious exit is through a door to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Standing near the bed is a slightly broken trolley.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small gauze face mask, of the type worn by surgeons during an
Floyd | operation, lies discarded on the floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take mask" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mask" 		
	

Floyd | A simple mask, disposable, and meant to cover the mouth and nose of all
Floyd | those who enter the O.R. It looks as if it hasn't been used, but - if
Floyd | so - why was it thrown here?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take mask, wear mask. breath heavily." 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trolley" 		
	

Floyd | Made of the same metal as the table - and showing no signs of rust -
Floyd | the trolley, probably meant to support instruments and bandages - is
Floyd | currently empty. One of its wheels is broken, which might explain why

Floyd | it isn't used.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look on it" 		
	

Floyd | Well, the floor is under the trolley, if that's what you're looking

Floyd | for.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x wheel" 		Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
	

Floyd | Made of the same metal as the table - and showing no signs of rust -
Floyd | the trolley, probably meant to support instruments and bandages - is
Floyd | currently empty. One of its wheels is broken, which might explain why
Floyd | it isn't used.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "inv" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a face mask
Floyd |   a copy of your first novel
Floyd |   a yellow flower

Floyd |   a small note
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "repair trolley" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "oh. Our inventory is still here?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
			ls says, "interesting you still have stuff from the waking world" 	
			DavidW says, "That might be a bug. Not sure." 	
			DavidW says, "We're assuming we're sleeping." 	
			ls says (to DavidW), "true" 	
			olethros says, "there is no waking world, fools" 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Thank you, Morpheus." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "wake" 		
	

Floyd | You're not quite sure if you're dreaming or not, but if you are, you're
Floyd | unable to wake up.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Leave?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "eat blue pill" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "please, Lord Dunsany" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "push trolley" 		
	

Floyd | Because of the broken wheel, it's difficult to manoeuvre the trolley;
Floyd | anyway, you don't need to.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | Just an ordinary door, made of semitransparent glass. It is currently
Floyd | closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through door" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the face mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Harold Banks, auteur manqu?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | The table isn't covered by the usual mattress or green sheet, and its
Floyd | steel surface is exposed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under it" 		
	

Floyd | I have to give you credit for trying, but there's nothing there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "push table" 		
	

Floyd | That's seldom useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "feel table" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You have so far scored 17 out of a possible 360, in 66 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Booker Prize Winner.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "lick table" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "guess we should head west" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | (first opening the door)
Floyd |
Floyd | Instrument Room
Floyd | A small, narrow annexe to the O.R., where scalpels, forceps and the
Floyd | like are sterilized prior to operation. Apart from the passage to the
Floyd | east, back to the O.R., there are only four walls around you, that

Floyd | don't look very interesting, and an LCD display panel facing you.
Floyd | There is a faint suggestion of disinfectant in the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | Strangely, there are no instruments here, just a blue cylinder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "x LCD" 		
	

Floyd | The LCD display panel - judging by the fact that there are no switches,
Floyd | power lines or knobs in the vicinity, its supply source is a mystery to
Floyd | you. It seems to work just like it's meant to, displaying letters and
Floyd | numbers. (How exciting.)

Floyd | It currently has nothing to say.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | A blue cylinder with a valve attached to it, with a black mark across

Floyd | one side indicating that it's been marked for disposal. One side bears
Floyd | a single word in red letters, with some smaller print underneath:
Floyd | HALOTHANE.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 17 out of a possible 360, in 72 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Booker Prize Winner.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "360?!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Of course, it's been somewhat generous in handing out points, so." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "switch on LCD" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it's a big game, although I think still roughly two hours" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | All you can smell is the faint odour of scorched and disinfected cloth,
Floyd | which probably originates from the mask apposed to your nostrils.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read lcd" 		
	

Floyd | Though there's nothing on the panel, you fancy you can detect the glow
Floyd | of letters that have recently faded : Light production low.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read cylinder" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | HALOTHANE
Floyd | (2-chloro 2-bromo 1,1,1-trifluoroethane)

Floyd |
Floyd | Inhalational Anaesthetic.
Floyd | For use in balanced anaesthesia, short surgical procedures and
Floyd | maintenance of anaesthesia during long procedures. Fair induction
Floyd | agent.
Floyd | Do not use in patients with a history of liver disease or malignant

Floyd | hyperthermia.
Floyd | Manufactured by Gelman Enterprises.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gelman Enterprises?
Floyd | That's funny. The last time you checked (and, with a cousin in the
Floyd | medical line, you would know) that company only existed in the pages of

Floyd | your manuscript.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "oh how curious" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read about gelman in manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "malignant hyperthermia?" 	
			ls asks, "inside our own book?" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "look up gelman in manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "rip off philip k. dick some more" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says (to Jacqueline), "bad fever" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "x manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to olethros), "hahaha - um, okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up gelman in copy" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the copy of your first novel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a face mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a copy of your first novel
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a small note

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "squeeze flower" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "damn" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Instrument Room

Floyd | A small, narrow annexe to the O.R., where scalpels, forceps and the
Floyd | like are sterilized prior to operation. Apart from the passage to the
Floyd | east, back to the O.R., there are only four walls around you, that
Floyd | don't look very interesting, and an LCD display panel facing you.
Floyd | There is a faint suggestion of disinfectant in the air.
Floyd |

Floyd | Strangely, there are no instruments here, just a blue cylinder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			DavidW says, "There's a valve on the cylinder. Looks like we should open it." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | You open the valve, and a jet of pleasant-smelling gas escapes.
Floyd | However, since you're wearing the face mask, it doesn't bother you.
Floyd | Suddenly, under the influence of the halogenated hydrocarbon vapour,
Floyd | writing begins to appear on the LCD panel!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "err" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x lcd" 		
	

Floyd | The LCD display panel - judging by the fact that there are no switches,

Floyd | power lines or knobs in the vicinity, its supply source is a mystery to
Floyd | you. It seems to work just like it's meant to, displaying letters and
Floyd | numbers.
Floyd |
Floyd | A single sentence is displayed on the panel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "close cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | You cut off the stream of gas.
Floyd |
Floyd | The writing on the panel slowly fades away.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "read lcd" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read panel" 		
	

Floyd | Though there's nothing on the panel, you fancy you can detect the glow
Floyd | of letters that have recently faded : Light production low.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Though there's nothing on the panel, you fancy you can detect the glow
Floyd | of letters that have recently faded : Light production low.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "oops sorry" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | You open the valve, and a jet of pleasant-smelling gas escapes.

Floyd | However, since you're wearing the face mask, it doesn't bother you.
Floyd | Suddenly, under the influence of the halogenated hydrocarbon vapour,
Floyd | writing begins to appear on the LCD panel!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "read panel" 		
	

Floyd | There's just one line on the panel, which doesn't tell you much :
Floyd | Emergency Exit. Touch Panel to Escape. Not Verified.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "touch panel" 		
	

Floyd | As you reach out for the panel, you can feel it suddenly open out and
Floyd | swell, until it becomes a door of sorts. Hesitantly, you step into the
Floyd | door.....

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Please press SPACE....]

		olethros says, "hmmmmmmmmmmmm" 	
			olethros says, "that's spacing me out" 	
			ls says, "very dream worldly like.." 	
			Taleslinger asks (of ole), "so I shouldn't press space?" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Interposition - Invasion of Privacy

Floyd |
Floyd | Driveway, Outside House
Floyd | You stand, hesitantly, on a futuristic-looking driveway, feeling that
Floyd | you've somehow been here before. There is nothing to guide you, except
Floyd | a door standing east of you, and a sign next to it.
Floyd |

Floyd | Even the name on the sign sounds familiar, though you can't remember
Floyd | why.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door to the house, not at all imposing, is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by six points.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I dont know, I am kinda freaked out dude!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Calm down, man." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | A plaque built into one of the walls, serving the function of a
Floyd | nameplate and little else, glowing with a dim light. It only bears the
Floyd | surname "Franklin", and a quotation, which seems to have been added to
Floyd | the plaque later:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Your Excellency has perhaps erred in trying to fight fire with fire;

Floyd | sometimes the simple bucket of water is as effective."
Floyd |
Floyd | You recoil in wonder, recognizing the quote as your own.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Like, breathe, and stuff." 	
			olethros asks, "you mean I had stopped breathing? for how long?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a copy of your first novel

Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a small note
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Long enough to feel freaked out, I guess." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mask" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Or breathe on this (hands joint) That'll calm you down" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Harold Banks, auteur manqu?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "interesting. Mask is gone, but the rest of the stuff remains." 	
	Bert has disconnected. 		
	Bert goes home. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | A plaque built into one of the walls, serving the function of a
Floyd | nameplate and little else, glowing with a dim light. It only bears the

Floyd | surname "Franklin", and a quotation, which seems to have been added to
Floyd | the plaque later:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Your Excellency has perhaps erred in trying to fight fire with fire;
Floyd | sometimes the simple bucket of water is as effective."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Autuer manqu? ?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch sign" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "missing" 	
			DavidW says, "Accented e, I assume." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x driveway" 		
	

Floyd | Strangely, the driveway doesn't bear the stigmas of repeated driving,
Floyd | but there are scorch marks in an odd distribution, as if some other
Floyd | vehicle habitually passed along it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A simple, tasteful wooden door, which is strange if you assume that
Floyd | this is, indeed, the future. Even the pattern with which it is
Floyd | decorated looks more Victorian than post-apocalyptic.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline wonders what makes a driveway 'futuristic.' 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Driveway, Outside House

Floyd | You stand, hesitantly, on a futuristic-looking driveway, feeling that
Floyd | you've somehow been here before. There is nothing to guide you, except
Floyd | a door standing east of you, and a sign next to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door to the house, not at all imposing, is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | (opening the door first)
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Hall, in the house

Floyd | The front hall is large, spacious and exudes an air of good taste. A
Floyd | tall archway leads north from it to the rest of the house (which is
Floyd | dark), and a large sofa, forming a rectangular C, fills the room. In
Floyd | one corner is an ornamental shelf.
Floyd |
Floyd | The front door stands wide open.

Floyd |
Floyd | There's a blue shawl draped over the sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the large plush sofa is a small piece of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a small memo here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x shawl" 		
	

Floyd | A simple blue shawl, with a frilled border - or at least you assume
Floyd | it's frilled; you're not sure what quirks fashion has acquired in time

Floyd | to come. Stripes of paler blue, that can only be discerned when you
Floyd | look closely, run diagonally across it. In one corner, in letters that
Floyd | glow eerily when you look at them at an angle, is a dedication : "From
Floyd | Edward". You assume it's a woman's garment, but - knowing fashion as
Floyd | you do - you're not sure.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x paper" 		
	

Floyd | (the small note)
Floyd | A small, nondescript scrap of paper. Strangely, though the paper itself
Floyd | looks like it was torn from one of your numerous notepads, the words on

Floyd | it are printed, rather than written in your sprawling hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Maybe If we wear the shawl, we get to play an episode of dr.who?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read paper" 		
	

Floyd | (the small note)
Floyd |
Floyd | In a slanting, Old-World style font, the following words are printed -
Floyd | Fran?ois, Ch 1. Lines 34 - 39.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Let there be light", a Voice said. "But before there can be light", it

Floyd | continued, "there must be a source of light".
Floyd |
Floyd | "And", added the Author, "a light producer".
Floyd |
Floyd | "That might be a little difficult for the future generations to
Floyd | understand", the Voice rebuked.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Very well", replied the Author. "We shall use an ancient word - the
Floyd | Greek halogenos, the light producer.
Floyd |
Floyd | "That is good", the Voice sighed. "But things have a knack of getting
Floyd | lost in transl....."

Floyd | [Here the line ends in mid-sentence, as if the printing process was
Floyd | suddenly interrupted.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read that paper" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take paper" 		
	

Floyd | (the small note)
Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x piece of paper" 		
	

Floyd | A small scrap of paper, torn from some sort of notebook, with a small
Floyd | diagram and a few words written on it in a firm, slanting hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "make a paper airplane" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Though it certainly is elegant enough at first glance, the sofa has a
Floyd | warm, lived-in look about it, as if it were the seat of choice of a
Floyd | close-knit family.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x memo" 		
	

Floyd | A small memorandum form - or fiche or whatever the accursed term is,
Floyd | with some words on it, printed the same way as those on the note you
Floyd | found in your bedroom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read memo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Fran?ois, Ch.1, Lines 40 - 50.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Life is strange", the Voice observed, in a doomy voice.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, we have no one to blame for that", the Author replied,
Floyd | assertively. "After all, we have created this strangeness by
Floyd | ourselves."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I drown in depths", the Voice complained, obviously annoyed by the
Floyd | Author's cocky replies. "We create a character, and he creates another.
Floyd | But we have never attempted to interfere in his life..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Except until now", the Author reminded him.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Very well, except until now. But can we allow him to interfere with
Floyd | his own creation?"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Author laughed. "He doesn't yet appreciate the value of his own
Floyd | creations. Perhaps now he will".
Floyd |

Floyd | "D?ja vu", the Voice replied, irritably. "Are you trying to tell me we
Floyd | have created an insecure, neurotic protagonist, after all this time?
Floyd | After all our endeavours? All our - er - programming?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Wait and see", the Author replied, and.......
Floyd | [Here the printing stops suddenly.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls says, "I am Jack's beating heart..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take memo" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Hall, in the house

Floyd | The front hall is large, spacious and exudes an air of good taste. A
Floyd | tall archway leads north from it to the rest of the house (which is
Floyd | dark), and a large sofa, forming a rectangular C, fills the room. In
Floyd | one corner is an ornamental shelf.
Floyd |
Floyd | The front door stands wide open.

Floyd |
Floyd | There's a blue shawl draped over the sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the large plush sofa is a small piece of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read small piece of paper" 		
	

Floyd | The diagram is a small graph, whose exact meaning is not obvious. It's
Floyd | a bell-shaped curve, like the statistician's Gaussian distribution, but
Floyd | with the words "Age" and "Stability" written along the X- and Y-axes
Floyd | respectively. Names of nations (you assume) - all of them familiar to

Floyd | you from your works - are written along the curve as it progresses, in
Floyd | the following order: "Provinces, Kingdoms, Europe, China, Colonies".
Floyd | You wonder if - possibly? - your semi-fictitious theories have actually
Floyd | taken root in the far, far future. Somehow, the idea does grab you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, maga's father just phoned, asked him to phone back when maga's possible awake, skimming what I missed..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the door to the house or the small, ornamental
Floyd | shelf?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "close front door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the door to the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "x front door" 		
	

Floyd | A simple, tasteful wooden door, which is strange if you assume that
Floyd | this is, indeed, the future. Even the pattern with which it is
Floyd | decorated looks more Victorian than post-apocalyptic.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shelf" 		
	

Floyd | The shelf is not exactly part of the wall, but seems joined to it in an
Floyd | intriguing manner. It's filled, quite as you would expect, with
Floyd | well-worn copies of various texts. It is currently closed off by a thin

Floyd | glass door, which seems to be quite easily openable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open shelf" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small, ornamental shelf.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look on shelf" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open glass door" 		
	

Floyd | In the small, ornamental shelf are a row of critical texts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x texts" 		
	

Floyd | The books in the shelf are a series of scholarly-looking treatises,
Floyd | ranging from "The Memoir As Discovery" by Stephen Gilmour to "Literary
Floyd | Classes and Categories" by Julia Franklin. Obviously, someone in this
Floyd | house is a literary critic.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x memoir" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read texts" 		
	

Floyd | Curiosity gets the better of you. You pull out a text at random and
Floyd | flip through the pages. The book is written far more lucidly than
Floyd | criticism ever was in your days, and you note with an air of approval

Floyd | that at last, a woman can write a straight story without being
Floyd | considered a traitor to the Feminist Cause.
Floyd | Finally, after a few enjoyable minutes, you replace the book.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "whoa!" 	
			olethros asks, "who is the author of this IF?" 	
			DavidW says, "The sign outside said 'Franklin'. Perhaps this is Julia Franklin's home." 	
			inky says, "or Ben Franklin" 	
			olethros says, "I sure hope DrMcNinja comes along to rescue this story" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Aretha would be another possibility" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "wear shawl" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the blue shawl)
Floyd | You try on the shawl, but you can't seriously see yourself - or a man
Floyd | of the 29th Century for that matter - wearing it. It is, beyond doubt,

Floyd | a woman's shawl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think the author was Ravi somebody? I can never remember his name." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search sofa" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the large plush sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "look under shelf" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Check out the room to the north?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yep" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ravi Rajkumar" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the Arch
Floyd | Currently, you are standing underneath a tall and imposing arch, that

Floyd | serves as a line of demarcation between the wide hall and the more
Floyd | residential portion of the house. This small passageway leads further
Floyd | north, south back into the hall, and runs on either side to the smaller
Floyd | wings of the house.
Floyd | The sense of familiarity you felt when you first stood outside the
Floyd | house grows even stronger.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x arch" 		
	

Floyd | Made of polished marble, the arch seems to emit a dim, warm glow whose
Floyd | origin you are uncertain of.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch arch" 		
	

Floyd | Good attempt. The game you're thinking of, though, was already written
Floyd | two competitions back. And, anyway, there's nothing scientific about

Floyd | this house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I'm wondering if we missed another note in the last location." 	
			DavidW says, "heh. Babel ref." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You have the strange feeling that the north end of the house - probably
Floyd | the kitchen and dining-hall - are not exactly germane to your current
Floyd | situation.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "germane?" 	
			inky says, "relevant" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "relevant" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, Down the West Wing
Floyd | A small corridor, leading from the vertical corridor down the middle of
Floyd | the house to a darkened room.
Floyd | You can hear voices coming from the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | A man's voice and a woman's voice, engaged in rational discussion, but
Floyd | with a faint tremor of nervousness nonetheless. You listen harder....
Floyd |

Floyd | "Mr. Author", the woman's voice says, pensively. "It's a curious name,
Floyd | but then it takes all kinds, I suppose."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "rational?" 	
			ls asks, "the authors for the texts so far about light?" 	
			olethros says, "let's see when the faint tremor of nervousness turns into forcefully rasps of pleasure" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | "Curious or not", the man's voice replies, "I'm inclined to believe
Floyd | what he says - knowing what I do. Remember the Congress?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | The woman laughs lightly. "How could I forget, Edward? But it is a
Floyd | sobering thought to know that you are - in the end - under the control
Floyd | of someone who never really knew you....."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Edward Author?" 	
			olethros asks, "let's go and break up their little discussion?" 	
			olethros says, "no, I guess edward == editor" 	
			Taleslinger says, "save first" 	
			Jacqueline says, "For some reason I got the impression those were two men." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But perhaps." 	
			Jacqueline shakes her head at olethros. 	
			olethros says, "fine I'll be serious from now on you just watch" 	
	DavidW clears the save counter. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros mumbles something about throwing the book at them. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aw." 	
			DavidW says (to olethros), "You're the one who wants to crash their party, so you should do the deed." 	
			Taleslinger says, "to the west!" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Master Bedroom
Floyd | You can't see much of the master bedroom, since it's dark; you can make

Floyd | out the vague shadows of a writing-table and a dresser (how can you be
Floyd | sure that that's what they are?), and a stately four-poster. Are there
Floyd | two people in the bed, or are you imagining things? Only light can help
Floyd | you here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a small switch on the west wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "push switch" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | As you throw the switch, the two people in the bed stir slightly, and

Floyd | sit upright.....
Floyd |
Floyd | They look even more familiar to you now, so familiar that you feel your
Floyd | memory will return any moment. A man of slight build, academic in
Floyd | appearance, in his late forties; a quiet- looking and intelligent woman
Floyd | of about the same age. You know them......but you're not sure how..

Floyd |
Floyd | "Would you mind", the man says indignantly, "explaining to us what
Floyd | you're doing here?"
Floyd | "Perhaps he's come from Mr. Author, Edward", the woman replies.
Floyd |
Floyd | And then you suddenly remember, with an almost painful clarity. Edward

Floyd | and Laura. Literary critics. Thermoconditioners. Their
Floyd | thirteen-year-old daughter, Simone. Familiar - of course.
Floyd |
Floyd | You created them......they're your characters. Characters in the
Floyd | prologue of.......The Decline and Fall......
Floyd |

Floyd | And suddenly, before you can even speak, the floor seems to crumble
Floyd | beneath your feet...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		olethros says, "hm that accomplished nothing much apart from moving us a stage ahead" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push space" 		DavidW says, "we never even saw east of the arch" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Can't undo until you press space, methinks." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Two - Errare Humanum Est
Floyd |
Floyd | Study
Floyd | Though you've never seen this room in your life, you can't help but

Floyd | feel a strong sense of d?ja vu about the entire place, as if you've
Floyd | either lived here once or will live here at some time in the future.
Floyd | Perhaps you've just moved in, because the room - apart from a solitary
Floyd | table and an old wooden chair - is bare.
Floyd |
Floyd | The completed manuscript of The Decline And Fall of the Colonial

Floyd | Empire, your new novel, lies on the table, sending waves of nausea
Floyd | through you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a dustbin (which is empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The very sight of the manuscript irks you. You feel impelled to

Floyd | mutilate it in some way.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by thirteen points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "the space button is in the room" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "restore" 		olethros asks, "err 'restore cf1'?" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | "Assuming, Laura," Edward replies, "that our friend Author is
Floyd | completely correct. He's a brilliant man - I grant it - but some of his

Floyd | ideas border on the fanciful."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | "But how do you explain the events of the past few days, Edward?",

Floyd | Laura asks, gently. "After all, the pages of a book can't alter all by
Floyd | themselves."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | "If the changes in the book had really happened, Laura, we wouldn't be
Floyd | here. European history as a whole would have changed - or would it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "this reviews says "way to big for the comp"" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | "It's all terribly confusing. Well, at least Simone isn't taking it too
Floyd | hard."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good old Simone", Edward says appreciatively.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen" 		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	

Floyd | The voices seem to have stopped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "that reminds me of a friend's 'alt-history' project" 	
			olethros says, "the result was a few MB of jumbled text" 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "You can >PUSH SAVE to save, and then >PUSH RESTORE will restore to the most previous save on the counter." 	
			olethros says (to Jacqueline), "ah, handy" 	
			DavidW says, "I have 12 pages of notes. We're on page 2." 	
			Taleslinger says, "written by one dan shiovitz" 	
			ls asks, "check out the east passage?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the Arch
Floyd | Currently, you are standing underneath a tall and imposing arch, that
Floyd | serves as a line of demarcation between the wide hall and the more
Floyd | residential portion of the house. This small passageway leads further

Floyd | north, south back into the hall, and runs on either side to the smaller
Floyd | wings of the house.
Floyd | There are no lights burning anywhere, except a dim glow off to the
Floyd | east, and you can hear faint murmurs off to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nursery
Floyd | Though it hardly looks like the kind of room you spent your childhood
Floyd | in, your sixth sense tags this room as a nursery. It's hard to find a

Floyd | logical reason for your flight of fancy though; there's a table, chair,
Floyd | and a small but comfortable bed, but there are no bars on the solitary
Floyd | window, and certainly few things that look like toys. Unless they're
Floyd | all inside that wardrobe or the dresser over there, that is.
Floyd | You feel a sudden sense of disquietude, as if - this is probably sick
Floyd | fancy - an old friend of yours was missing from the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the metal table is a brief letter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Brief letter read to my eyes as letter letter for a moment, as brief means letter in german" 	
			ls says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "read letter" 		
	

Floyd | In an old-fashioned, sloping, schoolgirl's hand, you can read the
Floyd | following:

Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Father and Mother,
Floyd | Something very unusual has happened - I think it's related to what you
Floyd | were telling me about the other day, but I'm not sure - but I have to
Floyd | leave for a short time, at least. Don't worry about me. As far as I
Floyd | know, I'm in safe hands. If you need to get in touch with me at any

Floyd | time, contact Mr. Author.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your loving daughter,
Floyd | Simone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | A generic, tall wardrobe. Printed on the outside is a name : Simone
Floyd | Franklin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | It isn't going to take you to Narnia, so I suggest you leave the
Floyd | wardrobe alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dresser" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing special, but it does look a bit older than the rest of the
Floyd | furniture.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open dresser" 		
	

Floyd | Full marks for adventuring acumen, zero for courtesy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I feel rebuked." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | The cot looks as if it had been slept in recently, which is strange
Floyd | considering that it's definitely night-time now; consequently, it's a
Floyd | little untidy.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing special, except that it's made of metal rather than plastic. No
Floyd | drawers either.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls says, "I wonder if you could go to sleep again within the same dream" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Try it." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "sit on bed" 		
	

Floyd | Try to control that destructive streak of yours. The bed was obviously
Floyd | meant for someone half your age and a quarter of your weight, and it's

Floyd | wanton cruelty to shatter it like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push bed#" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push bed" 		
	

Floyd | For the last time, this isn't a puzzle, this is a child's bedroom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "parser, bite me" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "who is author" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to find your own answers, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls says, "interesting commentary from the parser" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "who is simone" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to find your own answers, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | What a good idea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wave" 		
	

Floyd | You wave, feeling foolish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You always were a scholar, not an athlete.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | Amen to that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls says, "I wonder where the commentary would fall in the crimes against memisis stuff" 	
			ls says, "hope I worded that correctly" 	
			DavidW says (to ls), "This game might be a special case, considering the meta-like nature of it." 	
			ls says, "that's true" 	
			DavidW says, "mimesis, I think you meant" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I always liked snarky parser comments, and am guilty of them myself" 	
			olethros asks, "I guess this child actually went into the closet?" 	
			olethros asks, "or in your book?" 	
			DavidW says, "Don't know yet." 	
			olethros asks, "should we not examine the arch more carefully?" 	
			olethros says, "it's probably a Magic Arch" 	
			ls asks (of Jacqueline), "and did we forget to check out a note in the front room?" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nursery
Floyd | Though it hardly looks like the kind of room you spent your childhood

Floyd | in, your sixth sense tags this room as a nursery. It's hard to find a
Floyd | logical reason for your flight of fancy though; there's a table, chair,
Floyd | and a small but comfortable bed, but there are no bars on the solitary
Floyd | window, and certainly few things that look like toys. Unless they're
Floyd | all inside that wardrobe or the dresser over there, that is.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the metal table is a brief letter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We did look at the note in the front room. It was a graph of stability vs. age." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think we saw a note in this place." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But not in the surgery place." 	
			ls says, "roger" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "take letter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "kiss it" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls asks, "to the crumbling floor then?" 	
			DavidW asks, "You mean the bedroom?" 	
			ls says, "yea, that's what I meant :)" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nursery
Floyd | Though it hardly looks like the kind of room you spent your childhood
Floyd | in, your sixth sense tags this room as a nursery. It's hard to find a
Floyd | logical reason for your flight of fancy though; there's a table, chair,
Floyd | and a small but comfortable bed, but there are no bars on the solitary

Floyd | window, and certainly few things that look like toys. Unless they're
Floyd | all inside that wardrobe or the dresser over there, that is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "l through window" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x dresser" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing special, but it does look a bit older than the rest of the
Floyd | furniture.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think we've seen all we can here." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "l under dresser" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Full marks for adventuring acumen, zero for courtesy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "ok yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I say move on." 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the Arch
Floyd | Currently, you are standing underneath a tall and imposing arch, that

Floyd | serves as a line of demarcation between the wide hall and the more
Floyd | residential portion of the house. This small passageway leads further
Floyd | north, south back into the hall, and runs on either side to the smaller
Floyd | wings of the house.
Floyd | There are no lights burning anywhere, except a dim glow off to the
Floyd | east, and you can hear faint murmurs off to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, Down the West Wing

Floyd | A small corridor, leading from the vertical corridor down the middle of
Floyd | the house to a darkened room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

		olethros says, "so I guess the parents don't know anything about the child's disappearence at the moment" 	
	

Floyd | Master Bedroom
Floyd | You can't see much of the master bedroom, since it's dark; you can make
Floyd | out the vague shadows of a writing-table and a dresser (how can you be

Floyd | sure that that's what they are?), and a stately four-poster. Are there
Floyd | two people in the bed, or are you imagining things? Only light can help
Floyd | you here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a small switch on the west wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | A very stately piece of furniture, that would have been commonplace
Floyd | about ten centuries ago. You can make out two figures in it, but
Floyd | nothing else.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | The presumed writing table is just a dark blot in one corner of the the
Floyd | room, but it seems to have stacks of books on it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "get books from table" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "ask figures about bed" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "seems we must turn the switch on" 	
			DavidW says, "I think we must, yes." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "push switch" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | As you throw the switch, the two people in the bed stir slightly, and

Floyd | sit upright.....
Floyd |
Floyd | They look even more familiar to you now, so familiar that you feel your
Floyd | memory will return any moment. A man of slight build, academic in
Floyd | appearance, in his late forties; a quiet- looking and intelligent woman
Floyd | of about the same age. You know them......but you're not sure how..

Floyd |
Floyd | "Would you mind", the man says indignantly, "explaining to us what
Floyd | you're doing here?"
Floyd | "Perhaps he's come from Mr. Author, Edward", the woman replies.
Floyd |
Floyd | And then you suddenly remember, with an almost painful clarity. Edward

Floyd | and Laura. Literary critics. Thermoconditioners. Their
Floyd | thirteen-year-old daughter, Simone. Familiar - of course.
Floyd |
Floyd | You created them......they're your characters. Characters in the
Floyd | prologue of.......The Decline and Fall......
Floyd |

Floyd | And suddenly, before you can even speak, the floor seems to crumble
Floyd | beneath your feet...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Two - Errare Humanum Est
Floyd |
Floyd | Study

Floyd | Though you've never seen this room in your life, you can't help but
Floyd | feel a strong sense of d?ja vu about the entire place, as if you've
Floyd | either lived here once or will live here at some time in the future.
Floyd | Perhaps you've just moved in, because the room - apart from a solitary
Floyd | table and an old wooden chair - is bare.
Floyd |

Floyd | The completed manuscript of The Decline And Fall of the Colonial
Floyd | Empire, your new novel, lies on the table, sending waves of nausea
Floyd | through you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a dustbin (which is empty) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | The very sight of the manuscript irks you. You feel impelled to
Floyd | mutilate it in some way.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by thirteen points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "My notes indicate 10 chapters to the game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Is anyone's client displaying accents in this game correctly? I thought I'd fixed that on my client, but it seems I've not." 	
			DavidW says, "My client has never been able to see the accents from ifmud." 	
			olethros says, "accents dont work but this is floyd->ifmud->tf crappery" 	
			Jacqueline nods. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | Well, at least it's over. But you can't help but feel it's far, far
Floyd | worse than your previous novel; it seems poorly written and
Floyd | over-ambitious, and all the characters seem to have escaped from a

Floyd | Reader's Digest back-issue. You know that's partly intentional - you
Floyd | were trying to write a little positively, just for the heck of it - but
Floyd | it still sets your teeth on edge.
Floyd |
Floyd | On second thoughts, perhaps a decent burial? You're not sure.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha all the characters seem to have escaped from a Reader's Digest back-issue." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's harsh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You stare longingly at the manuscript, wondering if it does deserve a
Floyd | second chance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls says, "I'm guessing we throw the manuscript away in the dustbin" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "eat nanuscript" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "eat manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to ls), "Good idea." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put manuscript in bin." 		
	

Floyd | With a decisive sigh, you hurl the Empire and its hapless inhabitants
Floyd | into the dustbin. Time enough for it to be thrown out later......you
Floyd | haven't slept in days.

Floyd |
Floyd | You stagger to your bed, and drift away slowly....you can feel yourself
Floyd | floating....
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		Jacqueline says, "Wow. That was quick." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do we want to undo?" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Three - Driving With Your Eyes Closed
Floyd |

Floyd | On a lonely highway, in the back seat
Floyd | You are bound hand and foot, completely helpless, in what would appear
Floyd | to be the back seat of a slightly outmoded car. The front seat is
Floyd | obviously occupied, but it's so unnaturally high that you can't see
Floyd | beyond it. Looking out of the window reveals quiet scenery, typical of
Floyd | the average English countryside.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by four points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Study
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls says, "wow, that was a very quick chapter" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to ls), "Yeah. Think I'm going to poke around at least a few more turns there." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "floyd probably has his charset done wrong" 	
	ls says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Study
Floyd | Though you've never seen this room in your life, you can't help but
Floyd | feel a strong sense of d?ja vu about the entire place, as if you've

Floyd | either lived here once or will live here at some time in the future.
Floyd | Perhaps you've just moved in, because the room - apart from a solitary
Floyd | table and an old wooden chair - is bare.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a dustbin (which is empty) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | You try telling yourself that someone will actually be interested in
Floyd | it, but you know that's self- delusion. Forty-six copies for a
Floyd | four-hundred-page novel is not an impressive statistic, and things can
Floyd | only get worse. The sooner you put the damned thing in the trash can,
Floyd | the better it will be.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm gonna get a sandwich. afk for a bit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Um, there's a table." 	
			inky says, "this might fix the accents" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Study
Floyd | Though you've never seen this room in your life, you can't help but
Floyd | feel a strong sense of d?ja vu about the entire place, as if you've
Floyd | either lived here once or will live here at some time in the future.

Floyd | Perhaps you've just moved in, because the room - apart from a solitary
Floyd | table and an old wooden chair - is bare.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a dustbin (which is empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Oh yeah?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Harold Banks, auteur manqu?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls asks, "I didn't read "the sooner you put the damned thing in the trash can..." before - was it there?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Woo" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Thanks!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in bin" 		
	

Floyd | You've been doing little discarding of late.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to ls), "No, I think we left before the PC got that far in their internal struggle." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take bin" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ls nods 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "read manuscrip" 		
	

Floyd | You turn a few pages. You laugh slightly as you pass the comic
Floyd | prologue, which seems to be much better written than the six hundred
Floyd | and fifty pages following it, but the minute you hit Chapter One, you
Floyd | feel like ripping the damned thing to pieces. And kicking yourself for
Floyd | writing such uninspired baloney.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kick myself" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "What are we playing? How much have I missed?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under bin" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I was hoping there'd be more internal struggle." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Study
Floyd | Though you've never seen this room in your life, you can't help but

Floyd | feel a strong sense of d?ja vu about the entire place, as if you've
Floyd | either lived here once or will live here at some time in the future.
Floyd | Perhaps you've just moved in, because the room - apart from a solitary
Floyd | table and an old wooden chair - is bare.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a dustbin (which is empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under chair" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a completed manuscript
Floyd |   a blue shawl

Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ls says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | No way. That manuscript is not going to leave this room alive.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Halothane by Ravi Rajkumar." 	
			inky says, "halothane, and a fair amount" 	
			inky says, "things start an hour ago these days" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put manuscript in bin" 		
	

Floyd | With a decisive sigh, you hurl the Empire and its hapless inhabitants
Floyd | into the dustbin. Time enough for it to be thrown out later......you
Floyd | haven't slept in days.
Floyd |

Floyd | You stagger to your bed, and drift away slowly....you can feel yourself
Floyd | floating....
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we've been starting at 2 Eastern." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Three - Driving With Your Eyes Closed
Floyd |
Floyd | On a lonely highway, in the back seat
Floyd | You are bound hand and foot, completely helpless, in what would appear

Floyd | to be the back seat of a slightly outmoded car. The front seat is
Floyd | obviously occupied, but it's so unnaturally high that you can't see
Floyd | beyond it. Looking out of the window reveals quiet scenery, typical of
Floyd | the average English countryside.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by four points.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "scream" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ls says, "afk" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "say help" 		
	

Floyd | (to yourself)
Floyd | There is no reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear voices from the front seat, and strain to listen to them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You strain to hear the drivers' voices.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, yes, you're the Author. You presume to know everything", one voice
Floyd | says - an elderly voice, rebuking in tone, probably a man's. "But you
Floyd | still have to convince me."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You strain to hear the drivers' voices.

Floyd |
Floyd | "What convincing?" the man addressed as the Author says with a swagger.
Floyd | "Trouble with these chaps is, they can't handle reality. They create
Floyd | something, and are content to leave it at that - they don't realise the
Floyd | magnitude of the responsibility they have assumed. Creation is not
Floyd | static, as you know."

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You strain to hear the drivers' voices.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Reality?" The older man sounds puzzled. "I wonder what you mean by
Floyd | that, my friend. To the people I meet every day - those I preside over,

Floyd | in fact, this is reality. It's all a question of one's point of view."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Harold Banks, auteur manqu?.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Exactly what I do. The way I see it, friend, all of us are characters
Floyd | at one level or the other. We make up one level; the people we create
Floyd | make up the next level; and so on. You don't fit into that scheme, of
Floyd | course - shall we say you are above such things?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Quite right. I was years in the making. I have changed forms, assumed

Floyd | different identities, occupied different places, both physical and in
Floyd | the minds of our citizens, based on the imaginations of all those who
Floyd | shaped me. My essence has not changed - it is only the popular
Floyd | perception of me that has."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "you're a one dimensional plastiche, bastard" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "move hands" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "free myself" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You strain to hear the drivers' voices.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Anyway, I've profiled our friend in the rear. Nothing wrong with him
Floyd | that a little exposure couldn't fix. He's not psychotic, or unstable,
Floyd | or anything like that."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to driver" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask author about driver" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "He likes to profile our friend in the rear AMATNG." 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "See? I can be naughty silly, too." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x men" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "heh, page alex about amatng" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x scenery" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ls exclaims, "got to take off for now - thanks for an intro look at Halothane!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "uncanny x men" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	ls has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Taleslinger says, "bye, ls" 	
			Jacqueline is eating breakfast now, but reading along in her book. You can enter another command when you hear the IF Fairy's wand go TINKLE. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry. I mean, I'm reading along." 	
	olethros has disconnected. 		
	olethros was too old and infirm for your purpose. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Then why did he destroy all those people?", the old man asks, bemused.
Floyd | "To leave the fates of forty-five million people hanging in the balance
Floyd | - that is not the act of a sane man, Author."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, I'm done." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You were *supposed* to free us from our predicament while I was eating, T." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess I'll have to do it." 	
			Jacqueline sighs. 	
	olethros arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "rock and roll" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x seat" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x car" 		
	

Floyd | A polarized glass window through which you can see a peaceful-looking
Floyd | countryside.
Floyd |
Floyd | "There is such a thing as want of confidence.....Here, that 's enough!

Floyd | We've arrived. Take our friend out gently, Padre. Don't let him see you
Floyd | though. Not now."
Floyd |
Floyd | With these words, the old man - you cannot see him, still, as he shines
Floyd | a light in your eyes - unties your bonds, and gently but firmly escorts
Floyd | you out of the vehicle. You hear a faint hum of engines, and the car

Floyd | drives away. You now find yourself...
Floyd |
Floyd | Open Field
Floyd | A pleasant expanse of grass, limited in extent; to your east, west and
Floyd | south you see high granite walls, but a footpath leads north. The sun
Floyd | beams down upon you.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by eight points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I, um, solved it." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "another brilliant solve" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, no space button." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Thank you very much." 	
			olethros says, "hehehehe hehe hehe waah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So now we're bound and in a field and alone." 	
			Jacqueline says, "At night, the ice weasels will come." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So we'd better get out of this before nightfall." 	
			inky says, "no, we're untied" 	
			olethros says, "I thought he shined a light in our eyes and yet the sun beams down upon us like.." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Harold Banks, auteur manqu?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "go home" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sun" 		
	

Floyd | Looking at the sun directly would blind you, so you content yourself
Floyd | with a quick, indirect glance. It seems to be in fine form.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Meadow
Floyd | Exactly what you'd expect from the field, the meadow looks like an
Floyd | excellent spot for a picnic. Acres and acres of grass stretch around
Floyd | you. A footpath leads further north, but a barbed-wire fence blocks
Floyd | your progress in other directions, except the way you came from, south.

Floyd | The shadow that the fence casts forms, strangely enough, a handsome
Floyd | border to the meadow. A single thin tree with a sign on it lies to your
Floyd | immediate north, just before the footpath.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We're.... I missed us getting untied." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a small sign nailed to the tree, and hand-painted; not a work
Floyd | of art by any stretch of imagination. It seems a little loose, and
Floyd | droops to one side. The arrow on it paints to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | THIS WAY TO THE VILLAGE - HEAD NORTH
Floyd |

Floyd | The Village is an International Heritage Site under the protection of
Floyd | Sweeney and Stroll, Ltd. This is not a tourist resort, and attempts to
Floyd | treat it as such are punishable by law.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "North or south?" 	
			olethros asks, "we just came from the south did we not?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We did, but in a car." 	
			Jacqueline says, "With strangers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Who bound us." 	
			olethros says, "let's take the picturesque route now then" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Open Field
Floyd | A pleasant expanse of grass, limited in extent; to your east, west and

Floyd | south you see high granite walls, but a footpath leads north. The sun
Floyd | beams down upon you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Not with that wall in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We could track them down and ... oh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the granite wall)
Floyd | If you were fourteen feet tall and had a stepladder, perhaps.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "grow" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I guess we are forced" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the granite wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "poke wall" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Meadow
Floyd | Exactly what you'd expect from the field, the meadow looks like an
Floyd | excellent spot for a picnic. Acres and acres of grass stretch around

Floyd | you. A footpath leads further north, but a barbed-wire fence blocks
Floyd | your progress in other directions, except the way you came from, south.
Floyd | The shadow that the fence casts forms, strangely enough, a handsome
Floyd | border to the meadow. A single thin tree with a sign on it lies to your
Floyd | immediate north, just before the footpath.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You move to the north, and can make out the dim outline of a tribal
Floyd | village - or something of the sort - in the distance, but before you

Floyd | can move any further, you stop dead in your tracks, halted by the
Floyd | apparition in front of you.....
Floyd |
Floyd |            [depress SPACE......]

		olethros says, "man man man this is such a huge textdump" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Apparition?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Spooky." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | It's a small tin figurine. Staring at it in profile, it looks like a

Floyd | 10p coin; but from the front it is indubitably a human likeness.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Not yet", the apparition admonishes you. "You are not ready to enter
Floyd | the Village. You do not understand what lies ahead; and yet you once
Floyd | knew......" Its head seems to nod briefly. Its voice is the same as
Floyd | that of the older man in the car.....or are you imagining things?

Floyd |
Floyd |            [depress SPACE......]

		olethros says, "ahh it's The Village" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | "Yes, you did", it goes on, before you can reply. "Perhaps what you
Floyd | need, then, is to be shown the consequences of your actions. It is all
Floyd | too easy, in your world as in mine, to see some of the consequences
Floyd | without seeing the structure as a whole, to miss the wood for the
Floyd | trees. But that is no excuse. Follow me, then....."
Floyd |

Floyd | Too numbed to reply, you follow the voice to the north; as you do so,
Floyd | the village seems to disappear, and you walk down countless
Floyd | intersections, until you reach your destination......
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [depress SPACE]

		olethros says, "I imagine Shalalala will be inside" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Four - Everything Can Change
Floyd |

Floyd | Cold city street, outside a house
Floyd | You find yourself standing on the street of what seems to be a fairly
Floyd | typical metropolis, with narrow alleys leading north, south and west.
Floyd | It's bitterly cold - the temperature must be fairly close to freezing
Floyd | point - and the threat of snow seems to increase with every passing
Floyd | second. The only thing that brings an ounce of comfort to the scene is

Floyd | the wall of the house you're standing outside, on which is a frosted
Floyd | window (through which a light, albeit a dim one, escapes) to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by eight points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 56 out of a possible 360, in 204 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Talented Amateur.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "win" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This does seem like a longish game for Floyd." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hour and a half in, one seventh of the points achieved." 	
			inky says, "you're only on chapter four? I guess it's going to be a while" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Perhaps the next chapter we get 304 points." 	
			inky says, "yeah, but you don't have any kids" 	
			inky says, "er" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er" 	
			Jacqueline says, "NO HINTS" 	
			olethros says, "just press space" 	
			inky says, "assume the chapters are your children" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, then I have four." 	
			inky says, "man, I hope you have a minivan then" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large, old-fashioned, frosted window, which time hasn't been
Floyd | very kind to. The windowsill looks dusty and neglected, and there seems
Floyd | to be no locking mechanism attached to the window itself. Behind the
Floyd | window you can make out a low light - nothing else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I have one of those Volkswagon busses." 	
			olethros says, "man I am glad this game has no sequel" 	
			inky says, "halothane 2: DEATHMATCH" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but it's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | As you open the window you can make out the shadows cast by a fireplace

Floyd | on a wall, tracing out a sofa, a table, and a stooped figure in the
Floyd | sofa itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | Peering into the window, you can make out that the figure is a
Floyd | middle-aged woman; nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x woman" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "um" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x middle-aged woman" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "break window" 		
	

Floyd | Deliquency has few merits in this situation.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "enter window" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living-room, inside the house

Floyd | The room is dark, which is more a consequence of its size than of
Floyd | anything else; certainly the fireplace in the far corner is doing its
Floyd | best to illuminate its surroundings. Shadows loom around you - a table,
Floyd | an unlit chandelier, a sofa, a figure - and, in spite of the actual
Floyd | physical warmth of your surroundings, you feel a palpable chill. The
Floyd | rest of the room lies to your east, where the sofa casting the shadow

Floyd | actually lies.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "hmm?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nothing, I guess the woman wasn't in scope." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x woman" 		
	

Floyd | Peering closely at the shadow of the figure on the sofa, you can see
Floyd | that it is the figure of a tall woman.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, ""the woman wasn't in scope" sounds like a good way to describe a bad date" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch shadow" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the circular shadow, the sofa's shadow, the table's
Floyd | shadow or the woman's shadow?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "woman's" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "the shadow of a figure?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I believe you mean 'the woman doesn't USE scope,' inky." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, Scope." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Which is a brand of mouthwash here, for those of foreign lands.)" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Then, heh." 	
			olethros says, "oh, ah, hm, heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You can hear faint music every now and then, but the tune seems to come
Floyd | and go in fits and starts, instead of flowing on evenly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "wake up woman" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "date woman" 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "touch woman" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | A small table in the centre of the hall, of an old-fashioned design.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sofa" 		
	

Floyd | You can only make out one arm of the sofa at an angle, but the person
Floyd | sitting in it is out of your sight.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to sit on top of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sofa" 		
	

Floyd | To sit on the sofa, you'll have to move to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Hesitantly, you move to the east....
Floyd |
Floyd | By The Fireside
Floyd | The east end of the hall receives considerably greater illumination

Floyd | from the fireplace, with the result that the impression of obscurity
Floyd | seems to have been momentarily dispelled. Apart from the other side of
Floyd | the hall, though, there are no visible exits. Of course, there are
Floyd | doors to the north and south, but they're both boarded up, and will
Floyd | probably never be opened again.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Good evening, Mr. Banks", the woman says quietly. "I've been expecting
Floyd | you. Do take a seat", she says, motioning you towards the sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "bah" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I am thinking of the oracle scene in matrix reloaded." 	
			olethros says, "god help us" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to sit on top of?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "at least there is no spoon" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "woman" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd | "Don't be afraid", she goes on. "My sole purpose in being here was to

Floyd | answer your questions - assuming you have any."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sit on sofa" 		
	

Floyd | You sit down on the sofa, next to Simone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger asks, "woman about author" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about author" 		
	

Floyd | "I only saw him once, on the night I had to make my escape from our
Floyd | house in Europe. He was, I should say, in his late thirties, and by no
Floyd | means lacking in confidence."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "was that the little girl in the bedroom scene?" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "ask woman about parents" 		
	

Floyd | "Fortunately", Simone sighs, "my father didn't have to be put through
Floyd | all this - he was dead at the end of your novel. My mother, however,
Floyd | was instrumental in bringing you here, so that you might help us

Floyd | escape."
Floyd | "Perhaps you're wondering what I'm doing here, Mr. Banks, and that's a
Floyd | natural question. But I'm afraid that you might not take my answer very
Floyd | seriously."
Floyd |
Floyd | She laughs gently.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You see, Mr. Banks, what most authors don't realise is that the
Floyd | characters they create actually do take on a life of their own. I mean
Floyd | this not theoretically, but literally. We exist in a parallel
Floyd | dimension; we lead the lives that you outline for us - and I must thank
Floyd | you for doing a commendable job there. However, when a work in

Floyd | progress, a work nearing completion, is abandoned......things begin to
Floyd | change. We become.......reassigned. To new writers. We take on new
Floyd | identities - superficially, that is, for we retain the personalities
Floyd | with which we were originally created - and end up in places like this.
Floyd | Unlike many people, however, we were warned of the oncoming disaster,
Floyd | and managed to lessen the blow in time. All of our creations - those

Floyd | from your novel about the Empire, at least - have been relocated. And"
Floyd | - she laughs, ironically - "knowing what passes for writing in your
Floyd | days, Mr. Banks, you can imagine the roles we have to play.
Floyd | Fortunately, there is a solution to all this."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "which is to write a prequel!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask woman about solution" 		
	

Floyd | "It's a little difficult to explain, Mr. Banks, simply because I don't
Floyd | really know everything - but what it amounts to is that your presence
Floyd | here will serve to reverse the actions of those who've been taking your

Floyd | place."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about date" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm sorry, Mr. Banks", Simone says, regretfully, "but I can't help you

Floyd | with that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about me" 		
	

Floyd | "You did excellently, Mr. Banks", Simone says appreciatively. "In an

Floyd | age when everyone was sunk in gloom, you created a world which could
Floyd | actually be enjoyed by its inhabitants. You had no reason to stop."
Floyd |
Floyd | Simone glances at you surreptitiously, with something of an air of
Floyd | wonder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about old mAN" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm sorry, Mr. Banks", Simone says, regretfully, "but I can't help you
Floyd | with that."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about old xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm sorry, Mr. Banks", Simone says, regretfully, "but I can't help you
Floyd | with that."
Floyd |

Floyd | "You seem a little uncertain as to how to proceed", Simone says,
Floyd | calmly. "Never mind that - you'll find out in good time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Tall and named Simone? Not Matrix... think PeeWee's Big Adventure." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm sorry, Mr. Banks", Simone says, regretfully, "but I can't help you
Floyd | with that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about manuscript" 		
	

Floyd | "I really find it hard to understand why you destroyed it, Mr. Banks.
Floyd | Of course, you didn't know what you were doing then."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask woman about book" 		
	

Floyd | "I really find it hard to understand why you destroyed it, Mr. Banks.
Floyd | Of course, you didn't know what you were doing then."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tell her about book" 		
	

Floyd | "No matter what your opinion of it, Mr. Banks", Simone replies, "you
Floyd | shouldn't have done that. In a way...."
Floyd |
Floyd | She pauses.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You see - this takes some explaining, but I'm glad you brought it up.
Floyd | As long as at least one author continues to develop his stories, his
Floyd | characters in a particular style, that particular - how shall I put it
Floyd | - strain continues to exist in this dimension, and - under suitable
Floyd | circumstances - influences the others, including your world. By

Floyd | finishing your novel, Mr. Banks, you could have tipped the scales in
Floyd | our favour."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Strange as this world seems, it is real, Mr. Banks", Simone replies.
Floyd | "We do have a parallel world of our own - one that fluctuates and
Floyd | changes according to the whims of the authors in your dimension, where

Floyd | only those social structures that prove to be stable actually survive."
Floyd | She smiles. "That's something to be proud of. And the very fact that
Floyd | you're here proves that we can actually interact with your dimension,
Floyd | and even change it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Man, I hope maga never plays this." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tell her about world" 		
	

Floyd | Simone listens attentively while you tell her some of the plot points
Floyd | of your future works. "They sound excellent, Mr. Banks, just like your
Floyd | last book."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "He starts to write stuff and then abandons it all the time." 	
			Jacqueline says, "He has thus fouled up countless parallel worlds." 	
			Taleslinger says, "; this'll teach him then" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tell her about me" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think Simone, patient as she is, really wants to hear your life
Floyd | story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tell her about her" 		
	

Floyd | Simone listens to you, but does not reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kiss her" 		
	

Floyd | Whether or not she resembles Galatea, you're no Pygmalion.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "attack her" 		
	

Floyd | A cowardly and unprovoked act.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask her about her" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm sorry, Mr. Banks", Simone says, regretfully, "but I can't help you
Floyd | with that."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Enough time has passed, Mr. Banks", Simone says, getting up from the
Floyd | sofa. "It is time for you to move on." She hands you a small black
Floyd | object, which on examination turns out to be a fountain-pen.

Floyd |
Floyd | "This may sound ridiculous", she goes on, smiling, "but you may find
Floyd | this pen far, far more useful than you can ever imagine. I am not sure
Floyd | what is in store for you - I know some of the details, but I can't
Floyd | explain them to you now. Whatever dangers may await you, I am quite
Floyd | sure that you'll succeed."

Floyd |
Floyd | The whole room seems to dissolve, and you can just make out two more
Floyd | words: "Good luck" - before the voice that was speaking to you all the
Floyd | time is replaced by silence.....You find yourself floating, not in
Floyd | space, but in a liquid of some sort.....
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Please press SPACE]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chapter Five - The Far Horizon
Floyd |
Floyd | Red Lake
Floyd | You are half-swimming, half-drowning, in a lake filled with a deep red
Floyd | fluid of some sort. Currents arround you lead north, south and west,
Floyd | and at the bottom of the lake - it's rather shallow - is, surprise of

Floyd | surprises, a trapdoor.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by twenty points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "back." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Allo." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A small trapdoor, seemingly embedded in the lake's bed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | You never knew how to, and a weird red lake's hardly the best
Floyd | starting-point.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You thrash around for a few minutes, but make no progress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink fluid" 		
	

Floyd | Actually, the flavour isn't entirely unpleasant; it reminds you of
Floyd | pomegranate juice, or something like it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I hate pomegranate juice." 	
			DavidW says, "really? I like it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "maga drinks pomegranate tea all the time and I hate the smell." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And then he bought some pomegranate ice cream." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think it's more the smell that puts me off." 	
			DavidW says, "There's pomegranate soda too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But to eat something, you pretty much have to smell it." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, the trap door, I guess?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "not when you have a cold" 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "True." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the trapdoor in the red lake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "or an absurdly low smelling sense, like me" 	
	Corporal_Touchy arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Floating On Clouds

Floyd | You're floating above a city whose identity is unknown to you, walking
Floyd | on what seems to be a cloud but is actually much sturdier. The clouded
Floyd | path leads further north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "walk on sunshine" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Clouds. Under a lake." 	
			Taleslinger says, "i am thinking of super mario bros." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And abandoning me?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "okay, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Like I can stop you.)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Before a Gate
Floyd | You are standing in front of a large, barred gate that seems to open

Floyd | into a mansion - or at least a large residence - of some sort. Peering
Floyd | through the bars you can make out the outlines of trees and a statue,

		Taleslinger says, "because of the clouds, lady." 	
	

Floyd | but no actual building. To your east, a smaller lane runs into
Floyd | darkness.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh..." 	
			DavidW says, "oh. I thought he was saying the clouds reminded him of the game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "See, it made me think of Stardust." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which I just read." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I was!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "He was, I'm just much too gullible." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gate" 		
	

Floyd | A large, imposing, barred, gilded gate, closed quite firmly. Whether it
Floyd | is locked or not is uncertain. There is a sign on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | The inscription on the gate reads:
Floyd |
Floyd | Where there is no lock, there can be no key.
Floyd | You might as well wait for the gate to rust,
Floyd | But who can dissolve the King's crown?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a blue shawl

Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open gate" 		
	

Floyd | You try opening the gate, but it doesn't seem to open in the usual way.

Floyd | A voice seems to float around your ears, saying : "The solution is not
Floyd | here, Harold."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | A simple fountain-pen, of the sort you used to write your second and
Floyd | third novels - in fact you're not quite sure if it's the same pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "write on shawl" 		
	

Floyd | For a writer of your calibre, graffiti is a come-down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Floating On Clouds
Floyd | You're floating above a city whose identity is unknown to you, walking
Floyd | on what seems to be a cloud but is actually much sturdier. The clouded
Floyd | path leads further north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x city" 		
	

Floyd | The clouds surround you and actually form the ground under your feet,
Floyd | blocking the view of the city you thought you saw below.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Before a Gate
Floyd | You are standing in front of a large, barred gate that seems to open
Floyd | into a mansion - or at least a large residence - of some sort. Peering

Floyd | through the bars you can make out the outlines of trees and a statue,
Floyd | but no actual building. To your east, a smaller lane runs into
Floyd | darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Narrow Side-Lane
Floyd | Standing on the lane, you can now actually make out that it isn't dark
Floyd | at all, and in fact continues to grow brighter as it runs further east.

Floyd | In the distance you can make out the outline of a tall tower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | In An Open Field
Floyd | A vast, wide open field, completely covered with overgrown grass, and
Floyd | with only two well-trodden paths interrupting the carpet; one to the
Floyd | north towards a tall building, and one straight down the middle of the
Floyd | field, to the east, leading towards the tower.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky has left. 		Jacqueline asks, "Oh?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ILAC" 	
	Corporal_Touchy goes home. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | At The Base Of The Stairs
Floyd | You are at the base of a spiral staircase that leads up to a tall

Floyd | tower, which would make a passable lighthouse if it weren't on dry
Floyd | land. The stairway leads up, while the path that brought you here runs
Floyd | back, to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside The Tower
Floyd | Standing at the top of a spiral staircase, a crude hole cut in the wall
Floyd | of the tower, to your east, beckons you in; the stairway leads back

Floyd | down to solid ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | The sights inside the tower are nothing less than breath-taking. They
Floyd | remind you in some eerie manner of an alchemist's laboratory, with
Floyd | glass tubes and bulbs, filled with liquids of every conceivable colour,
Floyd | arrayed along the four walls. In one corner of the room, a huge brass
Floyd | pot is boiling, and emits multicoloured fumes; in another lies a crude

Floyd | stone table. There seems to be no way to reach the lower levels of the
Floyd | tower, and the only exit is to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the crude stone table is a small glass bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | Abandoned amidst all this splendour is a small key.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "takey k then x it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take k then x it" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | A nondescript small key, made of some indeterminate metal.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | A small glass bottle, which is currently closed quite tightly. It has
Floyd | some faded writing on it, which you can just about decipher.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to jacq), "thank you" 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read bottle" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | AQUA REGIA
Floyd |

Floyd | Will Dissolve Silver, Gold, and Just About Everything Else
Floyd | Use With Extreme Caution
Floyd |
Floyd | [Not Approved by the FDA For the Treatment of Jealousy.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW | But who can dissolve the King's crown? | The alchemist can, cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | A roughly-hewn, crude stone table, standing stolidly in one corner of
Floyd | the laboratory.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x fumes" 		
	

Floyd | A small glass bottle, which is currently closed quite tightly. It has
Floyd | some faded writing on it, which you can just about decipher.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "To the gate!" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "right?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where's the crown, though?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Was it on the gate?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I saw the sign, but not the crown of which it spoke." 	
			DavidW says, "er, I don't think the aqua regia is for the gate. But not sure." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "maybe search the other part?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Drive the Floydbus, T." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Outside The Tower
Floyd | Standing at the top of a spiral staircase, a crude hole cut in the wall
Floyd | of the tower, to your east, beckons you in; the stairway leads back
Floyd | down to solid ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "hm hmmmm missed a lot" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | At The Base Of The Stairs
Floyd | You are at the base of a spiral staircase that leads up to a tall
Floyd | tower, which would make a passable lighthouse if it weren't on dry

Floyd | land. The stairway leads up, while the path that brought you here runs
Floyd | back, to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In An Open Field
Floyd | A vast, wide open field, completely covered with overgrown grass, and
Floyd | with only two well-trodden paths interrupting the carpet; one to the
Floyd | north towards a tall building, and one straight down the middle of the
Floyd | field, to the east, leading towards the tower.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside a Building

Floyd | You are in the immediate periphery of a large building, whose nature is
Floyd | - at least, at the moment - a mystery to you. Barring the board above
Floyd | the building and the rusty door to the north, there are no windows or
Floyd | ornaments of any kind.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rusty door is quite definitely closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A small, rusty, metal door, with a tiny keyhole.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock door with small key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to the building.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (first opening the door)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside The Building
Floyd | The inside of the building looks totally deserted, and the dim corridor

Floyd | running further north looms in front of you ominously. An intersecting
Floyd | corridor, present at a strangely early stage, runs east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Where did you leave off, again?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I can catch you up fairly quickly, methinks." 	
			DavidW says, "I missed all of chapters 3 and 4." 	
			olethros asks, "did something more than boring stuff happen?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In a deserted classroom
Floyd | Judging by the rows of chairs, desks and disused benches scattered
Floyd | haphazardly around the room, you'd venture to guess that this once was
Floyd | a schoolroom, or at least a classroom of some sort. There is nothing
Floyd | else though - not even a teacher's desk - to interrupt the monotony.

Floyd | The exit lies to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | In one corner of the room is a tall blackboard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blackboard" 		
	

Floyd | A blackboard, with some writing on it. It seems quite firmly anchored
Floyd | to the underlying wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL STUDENTS AND POSTGRADUATES
Floyd |
Floyd | Dreamscapes Publishing House, in spite of its reputation of providing
Floyd | honest, historical entertainment for millennia, has been shut down by

Floyd | orders of the G.H.T. All classes on the design of past worlds are
Floyd | henceforth suspended.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "the other sure does have a thing for writing on stuff" 	
			Taleslinger says, "s /other/author" 	
			DavidW asks, "G.H.T.? Has that been seen before?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I think the important bits are that we tossed a manuscript in the trash, then met up with this Oracle like lady who did not bake us cookies but did tell us that when we abandon writing work we abandon parallel worlds which then flounder and we shouldn't do that, so stop, and here's a fountain pen that will be useful. Then we were kidnapped by some angry characters and abandoned in a field, or maybe that came before the Oracle chyk but it doesn't matter, and now we've gone through a trapdoor in the bottom of a pomegranate lake into a cloud city and have a puzzle to solve about dissolving a king's crown." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "ok then" 	
			olethros says, "oh my we have no pen" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Man, this game didn't seem really weird until I typed all that out." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a small glass bottle
Floyd |   a small metal key
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a blue shawl
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "we had" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We have then pen, yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "er, we have it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fountain-pen" 		
	

Floyd | A simple fountain-pen, of the sort you used to write your second and
Floyd | third novels - in fact you're not quite sure if it's the same pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desks" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside The Building
Floyd | The inside of the building looks totally deserted, and the dim corridor
Floyd | running further north looms in front of you ominously. An intersecting

Floyd | corridor, present at a strangely early stage, runs east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | In a deserted storeroom
Floyd | This room was once a storeroom, but - barring a cardboard box in one
Floyd | corner - it is now as bare as it can conceivably be. There are no
Floyd | windows, no ventilator vents, and the only exit is back out to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | An overfilled cardboard crate, left understandably open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I wonder if the author has written anything for nanonwrimo" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | You search among the old paper, shattered glass and other debris for a
Floyd | while, but finally unearth a worn leather handbag, in fairly good
Floyd | condition considering where it's been stored.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by five points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says (to Jacqueline), "thanks for the recap" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take handbag" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | A worn leather handbag with a broken clasp ornamented in gold foil,
Floyd | weakly closed. It seems to have no pockets, decoration or other
Floyd | distinctive features.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | You open the leather handbag, revealing a lacy handkerchief and a small
Floyd | microfilm badge.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Certainly, o." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x badge" 		
	

Floyd | A small microfilm badge, that can be easily worn, and that obviously
Floyd | serves as a form of ID, though you're not sure what for. There is no
Floyd | photograph, just a few markings, and the name "Harvey Price".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear badge" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the small microfilm badge)
Floyd | You put on the small microfilm badge.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lacy" 		
	

Floyd | A lacy, frilled, woman's handkerchief, of a style popular about a
Floyd | hundred years ago - counting from your time, that is. In one corner is

Floyd | a name : "Marguerite".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x foil" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Are these names familiar? Harvey Price? Marguerite?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, I don't think so." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search box" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing else in the crate, and I must warn you that that glass is going
Floyd | to cut your hands if you mess around with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x glass" 		
	

Floyd | (the small glass bottle)
Floyd | A small glass bottle, which is currently closed quite tightly. It has
Floyd | some faded writing on it, which you can just about decipher.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside The Building
Floyd | The inside of the building looks totally deserted, and the dim corridor
Floyd | running further north looms in front of you ominously. An intersecting

Floyd | corridor, present at a strangely early stage, runs east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You walk boldly to the north, and hear a loud voice saying, "Good

Floyd | morning, Mr. Price. Welcome. Your usual places have been reserved.
Floyd | Welcome to the adventure of your choice.
Floyd |
Floyd | And then the wall dissolves, and you find yourself in the building no
Floyd | longer....
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE...]

		Jacqueline says, "my" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		DavidW says, "hoo boy" 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Third Interposition - A Romantic Interlude
Floyd |
Floyd | Boudoir
Floyd | Though you never really knew what a boudoir was, this certainly looks
Floyd | like one - or at least its popular conception. The lounge and divan in

Floyd | opposite corners of the room, covered in cushions, the fine curtains on
Floyd | the windows, the massive bed, the dresser near the bed - this is almost
Floyd | a textbook room. There's even a Louis XVI chair here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door out of the room is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can hear voices from behind the door, but cannot make out what they
Floyd | are saying.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by sixteen points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "boom-chicka-boom-boom" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I am thinking of 2001." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You are unable to do so.
Floyd |
Floyd | For some inexplicable reason, you feel a trifle sleepy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "listen door" 		
	

Floyd | In the distance you can make out a lute being played, but you're not
Floyd | sure if it isn't a mandolin.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a scream - or was it air rushing out of a balloon?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "hehe, agatha christie" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | No reply, I'm afraid.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a dull thumping against the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | In the distance you can make out a lute being played, but you're not
Floyd | sure if it isn't a mandolin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "oh lala" 	
	Gerynar arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Taleslinger asks, "try sleeping?" 	
			DavidW says, "Or search the room." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "put ear on door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Can always save first." 	
			olethros says, "we just did" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Boudoir
Floyd | Though you never really knew what a boudoir was, this certainly looks
Floyd | like one - or at least its popular conception. The lounge and divan in
Floyd | opposite corners of the room, covered in cushions, the fine curtains on
Floyd | the windows, the massive bed, the dresser near the bed - this is almost

Floyd | a textbook room. There's even a Louis XVI chair here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door out of the room is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | You look under the bed, and pull out a cloth-bound journal.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Giacomo!", you hear someone shouting.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open cushion" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under lounge" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under chair" 		
	

Floyd | Perfumed dust. (What were you expecting?)
Floyd |
Floyd | "Begone with you!", another voice shouts.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x windows" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dresser" 		
	

Floyd | A small dresser by the bed-side, with a single drawer, which is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small, delicate dresser, revealing a pile of letters and a
Floyd | handwritten note.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the clash of metal on metal.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read handwritten note" 		
	

Floyd | Dear Harold,
Floyd |
Floyd | I must appreciate, at this stage, your perspicacity. Obviously my

Floyd | friend, the Author, is totally wrong about you - he thinks you're a sad
Floyd | sheep, when actually you're nothing of the kind. Well, what I wanted to
Floyd | say was about the letters. Sorry if I pinched dear Margot's letters
Floyd | from Giacomo, but they have nothing to do with your quest. Enjoy these
Floyd | letters en lieu - and if you can't, send them to your publisher.
Floyd |

Floyd | Best wishes,
Floyd | The Little Tin God.
Floyd |
Floyd | Intriguing, to say the least.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the clash of metal on metal.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ooh - perspicacity." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x letters" 		
	

Floyd | These letters are disappointing, to say the least. They don't fit in

Floyd | with the room's d?cor at all - they're written by a man named Clinton,
Floyd | or something of the sort, and though they purport to be love letters,
Floyd | all they do is detail the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. Boring.
Floyd | On the other hand, it'd make an excellent post-modern novel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "uh?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just a big fifty-cent word meaning that we understand stuff." 	
			Taleslinger says, "oh, looked it up" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You just never see it, that's all." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Boudoir
Floyd | Though you never really knew what a boudoir was, this certainly looks
Floyd | like one - or at least its popular conception. The lounge and divan in
Floyd | opposite corners of the room, covered in cushions, the fine curtains on

Floyd | the windows, the massive bed, the dresser near the bed - this is almost
Floyd | a textbook room. There's even a Louis XVI chair here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door out of the room is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a cloth-bound journal here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Heavy breathing can be heard behind the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read journal" 		
	

Floyd | THE JOURNAL OF A SOUR KRAUT
Floyd |
Floyd | January 11th.
Floyd | Another miserable day. My physician - who comes from a hundred years in
Floyd | the future - has prescribed some vile physic, by the name of Paxil, to
Floyd | raise my spirits. Its efficacy, to say the least, is nil. Seriously

Floyd | considering trip to France - it's such a romantic spot to commit
Floyd | suicide in.
Floyd |
Floyd | January 16th.
Floyd | My dear daughter, for mysterious reasons, insists on following me to
Floyd | France. Why should she? I don't need her help to kill myself - I'm not

Floyd | yet that senile. Well, I must indulge her. She's never really forgiven
Floyd | me for breaking it off between her and that nihilistic Russian
Floyd | musician......
Floyd |
Floyd | January 25th.
Floyd | Arrived in France. A fine day, though my dear Konnie has already

Floyd | started drawing all the gentlemen's looks. Bother.
Floyd |
Floyd | January 26th.
Floyd | Am besides myself with fury. My suicide plan went kaputt thanks to an
Floyd | officious little priest from England. I tell you, it's things like this
Floyd | that drive us to World War. Besides, he (the priest, not Herr Hitler)

Floyd | is now mooning round my whelp in the most sheepish fashion. I could
Floyd | tell him it wasn't worth it, but he wouldn't listen.
Floyd |
Floyd | January 27th. (Evening.)
Floyd | Was spared having a son-in-law older than myself; my daughter finally
Floyd | fell for some longhair, anti-establishment artist. In eighty years,

Floyd | that fellow's descendants will be playing at Woodstock. Am strongly
Floyd | considering disposing of my execrable physician and taking up the
Floyd | proposal of Dreamscapes Incorporated. They promise 'historical
Floyd | adventure', which is more than my pathetic author ever gave me. Here's
Floyd | to life - L'chaim, as the Jews would put it.
Floyd |

Floyd | "It's no good", a voice says plaintively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | THE JOURNAL OF A SOUR KRAUT

Floyd |
Floyd | January 11th.
Floyd | Another miserable day. My physician - who comes from a hundred years in
Floyd | the future - has prescribed some vile physic, by the name of Paxil, to
Floyd | raise my spirits. Its efficacy, to say the least, is nil. Seriously
Floyd | considering trip to France - it's such a romantic spot to commit

Floyd | suicide in.
Floyd |
Floyd | January 16th.
Floyd | My dear daughter, for mysterious reasons, insists on following me to
Floyd | France. Why should she? I don't need her help to kill myself - I'm not
Floyd | yet that senile. Well, I must indulge her. She's never really forgiven

Floyd | me for breaking it off between her and that nihilistic Russian
Floyd | musician......
Floyd |
Floyd | January 25th.
Floyd | Arrived in France. A fine day, though my dear Konnie has already
Floyd | started drawing all the gentlemen's looks. Bother.

Floyd |
Floyd | January 26th.
Floyd | Am besides myself with fury. My suicide plan went kaputt thanks to an
Floyd | officious little priest from England. I tell you, it's things like this
Floyd | that drive us to World War. Besides, he (the priest, not Herr Hitler)
Floyd | is now mooning round my whelp in the most sheepish fashion. I could

Floyd | tell him it wasn't worth it, but he wouldn't listen.
Floyd |
Floyd | January 27th. (Evening.)
Floyd | Was spared having a son-in-law older than myself; my daughter finally
Floyd | fell for some longhair, anti-establishment artist. In eighty years,
Floyd | that fellow's descendants will be playing at Woodstock. Am strongly

Floyd | considering disposing of my execrable physician and taking up the
Floyd | proposal of Dreamscapes Incorporated. They promise 'historical
Floyd | adventure', which is more than my pathetic author ever gave me. Here's
Floyd | to life - L'chaim, as the Jews would put it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "'in eighty years, ... will be playing at Woodstock'? Must be nice to know the future." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I do like the line about France." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen to heavy breathing" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listne" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | In the distance you can make out a lute being played, but you're not
Floyd | sure if it isn't a mandolin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "hm, do you all know the word kaputt?" 	
			olethros says, "yes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it means 'finished' or 'dashed.'" 	
			olethros the all-knowing, says. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like, he tried and failed badly." 	
			DavidW says, "Normally spelt 'kaput'." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Boudoir

Floyd | Though you never really knew what a boudoir was, this certainly looks
Floyd | like one - or at least its popular conception. The lounge and divan in
Floyd | opposite corners of the room, covered in cushions, the fine curtains on
Floyd | the windows, the massive bed, the dresser near the bed - this is almost
Floyd | a textbook room. There's even a Louis XVI chair here.
Floyd |

Floyd | The door out of the room is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a cloth-bound journal here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear a scratching at the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "we use it only to refer to mechanical things that are broken, fwiw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, that too." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You are unable to do so.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is silence behind the door for a while.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | No reply, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is silence behind the door for a while.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "YOu wouldn't say : "Mein Weltherrschaftsplan is kaputt!"" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cushions" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | You've heard about this kind of bed - the King/Queen lies down in it,
Floyd | his or her courtiers/servants draw the curtains, and it's off to
Floyd | dreamland. There are no curtains here, though, just a frame surrounding

Floyd | the bed and attached to it. There are several pillows, if you're
Floyd | interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door suddenly opens, and you hear a rush of footsteps.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "what's the connection address?" 	
			olethros says, "lac" 	
			DavidW asks, "wait here or go north?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take journal" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to T), "Interesting." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We've sort of expanded the use of the word, I guess." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | There is no visible lock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The door is open now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, so it is." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Sorry to distract y'all." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was too busy thinking about kaput." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Boudoir
Floyd | Though you never really knew what a boudoir was, this certainly looks
Floyd | like one - or at least its popular conception. The lounge and divan in
Floyd | opposite corners of the room, covered in cushions, the fine curtains on
Floyd | the windows, the massive bed, the dresser near the bed - this is almost
Floyd | a textbook room. There's even a Louis XVI chair here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The door leading north stands open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tower Room
Floyd | This small room, which - judging by its construction - is at the top of
Floyd | a tower - is extremely claustrophobic. There is no furniture, just a
Floyd | small fireplace and a stand that was probably meant for weapons, but
Floyd | contains none. There isn't even a window around, so you can't jump out.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the weapon stand is a green glass bottle (which is closed).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "how come we heard footsteps but saw nothing?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "GHOSTS" 	
			DavidW says, "Voices too. And scratching." 	
			olethros says, "oh, GHOSTS. In a DREAM." 	
			olethros says, "fuck you" 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps ... these are the chambers of the heart." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No thank you." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure what you're meaning..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | (the small glass bottle)

Floyd | A small glass bottle, which is currently closed quite tightly. It has
Floyd | some faded writing on it, which you can just about decipher.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "shaking a verbal fist at the author" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take bottle" 		
	

Floyd | (the small glass bottle)
Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Awww. No weapons." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read bottle" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | AQUA REGIA
Floyd |

Floyd | Will Dissolve Silver, Gold, and Just About Everything Else
Floyd | Use With Extreme Caution
Floyd |
Floyd | [Not Approved by the FDA For the Treatment of Jealousy.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x green bottle" 		
	

Floyd | A green glass bottle meant to contain wine, which is currently closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take green" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read green bottle" 		
	

Floyd | A green glass bottle meant to contain wine, which is currently closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | It's closed, but all you can see in it is red wine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Bottoms up?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open green" 		
	

Floyd | You open the green glass bottle, revealing a few mouthfuls of red wine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "er, what else is here?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink wine" 		
	

Floyd | Something tells you not to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Stoppage." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not much - hm, the fireplace." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tower Room

Floyd | This small room, which - judging by its construction - is at the top of
Floyd | a tower - is extremely claustrophobic. There is no furniture, just a
Floyd | small fireplace and a stand that was probably meant for weapons, but
Floyd | contains none. There isn't even a window around, so you can't jump out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | A crummy, dirty old fireplace. Nothing spectacular, no logs and few
Floyd | cinders.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | A crummy, dirty old fireplace. Nothing spectacular, no logs and few
Floyd | cinders.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cinders" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search cinders" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | What do you expect to find there? A prayer-book? A mahogany rod? For
Floyd | heaven's sake, Harold, stop acting like you're in a game or something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | You dig around the fireplace gingerly for a few seconds, before coming
Floyd | up with a small cardboard box, the size of two fingers or so.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by nine points.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | A small cardboard box, with the word FEROX underlined in two shades of
Floyd | green printed along one side.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the cardboard box, revealing a chelator pill and a package
Floyd | insert.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pill" 		
	

Floyd | A small white pill, with the word "Ferox 250mg" imprinted on both
Floyd | sides.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read insert" 		
	

Floyd | Ferox is a chelator - a substance capable of combining with heavy metal
Floyd | poisons and inactivating them. Its active principle is

Floyd | d-thioferroxamate, which has maximal efficacy against arsenic, antimony
Floyd | and lead. It is contraindicated in mercury and other metal poisoning
Floyd | and in inorganic intoxication, e.g. phosphorus. Side-effects are minor
Floyd | and include nausea, heartburn and mild anaemia with prolonged use. Do
Floyd | not use along with fluvoxamine, desipramine, ketoconazole or thiazide
Floyd | diuretics.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Put it in the wine?" 	
			DavidW asks, "You think the wine is poisoned?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "smell wine" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I do." 	
			Jacqueline | You say (to Floyd), "drink wine" 	
	

Jacqueline  | Floyd | Something tells you not to.

	
			DavidW says, "well, worth a try, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put pill in wine" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the chelator pill before you can put it into
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take pill" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put pill in wine" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sensing something fishy about the bottle of wine, you put the chelator
Floyd | pill into the bottle, and massive metallic precipitates of antimony
Floyd | form in the bottle, inactivating the poison.... In case you really
Floyd | wanted to know, you've just aided and abetted an intrigue between the
Floyd | Marquise Marguerite and an Italian adventurer named Giacomo - but now,

Floyd | out with the commercial spots and on with the game.......
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Six - The Sad Caf?
Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the

Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You still remember the saloon from the day it was created. By you, of

Floyd | course. The jolly old receptionist, the reunion of scientist Janus
Floyd | Mbelwe with his wife Vanessa. It doesn't look the same now.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | The receptionist stares at you in amazement. "A customer? Thought I'd

Floyd | seen the last of 'em a long time ago. Welcome, son, to the Aviators
Floyd | Saloon."
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by eight points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think that's The Sad Cafe with an accent on the end." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 114 out of a possible 360, in 343 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Deserving Writer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Ah, I finally realized what this reminds me of: Jigsaw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I can see the accents now that inky fixed it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It is indeed cafe." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | The old man looks like a receptionist of some sort, but somehow his
Floyd | expression suggests that he once held a higher position.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, it is the same man. Why does he look worried? Why is this place
Floyd | empty?

Floyd |
Floyd | Looking around at the room, then at you, the receptionist sighs. "This
Floyd | used to be -- well, I won't say it was the Mazina Hotel in Europe, but
Floyd | it certainly had a lot more life in it. But ever since that old story
Floyd | began, no one steps in here anymore."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I saw through The Fac Sade." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about story" 		
	

Floyd | "The old legend? Well, it's one way to while away time, young man. You
Floyd | see, we're a fairly - how d'you put it - rational kind of society.

Floyd | Sensible. Not superstitious. That's why, I guess, we were all so scared
Floyd | when it happened."
Floyd |
Floyd | He pauses, and clears his throat a tad dramatically.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Five years ago, son", he goes on, "- actually four and nine, but who's

Floyd | counting? - this place used to be fairly bursting with life. Not that
Floyd | it was one of those old-fashioned bawdy houses or burlesques or
Floyd | whatchamacallits - it was a nice, cosy kind of hotel, with all kinds of
Floyd | people. We used to have refugees from the Kingdoms, travellers from the
Floyd | airports, even the Director of Social Sciences and his.. - heck, that's
Floyd | how the whole story started. Janus Mbelwe - everyone used to call him

Floyd | by his first name, self included - was one of our finest scientists;
Floyd | social scientists, that is. Between him and a few of his friends, he'd
Floyd | defused a very tricky political crisis, two years ago, relying on sheer
Floyd | scientific method. All this at thirty."
Floyd |
Floyd | He sighs.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, he had been here two years before that; at 'round the same time,
Floyd | I guess, there was a young lady staying here. I forgot what she did - I
Floyd | gather she was a psychologist of some sort. Anyway, she and the
Floyd | Director hit it off just fine - a few of us old fogies thought
Floyd | something might come of it, but old Jan - he was myopic if there ever

Floyd | was one. Couldn't see a thing - science excluded - even when it stared
Floyd | him in the eyes. Anyway, they met again - I can't swear that it was
Floyd | coincidence - the next year, and, to use the language of the novelists,
Floyd | they just about made a match of it. There was work to be done -
Floyd | political stuff - so they decided to wait for about a year or so. The
Floyd | next year arrived, and Vanessa Clarke - that was her name - came along

Floyd | at just the usual time. Jan arrived two days later, and they were all
Floyd | set to tie the knot, if you know what I mean. On the night before they
Floyd | left for the Registry for the official ceremony, old Jan was just a
Floyd | trifle tardy, and Miss Clarke was growing impatient. I decided to go
Floyd | and ask the kid to hurry up - they'd already waited so long, y'know -
Floyd | so I went up to his room, opened the door, and there he was.

Floyd | Or rather wasn't.
Floyd | Janus Mbelwe had vanished into thin air."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, I won't insult your intelligence by telling you that Miss Clarke
Floyd | was - uh - rather broken up over the whole thing; no one ever heard of
Floyd | her to this day, and all our searches for Jan - we even had the whole

Floyd | police force scouring the globe at one stage - came to naught. Ever
Floyd | since then, son - until you, that is - no man or woman has crossed the
Floyd | threshold of this saloon. That's the whole story." The receptionist
Floyd | closes his eyes, remembering.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I haven't even looked through the rooms since then - they stay clean

Floyd | automatically - but if you want to stay here, there are 'bout ten rooms
Floyd | upstairs. You're welcome to any of 'em."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "fascade" 	
			Jacqueline says, "GAH" 	
			Jacqueline scrolls back to read... 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | "Decided to take a look anyhow? Well, good luck to you, son", the
Floyd | receptionist calls out. "If you like a room, stay there - if you find -

Floyd | um - anything - let me know...." His voice fades as you move away."
Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and

Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | And the four rooms housed the four scientists that had returned from
Floyd | the Provinces. Correction. Used to. Fairbank, Reed, Royal....who was
Floyd | the fourth?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "interesting" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "THe fourth was Mbelwe?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 1, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | A fairly nondescript, and long unoccupied, hotel room, Room 1 boasts of
Floyd | no furniture save a bed, a small table by its side, and a writing-desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the table, a thin manual lies discarded.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x manual" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a single page, and obviously describes the working of the
Floyd | table, though in rather technical language. Below the end of the

Floyd | manual, someone has scrawled in a few words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read manual" 		
	

Floyd | Portable AutoLock Users' Manual

Floyd |
Floyd | 1. Technical Specifications:
Floyd | AutoLock Portable Furniture uses 1024-bit technology, S3 scale
Floyd | miniaturization, and voice modulation. Two models exist: the DSX - 275
Floyd | and the DSX - 550.
Floyd |

Floyd | 2. The DSX - 275 and 550:
Floyd | The DSX - 275, a simple and lighter model, is a low-syntax machine,
Floyd | with zero linguistic comprehension, and easy replaceability. The DSX -
Floyd | 550, though far more complex, uses S2.5 scale miniature circuits. It
Floyd | understands over twenty English phrases, and can also serve as a
Floyd | timepiece.

Floyd |
Floyd | 3. Locking and Unlocking:
Floyd | Locking and unlocking are dependent on a numerical code whose length is
Floyd | dependent on the user, though it must lie between three and seven
Floyd | digits. The syntax to open the table for the DSX - 275 is "<Name>, the

Floyd | code is <Code Number>", where <Name> is the name of the piece of
Floyd | furniture (table, dresser, mirror, etc.) and <Code Number> is
Floyd | self-explanatory. The DSX - 550 recognizes additional formats.

Floyd |
Floyd | 4. Changing the Code:
Floyd | The code can only be changed with another code number, and requires
Floyd | technical assistance. This feature is not recommended for beginners.
Floyd |
Floyd | Below this, someone has scrawled......

Floyd | Remember your history lessons, dear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger rubs eyes. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "table, mbelwe" 		
	

Floyd | The table buzzes angrily. Perhaps it doesn't understand English.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "If I'd play alone, this would be a stopping point." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So we need a code." 	
			DavidW says, "'Remember your history lessons dear' = 84774" 	
	WeirdBeard arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		olethros asks, "what was the famous year? 1876?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "If I played much IF alone these days, I'd never get through anything unless I was a beta tester and quite determined - you guys always help me muddle through." 	
			DavidW says, "oh year, there's lots of years around." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wait, 84774?" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I was just counting the letters in the phrase." 	
			DavidW says, "It's a possible code." 	
			Jacqueline says, "ah" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "enter code" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "True." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I've got to 75 points in Child's Play on my own, and a dim memory of the Floyd session." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "table, 84774" 		
	

Floyd | The table buzzes angrily. Perhaps it doesn't understand English.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 1, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | A fairly nondescript, and long unoccupied, hotel room, Room 1 boasts of
Floyd | no furniture save a bed, a small table by its side, and a writing-desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | Near the table, a thin manual lies discarded.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "table, code is 84774" 		
	

Floyd | The table's display briefly prints the words Access Denied, but only
Floyd | for a moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ah. That wasn't it." 	
			olethros says, "there is a year in (UK?) history which is famous for being the only thing students remember" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, right - I had the syntax wrong" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "mbelwe, the code is 84774" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "table, the code is mbelwe" 		
	

Floyd | The table's display briefly prints the words Access Denied, but only
Floyd | for a moment.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember history" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | A small writing-desk, opposite the bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "GRR - I *hate* 'that's just scenery' responses..." 	
			DavidW says, "My notes suggest we haven't seen the code yet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking we go poke around the other rooms." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 4, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room 4, which was obviously meant to accomodate a couple or a small
Floyd | family at least, is a pleasant contrast to the house you came across

Floyd | earlier in your wanderings. Even the furniture - double-bed, dresser,
Floyd | table and armchair, and the window - have a particular flavour of their
Floyd | own.
Floyd |
Floyd | The window is open, flooding the room with sunlight.
Floyd |

Floyd | Covering the bed, with a primness that is almost Victorian, is a warm
Floyd | quilt of knitted wool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x quilt" 		
	

Floyd | You've absolutely no sartorial sense, but it does look like a patchwork
Floyd | quilt, obviously woollen.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the wedding presents Dr. Reed's colleagues gave her, when she
Floyd | married an European politician. It's the little things that remind you
Floyd | the most of all that.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | An old table, in the English fashion - until you remember that in this
Floyd | future, which you created, England hasn't existed for over half a

Floyd | millennium.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "table, the code is mbelwe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't talk to the old English table.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Just checking." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "wedding date?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the
Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all
Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.
Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The code is numeric, and the table is in Room 1." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I was just seeing if the other tables were freaky, too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, except I didn't realize for certain that it had to be numeric." 	
			DavidW says, "well. ... I guess I shouldn't be hasty with saying it's only numeric." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | A small, portable computer, with no keyboard or obvious controls, but a
Floyd | large screen and an opening in front. A red switch in front subserves
Floyd | an obvious function. Below the screen is a manufacturer's mark :

Floyd | Compact Newsreader, 2048-Bit. Thompson Electronics.
Floyd | The portable computer is currently switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Have you finished this?" 	
			DavidW says, "Ages ago." 	
			DavidW says, "I've forgotten it all. But I have notes." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "switch on pc" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Set aside thine notes, my lad." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "switch on computer" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the portable computer on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "How old is this game, anyway>?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "er, ?" 	
			(from Taleslinger) Jacqueline says, "Let the force be your guide." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | A small, portable computer, with no keyboard or obvious controls, but a
Floyd | large screen and an opening in front. A red switch in front subserves
Floyd | an obvious function. Below the screen is a manufacturer's mark :
Floyd | Compact Newsreader, 2048-Bit. Thompson Electronics.

Floyd | The portable computer is currently switched on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read computer" 		
	

Floyd | Since there is no data supplied, the screen is plaintively blank.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x screen" 		
	

Floyd | An unremarkable computer screen, which is currently displaying about
Floyd | half a page of words.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read screen" 		
	

Floyd | Since there is no data supplied, the screen is plaintively blank.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read words" 		
	

Floyd | Since there is no data supplied, the screen is plaintively blank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I say 'grr'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Um... but there's half a page of words." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x half page" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x words" 		
	

Floyd | An unremarkable computer screen, which is currently displaying about
Floyd | half a page of words.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "type mbelwe" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter mbelwe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "ask computer about star trek" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says, "Perhaps you need a diskette or similar." 		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Okay, I lied. Consult your notes and see if it says anything about the syntax for using this thing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "*THEN* set your notes aside." 	
			DavidW says, "There's a red switch, and we need a disc." 	
			Jacqueline blinks. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Red switch." 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "okay, one last room." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and

Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Room 2, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | A comfortable but unoriginal room, barring the large bay window covered

Floyd | by cretonne curtains. Other than that, the furniture in this room is
Floyd | meagre: a single bed and an armchair.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's all coming back now. This was where Professor Royal stayed a week,
Floyd | after being reunited with his sister. You're not even sure if he exists
Floyd | anymore.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the antique armchair is a black disc.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Cretonne?" 	
			olethros says, "Bretonne" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take disc" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x disk" 		
	

Floyd | A small black disc. Written on it - probably indelibly - are the words
Floyd | "news article".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the
Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all
Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.

Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put disc in computer" 		
	

Floyd | The screen glows brightly with half a page of words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So you SAY" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read screen" 		
	

Floyd | Chronicles of Global History
Floyd |
Floyd | 2187
Floyd | Little is known about the world of 2187 A.D., which has given rise to
Floyd | much intriguing, though profitless, speculation. The few records that
Floyd | we do possess show little signs of the dramatic collapse that was to

Floyd | come a mere eighty years later, and - if the truth must be told - there
Floyd | were signs of a stability that was long awaited following the events of
Floyd | the preceding two centuries. Scientifically and technologically, of
Floyd | course, there was nothing but progress; and - for the first time in a
Floyd | century and a half - it seemed as if social change, that old sluggard,
Floyd | was making an effort to keep up with the advances of mere learning.

Floyd |
Floyd | Simon Goedler
Floyd | Institute of Historical and Social Research
Floyd | 2869 A.D.
Floyd |
Floyd | Almost exactly as you had planned, though you never put it down on

Floyd | paper or disc. Whoever's brought you here can obviously read minds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, there *was* half a page of words. Good." 	
			olethros says, "grrargh puzzle" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, 2869." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe." 	
			olethros says, "no, that's the date of the entry" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or rather, 2187." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right" 	
			olethros says, "this guy is obviously in the social sciencees" 	
			olethros says, "(the author)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 1, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | A fairly nondescript, and long unoccupied, hotel room, Room 1 boasts of

Floyd | no furniture save a bed, a small table by its side, and a writing-desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the table, a thin manual lies discarded.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "version" 		
	

Floyd | HALOTHANE
Floyd | An Interactive Restoration
Floyd | Copyright 1999 by Quentin.D.Thompson.
Floyd | License 1999, The Theatre Of The Sensible.
Floyd | [Please type 'help' in times of doubt - or just for fun. To toggle
Floyd | between default and original colours, use 'colours on' and 'colours

Floyd | off'.]
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 990928 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/8
Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0 (2N) / Library serial number 981213
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "table, the code is 2187" 		
	

Floyd | The table swings open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "w00t" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | This small table - which, grotesquely enough, looks like a briefcase
Floyd | perched on four legs - does not appear to have any drawer or concealed
Floyd | compartment. On one side, a sentence is written : DSX-275. Voice
Floyd | Locking System. Numerical. A display panel alongside this inscription

Floyd | displays the word 'Open'.
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "nice going, kitten" 	
			Jacqueline smacks Taleslinger. 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry, couldn't resist." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I hope you did follow #english" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Also, me neither" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I did, yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Shame it won't appear in the CF transcript." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in table" 		
	

Floyd | In the small night-table is a personal ID chip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I asked if I could use kitten as nickname for small kids and inky said no, so I obviously had to use it, dear transcript reader." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take chip" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x chip" 		
	

Floyd | A small microchip, with the words "Personal ID" written in minuscule
Floyd | letters along one border.
Floyd |
Floyd | And a far cry from the Mind-Computer Chip that was your main plot

Floyd | twist.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put chip in computer" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "yeah, wrong room" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "which room was the computer in?" 	
			DavidW says, "3. West." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the
Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all
Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.
Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "thanks" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put chip in computer" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit in the computer's drive.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Phone call..." 	
			DavidW says, "It's an ID chip. It might not be for a computer." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x chip" 		
	

Floyd | A small microchip, with the words "Personal ID" written in minuscule
Floyd | letters along one border.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a personal ID chip
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wasn't there some id thing we where wearing?" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "wasn't there some id thing we where wearing?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes, in an earlier chapter." 	
	Fang has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Taleslinger asks, "maybe the chip is important later?" 	
			DavidW says, "This chapter has a lot in it. Look around more." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the
Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all

Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.
Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | Under the bed, you find a blue disc. Someone's obviously been playing
Floyd | Tom Thumb in this hotel.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by nine points.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x disc" 		
	

Floyd | (the blue disc)
Floyd | A small blue disc, with no label or inscription on it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put disc in computer" 		
	

Floyd | (the blue disc in the portable computer)
Floyd | You need to be holding the blue disc before you can put it into

Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take disc" 		
	

Floyd | (the blue disc)

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put disc in computer" 		
	

Floyd | (the blue disc in the portable computer)

Floyd | There's already a disc in the computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remove disc" 		
	

Floyd | (the blue disc)
Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remove disc from computer" 		
	

Floyd | Removed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put disc in computer" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the black disc or the blue disc?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "blue" 		
	

Floyd | The screen glows brightly with half a page of words.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "read screen" 		
	

Floyd | LAWYER'S DISAPPEARANCE - UPDATE
Floyd | 26th November, 2804

Floyd |
Floyd | Even the most complete investigations by European and Colonial police
Floyd | forces have failed to reveal the least trace of Colonial legal
Floyd | consultant Cassandra Anderson, who was last seen driving away from the
Floyd | chambers of the Regional Court of Offences at 9 p.m., about three weeks
Floyd | ago. In a statement issued to all major news services, Officer Schultz

Floyd | of the European Police Force categorically ruled out a deep political
Floyd | plot as the cause of the abduction. "We live in peaceful times
Floyd | nowadays, and even the most obdurate reactionaries have learnt the
Floyd | danger of rocking the boat", he said. "This is probably an isolated
Floyd | act, with no major backing." He added that he was sanguine about being
Floyd | able to retrieve Mrs. Anderson safely.

Floyd |
Floyd | Noel Horton
Floyd | Pan European News Services.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cassie Anderson?
Floyd | My God. You hadn't even put her on paper. She was just an idea; the

Floyd | successful lawyer in her thirties, her husband Gerald, her two
Floyd | daughters....How much damage have you done?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Mrs. Anderson..." 	
			Taleslinger realizes he has done to much Matrix related stuff last week. 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the

Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all
Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.
Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You don't seem to have the key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Receptionist's room, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | This room - which, by its lived-in, familial appearance must belong to

Floyd | the receptionist - is small, neat and comfortable. A sturdy bed
Floyd | occupies the centre of the room, with an open window casting a bright
Floyd | beam right on it; besides this, there is little furniture except a
Floyd | couch, a bookshelf, and a television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x bookshelf" 		
	

Floyd | The bookshelf shows obvious signs of being home-made, and contains five
Floyd | books.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x books" 		
	

Floyd | There are lots of books here, mostly fiction - historical romances and
Floyd | the like. You hardly have the time to browse through them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline is off the phone. 	
			Taleslinger asks, "5 books? lots?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Scrolling back... unless someone wants to give me a cracktastic summary like I gave for you all a bit ago..." 	
	McMartin arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Taleslinger says, "welcome back, lady" 	
			McMartin says, "I shouldn't be here, but I can pay attention with a third of a brain" 	
			DavidW says, "Tale found a blue disc, which revealed that Cassie Anderson, the lawyer that hadn't been even written yet, is missing." 	
			DavidW says, "And we're now looking at rooms in the 2nd floor up." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah yes. They're getting in OUR BRANE now. Got it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks." 	
			DavidW says, "North room is locked; we need a key. East room is the receptionist guy's. Haven't been in West room yet." 	
			Taleslinger says, "And 5 books is lots to the author, she he is obviously into social sciences." 	
			Taleslinger says, "s/she/so" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 6, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | Room 6 was obviously going to be renovated before disaster struck,
Floyd | because it's totally bare. It's a nice, pleasant room, or rather it
Floyd | would be so if it had any furniture. The only piece worthy of that name
Floyd | is a stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x stool" 		
	

Floyd | A small wooden stool, conjuring up memories of rustics working away at
Floyd | cows' udders. On one side is a maker's name: "Matthew Barringer and
Floyd | Sons. Fine Furniture and Padding."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under stool" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing bigger than a computer mouse could hide under this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool isn't important!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push stool e" 		
	

Floyd | Is that the best you can think of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push stool w" 		
	

Floyd | Is that the best you can think of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Didn't Matt Barringer write Detective?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "hm, makers names" 	
			McMartin says (to DavidW), "Yes." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So this is one level up from where we were when my phone rang?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes." 	
			Taleslinger says, "yes" 	
	Gerynar has disconnected. 		
	Gerynar spins around in circles, faster and faster, until he disapears in a brilliant flash of plaid light. 		DavidW says, "I suggested that we look around more." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That is a good suggestion. Just orienting m'self." 	
			Taleslinger says, "i did his biding" 	
			DavidW says, "Ah. So, if I said look under ... oops, said too much." 	
	Gerynar arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "I'm going to let you explore the rest of this level because I don't want to duplicate what you've done." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except maybe he is gone." 	
			Taleslinger says, "i think my work here is done" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Eep. Is it?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 6, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | Room 6 was obviously going to be renovated before disaster struck,
Floyd | because it's totally bare. It's a nice, pleasant room, or rather it
Floyd | would be so if it had any furniture. The only piece worthy of that name
Floyd | is a stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a

Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plants" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Receptionist's room, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | This room - which, by its lived-in, familial appearance must belong to
Floyd | the receptionist - is small, neat and comfortable. A sturdy bed
Floyd | occupies the centre of the room, with an open window casting a bright

Floyd | beam right on it; besides this, there is little furniture except a
Floyd | couch, a bookshelf, and a television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as

Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x plants" 		
	

Floyd | Potted flowers. Rather pleasant, actually.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "search plants" 		
	

Floyd | Come on, Harold. What do you think this is? A text adventure or
Floyd | something?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		McMartin says, "Next they'll tell us xyzzy won't do anything. =(" 	
			DavidW says, "Anyway, my hint stands. 'Look under' more often." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Have we done anything with the tele?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under plants" 		
	

Floyd | Come on, Harold. What do you think this is? A text adventure or

Floyd | something?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under television" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x television" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, you went w." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Receptionist's room, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | This room - which, by its lived-in, familial appearance must belong to
Floyd | the receptionist - is small, neat and comfortable. A sturdy bed
Floyd | occupies the centre of the room, with an open window casting a bright
Floyd | beam right on it; besides this, there is little furniture except a
Floyd | couch, a bookshelf, and a television.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x couch" 		
	

Floyd | A small couch with soft cushions, ideal for a good read or an impromptu
Floyd | nap.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under cushions" 		
	

Floyd | Suspicious bloke, aren't you?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under couch" 		
	

Floyd | Suspicious bloke, aren't you?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "save and try to sleep on couch?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "searc cushions" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "lie on couch" 		
	

Floyd | I doubt the receptionist would appreciate that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep on couch" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to sleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You aren't feeling especially drowsy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x tv" 		
	

Floyd | Eight hundred years from now, television is still television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x television" 		
	

Floyd | Eight hundred years from now, television is still television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under tv" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get on bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "lie on bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x books" 		
	

Floyd | There are lots of books here, mostly fiction - historical romances and
Floyd | the like. You hardly have the time to browse through them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look behind books" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under books" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and

Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Since I think I'm playing alone now (Taleslinger is talking to a friend, I think)..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I shall explore this level again, probably recovering some ground." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 6, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room 6 was obviously going to be renovated before disaster struck,
Floyd | because it's totally bare. It's a nice, pleasant room, or rather it

Floyd | would be so if it had any furniture. The only piece worthy of that name
Floyd | is a stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sit on stool" 		
	

Floyd | Milked any cows lately?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Actually, you should be exploring the lower levels more first." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a

Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You don't seem to have the key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 1, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | A fairly nondescript, and long unoccupied, hotel room, Room 1 boasts of

Floyd | no furniture save a bed, a small table by its side, and a writing-desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The table is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the table, a thin manual lies discarded.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "yeah, sorry i'm busy, but it's bedtime anyway" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take manual" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Tales), "No worries - have a good night." 	
			Taleslinger says, "have fun, looking forward to the transcript" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks for your help." 	
			Taleslinger says, "of course" 	
			DavidW says, "bye, Taleslinger" 	
			Taleslinger says, "bye dw" 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "Bye, kitten." 	
			McMartin asks, "Do all kittens get 10s even when the kittens are not in fact kittens?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Heh, this will stick with me, I fear" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think it might. heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to write on?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "manual" 		
	

Floyd | Ironically, you have writer's block. You can't think of a single
Floyd | sensible thing to write.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "write on manual with pen" 		
	

Floyd | It might be a better idea to actually write on something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in table" 		
	

Floyd | The small night-table is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Done here?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the
Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all
Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.

Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Room 2, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | A comfortable but unoriginal room, barring the large bay window covered
Floyd | by cretonne curtains. Other than that, the furniture in this room is
Floyd | meagre: a single bed and an armchair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think room 1 is done, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing I should hit them numerically." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x armchair" 		
	

Floyd | The armchair is definitely an antique, and has seen better days,
Floyd | meaning that it's extremely fragile.

Floyd |
Floyd | And this was where Mrs. Firebank sat, and elaborated her theories on
Floyd | population dynamics to an enthralled audience of four. Yes, that's it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search chair" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the antique armchair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under chair" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look behind curtains" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gerynar has disconnected. 		
	Gerynar spins around in circles, faster and faster, until he disapears in a brilliant flash of plaid light. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x curtains" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push chair" 		
	

Floyd | You'd be sure to shatter it if you tried that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to sit on top of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "chair" 		
	

Floyd | You sit on the chair for a while, but the charm soon palls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Room 3, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room Three is a spartan and utilitarian room, in sharp contrast to the
Floyd | incomplete elegance of the reception area. The chair, bed and table all

Floyd | bear a stern, military look, which looks out of place - even gruesome -
Floyd | in a lodging-house of this sort.
Floyd |
Floyd | Perched comfortably on the table is a small computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | A small, portable computer, with no keyboard or obvious controls, but a
Floyd | large screen and an opening in front. A red switch in front subserves
Floyd | an obvious function. Below the screen is a manufacturer's mark :
Floyd | Compact Newsreader, 2048-Bit. Thompson Electronics.

Floyd | The portable computer is currently switched on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read screen" 		
	

Floyd | LAWYER'S DISAPPEARANCE - UPDATE

Floyd | 26th November, 2804
Floyd |
Floyd | Even the most complete investigations by European and Colonial police
Floyd | forces have failed to reveal the least trace of Colonial legal
Floyd | consultant Cassandra Anderson, who was last seen driving away from the
Floyd | chambers of the Regional Court of Offences at 9 p.m., about three weeks

Floyd | ago. In a statement issued to all major news services, Officer Schultz
Floyd | of the European Police Force categorically ruled out a deep political
Floyd | plot as the cause of the abduction. "We live in peaceful times
Floyd | nowadays, and even the most obdurate reactionaries have learnt the
Floyd | danger of rocking the boat", he said. "This is probably an isolated
Floyd | act, with no major backing." He added that he was sanguine about being

Floyd | able to retrieve Mrs. Anderson safely.
Floyd |
Floyd | Noel Horton
Floyd | Pan European News Services.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take disk" 		
	

Floyd | (the black disc)
Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "remove disk from computer" 		
	

Floyd | Removed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The blue disc is in the computer" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "There's 2 discs." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was hoping it would disambiguate for me." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a blue disc
Floyd |   an AutoLock Users' Manual
Floyd |   a black disc
Floyd |   a personal ID chip
Floyd |   a fountain-pen

Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x chip" 		
	

Floyd | A small microchip, with the words "Personal ID" written in minuscule

Floyd | letters along one border.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 4, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room 4, which was obviously meant to accomodate a couple or a small

Floyd | family at least, is a pleasant contrast to the house you came across
Floyd | earlier in your wanderings. Even the furniture - double-bed, dresser,
Floyd | table and armchair, and the window - have a particular flavour of their
Floyd | own.
Floyd |
Floyd | The window is open, flooding the room with sunlight.

Floyd |
Floyd | Covering the bed, with a primness that is almost Victorian, is a warm
Floyd | quilt of knitted wool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Taleslinger wasn't able to figure out the chip's use yet." 	
			olethros says, "IRTA microfilm" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under quilt" 		
	

Floyd | You look around, but find nothing. Strange - you have a feeling that
Floyd | there should be something there, but there isn't....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take quilt" 		
	

Floyd | You look around, but find nothing. Strange - you have a feeling that
Floyd | there should be something there, but there isn't....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gerynar arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline asks (of olethros), "Ideas, sir?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | Large, sturdy, steady. The very embodiment of that hoary old clich?,
Floyd | "the good old days." Two sturdy pillows and a firm mattress do nothing
Floyd | to dispel the impression.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | Under the bed, you find a box of some sort, and pull it out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the toybox, revealing a crumpled note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd | Fran?ois, Ch.2, Lines 18-26
Floyd |
Floyd | "Time for a change of scene", the Voice thundered.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I still think it's a bad idea", the Author murmured sotto voce, but
Floyd | the Voice could hear almost anything, and gave him a piece of its mind.
Floyd | "He has seen enough, and besides he cannot carry out the rest of the
Floyd | quest. Someone else is required."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Are there no better ways?", the Author enquired once more.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Absolutely none. You helped me design this plan. What fault do you
Floyd | find in it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | And the Author could find no reply.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read crumpled note" 		
	

Floyd | Fran?ois, Ch.2, Lines 18-26
Floyd |
Floyd | "Time for a change of scene", the Voice thundered.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I still think it's a bad idea", the Author murmured sotto voce, but
Floyd | the Voice could hear almost anything, and gave him a piece of its mind.
Floyd | "He has seen enough, and besides he cannot carry out the rest of the
Floyd | quest. Someone else is required."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Are there no better ways?", the Author enquired once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Absolutely none. You helped me design this plan. What fault do you
Floyd | find in it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | And the Author could find no reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(Just making sure.)" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toybox" 		
	

Floyd | A wooden toy-box of the sort that children used to own years before you

Floyd | were born, which is, at the moment, open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gerynar has disconnected. 		
	Gerynar spins around in circles, faster and faster, until he disapears in a brilliant flash of plaid light. 		DavidW says, "Go down a floor. There's stuff missed from there." 	
	WeirdBeard arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Normally I'd poopoo your hints, but I think I need them." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the

Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dining Hall, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The Aviators Saloon never pretended to be more than a small and
Floyd | comfortable lodge - which is why its mess bears an eerie resemblance to
Floyd | the dining hall of your own large family. Since - in this age -
Floyd | everything is automatic, there is precious little clutter, barring a
Floyd | large table, twelve chairs, and a large cupboard at the back of the
Floyd | room.

Floyd |
Floyd | As you walk across the room, your foot seems to brush against something
Floyd | under the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | Under the table, you find a small, streamlined device of some sort,
Floyd | coloured black. You pull it out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | A small black device, with a slit at the back - which currently is
Floyd | empty, and a fairly primitive display in front, which is currently
Floyd | blank.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "oooh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put chip in device" 		
	

Floyd | You insert the chip cautiously into the slit; the screen lights up
Floyd | faintly. It flashes the words "Teleport Complete. Target Room Four",

Floyd | then changes to another phrase.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read device" 		
	

Floyd | A small black device, with a slit at the back - which contains a thin

Floyd | card, and a fairly primitive display in front, which displays a
Floyd | sentence : Room 7. Behind Closed Doors.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | A small black device, with a slit at the back - which contains a thin
Floyd | card, and a fairly primitive display in front, which displays a
Floyd | sentence : Room 7. Behind Closed Doors.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, no button or anything on it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the

Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Someone tried to help me once -- I forget his name. Said he'd send a
Floyd | friend of his to -- tie up all the loose knots, he said. Nothing came
Floyd | of it, though."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You don't seem to have the key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "sheesh. Ignored the poor guy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "GAH" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So I did. I'm on a mission." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the

Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dining Hall, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The Aviators Saloon never pretended to be more than a small and
Floyd | comfortable lodge - which is why its mess bears an eerie resemblance to
Floyd | the dining hall of your own large family. Since - in this age -
Floyd | everything is automatic, there is precious little clutter, barring a
Floyd | large table, twelve chairs, and a large cupboard at the back of the
Floyd | room.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a small black device (in which is a personal ID chip) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take device" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,

Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to the nice man" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about device" 		
	

Floyd | "It's a tracer. Not sure how to use it? You use it to find a person.
Floyd | Put the chap's identity chip or card - depends on the model - into the
Floyd | machine, and it's off to the races. Neat."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dining Hall, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The Aviators Saloon never pretended to be more than a small and

Floyd | comfortable lodge - which is why its mess bears an eerie resemblance to
Floyd | the dining hall of your own large family. Since - in this age -
Floyd | everything is automatic, there is precious little clutter, barring a
Floyd | large table, twelve chairs, and a large cupboard at the back of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | A large, ancient oak cupboard, which is precariously closed.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | You open the oak cupboard, revealing some plates and spoons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So there *is* a spoon." 	
			DavidW asks, "You need a spoon?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x spoon" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing interesting here, just piles of spoons, plates and other items
Floyd | of cutlery.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "No, they were just making 'There is no spoon' jokes earlier when we were with Simone." 	
			olethros says, "it was not a joke it was true" 	
			DavidW says, "I missed Simone entirely." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, I guess we need to get to that person in that room, but how, my friends? HOW?" 	
			DavidW says, "For locked doors, you might need a key." 	
			DavidW says, "For hotel keys, you might need to speak to an employee of the hotel." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought I had a key." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That I hadn't used yet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh- hrm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks." 	
			DavidW asks, "You have a key?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is

Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about room seven" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about room 7" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about key" 		
	

Floyd | "It's the key to Miss Clarke's room. Go see what y'can find there,
Floyd | son."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about Clarke" 		
	

Floyd | "Nice young lady - almost like my own daughter, son, believe me or not;
Floyd | though she's (my daughter, I mean) not here any longer, she's a
Floyd | physician out in the East. She was just right for a chap like Jan,
Floyd | whose head was in the clouds about nine-tenths of the time. The pity of

Floyd | it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about Jan" 		
	

Floyd | "Ah, he was a fine chap, Mr. Mbelwe. The kind of person that any

Floyd | author'd be proud of putting in his books - that kind of person. There
Floyd | must be some reason for his disappearance, but it's a black mystery to
Floyd | me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about computer" 		
	

Floyd | "Ah, that old one - it's badly dated but I haven't the heart to chuck
Floyd | it out. Just put a news disc in it, and switch it on - if you've got
Floyd | one, that is."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about quilt" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about chip" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about crumpled note" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about simone" 		
	

Floyd | The receptionist shakes his head. "I never really studied ancient
Floyd | philosophies, son", he replies.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about saloon" 		
	

Floyd | "Nice place, isn't it? However, since that damned legend started, five
Floyd | years ago, the place's been kinda empty."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about legend" 		
	

Floyd | "Sorry, son, I told you just 'bout all I know. There might be a clue
Floyd | hidden in yonder rooms upstairs - that's a romantic notion - but after
Floyd | five police investigations I doubt there's anything left to be found."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x counter" 		
	

Floyd | A large wooden counter or desk, emitting a low, fluorescent glow. It's
Floyd | not a solid block, so there's a space underneath it, which is darker
Floyd | than the rest.

Floyd |
Floyd | And why do you get the feeling that there's something under it that you
Floyd | didn't put there in your manuscript?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under counter" 		
	

Floyd | You look under the counter for a while, and pull out a scrap of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x scrap of paper" 		
	

Floyd | A small scrap of paper, torn at one edge, with words printed on one
Floyd | side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x paper" 		
	

Floyd | A small scrap of paper, torn at one edge, with words printed on one
Floyd | side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | Fran?ois, Ch. 2, Lines 1-17:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why did you suppress the first thirty-three verses?", the Author
Floyd | complained.

Floyd |
Floyd | "It's almost painfully obvious if you'll only apply your mind to it",
Floyd | the Voice replied, unflappably. "The first lines deal with what he has
Floyd | already lived through; to restate them would be unnecessary. Besides,
Floyd | he has already acquitted himself most honourably."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Not enough", the Author replied, sternly. "All he has done is to
Floyd | travel through our lands, our landscapes - call them what you will. But
Floyd | has he done anything?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, he did open the gate", the Voice retorted.
Floyd |

Floyd | "After following prompts that could not bamboozle a two-year-old. The
Floyd | challenges we set him were -- elementary."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, we shall have to see. Can he bring back life into this
Floyd | place?........"
Floyd | [Here the printing stops, abruptly.]

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about paper" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "show paper to man" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the small scrap of paper)
Floyd | You fail to capture the receptionist's interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss him" 		
	

Floyd | How romantic. However, I don't know how he would react.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show crumpled note to man" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a small scrap of paper
Floyd |   a small black device

Floyd |     a personal ID chip
Floyd |   a blue disc
Floyd |   an AutoLock Users' Manual
Floyd |   a black disc
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a yellow flower

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a small scrap of paper
Floyd |   a small black device
Floyd |     a personal ID chip

Floyd |   a blue disc
Floyd |   an AutoLock Users' Manual
Floyd |   a black disc
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Must have... guess it's upstairs?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and

Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Room 4, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room 4, which was obviously meant to accomodate a couple or a small
Floyd | family at least, is a pleasant contrast to the house you came across
Floyd | earlier in your wanderings. Even the furniture - double-bed, dresser,
Floyd | table and armchair, and the window - have a particular flavour of their
Floyd | own.

Floyd |
Floyd | The window is open, flooding the room with sunlight.
Floyd |
Floyd | Covering the bed, with a primness that is almost Victorian, is a warm
Floyd | quilt of knitted wool, which shows an unsightly bulge at one point.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a toybox (in which is a crumpled note) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask man about table" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take note" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,

Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "show crumpled note to man" 		
	

Floyd | You fail to capture the receptionist's interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about table" 		
	

Floyd | "Used to be fashionable nowadays - old Jan's is still here, but heaven
Floyd | knows how to open it. You need two goddamned code numbers, one to open
Floyd | it, the other to lock it - and then it opens up on its own - at least
Floyd | it's meant to. It doesn't even understand proper English, son - you
Floyd | have to say something stupid like 'table, code red' or 'table, code is

Floyd | 9801' to get it to work. Sloppy programming, I call it", the
Floyd | receptionist muses.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, that's funny." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hooray for author poking fun at his own code." 	
			Jacqueline says, "This puzzle didn't get nominated for a Xyzzy, I'm thinking." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry to be harsh... just that it's convoluted and taking a bit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Guess it fits with the plot, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bar" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,

Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't leave - your task here is unfinished.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Check the quilt again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one

Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 4, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room 4, which was obviously meant to accomodate a couple or a small
Floyd | family at least, is a pleasant contrast to the house you came across

Floyd | earlier in your wanderings. Even the furniture - double-bed, dresser,
Floyd | table and armchair, and the window - have a particular flavour of their
Floyd | own.
Floyd |
Floyd | The window is open, flooding the room with sunlight.
Floyd |

Floyd | Covering the bed, with a primness that is almost Victorian, is a warm
Floyd | quilt of knitted wool, which shows an unsightly bulge at one point.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a toybox (which is empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x quilt" 		
	

Floyd | You've absolutely no sartorial sense, but it does look like a patchwork
Floyd | quilt, obviously woollen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Remember that you thought there ought to be something under it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take quilt" 		
	

Floyd | You lift the quilt and search the bed for some time, your conscience
Floyd | pricking you all the time, but are rewarded for your efforts by a
Floyd | letter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Did I think that? I could have sworn I looked under the damn thing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under quilt" 		
	

Floyd | Uneasily conscious that you're making a mess, you shove the quilt

Floyd | around some more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Uneasily conscious that you're making a mess, you shove the quilt

Floyd | around some more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "You did look. But the set up wasn't right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh - I guess I did." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, letter." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x letter" 		
	

Floyd | Written on stiff notepaper not bearing any specific letterhead, it
Floyd | would probably be a love-letter if its contents weren't so startling.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read letter" 		
	

Floyd | A quick glance at the letter reveals that its contents are of a rather
Floyd | personal nature, and your sense of delicacy tells you not to read it.

Floyd | Do you still want to do so?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Feeling rather a cad, you read the letter once through, quickly....
Floyd |
Floyd | Europe, July 14th, 2883.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Vanessa,
Floyd | Unforseen circumstances have forced me, without any sensible or

Floyd | honourable alternative, to leave you abruptly, without warning, without
Floyd | even the consolation - pardon my grandiosity - of a fond farewell. I
Floyd | have not been permitted to reveal more than this, even to you whom I
Floyd | could trust above anyone else, dearest - for the hand and mind that
Floyd | drive me at this moment are not my own. Rest assured that, if you still
Floyd | - regardless of your own safety - want to follow me, I have left enough

Floyd | traces. Not too explicitly, of course - Nash is a fine old man, but I
Floyd | wouldn't want to involve him in this - but I am sure you will find a
Floyd | way. The key can be revealed in the usual way: table, place. There is
Floyd | little time to say more. Four digits alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yours,

Floyd | Janus.
Floyd |
Floyd | After reading it, you feel strangely vindicated. At least, it was of
Floyd | some use, and could help you find a key to this enigma.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Is the door in seven unlocked in the same manner as the table?" 	
			DavidW says, "no. You need a normal key." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "There's only the one lockbox table, though, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we already opened it." 	
			DavidW says, "But the letter could help you find a key [to this enigma, yadda]" 	
			DavidW says, "There's just the one lockbox table, yes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is

Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about key" 		
	

Floyd | "It's the key to Miss Clarke's room. Go see what y'can find there,
Floyd | son."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a crumpled note
Floyd |   a small scrap of paper

Floyd |   a small black device
Floyd |     a personal ID chip
Floyd |   a blue disc
Floyd |   an AutoLock Users' Manual
Floyd |   a black disc
Floyd |   a fountain-pen

Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "What key?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is this one of those 'you can ask him about the key even though you haven't actually seen it yet' sorts of things?" 	
			DavidW says, "He thinks you've already got it. Miscoded response." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which is a touch confusing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was thinking I'd seen and misplaced it or something." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline scrunches up her face, thinking. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search plants" 		
	

Floyd | Come on, Harold. What do you think this is? A text adventure or
Floyd | something?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Receptionist's room, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | This room - which, by its lived-in, familial appearance must belong to

Floyd | the receptionist - is small, neat and comfortable. A sturdy bed
Floyd | occupies the centre of the room, with an open window casting a bright
Floyd | beam right on it; besides this, there is little furniture except a
Floyd | couch, a bookshelf, and a television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a

Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room 6, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | Room 6 was obviously going to be renovated before disaster struck,
Floyd | because it's totally bare. It's a nice, pleasant room, or rather it
Floyd | would be so if it had any furniture. The only piece worthy of that name
Floyd | is a stool.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Only three rooms this level, oops." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You don't seem to have the key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x north" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the north wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | As Gertrude Stein would probably put it, a door is a door is a
Floyd | door....you get my drift. It has a lock, if you're interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x lock" 		
	

Floyd | As Gertrude Stein would probably put it, a door is a door is a
Floyd | door....you get my drift. It has a lock, if you're interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,

Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "check=in" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "check-in" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about rooms" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about man" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about me" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | The old man looks like a receptionist of some sort, but somehow his
Floyd | expression suggests that he once held a higher position.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "check in" 		
	

Floyd | A large wooden counter or desk, emitting a low, fluorescent glow. It's
Floyd | not a solid block, so there's a space underneath it, which is darker

Floyd | than the rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "check in = x counter" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh - I was just using its own spelling." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, so it seems." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask him about dining hall" 		
	

Floyd | "Can't help you with that, son. Too bad," he says, sympathetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dining Hall, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The Aviators Saloon never pretended to be more than a small and
Floyd | comfortable lodge - which is why its mess bears an eerie resemblance to

Floyd | the dining hall of your own large family. Since - in this age -
Floyd | everything is automatic, there is precious little clutter, barring a
Floyd | large table, twelve chairs, and a large cupboard at the back of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "lemme know when you want another push" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | A large, ancient oak cupboard, which yawns open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "lookin cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | In the oak cupboard are some plates and spoons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spoons" 		
	

Floyd | The cutlery isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take plate" 		
	

Floyd | The cutlery isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, nudge." 	
			DavidW says, "Do something with the letter you found." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors
Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |

Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "show letter to man" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a crumpled note
Floyd |   a small scrap of paper
Floyd |   a small black device

Floyd |     a personal ID chip
Floyd |   a blue disc
Floyd |   an AutoLock Users' Manual
Floyd |   a black disc
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a yellow flower

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, that's annoying." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as

Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a
Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Receptionist's room, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | This room - which, by its lived-in, familial appearance must belong to
Floyd | the receptionist - is small, neat and comfortable. A sturdy bed

Floyd | occupies the centre of the room, with an open window casting a bright
Floyd | beam right on it; besides this, there is little furniture except a
Floyd | couch, a bookshelf, and a television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a

Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one
Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being

Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Room 4, in the Aviators Saloon

Floyd | Room 4, which was obviously meant to accomodate a couple or a small
Floyd | family at least, is a pleasant contrast to the house you came across
Floyd | earlier in your wanderings. Even the furniture - double-bed, dresser,
Floyd | table and armchair, and the window - have a particular flavour of their
Floyd | own.
Floyd |

Floyd | The window is open, flooding the room with sunlight.
Floyd |
Floyd | Covering the bed, with a primness that is almost Victorian, is a warm
Floyd | quilt of knitted wool.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a strange letter and a toybox (which is empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take letter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | From the discreet signs declaring that you are currently in the
Floyd | Aviators' Saloon, and from the general look of the furniture, this is
Floyd | obviously the reception room or antechamber of a small hotel. The doors

Floyd | of the hotel, to your north, seem to be closed, east is a dining-hall,
Floyd | and a staircase leads up. The check-in counter stands in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An amiable, elderly man is standing behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "show letter to man" 		
	

Floyd | If the receptionist wasn't suffering from senile arthritis, he would
Floyd | certainly have jumped twenty feet. As it is, he stares at you. "Where
Floyd | did you find it! That's a miracle. We're going to find the Director,
Floyd | son, you can count on that! Wait......I have something he gave me once,

Floyd | it might help you, though he gave it to me the year before he
Floyd | disappeared...." The receptionist places a key on the counter, which
Floyd | you look at appraisingly.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by six points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Crikey." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chambers, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The landing of the Aviators Saloon opens into four rooms, one

Floyd | corresponding to each point of the compass, the doors to which (being
Floyd | of the electrical kind) are open. The stairs lead back down, and
Floyd | continue further upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Second floor, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | The entry to the second floor's chambers has the same homely flavour as
Floyd | the previous one, except that a few potted plants here and there add a

Floyd | touch of colour to the proceedings. Open doors lead east and west, and
Floyd | a locked door lies north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (unlocking Vanessa's door first)
Floyd | (opening the door)
Floyd |
Floyd | Vanessa Clarke's room, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | If there's anything concealed in Miss Clarke's room, it cannot be under
Floyd | a bed, since this room is without one. A wardrobe and a glass-topped

Floyd | table - charming in their simplicity - are the only adornments visible.
Floyd | There are no windows, surprisingly, except one covered by curtains,
Floyd | which is in the wrong position as far as illumination is concerned.
Floyd |
Floyd | A closed wardrobe stands impassively in a corner.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the glass-topped table is a glazed vase (in which are some dead
Floyd | flowers).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "NOT under the bed. Got it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, most certainly NOT under the bed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I'm guessing there's something else somewhere, given the not subtle hint." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in vase" 		
	

Floyd | In the glazed vase are some dead flowers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take flowers" 		
	

Floyd | Who needs them? They're not even pressed. And, for some obscure reason,

Floyd | they won't budge.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under vase" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | Just four black wooden legs, with a delicate pattern in the grain, and
Floyd | a glass slab. Simple and stylish.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Amazing. You jumped right over the simplest and most obvious command for the vase." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I did?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "empty vase" 		
	

Floyd | The flowers won't budge, and the whole vase seems heavier than is
Floyd | usual.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "break fase" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "break vase" 		
	

Floyd | You shove the vase a little, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take vase" 		
	

Floyd | The flowers won't budge, and the whole vase seems heavier than is
Floyd | usual.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   the key to Vanessa's room
Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   a crumpled note
Floyd |   a small scrap of paper
Floyd |   a small black device

Floyd |     a personal ID chip
Floyd |   a blue disc
Floyd |   an AutoLock Users' Manual
Floyd |   a black disc
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a yellow flower

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "smash vase" 		
	

Floyd | You shove the vase a little, but nothing happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Just .. y'know, LOOK AT it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push vase off table" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I thought I - hm, guess not." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x vase" 		
	

Floyd | A simple, glazed, ceramic vase. On one side, fairly low - strangely -
Floyd | is a small hole about the circumference of your little finger. A few

Floyd | wilting flowers are still inside it. On the other side is an
Floyd | inscription:
Floyd | "Triumph shall come here at last,
Floyd | We should ask not 'how', but 'when' -
Floyd | From a stone take then a sword,
Floyd | In this vase, place now a......."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stick pen in hole" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put pen in hole" 		
	

Floyd | You have an uncanny feeling that you'll need the pen for something
Floyd | better than that.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put pen in vase" 		
	

Floyd | As you insert the pen into the vase, a blinding light dazzles you, and
Floyd | a low haze envelops you. You struggle to find your way out of it, but
Floyd | to no avail.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		Jacqueline says, "Gah syntax." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Glad I kept trying." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | When you awake, you are in a shrine of some sort, lying supine. A tall
Floyd | man, concerned but not stern, with a long face, looks down on you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Ah, Harold. I have misjudged you, and I apologize. But first -- let me
Floyd | introduce myself. I am that sadistic personage, 'Mr. Author', who has
Floyd | brought you here so far. Your mission -- but let me explain myself. The
Floyd | creation of your novel set in motion certain events in a parallel
Floyd | dimension; its destruction will not only undo them but replace them
Floyd | with worse ones. Simone, Edward, Laura - even people inhabiting your

Floyd | world, but not created by you, like Janus Mbelwe - have had to suffer
Floyd | the consequences. It was with this aim that I brought you here, but now
Floyd | you can go no further. The remaining tasks in this dimension will need
Floyd | to be carried out by one of its own citizens.......All we shall need
Floyd | will be some of your memories, to help her find her way."
Floyd |

Floyd | The man looks down.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Close your eyes, Harold, and think."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		DavidW says, "You might want to go back a bit and examine the wardrobe contents. Or not." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is it critical?" 	
			DavidW says, "There's 8 points in it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Fair enough." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You close your eyes -- memories, thoughts, ideas that you had and that
Floyd | you never had, all seem to swirl, to be involuntarily wrenched from

Floyd | you......
Floyd |
Floyd | And then you remember no more.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Cold. Damp. Overdramatizing, as usual.
Floyd |

Floyd | You struggle to your feet, smooth down your crumpled coat, shake your
Floyd | head and brush the hair out of your face, a strange air of unreality
Floyd | (indeed!) surrounding you. Ideas that never entered your mind till this
Floyd | moment flicker by, leaving hardly a trace. You look ahead. Straight
Floyd | ahead. There is nothing more intimidating than your home ahead. So much
Floyd | for mystery.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your car has gone. But did you take it home, or did you walk? The last
Floyd | thing you remember was leaving the Court of Appeals.......nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Seven - Recalled From Life
Floyd |

Floyd | Outside your house
Floyd | Though you've been here time and time again, there is something
Floyd | comfortable and inviting about this small walk up to your house, where
Floyd | you have lived for the last twelve years. The trees move gently in the
Floyd | wind - it is, after all, late in November - but the lights in your
Floyd | home, like a lighthouse, guide you unerringly on, to the north. The

Floyd | street you came out of is to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your heart gives a single leap of relief. Nothing has really changed,
Floyd | after all.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by eighteen points.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Vanessa Clarke's room, in the Aviators Saloon
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like an ordinary enough wardrobe, but has a certain air of
Floyd | impassivity.

Floyd |
Floyd | And once contained a modulator of neurological signals. From here, a
Floyd | nation was once felled. Once upon a time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see inside, since the large wardrobe is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline takes a moment to breathe and calm down. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | You open the large wardrobe, revealing a long brown coat and a pale
Floyd | blue dress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x coat" 		
	

Floyd | A long brown coat, which would reach almost to mid-calf if the wearer
Floyd | were of average height, with a clean-cut collar. It has a single
Floyd | pocket, which is unusual.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x dress" 		
	

Floyd | An elegant dress in shades of pale blue, its frills and flounces are
Floyd | evocative of a much earlier era.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in coat pocket" 		
	

Floyd | Rummaging through the pocket, you find an identity card of some sort,
Floyd | and pull it out.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by eight points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x id" 		
	

Floyd | (the identity card)

Floyd | A small plastic card, with a photograph showing a young woman's face,
Floyd | wearing the same brown coat, and a few lines of print accompanying it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read id" 		
	

Floyd | ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL CONSULTANTS
Floyd | (Affiliated to the Department of Internal Affairs)
Floyd |
Floyd | Name  : Cassandra Anderson, R.I.L.
Floyd | Age   : 34
Floyd | Grade : Consultant in International Law - Civil

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put pen in vase" 		
	

Floyd | As you insert the pen into the vase, a blinding light dazzles you, and
Floyd | a low haze envelops you. You struggle to find your way out of it, but

Floyd | to no avail.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | When you awake, you are in a shrine of some sort, lying supine. A tall
Floyd | man, concerned but not stern, with a long face, looks down on you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, Harold. I have misjudged you, and I apologize. But first -- let me
Floyd | introduce myself. I am that sadistic personage, 'Mr. Author', who has

Floyd | brought you here so far. Your mission -- but let me explain myself. The
Floyd | creation of your novel set in motion certain events in a parallel
Floyd | dimension; its destruction will not only undo them but replace them
Floyd | with worse ones. Simone, Edward, Laura - even people inhabiting your
Floyd | world, but not created by you, like Janus Mbelwe - have had to suffer
Floyd | the consequences. It was with this aim that I brought you here, but now

Floyd | you can go no further. The remaining tasks in this dimension will need
Floyd | to be carried out by one of its own citizens.......All we shall need
Floyd | will be some of your memories, to help her find her way."
Floyd |
Floyd | The man looks down.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Close your eyes, Harold, and think."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You close your eyes -- memories, thoughts, ideas that you had and that
Floyd | you never had, all seem to swirl, to be involuntarily wrenched from
Floyd | you......
Floyd |
Floyd | And then you remember no more.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Cold. Damp. Overdramatizing, as usual.
Floyd |
Floyd | You struggle to your feet, smooth down your crumpled coat, shake your
Floyd | head and brush the hair out of your face, a strange air of unreality
Floyd | (indeed!) surrounding you. Ideas that never entered your mind till this

Floyd | moment flicker by, leaving hardly a trace. You look ahead. Straight
Floyd | ahead. There is nothing more intimidating than your home ahead. So much
Floyd | for mystery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your car has gone. But did you take it home, or did you walk? The last
Floyd | thing you remember was leaving the Court of Appeals.......nothing more.

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Seven - Recalled From Life
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your house
Floyd | Though you've been here time and time again, there is something
Floyd | comfortable and inviting about this small walk up to your house, where

Floyd | you have lived for the last twelve years. The trees move gently in the
Floyd | wind - it is, after all, late in November - but the lights in your
Floyd | home, like a lighthouse, guide you unerringly on, to the north. The
Floyd | street you came out of is to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your heart gives a single leap of relief. Nothing has really changed,

Floyd | after all.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by eighteen points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Heehee. Hooray for 'Cold. Damp. Overdramatizing, as usual.'" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look at yourself uncertainly, but you're still the same - Cassandra
Floyd | Anderson, lawyer, on her way home from the Court of Appeals.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We're Cassandra now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So we are." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   an identity card
Floyd |   a long brown coat (being worn)
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "my" 	
			olethros asks, "do we have any prophecies?" 	
			DavidW says, "heh. We might." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter ouse" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter house" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your house
Floyd | Though you've been here time and time again, there is something
Floyd | comfortable and inviting about this small walk up to your house, where

Floyd | you have lived for the last twelve years. The trees move gently in the
Floyd | wind - it is, after all, late in November - but the lights in your
Floyd | home, like a lighthouse, guide you unerringly on, to the north. The
Floyd | street you came out of is to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "anyway, I've closed by E to I notes binder. I'll not peek further unless needed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, afk just a sec" 	
			Jacqueline says, "back" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front porch, outside the house
Floyd | A neat little porch, currently devoid of the usual floral ornaments -
Floyd | it's hardly the season for them right now - but still welcoming enough.
Floyd | In front of you is the door to your house, and the recognition panel

Floyd | lies next to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | It's a recognition panel, the 29th Century's answer to the good old

Floyd | lock and key; touch it, and your fingerprints are sufficient to unlock
Floyd | and open the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 155 out of a possible 360, in 610 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Straight Speaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "still!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "STILL" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shoot me" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch panel" 		
	

Floyd | You put out a finger and touch the panel lightly; but it's cold to the
Floyd | touch, rather than mildly warm, and nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Forgot to pay the power bill again, I see, Cassandra." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push panel" 		
	

Floyd | Such force is not required.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait, the lights are on in the house, though." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove gloves" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your house
Floyd | Though you've been here time and time again, there is something
Floyd | comfortable and inviting about this small walk up to your house, where

Floyd | you have lived for the last twelve years. The trees move gently in the
Floyd | wind - it is, after all, late in November - but the lights in your
Floyd | home, like a lighthouse, guide you unerringly on, to the north. The
Floyd | street you came out of is to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh. So maybe walk right in." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Why would you want to go back there? At this point in time, you'd love
Floyd | to be back home.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front porch, outside the house
Floyd | A neat little porch, currently devoid of the usual floral ornaments -

Floyd | it's hardly the season for them right now - but still welcoming enough.
Floyd | In front of you is the door to your house, and the recognition panel
Floyd | lies next to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the door to your house is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | With a light push, you open the door. Strange - even in the trusting
Floyd | world of 2804, doors usually are locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in your house
Floyd | The lights in the antechamber, strangely, seem to be malfunctioning,
Floyd | and burn so dimly as to resemble feeble candles; you can barely make

Floyd | out the oft-trodden pathways to your more private chambers, east, and
Floyd | to the drawing-room, north. Immediately next to you is a coat-stand.
Floyd | You can hardly even make out the wallpaper covering the walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "remove coat" 		
	

Floyd | (the long brown coat)
Floyd | You take off the long brown coat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put coat on coat-stand" 		
	

Floyd | (the long brown coat on the coat-stand)
Floyd | You put the long brown coat on the coat-stand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "It feels like a trap." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf9" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I agree. Or a break-and-enter." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You move north, expecting to find someone there, but bump into
Floyd | something. Yes -- it is a brick wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in your house

Floyd | This short corridor leads, at your insistence, directly from the
Floyd | antechamber to the east wing of the house; it offers a quick retreat to
Floyd | your own chambers, and helps you avoid embarrassing or annoying
Floyd | visitors. It runs east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in your house
Floyd | At the end of the corridor, you can see exits to your north and south,
Floyd | the former leading into your bedroom, and the latter into your small

Floyd | study-cum-office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says, "I need sleep" 		
	olethros says, "good night all" 		Jacqueline says, "Night, o." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You step into your office.....
Floyd |
Floyd | The sight that greets you is nothing more than shocking. All your

Floyd | papers, all your books, are gone. The shelves lie, damaged and broken,
Floyd | face down....but, even more chillingly, though the room is empty, there
Floyd | are splashes of blood on the wall.
Floyd | What on earth has happened here?
Floyd | Trembling, you return to the corridor.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Press SPACE......]

		
	olethros has disconnected. 		
	olethros was too old and infirm for your purpose. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The voice rushes into your ears again.
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is only the beginning, Harold. Without you, without the
Floyd | continuity you were about to provide, this world is about to undergo

Floyd | autolysis - self-destruction if you prefer. It is not a pleasant
Floyd | process."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Until now, you have followed the tracks we set you, followed the
Floyd | side-lanes that we planted signposts along......but now it is less
Floyd | simple. With your memories, with the one item that you were able to

Floyd | save from the deluge, Cassandra will have to - almost - begin all over
Floyd | again. All this as a result of your rash act."
Floyd |
Floyd | Somehow, you lack the will to protest. Maybe because you're immobile,
Floyd | maybe because you never were much good at arguing anyway, but you
Floyd | don't.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I can assure you, once again, Harold", the voice goes on, "that it is
Floyd | not pleasant."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE.....]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in your house
Floyd | At the end of the corridor, you can see exits to your north and south,

Floyd | the former leading into your bedroom, and the latter into your small
Floyd | study-cum-office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Author's a big ol' meanie." 	
			DavidW asks, "Is the one item that we saved the flower?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a strange letter

Floyd |   an identity card
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yep" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't bring yourself to go in there again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x flower" 		
	

Floyd | It's unlike any flower you've ever seen before; it has a single whorl
Floyd | of four pink petals, with irregular angles that hardly look natural, as
Floyd | if they represented some strange form of origami.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Master bedroom, in your house
Floyd | With a sigh of relief, you walk into your bedroom and look around,
Floyd | quickly. Everything seems to be normal - at a glance.

Floyd | The lighting in this room is much better than in the rest of the house,
Floyd | so that it's a welcome contrast to the dimly lit corridors. Somehow
Floyd | this room has never seemed as welcoming to you as it does now - the
Floyd | bed, the wardrobe and the armchairs take on the appearance of old
Floyd | friends. The entry to the bathroom is west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open flower" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | Just your average wardrobe. This one is meant exclusively for clothes,
Floyd | clothes and more clothes, though you do keep a stash of handkerchiefs
Floyd | in here sometimes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | You open the wardrobe in search of a change of clothing, and something
Floyd | falls out. Not a coat hanger, not even your dressing-gown.
Floyd |

Floyd | It's a corpse, and judging by all appearances, it hasn't been one very
Floyd | long.
Floyd |
Floyd | You stagger backwards, then take a few steps forward. The wardrobe has
Floyd | been ransacked. Nothing, not even the hanging rods or the air filter,
Floyd | has been left behind.

Floyd |
Floyd | It looks like you have a murder on your hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by seven points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "eep" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I love writing like that, but anyone who's read my reviews knows this." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It is not a hanger, it is not a dress, it is a corpse." 	
			Jacqueline says, "As if one would think that upon seeing a corpse." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Always makes me giggle when I see stuff like that in IF." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "body" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You force yourself to look at the body for a few minutes....
Floyd |
Floyd | Oh, God.....Gerald!

Floyd |
Floyd | A second glance serves to dispel your unwarranted fears. Though the
Floyd | man's body does eerily resemble your husband, you're quite sure it
Floyd | isn't him. The man must have been nearing forty, and is greying at the
Floyd | temples. The cause of his death, as far as you can see, is a deep stab
Floyd | wound on the left side of his chest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "Jacqueline Well, you wouldn't want to accidently wear a corpse to a fancy restaraunt; major faux pas." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search corpse" 		
	

Floyd | You search the man's pockets, apprehensively, and pull out a plastic

Floyd | card. Barring this, the man is carrying no identification or money.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "'It's not a hatter, tailor, or your dressmaker, it's just li'l ol' me, the undertaker.'" 	
			Jacqueline says (to WeirdBeard), "That is very true." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x card" 		
	

Floyd | (the identity card)
Floyd | It's your identity card.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, OUR identity card?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x plastic card" 		
	

Floyd | A cash card, made of plastic. It bears a photograph that, to your
Floyd | surprise, can easily be mistaken for yours, and a few lines of writing

Floyd | below it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read plastic card" 		
	

Floyd | EUROPEAN CREDIT EXCHANGE

Floyd |
Floyd | Name: Angela Bradbury
Floyd |
Floyd | Profession: Psychologist
Floyd |
Floyd | Age: 38 years

Floyd |
Floyd | This card is non-transferrable and non-renewable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wow - parallel Gerald and a parallel me." 	
			WeirdBeard says, "So except for her age, name and occupation she had no identification." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's go buy some new clothes to replace the ones that were stolen, and hire a cleaning company to come mop up all the blood in our study." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Master bedroom, in your house

Floyd | The lighting in this room is much better than in the rest of the house,
Floyd | so that it's a welcome contrast to the dimly lit corridors. Somehow
Floyd | this room has never seemed as welcoming to you as it does now - the
Floyd | bed, the wardrobe and the armchairs take on the appearance of old
Floyd | friends. The entry to the bathroom is west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a plastic cash card and a man's corpse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "And maybe call the police." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, maybe." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cash card" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Thanks, David. I keep expecting the game to do those things automatically for some reason." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | Nervously, you look under the bed, nameless fears gripping at your
Floyd | mind. But, since anyone in the 29th can be an excellent housekeeper
Floyd | without trying, you don't even find dust.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search chair" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the floor. So there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bathroom, in your house
Floyd | A clean-tiled floor, bright lighting and a pleasant smell. Nothing
Floyd | else. All the fixtures, from the tub to your own favourite, the

Floyd | steam-free mirror, have vanished.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Not my steam-free mirror!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "VERY clean." 	
			DavidW says, "ok, who would steal a tub? Like, really." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, it's no big deal, as we can buy a new one with Angela's cash card." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Master bedroom, in your house

Floyd | The lighting in this room is much better than in the rest of the house,
Floyd | so that it's a welcome contrast to the dimly lit corridors. Somehow
Floyd | this room has never seemed as welcoming to you as it does now - the
Floyd | bed, the wardrobe and the armchairs take on the appearance of old
Floyd | friends. The entry to the bathroom is west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a man's corpse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | End of corridor, in your house
Floyd | At the end of the corridor, you can see exits to your north and south,
Floyd | the former leading into your bedroom, and the latter into your small
Floyd | study-cum-office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Master bedroom, in your house
Floyd | The lighting in this room is much better than in the rest of the house,
Floyd | so that it's a welcome contrast to the dimly lit corridors. Somehow

Floyd | this room has never seemed as welcoming to you as it does now - the
Floyd | bed, the wardrobe and the armchairs take on the appearance of old
Floyd | friends. The entry to the bathroom is west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a man's corpse here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "Mr. Haney would, and then sell it back to you when you bought the house." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in your house

Floyd | At the end of the corridor, you can see exits to your north and south,
Floyd | the former leading into your bedroom, and the latter into your small
Floyd | study-cum-office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't bring yourself to go in there again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It's a dead end.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Check the newspapers. Maybe Tubby McBath's Warehouse-O-Rama is having a sale." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in your house
Floyd | This short corridor leads, at your insistence, directly from the
Floyd | antechamber to the east wing of the house; it offers a quick retreat to

Floyd | your own chambers, and helps you avoid embarrassing or annoying
Floyd | visitors. It runs east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in your house
Floyd | The lights in the antechamber, strangely, seem to be malfunctioning,
Floyd | and burn so dimly as to resemble feeble candles; you can barely make
Floyd | out the oft-trodden pathways to your more private chambers, east, and
Floyd | to the drawing-room, north. Immediately next to you is a coat-stand.

Floyd | You can hardly even make out the wallpaper covering the walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the coat-stand is a long brown coat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Mysteriously, a wall seems to block your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Why is our drawing room bricked up?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wallpaper" 		
	

Floyd | A nice pattern in the style of 2600, with several species of flowers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That is annoying." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x flowers" 		
	

Floyd | A nice pattern in the style of 2600, with several species of flowers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "rip wallpaper" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing hidden under it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "wow" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Didn't expect that, eh?" 	
			DavidW says, "no" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's too bad there's not another corpse behind the wallpaper." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What now, boys?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coat stand" 		
	

Floyd | A tall coat-stand, almost as high as you are, with hooks at several
Floyd | levels.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "Did you check the coat?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hooks" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coat" 		
	

Floyd | (the coat-stand)
Floyd | A tall coat-stand, almost as high as you are, with hooks at several
Floyd | levels.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x my coat" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "x brown coat" 		
	

Floyd | This old coat, next to your thermoconditioner, is the ideal companion
Floyd | for a long winter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "call police" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "phone police" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a plastic cash card
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   an identity card

Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "take brown" 		
	

Floyd | Nervously, you grab the coat once more.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Where did that coat come from?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear coat" 		
	

Floyd | (the long brown coat)

Floyd | You don't really need the coat now that you're indoors.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search coat" 		
	

Floyd | (the long brown coat)

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pocket" 		
	

Floyd | This old coat, next to your thermoconditioner, is the ideal companion

Floyd | for a long winter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in pocket" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in your house

Floyd | The lights in the antechamber, strangely, seem to be malfunctioning,
Floyd | and burn so dimly as to resemble feeble candles; you can barely make
Floyd | out the oft-trodden pathways to your more private chambers, east, and
Floyd | to the drawing-room, north. Immediately next to you is a coat-stand.
Floyd | You can hardly even make out the wallpaper covering the walls.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in your house
Floyd | This short corridor leads, at your insistence, directly from the

Floyd | antechamber to the east wing of the house; it offers a quick retreat to
Floyd | your own chambers, and helps you avoid embarrassing or annoying
Floyd | visitors. It runs east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in your house
Floyd | At the end of the corridor, you can see exits to your north and south,
Floyd | the former leading into your bedroom, and the latter into your small

Floyd | study-cum-office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't bring yourself to go in there again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Master bedroom, in your house

Floyd | The lighting in this room is much better than in the rest of the house,
Floyd | so that it's a welcome contrast to the dimly lit corridors. Somehow
Floyd | this room has never seemed as welcoming to you as it does now - the
Floyd | bed, the wardrobe and the armchairs take on the appearance of old
Floyd | friends. The entry to the bathroom is west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a man's corpse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. The lighting is poor in the other rooms. Forgot." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Wait, what's so bad about the office that we'd rather be with a body?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lighting" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline nods. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take corpse" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly easy, and pointless besides.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to WB), "I was wondering that myself." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under corpse" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing here, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x armchairs" 		
	

Floyd | A set of four, that you fell in love with while vacationing in France
Floyd | and eventually bought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "search armchairs" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the floor. So there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "Time to get them reupholstered, sounds like." 	
			DavidW asks, "If we can't call the police, can we run away?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in your house
Floyd | At the end of the corridor, you can see exits to your north and south,

Floyd | the former leading into your bedroom, and the latter into your small
Floyd | study-cum-office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It's a dead end.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in your house
Floyd | This short corridor leads, at your insistence, directly from the
Floyd | antechamber to the east wing of the house; it offers a quick retreat to
Floyd | your own chambers, and helps you avoid embarrassing or annoying
Floyd | visitors. It runs east to west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antechamber, in your house

Floyd | The lights in the antechamber, strangely, seem to be malfunctioning,
Floyd | and burn so dimly as to resemble feeble candles; you can barely make
Floyd | out the oft-trodden pathways to your more private chambers, east, and
Floyd | to the drawing-room, north. Immediately next to you is a coat-stand.
Floyd | You can hardly even make out the wallpaper covering the walls.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Mysteriously, a wall seems to block your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x north wall" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the north wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lights" 		
	

Floyd | The rows of lights are all right at first glance, but the lighting they
Floyd | emit is dismal.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fix lights" 		
	

Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put coat on coat stand" 		
	

Floyd | (the long brown coat on the coat-stand)
Floyd | You put the long brown coat on the coat-stand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Mysteriously, a wall seems to block your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push wall" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the north wall, the south wall, the east wall, the
Floyd | west wall, the northeast wall, the northwest wall, the southeast wall
Floyd | or the southwest wall?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "north" 		
	

Floyd | That's seldom useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "In 2600 you don't need phones to call the police, I guess." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cry" 		
	

Floyd | Oh, you're not that depressed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take brown coat" 		
	

Floyd | Nervously, you grab the coat once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front porch, outside the house
Floyd | Everything has changed. The absence of plants, which you would have
Floyd | once accepted purely as normal, now gives the entire place a sinister
Floyd | appearance, and the gravelled path leading away from the house is dark

Floyd | and uninviting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I think we *are* that depressed, actually." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the door to your house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to lock the door to your house with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "finger" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside your house

Floyd | The lane is dark and clouds hover uneasily over you, though the rain
Floyd | will not come. Looking at a house that has strangely changed on one
Floyd | side, and a narrow road on the other, it is hard to decide which way to
Floyd | go.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x house" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x clouds" 		
	

Floyd | Not even a silver lining; just a thick blanket of ugly, depressing
Floyd | clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dark Lane
Floyd | You can barely suppress a shiver as you return to the place where you
Floyd | woke up, confused, just moments ago. It's a small, narrow lane, with no

Floyd | obvious source of illumination, running further east and back west to
Floyd | the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | Standing uncomfortably near you is a cab-caller machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	McMartin will admit that his propensity for solving problems by killing evil people might give the uneducated the impression that he's unreasonable. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | Simple in principle and in practice as well; put your cash card in the
Floyd | slot, and a cab appears within five minutes - or less if you're lucky.
Floyd | Unfortunately, your cash card is - or rather was - in what once was

Floyd | your study. It's definitely gone by now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put cash card in machine" 		
	

Floyd | You insert the card, hum a little tune, and wait for a cab to take you,

Floyd | far away from this nightmare scenario......Never mind where - perhaps
Floyd | your sister's place out North.....
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE.....]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | KABOOM!
Floyd |
Floyd | It's hard to say what actually happened. It's conceivable that the
Floyd | machine exploded, though if that had actually happened, you would
Floyd | hardly be alive. In fact, you wake up even more dishevelled than you

Floyd | first were, utterly bewildered.....
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Eight - Where The Sun Always Shines
Floyd |
Floyd | 500 miles away from home
Floyd | This could be the middle of nowhere - in fact, it is. Apart from the

Floyd | railway tracks disappearing into the distance north, and the signpost
Floyd | to the east, there is nothing but dry, arid land.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun beats down on you, and you regret having left your parasol at
Floyd | home.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by twenty-six points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Goodness." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x signpost" 		
	

Floyd | A signpost made of rotting wood, a few words painted over it in black
Floyd | paint or tar.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard asks (of floyd), "who am i?" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to find your own answers, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | On second thoughts, the parasol would've blown away in a sandstorm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | DESERT (As if you didn't know that already...)
Floyd |
Floyd | ..There is no need to beware of cacti, scorpions, wild animals or
Floyd | highwaymen, as they are all kept at bay by what you should beware of --

Floyd | sunstroke.
Floyd |
Floyd | Eastern Colonies ...... 500 MILES NORTH
Floyd | Charlestown ........... 0.02 MILES EAST
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look at yourself uncertainly, but you're still the same - Cassandra
Floyd | Anderson, lawyer, on her way home from the Court of Appeals.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I say we go to Charlestown." 	
			DavidW says, "That cab isn't getting a tip." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't think we're on our way home anymore, either." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf10" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yes, Charlestown sounds delightful." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Charlestown
Floyd | 0.02 miles must be a much smaller distance than you bargained on,
Floyd | because immediately to your east the railway tracks stop, and through a
Floyd | thick fog or mist, you can make out the unmistakable outlines of

Floyd | buildings. Apart from this, the desert continues north and west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait. Fog? Mist? In the desert?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Valiantly, disregarding your lack of an umbrella, you march into the
Floyd | fog...........
Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown
Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is

Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The entire square is shrouded in thick fog.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oo-oo-oo" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fog" 		
	

Floyd | Thick clouds of mist or fog obstruct your vision.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office of the Charlestown Times

Floyd | Judging by the signs, this was once the office of the local newspaper,
Floyd | but now seems totally abandoned. A single shelf, once probably filled
Floyd | with superfluous newsprint, lies to one side, containing a few papers;
Floyd | apart from this, the office continues into a darker zone to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | The torn front page of a newspaper lies here, unsung.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Perhaps it's not fog fog. Maybe it's the fog of nothing at all." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x newspaper" 		
	

Floyd | It's the first page of an issue of the Charlestown Times, with one
Floyd | large article and little else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read newspaper" 		
	

Floyd | THE CHARLESTOWN TIMES    -    July 28th, 1883
Floyd |
Floyd | ---- STUNNING EXPOS? BURIES CHARLESTOWN POLITICIANS ---
Floyd | From Our Special Correspondent
Floyd | The corrupt, brutal and unnatural orphanage of Charlestown has, through
Floyd | the miraculous intervention of Mr. Joel Sweeney, television

Floyd | personality, been all but routed. Although the sickening practices of
Floyd | the local politicians were known to many, few apart from the valiant
Floyd | Mr. Sweeney were willing to confront them face to face. "I do not give
Floyd | a cosmic egg", he told our reporter, "if the children in our
Floyd | institutions are well-treated; such yardsticks belong to the Middle
Floyd | Ages. Any system of education and development that does not liberate

Floyd | the inner self, and offer a holistic approach to spiritual development,
Floyd | is a monstrosity and a perversion." On the evidence of Mr. Sweeney,
Floyd | over 650 children - half of them orphans - were rescued from these dens
Floyd | of skepticism and placed along the right path. His close associate and
Floyd | friend, Doctor Osborne Sharma (the author of "Ingest, Assimilate,
Floyd | Absorb" and "Ageless Mind Over Ageing Matter") is actively involved in

Floyd | the process of rehabilitation.
Floyd |
Floyd | ANNOUNCEMENTS
Floyd |
Floyd | DECEASED : on July 26th, 1883, at his residence, LEON. E. GOLD,
Floyd | schoolmaster. Mr. Gold was recently under a shadow following the

Floyd | scandal in education. He is survived by his wife Judith.
Floyd | APPOINTED : as Superintendent of Education and Human Potential, ALBERT
Floyd | ROMANOV. Mr. Romanov, for years, was a tireless campaigner of Mr.
Floyd | Sweeney's causes, and his appointment comes as no surprise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Is that - hm, I guess it's not *supposed* to be 2883, but I have trouble with televisions and cosmic eggs in the nineteenth century, except that the game is crazy and I'm just starting to not be shocked by anything and next there will be a giant green bunny rabbit named Frank who will eat us alive." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think bunnies are carnivores." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You've never watched Big Bunny, obviously." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though he is pink." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Television personalities in 1883? Is that a typo or is this an alternate universe?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But in this game, all bets are off." 	
			Jacqueline says (to WB), "Alternate universe." 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Or Monty Python and the Holy Grail" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh. I hope not. When the historian gets killed is when the movie starts to get really boring." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Archives of the Charlestown Times
Floyd | This room, all empty shelves and dust, once stored all the back issues,
Floyd | manuscripts and other paraphernalia that are the birthright of a

Floyd | newspaper office - or so it seems. There are no obvious exits except
Floyd | the one back south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only piece of furniture remaining, bar the shelves, is a horsehair
Floyd | chair, in none too good a condition.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The chair has a certain dignity - even though it could hardly bear the
Floyd | weight of your six-year-old daughter in the state it's currently in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The chair has a certain dignity - even though it could hardly bear the
Floyd | weight of your six-year-old daughter in the state it's currently in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under it" 		
	

Floyd | You examine the chair from all angles, look under it, and finally
Floyd | uncover a legal form - of the kind that you know by heart, but blank -
Floyd | under the chair.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by six points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(By the way: [LINK] )" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take form" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x form" 		
	

Floyd | Legal Form 67 is what any witness in a case involving the International
Floyd | Code of Ethics, consequent upon its 23rd Amendment in the year 2786, is
Floyd | required to fill out. As such, it is devoid of interest to you, being
Floyd | blank. The other side, however, has something printed on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | Harold, Ch. 3, Lines 1 - 10
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is not what I had in mind", the Creator said, irritably. "This is

Floyd | not it at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Silence!", said the Voice, not sternly, as was its wont. "You have
Floyd | already seen the consequences of your own actions, and I hope you
Floyd | realize how totally senseless they were....."
Floyd |

Floyd | "No need to rub it in", the Creator replied, calmly. "But why should
Floyd | someone else pay the price?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "For simple proof, Harold. Proof that, even in the face of a threat,
Floyd | that someone else - who originated, after all, in your own mind - would
Floyd | be able to withstand it. If someone else stands in your place, she

Floyd | stands there so that you may prove yourself."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Tortuous reasoning", the Creator replied, "but you're starting to make
Floyd | sense. When, then......"
Floyd | [Here the printing is abruptly cut short.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, 2786, 1883?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nevermind." 	
			DavidW says, "I suppose someone ought to fill this form out." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move shelves" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Archives of the Charlestown Times
Floyd | This room, all empty shelves and dust, once stored all the back issues,
Floyd | manuscripts and other paraphernalia that are the birthright of a
Floyd | newspaper office - or so it seems. There are no obvious exits except
Floyd | the one back south.

Floyd |
Floyd | The only piece of furniture remaining, bar the shelves, is a horsehair
Floyd | chair, in none too good a condition.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office of the Charlestown Times
Floyd | Judging by the signs, this was once the office of the local newspaper,
Floyd | but now seems totally abandoned. A single shelf, once probably filled

Floyd | with superfluous newsprint, lies to one side, containing a few papers;
Floyd | apart from this, the office continues into a darker zone to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | The torn front page of a newspaper lies here, unsung.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take page" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Continue to the building to the south?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown
Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but

Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is
Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.
Floyd |

Floyd | The entire square is shrouded in thick fog.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x buildings" 		
	

Floyd | Towering over you, on either side, to the north and south, are two huge

Floyd | buildings.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Workhouse, in Charlestown
Floyd | From its attitude of desolation, from its decrepit appearance, you
Floyd | realize that this cannot be anything other than that despised
Floyd | institution, the workhouse. Strangely, no cries, no disturbing sounds,
Floyd | can be heard though you strain your ears, and though the place is
Floyd | deserted and disused, there are no signs of outright squalor. The

Floyd | furniture is of surprisingly good quality, though probably second-hand,
Floyd | and there is nothing creaky about the floor-boards as you tread on
Floyd | them. The passage you came through leads north, and another corridor
Floyd | seems to leads east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Merging with the floor is a closed wooden door, probably leading to a

Floyd | cellar, an eerie light gleaming at its edges.
Floyd |
Floyd | The passage to the east is blocked by a black door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to wooden door" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | You open the cellar door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look down" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x black door" 		
	

Floyd | A dark black door, on the east wall. There is something painted on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | JOEL SWEENEY'S LAIR

Floyd |
Floyd | --- Private ---
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "which way?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, east, I guess." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You haven't got the key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "The door is - sorry. I'm an idiot." 	
			DavidW says, "down it is, then." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, in the workhouse
Floyd | You are in a large, spacious, white-tiled passageway, illuminated
Floyd | brightly and almost blindingly by light from an unknown source. It runs
Floyd | further east almost endlessly, and seems not to have any side-passages.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small glass vial lies at your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing, sorry." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vial" 		
	

Floyd | An empty vial, with a faint chemical odour, and a label half-torn from
Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | THIOPENTONE SODIUM B.P.
Floyd | [Pentothal (R)]
Floyd |
Floyd | Contains 0.25 mEq Thiopentone Na / mL
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "truth serum, eh?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take vial" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So, yeah, I think so." 	
			DavidW asks, "except, empty?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground Passage, in the workhouse

Floyd | The white-tiled corridor continues further east with no end in sight,
Floyd | ominously, as if to suggest that your safest course would be an
Floyd | unceremonious retreat to the west. However, the monotony is punctuated
Floyd | by an open passageway, to your north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen, in the underground
Floyd | This small room, with its pantry-cupboard and blackened fireplace,
Floyd | probably once served as a kitchen to the inmates of this unfortunate

Floyd | place. There are no windows, no ventilation vents, and the smell is
Floyd | stifling. Aesthetics demand an immediate exit, to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | A rugged wooden construction, which is currently closed
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, unfortunately." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | As you open the cupboard, an insect falls at your feet, and you shudder
Floyd | and move an inch away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x insect" 		
	

Floyd | On closer inspection, it's not an insect, but a small microphone,
Floyd | embedded in dull grey metal - a bug in an entirely different sense.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | In the pantry cupboard is a stack of aluminium cartons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cartons" 		
	

Floyd | Inside the cupboard, there is a stack of aluminium cartons, oozing
Floyd | grease, and in an advanced stage of decomposition. It has all the charm
Floyd | of a neglected sewer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search cartons" 		
	

Floyd | You gingerly lift the lid of one of the cartons, revealing rotten and
Floyd | maggot-infested remnants of various TV dinners. Suppressing a retch,
Floyd | you withdraw your hand.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bug" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "We were more grossed out by a microphone than by the corpse." 	
			Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			Jacqueline says, "True." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | A large, blackened, sooty fireplace, large enough to hold several
Floyd | people - including yourself, if you're interested. There's no pot of
Floyd | gruel - or anything else - in it at present.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I wish you hadn't said that just as I was taking a sip of coffee, WB." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | The fireplace is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the fireplace, and to your amazement, you can see a
Floyd | bright, dazzling light shining from a hole in its roof, though you're
Floyd | not sure where its source is. Your curiosity satisfied, and your attire
Floyd | a little more sooty, you step out.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ashes" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hole" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search bug" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bug" 		
	

Floyd | A small microphone, in dull grey metal. You have no idea whether it
Floyd | still works.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground Passage, in the workhouse
Floyd | The white-tiled corridor continues further east with no end in sight,
Floyd | ominously, as if to suggest that your safest course would be an

Floyd | unceremonious retreat to the west. However, the monotony is punctuated
Floyd | by an open passageway, to your north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the underground
Floyd | You seem to have come to an intersection in the underground passage,
Floyd | with a room to your south : the entry to it is glowing (so it seems)
Floyd | with a bright light, and the continuations of the corridor east and
Floyd | west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapel

Floyd | Every detail, every item of furniture or ornament in this room, is
Floyd | drowned out in a blinding light.
Floyd |
Floyd | A giant bulb, from one corner of the room, is the obvious source of
Floyd | this dazzling illumination.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x furniture" 		
	

Floyd | The light prevents you from doing so.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "bulb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bulb" 		
	

Floyd | A large glass bulb......you can make out nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We must get rid of the light." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | Desperately, you lunge at the bulb. Surprisingly, it's not warm, it's
Floyd | stone cold. A simple blow almost shatters the entire glass framework to
Floyd | pieces, and as the fragments clatter to the floor, you notice that
Floyd | there was no filament. There never was.

Floyd |
Floyd | The room seems to fill with sunlight, all of a sudden.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by fifteen points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapel
Floyd | A large, pleasant room, with sun shining through an open window. There
Floyd | are rows of benches and an altar at the back of the room, which

Floyd | confirms your opinion that this must be a chapel of sorts.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bulb is now totally dark and shattered.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a golden key here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | A small yet heavy golden key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x altar" 		
	

Floyd | Though it is easily recognizable as an altar, it is merely a rough-hewn
Floyd | stone fixture; its covering cloth and other paraphernalia are gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x benches" 		
	

Floyd | Regulation benches, with the customary kneel-space in front of them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under benches" 		
	

Floyd | Just the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bulb" 		
	

Floyd | A broken and functionless mess of glass.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search glass" 		
	

Floyd | (the glass vial)
Floyd | You never read descriptions, do you? The vial is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search broken glass" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing but glass fragments; you have no use for them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "You never disambiguate properly, do you? We didn't mean the vial glass." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push altar" 		
	

Floyd | That's seldom useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | Somehow, this seems like a good place to do so, if you were so
Floyd | inclined. However, you can hear a voice in your head: "Not to me - not
Floyd | now."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Have we seen a place for a key? Or continue east?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I can't believe it took us that long to pray." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think e." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Intersection, in the underground
Floyd | You seem to have come to an intersection in the underground passage,
Floyd | with a room to your south : the entry to it is glowing (so it seems)
Floyd | with a bright light, and the continuations of the corridor east and
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead end, in the underground
Floyd | The seemingly interminable underground passage comes to an abrupt and
Floyd | unexpected end here, with no exits save a series of steps leading

Floyd | upwards, and a return back west, where you came from.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x steps" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The steps end abruptly in a series of partially broken boards. Those
Floyd | remaining are too strong to be dislodged, but through the spaces you

Floyd | can see a small chamber.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chamber" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x boards" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a golden key
Floyd |   a small metal bug
Floyd |   a glass vial

Floyd |   a torn newspaper page
Floyd |   Legal Form 67
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read letter" 		
	

Floyd | You don't know how the letter got here, and it's not addressed to you.
Floyd | Anyway, you read it through...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Europe, July 14th, 2883.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Vanessa,
Floyd | Unforseen circumstances have forced me, without any sensible or
Floyd | honourable alternative, to leave you abruptly, without warning, without

Floyd | even the consolation - pardon my grandiosity - of a fond farewell. I
Floyd | have not been permitted to reveal more than this, even to you whom I
Floyd | could trust above anyone else, dearest - for the hand and mind that
Floyd | drive me at this moment are not my own. Rest assured that, if you still
Floyd | - regardless of your own safety - want to follow me, I have left enough
Floyd | traces. Not too explicitly, of course - Nash is a fine old man, but I

Floyd | wouldn't want to involve him in this - but I am sure you will find a
Floyd | way. The key can be revealed in the usual way: table, place. There is
Floyd | little time to say more. Four digits alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yours,
Floyd | Janus.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bizarre, indeed.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x flower" 		
	

Floyd | It's unlike any flower you've ever seen before; it has a single whorl
Floyd | of four pink petals, with irregular angles that hardly look natural, as
Floyd | if they represented some strange form of origami.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead end, in the underground
Floyd | The seemingly interminable underground passage comes to an abrupt and

Floyd | unexpected end here, with no exits save a series of steps leading
Floyd | upwards, and a return back west, where you came from.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x east wall" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the east wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "back to town?" 	
			DavidW says, "like, we almost need a ladder." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "x ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, esplore more of town." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry - went to put on a sweater." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the underground

Floyd | You seem to have come to an intersection in the underground passage,
Floyd | with a room to your south : the entry to it is glowing (so it seems)
Floyd | with a bright light, and the continuations of the corridor east and
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground Passage, in the workhouse
Floyd | The white-tiled corridor continues further east with no end in sight,
Floyd | ominously, as if to suggest that your safest course would be an

Floyd | unceremonious retreat to the west. However, the monotony is punctuated
Floyd | by an open passageway, to your north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, in the workhouse
Floyd | You are in a large, spacious, white-tiled passageway, illuminated
Floyd | brightly and almost blindingly by light from an unknown source. It runs
Floyd | further east almost endlessly, and seems not to have any side-passages.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Workhouse, in Charlestown
Floyd | From its attitude of desolation, from its decrepit appearance, you

Floyd | realize that this cannot be anything other than that despised
Floyd | institution, the workhouse. Strangely, no cries, no disturbing sounds,
Floyd | can be heard though you strain your ears, and though the place is
Floyd | deserted and disused, there are no signs of outright squalor. The
Floyd | furniture is of surprisingly good quality, though probably second-hand,
Floyd | and there is nothing creaky about the floor-boards as you tread on

Floyd | them. The passage you came through leads north, and another corridor
Floyd | seems to leads east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cellar door, under your feet, is open and leads into an illuminated
Floyd | passage.
Floyd |

Floyd | The passage to the east is blocked by a black door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the cellar door or the east door?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "east" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock black door with key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "knock on black door" 		
	

Floyd | No reply, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x furniture" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown
Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is
Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This

Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fog seems to have dissipated, and the town square is now brightly
Floyd | lit.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "huh. Fog go buh-bye." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x statue" 		
	

Floyd | It's the statue of a rather fat man, of ridiculously ill-matched

Floyd | proportions, holding a club or baton of some sort, and resting on a
Floyd | large pedestal which bears an inscription.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read pedestal" 		
	

Floyd | JOEL SWEENEY (1814-1892)
Floyd |
Floyd | Benefactor of the Oppressed
Floyd | Scourge of the Oppressor

Floyd | Liberator of the Masses
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x club" 		
	

Floyd | It's the statue of a rather fat man, of ridiculously ill-matched

Floyd | proportions, holding a club or baton of some sort, and resting on a
Floyd | large pedestal which bears an inscription.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pull club" 		
	

Floyd | That's seldom useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(Secret passage...)" 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "x baton" 		
	

Floyd | It's the statue of a rather fat man, of ridiculously ill-matched
Floyd | proportions, holding a club or baton of some sort, and resting on a
Floyd | large pedestal which bears an inscription.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The x club response shows club = statue. Isn't a separate item." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "read inscription" 		
	

Floyd | JOEL SWEENEY (1814-1892)
Floyd |
Floyd | Benefactor of the Oppressed

Floyd | Scourge of the Oppressor
Floyd | Liberator of the Masses
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown
Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is
Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large

Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fog seems to have dissipated, and the town square is now brightly
Floyd | lit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Main Street, in Charlestown
Floyd | This is a slightly brighter and more residential portion of

Floyd | Charlestown. North of you is a small house, whose door stands open, and
Floyd | south of you is a large, imposing mansion. The street leads back west,
Floyd | as well as continuing east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Logically enough, the door to the mansion is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Because you broke the bulb?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That's why the fog lifted?" 	
			DavidW says, "I think the bulb and fog are linked, yes. We let the sun shine in." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We opened up our heart." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And let the sun shine in." 	
			DavidW says, "<grin>" 	
			Jacqueline holds hands with David and WeirdBeard and begins swaying back and forth, smiling. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mansion" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A gilded door, small and stylish, with a nameplate on the outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read nameplate" 		
	

Floyd | "Sailors' Rest"
Floyd | Leon and Judith Gold
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh. We've seen those names before." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In the shack
Floyd | A dull, dingy, dirty place, with absolutely no redeeming feature save a
Floyd | hundred years' dust and neglect. All the 29th Century aesthete in you
Floyd | revolts against it. Even assuming that you can conquer those
Floyd | tendencies, though, there seems to be no exit, except the way you came

Floyd | in.
Floyd |
Floyd | A voice transmitter, as sooty as the rest of the shack, lies neglected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "Anyone remember when Pebbles and Bam-Bam sang that, and then they began using it for the closing song?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No." 	
			DavidW says, "I remember that cartoon, kinda. But not the date." 	
			WeirdBeard says (to Jacqueline), "Lucky." 	
			DavidW says, "Bet it's on youtube." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I suspected by your description that I was lucky to not remember it, yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like a radio or voice transmitter module, with a speaker and a
Floyd | switch, but no other buttons.
Floyd | The voice transmitter is currently switched off.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the transmitter suddenly comes to life.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Ah, your game is up, Mbelwe", an unctuous voice says, through the
Floyd | distorting speaker. "No one can save you now."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is silence for a while.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search dust" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is silence for a while.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like a radio or voice transmitter module, with a speaker and a
Floyd | switch, but no other buttons.

Floyd | The voice transmitter is currently switched on.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Now, are you going to tell me where that insult to humanity, Author,
Floyd | is hiding? I shall wring his neck!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Silence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Go to hell", a voice replies, faintly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Just keep waiting?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf11" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Can we talk to the transmitter?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, dunno." 	
			DavidW asks, "And is Mbelwe the one who had to drink the pentathol?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "speaker, hi" 		
	

Floyd | You can't talk to the voice transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In the shack
Floyd | A dull, dingy, dirty place, with absolutely no redeeming feature save a
Floyd | hundred years' dust and neglect. All the 29th Century aesthete in you

Floyd | revolts against it. Even assuming that you can conquer those
Floyd | tendencies, though, there seems to be no exit, except the way you came
Floyd | in.
Floyd |
Floyd | A voice transmitter, as sooty as the rest of the shack, lies neglected.
Floyd |

Floyd | Incoherent spluttering sounds of rage can be heard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh - that might be." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That makes one groggy drunk sorta, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I only know from watching Jumpin' Jack Flash." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | That's seldom useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | Incoherent spluttering sounds of rage can be heard.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I hate incoherent spluttering sounds of rage." 	
			DavidW asks, "hm. Now what. Wait here? Explore more?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "They are - well, the word 'spluttering' is quite a nasty word." 	
			DavidW says, "We can't take the transmitter with us." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe wait a couple turns to see if anything else of import is said." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "For the last time, are you going to tell me?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We probably need a way into Sweeney's." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm giving you till the count of ten to answer..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I saved earlier, thank goodness." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's see if he offs 'im." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "ten".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "nine".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "eight".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "seven".....
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "six".....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "five".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "four".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "three".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "It's not looking good." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "two".....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "one".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "one-half..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A clatter can be heard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "eep" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is nothing more to hear.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The radio switches off automatically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "My." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, restore?" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf11" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In the shack
Floyd | A dull, dingy, dirty place, with absolutely no redeeming feature save a

Floyd | hundred years' dust and neglect. All the 29th Century aesthete in you
Floyd | revolts against it. Even assuming that you can conquer those
Floyd | tendencies, though, there seems to be no exit, except the way you came
Floyd | in.
Floyd |
Floyd | A voice transmitter, as sooty as the rest of the shack, lies neglected.

Floyd |
Floyd | Incoherent spluttering sounds of rage can be heard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Is that back far enough>" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "er, ?" 	
			DavidW says, "well, hard to tell. We don't know what to accomplish, except maybe get that black door open." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I am thinking that turning on the thing started a timer." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And that if we go back to before we turned the thing on maybe we have more time to esplore before Mbelwe gets it." 	
			DavidW says, "possible" 	
			Jacqueline says, "How much do we lose if we go back one more, I wonder." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf10" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | 500 miles away from home

Floyd | This could be the middle of nowhere - in fact, it is. Apart from the
Floyd | railway tracks disappearing into the distance north, and the signpost
Floyd | to the east, there is nothing but dry, arid land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tracks" 		
	

Floyd | These tracks probably, at one stage, were installed to bring
Floyd | civilization to the region. Their current state indicates that the
Floyd | project has, in all probability, been abandoned.
Floyd |

Floyd | If this heat continues any longer, you'll soon have first-person
Floyd | knowledge of what the proteins in a boiled egg actually undergo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So, hm - I don't think we lose a ton, except for breaking the bulb and getting the newspaper, right?" 	
			DavidW says, "And key and form" 	
			DavidW says, "and vial" 	
			DavidW says, "and bug" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Those." 	
			DavidW asks, "Should probably replay from here and save just after using the gold key?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, do you think we need to go back this far?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's kinda what I'm thinking if you're up for that, yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't know if it's necessary or not. My binder is closed still." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think it would be okay to peek a little, but only if you won't be spoiled by a ton of other stuff." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Waddoyouthink?" 	
			DavidW says, "I think we might replay and resave." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | DESERT (As if you didn't know that already...)
Floyd |
Floyd | ..There is no need to beware of cacti, scorpions, wild animals or

Floyd | highwaymen, as they are all kept at bay by what you should beware of --
Floyd | sunstroke.
Floyd |
Floyd | Eastern Colonies ...... 500 MILES NORTH
Floyd | Charlestown ........... 0.02 MILES EAST
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Charlestown
Floyd | 0.02 miles must be a much smaller distance than you bargained on,

Floyd | because immediately to your east the railway tracks stop, and through a
Floyd | thick fog or mist, you can make out the unmistakable outlines of
Floyd | buildings. Apart from this, the desert continues north and west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Valiantly, disregarding your lack of an umbrella, you march into the
Floyd | fog...........
Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown

Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is
Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.

Floyd |
Floyd | The entire square is shrouded in thick fog.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office of the Charlestown Times
Floyd | Judging by the signs, this was once the office of the local newspaper,
Floyd | but now seems totally abandoned. A single shelf, once probably filled
Floyd | with superfluous newsprint, lies to one side, containing a few papers;
Floyd | apart from this, the office continues into a darker zone to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | The torn front page of a newspaper lies here, unsung.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take page" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | THE CHARLESTOWN TIMES    -    July 28th, 1883
Floyd |
Floyd | ---- STUNNING EXPOS? BURIES CHARLESTOWN POLITICIANS ---
Floyd | From Our Special Correspondent
Floyd | The corrupt, brutal and unnatural orphanage of Charlestown has, through
Floyd | the miraculous intervention of Mr. Joel Sweeney, television

Floyd | personality, been all but routed. Although the sickening practices of
Floyd | the local politicians were known to many, few apart from the valiant
Floyd | Mr. Sweeney were willing to confront them face to face. "I do not give
Floyd | a cosmic egg", he told our reporter, "if the children in our
Floyd | institutions are well-treated; such yardsticks belong to the Middle
Floyd | Ages. Any system of education and development that does not liberate

Floyd | the inner self, and offer a holistic approach to spiritual development,
Floyd | is a monstrosity and a perversion." On the evidence of Mr. Sweeney,
Floyd | over 650 children - half of them orphans - were rescued from these dens
Floyd | of skepticism and placed along the right path. His close associate and
Floyd | friend, Doctor Osborne Sharma (the author of "Ingest, Assimilate,
Floyd | Absorb" and "Ageless Mind Over Ageing Matter") is actively involved in

Floyd | the process of rehabilitation.
Floyd |
Floyd | ANNOUNCEMENTS
Floyd |
Floyd | DECEASED : on July 26th, 1883, at his residence, LEON. E. GOLD,
Floyd | schoolmaster. Mr. Gold was recently under a shadow following the

Floyd | scandal in education. He is survived by his wife Judith.
Floyd | APPOINTED : as Superintendent of Education and Human Potential, ALBERT
Floyd | ROMANOV. Mr. Romanov, for years, was a tireless campaigner of Mr.
Floyd | Sweeney's causes, and his appointment comes as no surprise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ah. Leon and Judith mentioned there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's where, yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Archives of the Charlestown Times
Floyd | This room, all empty shelves and dust, once stored all the back issues,

Floyd | manuscripts and other paraphernalia that are the birthright of a
Floyd | newspaper office - or so it seems. There are no obvious exits except
Floyd | the one back south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only piece of furniture remaining, bar the shelves, is a horsehair
Floyd | chair, in none too good a condition.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under chair" 		
	

Floyd | You examine the chair from all angles, look under it, and finally
Floyd | uncover a legal form - of the kind that you know by heart, but blank -

Floyd | under the chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by six points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take form" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read form" 		
	

Floyd | Harold, Ch. 3, Lines 1 - 10
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is not what I had in mind", the Creator said, irritably. "This is
Floyd | not it at all."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Silence!", said the Voice, not sternly, as was its wont. "You have
Floyd | already seen the consequences of your own actions, and I hope you
Floyd | realize how totally senseless they were....."
Floyd |
Floyd | "No need to rub it in", the Creator replied, calmly. "But why should
Floyd | someone else pay the price?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "For simple proof, Harold. Proof that, even in the face of a threat,
Floyd | that someone else - who originated, after all, in your own mind - would
Floyd | be able to withstand it. If someone else stands in your place, she
Floyd | stands there so that you may prove yourself."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Tortuous reasoning", the Creator replied, "but you're starting to make
Floyd | sense. When, then......"
Floyd | [Here the printing is abruptly cut short.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x form" 		
	

Floyd | Legal Form 67 is what any witness in a case involving the International
Floyd | Code of Ethics, consequent upon its 23rd Amendment in the year 2786, is
Floyd | required to fill out. As such, it is devoid of interest to you, being
Floyd | blank. The other side, however, has something printed on it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office of the Charlestown Times
Floyd | Judging by the signs, this was once the office of the local newspaper,

Floyd | but now seems totally abandoned. A single shelf, once probably filled
Floyd | with superfluous newsprint, lies to one side, containing a few papers;
Floyd | apart from this, the office continues into a darker zone to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown
Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is

Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The entire square is shrouded in thick fog.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x statue" 		
	

Floyd | It's the statue of a rather fat man, of ridiculously ill-matched
Floyd | proportions, holding a club or baton of some sort, and resting on a

Floyd | large pedestal which bears an inscription.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pedestal" 		
	

Floyd | It's the statue of a rather fat man, of ridiculously ill-matched

Floyd | proportions, holding a club or baton of some sort, and resting on a
Floyd | large pedestal which bears an inscription.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | JOEL SWEENEY (1814-1892)
Floyd |
Floyd | Benefactor of the Oppressed
Floyd | Scourge of the Oppressor
Floyd | Liberator of the Masses
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x signposts" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Is the statue just a backstorey ambiance thing?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing." 	
			DavidW says, "I guess, but the end date for him is odd if he's still around." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, have we any idea of the actual date?" 	
			DavidW says, "no, not really" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Workhouse, in Charlestown
Floyd | From its attitude of desolation, from its decrepit appearance, you

Floyd | realize that this cannot be anything other than that despised
Floyd | institution, the workhouse. Strangely, no cries, no disturbing sounds,
Floyd | can be heard though you strain your ears, and though the place is
Floyd | deserted and disused, there are no signs of outright squalor. The
Floyd | furniture is of surprisingly good quality, though probably second-hand,
Floyd | and there is nothing creaky about the floor-boards as you tread on

Floyd | them. The passage you came through leads north, and another corridor
Floyd | seems to leads east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Merging with the floor is a closed wooden door, probably leading to a
Floyd | cellar, an eerie light gleaming at its edges.
Floyd |

Floyd | The passage to the east is blocked by a black door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "It's been all over the place, so I'm not willing to assume anything." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cellar door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the cellar door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, in the workhouse
Floyd | You are in a large, spacious, white-tiled passageway, illuminated
Floyd | brightly and almost blindingly by light from an unknown source. It runs
Floyd | further east almost endlessly, and seems not to have any side-passages.
Floyd |

Floyd | A small glass vial lies at your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take vial" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | An empty vial, with a faint chemical odour, and a label half-torn from
Floyd | it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | THIOPENTONE SODIUM B.P.
Floyd | [Pentothal (R)]

Floyd |
Floyd | Contains 0.25 mEq Thiopentone Na / mL
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground Passage, in the workhouse
Floyd | The white-tiled corridor continues further east with no end in sight,
Floyd | ominously, as if to suggest that your safest course would be an
Floyd | unceremonious retreat to the west. However, the monotony is punctuated
Floyd | by an open passageway, to your north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen, in the underground

Floyd | This small room, with its pantry-cupboard and blackened fireplace,
Floyd | probably once served as a kitchen to the inmates of this unfortunate
Floyd | place. There are no windows, no ventilation vents, and the smell is
Floyd | stifling. Aesthetics demand an immediate exit, to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | As you open the cupboard, an insect falls at your feet, and you shudder
Floyd | and move an inch away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take insect" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | On closer inspection, it's not an insect, but a small microphone,
Floyd | embedded in dull grey metal - a bug in an entirely different sense.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fireplace" 		
	

Floyd | A large, blackened, sooty fireplace, large enough to hold several
Floyd | people - including yourself, if you're interested. There's no pot of
Floyd | gruel - or anything else - in it at present.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter it" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the fireplace, and to your amazement, you can see a
Floyd | bright, dazzling light shining from a hole in its roof, though you're
Floyd | not sure where its source is. Your curiosity satisfied, and your attire

Floyd | a little more sooty, you step out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | The smells remind you vaguely of food preservatives.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground Passage, in the workhouse

Floyd | The white-tiled corridor continues further east with no end in sight,
Floyd | ominously, as if to suggest that your safest course would be an
Floyd | unceremonious retreat to the west. However, the monotony is punctuated
Floyd | by an open passageway, to your north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the underground
Floyd | You seem to have come to an intersection in the underground passage,
Floyd | with a room to your south : the entry to it is glowing (so it seems)

Floyd | with a bright light, and the continuations of the corridor east and
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapel
Floyd | Every detail, every item of furniture or ornament in this room, is
Floyd | drowned out in a blinding light.
Floyd |
Floyd | A giant bulb, from one corner of the room, is the obvious source of

Floyd | this dazzling illumination.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline thinks back to WB's insect/corpse comment. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break bulb" 		
	

Floyd | Desperately, you lunge at the bulb. Surprisingly, it's not warm, it's
Floyd | stone cold. A simple blow almost shatters the entire glass framework to
Floyd | pieces, and as the fragments clatter to the floor, you notice that
Floyd | there was no filament. There never was.
Floyd |
Floyd | The room seems to fill with sunlight, all of a sudden.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by fifteen points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(and laughs)" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapel
Floyd | A large, pleasant room, with sun shining through an open window. There
Floyd | are rows of benches and an altar at the back of the room, which

Floyd | confirms your opinion that this must be a chapel of sorts.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bulb is now totally dark and shattered.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a golden key here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | Somehow, this seems like a good place to do so, if you were so
Floyd | inclined. However, you can hear a voice in your head: "Not to me - not
Floyd | now."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x altar" 		
	

Floyd | Though it is easily recognizable as an altar, it is merely a rough-hewn
Floyd | stone fixture; its covering cloth and other paraphernalia are gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sun" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x benches" 		
	

Floyd | Regulation benches, with the customary kneel-space in front of them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x kneel-space" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the underground
Floyd | You seem to have come to an intersection in the underground passage,
Floyd | with a room to your south : the entry to it is glowing (so it seems)
Floyd | with a bright light, and the continuations of the corridor east and
Floyd | west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead end, in the underground

Floyd | The seemingly interminable underground passage comes to an abrupt and
Floyd | unexpected end here, with no exits save a series of steps leading
Floyd | upwards, and a return back west, where you came from.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The steps end abruptly in a series of partially broken boards. Those
Floyd | remaining are too strong to be dislodged, but through the spaces you
Floyd | can see a small chamber.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The steps end abruptly in a series of partially broken boards. Those
Floyd | remaining are too strong to be dislodged, but through the spaces you
Floyd | can see a small chamber.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump over steps" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to look up in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the west wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the underground
Floyd | You seem to have come to an intersection in the underground passage,
Floyd | with a room to your south : the entry to it is glowing (so it seems)

Floyd | with a bright light, and the continuations of the corridor east and
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground Passage, in the workhouse
Floyd | The white-tiled corridor continues further east with no end in sight,
Floyd | ominously, as if to suggest that your safest course would be an
Floyd | unceremonious retreat to the west. However, the monotony is punctuated
Floyd | by an open passageway, to your north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, in the workhouse

Floyd | You are in a large, spacious, white-tiled passageway, illuminated
Floyd | brightly and almost blindingly by light from an unknown source. It runs
Floyd | further east almost endlessly, and seems not to have any side-passages.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Workhouse, in Charlestown
Floyd | From its attitude of desolation, from its decrepit appearance, you
Floyd | realize that this cannot be anything other than that despised

Floyd | institution, the workhouse. Strangely, no cries, no disturbing sounds,
Floyd | can be heard though you strain your ears, and though the place is
Floyd | deserted and disused, there are no signs of outright squalor. The
Floyd | furniture is of surprisingly good quality, though probably second-hand,
Floyd | and there is nothing creaky about the floor-boards as you tread on
Floyd | them. The passage you came through leads north, and another corridor

Floyd | seems to leads east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cellar door, under your feet, is open and leads into an illuminated
Floyd | passage.
Floyd |
Floyd | The passage to the east is blocked by a black door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown

Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is
Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fog seems to have dissipated, and the town square is now brightly
Floyd | lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to go back there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Main Street, in Charlestown
Floyd | This is a slightly brighter and more residential portion of
Floyd | Charlestown. North of you is a small house, whose door stands open, and
Floyd | south of you is a large, imposing mansion. The street leads back west,

Floyd | as well as continuing east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Logically enough, the door to the mansion is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "save soon" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf12" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The road continues endlessly, into the distance, and you're not the
Floyd | wandering type.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | (opening the door first)
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room, in the Golds' home
Floyd | This simple front room is at strange variance with the outward

Floyd | appearance of the Gold mansion; in fact, it is so devoid of furniture
Floyd | that you wonder whether it is the same place. Passageways lead east and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door leading out of the house is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "oh. The house was SOUTH?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Evidently." 	
			DavidW says, "I thought their house was north." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Chamber
Floyd | This small chamber of indeterminate nature - it could be a private
Floyd | room, but its position is too exposed - has passages leading north and
Floyd | east, and steps leading down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | The steps lead down, then end in a creaky platform that seems to lead
Floyd | into a tunnel. Apprehensive, you turn away.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. Might be where the end of the tunnel led." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The passage ends abruptly in a series of boards.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, what's e again?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah - okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "boards" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x boards" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Chamber
Floyd | This small chamber of indeterminate nature - it could be a private
Floyd | room, but its position is too exposed - has passages leading north and
Floyd | east, and steps leading down.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room, in the Golds' home
Floyd | This simple front room is at strange variance with the outward

Floyd | appearance of the Gold mansion; in fact, it is so devoid of furniture
Floyd | that you wonder whether it is the same place. Passageways lead east and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door leading out of the house is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A gilded door, small and stylish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "I'm guessing that was the same chamber from before?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Empty Room
Floyd | What purpose this room once served is totally obscure, because all the

Floyd | furniture has gone. There is nothing, really, save the four walls of
Floyd | the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | A black key lies on the ground, near your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you enter the room, you gasp in horror. Lying on the hard floor,

Floyd | bringing to mind all the serial-killer plots of eight centuries ago, is
Floyd | a dead woman.....
Floyd |
Floyd | No, wait - she's not dead - but certainly dying....
Floyd |
Floyd | The woman looks up at you, hesitantly...."Have you.... did you receive

Floyd | Leon's appeal.....", she begins, noticing your blank expression. "I'm
Floyd | Judith Gold", she gasps, and struggles to go on. "Have you come
Floyd | to....?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "my" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We just saved, so no need to save again?" 	
			DavidW says, "right, we saved" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x judith" 		
	

Floyd | A tall, graceful, middle-aged woman, dressed in black, who is still

Floyd | breathing faintly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Judith looks up at you, expectantly. "After all these years - thank God
Floyd | you aren't too late....."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give flower to judith" 		
	

Floyd | Judith doesn't seem interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask judith about bug" 		
	

Floyd | Judith looks at you, uncomprehendingly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask judith about leon" 		
	

Floyd | "He tried his best......couldn't....if you can
Floyd | find.....microphone.....deafen Sweeney.......a whisper will do....."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Did Leon bring you here? He was a good man, was Leon - he didn't last
Floyd | long....must tell you......Sweeney..."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, didn't Leon... isn't he... dead?" 	
			DavidW says, "Judith should be dead by now too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "oh - the bug" 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Anjd the transmitter?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Shout into the bug during that conversation?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask judith about sweeney" 		
	

Floyd | "I must tell you......Sweeney....controlled this town - now empty, all
Floyd | empty - find proofs - proof - single evidence sufficient -

Floyd | Leon........pretended to be a reformer but he was a murderer all
Floyd | along.... stop him then....microphone......knife.....I have the
Floyd | knife...."
Floyd |
Floyd | And with these words, Judith shudders, her head falls to one side, and
Floyd | she is quite dead.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE.....]

		Jacqueline says, "She has the knife." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, Harold, things are coming to a head", the Voice goes on, in its
Floyd | usual even tenor. "If your character, Harold, can find a way out of
Floyd | this, you have as good as proved yourself."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Is that all?" you ask, bemused.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Not all, Harold, but almost all. The time for that famous institution,
Floyd | the Climactic Conflict, draws near. But if Cassandra can survive this,
Floyd | we need not fear in the least....."
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Empty Room
Floyd | What purpose this room once served is totally obscure, because all the
Floyd | furniture has gone. There is nothing, really, save the four walls of
Floyd | the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | A black key lies on the ground, near your feet.

Floyd |
Floyd | Judith's body lies on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | (the dark black key)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search judith" 		
	

Floyd | Uneasily, you move the body, and uncover a knife.....which seems
Floyd | strangely familiar to you. It wasn't used to kill her, though - there
Floyd | is no wound on her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take knife" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x knife" 		
	

Floyd | A nasty enough knife or dagger, with a jagged blade, which is encrusted
Floyd | with blood.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blood" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Now we use it to cut a portal into another dimension and win the game." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room, in the Golds' home
Floyd | This simple front room is at strange variance with the outward

Floyd | appearance of the Gold mansion; in fact, it is so devoid of furniture
Floyd | that you wonder whether it is the same place. Passageways lead east and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door out of the front room is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (opening the door first)
Floyd | You open the gilded door.
Floyd |

Floyd | Main Street, in Charlestown
Floyd | This is a slightly brighter and more residential portion of
Floyd | Charlestown. North of you is a small house, whose door stands open, and
Floyd | south of you is a large, imposing mansion. The street leads back west,
Floyd | as well as continuing east.
Floyd |

Floyd | The door to your south stands open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | In the shack
Floyd | A dull, dingy, dirty place, with absolutely no redeeming feature save a
Floyd | hundred years' dust and neglect. All the 29th Century aesthete in you
Floyd | revolts against it. Even assuming that you can conquer those
Floyd | tendencies, though, there seems to be no exit, except the way you came
Floyd | in.

Floyd |
Floyd | A voice transmitter, as sooty as the rest of the shack, lies neglected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the transmitter suddenly comes to life.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, your game is up, Mbelwe", an unctuous voice says, through the
Floyd | distorting speaker. "No one can save you now."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "whisper to bug" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "whisper" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shout at bug" 		
	

Floyd | (to the small metal bug)
Floyd | The microphone lights up and buzzes, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is silence for a while.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "whisper at bug" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to bug" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit bug" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is silence for a while.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "WB? Input?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that WB is Welcome Back." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x microphone" 		
	

Floyd | A small microphone, in dull grey metal. You have no idea whether it
Floyd | still works.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Now, are you going to tell me where that insult to humanity, Author,
Floyd | is hiding? I shall wring his neck!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "talk to bug" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shout at microphone" 		
	

Floyd | (to the small metal bug)
Floyd | The microphone lights up and buzzes, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | Silence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on microphone" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Go to hell", a voice replies, faintly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wear bug" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear that!

Floyd |
Floyd | Incoherent spluttering sounds of rage can be heard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break bug" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | Incoherent spluttering sounds of rage can be heard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There's the spluttering again." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "use bug" 		
	

Floyd | In this game, you'll have to think of ways of using things. For
Floyd | example, reading a newspaper, opening a door, throwing a bottle of acid
Floyd | at Baron Adelbert Gruner....Anyway, what I'm saying is that the verb

Floyd | "use" doesn't work.
Floyd |
Floyd | "For the last time, are you going to tell me?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tap bug" 		
	

Floyd | Little point in doing that, I'm afraid.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm giving you till the count of ten to answer..."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "smack bug" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "deafen sweeney" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "answer bug" 		
	

Floyd | (to the small metal bug)
Floyd | The microphone lights up and buzzes, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | "ten".....
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We're missing a step." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask sweeny about death" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This is... yeah." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "attach bug to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |

Floyd | "nine".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | In the shack

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a nasty-looking knife
Floyd |   a dark black key
Floyd |   a golden key
Floyd |   a small metal bug
Floyd |   a glass vial
Floyd |   Legal Form 67

Floyd |   a torn newspaper page
Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | "nine".....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We should have maybe saved again after Judith, but no biggie." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stab bug with knife" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cut bug with knife" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to cut the small metal bug.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "It's like the microphone isn't set up correctly somehow." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cut bug" 		
	

Floyd | Cutting that up would achieve little.
Floyd |

Floyd | "eight".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | In the shack

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, possibly, yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search microphone" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | "eight".....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Or possibly we're playing GtV." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn over microphone" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shout at transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | (to the small metal bug)
Floyd | The microphone lights up and buzzes, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | "seven".....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | The voices die out.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shout at transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | (to the small metal bug)
Floyd | The microphone lights up and buzzes, but nothing happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the transmitter suddenly comes to life.
Floyd |
Floyd | "four".....

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Could we have asked Judith about the bug?" 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "How many times can you undo?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And then, when she's not helpful, kill her?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Since she's dying anyway..." 	
			Jacqueline says (to WB), "I think I'd like to find out." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | In the shack

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There's a special Floyd undo, I think, if the game has a constraint." 	
			DavidW says, "Maybe we're supposed to use the key first." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What's the key for again?" 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Sweeney's door." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		WeirdBeard says, "Oops." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hrm, thought that was it." 	
			Jacqueline shrugs. "So we restore." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf12" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Main Street, in Charlestown
Floyd | This is a slightly brighter and more residential portion of

Floyd | Charlestown. North of you is a small house, whose door stands open, and
Floyd | south of you is a large, imposing mansion. The street leads back west,
Floyd | as well as continuing east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Logically enough, the door to the mansion is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room, in the Golds' home
Floyd | This simple front room is at strange variance with the outward
Floyd | appearance of the Gold mansion; in fact, it is so devoid of furniture

Floyd | that you wonder whether it is the same place. Passageways lead east and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door leading out of the house is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Empty Room
Floyd | What purpose this room once served is totally obscure, because all the
Floyd | furniture has gone. There is nothing, really, save the four walls of

Floyd | the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | A black key lies on the ground, near your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you enter the room, you gasp in horror. Lying on the hard floor,
Floyd | bringing to mind all the serial-killer plots of eight centuries ago, is

Floyd | a dead woman.....
Floyd |
Floyd | No, wait - she's not dead - but certainly dying....
Floyd |
Floyd | The woman looks up at you, hesitantly...."Have you.... did you receive
Floyd | Leon's appeal.....", she begins, noticing your blank expression. "I'm

Floyd | Judith Gold", she gasps, and struggles to go on. "Have you come
Floyd | to....?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf13" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask judith about bug" 		
	

Floyd | Judith looks at you, uncomprehendingly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Judith looks up at you, expectantly. "After all these years - thank God
Floyd | you aren't too late....."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take knife" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "save judith" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to save.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So, nothing to do but wait it out, eh?" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't know what you're trying to do." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just progress to where we were, really." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "How about save, and then ask her about cvarious things" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x her" 		
	

Floyd | A tall, graceful, middle-aged woman, dressed in black, who is still

Floyd | breathing faintly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I saved." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ask away." 	
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "ask judith about bug" 		
	

Floyd | Judith looks at you, uncomprehendingly.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Did Leon bring you here? He was a good man, was Leon - he didn't last
Floyd | long....must tell you......Sweeney..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Use >F WHATEVER, rather than >WF WHATEVER, so we can see." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, you are. :) Sorry." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "show bug to judith" 		
	

Floyd | Judith is unimpressed.

Floyd |
Floyd | Judith looks at you, urgently.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask judith about romanov" 		
	

Floyd | Judith looks at you, uncomprehendingly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a golden key
Floyd |   a small metal bug
Floyd |   a glass vial
Floyd |   Legal Form 67
Floyd |   a torn newspaper page
Floyd |   a yellow flower

Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd | "We tried our best, young lady - he was too much..... two ways to
Floyd | defeat him but we couldn't find.......microphone...
Floyd | ....evidence....give evidence to author....."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask judith about author" 		
	

Floyd | Judith looks at you, uncomprehendingly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "ask judith about evidence" 		
	

Floyd | Judith looks at you, uncomprehendingly.
Floyd | "I must tell you......Sweeney....controlled this town - now empty, all
Floyd | empty - find proofs - proof - single evidence sufficient -
Floyd | Leon........pretended to be a reformer but he was a murderer all

Floyd | along.... stop him then....microphone......knife.....I have the
Floyd | knife...."
Floyd |
Floyd | And with these words, Judith shudders, her head falls to one side, and
Floyd | she is quite dead.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE.....]

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, Harold, things are coming to a head", the Voice goes on, in its
Floyd | usual even tenor. "If your character, Harold, can find a way out of
Floyd | this, you have as good as proved yourself."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Is that all?" you ask, bemused.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Not all, Harold, but almost all. The time for that famous institution,
Floyd | the Climactic Conflict, draws near. But if Cassandra can survive this,
Floyd | we need not fear in the least....."
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Empty Room

Floyd | What purpose this room once served is totally obscure, because all the
Floyd | furniture has gone. There is nothing, really, save the four walls of
Floyd | the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | A black key lies on the ground, near your feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | Judith's body lies on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 209 out of a possible 360, in 767 turns, earning

Floyd | you the rank of Master of the Whirling Nib.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "Do we have any idea where the key goes?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | (the dark black key)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "No, not yet, methinks." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "move judith" 		
	

Floyd | Uneasily, you move the body, and uncover a knife.....which seems
Floyd | strangely familiar to you. It wasn't used to kill her, though - there
Floyd | is no wound on her body.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take knife" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search judith" 		
	

Floyd | Please do show some respect for the deceased.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Whatever." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What ELSE are you supposed to do with corpses in IF?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wear them to dinner parties?" 	
			DavidW says, "Dance with them." 	
			DavidW says, "And put them in window seats." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I saw a body in a storefront window yesterday." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It was creepy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But it was also fake." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It just didn't look it at first." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, we save again?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf14" 		Jacqueline says, "Now, to figure out the knife, key, and bug." 	
			DavidW says, "why" 	
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "For ease." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, I say we don't turn on the transmitter yet." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do we have other areas to explore?" 	
			DavidW says, "So use the black key" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "On?" 	
			DavidW asks, "The black door?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Shall I drive there?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a nasty-looking knife

Floyd |   a dark black key
Floyd |   a golden key
Floyd |   a small metal bug
Floyd |   a glass vial
Floyd |   Legal Form 67
Floyd |   a torn newspaper page

Floyd |   a yellow flower
Floyd |   a strange letter
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room, in the Golds' home
Floyd | This simple front room is at strange variance with the outward
Floyd | appearance of the Gold mansion; in fact, it is so devoid of furniture

Floyd | that you wonder whether it is the same place. Passageways lead east and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door out of the front room is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (opening the door first)
Floyd | You open the gilded door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Main Street, in Charlestown

Floyd | This is a slightly brighter and more residential portion of
Floyd | Charlestown. North of you is a small house, whose door stands open, and
Floyd | south of you is a large, imposing mansion. The street leads back west,
Floyd | as well as continuing east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door to your south stands open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Town Square, in Charlestown

Floyd | The signposts everywhere announce that you are inside a small but
Floyd | flourishing metropolis by the name of Charlestown, which, however, is
Floyd | as unlike the popular conception of a Wild West town as possible. This
Floyd | is the town square, in the middle of which stands a large statue; large
Floyd | buildings lie to your north and south, and the main street continues
Floyd | east.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fog seems to have dissipated, and the town square is now brightly
Floyd | lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Workhouse, in Charlestown
Floyd | From its attitude of desolation, from its decrepit appearance, you
Floyd | realize that this cannot be anything other than that despised

Floyd | institution, the workhouse. Strangely, no cries, no disturbing sounds,
Floyd | can be heard though you strain your ears, and though the place is
Floyd | deserted and disused, there are no signs of outright squalor. The
Floyd | furniture is of surprisingly good quality, though probably second-hand,
Floyd | and there is nothing creaky about the floor-boards as you tread on
Floyd | them. The passage you came through leads north, and another corridor

Floyd | seems to leads east.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cellar door, under your feet, is open and leads into an illuminated
Floyd | passage.
Floyd |
Floyd | The passage to the east is blocked by a black door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock black door with black key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the east door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | (opening the door first)
Floyd |
Floyd | Sweeney's Lair

Floyd | You are inside a massive room, whose walls are covered by endless rows
Floyd | of the same tiles you saw in the corridor. The lights are blinding -
Floyd | though not as dazzling as the light-bulb in the chapel - and it's all
Floyd | you can do to try and observe what is around you.
Floyd | Your attention is immediately drawn to the man at the far corner of the
Floyd | room....

Floyd |
Floyd | A large box - as large as a coffin, but otherwise not unlike a mailbox
Floyd | - is pushed to one corner of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | At the far end of the room, under the glare of the lights, is a steel
Floyd | armchair.

Floyd |
Floyd | Sitting in the armchair, a handsome man glares at you, angrily.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Welcome, beggar", he says, looking at your attire with a sniff. "I
Floyd | am.....Joel Sweeney. At your service."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "my" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ding ding ding ding ding" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | The box is massive, and resembles a coffin, but has a thin slit in
Floyd | front that suggests a Brobdignagian mailbox. There is an inscription
Floyd | carved on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Sweeney's Lair
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf15" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(Just because I'm *really* lazy and he might kill us at any second.)" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wait, what's Brobdignagian?" 	
			DavidW says, "Big. It's from Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I *still* need to read that." 	
			Jacqueline sighs. 	
			DavidW says, "It's like Lilliput, but with giants." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Been meaning to for years." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Got it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | Joel Sweeney, unlike his statue, is an impressive figure; a handsome
Floyd | man of forty or so, his hair almost completely white.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x armchair" 		
	

Floyd | A steel armchair, complete with armrests. Not quite an electric chair,
Floyd | but certainly having close kinship to one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x inscription" 		
	

Floyd | The box is massive, and resembles a coffin, but has a thin slit in
Floyd | front that suggests a Brobdignagian mailbox. There is an inscription
Floyd | carved on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read inscription" 		
	

Floyd | Here lies
Floyd |
Floyd | JANUS MBELWE

Floyd | Formerly of the Empire.
Floyd |
Floyd | "By entering this place, you have forfeited your life. Look on yonder
Floyd | coffin and despair."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x slit" 		
	

Floyd | The box is massive, and resembles a coffin, but has a thin slit in
Floyd | front that suggests a Brobdignagian mailbox. There is an inscription
Floyd | carved on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in slit" 		
	

Floyd | The slit is too small.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "Wait, did he die anyway?" 	
	Jacqueline asks, "sweeny about box" 		Jacqueline says, "No." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We saved before that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And David went and unlocked a door we hadn't unlocked before." 	
			DavidW says, "We saw his date of death on the statue, if that's what you mean." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh, you mean that?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask sweeny about box" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "sweenEy" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask sweeney about box" 		
	

Floyd | "Your question seems pointless to me, woman. Do not weary me."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Author. Banks. Mbelwe. All fools. No one can stop me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I was puzzling over that, thanks." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask him about him" 		
	

Floyd | "Your question seems pointless to me, woman. Do not weary me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | There seems no obvious way of doing that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I'm not sure what else to do, so I guess I'll just try to kill him." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not that that will work." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stab sweeney with knife" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill sweeney" 		
	

Floyd | If you have a specific weapon in mind, please use it. Otherwise, don't
Floyd | hurl yourself on your sword.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You seem perplexed, woman", Sweeney says, bitingly. "Are you not
Floyd | afraid? You should be."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "of course it won't. Judith told you there's only two ways to defeat him." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill sweeney with knife" 		
	

Floyd | Even if that were really a weapon, you can't get close enough to him to
Floyd | do so.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Whisper sweet nothings in his ear?" 	
			DavidW says, "We either have to deafen him with the transmitter, or get evidence to Author." 	
			Jacqueline | stop him then....microphone......knife..... 	
			DavidW says, "The knife is probably the evidence. Although.. hm. That form." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x form" 		
	

Floyd | Legal Form 67 is what any witness in a case involving the International
Floyd | Code of Ethics, consequent upon its 23rd Amendment in the year 2786, is
Floyd | required to fill out. As such, it is devoid of interest to you, being
Floyd | blank. The other side, however, has something printed on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "read form" 		
	

Floyd | Harold, Ch. 3, Lines 1 - 10
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is not what I had in mind", the Creator said, irritably. "This is

Floyd | not it at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Silence!", said the Voice, not sternly, as was its wont. "You have
Floyd | already seen the consequences of your own actions, and I hope you
Floyd | realize how totally senseless they were....."
Floyd |

Floyd | "No need to rub it in", the Creator replied, calmly. "But why should
Floyd | someone else pay the price?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "For simple proof, Harold. Proof that, even in the face of a threat,
Floyd | that someone else - who originated, after all, in your own mind - would
Floyd | be able to withstand it. If someone else stands in your place, she

Floyd | stands there so that you may prove yourself."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Tortuous reasoning", the Creator replied, "but you're starting to make
Floyd | sense. When, then......"
Floyd | [Here the printing is abruptly cut short.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give form to sweeney" 		
	

Floyd | Sweeney ignores your offer.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have little time left."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put form in slot" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put form in slit" 		
	

Floyd | That's the wrong shape for the slit.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Prepare to say farewell to your life, darling Cassandra."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put knife in slit" 		
	

Floyd | That's the wrong shape for the slit.
Floyd | As Sweeney marches towards you, a voice rings out in the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Sweeney, I have not lost yet. You're the king of cowards, attacking a
Floyd | poor, defenceless player character in that uncouth manner. You killed
Floyd | Non-Interactive Fiction. Prepare to die, indeed. Hmph. Do it yourself."
Floyd |
Floyd | Sweeney cringes, falls to the ground, not moving a muscle. The coffin

Floyd | shatters........and a man steps out, walking towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank you, Mrs. Anderson. I knew we could rely on you. Allow me to
Floyd | introduce myself - Janus Mbelwe, social scientist. I think you have
Floyd | something you wanted to give me......"
Floyd |

Floyd | Silently, you hand him the letter and he begins to read it....As he
Floyd | does so, the walls change, the odour changes......and you are no longer
Floyd | in the workhouse, but......
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE......]

		Jacqueline says, "oh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought of doing that, but I thought it would be Very Bad." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, and that's not the culprit of the text dump, now that I read." 	
			DavidW says, "I suspect I don't get full marks for this chapter." 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Nine - Birth Of A Notion
Floyd |

Floyd | In a hospital corridor
Floyd | You stand in a hospital corridor, looking around, confused. A sense of
Floyd | urgency seems to drive you on, but you cannot understand why.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by fourteen points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 223 out of a possible 360, in 794 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Master of the Whirling Nib.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess the letter was probably the correct thing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look at yourself uncertainly, but you're still the same - Cassandra
Floyd | Anderson, lawyer, on her way home from the Court of Appeals.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In a hospital corridor

Floyd | A broad corridor, smelling clean and fresh, in a very modern hospital,
Floyd | leading north into an intersection.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. Even the flower is gone now." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x dress" 		
	

Floyd | Slightly dated, but you've always had a soft corner for this one ever
Floyd | since the Eugenics Repeal Act went through - with your assistance - on
Floyd | the day you bought it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with

Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a triangular metal sign, precariously balanced.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear a clear voice issuing forth from the loudspeaker. "Mrs.
Floyd | Anderson. Please proceed immediately to Ward Number Ten. Mrs. Cassandra
Floyd | Anderson. Please proceed to Ward Number Ten."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | It's a floor plan of the hospital, in faint lines, looking almost as if
Floyd | it were hand-drawn. Your position, near the desk, is indicated by a
Floyd | small cross. The rest of the map is as follows:
Floyd |

Floyd | =========================================================
Floyd | |    Ward 10             Ward 9                Ward 8   |
Floyd | |               TOP                FLOOR                |
Floyd | |    Ward 7              Ward 6                Ward 5   |
Floyd | |==========================||============================
Floyd | |                          || To ground floor           |

Floyd | |         |----------------||---------------------|     |
Floyd | |         | To Storeroom   || To Doctors' Lounge  |     |
Floyd | |         |----------------||---------------------|     |
Floyd | |==========================||===========================|
Floyd | |   Ward 4     Ward 3          RECEPTION  (X)           |
Floyd | |                                              Entrance #

Floyd | |   Ward 2     Ward 1   RECORDS                         |
Floyd | =========================================================
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Records Room, in the hospital
Floyd | This small, stuffy, but not musty annexe lying west of the reception
Floyd | area houses the hospital's records, or at least the plaque on the door
Floyd | says so. Much to your surprise, there are no computers, and no ledgers
Floyd | either, on the solitary table, large as it is. There are no exits

Floyd | except the one back east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pile of records sits on the table, neglected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "I guess rather than rushing right there we should go slow and look around?" 	
			DavidW says, "up to you" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I *want* to rush right there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I'm thinking that's the wrong thing to do." 	
			DavidW says, "ah, go ahead. Rush." 	
			Jacqueline laughs and smiles. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That is not a cooridor." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf16" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a triangular metal sign, precariously balanced.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a small triangular sign with some lettering on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Owing to the staff strike", an announcer's voice goes on, "the
Floyd | location and search services will have to be operated by visitors
Floyd | themselves. Kindly forgive us the inconvenience."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | The Receptionist is OUT
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled
Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,

Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a triangular metal sign, precariously balanced.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | You're in a small stairwell just to the east of the reception area,
Floyd | with steps leading up into a corridor illuminated by arc lamps. A
Floyd | loudspeaker is perched on one of the walls.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the

Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Doctors' Lounge, in the Hospital
Floyd | This small and comfortable room, with several chairs around a large
Floyd | table under the soft glow of an orange lamp, is obviously a lounge of
Floyd | some sort, where physicians could unwind after a long day. The only
Floyd | exit is south, to the stairwell. The only object of note here, or so it
Floyd | seems, is a rather ornate locker.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, maybe shouldn't have left the -" 	
			Jacqueline takes another look at the map. 	
			DavidW says, "I see your interest in Ward Ten is waning." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Keep going up?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, I'm trying to get there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Honest." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		DavidW says, "Ward Ten is on the top floor." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first

Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,
Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mr. Edward Franklin. Please proceed to the Operating Recovery Room, in
Floyd | Ward Number Ten. Mr. Edward Franklin."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That's not entirely obvious by the map, but yes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, North End

Floyd | The northern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 5" and "Ward 8". You can't go any further
Floyd | north, but there's a safe return south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Though this is a fantasy, you can't walk through walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Ward 8 seems to have been sealed off. Through a glass plaque on the
Floyd | door, you can see that it's being fumigated, which further lessens your
Floyd | desire to go in there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first
Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,

Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End
Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further
Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, that was disorienting for some reason." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward 10, Antechamber

Floyd | This is a small chamber that forms part of Ward 10, which continues to
Floyd | the north, near a doorway marked by a sign labelled "Recovery Room".
Floyd | The only other exit is back to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Standing near you, with one eye on the doorway, is a medical student,
Floyd | who was obviously asked to keep an eye on newcomers.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x student" 		
	

Floyd | Short, bespectacled, and not very impressive. But then, you tell
Floyd | yourself, most great physicians do look rather unassuming. He's wearing

Floyd | a white coat and a stethoscope, and can't be much older than twenty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The student bars your way hesitantly. "I'm sorry, ma'am", he says, "but

Floyd | you've got to have the properly attire to go in there. Aseptic
Floyd | precautions, you know."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Storage room?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask student about attire" 		
	

Floyd | "All you need is a cap, mask and gown - we're not exactly a surgical
Floyd | ward", the student says kindly. "I'm sure you can find them downstairs.
Floyd | Just ask around. I'd help you, but I have to stay here."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So, this map was obviously confusing to me. Is the storage room mid-level?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End

Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further
Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first
Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,

Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Yes, the storage room is mid-level." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Doctors' Lounge, in the Hospital

Floyd | This small and comfortable room, with several chairs around a large
Floyd | table under the soft glow of an orange lamp, is obviously a lounge of
Floyd | some sort, where physicians could unwind after a long day. The only
Floyd | exit is south, to the stairwell. The only object of note here, or so it
Floyd | seems, is a rather ornate locker.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, s, and it's locked." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital

Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The storeroom behind that locked door only contains old textbooks, full
Floyd | of detailed research and case histories. Enthralling stuff, but you're
Floyd | not a physician.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "locker..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Doctors' Lounge, in the Hospital

Floyd | This small and comfortable room, with several chairs around a large
Floyd | table under the soft glow of an orange lamp, is obviously a lounge of
Floyd | some sort, where physicians could unwind after a long day. The only
Floyd | exit is south, to the stairwell. The only object of note here, or so it
Floyd | seems, is a rather ornate locker.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Of COURSE it is." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x locker" 		
	

Floyd | A large locker, made of some shiny metal - possibly silver (What
Floyd | extravagance!) Written on it are the words "Hospital Clothing - Extra
Floyd | Supplies."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x locker" 		
	

Floyd | A large locker, made of some shiny metal - possibly silver (What
Floyd | extravagance!) Written on it are the words "Hospital Clothing - Extra

Floyd | Supplies."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm guessing: silver key needed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll be right back - restroom." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We have that, don't we?" 	
			DavidW says, "nope" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go ahead - I'll be back in a sec." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "er" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am back." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh damn - that's right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "All inventory went bye-bye." 	
			DavidW says, "The silver key might be, well, anywhere in the hospital. I'm guessing reception is our best bet, but maybe not." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go fer it." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Doctors' Lounge, in the Hospital
Floyd | This small and comfortable room, with several chairs around a large
Floyd | table under the soft glow of an orange lamp, is obviously a lounge of
Floyd | some sort, where physicians could unwind after a long day. The only
Floyd | exit is south, to the stairwell. The only object of note here, or so it
Floyd | seems, is a rather ornate locker.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital

Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | You're in a small stairwell just to the east of the reception area,
Floyd | with steps leading up into a corridor illuminated by arc lamps. A

Floyd | loudspeaker is perched on one of the walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a triangular metal sign, precariously balanced.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take sign" 		
	

Floyd | You can't have the sign; it belongs where it is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push sign" 		
	

Floyd | In your efforts to do so, you displace the sign slightly, and it
Floyd | clatters down on the desk, revealing an inscription on the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read inscription" 		
	

Floyd | (in the pale blue dress)
Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the pale blue dress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read desk" 		
	

Floyd | Tradition is a dead weight hanging over the brains of the living - but
Floyd | we love it anyway.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- Karl Marx, modified by the Author.

Floyd | (not to be confused with his namesake..)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "take sign" 		
	

Floyd | You can't have the sign; it belongs where it is.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Mrs. Anderson. Seeking Mrs. Cassandra Anderson. Please proceed to the
Floyd | Recovery Room in Ward Number Ten, on the second floor."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind desk" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | Under the desk, you find a crumpled but otherwise undamaged discharge
Floyd | sheet, and pull it out.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by seven points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sheet" 		
	

Floyd | The form itself is blank, but it's the instructions to visitors, in
Floyd | small type at the base of the page, that interest you:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1. Visitors to Wards 1,3,4 and 5 (General Surgery) are not allowed
Floyd | outside the allotted hours of 9 - 1 p.m and 3 - 6 p.m. They must be
Floyd | attired in aseptic outfits for patient safety, and require proof of
Floyd | identification.
Floyd | 2. Visitors to Wards 2,6,7,8 and 9 (Internal Medicine) require proof of
Floyd | identification, but do not require any special attire.

Floyd | 3. Visitors to Ward 10 (Maternity) should wear a disposable scrub suit
Floyd | (over their ordinary clothing) consisting of a cap, mask and gown,
Floyd | before entering the operating or recovery rooms.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a splutter and a crackle, and the speaker goes dead.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hm" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Why is that pointy?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, because it tells us what we already know." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I see." 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps there's ID in the Records room." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I don't think we need ID." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just the cap, mask, and gown." 	
			DavidW asks, "ah. You're driving now?" 	
			DavidW says, "Cause I think we need ID to visit an internal medicine ward to get the key to the locker to get that cap, mask, and gown." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, not necessarily." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh - okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's an idea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "By all means, drive - that's a really great idea." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled

Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,
Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above

Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sign on the desk has fallen over to one side.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a discharge sheet here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take sheet" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go back. You have to make it to Ward Ten somehow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go back. You have to make it to Ward Ten somehow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled
Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,
Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't know where Records is." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You're never going to get into that ward; it's reserved for emergency

Floyd | and septic cases. Try another.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | End of corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | The north-south corridor comes to an end here, with wards to your east
Floyd | and west, labelled "Ward 2" and "Ward 4", in that order, and returns to
Floyd | the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Records is - one sec, I have the map here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You've done a lot of wonderful things in your life, Cassie, but walking
Floyd | through walls isn't one of them.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled

Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,
Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above

Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sign on the desk has fallen over to one side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | It's a floor plan of the hospital, in faint lines, looking almost as if
Floyd | it were hand-drawn. Your position, near the desk, is indicated by a
Floyd | small cross. The rest of the map is as follows:
Floyd |

Floyd | =========================================================
Floyd | |    Ward 10             Ward 9                Ward 8   |
Floyd | |               TOP                FLOOR                |
Floyd | |    Ward 7              Ward 6                Ward 5   |
Floyd | |==========================||============================
Floyd | |                          || To ground floor           |

Floyd | |         |----------------||---------------------|     |
Floyd | |         | To Storeroom   || To Doctors' Lounge  |     |
Floyd | |         |----------------||---------------------|     |
Floyd | |==========================||===========================|
Floyd | |   Ward 4     Ward 3          RECEPTION  (X)           |
Floyd | |                                              Entrance #

Floyd | |   Ward 2     Ward 1   RECORDS                         |
Floyd | =========================================================
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Records Room, in the hospital
Floyd | This small, stuffy, but not musty annexe lying west of the reception
Floyd | area houses the hospital's records, or at least the plaque on the door
Floyd | says so. Much to your surprise, there are no computers, and no ledgers
Floyd | either, on the solitary table, large as it is. There are no exits

Floyd | except the one back east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pile of records sits on the table, neglected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pile" 		
	

Floyd | It's a stack of medical records, written out at the time of admission
Floyd | of the various patients concerned on green sheets of paper. You could
Floyd | read a few of them if you wanted to.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search pile" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip through the pages, a single sheet of paper, distinct from
Floyd | the others due to its pink colour, falls out of the pile and flutters
Floyd | gracefully to the floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by twenty points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take paper" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the pink sheet of paper, the pile of green papers or
Floyd | the discharge sheet?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pink" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | The Final Chapter
Floyd | "And so, after this, we come to the end of our story", the Voice
Floyd | replied. "It will be difficult, but I think we should be able to pull
Floyd | through."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You could have sent me, couldn't you?", the Creator grumbled.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, my young friend", the Voice admonished him, "you needed to be
Floyd | taught a lesson. It's strange to see that you actually feel sympathetic
Floyd | towards a person you once blithely wiped out...."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I didn't!", the Creator replied, angrily. "You would have. Now, with

Floyd | our intervention, you will not. And at least I have given her a
Floyd | pleasant interlude now....."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's what comes after that which worries me....."
Floyd | [Here the printing stops abruptly.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ooh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read pile" 		
	

Floyd | A long, complex case history, from an influenza patient in the far
Floyd | provinces. Scrawled along the bottom, probably by a waggish intern, is

Floyd | one line: "It's A Bloody Life."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | A neurological case history: "2 year-old infant, Alison D. History of

Floyd | seizures when exposed to bright light, such as a Photopia. Query: Grand
Floyd | mal epilepsy? Suggest sleep electroencephalogram."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I suspect in-jokes here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You skim through the entries on one of the papers: Edward Franklin,
Floyd | forty-three, European, admitted on a tentative diagnosis of peptic
Floyd | ulcer. The final diagnosis was indigestion. Hmph.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You skim through the entries on one of the papers: Edward Franklin,
Floyd | forty-three, European, admitted on a tentative diagnosis of peptic

Floyd | ulcer. The final diagnosis was indigestion. Hmph.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Records Room, in the hospital
Floyd | This small, stuffy, but not musty annexe lying west of the reception
Floyd | area houses the hospital's records, or at least the plaque on the door
Floyd | says so. Much to your surprise, there are no computers, and no ledgers
Floyd | either, on the solitary table, large as it is. There are no exits
Floyd | except the one back east.

Floyd |
Floyd | A pile of records sits on the table, neglected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "table" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | Just your everyday table, a bit bigger and older than the one in your
Floyd | office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | Under the table - aren't you getting tired of stooping that much, even
Floyd | though you're too young for backache? - you find a small grey piece of
Floyd | paper, and pick it up.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by six points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read grey" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grey" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grey piece of paper" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a small square of paper
Floyd |   a pink sheet of paper
Floyd |   a discharge sheet
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x square" 		
	

Floyd | Just a small piece of paper with words printed on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read square" 		
	

Floyd | Harold, Last Chapter, no lines specified.
Floyd | "At least you cannot accuse me of not having a sense of humour", the
Floyd | Voice chuckled. "It seems like a nice touch to me."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Hmph", the Creator replied. "I'm not entirely sure if meeting me face
Floyd | to face is a good idea."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, considering what she will have to do later...", the Voice began.
Floyd | "Let's discuss something else, shall w....."

Floyd | [Here the printing stops abruptly.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "geez" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing more. Though the floor does seem to have a rather nice pattern
Floyd | on it. (You're good at observing things like that.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search pile" 		
	

Floyd | Some anatomy student has been practicing his diagrams on the forms, and
Floyd | his depiction of a liver is rather artistic, so you spend some time
Floyd | admiring it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Records Room, in the hospital
Floyd | This small, stuffy, but not musty annexe lying west of the reception
Floyd | area houses the hospital's records, or at least the plaque on the door

Floyd | says so. Much to your surprise, there are no computers, and no ledgers
Floyd | either, on the solitary table, large as it is. There are no exits
Floyd | except the one back east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pile of records sits on the table, neglected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plaque" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Geez his sarcasm?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or geeze if this was a graphic adventure we'd be playing find the hotspot with our mouse?" 	
			DavidW says, "no, the bonus for looking under get another piece of furniture." 	
			DavidW says, "er, yet another" 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Records Room, in the hospital
Floyd | This small, stuffy, but not musty annexe lying west of the reception
Floyd | area houses the hospital's records, or at least the plaque on the door
Floyd | says so. Much to your surprise, there are no computers, and no ledgers

Floyd | either, on the solitary table, large as it is. There are no exits
Floyd | except the one back east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pile of records sits on the table, neglected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess we need to search elsewhere. Storeroom, I guess." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with

Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sign on the desk has fallen over to one side.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | You're in a small stairwell just to the east of the reception area,

Floyd | with steps leading up into a corridor illuminated by arc lamps. A
Floyd | loudspeaker is perched on one of the walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x locked door" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The storeroom behind that locked door only contains old textbooks, full
Floyd | of detailed research and case histories. Enthralling stuff, but you're
Floyd | not a physician.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Doctors' Lounge, in the Hospital
Floyd | This small and comfortable room, with several chairs around a large

Floyd | table under the soft glow of an orange lamp, is obviously a lounge of
Floyd | some sort, where physicians could unwind after a long day. The only
Floyd | exit is south, to the stairwell. The only object of note here, or so it
Floyd | seems, is a rather ornate locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lamp" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chairs" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a small square of paper
Floyd |   a pink sheet of paper
Floyd |   a discharge sheet
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x discharge sheet" 		
	

Floyd | A blank discharge sheet, of the kind issued to patients before they
Floyd | leave the hospital.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | The form itself is blank, but it's the instructions to visitors, in
Floyd | small type at the base of the page, that interest you:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1. Visitors to Wards 1,3,4 and 5 (General Surgery) are not allowed
Floyd | outside the allotted hours of 9 - 1 p.m and 3 - 6 p.m. They must be
Floyd | attired in aseptic outfits for patient safety, and require proof of
Floyd | identification.
Floyd | 2. Visitors to Wards 2,6,7,8 and 9 (Internal Medicine) require proof of
Floyd | identification, but do not require any special attire.

Floyd | 3. Visitors to Ward 10 (Maternity) should wear a disposable scrub suit
Floyd | (over their ordinary clothing) consisting of a cap, mask and gown,
Floyd | before entering the operating or recovery rooms.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "push locker" 		
	

Floyd | That's seldom useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline's fingernails slowly cut into her palms as she watches poor David on the search. 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "read dress" 		
	

Floyd | Slightly dated, but you've always had a soft corner for this one ever
Floyd | since the Eugenics Repeal Act went through - with your assistance - on
Floyd | the day you bought it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "read inscription" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess we have to try entering one of wards 2, 6, 7, 8, or 9." 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "look under locker" 		
	

Floyd | There's no space under the locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "Yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmhmm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a

Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | You're in a small stairwell just to the east of the reception area,
Floyd | with steps leading up into a corridor illuminated by arc lamps. A
Floyd | loudspeaker is perched on one of the walls.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall

Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sign on the desk has fallen over to one side.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled

Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,
Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | The north-south corridor comes to an end here, with wards to your east
Floyd | and west, labelled "Ward 2" and "Ward 4", in that order, and returns to
Floyd | the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The entry to Ward Four is completely barred. Forget it - you're not
Floyd | needed there in the first place.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward Two
Floyd | Not unlike any other ward you've seen in construction, Ward Two is

Floyd | equally empty. Where is everybody?
Floyd |
Floyd | Lying just at your feet is a small platinum key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | A platinum key, too small to be a door key. Perhaps it's used to open a
Floyd | safe-deposit box of some sort. There is no tag or serial number on it,
Floyd | which makes tracing it difficult.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | The north-south corridor comes to an end here, with wards to your east
Floyd | and west, labelled "Ward 2" and "Ward 4", in that order, and returns to

Floyd | the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled
Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,
Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You're never going to get into that ward; it's reserved for emergency
Floyd | and septic cases. Try another.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward One
Floyd | Ward One is completely deserted. Rows of spotless beds, empty of
Floyd | patients, greet you coldly, under the glare of powerful, but not

Floyd | overpowering, arc lights.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lying thrown across one of the hospital beds is a long green gown of
Floyd | the disposable variety.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gown" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | After a little push and shove around the neck region - the gown was
Floyd | obviously designed for emaciated patients - you manage to slip it over
Floyd | your head, and acquire quite a competent, surgical appearance.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x beds" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor, in the hospital
Floyd | This broad corridor is flanked by rooms to your east and west, labelled
Floyd | "Ward 1" and "Ward 3" respectively; it runs further north to its end,

Floyd | and south back to the reception desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Intersection, in the hospital
Floyd | This is obviously a pivotal point in the hospital's geography, with
Floyd | passages leading in all four cardinal directions. A map on the wall
Floyd | offers some, but not much, promise of guidance, and there seems to be
Floyd | no one behind the hospital desk, though there is a sign on it. Above
Floyd | you, perched high on one wall, is a loudspeaker.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sign on the desk has fallen over to one side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "w00t" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | You're in a small stairwell just to the east of the reception area,
Floyd | with steps leading up into a corridor illuminated by arc lamps. A

Floyd | loudspeaker is perched on one of the walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Doctors' Lounge, in the Hospital
Floyd | This small and comfortable room, with several chairs around a large
Floyd | table under the soft glow of an orange lamp, is obviously a lounge of

Floyd | some sort, where physicians could unwind after a long day. The only
Floyd | exit is south, to the stairwell. The only object of note here, or so it
Floyd | seems, is a rather ornate locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 257 out of a possible 360, in 912 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Fellow of the Pantheon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock locker with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the silver locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | You open the silver locker, revealing a green surgical mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take mask" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | The fabric tickles your nose, but you manage to get it on safely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mask" 		
	

Floyd | A surgical face mask of some vague green fabric, just right for your
Floyd | size.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Stairwell, in the hospital
Floyd | At this point in the stairwell, there is a passage leading north to a
Floyd | small room, and a locked door south. The stairway continues up to the
Floyd | first floor, and back down to where you started.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first

Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,
Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End
Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further

Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Ward 10, Antechamber
Floyd | This is a small chamber that forms part of Ward 10, which continues to
Floyd | the north, near a doorway marked by a sign labelled "Recovery Room".
Floyd | The only other exit is back to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Standing near you, with one eye on the doorway, is a medical student,

Floyd | who was obviously asked to keep an eye on newcomers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End
Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further
Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read form" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a green surgical mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a long green gown (being worn)
Floyd |   a platinum key
Floyd |   a small square of paper
Floyd |   a pink sheet of paper

Floyd |   a discharge sheet
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read discharge" 		
	

Floyd | The form itself is blank, but it's the instructions to visitors, in
Floyd | small type at the base of the page, that interest you:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1. Visitors to Wards 1,3,4 and 5 (General Surgery) are not allowed
Floyd | outside the allotted hours of 9 - 1 p.m and 3 - 6 p.m. They must be
Floyd | attired in aseptic outfits for patient safety, and require proof of

Floyd | identification.
Floyd | 2. Visitors to Wards 2,6,7,8 and 9 (Internal Medicine) require proof of
Floyd | identification, but do not require any special attire.
Floyd | 3. Visitors to Ward 10 (Maternity) should wear a disposable scrub suit
Floyd | (over their ordinary clothing) consisting of a cap, mask and gown,
Floyd | before entering the operating or recovery rooms.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "Cap to go." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | That's just scenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | There's a wall in the way, Cassie, and you do hate banging your head
Floyd | against those.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward 10, Antechamber
Floyd | This is a small chamber that forms part of Ward 10, which continues to
Floyd | the north, near a doorway marked by a sign labelled "Recovery Room".
Floyd | The only other exit is back to your east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Standing near you, with one eye on the doorway, is a medical student,
Floyd | who was obviously asked to keep an eye on newcomers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "where the f are we" 	
			DavidW says, "I do better when I take notes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "The front of ward 10" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End
Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further

Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | A group of surgeons, in animated discussion, bars your way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "Have we been in 6?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | There's a wall in the way, Cassie, and you do hate banging your head

Floyd | against those.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "if you can find it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward 10, Antechamber
Floyd | This is a small chamber that forms part of Ward 10, which continues to
Floyd | the north, near a doorway marked by a sign labelled "Recovery Room".
Floyd | The only other exit is back to your east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Standing near you, with one eye on the doorway, is a medical student,
Floyd | who was obviously asked to keep an eye on newcomers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End
Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further
Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first

Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,
Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Ward 6 is barred by a glass door, through which you can see an
Floyd | operation going on. Something tells you that you're not needed there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward 9
Floyd | Ward 9 is obviously being renovated, because it's gleamingly white and
Floyd | clean, but has no beds, lights or other fixtures. The only exit is out

Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "Ahh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, the map was disorienting to me as well." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Talk to the surgeons?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first

Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,
Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, North End
Floyd | The northern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 5" and "Ward 8". You can't go any further

Floyd | north, but there's a safe return south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Ward 5
Floyd | There are only three beds in Ward 5, and no lighting. Obviously, the
Floyd | hospital isn't doing much business these days, and the only thing that
Floyd | strikes your attention is the cupboard in one corner. The way out is
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a green cap here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cap" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear cap" 		
	

Floyd | It does take quite an effort for you to crowd your elaborate hairstyle
Floyd | - still rather unruffled despite all your adventures - under the cap,

Floyd | but you manage to do so.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | First Floor Corridor, North End
Floyd | The northern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 5" and "Ward 8". You can't go any further
Floyd | north, but there's a safe return south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Middle Of Corridor, First Floor
Floyd | You are in the middle portion of a corridor on the hospital's first
Floyd | floor. Doorways marked "Ward 6" and "Ward 9" lie to your east and west,

Floyd | the stairs lead back down, and the corridor continues to your north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | First Floor Corridor, South End
Floyd | The southern end of the first floor corridor, as always, has east and
Floyd | west doorways, marked "Ward 7" and "Ward 10". You can't go any further
Floyd | south, but there's a safe return north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), " w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ward 10, Antechamber

Floyd | This is a small chamber that forms part of Ward 10, which continues to
Floyd | the north, near a doorway marked by a sign labelled "Recovery Room".
Floyd | The only other exit is back to your east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Standing near you, with one eye on the doorway, is a medical student,
Floyd | who was obviously asked to keep an eye on newcomers.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Recovery Room, in Ward 10
Floyd | The southern end of the recovery room is empty, but there seems to be

Floyd | some activity going on to the north, to which you feel strangely drawn.
Floyd | The other exit, south, leads back to the antechamber.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf17" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You stride purposefully towards the other end of the recovery room....
Floyd |

Floyd | At the other end is a single bed - and a small chamber, not exactly an
Floyd | incubator, but perhaps a heat chamber of sorts, which contains a very
Floyd | young girl, who is sleeping peacefully. Lying on the bed is a woman of
Floyd | about thirty or so, who looks at you gratefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good evening, Mrs. Anderson - Cassandra - I knew you would come. I

Floyd | apologize for making you come all this way here" - she waves lightly -
Floyd | "as my own home would have been a more convenient place; but plot comes
Floyd | before all". She laughs, then looks at the heat chamber. "And, if you
Floyd | haven't yet been introduced, this is my daughter. A few hours old, but
Floyd | much calmer than any of us."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Absolutely", you reply, drily.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, let me come to the point. There is one more task to be
Floyd | completed, but I do not know anything about it myself. Mr. Author, I
Floyd | fear, is very discreet. All I have been instructed to do, Cassandra, is
Floyd | to give you this."

Floyd |
Floyd | She hands you a small object, which you stuff into a pocket without
Floyd | even examining.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good luck, Cassie", she says. The little girl waves behind the glass -
Floyd | at you? - and once again the whole room dissolves...........

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            Press [SPACE].....

		Jacqueline says, "Here we go." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter Ten - It Takes A Village
Floyd |

Floyd | Small Hut
Floyd | You are inside a small, cramped, dingy and dark thatched hut. You can
Floyd | see nothing but an exit to the west, slightly illuminated, but you can
Floyd | hear voices - faintly - ringing in your ears. The only exit is out to
Floyd | the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by twenty-four points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "uh. Was that the birth of Simone?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Possibly." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You can hear a hollow voice saying, "Bunch of fools."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 281 out of a possible 360, in 950 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Fellow of the Pantheon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm getting kinda stressed here. But it's the last chapter, as far as I know." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Kinda stressed how?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And yes, it seems like the last chapter." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Less than 100 points now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Eyes on the prize... or something." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear a loud explosive noise, but it sounded fairly harmless -
Floyd | perhaps a squib.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press save" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf18" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Battlefield

Floyd | This vast open space, stained a lurid red that reminds you of poorly
Floyd | made lipstick, fringed by trees on all sides, seems to close in on you.
Floyd | No escape is possible.
Floyd |
Floyd | What you see amidst the trees almost chokes you with revulsion. The
Floyd | ugliest monster you could ever think of - dressed in a zoot suit. Ugh!

Floyd |
Floyd | As the monster spots you, it laughs loudly and uproariously. "That all
Floyd | they send? End of road for little lady! HA HA HA!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Small Hut
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look at yourself uncertainly, but you're still the same - Cassandra
Floyd | Anderson, lawyer, on her way home from the Court of Appeals.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a fountain-pen
Floyd |   a pale blue dress (being worn)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove dress" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly advisable right now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, then pen was the object." 	
			DavidW asks, "Pen mightier than sword, eh?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thank you, Bert." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Squirt it?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Not for the first time, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Battlefield

Floyd | This vast open space, stained a lurid red that reminds you of poorly
Floyd | made lipstick, fringed by trees on all sides, seems to close in on you.
Floyd | No escape is possible.
Floyd |
Floyd | What you see amidst the trees almost chokes you with revulsion. The
Floyd | ugliest monster you could ever think of - dressed in a zoot suit. Ugh!

Floyd |
Floyd | As the monster spots you, it laughs loudly and uproariously. "That all
Floyd | they send? End of road for little lady! HA HA HA!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Edit it." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Zoot suit? Really?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x monster" 		
	

Floyd | The monster, if he weren't so hideous, would be positively comic. For
Floyd | all his threats he is dressed in an elegant style, and looks positively

Floyd | foppish. You're not sure what kind of monster he is - perhaps a troll.
Floyd |
Floyd | The monster lunges at you. "Me need weapon", it grumbles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "squirt monster with pen" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill monster with pen" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | As you attack the troll with all your might, using your trusty pen, it
Floyd | dissolves into a whiff of green smoke. "NOOOOOO!" it screams. "UNFAIR!
Floyd | FOUL! OFFSIDE! UNSPORTING! TROLLS KILLED ONLY WITH SWORD!"
Floyd |
Floyd | As you shake your head in wonder, you can see something descend from

Floyd | the sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, it's the family jet. The door opens, and a familiar face pops out
Floyd | - Gerald. He walks quickly up to you, and takes you by the hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Welcome back, Cassie", he says, joyously, as your two children,

Floyd | looking at you and the troll, can barely conceal their admiration.
Floyd | "We're going home."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		
	Bert pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "You defeated him", you say, amazed.
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, you did. Your character. You did, Harold. You have destroyed the

Floyd | menace that was threatening our dimension. This is your victory, not
Floyd | mine.", the Author replied. The Voice - appearing in the now familiar
Floyd | guise of a man whose profile resembled a coin - agreed, as mildly as it
Floyd | could.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You mean...........", you say, still unable to take it in. "You mean

Floyd | I've.......But I never did...."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, you did not destroy your manuscript. You will go on to complete
Floyd | it - but we needed you, here, to understand what was at stake - and to
Floyd | save our dimension. And each time a new menace arises, your creatures -
Floyd | your gifts to this world - shall rise up, time and time again, and

Floyd | guarantee us success. But you must leave us now."
Floyd |
Floyd | The palace in the clouds dissolves around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good luck, Harold."
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		Jacqueline asks, "The family jet?" 	
			DavidW asks, "She's from the future, remember?" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom
Floyd | You wake up. Nothing has changed. It's the same room, the same bed, the
Floyd | same tired old manuscript, the same surreal dream fading from the edges
Floyd | of your mind.........

Floyd |
Floyd | No, something has changed. Forty-six copies be damned. Sales figures,
Floyd | faugh. After all, which author can claim to have saved an entire
Floyd | parallel dimension?
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 281 out of a possible 360, in 956 turns,
Floyd | earning you the rank of Fellow of the Pantheon.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some suggestions
Floyd | for AMUSING things to do or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "amusing" 		Jacqueline says, "Meet George Jetson, you mean? Okay, I guess." 	
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Just... getting... good? That was a Very Long ClubFloyd, m'dear Floyd." 	
			DavidW says, "Why did '" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, hm." 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Hey! I want my amusing things!" 	
			Bert says, "Perhaps that's Floyd's way of saying he didn't care for the game." 	
			DavidW asks, "Why did 'amusing' quit the game?" 	
			Bert says, "After it was over was when it was just getting good." 	
			Bert says (to W), "I think that was a crash." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, good question." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf18" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		Bert says, "Try load." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load halothane" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                               Halothane
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [depress SPACE......]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You'll never really know how it all started.
Floyd |
Floyd | That's not surprising, because you're not even sure what happened in

Floyd | the first place. If it had been anything else, you would have dismissed
Floyd | it as ninety-nine per cent bad digestion and one percent fancy, much as
Floyd | Ebenezer Scrooge would have. Somehow, in this case, that explanation
Floyd | doesn't really grab you. Did it really mean anything? Or was it, as the
Floyd | physiologists would say, just a matter of a few neurons in your
Floyd | brainstem working overtime?

Floyd |
Floyd | But life is strange. It's almost impossible to predict - as Heisenberg
Floyd | pointed out - where exactly you might end up, even when you start in as
Floyd | mundane a place as your own home....
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom

Floyd | This is hardly the place for an adventure to begin. You know the
Floyd | furniture of this room - desk, chair, bed and bookcase - almost as well
Floyd | as the contents of your pockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the wooden desk is a dusty manuscript.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf18" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Hut

Floyd | You are inside a small, cramped, dingy and dark thatched hut. You can
Floyd | see nothing but an exit to the west, slightly illuminated, but you can
Floyd | hear voices - faintly - ringing in your ears. The only exit is out to
Floyd | the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Battlefield
Floyd | This vast open space, stained a lurid red that reminds you of poorly
Floyd | made lipstick, fringed by trees on all sides, seems to close in on you.

Floyd | No escape is possible.
Floyd |
Floyd | What you see amidst the trees almost chokes you with revulsion. The
Floyd | ugliest monster you could ever think of - dressed in a zoot suit. Ugh!
Floyd |
Floyd | As the monster spots you, it laughs loudly and uproariously. "That all

Floyd | they send? End of road for little lady! HA HA HA!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill monster with pen" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | As you attack the troll with all your might, using your trusty pen, it
Floyd | dissolves into a whiff of green smoke. "NOOOOOO!" it screams. "UNFAIR!
Floyd | FOUL! OFFSIDE! UNSPORTING! TROLLS KILLED ONLY WITH SWORD!"
Floyd |
Floyd | As you shake your head in wonder, you can see something descend from
Floyd | the sky.

Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, it's the family jet. The door opens, and a familiar face pops out
Floyd | - Gerald. He walks quickly up to you, and takes you by the hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Welcome back, Cassie", he says, joyously, as your two children,
Floyd | looking at you and the troll, can barely conceal their admiration.

Floyd | "We're going home."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "You defeated him", you say, amazed.
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, you did. Your character. You did, Harold. You have destroyed the
Floyd | menace that was threatening our dimension. This is your victory, not

Floyd | mine.", the Author replied. The Voice - appearing in the now familiar
Floyd | guise of a man whose profile resembled a coin - agreed, as mildly as it
Floyd | could.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You mean...........", you say, still unable to take it in. "You mean
Floyd | I've.......But I never did...."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, you did not destroy your manuscript. You will go on to complete
Floyd | it - but we needed you, here, to understand what was at stake - and to
Floyd | save our dimension. And each time a new menace arises, your creatures -
Floyd | your gifts to this world - shall rise up, time and time again, and
Floyd | guarantee us success. But you must leave us now."

Floyd |
Floyd | The palace in the clouds dissolves around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good luck, Harold."
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |            [Press SPACE....]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom

Floyd | You wake up. Nothing has changed. It's the same room, the same bed, the
Floyd | same tired old manuscript, the same surreal dream fading from the edges
Floyd | of your mind.........
Floyd |
Floyd | No, something has changed. Forty-six copies be damned. Sales figures,
Floyd | faugh. After all, which author can claim to have saved an entire

Floyd | parallel dimension?
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | In that game you scored 281 out of a possible 360, in 953 turns,
Floyd | earning you the rank of Fellow of the Pantheon.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some suggestions
Floyd | for AMUSING things to do or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "I missed at least the first couple chapters, but what exactly was the plot?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "amusing" 		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Jacqueline says, "It just quits there." 	
			Jacqueline says (to WB), "Basically that we're an author who has been letting our writing languish, and that when we abandon work, people in parallel worlds we've created suffer." 	
			Jacqueline says, "SO GET YOUR LATEST WIP DONE, MAN." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or just write on it forever but never release it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like I'm doing with my current WIP." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or something." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I think you actually missed the first 54 chapters, but fortunately you were here for the last 136." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry, I'm being a meanie." 	
			DavidW asks, "Still too long for the comp, eh?" 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Don't worry. Much longer and I would have had to jump ship." 	
			DavidW says, "I had lunch during chapters 3 and 4 and I'm starving again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "The game had an interesting plot--though not entirely original, it's the first time I can think of seeing it in IF. It was technically mostly competent, though it could have done with a bit more fleshing out in spots. But yeah, far too long for the comp, or for this type of venue, really." 	
	Bert has disconnected. 		
	Bert goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "I'll be interested in talking to PG about it, because I got the impression that she really loved this game." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "How long did that one about the world that didn't use technology last?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thank goodness we started at ten in the morning in my time zone. That means it's just five in the evening." 	
			(from Jota) ParserGirl says, "Did I say 'Halothane'? I meant 'Galatea'." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Gah - seven hours? My." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jota), "hahaha" 	
			Jota says (to Jacq), "Yeah, you started a couple of hours before D&D and still outlasted it." 	
			Jacqueline whistles. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Still, probably not the record for CF." 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "What's the record again? I think it was a week I wasn't here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or else it was that game where we actually took a break and resumed the next day." 	
			DavidW says, "We did the 2-day thing twice." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Did we?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have such a horrible memory for these things." 	
			DavidW says, "well, I did. You missed At Wit's End." 	
			DavidW says, "And I'm gonna see if there's a pot pie I can nuke in a hurry." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Enjoy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I shall go post this..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks, everyone."	
	



[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]








ClubFloyd Transcript:
Toonesia by Jacob Weinstein
Tale of the Kissing Bandit by J. Robinson Wheeler
As played on ifMUD on August 3, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Toonesia, written by Jacob Weinstein, followed by Tale of the Kissing Bandit by J. Robinson Wheeler. Toonesia was originally released as part of the 1995 IF Competition, where it took second place; you can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide. Tale of the Kissing Bandit was originally released as part of Smoochie Comp; it was nominated for--and ultimately won--the 2001 Xyzzy for Best Individual PC; you can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide.

If you'd like to skip to a particular game in the transcript, you can click on the individual title:
Toonesia
by Jacob Weinstein

Tale of the Kissing Bandit
by J. Robinson Wheeler

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load toonesia" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd | tadsr - A text-only TADS 2.5.10 Interpreter.
Floyd | Copyright (c) 1993, 2006 by Michael J. Roberts.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Toonesia
Floyd | A Mini Text-Adventure Game
Floyd | by Jacob Weinstein
Floyd | Developed with TADS:  The Text Adventure Development System.

Floyd |
Floyd | Version 1.1
Floyd | Copyright (c) 1995 by the author.  All Rights Reserved.
Floyd | This game was entered in the First Annual TADS programming contest in
Floyd | 1995.  It won second place.  For more information on the contest, look
Floyd | at ftp.gmd.de in the directory /if-archive.

Floyd |
Floyd | Toonesia is freeware.  For information on the legal details of
Floyd | distributing it, please type "legal" at any command prompt.
Floyd |
Floyd | This game uses David Allen's hint system, which is (c) 1994 by David
Floyd | Allen.

Floyd |
Floyd | Thanks to my beta-testers Lauren Sager, Mike Sager, and Michael Kinyon,
Floyd | and to Whizzard for some last-minute lifesaving and the occasional pun.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although this game is free, I would appreciate a postcard if you
Floyd | particularly enjoy it--or, at least, an e-mail note.  My e-mail address

Floyd | is jacobw@cap.gwu.edu.  My postal address is:
Floyd | Jacob Weinstein
Floyd | 10980 Wellworth Ave, Apt 306
Floyd | Los Angeles, CA 90024
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | **********************************************************
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Oooh, that rascally rabbit!  You were out hunting him when he somehow
Floyd | got the jump on you, blindfolded you, and dumped you into a cell.
Floyd | Well, you'll show him.  He'll be hasenpfefer by dinner tonight, or your

Floyd | name isn't Elmo Fuld.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bare Cell
Floyd |    You are in an utterly bare room.  The walls are completely
Floyd | featureless, and there seems to be no way out.  Drat that rabbit!

Floyd |    You see a purple crayon, a blindfold, and a note here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "hekki" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Catena), "Patience, yes." 	
			smartgenes says, "ah i am here" 	
			smartgenes says, "hello all" 	
			smartgenes says, "hello all" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hello, sg - welcome to ClubFloyd." 	
			smartgenes says, "thanx jacqueline" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x crayon" 		
	

Floyd | It's a short stub of purple crayon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | It's a simple cloth blindfold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x note" 		
	

Floyd | It's a note, scrawled in crayon in a rabbity hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I haven't played much of Toonesia. I figured out at least one puzzle that I remember though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd | Dear Elmo,
Floyd |    Sorry I've had to lock you up like this, but I'm off to the Fifth
Floyd | Annual Festival of Carrots, and I can't have you chasing after me with
Floyd | a gun.  There's no way out of here, so you won't be getting back to

Floyd | your mansion and your yacht anytime soon.  But just in case you escape,
Floyd | I've placed your gun in a place you'll never get to.
Floyd |    Ain't I a stinker?
Floyd |
Floyd | Sincerely yours truly,
Floyd | Bud Bunny

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "draw a door?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go for it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'd actually prefer to not drive this morning, fwiw." 	
	smartgenes arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	DavidW arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "draw door" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to draw it on?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "draw door on wall" 		
	

Floyd | You don't have anything to draw with.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "did we start? I wasn't in the room!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We did." 	
			smartgenes exclaims, "nor was i!" 	
			DavidW says, "drat" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We're not far in." 	
			smartgenes says, "who are we and what are we doing" 	
	ParserGirl arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		DavidW cries bitter bitter tears 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "get crayon" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "kabang" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Catena), "Can we restart, for these guys?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Since we're not very far in?" 	
			Catena exclaims, "sure!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd | In a total of 6 turns, you have achieved a score of 0 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.

Floyd | This makes you A Family Circus Panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Do you really want to quit?  (YES or NO) >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load toonesia" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd | tadsr - A text-only TADS 2.5.10 Interpreter.

Floyd | Copyright (c) 1993, 2006 by Michael J. Roberts.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Toonesia
Floyd | A Mini Text-Adventure Game
Floyd | by Jacob Weinstein

Floyd | Developed with TADS:  The Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd | Version 1.1
Floyd | Copyright (c) 1995 by the author.  All Rights Reserved.
Floyd | This game was entered in the First Annual TADS programming contest in
Floyd | 1995.  It won second place.  For more information on the contest, look

Floyd | at ftp.gmd.de in the directory /if-archive.
Floyd |
Floyd | Toonesia is freeware.  For information on the legal details of
Floyd | distributing it, please type "legal" at any command prompt.
Floyd |
Floyd | This game uses David Allen's hint system, which is (c) 1994 by David

Floyd | Allen.
Floyd |
Floyd | Thanks to my beta-testers Lauren Sager, Mike Sager, and Michael Kinyon,
Floyd | and to Whizzard for some last-minute lifesaving and the occasional pun.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although this game is free, I would appreciate a postcard if you

Floyd | particularly enjoy it--or, at least, an e-mail note.  My e-mail address
Floyd | is jacobw@cap.gwu.edu.  My postal address is:
Floyd | Jacob Weinstein
Floyd | 10980 Wellworth Ave, Apt 306
Floyd | Los Angeles, CA 90024
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | **********************************************************
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Oooh, that rascally rabbit!  You were out hunting him when he somehow
Floyd | got the jump on you, blindfolded you, and dumped you into a cell.

Floyd | Well, you'll show him.  He'll be hasenpfefer by dinner tonight, or your
Floyd | name isn't Elmo Fuld.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bare Cell
Floyd |    You are in an utterly bare room.  The walls are completely

Floyd | featureless, and there seems to be no way out.  Drat that rabbit!
Floyd |    You see a purple crayon, a blindfold, and a note here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yay score ranks. Miss them so much." 	
			ParserGirl says, "I may disappear after an hour." 	
			smartgenes asks, "whats the grammar for typing inputs to Floyd?" 	
			Catena says, "f command" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I am going to go make some orange juice, so have fun. Back in a few..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd | Dear Elmo,
Floyd |    Sorry I've had to lock you up like this, but I'm off to the Fifth
Floyd | Annual Festival of Carrots, and I can't have you chasing after me with
Floyd | a gun.  There's no way out of here, so you won't be getting back to
Floyd | your mansion and your yacht anytime soon.  But just in case you escape,

Floyd | I've placed your gun in a place you'll never get to.
Floyd |    Ain't I a stinker?
Floyd |
Floyd | Sincerely yours truly,
Floyd | Bud Bunny
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Hasenpfefer sounds like a German cookie." 	
			Catena says, "rabbit stew" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Oh." 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "draw door on wall with crayon" 		
	

Floyd | There are words after your command that I couldn't use.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | purple crayon:  Taken.
Floyd | blindfold:  Taken.
Floyd | note:  Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "I figured it was just poorly pronounced." 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a hunting cap (being worn), a purple crayon, a blindfold, and
Floyd | a note.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "f command x blindfold" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "draw door with crayon" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "you can omit command, and don't put ; or the channel name before it" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "draw door on wall" 		
	

Floyd | Since all the walls look alike, you pick one at random and draw a
Floyd | bright purple door on it.  Chuck Jones you're not, but it'll do.

Floyd | Unfortunately, in the process, you wear the crayon down to nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "Heh, yay" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "how did you work that out?" 	
			Catena says, "I hope we drew a handle" 	
			DavidW says, "it opened." 	
			Cathy says, "if was Catena's idea" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | It's a simple cloth blindfold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "lots of cartoon watching" 	
			DavidW says (to smartgenes), "You've seen cartoons, I hope." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look about the same as always.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a hunting cap (being worn), a blindfold, and a note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | It's your trusty hunting cap.  You haven't removed it since you first
Floyd | received it as a gift from your Uncle Chuck in 1935--not even to
Floyd | shower.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | It's your trusty hunting cap.  You haven't removed it since you first
Floyd | received it as a gift from your Uncle Chuck in 1935--not even to
Floyd | shower.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "lol i guess not.. oh what is the name of gam?" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | The Middle of the Woods

Floyd |    You are in a thick patch of towering redwoods.  A path leads west,
Floyd | where the trees grow sparser, and south.  Looming over you to the north
Floyd | is the tower in whose base you were so recently imprisoned.  From the
Floyd | outside, you can see that the tower looks like a humungous carrot.
Floyd |
Floyd | Oooooooh, you're going to get that rabbit.

Floyd |    You see a wooden sign here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "toon something" 	
			Catena says, "that awesome episode with daffy and bugs as the animator" 	
			DavidW says, "Toonesia" 	
			smartgenes says, "i c" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like this wooden sign originally said "Duck Season," but
Floyd | somebody crossed off the word "Duck" and wrote "Rabbit."  Then somebody

Floyd | else crossed off the word "Rabbit" and wrote "Duck."  In fact, the
Floyd | words "Duck" and "Rabbit" must have been written and crossed off a
Floyd | dozen times each.  At the moment, the sign proclaims that it's duck
Floyd | season.  This accursed interference in the rights of honest hunters
Floyd | like yourself is signed "Bruce Babbit, Secretary of the Interior."
Floyd | Ooooh, that rascally Babbit!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pull sign" 		
	

Floyd | Pulling the wooden sign doesn't have any effect.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "dismantle sign" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "dismantle".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "just in case" 	
	McMartin arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, now in VERBOSE mode.
Floyd | The Middle of the Woods

Floyd |    You are in a thick patch of towering redwoods.  A path leads west,
Floyd | where the trees grow sparser, and south.  Looming over you to the north
Floyd | is the tower in whose base you were so recently imprisoned.  From the
Floyd | outside, you can see that the tower looks like a humungous carrot.
Floyd |
Floyd | Oooooooh, you're going to get that rabbit.

Floyd |    You see a wooden sign here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trees" 		
	

Floyd | The trees look like trees, complete with branch-like branches and leafy

Floyd | leaves. Well, what did you expect?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "groan" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "eat carrot" 		
	

Floyd | The tower doesn't appear appetizing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	McMartin says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like this wooden sign originally said "Duck Season," but
Floyd | somebody crossed off the word "Duck" and wrote "Rabbit."  Then somebody
Floyd | else crossed off the word "Rabbit" and wrote "Duck."  In fact, the
Floyd | words "Duck" and "Rabbit" must have been written and crossed off a
Floyd | dozen times each.  At the moment, the sign proclaims that it's duck
Floyd | season.  This accursed interference in the rights of honest hunters

Floyd | like yourself is signed "Bruce Babbit, Secretary of the Interior."
Floyd | Ooooh, that rascally Babbit!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "west or south?" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look about the same as always.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "w" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods
Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the
Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that
Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast

Floyd | back into the forest.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, glaring furiously (and hungrily) at you
Floyd | from within the bars of a metal cage.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "x taz" 		
	

Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil is a real animal, not a copyright of a certain
Floyd | large corporation with lots of legal muscle.  I can therefore mention
Floyd | it by name in this game.  Unfortunately, if I were to describe a
Floyd | real-life Tazmanian Devil, you'd only be disappointed--they don't look

Floyd | like much.  So, I won't describe the slavering beast before you.  And
Floyd | if you assume that it has a boxy body attached to short thin legs, two
Floyd | large maniacal eyes set above a wide, drooling, sharp-fanged mouth, and
Floyd | brown fur all over, then YOU'RE violating copyright, not me.  At any
Floyd | rate, the Tazmanian Devil is safely locked away within a sturdy metal
Floyd | cage.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "which character are we?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Elmer Fudd." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Actually I had confused him with Yosemite Sam for a while." 	
			DavidW says, "Elmo Fuld, here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cage" 		
	

Floyd | It's a sturdy metal cage.  Inside it, and trying desperately to get
Floyd | out, is a Tazmanian Devil.  Fortunately, it's closed.  Through the
Floyd | bars, you can see what looks like a thin metal pipe--the top of a

Floyd | chimney, perhaps--protruding through the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x pipe" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like the top of a chimney.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look in pipe" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the thin metal pipe.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "eh, there's our gun. we need a female taz to distract him" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push cage" 		
	

Floyd | Pushing the cage doesn't do anything.
Floyd |

Floyd | A low rumble emanates from the Tazmanian Devil's stomach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "or some food" 	
			DavidW says, "perhaps we need to feed Taz, yeah." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "lock" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to lock?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "let's go elsewhere" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "oops" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "oops".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x lock" 		
	

Floyd | It's a sturdy metal cage.  Inside it, and trying desperately to get
Floyd | out, is a Tazmanian Devil.  Fortunately, it's closed.  Through the
Floyd | bars, you can see what looks like a thin metal pipe--the top of a
Floyd | chimney, perhaps--protruding through the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Cathy asks (of DavidW), "I agree; se?" 	
			smartgenes says, "si" 	
			DavidW says, "sure, why not" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | In the Woods
Floyd |    You are standing deep within the woods.  A thick roof of leaves
Floyd | blocks most sunlight from entering, and a thick wall of treetrunks
Floyd | blocks you from exiting in most directions.  You can squeeze through to
Floyd | the north and the northwest, where the forest seems to grow less dense.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "nw?" 	
			Alex says (to smartgenes), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that nw is an abbreviation of northwest." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trees" 		
	

Floyd | The trees look like trees, complete with branch-like branches and leafy
Floyd | leaves. Well, what did you expect?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "that's back" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb trees" 		
	

Floyd | You are Elmo Fuld, millionaire.  You hire men to chop down trees and
Floyd | ship them to your processing plants.  You do not climb them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "chop down trees" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "chop".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "oh, I always though he was a hick" 	
			DavidW says, "nothing here. Let's go back." 	
			DavidW says (to Catena), "He was rich in one cartoon." 	
			Catena says, "forgot that one" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | It's your trusty hunting cap.  You haven't removed it since you first
Floyd | received it as a gift from your Uncle Chuck in 1935--not even to
Floyd | shower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		McMartin says, "He's rich in a bunch of cartoons." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods
Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the
Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that

Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast
Floyd | back into the forest.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, glaring furiously (and hungrily) at you
Floyd | from within the bars of a metal cage.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of A Cliff
Floyd |    You stand on the cornered edge of a cliff, above a
Floyd | brown-and-grey-painted canyon that stretches down far enough to create

Floyd | a sort of vertical horizon.  Pulling your eyes upward before the sight
Floyd | makes you topple over, you see a thin mesa jutting out of the depths of
Floyd | the canyon, a few hundred yards to your west. To your east is the edge
Floyd | of a forest that seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert
Floyd | in which you stand.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "haha jump canyon?" 	
			Catena says, "save first" 	
			DavidW says, "no, I know how this one works." 	
	DavidW clears the save counter. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "may I? Or shall I keep quiet?" 	
			smartgenes says, "f worn" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "worn" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "worn".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "If you already know how this puzzle works, it'd be nice to let the others have a go at it." 	
			DavidW says, "I agree. I'll shut up." 	
			Catena says, "maybe if we put on the blindfold we won't see that we should be falling" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "x canyon" 		
	

Floyd | The beautiful canyon stretches as far as you can see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "put blindfold on davidw" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "davidw".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "x mesa" 		
	

Floyd | The thin mesa juts out of the canyon a few hundred yards to your west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "shall we just try going west? maybe after putting on the blindfold?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wear blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now wearing the blindfold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "jump canyon" 		
	

Floyd | You can't do anything with this blindfold on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You stagger blindly in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "remove blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the blindfold, and look around...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hanging Poised in Midair
Floyd |    You are standing in the middle of the air.  There is nothing below

Floyd | your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, more precisely,there is nothing IMMEDIATELY below your feet.
Floyd | Several thousand yards below your feet happens to be a canyon floor.
Floyd | Fortunately, we don't need to be too precise about these things, since
Floyd | the ground is going to be immediately below your feet in just a few

Floyd | moments.  And shortly after that, you are going to be just below the
Floyd | ground.  Have a nice trip.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, it occurs to you that you are standing in mid-air with no
Floyd | means of support.  After plummetting downward for a full thirty
Floyd | seconds, you encounter the rough desert sand below.  After plummetting

Floyd | through the rough desert sand for a full half hour, you come to a
Floyd | complete stop.  Fortunately, as a 'toon, you can't be killed by the
Floyd | fall.  Unfortunately, your chin is relocated to within half an inch of
Floyd | your ankle, leaving you no room to hold your gun and making future
Floyd | hunting impossible.  Looks like that rascally rabbit has finally gotten
Floyd | rid of you for good.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** You are out of the picture ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In a total of 36 turns, you have achieved a score of 1 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you Clutch Cargo.

Floyd |
Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, take back the last move, or
Floyd | quit.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, UNDO, or QUIT:  >

		Catena exclaims, "heee!!!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "sorry all.. i had to know" 	
			Catena says, "good on ya" 	
			Cathy says, "I think we should try a 2nd w before removing blindfold" 	
			smartgenes asks, "whats w?" 	
			Cathy asks, "anyone mind if I try?" 	
			Catena says, "west" 	
			Catena says, "go to it" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You stagger blindly in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, it occurs to you that you are standing in mid-air with no
Floyd | means of support.  You plummet rapidly downward and land with a crash.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "is canyon to west?" 	
			smartgenes says, "yes" 	
			Catena says, "bummer" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "remove blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the blindfold, and look around...
Floyd |
Floyd | Atop a Narrow Mesa
Floyd |    You are standing atop a mesa so small that two steps in any

Floyd | direction would send you plummeting to an untimely end.  The cliff that
Floyd | surrounds the canyon approaches from infinity to the northwest and
Floyd | southwest, coming to a point a few hundred yards to your west.  From
Floyd | here, you can see another small ledge clinging to the side of the cliff
Floyd | about twenty yards below the point where the two cliff walls meet.
Floyd |    You see a gun here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy exclaims, "it worked!" 	
			Catena says, "that's a little confusing" 	
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x gun" 		
	

Floyd | It's your trusty gun.  You've missed many a fine specimen with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "hm, I monder what the pipe is then?" 	
			smartgenes says, "hmm yes" 	
			Jacqueline has finished reading the scrollback. 	
			Cathy says, "hey, we're a toon, we're invincible until we realize otherwise..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gun" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *

Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And Catena's right - that was confusing." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In a total of 39 turns, you have achieved a score of 2 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you An Animation Cel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Perhaps it actually *is* a chimney." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get gun" 		
	

Floyd | You already have your gun!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "my mud not scrolling so well" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "fire gun" 		
	

Floyd | You fire your gun in the air with a satisfying KABOOM, sending a huge
Floyd | puff of smoke out of the barrel.  Being a toon gun, it immediately

Floyd | reloads itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ledge" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "ledge".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "go infinite ammo without a cheat code" 	
	inky arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to listen to?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "listen for bugs" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "put eye in gun" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any eye here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "climb down to ledge" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "ledge".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "climb down" 		
	

Floyd | I don't understand that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Atop a Narrow Mesa
Floyd |    You are standing atop a mesa so small that two steps in any

Floyd | direction would send you plummeting to an untimely end.  The cliff that
Floyd | surrounds the canyon approaches from infinity to the northwest and
Floyd | southwest, coming to a point a few hundred yards to your west.  From
Floyd | here, you can see another small ledge clinging to the side of the cliff
Floyd | about twenty yards below the point where the two cliff walls meet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "maybe west?" 	
			Cathy says, "then possibly down" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look down" 		
	

Floyd | I don't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "oooooh, the ledge is below the other cliff, from mhence we came" 	
			smartgenes says, "the tasmanian devil moves by spiralling through things" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | One look down is enough to prevent you from stepping off the cliff.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "like this rock maybe?" 	
			Catena says, "we should probably re-blindfold and go east" 	
			Cathy says, "yeah, seems like" 	
			smartgenes asks, "arent exits nw and sw?" 	
			Cathy says, ".. Catena go for it" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "to infinity and beyond" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "infinity".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "a splortchy smoosh is in the canyon nw and sw" 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "wear blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now wearing the blindfold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think there's a typo in the description. The point would be to the east." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Splortchy is a good word." 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You stagger blindly in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see anything with the blindfold on.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You stagger blindly in that direction.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can't see anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy exclaims (at DavidW), "ah, of cource, that makes sense!" 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You stagger blindly in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "enough? that's three" 	
			DavidW says, "So if the mesa is a hyphen, and the cliff is a line, the map is - >" 	
			Alex says (to Catena), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Enough is enough." 	
			Cathy says (to Catena), "yes, I think so" 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "take off blindfold" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the blindfold, and look around...
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the

Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west.  There are a few
Floyd | scattered pieces of battered furniture here, including an overstuffed
Floyd | sofa and a large wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into
Floyd | the dirt walls.  Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a
Floyd | refrigerator, and a table.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "so we must have fallen as we walked across the air" 	
			Catena says, "overshot, I think" 	
			DavidW says, "We're underneath the cage now." 	
			Catena says, "aha" 	
			Bert says, "You could go back west to figure it out, probably." 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Clinging to the Side of a Ledge
Floyd |    You are standing on a narrow ledge tucked into the corner of two

Floyd | cliff walls.  It's just wide enough to keep gravity's dirty paws off
Floyd | you.  To your west, several hundred yards away, you can see a narrow
Floyd | mesa.  A hole leads east, into the cliff face.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "indeed" 	
	Catena says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west.  There are a few

Floyd | scattered pieces of battered furniture here, including an overstuffed
Floyd | sofa and a large wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into
Floyd | the dirt walls.  Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a
Floyd | refrigerator, and a table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "furniture" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pictures" 		
	

Floyd | The pictures include a photo of Bud Bunny at a party with Chuck Jones,
Floyd | Fritz Freleng, Tex Avery, and Mel Blanc; a reproduction of the famous
Floyd | painting, "The Assumption of St.  Peter Rabbit;" and an autographed
Floyd | photo of Dick Cavett.  Seeing the last of these reminds you of the

Floyd | humiliation you suffered as a guest on his show; unbeknownst to you,
Floyd | the talk show host had arranged for your fellow guests to be the
Floyd | president of Handgun Control, Inc, and the vice-chairman of People for
Floyd | the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  Ooooh, that rascally Cavett!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fridge" 		
	

Floyd | The refrigerator is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the refrigerator reveals a lettuce sandwich and a steak.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "groan" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from fridge" 		
	

Floyd | lettuce sandwich:  Taken.
Floyd | steak:  Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "open cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "cupboard".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close fridge" 		
	

Floyd | Closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | It's an unpretentious wooden table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x steak" 		
	

Floyd | It's a big, succulant, raw hunk of meat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "steak probably enough for taz, unless he's a vegetarian" 	
			McMartin says, "That reminds me, as I was late for the party" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sandwich" 		
	

Floyd | It's a piece of lettuce between two slices of carrot bread.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		McMartin asks, "You've tried referring to the characters by their real names in-game, right?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stove" 		
	

Floyd | It's a simple stove, consisting of a metal surface and an on-off
Floyd | switch.  A metal chimney above the cooking surface helps get rid of
Floyd | cooking smells.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to McMartin), "no" 	
	McMartin says (to Floyd), "x Elmer" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "elmer".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chimney" 		
	

Floyd | It's a narrow metal chimney, meant to help remove cooking odors from
Floyd | the warren.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	McMartin says (to Floyd), "x Fudd" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "fudd".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "did we check that location with the wardrobe?" 	
			McMartin says, "Huh. I could have sworn it freaked out when you tried this." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | Looking closely at the wardrobe, you see that it seems to have been
Floyd | carved out of a large treetrunk that has sunk deep into the walls of

Floyd | the warren.  Currently, the wardrobe is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ooh, I can guess what we do next..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the large wooden wardrobe reveals a Hawaiian shirt, a baseball
Floyd | cap, and a cologne bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "oooh, cooking the steak would drive taz into a slavering spin" 	
			Bert says (to Catena), "My thoughts exactly." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the large wooden wardrobe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shirt" 		
	

Floyd | This is a large, bright Hawaiian shirt.  Amongst the loud colors is a
Floyd | logo that says, "Hotel Wakalakamakakadasakikikaki."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "get all from wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | Hawaiian shirt:  Taken.
Floyd | baseball cap:  Taken.
Floyd | cologne bottle:  Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | Which cap do you mean, the hunting cap, or the baseball cap?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "baseball" 		
	

Floyd | It's a Brooklyn Dodgers cap.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wear all" 		
	

Floyd | hunting cap:  You're already wearing the hunting cap!
Floyd | blindfold:  Okay, you're now wearing the blindfold.
Floyd | note:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd | your gun:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.

Floyd | lettuce sandwich:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd | steak:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd | Hawaiian shirt:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd | baseball cap:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd | cologne bottle:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd | battered furniture:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.

Floyd | kitchenette:  You can't do anything with the blindfold on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "lol sorry" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west.  There are a few
Floyd | scattered pieces of battered furniture here, including an overstuffed

Floyd | sofa and a large wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into
Floyd | the dirt walls.  Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a
Floyd | refrigerator, and a table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | According to the label, the orange liquid inside is "Eau de Carrotte."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to enter the large wooden wardrobe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under it" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the large wooden wardrobe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "x sofa" 		
	

Floyd | The sofa is covered with a garish carrot-patterned fabric.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any tree here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trunk" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any trunk here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search sofa" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look behind sofa" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing behind the overstuffed sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "the pipe is probably our exit" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "shoot sofa" 		
	

Floyd | But it isn't overstuffed sofa season!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west.  There are a few
Floyd | scattered pieces of battered furniture here, including an overstuffed
Floyd | sofa and a large wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into

Floyd | the dirt walls.  Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a
Floyd | refrigerator, and a table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy says, "or the blindfold trick west" 	
			DavidW says, "I didn't see a key here, though." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wear shirt" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now wearing the Hawaiian shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "A key?" 	
			DavidW says, "maybe the gun 'unlocks' the cage." 	
			Cathy says, "I don't think the cage was locked; just closed" 	
			DavidW asks, "So, cook the steak to get Taz here, then we go up and out?" 	
			smartgenes says, "we ahve 2 caps" 	
			Cathy says (to DavidW), "works for me" 	
			Catena says, "could be, DW" 	
			DavidW says, "The baseball cap might be for someone else." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cook steak" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "cook".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "turn on stove" 		
	

Floyd | You turn on the stove, and it heats up instantly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fry steak" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "fry".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "taz will take it raw, perhaps" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put steak on stove" 		
	

Floyd | The steak begins to sizzle as soon as it hits the metal surface of the

Floyd | stove.  Within moments, a delicious smell begins to fill the room.  As
Floyd | you watch the smell waves waft up through the metal chimney, you hear
Floyd | what sounds like a dentist's drill begin to whir above your head.
Floyd | Suddenly, a sizable chunk of the dirt ceiling collapses about you and a
Floyd | giant slobbering blur descends into the room.  When the blur stops
Floyd | whirling, you realize that it is the Tazmanian Devil.  It grabs the

Floyd | steak from the stovetop and begins wolfing it down.  You estimate that
Floyd | you have a couple of seconds before it finishes the steak and notices
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "yes tasmanian wears a cap" 	
			Bert says, "Perhaps a Duck Dodgers joke is in our future." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil is standing directly beneath the hole that he made
Floyd | when he came in.  There's no way you can go up without climbing on him,
Floyd | and something tells you he wouldn't like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil has eaten about half of the steak by now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "give cap to devil" 		
	

Floyd | The Tazmanian devil accepts the baseball cap, nearly biting your
Floyd | fingers off in the process.  In a moment, the baseball cap has vanished
Floyd | down its throat.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west and the hole in the
Floyd | dirt ceiling above your head.  There are a few scattered pieces of
Floyd | battered furniture here, including an overstuffed sofa and a large
Floyd | wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into the dirt walls.

Floyd | Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a refrigerator, and a
Floyd | table.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, eagerly devouring a hunk of meat.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "lol" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter pipe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any pipe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter chimney" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to enter the metal chimney.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go up chimney" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "climb on something" 	
			inky says, "I suppose you could just hide" 	
			smartgenes says, "i thought it was a small pipe" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb chimney" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to climb the metal chimney.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil has eaten almost all the steak.  At any moment,
Floyd | he's going to finish it up and start looking for something else to eat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west and the hole in the
Floyd | dirt ceiling above your head.  There are a few scattered pieces of

Floyd | battered furniture here, including an overstuffed sofa and a large
Floyd | wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into the dirt walls.
Floyd | Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a refrigerator, and a
Floyd | table.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, eagerly devouring a hunk of meat.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, I bet you put the cologne on" 	
			Bert says, "Or go west." 	
			inky says, "and he thinks you're a vegetable" 	
			Bert asks, "WHat scent was the cologne?" 	
			Catena says, "carrot" 	
			DavidW says, "carrot" 	
			smartgenes says, "for bugs bunny" 	
			Cathy asks, "blindfold taz?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | Your throat is a bit sore now.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil has eaten almost all the steak.  At any moment,

Floyd | he's going to finish it up and start looking for something else to eat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "push table under hole?" 	
			DavidW says, "I never thought of veg disguise. weird" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear cologne" 		
	

Floyd | You splash some cologne on yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "I think taz eats everything though" 	
			smartgenes says, "have we got a rope to tie him too" 	
			Bert asks, "Do we have anything else vegetable-y?" 	
			Cathy says (to Catena), "sure, try it" 	
			DavidW says, "The sandwich is veggie." 	
			Bert says, "(Clothing, I mean.)" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a hunting cap (being worn), a blindfold, a note, a gun, a
Floyd | lettuce sandwich, a Hawaiian shirt (being worn), a baseball cap, and a
Floyd | cologne bottle.

Floyd |
Floyd | With a final slobbering gulp, the Tazmanian Devil swallows the last of
Floyd | the meat.  He lets out a belch and, for one brief moment, appears
Floyd | sated.  Then the moment passes, and his huge head swivels around, his
Floyd | hungry eyes coming to focus on you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren

Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west and the hole in the
Floyd | dirt ceiling above your head.  There are a few scattered pieces of
Floyd | battered furniture here, including an overstuffed sofa and a large
Floyd | wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into the dirt walls.
Floyd | Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a refrigerator, and a

Floyd | table.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, eagerly devouring a hunk of meat.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear sandwich" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear the lettuce sandwich.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a final slobbering gulp, the Tazmanian Devil swallows the last of
Floyd | the meat.  He lets out a belch and, for one brief moment, appears

Floyd | sated.  Then the moment passes, and his huge head swivels around, his
Floyd | hungry eyes coming to focus on you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west and the hole in the
Floyd | dirt ceiling above your head.  There are a few scattered pieces of

Floyd | battered furniture here, including an overstuffed sofa and a large
Floyd | wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into the dirt walls.
Floyd | Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a refrigerator, and a
Floyd | table.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, eagerly devouring a hunk of meat.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think this was as far as I got." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "unravel shirt" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "unravel".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "hehehe wear it" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west and the hole in the
Floyd | dirt ceiling above your head.  There are a few scattered pieces of
Floyd | battered furniture here, including an overstuffed sofa and a large

Floyd | wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into the dirt walls.
Floyd | Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a refrigerator, and a
Floyd | table.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, eagerly devouring a hunk of meat.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(Some day, someone must write a game which recognizes 'WEAR SANDWICH'.)" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pull nails" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "nails".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push table" 		
	

Floyd | Pushing the table doesn't do anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pull table" 		
	

Floyd | Pulling the table doesn't have any effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a final slobbering gulp, the Tazmanian Devil swallows the last of
Floyd | the meat.  He lets out a belch and, for one brief moment, appears

Floyd | sated.  Then the moment passes, and his huge head swivels around, his
Floyd | hungry eyes coming to focus on you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "undo" 		olethros | What do you mean, the tuna sandwitch, or the big sandwitch board? 	
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside Bud's Warren
Floyd |    You are in a comfortable and cozy rabbit warren, lit dimly by the
Floyd | light that filters in from the hole to your west and the hole in the

Floyd | dirt ceiling above your head.  There are a few scattered pieces of
Floyd | battered furniture here, including an overstuffed sofa and a large
Floyd | wooden wardrobe, as well as some pictures nailed into the dirt walls.
Floyd | Against one wall is a kitchenette:  a stove, a refrigerator, and a
Floyd | table.
Floyd |    The Tazmanian Devil is here, eagerly devouring a hunk of meat.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Now that we've worn the cologne, we could wait a couple of turns." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Maybe it's enough." 	
			DavidW says, "try giving him the sandwich. If he hates vegetables, the sandwich will repulse him at bit." 	
			smartgenes says, "feed him and then go on the rock" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "give sandwich to taz" 		
	

Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil sniffs the sandwich, then growls menacingly at you.
Floyd | Evidently, it doesn't like vegetables.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a final slobbering gulp, the Tazmanian Devil swallows the last of
Floyd | the meat.  He lets out a belch and, for one brief moment, appears
Floyd | sated.  Then the moment passes, and his huge head swivels around, his

Floyd | hungry eyes coming to focus on you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "what rock?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil lunges for you and, with a few swift bites,
Floyd | swallows you.  As you stew helplessly in his stomach, you find yourself
Floyd | wishing that 'toons weren't quite so indestructable.
Floyd |

Floyd | *** You are out of the picture ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In a total of 86 turns, you have achieved a score of 3 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you A Flip Book.
Floyd |

Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, take back the last move, or
Floyd | quit.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, UNDO, or QUIT:  >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "restore" 		smartgenes says, "n the middle of the air" 	
	

Floyd | File to restore >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pour cologne on taz" 		
	

Floyd | That would be unwise.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a final slobbering gulp, the Tazmanian Devil swallows the last of
Floyd | the meat.  He lets out a belch and, for one brief moment, appears

Floyd | sated.  Then the moment passes, and his huge head swivels around, his
Floyd | hungry eyes coming to focus on you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear cologne" 		
	

Floyd | You splash some cologne on yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Tazmanian Devil lunges for you.  As he flies through the air toward
Floyd | you, he suddenly catches a whiff of your carrot cologne.  He stops in
Floyd | mid-air and hangs there for a moment, looking confused.  Then he
Floyd | crashes to the ground.  He gets up and lumbers over to you, sniffing

Floyd | you closely.  Evidently, he doesn't like what he smells, for he lets
Floyd | out an outraged bellow and then whirls out the hole in the ceiling,
Floyd | presumably in search of more meat.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aha" 	
			Bert asks, "DId someone UNDO it the last time we wore the cologne?" 	
			smartgenes says, "that was too easy" 	
			inky says, "maybe it has to be done on the right turn" 	
			olethros says, "I think you have to .." 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You climb on the table and clamber through the hole.
Floyd |

Floyd | Inside a Cage
Floyd |    You are inside a sturdy metal cage.  A rough-hewn hole leads
Floyd | downward.  The trees surrounding the cage are sparse, and the thick
Floyd | moss that covers the ground seems to be fight a losing battle with the
Floyd | desert that approaches from the north and the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "open cage" 		
	

Floyd | You can't.  It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "unlock cage" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the cage door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x cage" 		
	

Floyd | You are in a sturdy metal cage.  Currently, it's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "open cage" 		
	

Floyd | You open the cage door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x cage" 		
	

Floyd | You are in a sturdy metal cage.  Currently, it's open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shout "FREEDOM"" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "exit cage" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods
Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the

Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that
Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast
Floyd | back into the forest.  A large metal cage stands empty here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Catena asks, "where's taz?" 	
			DavidW says, "huh. We don't need a key, huh." 	
			DavidW says, "Taz is gone." 	
			Cathy says, "haven't tried N yet" 	
			Bert says (to Catena), "Good question." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Outside the Mine
Floyd |    You stand in the middle of a huge desert, north of a stand of
Floyd | struggling trees and west of a deep cave.  As you stand staring into

Floyd | the vast darkness that lies within the cavern, a strange smell on the
Floyd | wind makes your nose twitch.  You pause for a moment and recognize it.
Floyd | It's the smell of wealth.
Floyd |    Dizzy Duck is here, rubbing his hands with greedy glee.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "i shall turn my map on" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "give cap to duck" 		
	

Floyd | "No, thankth, my dear thir."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "x daffy" 		
	

Floyd | There is no "Daffy Duck" in this game--only "Dizzy Duck."  Are you
Floyd | trying to get me in trouble?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about cave" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy doesn't seem to know much about that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a hunting cap (being worn), a blindfold, a note, a gun, a
Floyd | lettuce sandwich, a Hawaiian shirt (being worn), a baseball cap, and a
Floyd | cologne bottle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about bud" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy doesn't seem to know much about that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "give baseball cap to duck" 		
	

Floyd | "No, thankth, my dear thir."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about duck season" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "season".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dizzy" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy is a daffy-looking duck.  Currently, he's running his hands
Floyd | through a wheelbarrow full of jewels.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to smell?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x jewels" 		
	

Floyd | You don't have a chance to examine the vast array of glittering jewels
Floyd | because Dizzy throws himself across the wheelbarrow as soon as he sees
Floyd | you eyeing them. "Don't even think about it," he sputters.
Floyd |

Floyd | Dizzy lunches into an off-key rendition of "Hello, My Ragtime Gal."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wealth" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take jewels" 		
	

Floyd | As you reach for the jewels, Dizzy floors you with a right wing to the
Floyd | jaw that lays you out flat.  "Thorry, bub," he says, as little birdies

Floyd | momentarily fly around your head.  "Don't know what came over me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about jewels" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy doesn't seem to know much about that.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Catena says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about wealth" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy doesn't seem to know much about that.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about wheelbarrow" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy doesn't seem to know much about that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask dizzy about duck" 		
	

Floyd | Dizzy doesn't seem to know much about that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Dizzy doesn't seem to be a conversationalist." 	
			Catena asks, "what would dizzy like?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "say look behind you" 		
	

Floyd | I don't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot dizzy" 		
	

Floyd | As you raise the gun, Dizzy sticks his finger in the barrel.  "Thorry,
Floyd | Charlie, it'th rabbit theathon."  Embarrassed, you lower the gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell dizzy about sign" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't look as though Dizzy Duck is interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "duck season?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We need to fix the sign. Then shoot." 	
			Catena exclaims, "yeah!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods
Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the

Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that
Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast
Floyd | back into the forest.  A large metal cage stands empty here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of A Cliff
Floyd |    You stand on the cornered edge of a cliff, above a
Floyd | brown-and-grey-painted canyon that stretches down far enough to create
Floyd | a sort of vertical horizon.  Pulling your eyes upward before the sight

Floyd | makes you topple over, you see a thin mesa jutting out of the depths of
Floyd | the canyon, a few hundred yards to your west. To your east is the edge
Floyd | of a forest that seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert
Floyd | in which you stand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "OK, where'd that sign go?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods
Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the
Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that

Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast
Floyd | back into the forest.  A large metal cage stands empty here.

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Middle of the Woods
Floyd |    You are in a thick patch of towering redwoods.  A path leads west,
Floyd | where the trees grow sparser, and south.  Looming over you to the north
Floyd | is the tower in whose base you were so recently imprisoned.  From the
Floyd | outside, you can see that the tower looks like a humungous carrot.
Floyd |

Floyd | Oooooooh, you're going to get that rabbit.
Floyd |    You see a wooden sign here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like this wooden sign originally said "Duck Season," but
Floyd | somebody crossed off the word "Duck" and wrote "Rabbit."  Then somebody
Floyd | else crossed off the word "Rabbit" and wrote "Duck."  In fact, the
Floyd | words "Duck" and "Rabbit" must have been written and crossed off a

Floyd | dozen times each.  At the moment, the sign proclaims that it's duck
Floyd | season.  This accursed interference in the rights of honest hunters
Floyd | like yourself is signed "Bruce Babbit, Secretary of the Interior."
Floyd | Ooooh, that rascally Babbit!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get sign" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get sign" 		
	

Floyd | You already have the wooden sign!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes exclaims, "great minds think alike!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | In the Woods
Floyd |    You are standing deep within the woods.  A thick roof of leaves

Floyd | blocks most sunlight from entering, and a thick wall of treetrunks
Floyd | blocks you from exiting in most directions.  You can squeeze through to
Floyd | the north and the northwest, where the forest seems to grow less dense.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write duck on sign" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "write".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "it says duck season" 	
			Catena says, "it now says duck season" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | In the Woods
Floyd |    You are standing deep within the woods.  A thick roof of leaves
Floyd | blocks most sunlight from entering, and a thick wall of treetrunks
Floyd | blocks you from exiting in most directions.  You can squeeze through to

Floyd | the north and the northwest, where the forest seems to grow less dense.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods

Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the
Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that
Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast
Floyd | back into the forest.  A large metal cage stands empty here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Outside the Mine
Floyd |    You stand in the middle of a huge desert, north of a stand of
Floyd | struggling trees and west of a deep cave.  As you stand staring into
Floyd | the vast darkness that lies within the cavern, a strange smell on the

Floyd | wind makes your nose twitch.  You pause for a moment and recognize it.
Floyd | It's the smell of wealth.
Floyd |    Dizzy Duck is here, rubbing his hands with greedy glee.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "It said Duck Season from the start." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show sign to duck" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dizzy sticks his finger in the barrel of your gun and grins cockily at
Floyd | you.  "You thee, thir, you can't thyoot a duck in rabbit--" Then he

Floyd | looks once again at the sign you're carrying and turns as pale as he
Floyd | can, considering that he's covered with jet-black feathers.  "Oooh,
Floyd | that rabbit.  He'th dethpicable!"  In a swift blur, Dizzy vanishes,
Floyd | taking the wheelbarrow full of jewels with him.  Moments later, he
Floyd | returns, crosses out the word "Duck," replaces it with "Rabbit," and,
Floyd | just to be on the safe side, vanishes again.

Floyd |
Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In a total of 125 turns, you have achieved a score of 5 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you A Shoddy Saturday Morning Cartoon.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Cathy asks, "e into the mine now?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Outside the Mine
Floyd |    You stand in the middle of a huge desert, north of a stand of
Floyd | struggling trees and west of a deep cave.  As you stand staring into
Floyd | the vast darkness that lies within the cavern, a strange smell on the
Floyd | wind makes your nose twitch.  You pause for a moment and recognize it.
Floyd | It's the smell of wealth.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess so." 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | As you enter the mine, you hear a rumbling from deep within.  Suddenly,
Floyd | a bump appears on the eastern edge of your vision.  It rapidly extends
Floyd | itself west, becoming a thick ridge that runs out the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Mine
Floyd |    You are inside a vast cave that vanishes into darkess on all sides,

Floyd | except for the entrance to the west.  The lush carpet of wealth
Floyd | contained herein is enough to make even you, Elmo Fuld, millionaire,
Floyd | gasp.  A narrow beam of sharp desert light flows in from outside and
Floyd | reflects off a ruck of rubies, from where it bounces off into brood of
Floyd | beryl, heads for a heap of heliotrope, crashes into a clot of
Floyd | carnelian, hurries to a hunk of hyacinth, bashes into a battillion of

Floyd | bloodstone, careens into a cohort of carbuncle, makes for a murmuration
Floyd | of moonstone, and, completely zonked, catches some z's in a crowded
Floyd | zareba of cubic zirconium.
Floyd |    You see a ancient lamp and a ridge in the ground running from east
Floyd | to west here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "Good evening clubbers!" 	
			smartgenes says, "too much jewel info" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hello, CT." 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "get lamp" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lamp" 		
	

Floyd | It's an oil lamp.  Through the thick tarnish that has covered the
Floyd | lamp's bronze surface in the ages since it was created, you can see
Floyd | intricate Arabian swirls, gracefully etched.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x ridge" 		
	

Floyd | The ridge is a thick lump in the ground, running from east to west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "light lamp" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "rub lamp" 		
	

Floyd | You rub the lamp, removing a little bit of tarnish.  Nothing else
Floyd | happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "rub lamp" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, a thick plume of smoke bellows out of the mouth of the lamp.
Floyd | When it clears, a magnificent genii stands before you.  He starts out

Floyd | huge, with a massive purple turban crowning an Easter-Island-sized
Floyd | head, and tapers down through his massive shoulders, his muscular
Floyd | torso, his trim waist, his slender legs, his narrow knees, and his
Floyd | pin-sized ankles, which are crammed into the mouth of the lamp above
Floyd | which he floats.
Floyd |    "Sorry I'm a little late," he says.  "I was on another line.

Floyd | Anyway, you've rescued me from my eternal prison, therefore I'm honor
Floyd | bound to give you three wishes, yadda yadda yadda.  So, what do you
Floyd | want?  Bet you were going to ask for a magic helmet, weren't you?"  He
Floyd | tosses you one.  "This helmet gives you command of the east and west
Floyd | winds.  Just say 'west winds, blow' or 'east winds, blow' and they'll
Floyd | do so.  Neat, huh?  OK, what else do you want?  If you don't say

Floyd | anything, I'll assume you don't want any more wishes and I'm free to go
Floyd | about my business."  He pauses for an infinitesimal fraction of a
Floyd | second.  "OK.  I guess you don't want anything.  Always a pleasure to
Floyd | meet somebody so contented with his lot.  Ta ta."  In another puff of
Floyd | smoke, he vanishes, leaving you clutching the helmet.
Floyd |

Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "well done inky" 	
			smartgenes says, "the old try it twice trick" 	
			Bert says, "Or the 'wait a turn doing something inconsequential' trick." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now wearing the magic helmet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like something out of a Wagner opera.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take jewels" 		
	

Floyd | As you reach down to pick up a gem off the huge pile, you recall
Floyd | something your accountant said to you yesterday:  "Mr.  Fuld, right
Floyd | now, you're in the nine-nine-point-nine-percent tax bracket.  If your
Floyd | value increases by more than a thousand dollars before the end of the

Floyd | fiscal year, you'll be in the one hundred percent bracket, and you'll
Floyd | have to give everything you own to the government."  Since any one gem
Floyd | in this mine would be worth several thousand at least, you realize that
Floyd | your tax bracket prevents you from taking anything out of here (except
Floyd | that obviously worthless old lamp).
Floyd |

Floyd | Oooh, that rascally bracket!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "If only we could have wished for a spear." 	
			Catena asks, "what's opera, doc?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Inside the Mine
Floyd |    You are inside a vast cave that vanishes into darkess on all sides,
Floyd | except for the entrance to the west.  The lush carpet of wealth
Floyd | contained herein is enough to make even you, Elmo Fuld, millionaire,

Floyd | gasp.  A narrow beam of sharp desert light flows in from outside and
Floyd | reflects off a ruck of rubies, from where it bounces off into brood of
Floyd | beryl, heads for a heap of heliotrope, crashes into a clot of
Floyd | carnelian, hurries to a hunk of hyacinth, bashes into a battillion of
Floyd | bloodstone, careens into a cohort of carbuncle, makes for a murmuration
Floyd | of moonstone, and, completely zonked, catches some z's in a crowded

Floyd | zareba of cubic zirconium.
Floyd |    You see a ridge in the ground running from east to west here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You take a step into the vast darkness of the mine, but you realize
Floyd | that, without a light source, you risk plummeting into an unseen shaft.
Floyd | Better not risk it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Corporal_Touchy arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "east winds, blow" 		
	

Floyd | The East Winds blow furiously for a moment, then subside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "light lamp" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "turn on lamp" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to turn the ancient lamp on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess follow the ridge out. Bud tunneled out of here." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Outside the Mine
Floyd |    You stand in the middle of a huge desert, north of a stand of
Floyd | struggling trees and west of a deep cave.  As you stand staring into
Floyd | the vast darkness that lies within the cavern, a strange smell on the

Floyd | wind makes your nose twitch.  You pause for a moment and recognize it.
Floyd | It's the smell of wealth.
Floyd |    You see a ridge in the ground running from west to south here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "follow ridge" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to follow the ridge in the ground running from west to
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "west winds blow" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "smell wealth" 		
	

Floyd | I don't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I don't see any wealth here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I'm wondering how much toon watching research he had to do." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The Edge of the Woods
Floyd |    The trees here are sparser, and the thick moss that covers the
Floyd | ground seems to be fighting a losing battle with the desert that
Floyd | approaches from the north and the west.  Paths lead east and southeast
Floyd | back into the forest.  A large metal cage stands empty here.
Floyd |    You see a ridge in the ground running from north to east here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The Middle of the Woods
Floyd |    You are in a thick patch of towering redwoods.  A path leads west,

Floyd | where the trees grow sparser, and south.  Looming over you to the north
Floyd | is the tower in whose base you were so recently imprisoned.  From the
Floyd | outside, you can see that the tower looks like a humungous carrot.
Floyd |
Floyd | Oooooooh, you're going to get that rabbit.
Floyd |    You see a ridge in the ground running from west to south here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I mean, I'm catching all the references, but some are hard to remember, and I could never have brought them up all on my own." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | In the Woods

Floyd |    You are standing deep within the woods.  A thick roof of leaves
Floyd | blocks most sunlight from entering, and a thick wall of treetrunks
Floyd | blocks you from exiting in most directions.  You can squeeze through to
Floyd | the north and the northwest, where the forest seems to grow less dense.
Floyd | There's a hole in the ground, but it's too narrow for you to fit
Floyd | through.

Floyd |    You see a ridge in the ground running from the south and ending in a
Floyd | hole here.
Floyd |    Bud Bunny is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's so thoughtful of you not to have shot me yet," Bud says.  "I
Floyd | could just kiss you."  He throws his furry arms around you, plants a

Floyd | huge kiss on your lips, and then goes back to scrutinizing his map.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large map of the United States, covered with an elaborate route

Floyd | marked in purple crayon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x rotue" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "rotue".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x route" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "route".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Perhaps he was unemployed and watching a lot of cartoons at the time." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mud" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "mud".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "west winds, blow" 		
	

Floyd | The West Winds blow furiously for a moment, then subside.
Floyd |

Floyd | "It's so thoughtful of you not to have shot me yet," Bud says.  "I
Floyd | could just kiss you."  He throws his furry arms around you, plants a
Floyd | huge kiss on your lips, and then goes back to scrutinizing his map.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bud" 		
	

Floyd | Like all rabbits, Bud is buck-toothed, big-eared, and roughly six feet
Floyd | tall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask bud about left" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "left".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot bud" 		
	

Floyd | As you raise the gun, Bud sticks his finger in the barrel.  "Sorry,
Floyd | Doc, it's duck season."  Embarrassed, you lower the gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show sign to bud" 		
	

Floyd | Bud looks at the sign, blinks for a moment, and then says "If you'll
Floyd | excuse me, I believe I've left a pot on the boil."  Before you can
Floyd | react, he leaps in the air, executes a neat flip, and dives headfirst
Floyd | into the hole."

Floyd |
Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In a total of 149 turns, you have achieved a score of 7 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you A Handsome Hand-Drawn Animated Short.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x hole" 		
	

Floyd | It's a narrow dark hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, like Venus arising from the waves, a vision of loveliness

Floyd | pops out of the hole.  She has the largest curves, the sweetest breath,
Floyd | and the merriest eyes you've ever seen, all combined into one
Floyd | six-foot-tall package.  And, most attractive of all, the has a thick
Floyd | mane of beautiful blond hair.  You are overcome with love and desire.
Floyd | You can think of nothing better than wedding her and devoting the rest
Floyd | of your life to making her happy, even if she does have buck teeth and

Floyd | big floppy ears.  "Eh, what's up, dear?"  she asks, in a faintly
Floyd | Southern lilt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims, "Happy ending and we get the girl!" 	
			Catena asks, "blindfold and shoot?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "marry woman" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "marry".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss bud" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bud here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kiss woman" 		
	

Floyd | The woman slaps you.  "Not on the first date!"  she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss woman" 		
	

Floyd | The woman slaps you.  "Not on the first date!"  she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a hunting cap (being worn), a blindfold, a note, a gun, a
Floyd | lettuce sandwich, a Hawaiian shirt (being worn), a baseball cap, a
Floyd | cologne bottle, a wooden sign, a ancient lamp, and a magic helmet
Floyd | (being worn).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman for date" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "date".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "west wind, blow" 		
	

Floyd | The West Winds blow fiercely for a moment, setting the woman's
Floyd | beautiful blond hair just a little bit askew.  You stare at it
Floyd | suspiciously as you realize it may be a wig--but you decide that,
Floyd | unless the hair comes off completely, you will trust your newfound

Floyd | love.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "bugs bunny dressed up" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "east wind, blow" 		
	

Floyd | The East Winds blow fiercely, ripping the woman's beautiful blond hair
Floyd | off entirely.  As it goes sailing off into the distance, you realize
Floyd | with a shock that this vision of loveliness is none other than Bud
Floyd | Bunny.  Oh, cruel, cruel fate!  Oh, to have love so near, then snatched
Floyd | away!  Ooooh--in short-- that rascally rabbit!
Floyd |

Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 1 point.  * * *
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "do it again" 	
	ParserGirl goes home. 		inky says, "hee hee" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "shoot Bud" 		
	

Floyd | You lift the gun to shoot Bud.  He stands bravely at attention.  "Go
Floyd | ahead, shoot me, Doc," he says.  "I don't deserve to live."  As you are

Floyd | about to pull the trigger, a single tear cascades down his cheek,
Floyd | smudging his mascara and making you hesitate for a moment, gun in
Floyd | mid-air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "dang morals" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "heehee" 	
	Cathy says (to Floyd), "blindfold bud" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In a total of 157 turns, you have achieved a score of 8 points out of a
Floyd | possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you An Oscar-Winning Animated Short.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot bud" 		
	

Floyd | You steel your nerve to pull the trigger.  "What are you waiting for,
Floyd | Doc?"  Bud asks you.  "Just shoot.  Try not to think about the wife and

Floyd | fifteen little ones whose lives depend on me."  You pause.  Can you
Floyd | really make fifteen litte ones starve just so you can dine on
Floyd | hasenpfefer?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot bud" 		
	

Floyd | All right.  This time you're going to do it.  As your finger tenses on
Floyd | the trigger, Bud, who has been quietly sniffling, suddenly breaks out
Floyd | into full fledged tears.  "Go ahead, Doc," he bawls.  "Put me out of my
Floyd | misery.  Put a bullet in my brain.  Forget about all laws of human

Floyd | kindness, I beg you, and shoot me.  What does it matter if you'll be
Floyd | hated, mocked, ostracized, even, for shooting a helpless beast?  You'll
Floyd | be doing me a favor.  Surely you're not so selfish as to condemn me to
Floyd | a lifetime of guilt over my cruel trick just because you'll have to
Floyd | endure a lifetime of humilation for shooting me."  You stop and
Floyd | consider the image that Bud has painted for you.  Is a single meal

Floyd | worth destroying your life?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes shoots the harmful Gene Ray at gun, whose lips turn into bulbous green sacs of air. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot bud" 		
	

Floyd | Drat that rabbit!  He's just playing with your mind.  Well, you're
Floyd | going to shoot him.  You close your eyes so you can't see his tears.
Floyd | You pull down your hunting cap over your ears so you can't hear his
Floyd | sobs.  You raise the gun and pull the trigger--but at that very moment,
Floyd | the game warden runs up and knocks the gun out of your hands.  As you
Floyd | open your eyes and stare at him in frustration, he shrugs.  "Sorry, Mr.

Floyd | Fuld.  It's now roadrunner season.  If you had only fired a few minutes
Floyd | earlier..."
Floyd |    "Bud's tears vanish in an instant.  "Sorry about that, Doc," he
Floyd | says, grabbing your hand and shaking it wildly up and down.  "Better
Floyd | luck next season.  Good luck hunting roadrunners.  Been a pleasure
Floyd | doing business with you.  Ta ta.  Don't forget to write.  Don't let the

Floyd | bedbugs bite.  Don't take any wooden nickles.  Look both ways before
Floyd | crossing the street.  Say hi to the missus for me."  With that, he
Floyd | strides off, leaving you to fume for yet another year.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | * * * Your score just increased by 2 points.* * *
Floyd |
Floyd | In a total of 161 turns, you have achieved a score of 10 points out of
Floyd | a possible 10.
Floyd | This makes you Worthy Of The Memory of Mel Blanc.
Floyd | Thanks for visiting Toonesia.  Th-th-th-that's all, folks!

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, what did you expect in a cartoon--a satisfying ending?
Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Catena says, "this guy talks more than the Doctor" 	
			smartgenes says, "easy peasy" 	
			inky says, "hooray" 	
			Bert asks, "What, no 'See you in St. Louis'?" 	
			smartgenes asks, "how did Floyd know the game was over?" 	
			Bert says, "He is a genius." 	
			Catena says, "probably "end game in success"" 	
			Cathy says, "I wonder if there's a way to end it without having to want to shoot bud" 	
			Catena says, "oh, this is TADS" 	
			smartgenes says, "new game new game :[P" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "anything else up tonight?" 	
			Catena says, "nice moustache" 	
			Bert says, "The Kissing Bandit is also scheduled for today." 	
			DavidW asks, "is it?" 	
			smartgenes says, "kissing bandits it is" 	
			Bert asks, "Isn't it?" 	
			Catena says, "bb says it is" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yep" 	
			smartgenes says, "f kiss bandit" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "how about we take 5 first" 	
			DavidW says, "ah. so it is." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "or make that 7 and start on the hour?" 	
			McMartin says, "I think I'll break for lunch." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, I just got a call and need to go respond to something at work." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think it will be brief, though." 	
			DavidW says, "It takes 7 minutes to cook pasta. yum." 	
			McMartin says, "TotKB is also swift." 	
			smartgenes says, "i make it 2 minutes to" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I'll be logging while I'm gone." 	
			Cathy says, "I vote for doing TotKB next week" 	
			smartgenes says, "must be US 5 minutes mean time" 	
			smartgenes says, "what is totkb" 	
			Catena says, "I'm fine with doing more today" 	
			McMartin says, "Tale of the Kissing Bandit" 	
	smartgenes is making tea, who wants some 		smartgenes asks, "a new game being played?" 	
			inky says, "it seems like we shoudl give people a couple more minutes" 	
			smartgenes says, "i was just asking if that was the plan" 	
			inky says, "well, it seemed like most people were up for it" 	
			Bert says, "It was the original plan, so long as Toonesia didn't take forever." 	
			Bert asks, "How long did it take?" 	
			Catena says, "an hour" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "now is totally not forever" 	
			Cathy says, "but Jacqueline has to leave, and this is sort of her party" 	
			DavidW says, "And the noodles have been dumped into the water... and soon, Pasta Will Be Mine!!! bwah-ha-ha!!" 	
			Catena says, "hhmmm, pasta-loony" 	
			DavidW says, "Or maybe riga-toony" 	
			Catena says, "hee" 	
			Catena says, "pasta-za-fool" 	
			smartgenes says, "hi triki" 	
			trikiw says, "heya" 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "wow...riga-toony...terrible pun! love it!" 	
	Cathy goes home. 		Catena asks, "would anyone like to play a game like Toonesia set around the coyote assembling, setting up, and firing gadgets, and failing spectacularly, over and over?" 	
			DavidW says, "of course" 	
			inky says, "it seems like it'd be a little unsatisfying if you keep failing" 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "me too" 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "hush. I wanna play it." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "i think it sounds awesome" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Catena says, "well, the coyote can't succeed, itas a Rule of that segment" 	
			inky says, "ok, or not!" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "but what happened to kissing bandits?" 	
			inky says, "I guess in this game Fudd doesn't succeed in shooting anyone" 	
			Catena says, "just like the R.R never gets violent" 	
			inky says, "well, ok, Jacqueline is slacking off, let's get this show on the road" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "list b" 		
	Floyd says (to inky), "b2demo babel babel2 babel31 babes badguys balances bandit bap barometer bb bbp bear bearg bedlam beet beingandrewplotkin bellwater beneath bestman bestof3 bigmama bj blair bloody bluemen bmch bomber booth break-in breakin bronze bse bunny" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "load bandit" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The grand ballroom is awhirl with colour and gaiety on this, the night
Floyd | of the annual Governor's Ball. All of the choice mademoiselles are

Floyd | spinning in their lace finery, bewitching upright young suitors, lined
Floyd | up five deep to kiss a wrist.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Kissing Bandit has other plans, though. First, he must be cautious.
Floyd | Find a fetching femme who has parted from her company, to rest alone in
Floyd | a shaded alcove. Or perhaps take a stroll on the veranda. Yes,

Floyd | perhaps... ah, you twirl your moustaches with delight. The Kissing
Floyd | Bandit shall have no trouble tonight finding a pair of pert lips, ready
Floyd | for a stolen kiss...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		smartgenes asks, "when's plan to start?" 	
			inky says, "NOW" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Tale of the Kissing Bandit
Floyd | by Cary Valentino

Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 010210 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, south side
Floyd | The grand ballroom of the Emerson Hotel is a busy spin of high
Floyd | society's young and old. The Warthingtons, the Worthingtons, the
Floyd | Wellingtons (London and Boston branches), the Westons, the Wooltons,

Floyd | the Whitestones...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hmm, maybe the room is arranged alphabetically, you think. The upper
Floyd | class loves hewing to arbitrary orders, almost by definition. It's up
Floyd | to the Kissing Bandit to inject a note of blessed confusion to the
Floyd | events.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "The coyote can succeed in executing his plans without his plans necessarily succeeding." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "twirl moustache" 		
	

Floyd | You twirl your moustaches. Ha-HA!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, ""gaiety" haha awesome word..totally overtaking "mediocre" on my favorite words list" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x moustache" 		
	

Floyd | The moustache conceals your identity and adds a touch of melodrama to

Floyd | the Kissing Bandit's appearance, you do think.
Floyd |
Floyd | A lovely young demoiselle, looking in her ruffled ball gown like a
Floyd | plenteous dish of peaches and whipped cream, parts from the general
Floyd | company. Fanning herself, she retreats to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes goes home. 		Catena says, "aye" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Ha-HA! No one will ever guess the identity of the Kissing Bandit! Not
Floyd | even... uh... yourself!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss me" 		
	

Floyd | The Kissing Bandit kiss himself? Preposterous!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x Wellingtons" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the London Wellingtons or the Boston Wellingtons?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "i got disconnected did i" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "london" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze notes nothing remarkable about the London Wellingtons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "follow that girl west" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, southwest corner
Floyd | This corner of the ballroom is cool and shaded, with a russet portico
Floyd | leading west to a series of private salons.
Floyd |
Floyd | Young Peaches-and-Cream stands here, fanning herself lightly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x peaches" 		
	

Floyd | Why, it's little Lily Whitestone herself! She's chanced to escape the
Floyd | plump pursed lips of the Kissing Bandit on other occasions... but no

Floyd | one ever escapes your kisses for long!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena exclaims, "what purple prose!" 	
	smartgenes arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "greet lily" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "plenteous purple prose" 	
			Catena exclaims, "hee!" 	
			smartgenes says, "what did i miss" 	
			inky says, "we found a girl" 	
			inky says, "who we will probably attempt to kiss" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a black mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a fake moustache (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of buckled boots (being worn)
Floyd |   a velvet cloak (being worn)

Floyd |   a rakish hat (being worn)
Floyd |   a locket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |   a grouch bag (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline is bacqueline. 	
			inky says, "awesome" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x grouch" 		
	

Floyd | The grouch bag is special; a magician once gave it to you in return for
Floyd | helping him escape from persecutors. It is small and light, made of

Floyd | oiled leather. You have found that it can hold many things, including
Floyd | your entire costume -- cloak, boots, and all.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tip hat" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x hat" 		
	

Floyd | The rakish hat is becomingly sly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tip hat" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lift hat" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "raise hat" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "doff hat" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the rakish hat.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the rakish hat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x boots" 		
	

Floyd | Ah, these are magic boots, boots full of secrets. They allow the
Floyd | Kissing Bandit to move swiftly and silently; to sneak and to steal
Floyd | close without detection; to climb and jump like a jackrabbit; and to

Floyd | run with the fleetness of quicksilver.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "bow" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x mask" 		
	

Floyd | The black mask protects your identity.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "twirl moustache" 		
	

Floyd | You twirl your moustaches. Ha-HA!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | You dance in an intoxicated swirl for a few minutes, and then return,
Floyd | laughing, to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "dance with girl" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		Bert says, "I think we may have to resort to you-know-what." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, southwest corner
Floyd | This corner of the ballroom is cool and shaded, with a russet portico

Floyd | leading west to a series of private salons.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lily Whitestone is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "dance with lily" 		
	

Floyd | You dance in an intoxicated swirl for a few minutes, and then return,
Floyd | laughing, to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh fine" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "kiss lily" 		
	

Floyd | You steal closer, closer, closer... and plant a juicy one right on her
Floyd | gleaming rosebud lips! She makes a tiny squealing noise that stops
Floyd | short, her lips tighten as her face pulls into a smile.

Floyd |
Floyd | Lily Whitestone, a smiler -- imagine!
Floyd |
Floyd | But, now it is time to flee. With a twirl of your cape and a bow, you
Floyd | steal away into the night...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		Catena says, "ohh-la-la you must kiss de girl" 	
	maga arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden park
Floyd | The luscious gardens, abloom in the early spring, send forth their
Floyd | heady aromas on the nuzzling breezes. Aloft, too, are the erotic

Floyd | perfumes of the finely dressed ladies in white, walking two by two in
Floyd | the early eve, innocent as does, poised as summer swans.
Floyd |
Floyd | A choice maiden sits alone on a bench, reading a steamy novel by
Floyd | gaslight. Mwuhaha-HA! The Smooching Bandit has chosen his second of the
Floyd | evening. A burning buss on those pink smackers will do, will surely

Floyd | do...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Well, it wasn't the Dancing Bandit, was it?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x novel" 		
	

Floyd | You recognise it at once, for it is penned by your own hand! A great,
Floyd | passionate work, published under a pseudonym, of course. And here sits
Floyd | one of your captive audience, immersed in the florid prose of Chapter
Floyd | 10! If only she knew... ha-HA! If only she knew!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x lips" 		
	

Floyd | Blushed and full... She bites them softly as she reads...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "read novel" 		
	

Floyd | You recognise it at once, for it is penned by your own hand! A great,
Floyd | passionate work, published under a pseudonym, of course. And here sits
Floyd | one of your captive audience, immersed in the florid prose of Chapter
Floyd | 10! If only she knew... ha-HA! If only she knew!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x maiden" 		
	

Floyd | She is absorbed in the novel she is reading.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "caress her" 		
	

Floyd | She is absorbed in the novel she is reading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask maiden about novel" 		
	

Floyd | The Kissing Bandit prefers to refrain from conversation, to preserve
Floyd | the mystery...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "take her from behind" 		
	

Floyd | She is absorbed in the novel she is reading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "taste lips" 		
	

Floyd | You taste nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Bert), "naughty" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get book" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "She doesn't seem to mind." 	
			inky says, ">LICK MY OWN LIPS" 	
			Bert says, "Or notice." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get novel" 		
	

Floyd | That seems to belong to the maiden.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bench" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x gardens" 		Catena says, "ohh-la-la you must kiss de girl" 	
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Did we look at our locket." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "x gaslight" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x locket" 		
	

Floyd | The locket is made of carved gold, inlaid with delicate ornaments. You
Floyd | can't see inside, since the locket is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "say to maiden "follow me"" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open locket" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the locket reveals a silhouette and a tiny lock of brown hair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ah! Your heart breaks once again over your one true lost love! Fair

Floyd | Marianne, twas you that spurned my love, flaming a fury that turned one
Floyd | simple boy into this dashing rogue, that steals kisses by night! If
Floyd | only I could find you...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aww" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x silhouette" 		Jacqueline says, "aww" 	
	

Floyd | It is a silhouette of Marianne, the fair creature that broke your
Floyd | heart. It is the only image you have of her. Even your memories of her

Floyd | face have been blurred by tears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lock" 		
	

Floyd | A lock of Marianne's hair. The gently curved strands catch the light in

Floyd | autumn colours of brown, red, and gold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss silhouette" 		
	

Floyd | You kiss the silhouette; it is, alas, a pale imitation. It leaves ashes

Floyd | in your mouth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss hat" 		
	

Floyd | The rakish hat isn't a proper target for the Kissing Bandit!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "give locket to maiden" 		
	

Floyd | The maiden doesn't seem interested.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Thanks." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "shout in maiden's lughole" 		
	

Floyd | (to the maiden)
Floyd | That isn't something you can talk to.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, man... laggy. Glad I'm not driving." 	
			DavidW says, "Is there a reason no one's trying >KISS MAIDEN" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | You dance in an intoxicated swirl for a few minutes, and then return,
Floyd | laughing, to where you started.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "we kissed her already" 	
			inky says, "oh, just because then we'll be onto the next scene" 	
			Catena says, "too obvious, perchance" 	
			DavidW says, "We did not kiss this one." 	
			inky says, "but if there's nothing else to try here I guess we can go on" 	
			Bert says, "I think we are looking for any other interesting responses here before we advance the scene." 	
			smartgenes says, "umm is that all we do" 	
			smartgenes says, "kiss the maidens and depart" 	
			Catena says, "hopefully we'll be able to slap the fish in some scene" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "kiss maiden" 		
	

Floyd | Ah, before the kiss, you must sneak! Sneak east, then around the tree,
Floyd | then up from behind...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "steal heart" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to smartgenes), "in this era banditry is very specialized" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sneak" 		
	

Floyd | You sneak east. The pale line of the maiden's neck glows in the
Floyd | twilight. Perhaps the Kissing Bandit should kiss the neck, not the
Floyd | lips? Ah...!

Floyd |
Floyd | The Bandit stations himself sneakily behind a tree. The maiden stirs,
Floyd | looks left and right, but not behind. Her head tilts down again, her
Floyd | eyes on the page. The Bandit's eyes are on her shoulders, spilling down
Floyd | their slopes. The benchwood blocks further views -- until a slight
Floyd | movement reveals the slender crescent of her neck once again.

Floyd |
Floyd | Time now to steal forward. The sneaking is the best part.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "lol" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "bite neck" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "steal" 		
	

Floyd | (a kiss)
Floyd | Where do you want to kiss her, on her graceful neck or on her rosy
Floyd | lips?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "lips" 		
	

Floyd | You lean around, catching her by surprise! Your mouths touch, but the
Floyd | maiden resists! Your puckered lips frighten her, and why shouldn't
Floyd | they?
Floyd |

Floyd | "The Bandit! The Bandit!" she shrieks. So -- she has heard of the
Floyd | Kissing Bandit! You cannot help but be flattered, and so you smile. At
Floyd | the sight of your pearly teeth, the maiden gasps and takes off running
Floyd | to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You leap atop the bench and cry, "Ha-ha-HA! You cannot escape the

Floyd | Kissing Bandit!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "who made this game" 	
			inky says, "perhaps we should have kissed her neck" 	
			DavidW says, "Rob" 	
			Catena says, "man, this guy is pretty lame" 	
			inky says, "Rob made it for smoochiecomp" 	
			Bert says, "You can UNDO if you want to try the neck." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Garden park
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss neck" 		
	

Floyd | You lean in, but the maiden feels your hot breath on her neck and
Floyd | whirls!
Floyd |
Floyd | "The Bandit! The Bandit!" she shrieks. So -- she has heard of the

Floyd | Kissing Bandit! You cannot help but be flattered, and so you smile. At
Floyd | the sight of your pearly teeth, the maiden gasps and takes off running
Floyd | to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You leap atop the bench and cry, "Ha-ha-HA! You cannot escape the
Floyd | Kissing Bandit!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "funny though" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Garden park

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sneak" 		
	

Floyd | You sneak up right behind the maiden. You are invisible to her! The

Floyd | Kissing Bandit never betrays himself until the moment of the kiss...
Floyd | the inevitable kiss...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss neck" 		
	

Floyd | You lean in, but the maiden feels your hot breath on her neck and
Floyd | whirls!
Floyd |
Floyd | "The Bandit! The Bandit!" she shrieks. So -- she has heard of the
Floyd | Kissing Bandit! You cannot help but be flattered, and so you smile. At
Floyd | the sight of your pearly teeth, the maiden gasps and takes off running

Floyd | to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You leap atop the bench and cry, "Ha-ha-HA! You cannot escape the
Floyd | Kissing Bandit!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, I guess there is no way to do it here" 	
			Bert says, "Ah, she is a tricky one." 	
			inky says, "I wonder if we have scary teeth" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "go down on pretty maiden" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to go the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The maiden runs, but she is not too fast. Touching a secret button on

Floyd | your lapel, the boots release hidden springworks, lending superhuman
Floyd | fleetness to your stride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The maiden looks behind, sees you gaining, and nearly swoons. Surely it
Floyd | is your gleaming mustaches that frighten her! She recovers and runs to
Floyd | the north, her hair shaking down into shimmering tresses.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to smartgenes), "I think you are a little confused about what genre we are in" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | My, but this one is fast. "Hold, fair maiden! Must you fear the Kissing

Floyd | Bandit? Ha-Ha-HA!" you shout.
Floyd |
Floyd | The maiden cries, "Oh! Oh!" and races onward, north towards the tower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says (to smartgenes), "we are not called the Kissing, Small Talk and Object-Puzzle Bandit" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The maiden begins to climb the tower! Never has the Kissing Bandit
Floyd | pursued such a worthy quarry! A simple twist of your boot buckles, and
Floyd | the powerful magnets in the soles are activated. Climbing this tower

Floyd | shall be no more trouble to the Kissing Bandit than walking, you smirk
Floyd | to yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "(wow, that's some lag)" 	
			Catena says, "I will be so happy if this turns out to be a lovecraftian game, and you are the monster" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "climb tower" 		
	

Floyd | Indeed, this maiden is a superior athlete! You would be almost jealous
Floyd | if her determination to escape were not so invigorating! You climb
Floyd | swiftly, nearly reaching her flashing bare ankles... !

Floyd |
Floyd | "Don't follow me!" she warns. So haughty, even now!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x maiden" 		
	

Floyd | The maiden is just above you, scaling the tower with admirable speed!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "climb tower" 		
	

Floyd | The maiden reaches the top of the tower! She stands full in the
Floyd | moonlight, defiant. She kicks at your hands as you scale the last rungs
Floyd | of the tower, but you anticipate, you dodge.
Floyd |
Floyd | "There is nowhere for you to run now!" you say. "So here shall I steal
Floyd | my gentle kiss...!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss maiden" 		
	

Floyd | At the last moment, she turns her head, and your kiss lands her on the
Floyd | cheek, hot breath from your nostrils puffing in her exposed ear. The
Floyd | Kissing Bandit has struck again... Oops!
Floyd |
Floyd | The maiden screams, a piercing whistle in your ear! She rubs her cheek
Floyd | madly with her kerchief. "Gross! My cheek is all slobbery!" She shoves

Floyd | at you, and you fall, you fall from the tower!
Floyd |
Floyd | Is this the end for the Kissi--
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "grab foot" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | OW.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hit the ground at the base of the tower, winded but unhurt. The

Floyd | maiden above says, "Harold Finster! I'm telling Miss Adams!" She leaps
Floyd | off the tower and escapes into the night as the church tower rings.
Floyd |
Floyd | You do not know who this Harold Finster is of which she speaks, but you
Floyd | do recognise the name of your old adversary, Constable Adams! You must
Floyd | escape, quickly!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Playground, tower base

Floyd | The tower stands here, a protective cage of steel, sturdily erected in
Floyd | the soil and gravel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Ha-HA! No one will ever guess the identity of the Kissing Bandit! Not
Floyd | even... uh... yourself!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a black mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a fake moustache (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of buckled boots (being worn)
Floyd |   a velvet cloak (being worn)
Floyd |   a rakish hat (being worn)

Floyd |   a locket (being worn and open)
Floyd |     a silhouette
Floyd |     a tiny lock of brown hair
Floyd |   a grouch bag (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "climb tower" 		
	

Floyd | It is a different chase now, for hence the Kissing Bandit is the
Floyd | quarry, and the law the pursuer!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		* Lucea has joined the channel. 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "run" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | "Harold Finster!" Uh oh. It's Constable Adams! You climb inside the
Floyd | bars of the tower where she can't get you. "No one can catch the
Floyd | Kissing Bandit!" you bellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | Miss Adams storms up. "Get out of there this minute, Harold. I'm not
Floyd | kidding." She grabs you by the arm and pushes her face close to yours.
Floyd | "If you don't come out in five seconds, I'm going to come in and carry
Floyd | you out, and not necessarily in one piece!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Her face, her skin, so lovely... perhaps the Kissing Bandit could

Floyd | strike again, even now?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "kiss constable adams" 		
	

Floyd | You lean through the bars and give her a big smack right on the gob.

Floyd | Her eyes fly wide open, becoming two great orbs, beaming invisible rays
Floyd | of heat death right at you. Good thing your special cloak protects you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "That does it!" shouts a purpling Miss Adams. "Harold Finster, I don't
Floyd | know what's gotten into you, but I've had complaints from at least
Floyd | three girls today. You're going to the principal's office right now!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Adams pulls you out of the monkey bars drags you inside. The chief
Floyd | constable has been waiting to catch the Smooching Bandit for years, and
Floyd | now you're being delivered into his fiendish clutches. You'll be locked
Floyd | in the detention tower for sure, but first, interrogation and torture.
Floyd |

Floyd | You scoff. The Smooching Bandit can withstand anything for the sake of
Floyd | a kiss... One day, he will be free to strike again!
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		smartgenes says, "lol" 	
			Catena says, "oh, yeah, this doesn't remind me of myself in grade school. not at all." 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | "Except then came the unkindest cut of all, a wound deep to the heart
Floyd | of the Kissing Bandit! Something even he could not withstand! For
Floyd | there, at the edge of the schoolyard, laughing at him, mocking him in
Floyd | word an gesture, stood Mary Anne Mackelroy! Oh, surely the unkindest
Floyd | cut of all!
Floyd |

Floyd | 'He gives slobbery smooches,' she teased. 'And he always smells like
Floyd | raisins. Eww!'
Floyd |
Floyd | 'Ah, fair Marianne -- ' choked the Bandit as he was led away, his
Floyd | spirit now broken. 'Marianne... '"
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | "And?" Jenny asks, looking at you like you're a little bit nuts.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And, that's the end of the Tale of the Kissing Bandit," you say,
Floyd | shrugging. You prop yourself up on one elbow to adjust your pillow. You
Floyd | lie your head down on it, your goofy smile aimed at the ceiling.

Floyd | "That's the end."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x jenny" 		
	

Floyd | She looks lovely in this light. Her face is a little shiny, and her

Floyd | hair is a bit tussled, but there's no denying the affect her warm smile
Floyd | has on you tonight. Man, you're still as crazy about her as ever.
Floyd |
Floyd | "That was stupid," Jenny says.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're a little hurt by that. "No it wasn't!" you protest. "Besides,

Floyd | what do you expect when you ask me to make something up off the top of
Floyd | my head?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You were supposed to come up with something romantic."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, I thought it was funny-romantic. And I liked the twist ending."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah, yeah, yeah," she says, "You and your twist endings."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "how does green space work" 	
			Catena says, "ok, this is neat" 	
			Bert says, "You know what we must do." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "twirl moustache" 		Catena says, "ohh-la-la you must kiss de girl" 	
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "...oh" 	
			smartgenes asks, "fuck jenny?" 	
			McMartin says, "Tsk. kids these days. No idea how to take it slow." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss jenny" 		
	

Floyd | "So," you say, as you give Jenny a little kiss. "Did you like my story
Floyd | or not?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "mmm," she says. "Kiss me again and I'll tell you."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Catena says, "not AIF" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss jenny" 		
	

Floyd | You give Jenny a better, longer kiss. She smiles. You chuckle.

Floyd |
Floyd | "What's funny?" Jenny asks.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're a smiler, just like Lily Whitestone-- Ack!." She pokes you in
Floyd | the ribs.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Just kiss me again, or I'll really let you have it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss jenny" 		
	

Floyd | You kiss for several minutes, finally breaking for some fresh air.

Floyd | "Happy Valentine's Day," you say.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Happy Valentine's Day," Jenny says. "I love you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I love you too," you say. "I adore you."
Floyd |

Floyd | "That's so sweet," she says. "Thank you. And thank you for the story."
Floyd | She sneaks across the room on tip-toes and blows out the candle.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is now pitch dark in here!
Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom, in darkness (on the bed)

Floyd | It's dark, and you can't see a thing except the faintly glowing outline
Floyd | of the bedroom window shade, which is drawn shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | You feel Jenny climb back onto the foot of the bed. She rubs her hands
Floyd | on your legs. "Okay, my turn again," she says.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay, your turn," you hear yourself echo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "kiss her real slow on the thigh" 	
			Catena says, "maybe not AIF" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss jenny" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing to do but wait.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing left to do. Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jenny crawls higher.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** SMOOCHIES ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 0 out of a possible 0, in 60 turns.

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the author's end
Floyd | NOTES or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha h" 	
			inky says, "a" 	
			smartgenes says, "wow score zero" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "notes" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    > About the game

Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		Catena says, "now wait, Jenny scored" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		McMartin says, "Not the PC." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The Tale of the Kissing Bandit was written and programmed by J.
Floyd | Robinson Wheeler. One of these days, it would be nice to actually take
Floyd | enough time writing a game that I get to flesh it out as fully as
Floyd | originally conceived.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you enjoyed this game, I would love to hear from you. Send comments

Floyd | and reports to rob.wheeler@stanfordalumni.org.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | This Interactive Fiction is Copyright (C) 2001 by J. Robinson Wheeler.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |    > About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit

Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		inky says, "the ending there is a shade joke, for those who missed it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game

Floyd |    > Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		Catena asks, "amusing?" 	
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | To Emily Short, who passive-aggressively forced me to finish, even

Floyd | though I had already decided I didn't have time to. The rather thin and
Floyd | spotty implementation, empty rooms, and suchlike are to be blamed on
Floyd | this mad, last-ditch effort to please.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |    > Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing

Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |    > Enough already

Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		McMartin says, "Clearly we should have had a Shade/Kissing-Bandit session" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push return" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |    > Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing

Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |    > Enough already

Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Before I start getting slapped down for playing the Zarf homage/parody
Floyd | card too many times, I'd just like to excuse myself this one last time
Floyd | -- on the grounds that I did say, publically, that I thought the best
Floyd | way to respond to SHADE would be to write a game that answered it.
Floyd |

Floyd | That said, it was a bit of a shoe-horn job. Oh well. I bet someone out
Floyd | there liked it enough to justify it, though.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game

Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |    > Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |    > The Kissing Bandit

Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | I have this dim memory of some character, or archetype, or somesuch,
Floyd | called a kissing bandit. I really don't know what that is, or who it
Floyd | was, or anything; thus, this is just my imagination at work. If anyone
Floyd | knows anything about a real kissing bandit, I'd be curious to hear it.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		McMartin asks, "I guess this was post-BAP?" 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already

Floyd |    > The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |      About the game

		Lucea asks, "wasn't there a kissing bandit in Holes?" 	
	

Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit

Floyd |    > Amusing
Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | I'm not sure how much there is beyond what most players will happen
Floyd | upon. Various special verbs are clued and implemented with ridiculous
Floyd | numbers of synonyms and turns-of-phrase. For example, you can TIPTOE UP
Floyd | CLOSE BEHIND someone, and then PLANT ONE ON HER.
Floyd |

Floyd | One thing that was a happy accident, of a sort, that I found very
Floyd | amusing: Go to the garden park (the quickest way to do this is to FLEE
Floyd | or ESCAPE when at the ball), and type >GET IT.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |    > Amusing

Floyd |      Apology

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already

Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing
Floyd |    > Apology

		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | I realize that it's possible that the Kissing Bandit character and his
Floyd | modus operandi might be offensive to someone. I tried my best to keep
Floyd | it cartoony and light enough to be basically innocuous. Originally, the
Floyd | character was called the Smooching Bandit, which was more obviously a

Floyd | comic burlesque figure.
Floyd |
Floyd | In any case, I'm sorry if I put anyone off.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Author's end notes
Floyd |  N = next subjectP = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |      About the game
Floyd |      Dedication
Floyd |      Enough already
Floyd |      The Kissing Bandit
Floyd |      Amusing

Floyd |    > Apology
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the author's end
Floyd | NOTES or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "umm how to score points.. do we need to get her panties off" 	
			inky says, "I think the end notes here might be longer than the actual game" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The grand ballroom is awhirl with colour and gaiety on this, the night

Floyd | of the annual Governor's Ball. All of the choice mademoiselles are
Floyd | spinning in their lace finery, bewitching upright young suitors, lined
Floyd | up five deep to kiss a wrist.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Kissing Bandit has other plans, though. First, he must be cautious.
Floyd | Find a fetching femme who has parted from her company, to rest alone in

Floyd | a shaded alcove. Or perhaps take a stroll on the veranda. Yes,
Floyd | perhaps... ah, you twirl your moustaches with delight. The Kissing
Floyd | Bandit shall have no trouble tonight finding a pair of pert lips, ready
Floyd | for a stolen kiss...
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The Tale of the Kissing Bandit
Floyd | by Cary Valentino
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 010210 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, south side

Floyd | The grand ballroom of the Emerson Hotel is a busy spin of high
Floyd | society's young and old. The Warthingtons, the Worthingtons, the
Floyd | Wellingtons (London and Boston branches), the Westons, the Wooltons,
Floyd | the Whitestones...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hmm, maybe the room is arranged alphabetically, you think. The upper

Floyd | class loves hewing to arbitrary orders, almost by definition. It's up
Floyd | to the Kissing Bandit to inject a note of blessed confusion to the
Floyd | events.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "flee" 		
	

Floyd | The Kissing Bandit grows suffocated by these surroundings! With a
Floyd | dashing twirl of your cape, you turn and steal away into the night ...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden park

Floyd | The luscious gardens, abloom in the early spring, send forth their
Floyd | heady aromas on the nuzzling breezes. Aloft, too, are the erotic
Floyd | perfumes of the finely dressed ladies in white, walking two by two in
Floyd | the early eve, innocent as does, poised as summer swans.
Floyd |
Floyd | A choice maiden sits alone on a bench, reading a steamy novel by

Floyd | gaslight. Mwuhaha-HA! The Smooching Bandit has at last chosen his first
Floyd | of the evening. A burning buss on those pink smackers will do, will
Floyd | surely do...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | (on with the maiden)
Floyd | Good heavens! The Kissing Bandit's intentions stop at the innocent
Floyd | kiss!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena says, "I don't think you can score points, it's a kissing not a scoring game" 	
			DavidW says (to smartgenes), "We've told you. It's not that kind of game." 	
			Bert says, "Heh." 	
			Bert says, "(To the game, not to smartgenes.)" 	
			inky says, "I seem to recall there was a shelf of books that was extensively detailed somewhere" 	
			inky says, "I guess it's probably in the first scene" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to restart?

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The grand ballroom is awhirl with colour and gaiety on this, the night
Floyd | of the annual Governor's Ball. All of the choice mademoiselles are

Floyd | spinning in their lace finery, bewitching upright young suitors, lined
Floyd | up five deep to kiss a wrist.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Kissing Bandit has other plans, though. First, he must be cautious.
Floyd | Find a fetching femme who has parted from her company, to rest alone in
Floyd | a shaded alcove. Or perhaps take a stroll on the veranda. Yes,

Floyd | perhaps... ah, you twirl your moustaches with delight. The Kissing
Floyd | Bandit shall have no trouble tonight finding a pair of pert lips, ready
Floyd | for a stolen kiss...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The Tale of the Kissing Bandit
Floyd | by Cary Valentino
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 010210 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, south side
Floyd | The grand ballroom of the Emerson Hotel is a busy spin of high

Floyd | society's young and old. The Warthingtons, the Worthingtons, the
Floyd | Wellingtons (London and Boston branches), the Westons, the Wooltons,
Floyd | the Whitestones...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hmm, maybe the room is arranged alphabetically, you think. The upper
Floyd | class loves hewing to arbitrary orders, almost by definition. It's up

Floyd | to the Kissing Bandit to inject a note of blessed confusion to the
Floyd | events.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "umm then what is the objective" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Emerson Hotel, second floor
Floyd | Vast crimson carpeting tongues outward from the mouth of the ballroom
Floyd | portal and sprials slowly clockwise down the broad staircase to the

Floyd | public lobby of the hotel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, south side

Floyd | The grand ballroom of the Emerson Hotel is a busy spin of high
Floyd | society's young and old. Exits lead in all directions.
Floyd |
Floyd | A lovely young demoiselle, looking in her ruffled ball gown like a
Floyd | plenteous dish of peaches and whipped cream, parts from the general
Floyd | company. Fanning herself, she retreats to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Emerson Hotel, second floor

Floyd | Vast crimson carpeting tongues outward from the mouth of the ballroom
Floyd | portal and sprials slowly clockwise down the broad staircase to the
Floyd | public lobby of the hotel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | It would be wise to remove your disguise before you attempt to leave
Floyd | through the hotel's front doors.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, south side
Floyd | The grand ballroom of the Emerson Hotel is a busy spin of high
Floyd | society's young and old. Exits lead in all directions.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You dance in an intoxicated swirl for a few minutes, and then return,
Floyd | laughing, to where you started.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, southeast corner
Floyd | This corner of the ballroom is warm and redolent of potent beverages,

Floyd | which are being served behind a mirrored bar. Sulty night air from the
Floyd | open veranda doors to the north gives the area a dreamlike feel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bar" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x beverages" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "that is a good unimportant message" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Private salons
Floyd | This slightly curved parlour room with gold, ornamented wallpaper and
Floyd | settees with silk pillows provides an intermediate sitting area, bathed
Floyd | in yellow candlelight. Seating is plentiful, and a set of private salon
Floyd | doors lead northwest and west. A doorless portal leads north. The door

Floyd | to the west is closed; the other is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look behind bar" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "since it implies he cares for naught but kissing" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Smoking room
Floyd | The curt spice of Turkish tobacco raids your senses and leaves them
Floyd | stinging. The ceiling is sooty from years of cigar and cigarette smoke,
Floyd | as are the paintings -- one of which has recently been moved, revealing
Floyd | a rectangular outline of a cleaner, lighter wall behind. Old books,
Floyd | charged with acidic odours, stand yellowing on ceiling-high bookcases.

Floyd | Large, masculine furnishings form a circle in the center of the room. A
Floyd | short, camouflaged door lies uniquely hidden between two of the
Floyd | bookcases on the east wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aha" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x books" 		
	

Floyd | There are many books here. You have no interest in taking any --
Floyd | neither a borrower nor a lender be, after all. You content yourself to
Floyd | scan the shelves, as if browsing in a bookstore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a volume titled, "Mende Thy Wicked Waies" by the
Floyd | Rev. E. Arthur Shropshire.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read book" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a novel called, "Journey to Damascus" by Marcus T.
Floyd | Parella.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read journey" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "books" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the books.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a book titled, "Of Opticks and the Grinding of
Floyd | Lenses" by Otto Seymour.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get opticks" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a rare scientific volume detailing the mating habits
Floyd | of small rodents.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "like, my recollection is Rob said he was at the deadline frantically working to get the game done and then found himself writing four dozen book titles for this part which nobody is going to see" 	
			Bert asks, "Muskrat Love?" 	
			smartgenes says, "umm i think the clue was in the moved painting" 	
			inky says, "ha ha "otto seymour"" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume called, "From Alpha to Omega: A Theological
Floyd | History" by Onislav Woczyknikzi.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | The lighter surface of the wall has been revealed partially behind the
Floyd | watercolour painting.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x painting" 		
	

Floyd | There are four paintings: two portraits, a still life, and a
Floyd | watercolour landscape.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a tome titled, "Essentials of Living" by Emerson Frost
Floyd | and Walter Pratt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "who s otto seymour?" 	
			Lucea says, "a pun" 	
			DavidW says, "aught to see more" 	
			Bert says (to W), "'Ought'." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "feel wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oops, yes" 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims, "oh...nice!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read read books" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a book on the subject of European cheesemakers in
Floyd | the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look behind bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing of interest behind the books.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a volume concerning European cheesemakers in the
Floyd | seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ha." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a novel called, "L'Alsace" by Guy Trintignant.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a tome entitled, "Discoveries in Human Anatomy" by
Floyd | Charles Edmund Hawthorne, Percy C. Blake and Daniel Merriwether.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I feel that's a joke I should get." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume called, "How to Host a Dinner Party" by K.
Floyd | Somerset.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a volume titled, "Joy of Life, Pain of Death" by
Floyd | Nathan Feinberg.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a tome dedicated to the study of apian migratory
Floyd | patterns.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a book titled, "Lancaster, Leominster, and
Floyd | Leicester" by L. Lawrence Lilly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume on the subject of Mediterranean shipping
Floyd | channels.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume titled, "Take a Holiday" by John McCormack.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a tome titled, "Papacy in the Middle Ages" by Nathan
Floyd | Pendleton and Franklin Cromwell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a biography of Martin Luther.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a novel titled, "Odin's Blood" by Gerard Holbrook.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "move painting" 		
	

Floyd | Those are fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a book titled, "Keeper of the Flame" by Reginald
Floyd | Tuchs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		Lucea says, "nice detail" 	
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a book on the subject of stone age tools and
Floyd | weaponry.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume called, "Vesuvius" by Carl Raft.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a book titled "A Critical Guide to Modern
Floyd | Shakespeare" by Orson Stonecraft.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a volume titled, "The Compleat Francis Bacon" by
Floyd | Thomas G. King.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume concerning Da Vinci's unfinished horse
Floyd | sculpture.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "yeh but kind of wearing thin" 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks, "jeeez it is parsing amazon.com or something?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume called, "Raphael and Titian" by Marcus Polsky.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a novel titled "Fishers of Men" by Hilton Edward
Floyd | James.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a book on the subject of eel fishing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume titled, "The Discoveries of Tycho Brahe,
Floyd | Volume II" by Francis M. Grant and R. M. McKellen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "francis bacon, nice" 	
			Bert says, "Fishers of eel, fishers of men..." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume on the subject of gastronomy.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a volume on the subject of the steam engines.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume called, "A Practical Guide to Lockpicking" by
Floyd | George Mason.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume concerning Shakespeare's history plays.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a book titled, "Mozart and Freemasonry" by Casper
Floyd | Peabody.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a book titled, "Gutenberg's Printing Press" by
Floyd | Harrison Alexander.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | You come across a volume on the subject of animal husbandry.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your gaze falls on a book on the subject of sainthood in the early
Floyd | Christian church.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a book titled, "Avalanche of Reason: The Era of
Floyd | Enlightened Thinking" by Dr. David A. Kelly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye alights on a book on the subject of Cambridge University.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Wow." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume called, "The Less One Knows" by Edward
Floyd | Newton.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "read books" 		
	

Floyd | Your eye picks out a volume titled, "The Edge of the Earth: The Voyages
Floyd | of Magellan" by Percival MacManus.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "please stop" 	
			Bert says (to gene), "If you don't want to see it, you're free to go." 	
			McMartin says, "We already won." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Smoking room
Floyd | The curt spice of Turkish tobacco raids your senses and leaves them
Floyd | stinging. The ceiling is sooty from years of cigar and cigarette smoke,
Floyd | as are the paintings -- one of which has recently been moved, revealing

Floyd | a rectangular outline of a cleaner, lighter wall behind. Old books,
Floyd | charged with acidic odours, stand yellowing on ceiling-high bookcases.
Floyd | Large, masculine furnishings form a circle in the center of the room. A
Floyd | short, camouflaged door lies uniquely hidden between two of the
Floyd | bookcases on the east wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, at this point we're just poking around for extra stuff" 	
			Lucea says, "forgot where we were" 	
			inky says, "that said I would like to see what's east" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the door is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, west side
Floyd | This side of the ballroom is much cooler than the other, although there
Floyd | is not much circulation of the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | A thick, forest-green drapery conceals a small private door --

Floyd | perfectly concealed to all but the trained eyes of the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x private" 		
	

Floyd | The door leads west out of the ballroom.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Smoking room

Floyd | The curt spice of Turkish tobacco raids your senses and leaves them
Floyd | stinging. The ceiling is sooty from years of cigar and cigarette smoke,
Floyd | as are the paintings -- one of which has recently been moved, revealing
Floyd | a rectangular outline of a cleaner, lighter wall behind. Old books,
Floyd | charged with acidic odours, stand yellowing on ceiling-high bookcases.
Floyd | Large, masculine furnishings form a circle in the center of the room.

Floyd | The door to the ballroom is open to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "how did we win we had zero points" 	
			inky says, "enh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | The lighter surface of the wall has been revealed partially behind the
Floyd | watercolour painting.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | You are unable to.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "search wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "attack wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kick wall" 		
	

Floyd | (the cleaner rectangle)
Floyd | Save it for the bugs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "uh" 	
			DavidW says, "There's no points awarded in this game. Ever." 	
			Lucea says, "sorry" 	
			DavidW says, "The author never took out the default score reporting line." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look under bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to smartgenes), "Not everyone implements scoring, and he just forgot to change that flag - as he said in the about text, he finished it in a hurry." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x paintings" 		
	

Floyd | There are four paintings: two portraits, a still life, and a
Floyd | watercolour landscape.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "move portrait" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the portrait of an imperious old gentleman or the
Floyd | portrait of a handsome woman?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "imperious" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "not a game somuch then" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | The gentleman has moustaches rivaling yours, only his are naturally
Floyd | grown. White-haired, face creased with wise lines, cupping a
Floyd | pocketwatch with one hand and a walking stick in the other, he is

Floyd | clearly a man of worldly accomplishment and power.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "handsome" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "look behind imperious" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing of interest behind the portrait of an imperious old
Floyd | gentleman.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x handsome" 		
	

Floyd | Not just any woman do you consider handsome; this one you verily do. In
Floyd | her frocks and blouse, velvet and silk, steely posture, square chin

Floyd | upthrust, eyes lightly lidded, black hair immaculately fitted into a
Floyd | bun with not a single stray strand, she bespeaks of primness,
Floyd | prudishness, probity, and virtue. At the same time, she looks as if she
Floyd | were probably sour company, but it is often difficult to judge a person
Floyd | by their painted portrait; the artist always lends his own bias to the
Floyd | character. Artists, after all, must make choices in order to make art.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to sg), "I think you'll find that we play a variety of games, and that not all games include a score. Sometimes, it's about something more." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss handsome" 		
	

Floyd | The portrait of a handsome woman isn't a proper target for the Kissing

Floyd | Bandit!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "woo maidens" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x furnishings" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pucker lips" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pucker up" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "lame" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "make kissy faces" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "imagine angelina jolie" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		(from DavidW) inky says, "where's the toilet? I want to see if flushing it works." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a black mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a fake moustache (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of buckled boots (being worn)
Floyd |   a velvet cloak (being worn)
Floyd |   a rakish hat (being worn)
Floyd |   a locket (being worn and closed)

Floyd |   a grouch bag (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy asks, "wasn't there another door?" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "there's a faintly-secret door to the east" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "put fake moustache on portrait" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the portrait of an imperious old gentleman or the
Floyd | portrait of a handsome woman?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Catena asks, "what happens if you take off the disguise?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | The grouch bag is special; a magician once gave it to you in return for
Floyd | helping him escape from persecutors. It is small and light, made of

Floyd | oiled leather. You have found that it can hold many things, including
Floyd | your entire costume -- cloak, boots, and all.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the black mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove all" 		
	

Floyd | door: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | smoky odours: Physically impossible, even for the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd | cleaner rectangle: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | sooty ceiling: That's hardly portable.

Floyd | paintings: They're hardly portable.
Floyd | portrait of an imperious old gentleman: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | portrait of a handsome woman: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | still life: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | watercolour landscape: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | books: They are curiosities of this moment only; none are worth taking.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "doff all" 		
	

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | (the sooty ceiling)
Floyd | It is an ugly but otherwise unnoteworthy blackening.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "haha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "smell odour" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "doff hat" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the rakish hat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smell odours" 		
	

Floyd | You smell aged cigar and cigarette smoke.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "clean ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | (the sooty ceiling)
Floyd | The sooty ceiling looks a little cleaner now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "doff moustache" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the fake moustache.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | (the sooty ceiling)
Floyd | It is an ugly but otherwise unnoteworthy blackening.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "doff cloak" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the velvet cloak.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a black mask
Floyd |   a fake moustache
Floyd |   a pair of buckled boots (being worn)

Floyd |   a velvet cloak
Floyd |   a rakish hat
Floyd |   a locket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |   a grouch bag (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "doff boots" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the pair of buckled boots.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "doff locket" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the locket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put all in bag" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw the locket to the dogs" 		
	

Floyd | black mask: That can't contain things.
Floyd | fake moustache: That can't contain things.
Floyd | pair of buckled boots: That can't contain things.

Floyd | velvet cloak: That can't contain things.
Floyd | rakish hat: That can't contain things.
Floyd | locket: That can't contain things.
Floyd | wrist: That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to throw the locket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Huh." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Ha-HA! No one will ever guess the identity of the Kissing Bandit! Not
Floyd | even... uh... yourself!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open locket" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the locket reveals a silhouette and a tiny lock of brown hair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ah! Your heart breaks once again over your one true lost love! Fair
Floyd | Marianne, twas you that spurned my love, flaming a fury that turned one
Floyd | simple boy into this dashing rogue, that steals kisses by night! If
Floyd | only I could find you...

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remove disguise" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "unbuckle boots" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x wrist" 		
	

Floyd | The Kissing Bandit is not interested in wrists at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look mirror" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Corporal_Touchy says, "seems there will be a wrist to kiss elsewhere" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "quit game" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to quit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get excited" 		
	

Floyd | That either isn't here, or is unimportant to the Kissing Bandit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "blindfold maiden" 		
	

Floyd | That verb is outside the Kissing Bandit's knowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "enough kissing already" 	
			DavidW says, "well, I'm done." 	
	DavidW has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, west side
Floyd | This side of the ballroom is much cooler than the other, although there

Floyd | is not much circulation of the air. A thick drapery conceals a small
Floyd | private door to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, southwest corner
Floyd | This corner of the ballroom is cool and shaded, with a russet portico
Floyd | leading west to a series of private salons.
Floyd |
Floyd | Young Peaches-and-Cream stands here, fanning herself lightly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Private salons
Floyd | This slightly curved parlour room with gold, ornamented wallpaper and

Floyd | settees with silk pillows provides an intermediate sitting area, bathed
Floyd | in yellow candlelight. Seating is plentiful, and a set of private salon
Floyd | doors lead northwest and west. A doorless portal leads north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Grand Ballroom, southwest corner
Floyd | This corner of the ballroom is cool and shaded, with a russet portico
Floyd | leading west to a series of private salons.
Floyd |

Floyd | Young Peaches-and-Cream stands here, fanning herself lightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Grand Ballroom, south side
Floyd | The grand ballroom of the Emerson Hotel is a busy spin of high
Floyd | society's young and old. Exits lead in all directions.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Emerson Hotel, second floor
Floyd | Vast crimson carpeting tongues outward from the mouth of the ballroom
Floyd | portal and sprials slowly clockwise down the broad staircase to the

Floyd | public lobby of the hotel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You descend the broad staircase, and escape into the night!

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit return or space to continue.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden park
Floyd | The luscious gardens, abloom in the early spring, send forth their
Floyd | heady aromas on the nuzzling breezes. Aloft, too, are the erotic
Floyd | perfumes of the finely dressed ladies in white, walking two by two in

Floyd | the early eve, innocent as does, poised as summer swans.
Floyd |
Floyd | A choice maiden sits alone on a bench, reading a steamy novel by
Floyd | gaslight. Mwuhaha-HA! The Smooching Bandit has at last chosen his first
Floyd | of the evening. A burning buss on those pink smackers will do, will
Floyd | surely do...

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss wrist" 		
	

Floyd | The Kissing Bandit did not put himself at risk tonight for the sake of
Floyd | a mere kiss on a wrist!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit?

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	inky says, "hooray" 		
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	smartgenes disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		smartgenes says, "entertaining while it lasted" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, have we *ahem* all had our way with the Kissing Bandit, then?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Should I process the transcript?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or are we still exploring?" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "I'm done" 	
			Lucea says, "I'd say so" 	
			smartgenes says, "yes sir" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay. These were fun. Sorry I had to deal with work twice while we were playing."	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript: A Change in the Weather by Andrew Plotkin
As played on ifMUD on August 10, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of A Change in the Weather, written by Andrew Plotkin. A Change in the Weather was originally released as part of the IF Competition, where it took first place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load weather" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Waiting on the shore; sand yields beneath my feet
Floyd | The water shouts and roars and rushes
Floyd | And breaks on the rocks, and

Floyd | Never comes near to where I wait.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The picnic is going full blast, which is exactly why you've wandered
Floyd | away from it. It's not that you don't like your new companions; it's

Floyd | just that after weeks of spending each day around them, a noisy weekend
Floyd | cook-out isn't the way to relax. Some exploration -- on your own -- is
Floyd | an appealing thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | None of them noticed you drifting away, anyhow.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story
Floyd | Copyright 1995-6 by Andrew Plotkin. Please copy and play freely.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about".)
Floyd | Release 6 / Serial number 960613 / Inform v1405 Library 5/8

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | The grasses are fragrant under the sunshine of a late, late summer
Floyd | afternoon. A stream chatters by at your feet, and a weathered old
Floyd | wooden bridge stretches across it to the east. Beyond the stream, a
Floyd | scrubby hillside stretches upward.

Floyd |
Floyd | The shouts of the volleyball players and the boom-box thump are
Floyd | pleasantly far off to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "maybe I'll be awake by then. More likely I'll be starving and desparate for food." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought I was driving, T! (No worries...)" 	
			DavidW says, "I think going west ends the game." 	
			Taleslinger whistles. 	
			Korodzik says, "I wonder what would we do if a game would demand the player to actually type "press space"." 	
			smartgenes says, "examine stream.." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x stream" 		
	

Floyd | It's not particularly deep, but it's spectacularly clear. Streaks of
Floyd | green trail along the stones at the stream's bottom, and you see the
Floyd | rare glint of a fish in the sunlight.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Floyd doesn't do interpret the command 'press space' any differently from any other command." 	
			Korodzik says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		Taleslinger says, "I say we explore a bit first." 	
			smartgenes says, "how do you type a space i wonder" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just to see if DW's right... (which I think he is...)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You turn your back on the hill, and consider the distant shapes of your

Floyd | companions. One of them waves hugely to you. You shrug, and begin
Floyd | jogging towards them.
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have a good time after all. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "you lose the game by going west?" 	
			Bert says (to genes), "By pressing the green space button here in the Toyshop." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x fish" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "(so, instread of a good time, we're going elsewhere, heh)" 	
			Taleslinger says (to sg), "Just like you loose Curses by going >d." 	
			smartgenes says, "inventory" 	
			DavidW says, "x bridge" 	
			Korodzik says, "catch fish" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | A narrow span of weathered wood crosses the stream here. The boards are
Floyd | vaguely warped, and the handrails aren't quite connected each to the
Floyd | next, but it's held this long and you expect it will probably support
Floyd | you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "x sky" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Maybe we shouldn't have a driver after all and just save often?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to K), "We can't see the fish, so I doubt we can catch them, but I can try." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | The sun is sinking slowly in a clear blue sky. It's the end of a long,
Floyd | long summer afternoon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "catch fish" 		
	WeirdBeard arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take fish" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "just background info i think... though we could go back if we need some water" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Cross the bridge?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yep" 	
			Korodzik says, "well, i guess it's east-going time for us" 	
			smartgenes says, "yeh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cross bridge" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge creaks as you cross it, and sways a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge

Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Did we look at the stream or the stones?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The stream yes." 	
			Korodzik says, "the stream, yes, the stones, no" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The stones, no." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x stones" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x stream" 		
	

Floyd | It's not particularly deep, but it's spectacularly clear. Streaks of
Floyd | green trail along the stones at the stream's bottom, and you see the
Floyd | rare glint of a fish in the sunlight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is lazily approaching the horizon.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "timed sun." 	
	Taleslinger x hill? 		Taleslinger asks, "x hill?" 	
			smartgenes says, "i would just move on" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x hill" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik asks, "s or ne?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "S or NE?" 	
			Korodzik says, "Again" 	
			Jacqueline says (to K), "Quit reading my mind!" 	
			Korodzik says, "sorry" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It is freaky!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Korodzik switches off his doubtless telepathic skills. 		DavidW | On the hill is an ancient voudoo totem that curses you! 	
			Taleslinger says, "NE" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter in the sunlight.
Floyd | In the distance, a lake reflects orange fire from the setting sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle

Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Man, just a second ago it was afternoon, and now the sun is setting? That was quick." 	
			Korodzik says, "Time passes quickly in such beautiful landscape" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "take shaft?" 	
			Bert says, "Perhaps it was late afternoon." 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "I think just the spade is there, not its shaft." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spad" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spade" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade is stuck in the dried mud. The shaft bends slightly;

Floyd | perhaps you can pull it free.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to T), "Okay, you were right." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take shaft" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade is stuck in the dried mud. The shaft bends slightly;
Floyd | perhaps you can pull it free.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Also, it might have been a big hill." 	
			Korodzik says, "pull spade" 	
			smartgenes says, "pull spade" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pull spade" 		
	

Floyd | You get a good grip on what's left of the shaft.
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | The shaft has snapped off right where it joins the blade. The blade is
Floyd | left buried in the mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass

Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases around your feet for a moment. It seems to be watching
Floyd | something you hold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Foxes play fetch?" 	
			Korodzik says, "there's not a lot things that we hold" 	
			DavidW asks, "hello fox. You want a piece of this?" 	
			(from Jacqueline) DavidW says, "Thump the fox on the head with the stick!" 	
			Korodzik says, "This fox enjoys shafts." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Kill it and cook it. Oops, wrong game." 	
			smartgenes asks, "were we meant oto break it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Korodzik says, "SHAFT FOX" 	
			Bert says, "X EYES 'You launch a joke application on a machine at the other end of the network. Somewhere far away, a student busy working on a term paper yelps.'" 	
			Jacqueline says (to SG), "Not sure. It's early yet, or I'd have saved." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you

Floyd | hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox
Floyd | streaks after it.
Floyd |
Floyd | A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your
Floyd | feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox chases around the spade shaft for a moment, then stops and
Floyd | stares at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "pet fox" 	
			Korodzik says, "just because" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aw. That is just cute." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pet fox" 		
	

Floyd | Without seeming to move, the fox is out of your way.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a scattering of clouds which
Floyd | have begun to drift in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Must be a kit." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x clouds" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | A few bands of cloud are visible on the western horizon, lit by the
Floyd | reddening sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox darts at something in the undergrowth.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Take the stick again" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox vanishes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "get blade" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get blade" 		
	

Floyd | The spade blade is stuck in the dried mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "dig mud?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Can we wet the mud somehow?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig mud" 		
	

Floyd | The mud is dry and quite hard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Yeah! You'll just need some sort of digging implement." 	
			DavidW says, "I think it will rain soon." 	
			smartgenes says, "and a bottle" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Explore?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "explore more" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, explore" 	
			smartgenes says, "get fox" 	
			Taleslinger says, "to rise the score!" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "SE or E?" 	
			Bert says, "SCORE" 	
			Korodzik says, "e" 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "What about the undergrowth?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | That's not how life works.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Fox left." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "oh wait" 	
			Bert says, ">SMACK ZARF FOR NOT PERMITTING "SCORE"" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "So the author is if the opinion no one scores in real life?" 	
			DavidW says, "Zarf doesn't like 'score'." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, let's also smack him for missing a bunch of scenery in a game that sort of begs for it - but this is an older game, I realize." 	
			Korodzik says, "no one undoes in real life, too" 	
			smartgenes says, "i undo my trousers" 	
			Bert says, "I assess my progress quite regularly in real life." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "SE or E?" 	
			WeirdBeard says (to talesinger), "Well, so far that's me 100%" 	
			smartgenes says, "e" 	
			Taleslinger says (to wb), "Heh." 	
			Taleslinger says, "yeah, e" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the sunlight, sweeping to the
Floyd | ribbons of color on the horizon. Behind you stands the last stony lump
Floyd | of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears from behind the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, ">ASK FOX ABOUT BOULDER" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x boulder" 		
	

Floyd | It's a roundish lump of rock -- about what you thought. Maybe two or
Floyd | two-and-a-half feet across.
Floyd |

Floyd | In the shadow behind the boulder, you notice an edge of deeper
Floyd | blackness. It's a cave of some sort.
Floyd |
Floyd | The western horizon has become a surging sea of gold and scarlet waves.
Floyd | The light is magical -- a cool bronze radiance that somehow makes the
Floyd | grass and foliage more intensely green than ever.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases its tail furiously for a moment, then stops and stares
Floyd | at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "aha, a cave" 	
			Korodzik says, "those are always worth visiting" 	
			smartgenes says, "save then go cave" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think saving is a good idea, yes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cave" 		
	

Floyd | You can only see a few inches of dark emptiness behind the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases around your feet for a moment. It seems to be watching
Floyd | something you hold.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter cave" 		
	

Floyd | There are only a few inches of space between the boulder and the cave
Floyd | mouth. You can't possibly squeeze through.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pry boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave -- fruitlessly. It's
Floyd | well sunk into the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | The moment is gone. The sun has set, although the clouds are still
Floyd | well-lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox vanishes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Throw stick in cave?" 	
			Korodzik asks, "push boulder?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was hoping to pry the boulder with the stick." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Then again, it broke pretty easily last time." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pry boulder with stick" 		
	

Floyd | The shaft is too thick to wedge under the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick in cave" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave -- fruitlessly. It's
Floyd | well sunk into the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Let's keep looking for a better wedge." 	
			smartgenes says, "lift boulder with stick or wedge boulder" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I tried that already. The stick is too thick." 	
			Jacqueline | The shaft is too thick to wedge under the boulder. 	
			DavidW says, "Explore more." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook

Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank. Stuck
Floyd | in the mud near it is a spade blade.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "this Zmud keeps scrolling up.. or not scrolling down for new entries" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, I went the way we came. Oops." 	
			smartgenes says, "pull weeds" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ah - we can't go that way." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the last light. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop. The mouth of a
Floyd | small cave is just visible behind it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears from behind the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "there was a way se further back" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, I guess just nw, then explore from the other locale, yeah." 	
			smartgenes says, "get fox" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank. Stuck
Floyd | in the mud near it is a spade blade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER is now in its "verbose" mode, which always
Floyd | gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there
Floyd | before).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of dimming meadowland,
Floyd | patched with dark woods and stitched with dark streams. In the
Floyd | distance, a lake glows pale in the last light of the sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank. Stuck
Floyd | in the mud near it is a spade blade.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under the clouds.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "N?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that N is part of 'no'. So which part of 'no' don't you understand." 	
			smartgenes says, "yes try North" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The hillside drops straight down in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oops." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The hillside drops straight off to the stream in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "E, I'd say." 	
			Bert asks, "Did we X TRENCH?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the
Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop. The mouth of a
Floyd | small cave is just visible behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "but we were at the stream" 	
			DavidW says (to Bert), "No, not yet" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Can't remember." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x trench" 		
	

Floyd | The trench is a foot deep or so, and maybe a yard wide. It starts where
Floyd | the wide trail turns, and leads west over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the
Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop. The mouth of a
Floyd | small cave is just visible behind it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "enter cave?" 	
			Korodzik says, "too small for us" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we can't." 	
			Taleslinger says (to wb), "doesn't work, because the boulder is...timing." 	
			DavidW asks, "dig cave?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "There most be more to explore here, methinks." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We need to find something thin to wedge under rock." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig cave" 		
	

Floyd | You won't get far without something to dig with.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases around your feet for a moment. It seems to be watching
Floyd | something you hold.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "examine spade" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We don't have that." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x spade" 		
	

Floyd | At this point, it's just a two-foot-long stick, broken at both ends.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases its tail furiously for a moment, then stops and stares
Floyd | at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I suspect there's someplace where we can throw the stick and the fox will bring back something other than the stick." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "throw stick in cave?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, it recognizes the shaft as a spade still. Neat." 	
			smartgenes says, "try it" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Tried that." 	
			Korodzik says, "Throw stick into" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I did that. The cave can't contain things." 	
			Korodzik says, "oops, ignore that" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick into cave" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox has slipped away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "was the fox there at the time?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes" 	
			smartgenes says, "hmm the cave doesnt contain things" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think we need to find another wedge." 	
			DavidW says, "Or find a mystical talisman that turns us into a fox." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I'm thinking maybe the game is unwinnable because we broke the stick off the spade, but maybe not." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Well sure, or that." 	
			Korodzik asks, "maybe go down to the bottom of hill and try another path?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches
Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of dim meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with dark streams. A layer of mist is

Floyd | rolling across the landscape.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank. Stuck
Floyd | in the mud near it is a spade blade.
Floyd |
Floyd | The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "well we have no other way to get it yet" 	
			Taleslinger says, "We could restart. It's not like We've done anything." 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "True." 	
			smartgenes says, "the rain started for us to get blade" 	
			DavidW asks, "go se?" 	
			smartgenes says, "pull weeds" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Mist
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows and
Floyd | clouds beyond sweep away into the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path. You could probably use it to get
Floyd | across. (One of those little coincidences that makes your life a little

Floyd | nicer.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox blinks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "aha" 	
			Bert asks, "Is anyone mapping?" 	
			Bert says, "(To keep track of which directions we know are blocked.)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not me, though we probably should." 	
			smartgenes says, "climb tree" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb tree" 		
	

Floyd | The trunk is smooth and the lowest branch is at least twenty feet in
Floyd | the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "that darned fox is a regular stalker" 	
			DavidW says, "I try to map." 	
			Bert asks, "X BUSH, SEARCH IT?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bush" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the bush.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox has slipped away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search bush" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is trickling down the hill, concentrated here by some
Floyd | twist of geography. It puddles on the ledge, then begins pouring down

Floyd | the path to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "better to be stalked by a fox than a dog" 	
			Bert asks, "Have we been south?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, to the misty meadows below.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears under a nearby bush.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "no bert" 	
			Jacqueline says, "A shed!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "x lock" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Moo. The shed is locked, it's dark, and it's raining. This seems unpleasant." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x lock" 		
	

Floyd | The shed is weathered but sturdy, still wearing the tatters of a coat
Floyd | of white paint. The door is closed. The lock looks badly rusted.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox has slipped away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock with stick" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the old shed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock" 		
	

Floyd | It may be weathered, but it's not weakened. You can't even shake it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "x shed" 	
			smartgenes says, "our inventory sucks" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x shed" 		
	

Floyd | The shed is weathered but sturdy, still wearing the tatters of a coat
Floyd | of white paint. The door is closed. The lock looks badly rusted.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are getting tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sleep daemon!" 	
			smartgenes says, "or drink water" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink water" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "to the north" 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Break lock?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "sw?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that SW is Star Wars." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wish people hadn't taught Alex cute responses to all the directions." 	
			Taleslinger says, "try it" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "break lock" 		
	

Floyd | It may be weathered, but it's not weakened. You can't even shake it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only
Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.

Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink water" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's dark and it's raining. Hard.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "*** You have died from pneumonia because you were caught in the rain ***" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's go see if we can get the spade yet." 	
			smartgenes says, "hahahaha" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where is it, again?" 	
			DavidW says, "nw" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A dark expanse
Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where

Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank. Stuck
Floyd | in the mud near it is a spade blade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spade" 		
	

Floyd | (the spade blade)
Floyd | The spade blade slides free of the mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "wooo" 	
			Korodzik says, "WHOOOOO" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And the boulder?" 	
			Korodzik exclaims, "Spade-taking party!" 	
			DavidW says, "e" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain. Behind you

Floyd | stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop. The mouth of a
Floyd | small cave is just visible behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are getting tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "just need some duct tape now" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pry boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave -- fruitlessly. It's
Floyd | well sunk into the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wedge spade under boulder" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the spade blade or the broken spade shaft?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Good thing we're not on Mars. </obscure joke>" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blade" 		
	

Floyd | The blade is thin enough to work under the boulder, but it's too short
Floyd | to give you any leverage.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox glances at you, or perhaps something you hold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yep - as I suspected, possibly." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Can it just be reattached?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Although, I'm not seeing why the shaft wouldn't break under the strain." 	
			DavidW says, "maybe there's duct tape in the shed." 	
			Korodzik says, ""attempt to weld spade and shaft with laser sight"" 	
			Jacqueline says, "There may be duct tape. There may also be a restart." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or do we want to try to break the lock with the blade?" 	
			smartgenes says, "theres more locations yet" 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "attach shaft to blade" 		
	

Floyd | You have no way to reattach the blade to the shaft.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "We could try" 	
			smartgenes says, "gotta try it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "W/SE/S? Is that right? To get to the shed..." 	
			DavidW says, "nw, se, s" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. Glad I asked." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A dark expanse
Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are very tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, ".alex nw?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only

Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here

Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears under a nearby bush.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are very tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox glances at you, or perhaps something you hold.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock with blad" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the old shed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "when are we gonna drop dead i wonder" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock with blade" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the old shed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | Sleeping out in the rain will be miserable, but you're tired enough to
Floyd | do it. You curl up in the mud and grimly close your eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Stone hangs around you, unyielding grey veils in a dim grey light. The
Floyd | light comes from far away: a knife-thin crack, a cold breath, and
Floyd | something roaring its anger beyond. The noise stretches and stretches,
Floyd | leaving you gasping for air, and then an eye opens into the heart of
Floyd | soundless fury --
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken, soaked and feverish, bathed in the listless light of an
Floyd | overcast dawn. It takes some time to drag yourself down the hill -- and
Floyd | then you find that the bridge has been washed out by the storm. By the
Floyd | time you flounder across it, your pneumonia is well set in.
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		Korodzik exclaims, "Aha! I predicted it!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So that's our puzzle... to get into the shed or the cave, after the rain has started but before it gets really bad?" 	
			smartgenes says, "there'll be a can of spam and tequila in the shed" 	
			Korodzik exclaims, "Coffee!!" 	
	WeirdBeard says (to floyd), "%" 		Jacqueline says, "Rock on." 	
			DavidW says, "I still say you should play fetch with the fox in several locations." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I'm all for playing with the cute ickle fox." 	
			WeirdBeard says, "My lag is horrible" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | You wind up and hurl the stick into the undergrowth. The fox turn to
Floyd | watch it fly, and then looks back at you. Its expression is quite
Floyd | clear: if you want the stick lost in cold, dripping-wet vegetation,
Floyd | that's entirely a matter between you and the stick.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are very tired.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "we can go sw" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We may need to restart at this point." 	
	inky arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You have barely left sight of the shed when the trail ends. It looks
Floyd | like it was washed out; and the scree that covers the hill face is much
Floyd | too unstable to venture across. You have no choice but to return.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can remain awake no longer. Sleeping out in the rain will be
Floyd | miserable, but you're tired enough to do it. You curl up in the mud and
Floyd | grimly close your eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		Korodzik exclaims, "Do healthy exercise! One! Two! Three! Time to shake this weariness from ya!" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Stone hangs around you, unyielding grey veils in a dim grey light. The
Floyd | light comes from far away: a knife-thin crack, a cold breath, and
Floyd | something roaring its anger beyond. The noise stretches and stretches,
Floyd | leaving you gasping for air, and then an eye opens into the heart of
Floyd | soundless fury --
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken, soaked and feverish, bathed in the listless light of an
Floyd | overcast dawn. It takes some time to drag yourself down the hill -- and
Floyd | then you find that the bridge has been washed out by the storm. By the
Floyd | time you flounder across it, your pneumonia is well set in.
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we need to restart" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Waiting on the shore; sand yields beneath my feet
Floyd | The water shouts and roars and rushes
Floyd | And breaks on the rocks, and
Floyd | Never comes near to where I wait.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The picnic is going full blast, which is exactly why you've wandered
Floyd | away from it. It's not that you don't like your new companions; it's
Floyd | just that after weeks of spending each day around them, a noisy weekend
Floyd | cook-out isn't the way to relax. Some exploration -- on your own -- is
Floyd | an appealing thought.

Floyd |
Floyd | None of them noticed you drifting away, anyhow.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story

Floyd | Copyright 1995-6 by Andrew Plotkin. Please copy and play freely.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about".)
Floyd | Release 6 / Serial number 960613 / Inform v1405 Library 5/8
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | The grasses are fragrant under the sunshine of a late, late summer

Floyd | afternoon. A stream chatters by at your feet, and a weathered old
Floyd | wooden bridge stretches across it to the east. Beyond the stream, a
Floyd | scrubby hillside stretches upward.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shouts of the volleyball players and the boom-box thump are
Floyd | pleasantly far off to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge creaks as you cross it, and sways a bit.
Floyd |

Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "try drink water" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink water" 		
	

Floyd | You taste the water. It's cool -- with not the antiseptic bite of city
Floyd | tap water, but an indefinable vitality.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I need to make lunch. bbl." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Now we shall perish of giardiasis." 	
			Bert says, "We call that vitality 'intestinal parasites'." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "So are we supposed to find a stimulant, or a good place to sleep?" 	
			Bert says, "Timing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "See you in a bit, David." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think we're looking for a good place to sleep." 	
			Taleslinger says (to dw), "Don't eat old rice." 	
			Korodzik says, "Or perhaps a miraculous pneumonia medicine." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though I think we should just go west on the first move, have a good time, and the game ends a winner." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Shed, maybe?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Yeah, but how to get in?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "are there more paths to explore?" 	
			Bert asks, "What about the spade/boulder/cave plan?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess I should map." 	
			Bert says (to Taleslinger), "Probably." 	
			smartgenes says, "explore all paths" 	
	smartgenes starting a map 		
	Gunther hollers, "HI INKY" 		Jacqueline says, "I'm mapping, too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But two maps never hurts, I guess." 	
	inky hollers, "hi gunther i am playing clubfloyd" 		Bert says (to inky), "You are just in time. The game was just restarted." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches
Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter in the sunlight.
Floyd | In the distance, a lake reflects white fire from the setting sun.
Floyd |

Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using

Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Is there anyplace easily reachable that we've only seen after the rain got bad that might be different now?" 	
	Gunther hollers, "CONTINUE" 		Jacqueline asks, "N and W are impossible due to cliff, right?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The hillside drops straight down in that direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "maybe try pulling the blade?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The hillside drops straight off to the stream in that direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "all locations are close" 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Wait. If we don't wait until it's muddy, we'll break it worse." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, SE and E need to be mapped." 	
			Jacqueline says, "One sec folks, as I just wander to make sure we have the whole map. I don't think we do..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the sunlight. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "yes lets get our locations 1st" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is a deadend, so I shall go back and then see what was SE." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oops." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using

Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass
Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases its tail furiously for a moment, then stops and stares
Floyd | at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "nw" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, got it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface.
Floyd | Greenery hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows
Floyd | and sky beyond sweep away endlessly to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.

Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path. You could probably use it to get
Floyd | across. (One of those little coincidences that makes your life a little
Floyd | nicer.)
Floyd |

Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is lazily approaching the horizon.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "the old nw-e shift-in-path trick" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, NW goes back? Let me check..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "the path changes direction" 	
			Bert asks, "VERBOSE?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, forgot that on the restart" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER is now in its "verbose" mode, which always
Floyd | gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there
Floyd | before).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of bushes and small trees. The ground falls
Floyd | away to the southeast, to the meadows below; you can see a lake far to
Floyd | the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to

Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The undergrowth is too dense in that direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You have barely left sight of the shed when the trail ends. It looks
Floyd | like it was washed out; and the scree that covers the hill face is much

Floyd | too unstable to venture across. You have no choice but to return.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "se?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, dead end - only here for the purpose of the shed." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | The undergrowth is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Going back to Steep Face and trying SW." 	
			smartgenes says, "also w to a lake" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface.
Floyd | Greenery hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows
Floyd | and sky beyond sweep away endlessly to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the

Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here

Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a pair of dark eyes in the edge of your vision; then they are
Floyd | gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I tried W - it doesn't go to the lake, the lake is just distantly visible." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |

Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and
Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the

Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A glint in a nearby bush looks more metallic than floral.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Is that glint the spade?" 	
			Korodzik says, "glints are always important" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So they are." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x glint" 		
	

Floyd | It's a battered old tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases its tail furiously for a moment, then stops and stares

Floyd | at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Oho." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't think we'd been here before." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So now we can wet the dirt before the rain." 	
			smartgenes asks, "this is spade rom no?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yay explorinf" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Should we go try that, and then try to pry the rock?" 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Yes." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Does N take us there? Does that circle back?" 	
			Bert asks, "X, SEARCH, TAKE FLOWERS?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let me see..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take flowers" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take bucket" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a scattering of clouds which
Floyd | have begun to drift in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the

Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a pair of dark eyes in the edge of your vision; then they are
Floyd | gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter ruby in the
Floyd | sunlight. In the distance, a lake reflects red fire from the setting
Floyd | sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where

Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;

Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oops - one sec." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fill bucket with water" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to fill the battered tin
Floyd | bucket.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox darts at something in the undergrowth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The stream is that way. You're interested in exploring, not getting
Floyd | yourself soaked and miserable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "it doesnt seem to parser with" 	
			Jacqueline says, "oops - ne" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter ruby in the
Floyd | sunlight. In the distance, a lake reflects red fire from the setting
Floyd | sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where

Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;

Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pour water on spade" 		
	

Floyd | You splash the water around the spade. The mud absorbs it greedily.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spade" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade slides free of the mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "I'm leaving soon" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, to the boulder!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface.
Floyd | Greenery hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows

Floyd | and sky beyond sweep away to the clouds in the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |

Floyd | The western horizon has become a surging sea of gold and scarlet waves.
Floyd | The light is magical -- a cool bronze radiance that somehow makes the
Floyd | grass and foliage more intensely green than ever.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "broken anyway" 	
			Jacqueline says (to K), "Thanks for joining us." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, but longer than it was, SG." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh just a sec, let me correct something on my map." 	
			Bert asks, "Have we looked at it now that it's whole?" 	
			smartgenes says, "can we get the blade too" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x spade" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small spade; at least, the blade and about two feet of the shaft
Floyd | of one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Because we're on a timer, and I went the wrong way, I shall undo twice." 	
			smartgenes says, "so its not broken.. naughty author" 	
			Bert says, "That seems likely to work." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to genes), "Yes it is." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession.  Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "That is what the 'at least...' part means." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Korodzik says, "Sorry to deprive you of my impressive presence." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the sunlight, sweeping to the
Floyd | ribbons of color on the horizon. Behind you stands the last stony lump
Floyd | of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.
Floyd |
Floyd | The western horizon has become a surging sea of gold and scarlet waves.
Floyd | The light is magical -- a cool bronze radiance that somehow makes the
Floyd | grass and foliage more intensely green than ever.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Korodzik disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		WeirdBeard says (to smartgenes), "It didn't break because of the water." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wedge blade under boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You notice a cave of some sort behind the boulder. (Who would have
Floyd | guessed?)
Floyd |
Floyd | You push the spade under the boulder, kick the blade to settle it, and
Floyd | lean on the shaft. Nothing happens for a moment, and you're leaning
Floyd | harder, and the boulder starts to move, and

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade's shaft has broken off in your hands, right above the blade,
Floyd | which is now caught under the boulder. On the other hand, you've moved
Floyd | the boulder up out of its hole; it's balanced on the rim.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push rock" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling

Floyd | straight down the hill to the west, out of sight. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a rending
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | A sudden wave of nerves pulls you downhill after it....

Floyd |
Floyd | You were right; the bridge has been neatly demolished, and the boulder
Floyd | sits innocently in the stream, in the wreckage. So much for your little
Floyd | exploration. You go off, resigned, to tell the park rangers what you've
Floyd | done.
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "moo" 	
			* Korodzik has left the channel. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter cave" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.

Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a circle of
Floyd | blinding crimson to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.
Floyd |

Floyd | You glance outside. The moment is gone. The sun has set, although the
Floyd | clouds are still well-lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, hahaha having to admit what you did to the park rangers." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x blanket" 		
	

Floyd | It's a ratty old blanket, torn and mouse-chewed, tangled with bits of
Floyd | twig and old leaves. Nonetheless, it looks warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "What would you say to someone who admits a thing like that?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I would sigh, and then WRITE THEM A BIG OL' FAT TICKET FOR DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY!" 	
	smartgenes disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		WeirdBeard says (to Jacquleine), "Phrased like that, TSD." 	
	smartgenes arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Nah, I'd probably just sigh." 	
			smartgenes says, "dc whats appening" 	
			inky says, "she wouldn't say anything, she would just quietly rub raw meat over their backpacks and send them into bear country" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "female bear pheromones." 	
			Bert says, "(Bearomones?)" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "I don't have to do that; it seems they do that themselves. Or at least one did this week (burned salmon in their fire pit and attracted a grizzly, which did not make me happy)." 	
			inky says, "man" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Anyway, curl up under the blanket and sleep?" 	
			Bert asks, "SEARCH or GET it first?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search blanket" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "can you look for me?" 	
			Bert asks, "ALso, anything to the east?" 	
			Bert asks, "WEAR BLANKET?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The cave narrows to a crack in back; you really can't go very far.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wear blanket" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Sleep might be in order, I suppose." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Has the rain started yet at all?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You're not feeling tired yet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Guess not." 	
			smartgenes says, "did we wedge boulder" 	
			Bert says, "Perhaps there's more to do out there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We did wedge the boulder, yet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We could go play fetch until the rain starts." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the last light. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under the clouds.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "we can break lock" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drop blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under
Floyd | the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard asks, "We can?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I want our blanket to stay dry." 	
			smartgenes says, "(with spade)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We can't - we tried that before." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, the spade blade is holding the rock in place." 	
			smartgenes asks, "can we dig first?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking we have to find an actual key, as it's said that the lock is rusty, but still quite strong." 	
			Jacqueline says (to SG), "Well, we'd have to start over at this point. The blade is now no longer retrievable." 	
			Bert asks, "Did you try playing fetch everywhere?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, we didn't." 	
			smartgenes asks, "what is south of location 2?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the
Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the

Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox darts at something in the undergrowth.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Location 2? What's its name?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Edge of Meadow, you mean?" 	
			smartgenes says, "stream/water" 	
			WeirdBeard says, "We've saved, and I don't trust sleeping in the cave anyways. The rain is likely to make the rock fall again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "South of Stream Bank is Wildflowers." 	
			Jacqueline says (to WeirdBeard), "Quite possibly." 	
			Bert asks, "Anything useful you can do with the blanket?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I left it in the cave to keep it dry." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Think I should go get it?" 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Sleep once we find somewhere safe." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe we're supposed to sleep in the shed, but have to get in the cave just for the blanket." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "i think theres maybe a cap on total moves" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a blanket, a broken spade shaft and a battered tin
Floyd | bucket.

Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under
Floyd | the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the last light. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the

Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to SG), "Yes, there is, which is why I keep undoing." 	
			smartgenes says, "no i mean so that it is impossible to sleep" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, is the theory now that we're playing fetch with the fox and hoping he brings us a key?" 	
			Bert says (to Jacq), "Or reveals something new." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Might work." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where is that damn fox?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "It may be that you need to throw the stick at something in particular that you can't reach." 	
			Jacqueline nods at Bert. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a blanket, a broken spade shaft and a battered tin

Floyd | bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the last light. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the

Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "we cant throw stick "at"" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was hoping the fox would reappear like it did a couple of times ago." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We have a couple of locations yet to map." 	
			Bert asks, "Does he show up this late at night?" 	
			Bert says, "What wit the bad weather and all." 	
			Bert asks (of Jacq), "Oh?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "I think we do, yeah. From Wildflowers, perhaps. We got distracted with the bucket." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "He may not show up, yeah. But we do know how to get to this point quickly now. Let me go finish mapping first..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of dimming meadowland,
Floyd | patched with dark woods and stitched with dark streams. In the
Floyd | distance, a lake glows pale in the last light of the sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under the clouds.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases around your feet for a moment. It seems to be watching
Floyd | something you hold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the

Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, a dark shape in the twilight; two
Floyd | usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and

Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow, although the blooms are
Floyd | closing for the night.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the

Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There was the fox, fwiw" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The buds closing for the night is a very nice touch." 	
			Bert says, "Mmm. W, N, SE." 	
			smartgenes says, "only SE assuming that E goes to shed" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. I'm thinking W will dead end." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Beyond the rise, the hill drops almost straight down to the stream.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yep." 	
			Bert exclaims, "Junp!" 	
			Bert says, "Er." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "dive like a swan" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns northeast as it climbs.
Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Mist
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows and
Floyd | clouds beyond sweep away into the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the

Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here

Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "oh yeah the unclimable tree" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, been there." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The hill is too steep and overgrown to descend.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under

Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and
Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow, although the blooms are
Floyd | closing for the night.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads

Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You have barely left sight of the wildflowers when the trail ends. It
Floyd | looks like it was washed out; and the scree that covers the hill face
Floyd | is much too unstable to venture across. You have no choice but to
Floyd | return.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "hug tree?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay. Anything we think we haven't seen?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Location wise, I mean?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm counting only nine locations, including the cave and the as yet unseen interior of the shed." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is that right, SG?" 	
			smartgenes asks, "is there an EAST from the shed?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't think there is, but I can go check." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns northeast as it climbs.

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Mist
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows and
Floyd | clouds beyond sweep away into the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |

Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |

Floyd | The blanket is getting damp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two

Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, to the misty meadows below.
Floyd |

Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |

Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the shed is closed. You tug on it and rattle the latch, but
Floyd | it's locked, and the lock looks hopelessly rusted.
Floyd |
Floyd | The blanket is getting damp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "The blanket is getting daaaamp" 	
			smartgenes says, "i got 9 but i'm not sure if location east of start maps onto the rest" 	
			smartgenes says, "east goes into the shed" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "have we tried pouring water on the lock?" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Taleslinger), "No... wouldn't that... just make it rust... more?" 	
			smartgenes says, "it's possible that the good-condition shovel could break it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let me restart and make sure we have everything from Edge of Meadow, then get the blanket very quickly and save from there." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "maybe...rusty...enough?" 	
			smartgenes says, "but i'd dig everywhere" 	
			Bert asks, "Wasn't there an untried direction from the flowers? Or no?" 	
			inky says, "water is nature's oil!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to SG), "Possible. I could try the breaking it with a whole shovel." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "No. Oil is nature's oil." 	
			inky says, "...oh" 	
			Bert asks (of Jacq), "Why not try sleeping in the cave first, to see what happens?" 	
			smartgenes says, "dont think so Bert.. we went w and se and e and n" 	
			Bert says (to Jacq), "Ah. That does sound complete." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Sure. Except our blanket's wet now. How about I just restore and wait, then sleep?" 	
			Bert asks, "You can, but you don't want to get pneumonia in the cave first?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, um, okay. Sure - that sounds like fun." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Mist
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows and
Floyd | clouds beyond sweep away into the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |

Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches
Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of dark meadowland, barely

Floyd | visible in the thickening mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The blanket is getting damp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims, "There's the spirit!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist and rain. Behind you
Floyd | stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the

Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says (to inky), "Water is nature's Dasani, silly." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter cave" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.

Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a lit circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap yourself snugly in the blanket and curl up on the floor. It's
Floyd | hard, but you're dry and warm. What else could you ask for? Your eyes
Floyd | close and the cave drifts away...

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait... dry and warm?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "BUG" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Stone dissolves around you as move up and forwards, into a grainy grey

Floyd | light. A mindless roar stretches in all directions; but it is troubled
Floyd | by a distant murmur. The new sound swells, whispering, pounding, then
Floyd | shouting at you, and you cannot make it out and you cannot make it go
Floyd | --
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Something awakens you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of

Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices are still audible. They surge and swell, on the edge of
Floyd | audibility, somewhere to the west. You are almost certain you hear your
Floyd | name being called.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, we're crazy now." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | A sussurus of voices comes from the west, too faint to make out but too
Floyd | loud to ignore. You are almost certain you hear your name, though, and

Floyd | something in you moves to respond.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sussurus. That's a word you don't see everyday." 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "So did we just sleep the game away?" 	
			Bert says, "The 'damp message is probably more of a warning. I bet if you see it more than a couple times, the blanket ends up wet instead of damp." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Try >call" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, we're lost, and the park rangers are coming to find us." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yell" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.

Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | The blanket has gotten quite soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | A sussurus of voices comes from the west, too faint to make out but too
Floyd | loud to ignore. You are almost certain you hear your name, though, and
Floyd | something in you moves to respond.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "W?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that W is an old unix windowing system." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought we couldn't go W from here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait, yes we can." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait, no we can't!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is why I did poorly on multiple choice tests - always second guessing first impulses." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, folks? What do we want to do?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, one quick moment. Be right back." 	
			Bert asks, "Look for the bridge?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Back." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go to the bridge? okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook

Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A black expanse
Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain. Every few
Floyd | moments, a directionless flicker of lightning tries to pull detail from
Floyd | the darkness; but there is only mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where

Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans uncertainly against the bank at your feet. To the

Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, a black shape made of night and rain;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, and you realize the sounds comes from the west, from
Floyd | the other side of the stream. And they are coming closer. You are very
Floyd | sure, suddenly, that you do not want them to reach you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "VAMPIRES!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "WEREWOVES!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "RANGERS!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "SOMETHING!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Let's let 'em reach us." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The thought of crossing into that darkness, with its inhabitants, is
Floyd | beyond bearing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, let's not." 	
			Bert asks, "Shout?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | Whom do you want to shout that to?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "voices" 		
	

Floyd | Whom do you want to shout that to?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert blinks. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yell to voices" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yell" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "scream" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Um, whom do you want to shout that to, Bert?" 	
			smartgenes says, "hide beneath blanket" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shout to voices" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I have about half an hour, fwiw." 	
			smartgenes says, "i think it is just death approaching us" 	
			Jacqueline says, "As does, I think, Bert." 	
			Bert asks, "How's the shed handled the storm?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Dunno - I'll go see." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A black expanse
Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain. Every few
Floyd | moments, a directionless flicker of lightning tries to pull detail from
Floyd | the darkness; but there is only mist.

Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and

Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only

Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here

Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.

Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Looks no different, I think." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a blanket, a broken spade shaft and a battered tin
Floyd | bucket.
Floyd |

Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We could try the water on the lock idea, for lack of something else to do." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only

Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here

Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. Simultaneously the silence is broken by a
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder. It is echoed by a splintering concussion right above your
Floyd | head, or, from the feel of it, just inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | You watch the tree topple through blobs of dull color.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The runoff water is backing up behind the fallen tree.
Floyd |

Floyd | You pick yourself up shakily, although you can't quite remember
Floyd | falling. The air is full of smoke.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | A profusion of flowers lie here, mostly furled against the rain. Edges
Floyd | of white and blue and yellow barely show in the darkness.
Floyd |

Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So, the tree thing was interesting and I almost missed it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | The tree has fallen downslope, across the path, and is lying awkwardly
Floyd | in the undergrowth. The upper end -- which is to say, the lower end --
Floyd | is blackened and split.

Floyd |
Floyd | The runoff water begins to spill out from behind the tree, down the
Floyd | southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "yes i was just trying to figure that out from the map cos tree was n" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let me go try the water on the lock business, then we'll come back to see what's happening here." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.

Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pour water on lock" 		
	

Floyd | The water splashes over the old shed and dribbles away.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock" 		
	

Floyd | It may be weathered, but it's not weakened. You can't even shake it.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere below, you hear a terrible

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You know without seeing that the bridge has been destroyed. You begin
Floyd | to rush downhill, but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the
Floyd | weight of nightmare...

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		smartgenes asks, "anyone with me on restart & dig?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not really into the random digging, but I guess we could. We need to find a key somewhere." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, bridge is gone again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wonder how close we were to the end this time." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of
Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a

Floyd | lovely cough.
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, better than pneumonia death." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Waiting on the shore; sand yields beneath my feet
Floyd | The water shouts and roars and rushes
Floyd | And breaks on the rocks, and
Floyd | Never comes near to where I wait.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The picnic is going full blast, which is exactly why you've wandered
Floyd | away from it. It's not that you don't like your new companions; it's
Floyd | just that after weeks of spending each day around them, a noisy weekend

Floyd | cook-out isn't the way to relax. Some exploration -- on your own -- is
Floyd | an appealing thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | None of them noticed you drifting away, anyhow.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story
Floyd | Copyright 1995-6 by Andrew Plotkin. Please copy and play freely.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about".)
Floyd | Release 6 / Serial number 960613 / Inform v1405 Library 5/8
Floyd |

Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | The grasses are fragrant under the sunshine of a late, late summer
Floyd | afternoon. A stream chatters by at your feet, and a weathered old
Floyd | wooden bridge stretches across it to the east. Beyond the stream, a
Floyd | scrubby hillside stretches upward.
Floyd |

Floyd | The shouts of the volleyball players and the boom-box thump are
Floyd | pleasantly far off to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I'm against the dig." 	
			inky says, "well, any time you see a big text dump that is a good sign you're on the right path" 	
			Bert says, "I'd restore to where you woke up." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, just the one locale from here, so that answers one question." 	
			Bert says (to inky), "Unless that text dump ends with '*** Things could have turned out better. ***'." 	
			smartgenes says, "so it was the volleyball players who were after us" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Well, I was thinking about solving the cave very, very quickly, then playing fetch." 	
			inky says, "well yeah, offer not valid for ending text" 	
			smartgenes says, "no it was the location east of here i wondered about" 	
			Jacqueline says, "E of here is Stream Bank, SG." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge creaks as you cross it, and sways a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge

Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "and south hits wildflowers does it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, you mean departing from here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, south is Wildflowers." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and
Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the

Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A glint in a nearby bush looks more metallic than floral.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get glint" 		
	

Floyd | (It turns out to be a battered old tin bucket.) Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "lol nice shortcut" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER is now in its "verbose" mode, which always
Floyd | gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there
Floyd | before).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter in the sunlight.
Floyd | In the distance, a lake reflects white fire from the setting sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle

Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is lazily approaching the horizon.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a pair of dark eyes in the edge of your vision; then they are
Floyd | gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pour water on spade" 		
	

Floyd | You splash the water around the spade. The mud absorbs it greedily.
Floyd |

Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass
Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spade" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade slides free of the mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the thickening sunlight. Behind
Floyd | you stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to

Floyd | the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wedge blade under rock" 		
	

Floyd | You notice a cave of some sort behind the boulder. (Who would have
Floyd | guessed?)
Floyd |
Floyd | You push the spade under the boulder, kick the blade to settle it, and

Floyd | lean on the shaft. Nothing happens for a moment, and you're leaning
Floyd | harder, and the boulder starts to move, and
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade's shaft has broken off in your hands, right above the blade,

Floyd | which is now caught under the boulder. On the other hand, you've moved
Floyd | the boulder up out of its hole; it's balanced on the rim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "hey dig first and check the lock too" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface.
Floyd | Greenery hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows
Floyd | and sky beyond sweep away endlessly to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.

Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path. You could probably use it to get
Floyd | across. (One of those little coincidences that makes your life a little
Floyd | nicer.)
Floyd |

Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a pair of dark eyes in the edge of your vision; then they are
Floyd | gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the broken spade, considering your balance. You stretch a foot
Floyd | towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two quick steps. The bush

Floyd | trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of bushes and small trees. The ground falls
Floyd | away to the southeast, to the meadows below; you can see a lake far to
Floyd | the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nice addition about the spade when crossing the gap." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock with spade" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the old shed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit lock" 		
	

Floyd | It may be weathered, but it's not weakened. You can't even shake it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "break lock" 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "Have we tried super-rusting the lock?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Break and hit are both 'attack,' I'm assuming." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "break lock" 		
	

Floyd | It may be weathered, but it's not weakened. You can't even shake it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a scattering of clouds which
Floyd | have begun to drift in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to WB), "If that rain didn't do it..." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to WB), "If that rain didn't do it..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We poured water on the lock, WB." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It did nothing." 	
			smartgenes says, "it only gets two word cvommands" 	
			WeirdBeard says, "Oh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to dig in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ground" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the broken spade, considering your balance. You stretch a foot
Floyd | towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two quick steps. The bush
Floyd | trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface.

Floyd | Greenery hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows
Floyd | and sky beyond sweep away endlessly to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears beside a clump of weeds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "dig weeds" 	
			WeirdBeard asks, "dig clump?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where, precisely, are you wanting to dig?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig weeds" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "the weeds is just a random thing..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig dirt" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "dig in the location with the flowers" 	
			smartgenes says, "maybe i'm sending us on a wild flower chase" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers

Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and
Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads

Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a scattering of clouds which
Floyd | have begun to drift in.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig flowers" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to dig in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dirt" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "dig park" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x ground" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig park" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Are we done digging yet?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Can I restart and get the blanket quickly, then?" 	
			Bert says, "Please." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll try digging one other spot..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig bank" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "yes.. looks like dig doesnt work" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to restart?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Waiting on the shore; sand yields beneath my feet
Floyd | The water shouts and roars and rushes

Floyd | And breaks on the rocks, and
Floyd | Never comes near to where I wait.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The picnic is going full blast, which is exactly why you've wandered

Floyd | away from it. It's not that you don't like your new companions; it's
Floyd | just that after weeks of spending each day around them, a noisy weekend
Floyd | cook-out isn't the way to relax. Some exploration -- on your own -- is
Floyd | an appealing thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | None of them noticed you drifting away, anyhow.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story
Floyd | Copyright 1995-6 by Andrew Plotkin. Please copy and play freely.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about".)

Floyd | Release 6 / Serial number 960613 / Inform v1405 Library 5/8
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | The grasses are fragrant under the sunshine of a late, late summer
Floyd | afternoon. A stream chatters by at your feet, and a weathered old
Floyd | wooden bridge stretches across it to the east. Beyond the stream, a

Floyd | scrubby hillside stretches upward.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shouts of the volleyball players and the boom-box thump are
Floyd | pleasantly far off to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge creaks as you cross it, and sways a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge

Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and

Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | A glint in a nearby bush looks more metallic than floral.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take glint" 		
	

Floyd | (It turns out to be a battered old tin bucket.) Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "but wasn't there one location where the fox was ointing something out" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Did the fox do anything useful yet?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wat there?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "er, was there?" 	
			Bert says, "I don't remember the fox pointing anything out anywhere." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER is now in its "verbose" mode, which always
Floyd | gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there
Floyd | before).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches
Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter in the sunlight.

Floyd | In the distance, a lake reflects white fire from the setting sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sun is lazily approaching the horizon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pour water on spade" 		
	

Floyd | You splash the water around the spade. The mud absorbs it greedily.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take spade" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade slides free of the mud.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the thickening sunlight. Behind
Floyd | you stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to
Floyd | the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wedge blade under boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You notice a cave of some sort behind the boulder. (Who would have
Floyd | guessed?)

Floyd |
Floyd | You push the spade under the boulder, kick the blade to settle it, and
Floyd | lean on the shaft. Nothing happens for a moment, and you're leaning
Floyd | harder, and the boulder starts to move, and
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | The spade's shaft has broken off in your hands, right above the blade,
Floyd | which is now caught under the boulder. On the other hand, you've moved
Floyd | the boulder up out of its hole; it's balanced on the rim.
Floyd |
Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass

Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases around your feet for a moment. It seems to be watching
Floyd | something you hold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "dig mud?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave

Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a circle of
Floyd | scarlet and gold to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Corporal_Touchy arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline sighs and undoes to try that. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig mud" 		
	

Floyd | You scrape some mud away. Aside from getting your hands dirty, it
Floyd | accomplishes little.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the thickening sunlight. Behind
Floyd | you stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to
Floyd | the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wedge blade under rock" 		
	

Floyd | You notice a cave of some sort behind the boulder. (Who would have
Floyd | guessed?)
Floyd |
Floyd | You push the spade under the boulder, kick the blade to settle it, and
Floyd | lean on the shaft. Nothing happens for a moment, and you're leaning
Floyd | harder, and the boulder starts to move, and

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade's shaft has broken off in your hands, right above the blade,
Floyd | which is now caught under the boulder. On the other hand, you've moved
Floyd | the boulder up out of its hole; it's balanced on the rim.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "sorry.. i'm of the old school use for spade brigade" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter cave" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a circle of
Floyd | scarlet and gold to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.

Floyd |
Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a
Floyd | scattering of clouds which have begun to drift in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the sunlight, sweeping to the
Floyd | ribbons of color on the horizon. Behind you stands the last stony lump
Floyd | of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just

Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Hm... can the fox appear at the shed? Can he hop across the gap?" 	
			smartgenes says, "can we push boulder" 	
			inky says, "when you pushed it before it broke the bridge" 	
			smartgenes says, "ah" 	
			Jacqueline says (to SG), "We can - it rolls down the hill, destroys the bridge, and we answer to the park rangers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And trust me - you don't want to have to answer to the park rangers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(kidding)" 	
			smartgenes says, "tell fox to climb the tree now, you little blighter" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Foxes can't climb, SG. That's cats." 	
			smartgenes says, "and bring the key down with you" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or black bears." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Canines are generally poor climbers." 	
			Corporal_Touchy says, "Evening clubbers. Sorry I missed today's challenge had some programming work to do. :/" 	
			Bert says, "It seems like we haven't actually done much of anything around the tree after we woke up." 	
			smartgenes says, "the challenge is still ON" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "No, that's true." 	
			inky asks, "you pushed it over or something, didn't you?" 	
			smartgenes says, "it fell over with the thunderclap" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, it - right." 	
			Bert says (to inky), "I think we restored to go digging just a few turns after we discovered it." 	
			Corporal_Touchy asks (of smartgenes), "Yeah, but I don't like joining late. Will there be a second game tonight?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It was hit by lightning." 	
			Jacqueline says (to CT), "No." 	
			Corporal_Touchy exclaims (at Jacqueline), "sorry!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to CT), "No need to apologize - I was just answering your question." 	
			smartgenes says, "(to touchy) we have a bucket of water, a blanket (which can get wet), a shed with a lock, a tree, a stream, a foc, and the stick of a broken spade.. oh and a cave" 	
			smartgenes says, "a foc is a fox" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We restarted so that I could check out a couple of mapping things and dig. Now we've restarted and gotten the blanket as quickly as possible and saved." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I could go ahead and sleep, if you want." 	
			Bert says, "I would sleep and save, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass
Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "oh save and sleep" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you
Floyd | hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox
Floyd | streaks after it.
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your
Floyd | feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I've already saved." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I just have to wait for it to get rainy and stuff to sleep." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you
Floyd | hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox
Floyd | streaks after it.
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your
Floyd | feet with an unexpected clink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take stick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The western horizon has become a surging sea of gold and scarlet waves.
Floyd | The light is magical -- a cool bronze radiance that somehow makes the
Floyd | grass and foliage more intensely green than ever.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter cave" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave

Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a circle of
Floyd | blinding crimson to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "ooh magical" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | It's not even dark yet!
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The moment is gone. The sun has set, although the

Floyd | clouds are still well-lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You're not feeling tired yet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		smartgenes says, "examine back of cave" 	
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under
Floyd | the clouds.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x back of cave" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You're not feeling tired yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "did we examine fox?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes. First playthrough." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You're not feeling tired yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap yourself snugly in the blanket and curl up on the floor. It's
Floyd | hard, but you're dry and warm. What else could you ask for? Your eyes
Floyd | close and the cave drifts away...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Stone dissolves around you as move up and forwards, into a grainy grey
Floyd | light. A mindless roar stretches in all directions; but it is troubled
Floyd | by a distant murmur. The new sound swells, whispering, pounding, then
Floyd | shouting at you, and you cannot make it out and you cannot make it go
Floyd | --

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Something awakens you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.

Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices are still audible. They surge and swell, on the edge of
Floyd | audibility, somewhere to the west. You are almost certain you hear your

Floyd | name being called.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A rusty steel key is lying on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The blanket has gotten quite soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | That's odd. The steel key doesn't seem as rusty as you first thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drop blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A rusty steel key is lying on the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | That's odd. The steel key doesn't seem as rusty as you first thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait - steel key?!" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where did that come from?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "The blanket?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We SEARCHED the blanket!" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "maybe we are beneath a steel sky?" 	
			Bert asks, "Not saving right after waking up?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh, it was just lying here?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What, under the boulder?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Sorry, probably should have." 	
			smartgenes says, "how did we miss it last time" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I can save now." 	
			Jacqueline says (to SG), "I am not sure." 	
			Bert says (to Jacq), "Check when you threw the stick." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let me undo to where we woke up and then save." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		WeirdBeard says, "I have work to do. See you guys next week." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard announces, "ifMUD was brought to you today by the letters W and B and by the number 42." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "did it fall out the blanket?" 	
			Bert says, "No." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure how many to go back." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a lit circle of

Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap yourself snugly in the blanket and curl up on the floor. It's
Floyd | hard, but you're dry and warm. What else could you ask for? Your eyes
Floyd | close and the cave drifts away...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Stone dissolves around you as move up and forwards, into a grainy grey
Floyd | light. A mindless roar stretches in all directions; but it is troubled
Floyd | by a distant murmur. The new sound swells, whispering, pounding, then
Floyd | shouting at you, and you cannot make it out and you cannot make it go
Floyd | --

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Something awakens you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.

Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices are still audible. They surge and swell, on the edge of
Floyd | audibility, somewhere to the west. You are almost certain you hear your

Floyd | name being called.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drop blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | A rusty steel key is lying on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | That's odd. The steel key doesn't seem as rusty as you first thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "To the shed?" 	
			smartgenes asks, ""as you first thought"?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. Dunno about that 'as you first thought thing.'" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook

Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A black expanse
Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain. Every few
Floyd | moments, a directionless flicker of lightning tries to pull detail from
Floyd | the darkness; but there is only mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where

Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only

Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path. You could probably use it to get
Floyd | across. (One of those little coincidences that makes your life a little
Floyd | nicer.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to

Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock shed" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the old shed with?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "key" 		
	

Floyd | The lock is stiff. You give the key a jerk; the latch scrapes, and the
Floyd | door swings open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert | Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 	
			smartgenes says, "haha" 	
			Bert says, "'The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox streaks after it.'" 	
			Bert says, "'A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your feet with an unexpected clink.'" 	
			Bert | Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take stick" 	
			Bert says, "'You can't see any such thing." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Thanks." 	
			Bert says, "You're welcome." 	
			smartgenes says, "go-go shed" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So that was the puzzle, and I just missed it whilst screwing around. heh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You step hesitantly into the darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | You feel the hollow darkness of an enclosed space. To the west, an
Floyd | oblong of flat grey half-light betrays the doorway. Nothing else is
Floyd | visible.

Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | of thunder from outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pure white fades into a greenish glare. Flat colored shadows show
Floyd | the outlines of everything around you; you hold your head still to
Floyd | focus on the afterimages.
Floyd |

Floyd | In a Small Shed
Floyd | The shed is only a few paces long, and nearly empty. The door is to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pair of large canvas bags is piled untidily here. One is rather
Floyd | dirty; the other has a tear along one seam, from which sand dribbles

Floyd | onto the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "clink? (also, back)" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yeah, we got the key." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, I have to leave soonish." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wonder how close we are." 	
			smartgenes says, "it was a bug DavidW" 	
			DavidW asks, "what was a bug?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, it wasn't a bug - it was us not paying attention." 	
			Bert says, "I imagine Zarf assumed that when you threw the stick, you'd pay attention to the message that it gave and would have seen the key." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			smartgenes asks, "i thought we had the key already?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nope." 	
			smartgenes says, "we reloaded then" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bags" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the dirty sandbag or the torn sandbag?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x dirty sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | It's a canvas bag, more than two feet long. The surface is liberally
Floyd | smeared with mud.

Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "What was it that destroyed the bridge before?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We have to wait for lightning for a light source, I take it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, the bridge has been destroyed twice." 	
			Bert asks, "A lightning strike, or the tree falling, or the boulder, or the water flooding it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Once by us - the rock - and once by lightning." 	
			Bert says, "The second time, I mean." 	
			DavidW says, "And maybe wash off the mud from the sandbag to read any markings." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think it was lightning." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "clean dirty bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "no the rock knocks down the tree, no?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, SG." 	
			Jacqueline says, "The tree is hit by lightning" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean dirty sandbag" 		smartgenes says, "i mean the lightning knocks down the tree" 	
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We have to wait for lightning, methinks." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. Simultaneously the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder from outside. It is echoed by a splintering crash from

Floyd | somewhere outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pure white fades into a greenish glare. Flat colored shadows show
Floyd | the outlines of everything around you; you hold your head still to
Floyd | focus on the afterimages.
Floyd |

Floyd | In a Small Shed
Floyd | The shed is only a few paces long, and nearly empty. The door is to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pair of large canvas bags is piled untidily here. One is rather
Floyd | dirty; the other has a tear along one seam, from which sand dribbles

Floyd | onto the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We get two turns of light." 	
			DavidW says, "oh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Please drive, by all means, as I have to go soon." 	
			DavidW says, "no, I'm quite lost. Better if someone else drove." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, unfortunately I think both Bert and I need to head out." 	
	You have been superseded. 		
	--- Disconnected on Sunday, August 10, 2008, 11:58 AM --- 		
	--- Connected for 2 hours, 33 minutes, 29 seconds --- 		
			
			
	--- Connected on Sunday, August 10, 2008, 11:58 AM --- 		
	************************************************************************ 		
	** ** 		
	** Welcome to ifMUD! ** 		
	** ** 		
	************************************************************************ 		
			
			
			
			
			
	If you... 		
			
			
			
			
			
			
	TYPE connect, who, or quit: 		
	Login Succeeded 		
	ifMUD 		
	An interactive conversation 		
	Copyright 1997-2007 by Loungent Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of 		
	rec.[arts|games].int-fiction; All rights reserved. 		
	Release 4 / Serial number 990908 / perlMUD v2.1z 		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
	The Seventh Sea 		
	This is it! The mythical Seventh Sea! Arr, there'll be plunderin' tonight! 		
			
	You can see: Shh! sign, dartboard, Cast of Characters, Saturday 6pm EST group, Sunday 3pm EST group, Jehiela, Yasmina, fudge dice, megacounter, aspect tracker, drama die dispenser, pile of 10-sided dice, dice bag, sorte deck 		
			
	Players: GM, Cat, Gert 		
	Visible Exits: south, west 		
	There are 11 new messages on #games/roleplaying/7thsea. 		
	There are 43 new messages on #games/roleplaying/D&D. 		
	There are 8 new messages on #games/roleplaying/Helvetica. 		
	There are 24 new messages on #games/roleplaying/rpg. 		
	There is one new message on #games/roleplaying/shadowrun. 		
	There are 15 new messages on #games/roleplaying/Spirit. 		
	There are 7 new messages on #games/roleplaying/TPK. 		
	There are 7 new messages on #games/roleplaying/ussura. 		
	There are 3 new messages on #games/whiz-games. 		
	There are 51 new messages on #if/clubfloyd. 		
	There are 2 new messages on the main bulletin board. 		
	You mute all channels temporarily. 		
	You un-mute #if/clubfloyd. 		
	Playtime! 		
	Toyshop and Floyditorium 		
	Bulging toychests make this a child's (or child-at-heart's) dream. Play all day, play all night. A small booth has been erected and is staffed by a friendly robot. The sign over it says, "INFOKOM GAMEZ 5 cents". A small notice on the door reads, "PLEASE RETURN TOYS TO THIS ROOM WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THEM." 		
			
	You can see: green button, banana machine, faucets, toy catalogue, a crystal ball, cuddly walrus, clicker, cloak, tic-tac-toe, thermometer, yellow button, waldo whisper object, checkers board, Werewolf rules, bunny burger, signaling device, Mike Tyson, IF Programmer Barbie, IF FLOYD'S DOWN, TELL JOTA -- OR ELSE HE WON'T KNOW, Autohugger, Photocopier, basketball, midterm monster, frobozz magic dispenser, fun shiny toy, madlibs, orange, jukebox, FREE DONUTS machine, long-stemmed red rose, dfan's quest, miniature ifMUD, Pun Police Whistle, orange door, monkey guru, mind chess, the 'hello there, clubfloyd!' cube, apple, a zorkmid, storyharp, save button, specimen jar, soda reading 'Don't drink me!', Gene Ray, jellybean, Best of Speed?, Gak, ClubFloyd Suggestions, colourcoding device 		
	Players: Waldo, Floyd, Bert, Jacqueline, DavidW, Taleslinger, inky, smartgenes, Corporal_Touchy 		
	Visible Exits: northeast (to the Lounge) 		smartgenes says, "open sandbags" 	
			Bert asks, "Try not to kill Perry?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | dirty sandbag: You heave the dirty sandbag, awkwardly, up into your
Floyd | arms.
Floyd | torn sandbag: One of these things, you can barely carry. Two, never.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Bert), "I'm not sure what happened - I think someone tried to gank him for RPG." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah - yeah. I asked about this earlier." 	
			smartgenes asks, "hmm use for sandbags?" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Bert), "Do you guys have an alternate, or do you need Perry?" 	
			Bert says, "We'll be fine." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Did you let Mis know what's going on?" 	
			Bert says, "I just walked in there and they already seemed to know." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is he cool?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
			Bert says, "He is so cool he is ice, baby." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We should probably set up our own logging account, since this has happened a couple of times now." 	
			Bert says, "Any account can be used to log.[1]" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Bert says, "[1] Offer not applicable to Guest accounts." 	
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says, "Right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, Bert and inky are heading out for RPG." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I need to go to a charity function and actually am expected to speak at it, so I have to be on time." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Who is left?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "open dirty sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | It's sewn shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I still recommend checking out the downed tree and trying to mess with and possibly move the sandbags." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wish I could just ask for a delay until I get home, but I have company coming over this evening." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I will happily keep my system running and logging while you guys play." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Looks like SG is driving. Good deal." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I shall see you all later." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "I think you'll be able to catch up quickly. It's not like you've missed out on plot." 	
			smartgenes says, "looks like i volunteered myself somehow" 	
			Jacqueline says, "There really isn't much of a plot... just puzzles." 	
			smartgenes asks, "so do we need to open the bags or seal them both?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I will be back later to figure out if we're on for next week or not. See you guys in a couple of hours." 	
			Jacqueline heads out. 	
			smartgenes says, "bye J" 	
			smartgenes asks, "has my connection blown?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a dirty sandbag, a rusty key and a battered tin
Floyd | bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I have to head out, too." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Have fun, y'all." 	
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		smartgenes says, "i vote for all to share moves" 	
			Bert says (to W), "In short: we found the key, slept in the cave, woke up in the middle of the night (while there's still a thunderstorm happening), heard a search party that for some reason we don't want to reveal ourselves to, discovered that lightning has knocked the tree down, unlocked the shed, and found sandbags inside." 	
			DavidW asks, "What's special about the tree?" 	
			Bert says, "It used to be tall and unclimbable." 	
			smartgenes says, "there is a bridge and a stream with which we filled the bucket" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		Bert says, "Now it is broken and on the ground and possibly being a useful log in some form." 	
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | You feel the hollow darkness of an enclosed space. To the west, an
Floyd | oblong of flat grey half-light betrays the doorway. Nothing else is
Floyd | visible.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.

Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere below, you hear a terrible
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You know without seeing that the bridge has been destroyed. You begin

Floyd | to rush downhill, but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the
Floyd | weight of nightmare...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		DavidW says, "I think the dirty sandbag might be labelled or marked in some way. I would try to find out what, if anything, it says on it." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x dirty sandbag" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of

Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a
Floyd | lovely cough.
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Also, you may want to restore to the last saved game, because lightning will destroy the bridge after a certain number of turns." 	
			Bert says, "(Did Jacq actually save after waking, or do you need to do all the waiting and sleeping again?)" 	
			smartgenes exclaims, "you are right!" 	
			smartgenes asks, "we get the key before sleeping right?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Waiting on the shore; sand yields beneath my feet
Floyd | The water shouts and roars and rushes
Floyd | And breaks on the rocks, and

Floyd | Never comes near to where I wait.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The picnic is going full blast, which is exactly why you've wandered
Floyd | away from it. It's not that you don't like your new companions; it's

Floyd | just that after weeks of spending each day around them, a noisy weekend
Floyd | cook-out isn't the way to relax. Some exploration -- on your own -- is
Floyd | an appealing thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | None of them noticed you drifting away, anyhow.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story
Floyd | Copyright 1995-6 by Andrew Plotkin. Please copy and play freely.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about".)
Floyd | Release 6 / Serial number 960613 / Inform v1405 Library 5/8

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | The grasses are fragrant under the sunshine of a late, late summer
Floyd | afternoon. A stream chatters by at your feet, and a weathered old
Floyd | wooden bridge stretches across it to the east. Beyond the stream, a
Floyd | scrubby hillside stretches upward.

Floyd |
Floyd | The shouts of the volleyball players and the boom-box thump are
Floyd | pleasantly far off to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Lightning destroys the bridge?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge creaks as you cross it, and sways a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank

Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I just wanna lie down. My stomach's all a bit queasy." 	
			Bert says (to W), "The thing you just saw a moment ago." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers

Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and
Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads

Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A glint in a nearby bush looks more metallic than floral.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get glint" 		
	

Floyd | (It turns out to be a battered old tin bucket.) Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a pair of dark eyes in the edge of your vision; then they are

Floyd | gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.

Floyd |
Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass
Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x fox" 		
	

Floyd | The fox's eyes gleam darkly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is lazily approaching the horizon.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox chases its tail furiously for a moment, then stops and stares
Floyd | at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The hillside is bare rock in that direction, and much too steep to
Floyd | climb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "sorry, I gotta lie down. I can't concentrate on anything." 	
			smartgenes asks, "ok who else is with me?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter in the sunlight.
Floyd | In the distance, a lake reflects orange fire from the setting sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle

Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pour water" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to pour the quantity of water on?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "mud" 		
	

Floyd | You splash the water around the spade. The mud absorbs it greedily.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get spade" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade slides free of the mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "dig trench" 		
	

Floyd | You scrape some more dirt from the trench. Aside from getting your
Floyd | hands dirty, it accomplishes little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface.
Floyd | Greenery hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows

Floyd | and sky beyond sweep away endlessly to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path. You could probably use it to get
Floyd | across. (One of those little coincidences that makes your life a little
Floyd | nicer.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you

Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the broken spade, considering your balance. You stretch a foot

Floyd | towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two quick steps. The bush
Floyd | trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of bushes and small trees. The ground falls
Floyd | away to the southeast, to the meadows below; you can see a lake far to

Floyd | the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a scattering of clouds which

Floyd | have begun to drift in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | Thrown.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x shed" 		
	

Floyd | The shed is weathered but sturdy, still wearing the tatters of a coat
Floyd | of white paint. The door is closed. The lock looks badly rusted.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x trees" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a broken spade and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears under a nearby bush.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox darts at something in the undergrowth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | Thrown.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "i thought it was hear i threw the stick?" 	
			smartgenes says, "but there is the message about the fox darting in the undergrowth" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The western horizon has become a surging sea of gold and scarlet waves.
Floyd | The light is magical -- a cool bronze radiance that somehow makes the
Floyd | grass and foliage more intensely green than ever.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox has slipped away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of bushes, small trees, and shadow. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, to the green meadows below; you can
Floyd | see a lake far to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to

Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "dig undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the broken spade, considering your balance. You stretch a foot
Floyd | towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two quick steps. The bush

Floyd | trembles but holds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The moment is gone. The sun has set, although the clouds are still

Floyd | well-lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a pair of dark eyes in the edge of your vision; then they are
Floyd | gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER is now in its "verbose" mode, which always
Floyd | gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there

Floyd | before).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the last light. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears under a nearby bush.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | Thrown.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox darts at something in the undergrowth.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge boulder" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wedge the boulder in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge stick" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wedge the broken spade in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a broken spade and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox vanishes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge boulder" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wedge the boulder in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "with spade" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge spade" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wedge the broken spade in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "in boulder" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "huh what was the command?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pry boulder" 		
	

Floyd | As you lean over the boulder, you notice a cave of some sort behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave -- fruitlessly. It's
Floyd | well sunk into the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under the clouds.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "lift boulder" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "insert spade" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to insert the broken spade in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "in boulder" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "insert spade" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to insert the broken spade in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You push the spade under the boulder, kick the blade to settle it, and
Floyd | lean on the shaft. Nothing happens for a moment, and you're leaning
Floyd | harder, and the boulder starts to move, and
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | The spade's shaft has broken off in your hands, right above the blade,
Floyd | which is now caught under the boulder. On the other hand, you've moved
Floyd | the boulder up out of its hole; it's balanced on the rim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "that was damm stoopid author commands" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get boulder" 		
	

Floyd | The boulder is too heavy to lift.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get blade" 		
	

Floyd | The boulder is resting full on the spade blade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.

Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a lit circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x blanket" 		
	

Floyd | It's a ratty old blanket, torn and mouse-chewed, tangled with bits of
Floyd | twig and old leaves. Nonetheless, it looks warm.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the
Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just

Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | Thrown.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		
	smartgenes arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist and rain. Behind you
Floyd | stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just

Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "running verrry sloooowwww" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	smartgenes goes home. 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears from behind the boulder.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox glances at you, or perhaps something you hold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | You wind up and hurl the stick into the undergrowth. The fox turn to
Floyd | watch it fly, and then looks back at you. Its expression is quite
Floyd | clear: if you want the stick lost in cold, dripping-wet vegetation,
Floyd | that's entirely a matter between you and the stick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "huh?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in rain. Behind you stands
Floyd | the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox disappears in a flash of orange fur.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "go cave" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |

Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |

Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are getting tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a broken spade shaft and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the

Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave

Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a lit circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.

Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You're not feeling tired yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wear blanke" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "go blanket" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wear blanket" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the blanket)
Floyd | You can't wear that!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are getting tired.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap yourself snugly in the blanket and curl up on the floor. It's
Floyd | hard, but you're dry and warm. What else could you ask for? Your eyes
Floyd | close and the cave drifts away...

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Stone dissolves around you as move up and forwards, into a grainy grey
Floyd | light. A mindless roar stretches in all directions; but it is troubled
Floyd | by a distant murmur. The new sound swells, whispering, pounding, then
Floyd | shouting at you, and you cannot make it out and you cannot make it go

Floyd | --
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Something awakens you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave

Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices are still audible. They surge and swell, on the edge of

Floyd | audibility, somewhere to the west. You are almost certain you hear your
Floyd | name being called.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred

Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The blanket has gotten quite soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just

Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.

Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A black expanse
Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain. Every few
Floyd | moments, a directionless flicker of lightning tries to pull detail from

Floyd | the darkness; but there is only mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. Simultaneously the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder. It is echoed by a splintering crash from the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The torrent of runoff slackens sharply; in moments there is only a
Floyd | trickle left.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere below, you hear a terrible
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You know without seeing that the bridge has been destroyed. You begin
Floyd | to rush downhill, but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the
Floyd | weight of nightmare...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of
Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a
Floyd | lovely cough.

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the
Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the

Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears from behind the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you
Floyd | hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox
Floyd | streaks after it.
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your
Floyd | feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox glances at you, or perhaps something you hold.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist and rain. Behind you
Floyd | stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox blinks.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling
Floyd | straight down the hill to the west, out of sight. A few moments later

Floyd | you hear a rending
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | A sudden wave of nerves pulls you downhill after it....
Floyd |

Floyd | You were right; the bridge has been neatly demolished, and the boulder
Floyd | sits innocently in the stream, in the wreckage. So much for your little
Floyd | exploration. You go off, resigned, to tell the park rangers what you've
Floyd | done.
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a broken spade shaft and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox disappears in a flash of orange fur.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "somehow i lost the bucket in the earlier game" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches
Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of dark meadowland, barely
Floyd | visible in the thickening mist.
Floyd |

Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | Thrown.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The trickle of runoff coming down the southeast path gains strength.
Floyd | Rapidly it becomes a small torrent, pouring by you, out along the

Floyd | trench, and down to the stream below.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW has disconnected. 		
	DavidW goes home. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist and rain. Behind you
Floyd | stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just

Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox suddenly shakes a shower of droplets off itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The underbrush is too dense in that direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | The underbrush is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. A dark expanse

Floyd | stretches to the north and west, impenetrable with rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans uncertainly against the bank at your feet. To the

Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, a black shape made of night and rain;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are getting tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The hillside is bare rock in that direction, and much too steep to
Floyd | climb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | A profusion of flowers lie here, mostly furled against the rain. Edges
Floyd | of white and blue and yellow barely show in the darkness.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns northeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only
Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.

Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | You wind up and hurl the stick into the undergrowth. The fox turn to
Floyd | watch it fly, and then looks back at you. Its expression is quite

Floyd | clear: if you want the stick lost in cold, dripping-wet vegetation,
Floyd | that's entirely a matter between you and the stick.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's dark and it's raining. Hard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get stick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession.  Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,

Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.

Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | The blanket has gotten quite soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.

Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to restart?

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Waiting on the shore; sand yields beneath my feet

Floyd | The water shouts and roars and rushes
Floyd | And breaks on the rocks, and
Floyd | Never comes near to where I wait.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The picnic is going full blast, which is exactly why you've wandered
Floyd | away from it. It's not that you don't like your new companions; it's
Floyd | just that after weeks of spending each day around them, a noisy weekend
Floyd | cook-out isn't the way to relax. Some exploration -- on your own -- is
Floyd | an appealing thought.
Floyd |

Floyd | None of them noticed you drifting away, anyhow.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story
Floyd | Copyright 1995-6 by Andrew Plotkin. Please copy and play freely.

Floyd | (First-time players should type "about".)
Floyd | Release 6 / Serial number 960613 / Inform v1405 Library 5/8
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge Of Meadow
Floyd | The grasses are fragrant under the sunshine of a late, late summer
Floyd | afternoon. A stream chatters by at your feet, and a weathered old

Floyd | wooden bridge stretches across it to the east. Beyond the stream, a
Floyd | scrubby hillside stretches upward.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shouts of the volleyball players and the boom-box thump are
Floyd | pleasantly far off to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge creaks as you cross it, and sways a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank

Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans comfortably against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, shining in the afternoon sunlight;
Floyd | two usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | Elsewhere in the park, flowers lie in hollows and peek out from under
Floyd | the brush. Here you have found a profusion of them. Sprays of white and

Floyd | blue lie everywhere; the vines ripple yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | A glint in a nearby bush looks more metallic than floral.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get glint" 		
	

Floyd | (It turns out to be a battered old tin bucket.) Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "fill bucket" 		
	

Floyd | You fill the bucket with water.
Floyd |
Floyd | From within some tall grass, you notice a pair of dark eyes. The grass
Floyd | blinks, and then it is a small, orange fox who watches you solemnly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "f ne" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches
Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of bright meadowland, patched

Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with streams that glitter in the sunlight.
Floyd | In the distance, a lake reflects white fire from the setting sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the
Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd | Abandoned in the mud near it is a spade. You figure someone was using
Floyd | the spade to dig the trench, and you can also figure why he stopped;
Floyd | the shaft is broken off about two feet up from the blade. The handle
Floyd | end is nowhere in sight.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is lazily approaching the horizon.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "have to throw the stick early" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pour water" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to pour the quantity of water on?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "mud" 		
	

Floyd | You splash the water around the spade. The mud absorbs it greedily.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get spade" 		
	

Floyd | The broken spade slides free of the mud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the thickening sunlight. Behind

Floyd | you stands the last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to
Floyd | the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is half-buried at the base of the hilltop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "pry boulder with spade" 		
	

Floyd | You notice a cave of some sort behind the boulder. (Who would have
Floyd | guessed?)
Floyd |
Floyd | You push the spade under the boulder, kick the blade to settle it, and

Floyd | lean on the shaft. Nothing happens for a moment, and you're leaning
Floyd | harder, and the boulder starts to move, and
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade's shaft has broken off in your hands, right above the blade,

Floyd | which is now caught under the boulder. On the other hand, you've moved
Floyd | the boulder up out of its hole; it's balanced on the rim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox appears on a nearby rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you
Floyd | hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox
Floyd | streaks after it.
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your
Floyd | feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun is settling to the horizon, amid a scattering of clouds which
Floyd | have begun to drift in.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond

Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the sunlight, sweeping to the
Floyd | ribbons of color on the horizon. Behind you stands the last stony lump
Floyd | of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a broken spade shaft here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The fox chases its tail furiously for a moment, then stops and stares
Floyd | at you to make sure you didn't see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw stick" 		
	

Floyd | The fox cocks its head as you wind up; it tenses to spring, and you
Floyd | hurl the stick far back into the undergrowth. With a yip the fox
Floyd | streaks after it.
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment later it's back, bushy tail high. It drops its prize at your
Floyd | feet with an unexpected clink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "well thats really stupid.. why should you do it twice?" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows glow in the sunlight, sweeping to the

Floyd | ribbons of color on the horizon. Behind you stands the last stony lump
Floyd | of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A rusty steel key is lying on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small orange fox is perched nearby, staring at you with undisguised

Floyd | interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox darts at something in the undergrowth.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "i hate badly written games" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You squeeze behind the boulder and crawl inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.
Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a circle of

Floyd | scarlet and gold to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | An ancient and filthy blanket is crumpled against one wall of the cave.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The western horizon has become a surging sea of
Floyd | gold and scarlet waves. The light is magical -- a cool bronze radiance

Floyd | that somehow makes the grass and foliage more intensely green than
Floyd | ever.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The moment is gone. The sun has set, although the
Floyd | clouds are still well-lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The sky is dimming, and a mist is rolling in, under
Floyd | the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance outside. It's dark and it's raining.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are getting tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You take the blanket, wrap yourself snugly in it, and curl up on the
Floyd | floor. It's hard, but you're dry and warm. What else could you ask for?
Floyd | Your eyes close and the cave drifts away...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "yo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Stone dissolves around you as move up and forwards, into a grainy grey
Floyd | light. A mindless roar stretches in all directions; but it is troubled
Floyd | by a distant murmur. The new sound swells, whispering, pounding, then
Floyd | shouting at you, and you cannot make it out and you cannot make it go
Floyd | --

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Something awakens you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | You are in a dark pocket, a stony crack below the summit of the hill.

Floyd | It is not quite high enough to stand in, but surprisingly long,
Floyd | narrowing only slowly towards the back. The entrance is a dim circle of
Floyd | grey to the west, partially obscured by the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices are still audible. They surge and swell, on the edge of
Floyd | audibility, somewhere to the west. You are almost certain you hear your

Floyd | name being called.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just

Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The blanket has gotten quite soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop blanket" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "i will drop the blanket which i never picked up" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | That's odd. The steel key doesn't seem as rusty as you first thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Small Cave
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook

Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the southeast, and
Floyd | pouring down the trench to the unseen stream below.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only

Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's

Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path. You could probably use it to get
Floyd | across. (One of those little coincidences that makes your life a little
Floyd | nicer.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, and streams down the northwest path.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you
Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch a foot towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two
Floyd | quick steps. The bush trembles but holds.

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The
Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to

Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "unlock shed" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the old shed with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "key" 		
	

Floyd | The lock is stiff. You give the key a jerk; the latch scrapes, and the
Floyd | door swings open.
Floyd |
Floyd | That's odd. The steel key doesn't seem as rusty as you first thought.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You step hesitantly into the darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness

Floyd | You feel the hollow darkness of an enclosed space. To the west, an
Floyd | oblong of flat grey half-light betrays the doorway. Nothing else is
Floyd | visible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "hence jacq's thing sbout the time-limit" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your

Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder from outside.
Floyd |

Floyd | The pure white fades into a greenish glare. Flat colored shadows show
Floyd | the outlines of everything around you; you hold your head still to
Floyd | focus on the afterimages.
Floyd |
Floyd | In a Small Shed
Floyd | The shed is only a few paces long, and nearly empty. The door is to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pair of large canvas bags is piled untidily here. One is rather
Floyd | dirty; the other has a tear along one seam, from which sand dribbles
Floyd | onto the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get torn" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the torn sandbag, awkwardly, up into your arms. You manage to

Floyd | do it without straining the torn cloth further.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is dark.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |

Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the north. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.

Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. Simultaneously the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | of thunder. It is echoed by a splintering crash from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the torn sandbag, considering your balance. You stretch a foot
Floyd | towards the bush, shift your weight, and take two quick steps. The bush
Floyd | trembles but holds.
Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |
Floyd | A bush is growing out of a crack in the hillside, to the south. It's
Floyd | right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from

Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch seems to have been blown from the tree. It lies on the
Floyd | ground nearby. One end is still burning.
Floyd |

Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | The runoff water begins to spill out from behind the tree, down the
Floyd | southwest path.
Floyd |

Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd |

Floyd | The trickle of rainwater coming down the east path gains strength.
Floyd | Rapidly it becomes a small torrent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |
Floyd | The trickle of runoff coming down the south path gains strength.
Floyd | Rapidly it becomes a small torrent.
Floyd |

Floyd | The runoff water is pouring down to the stream, right over the bridge
Floyd | pilings. The muddy earth below the bridge is wearing away.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, and you realize the sounds comes from the west, from
Floyd | the other side of the stream. And they are coming closer. You are very
Floyd | sure, suddenly, that you do not want them to reach you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop torn" 		
	

Floyd | You lower the torn sandbag to the ground, trying not to strain it.
Floyd |

Floyd | The runoff water is backing up behind the torn sandbag.
Floyd |
Floyd | You jerk as a shape darts past you. Wild orange fury -- it's the fox,
Floyd | hurtling up onto the bridge like an avenging spirit. The fox crouches
Floyd | on the wet planks and stares fiercely out to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | The distant murmur of voices, across the bridge, seems closer now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns southeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling
Floyd | straight down the hill to the west, out of sight. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a rending
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You feel a freezing rush down your back, and you know without seeing
Floyd | that the bridge below has been destroyed. You begin to rush downhill,
Floyd | but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the weight of
Floyd | nightmare...

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of
Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a

Floyd | lovely cough.
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder southwest" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling down
Floyd | the hill to the south, curving west with the slope. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a small snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get blad" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get blade" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd |
Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.
Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters. (One of those
Floyd | little coincidences that makes your life a little stranger.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from

Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch seems to have been blown from the tree. It lies on the
Floyd | ground nearby, blackened but no longer burning.
Floyd |

Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wedge the spade blade in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "in crack" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to wedge the spade blade in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "crack" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to crack?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade in crack" 		
	

Floyd | The spade blade slips into the crack. You stretch and give it a couple
Floyd | of whacks, to wedge it in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "this is written quite quite terribly" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get branch" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	baf arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		smartgenes says, "ive had quite enough.. this is just rubbish" 	
	baf disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only
Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the

Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the south.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from

Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind

Floyd | what you're carrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession.  Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder sw" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling down

Floyd | the hill to the south, curving west with the slope. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a small snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops off, dangerously steeply, in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.

Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox is crouched on the bridge, staring out to the west with

Floyd | impenetrable intensity.
Floyd |
Floyd | A torn sandbag is lying in a narrow part of the path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox's ears twitch tensely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd |
Floyd | The boulder is lying near here, on the path, wedged against the rise.
Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the east, and backing up
Floyd | on the path here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The runoff water is backing up behind the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns northeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |

Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.
Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters. (One of those
Floyd | little coincidences that makes your life a little stranger.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and

Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch seems to have been blown from the tree. It lies on the
Floyd | ground nearby, blackened but no longer burning.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the

Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder sw" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling down

Floyd | the hill to the south, curving west with the slope. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a small snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get blade" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.

Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd |
Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.
Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters. (One of those
Floyd | little coincidences that makes your life a little stranger.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from

Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch seems to have been blown from the tree. It lies on the
Floyd | ground nearby, blackened but no longer burning.
Floyd |

Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The gap is too wide to jump, and you'll never get a foothold in that
Floyd | crack.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get branch" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The gap is too wide to jump, and you'll never get a foothold in that
Floyd | crack.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade in crack" 		
	

Floyd | The spade blade slips into the crack. You stretch and give it a couple
Floyd | of whacks, to wedge it in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches

Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "restore" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder sw" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling down
Floyd | the hill to the south, curving west with the slope. A few moments later

Floyd | you hear a small snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get blade" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The underbrush is too dense in that direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |

Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.
Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters. (One of those
Floyd | little coincidences that makes your life a little stranger.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and

Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch seems to have been blown from the tree. It lies on the
Floyd | ground nearby, blackened but no longer burning.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the

Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get branch" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge crack with blade" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade in crack" 		
	

Floyd | The spade blade slips into the crack. You stretch and give it a couple
Floyd | of whacks, to wedge it in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a heavy branch, a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.

Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a heavy branch, a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a heavy branch, a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "mysterious case of the disappearing inventory" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that

Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | heavy branch: Dropped.
Floyd | rusty key: Dropped.
Floyd | battered tin bucket: Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop all except branch" 		
	

Floyd | rusty key: Dropped.

Floyd | battered tin bucket: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that

Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "even though i am carrying nothing" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a heavy branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a

Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,

Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd |
Floyd | The fox is crouched on the bridge, staring out to the west with

Floyd | impenetrable intensity.
Floyd |
Floyd | A torn sandbag is lying in a narrow part of the path.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x fox" 		
	

Floyd | The fox's eyes gleam darkly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "kick fox" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd |
Floyd | The boulder is lying near here, on the path, wedged against the rise.

Floyd |
Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the east, and backing up
Floyd | on the path here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The runoff water is backing up behind the boulder.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x water" 		
	

Floyd | A stream of runoff water is flowing down from the east, and backing up

Floyd | on the path here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |

Floyd | The runoff water is backing up behind the boulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns northeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the south.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the southern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the

Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind

Floyd | what you're carrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "no way round" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop branch" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.

Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You flatten your body against the hillside, and stretch a foot towards
Floyd | the spade blade, off-center though you'll be. One quick step; you
Floyd | manage to fall forward onto the trail rather than sideways.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |

Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.

Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "wouldnt a stick help you get across some crazy crack?" 	
			smartgenes says, "i am going to poke the author in the eye with this branch" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You step hesitantly into the darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | of thunder from outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pure white fades into a greenish glare. Flat colored shadows show
Floyd | the outlines of everything around you; you hold your head still to
Floyd | focus on the afterimages.
Floyd |

Floyd | In a Small Shed
Floyd | The shed is only a few paces long, and nearly empty. The door is to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A dirty sandbag is lying on the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	baf arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get dirty sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the dirty sandbag, awkwardly, up into your arms.

Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "k" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "x sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | It's too dark to see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.

Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop bag" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get bag" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the dirty sandbag, awkwardly, up into your arms.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere below, you hear a terrible
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You know without seeing that the bridge has been destroyed. You begin
Floyd | to rush downhill, but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the
Floyd | weight of nightmare...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get bag" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of
Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a
Floyd | lovely cough.

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The hill is too steep and overgrown to descend.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "k" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the dirty sandbag, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The undergrowth is too dense in that direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | Thrown.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw sandbag across bluff" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "k" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The undergrowth is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The undergrowth is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You have barely left sight of the shed when the trail ends. It looks
Floyd | like it was washed out; and the scree that covers the hill face is much
Floyd | too unstable to venture across. You have no choice but to return.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | The undergrowth is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops almost straight down in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | No trails go up the hill from here, and the undergrowth is too heavy to
Floyd | push through.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER is now in its "verbose" mode, which always
Floyd | gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there
Floyd | before).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd | You are in a dense tangle of shadow, bushes, and small trees. The

Floyd | ground falls away to the southeast, into darkness and rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail curves down to the southwest. Another cuts along the hill to
Floyd | the north, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.

Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore h" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to restore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You crawl out. The rain lashes your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd |

Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the
Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The blanket has gotten quite soaked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, the world is cloaked in dark rain, and scarred
Floyd | with distant lightning. Behind you stands the last stony lump of hill.
Floyd | A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the

Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder sw" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling down
Floyd | the hill to the south, curving west with the slope. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a small snap.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get blade" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The underbrush is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook

Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |
Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.

Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters. (One of those
Floyd | little coincidences that makes your life a little stranger.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.

Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch seems to have been blown from the tree. It lies on the
Floyd | ground nearby, blackened but no longer burning.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the
Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get branch" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade in crack" 		
	

Floyd | The spade blade slips into the crack. You stretch and give it a couple
Floyd | of whacks, to wedge it in place.
Floyd |

Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind

Floyd | what you're carrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "k" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | You feel the hollow darkness of an enclosed space. To the west, an
Floyd | oblong of flat grey half-light betrays the doorway. Nothing else is
Floyd | visible.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still

Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw bag across" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to throw the dirty sandbag across?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "bluff" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw bag across bluff" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw bag north" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the dirty sandbag across the gap; it thuds onto the trail on
Floyd | the other side.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes says, "horseshit" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You flatten your body against the hillside, and stretch a foot towards

Floyd | the spade blade, off-center though you'll be. One quick step; you
Floyd | manage to fall forward onto the trail rather than sideways.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the south.

Floyd | It's right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | A dirty sandbag is lying on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch lies on the ground nearby, blackened but no longer
Floyd | burning.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the

Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path. The
Floyd | sandbag is lying in the torrent, but the path is too wide here; the
Floyd | water pours around it.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere below, you hear a terrible
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You know without seeing that the bridge has been destroyed. You begin
Floyd | to rush downhill, but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the
Floyd | weight of nightmare...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of
Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a
Floyd | lovely cough.

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore h" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a blanket, a rusty key and a battered tin bucket.

Floyd |
Floyd | That's odd. The steel key doesn't seem as rusty as you first thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Rain
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, and to the west is only
Floyd | dark.

Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the south.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the southern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the

Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder sw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You heft the heavy branch, considering your balance. You realize that
Floyd | you'll never make it across. The blade only sticks out a few inches
Floyd | from the hillside; you'd be off-balance enough by yourself, never mind
Floyd | what you're carrying.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "j" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "drop branch" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | of thunder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterimages hang around you in a greenish glare. You blink furiously,
Floyd | trying to sort out the shadows from what's really there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You flatten your body against the hillside, and stretch a foot towards
Floyd | the spade blade, off-center though you'll be. One quick step; you

Floyd | manage to fall forward onto the trail rather than sideways.
Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.
Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.

Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |
Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You step hesitantly into the darkness.
Floyd |

Floyd | Darkness
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A no-time, eternal instant of light lances through you, snapping your
Floyd | mind to silence. A moment later the silence is broken by a
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!

Floyd |
Floyd | of thunder from outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pure white fades into a greenish glare. Flat colored shadows show
Floyd | the outlines of everything around you; you hold your head still to
Floyd | focus on the afterimages.

Floyd |
Floyd | In a Small Shed
Floyd | The shed is only a few paces long, and nearly empty. The door is to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A dirty sandbag is lying on the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get dirt sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In a Small Shed
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get dirty sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the dirty sandbag, awkwardly, up into your arms.
Floyd |

Floyd | The afterimages evaporate into a black dazzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of Bluff
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the north.

Floyd | It's right in the gap in the northern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old shed stands just to the east. It's weathered but sturdy, still
Floyd | wearing the tatters of a coat of white paint. The door is open to the
Floyd | unrelieved darkness within.
Floyd |

Floyd | The voices surge, then fade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "throw sandbag n" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the dirty sandbag across the gap; it thuds onto the trail on

Floyd | the other side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You flatten your body against the hillside, and stretch a foot towards

Floyd | the spade blade, off-center though you'll be. One quick step; you
Floyd | manage to fall forward onto the trail rather than sideways.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd |
Floyd | The spade blade is jammed into a crack in the hillside, to the south.

Floyd | It's right in the gap in the southern path.
Floyd |
Floyd | A dirty sandbag is lying on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy branch lies on the ground nearby, blackened but no longer
Floyd | burning.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lone tree has been laid low. About ten feet still sticks up from
Floyd | the ground; the rest lies across the path and downslope, splintered and
Floyd | scorched.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is flowing down the hillside here. It puddles on the

Floyd | ledge, behind the fallen tree, and streams down the southwest path. The
Floyd | sandbag is lying in the torrent, but the path is too wide here; the
Floyd | water pours around it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "get sandbag" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the dirty sandbag, awkwardly, up into your arms.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere below, you hear a terrible
Floyd |

Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |
Floyd | You know without seeing that the bridge has been destroyed. You begin
Floyd | to rush downhill, but the trail seems to stretch and time takes on the
Floyd | weight of nightmare...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You awaken in the cave, sore and cold, bathed in the listless light of
Floyd | an overcast dawn. By the time you wade across the swollen stream,
Floyd | you're as soaked and miserable as if you'd slept out in the rain after
Floyd | all. You reach civilization exhausted and with what promises to be a
Floyd | lovely cough.

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | You are high on the hill; it rolls downward and off to the west. Beyond
Floyd | the trees and brush, meadows fade in the mist. Behind you stands the
Floyd | last stony lump of hill. A narrow trail curves away to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A boulder is lying at the base of the hilltop, prised up out of the

Floyd | hole it was in. The boulder is resting on a spade blade. There's just
Floyd | enough room to squeeze into the cave behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling
Floyd | straight down the hill to the west, out of sight. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a rending
Floyd |
Floyd | Crack!
Floyd |

Floyd | A sudden wave of nerves pulls you downhill after it....
Floyd |
Floyd | You were right; the bridge has been neatly demolished, and the boulder
Floyd | sits innocently in the stream, in the wreckage. So much for your little
Floyd | exploration. You go off, resigned, to tell the park rangers what you've
Floyd | done.

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Things could have turned out better. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "push boulder sw" 		
	

Floyd | You grasp the boulder as best you can and heave. It goes tumbling down

Floyd | the hill to the south, curving west with the slope. A few moments later
Floyd | you hear a small snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | The underbrush is too dense in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Top of Hill
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Outlook
Floyd | A wide angular tongue juts out from the hillside. The park stretches

Floyd | off to the north and west, a vast expanse of dim meadowland, patched
Floyd | with dark woods and stitched with dark streams. A layer of mist is
Floyd | rolling across the landscape.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trail leads southwest down the hill, towards the bridge. From where
Floyd | you stand, it turns southeast and continues upward, deeply cut into the

Floyd | hillside. A narrower trail leads more steeply up to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Someone has dug a trench here, from the path out over the bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | The mist is turning to a drizzle of rain.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears under a nearby bush.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		ParserGirl says, "(what's today's selection?)" 	
			smartgenes says, "a change in the weather" 	
			smartgenes says, "just me left playing though" 	
			ParserGirl says, "Ah, ok." 	
			ParserGirl says, "Np - I figured I'd end up missing it entirely." 	
			smartgenes says, "really badly written" 	
			Bert says, "Yeah, I think the formal CF session ended a while back." 	
			ParserGirl asks, "That's fine - any word on next week?" 	
			smartgenes says, "like it accepts wedge blade in crack" 	
			smartgenes says, "not wedge crack with blade" 	
			DavidW says, "Jacq will discuss next week's when she gets back later today." 	
			smartgenes says, "and not wedge blade "in what?" crack" 	
			ParserGirl says, "ouch" 	
			smartgenes says, "and you throw sandbag north" 	
			smartgenes says, "not throw sandbag across bluff" 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stream Bank
Floyd | A slope descends to the noisy stream to the west. The old wooden bridge
Floyd | which spans it leans uncertainly against the bank at your feet. To the
Floyd | east rises the flank of the hill, a dark shape in the twilight; two

Floyd | usable trails lead up around it, to the south and the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | A profusion of flowers lie here, mostly furled against the rain. Edges
Floyd | of white and blue and yellow show in the dim light.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads

Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The boulder is lying near here, on the path, wedged against the rise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns northeast as it climbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Mist

Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows and
Floyd | clouds beyond sweep away into the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.
Floyd |

Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.
Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters. (One of those
Floyd | little coincidences that makes your life a little stranger.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you

Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The hill is too steep and overgrown to descend.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl has had her fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | The trail turns west as it descends.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wildflowers
Floyd | A profusion of flowers lie here, mostly furled against the rain. Edges
Floyd | of white and blue and yellow show in the dim light.
Floyd |

Floyd | Beyond a slight rise to the west, the ground drops precipitously to the
Floyd | stream. A trail leads northward towards the bridge; another heads
Floyd | steeply up to the east, and a third curves around the hill to the
Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The boulder is lying near here, on the path, wedged against the rise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The hill is too steep and overgrown to climb.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The gap is too wide to jump, and you'll never get a foothold in that

Floyd | crack.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge crack with blade" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face
Floyd | [Previous turn undone]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		McMartin says (to smartgenes), "It helps to remember when ACITW was written." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "wedge blade in crack" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		smartgenes asks, "when was it written?" 	
			McMartin says, "1995. I think it might even be Inform *5*, not yet 6." 	
			McMartin says, "It's definitely old enough that the base library will crash an interpreter in strict mode." 	
			smartgenes says, "by1995 you had some awesomely written games on Spectrum" 	
			smartgenes says, "but i suppose the PC wasn't a games machine then" 	
			McMartin asks, "... do you have any idea of the history of the game you're playing at all?" 	
			smartgenes says, "no, none" 	
			McMartin says, "It's from the first IFComp, which was intended to be the first situation where people who weren't the language designer ever used the development system." 	
			McMartin says, "In an effort to get the language and library better exercised." 	
			smartgenes says, "i can see it tends to accept only 2 word commands, but sometimes it needs 4" 	
			smartgenes says, "i wonder if the author had played many games" 	
			McMartin says, "That shouldn't be true in either sense, unless you're counting articles, in which case the first is false" 	
			McMartin says, "ha. 'Yes.'" 	
			McMartin says, "The game you're playing won the comp." 	
			smartgenes says, "well commands such as "wedge crack" it asks what with" 	
			smartgenes says, "early commands that we gave 4 terms to weren't understood" 	
			McMartin says, "The author of the game and the author of the world model were not the same." 	
			smartgenes says, "but you do need to push boulder southwest for instance" 	
			smartgenes asks, "by world model do you mean Inform?" 	
			McMartin says, "Yes, and specifically the Inform libraries" 	
			McMartin says, "Which prior to 1995 had essentially only been used to back Curses." 	
			smartgenes says, "well of course.. but Inform is a tool to develop games from" 	
	baf has decided to waive his right to party. 		smartgenes says, "it had its limitations then" 	
			McMartin says, "Right, but, for instance, WEDGE is not a standard verb, so Plotkin added it. While PUSH ROCK SOUTHWEST is a standard action." 	
			McMartin says, "This was also Plotkin's first seriously intended game, IIRC." 	
			smartgenes asks, "what is IIRC?" 	
			Alex says (to smartgenes), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that IIRC is If I Recall Correctly." 	
			McMartin says, "I suspect you'd find works by the same author with more experience and a later time frame, like Spider and Web or Dreamhold, to be significantly smoother." 	
			smartgenes says, "thought you meant an IRC channel" 	
			smartgenes says, "he doesnt seem to have the knowledge of what went before though" 	
			Jacqueline is back. 	
			Jacqueline says, "You guys are done, and just chatting, it would appear." 	
			McMartin says, "Knowing what a game did, and knowing how to write it yourself with a system that has just been released, are not the same thing." 	
			smartgenes says, "we're discussing the game's weaknesses" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Huh - gave up?" 	
			McMartin says, "Well, I'm claiming your complaints are not on point." 	
			smartgenes says, "i think they are" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, that's unfortunate. It happens, though. Sorry I couldn't hang out." 	
			smartgenes says, "if it's just an experiment in a new system then it's just an experiement" 	
			McMartin says, "Your complaint, as near as I can tell, is that a game written in Inform 5 as the first work of an author doesn't play identically to a Spectrum game." 	
			McMartin says, "This is not on point because the intended experience emulation was Infocoms, for one, and because the Spectrum didn't leave Europe to any degree worth mentioning, for two." 	
			smartgenes says, "no my complaint is that a game written in 1995 should have a better parser than this" 	
			McMartin says, "If you have Infocom reflexes, Inform 1-5 have a perfectly acceptable parser." 	
			smartgenes asks, "so it is a US-based game?" 	
			McMartin says, "And should, for instance, happily accept > FRED, TAKE ALL BUT ROPE." 	
			McMartin says, "Plotkin lives in the US, yes." 	
			McMartin says, "Nelson does not but had extensive experience with it and the TERA system, IIRC." 	
			smartgenes says, "yes but you have to admit WEDGE BLADE IN CRACK rather than WEDGE CRACK is a bit rough" 	
			McMartin says, "That depends a great deal." 	
			McMartin says, "WEDGE CRACK I can't even parse." 	
			smartgenes says, "not as bad as THe Hobbit and The Boggit mind where you have to CLIMB INTO not CLIMB IN" 	
			Bert asks, "What in the world is 'wedge crack' even supposed to mean?" 	
			McMartin says, "As a person. It sounds like you're trying to jam the crack into something." 	
			* NewsBoy hollers, "Extra! Extra! Jacqueline has posted message 52, about 'No game this coming week!', to the bulletin board! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know wot I mean?" 	
			smartgenes says, "JAM CRACK WITH OBJECT" 	
			McMartin says, "WEDGE and JAM are not synonyms." 	
			smartgenes says, "not JAM OBJECT INTO CRACK" 	
			McMartin says, "Yeah, see, WEDGE X says X is the DO, not the IO to me." 	
			McMartin says, "Furthermore, my first shot at that would have been PUT BLADE IN CRACK." 	
			Bert says, "'JAM CRACK WITH OBJECT' would make sense if the crack were moving, maybe." 	
			Bert says, "But it sounds really strange to me otherwise." 	
			Bert says, "I could imagine 'JAM GEARS WITH WRENCH' or 'WEDGE DOOR WITH WEDGE'..." 	
			smartgenes says, "anyway the real complaint was that you had to WEDGE BLADE IN CRACK" 	
			McMartin says, "Yeah, and I'm clearly unimpressed" 	
			smartgenes says, "but when you WEDGE BLADE - in what? - crack .. it doesn't understand" 	
			Bert asks, "You couldn't just PUT BLADE IN CRACK?" 	
			McMartin says, "And yes, the custom-designed disambiguation questions took a very long time to make it into the standard development systems." 	
			McMartin says, "It's still not easy, and in modern engines the usual technique is to guess a reasonable indirect object." 	
			McMartin says, "And then offer alternatives as the question." 	
			smartgenes says, "JAM squeeze or wedge into a space" 	
			* NewsBoy hollers, "Extra! Extra! Jacqueline has posted message 53, about 'Please Vote!', to the bulletin board! WELCOME to the WORLD of TOMORROW!!!" 	
			smartgenes says, "WEDGE = thrust tightly into" 	
			McMartin says, "Right, but PUT is a standard verb and those two aren't." 	
			smartgenes says, "so close synonyms" 	
			smartgenes says, "i don't know if it accepts put" 	
			Bert says, "I'm kinda surprised that WEDGE worked at all." 	
			McMartin says, "So unless I was cued by the text I'd never even think of issuing the command." 	
			smartgenes says, "jacq came up with WEDGE" 	
			Bert says, "So I guess I'm impressed at the author's thoroughness." 	
			McMartin says (to Bert), "Well, the next question is whether, say, 'wedge apple on table' just sets it there." 	
			McMartin says, "In which case it's just a matter of adding synonyms for the basic actions." 	
	smartgenes says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Steep Face

Floyd | You're standing on a ledge, on a rather steep, overgrown hillface. Mist
Floyd | hides the stream below and the hilltop above, but the meadows and
Floyd | clouds beyond sweep away into the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trails angle down to the northwest and southwest. Another crosses the
Floyd | hill to the south, but a chunk is washed out, too wide to jump across.

Floyd |
Floyd | The bush seems to have been utterly demolished by the falling boulder.
Floyd | Nothing is left in the crack but a couple of splinters.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the hill's brush and scraggly trees, the tree that stands here
Floyd | stands alone. You might be able to get your arms around it, and you

Floyd | might not; it must reach nearly as high as the hilltop itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | Runoff water is trickling down the hill, concentrated here by some
Floyd | twist of geography. It puddles on the ledge, then begins pouring down
Floyd | the path to the northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fox appears under a nearby bush.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Insert and PutOn are two different actions in Inform." 	
			Bert says, "So you'd have to check WEDGE APPLE IN BAG."	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript: IntroComp 2008 Session 1, by Various Authors
As played on ifMUD on September 7, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript for two thirds of the 2008 IntroComp entries, in the following order: Storm Cellar, by P. F. Sheckarski; Fiendish Zoo, by Elizabeth Heller; Bedtime Story, by Taleslinger; and The Bloody Guns, by Stuart Allen. These games were originally released as part of the 2008 IntroComp. You can learn more about these games, including how to download them, by visiting the ifWiki.

If you'd like to skip to a particular game in the transcript, you can click on the individual title:
Storm Cellar
by P. F. Sheckarski

Fiendish Zoo
by Elizabeth Heller

Bedtime Story
by Taleslinger

The Bloody Guns
by Stuart Allen

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
			
	
PLEASE NOTE:	Due to a technical complication where many of us were booted off the ifMUD, the first portion of Storm Cellar's transcript is not present. We unfortunately start the transcript in media res...

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ditch" 		
	

Floyd | The ditch is too dark and overgrown to see much of it. It looks deep,
Floyd | though. You wouldn't want to go walking through it. The tall grass
Floyd | could hide snakes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You get out of the rental car.
Floyd |
Floyd | Scene of the Accident

Floyd | A flatbed truck blocks the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | Drainage ditches run along either side of the road, continuing on to
Floyd | the west and back east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your rental car remains parked here, blocked by the wrecked pick-up

Floyd | truck.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x truck" 		
	

Floyd | It has been abandoned, presumably due to the damage done to it. The

Floyd | hood has been crumpled, staved in. It blocks both lanes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look under car" 		
	

Floyd | (the car key)

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look under rental" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look on bed" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "climb truck" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "I need to go ... I'll be back later, bye" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter truck" 		
	

Floyd | There's too much blood.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "shift gear" 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't remember how long it's been since you saw something down that
Floyd | stretch of road. It could be hours, or longer, before you found help
Floyd | that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday goes home. 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You brace yourself for a long walk down the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | Further down the Road

Floyd | About half a mile from the accident, something rushing through the
Floyd | switchgrass catches your eye.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "x switchgrass" 		
	

Floyd | You peer through the switchgrass, trying to catch a glimpse of the
Floyd | shadow you saw, but you can't make anything out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "untangle eye" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe grins 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "enter switchgrass" 		
	

Floyd | It's not wise to go wandering off like that. Best to stick to the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | It's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyed), "close umbrella" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "close umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | Frrip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | As you head down the road once more, a shadow rushes toward you from
Floyd | out of the grass. Before you can react, the form, which barely comes up
Floyd | to your waist, flits by you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a giggle, then a jingle. Your car keys.
Floyd |

Floyd | The shadow vanishes into the grasses.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe asks, "Children of the corn?" 		
	GDorn says, "pickpocketers of the corn" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "chase shadow" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen" 		Jacqueline says, "Heehee - pickpocketers of the corn." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x shadow" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing except the wind, and the occasional thunderclap from
Floyd | the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You peer through the switchgrass, trying to catch a glimpse of the
Floyd | shadow you saw, but you can't make anything out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate, then step forward to venture into the grass.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly you hear a sharp rustling, then jingling over your head. You
Floyd | try to catch a glimpse of your keys as they fly through the air. You
Floyd | hear them fall into the grass on the other side of the road. You hear
Floyd | giggling, that of a small child.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search grass" 		
	

Floyd | You peer through the switchgrass, trying to catch a glimpse of the
Floyd | shadow you saw, but you can't make anything out.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Once again, the keys fly over your head and into the grass on the other
Floyd | side of the road.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | Foomp.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "As far as I know, we can't get the keys back." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "catch keys with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You continue west from the wreck. Signs of civilization grow farther
Floyd | and farther apart. Even the odd fencepost seems like a milestone now.
Floyd |

Floyd | You decide to turn around and try your luck back east -- when you spot
Floyd | a sign up ahead.
Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection
Floyd | The road plunges west, into the storm, and continues back east to the
Floyd | wreck and your rental car.

Floyd |
Floyd | The road forks here, and a weathered billboard announces a motel to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I couldn't get them back, either... but then, I'm horrible at puzzles, so..." 	
			dhakajack asks, "how does a single key jingle?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, it's on a key ring." 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps the full game returns them to us." 	
	dhakajack goes home. 		
	Nitku was translated with Google. Sorry. 		
	Syntax: whisper person = message (or) .person message 		
	GDorn goes home. 		
	PaulSharke goes home. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x billboard" 		
	

Floyd | It says MOTEL. Years of sun and rain have faded the billboard, and if
Floyd | it had any smaller text it's impossible to read now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW has disconnected. 		
	DavidW has connected. 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | It says MOTEL. Years of sun and rain have faded the billboard, and if

Floyd | it had any smaller text it's impossible to read now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | It says MOTEL. Years of sun and rain have faded the billboard, and if

Floyd | it had any smaller text it's impossible to read now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "enter hotel" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Intersection
Floyd | The road plunges west, into the storm, and continues back east to the
Floyd | wreck and your rental car.
Floyd |
Floyd | The road forks here, and a weathered billboard announces a motel to the
Floyd | north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	PaulSharke arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | As you walk towards the motel, the last of the sun's rays disappear
Floyd | behind the western clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | There are no cars here. Maybe the owner has his own car parked around

Floyd | back, and is just having a slow night.
Floyd |
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | It looks like the west end of the building houses the motel's front
Floyd | office. Wooden stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of
Floyd | here. A path leads around back of the motel to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Sorry about that, crashed." 	
			DavidW says, "A few of us did." 	
			PaulSharke says, "Oh, okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I just got hung up then weeeeeee." 	
	JimMunroe says, "I blame the storm's electrical interference." 		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			PaulSharke says, "I coded the crash into the game to make it spookier, you see." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), " x stairs" 		
	

Floyd | Attached to the dilapidated motel. It's weathered, rotting in places.
Floyd | It appears safe to walk on, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), " x office" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the semi-circular path around the motel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, East
Floyd | A narrow alley runs the length of the motel, with motel rooms' windows
Floyd | on one side and a tall fence on the other. The alley continues to the
Floyd | west. East leads back around to the parking lot.

Floyd |
Floyd | The windows have been painted over, except for one. After a quick
Floyd | count, you decide the unpainted window belongs to Room Five.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taped to Room Five's window is a brass key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, window to Room Seven, the window to Room Six or the
Floyd | window to Room Five?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "five" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach the window from here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I should have a more helpful response, there." 	
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "take brass key" 		
	

Floyd | You cannot reach the window from the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to get the brass key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw umbrella at key" 		
	

Floyd | Futile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw umbrella at window" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, window to Room Seven, the window to Room Six or the
Floyd | window to Room Five?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "What's weird is that window five is the only one 'out of reach'." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "five" 		
	

Floyd | Futile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of Paul), "Isn't it weird but cool, watching others play in real time?" 	
			inky says, "oh, heh" 	
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "open umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | It's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Jacqueline, it's nerve-wracking." 	
	JimMunroe says, "I was glad to just read the transcript of the punk points session." 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "window five" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x window five" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach the window from here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Ben says (to Floyd), "poke key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | You prod the key with the umbrella, but you just can't manage to get
Floyd | it. You'll need to get up closer somehow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says, "i would have found it nerve wracking too." 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look through window five" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach the window from here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb fence" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I know." 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
	GDorn arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says, "And it's even annoying for me, since I know how to get to the key." 	
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, West
Floyd | The narrow alley behind the motel ends here. The only way back is to
Floyd | the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "perhaps if we wait until the storm comes, the rain will wash the tape off the window..." 	
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, East
Floyd | A narrow alley runs the length of the motel, with motel rooms' windows
Floyd | on one side and a tall fence on the other. The alley continues to the

Floyd | west. East leads back around to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The windows have been painted over, except for one. After a quick
Floyd | count, you decide the unpainted window belongs to Room Five.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taped to Room Five's window is a brass key.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to dhakajack), "Heh. I hate to spoil you, but no." 	
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the semi-circular path back around the motel to the parking

Floyd | lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | It looks like the west end of the building houses the motel's front
Floyd | office. Wooden stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of

Floyd | here. A path leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear... buzzing from the door to Room Five. Almost like an alarm
Floyd | clock, but steady. More like a buzzsaw, maybe, though not as loud.

Floyd | Several -- no, dozens -- of distant buzzsaws. Or something else. You
Floyd | can't put your finger on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "open room five" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "put finger on in" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the door to Room Seven, the door to Room Six or the

Floyd | door to Room Five?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "kick door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door five" 		
	

Floyd | You can see that the door to Room Five is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "kick door five" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x feel door five" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to door five" 		
	

Floyd | You hear the same odd buzzing through the door. You're still not sure
Floyd | how to describe it, but it sets your teeth on edge and sends a thrill
Floyd | up your spine.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Ben unmanifests his avatar. 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open door six" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open door seven" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "knock on door five" 		
	

Floyd | You knock and wait, but receive no answer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to door six" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to door seven" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "knock on door six" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You knock and wait, but receive no answer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "buzz" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x deck" 		
	

Floyd | Attached to the dilapidated motel. It's weathered, rotting in places.
Floyd | It appears safe to walk on, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | It looks like the west end of the building houses the motel's front

Floyd | office. Wooden stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of
Floyd | here. A path leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "open front door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the office's front door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter office" 		
	JimMunroe says (to Floyd), "enter office" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | The power must be out. You can't see a thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |

Floyd | As your eyes adjust from the office's pitch darkness to the near
Floyd | darkness of the motel's deck, you think you see shadows flying over the
Floyd | railing. They whirl around and disappear below the deck. You hear
Floyd | scampering footsteps rush underneath you, followed by muffled laughter.
Floyd | You look down, and see a candle and a lighter at your feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take candle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take lighter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "light candle" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to light the white candle with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "light candle with lighter" 		
	

Floyd | You spark the lighter, and a small spurt of flame rises from its tip.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hold the lighter to the candle's wick. It ignites, and sheds an
Floyd | unsteady light.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn asks, "sheesh. what else would I light it with?" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter office" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Reception
Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates identifies

Floyd | this room as the motel's front office. Small cubbyholes hang on one
Floyd | wall, each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums
Floyd | behind the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook. On the hook hangs a
Floyd | key.

Floyd |
Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door probably opens onto a
Floyd | utility closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a key. It has something printed on it, but you'd need to hold it
Floyd | in your hand to get a better look at it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to get the key from the office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | You try to maneuver the key off the hook with the umbrella's tip, but
Floyd | while the umbrella is open it is too unwieldy for the task.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "close umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | Frrip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | You slip the umbrella's tip through the keyring and lift it off the
Floyd | hook.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 2 out of a possible 6, in 104 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe says, "whoo" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | Printed on the key is: "If found return to mgmt." Must be a skeleton
Floyd | key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe exclaims, "lunchtime, gotta go -- bye!" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x fridge" 		
	

Floyd | A miniature fridge, the kind often found in college dorms or small

Floyd | office break rooms. Colorful magnetic letters cling to the refrigerator
Floyd | door. Chains have been wrapped around the fridge, barring entry.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "it's a rule of IF. Umbrellas are never to be used for their intended purpose." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x letters" 		
	

Floyd | Colorful letters for children. At the moment they spell out: "WELCOME
Floyd | TO CICADA CREEK".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JimMunroe goes home. 		Taleslinger says, "anchorhead!" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open fridge" 		
	

Floyd | While the padlock is locked, the chains will prevent you from opening
Floyd | the fridge.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock fridge" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the fridge with?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "key" 		
	

Floyd | Suddenly you envision a man with boils or tumors. You can see the veins
Floyd | in them throb. Then one of them bursts. Before you see what issues
Floyd | forth, you shake the vision off.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "vomit" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unplug fridge" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can unplug.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "oh, man" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Argh." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Motel Reception

Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates is the
Floyd | office's largest piece of furniture. Small cubbyholes hang on one wall,
Floyd | each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums behind
Floyd | the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook.

Floyd |
Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door probably opens onto a
Floyd | utility closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open closet" 		
	

Floyd | You open the closet, revealing a cleaning mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take mask" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "perhaps worrisome that the fridge was described as humming and there's no power..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I remember, Paul, wondering why some of the power was out, and some - yeah." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x cubbyholes" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6 or Box 7?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "humming = evil" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x box 1" 		
	

Floyd | It's empty. They all are.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn asks, "are you sure?" 		DavidW says, "I think it comments on that power issue somewhere." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search box 5" 		
	

Floyd | Box 5 is empty.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter box 5" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Yeah, the fridge should be without power. Oops." 	
			DavidW says (to GDorn), "Cubbyholes are shoebox size or so. Not big enough to enter." 	
			GDorn says, "sure, sure. I was hoping for a witty message." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x mask" 		
	

Floyd | A white, disposable cleaning mask to be used while handling especially
Floyd | pungent chemicals.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the cleaning mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku was translated with Google. Sorry. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean desk" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "clean fridge" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | It says: "one night = $7".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga walks the plank to adventure. Arr! 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "rent room" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get sign" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get fridge" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x hook" 		
	

Floyd | It's unreasonably high up on the wall. Unfortunately, there's nothing
Floyd | in the room near it. Even if you climbed onto the counter and jumped,
Floyd | you wouldn't be able to reach it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on fridge" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can stand on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search counter" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the countertop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x lighter" 		
	

Floyd | One of those lighters you can buy in bulk -- and lose in bulk, too.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand on counter" 		
	

Floyd | It looks as though it would collapse under your weight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look under counter" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x candle" 		
	

Floyd | A long, thick white candle. It burns with an unsteady flame.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "hide under counter and gibber in fear and panic" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Maureen says, "Have to go now, I'll catch the transcript later." 	
	GDorn asks, "think we might be done in here. back office?" 		Maureen says, "thanks again to everyone who was part of the comp" 	
			dhakajack says, "o" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
	Maureen goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "Bye, Maureen." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing. Oops." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the interior door is in the way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open interior door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I never did get that damn interior door open." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unlock interior door with key" 		
	

Floyd | You see, in your mind's eye, a pale face with milky eyes. Its lips part
Floyd | slightly, and between the lips you see a sawblade. With a high-pitched

Floyd | whine, the sawblade spins, shredding the man's lips and cheeks. You rub
Floyd | your eyes and endeavor to think of something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline frowns. 	
			dhakajack says, "it is a wooden structure...and we have a candle and lighter..." 	
			DavidW says, "I got it open. Eventually." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x interior door" 		
	

Floyd | You can see that the interior door is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the office's front door or the interior door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock interior door with key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn down motel" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to burn the down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn motel" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn door with candle" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Allen disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn interior door" 		
	

Floyd | You must supply a second noun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn interior door with candle" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to burn the interior door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "take letters" 		
	

Floyd | These magnets are too weak to be of any use.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I just never thought of someone trying to burn the place down." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "rearrange letters" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This is really weird... I'm searching my transcript, Paul, and I didn't get any of those flashbacks." 	
			dhakajack says, "it was a pretty antisocial suggestion on my part..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or visions, or whatever you want to call them." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "move letters" 		
	

Floyd | You push the letters around for a little while, jumbling the message.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "read message" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Maybe I should send you my transcript..." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x letters" 		
	

Floyd | The colorful letters are jumbled in a meaningless array.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Jacqueline, odd. They're supposed to crop up when the skeleton key is tried on a lock which it doesn't fit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Though it is not complete. Want it?)" 	
			DavidW says, "huh. Never thought of moving the letters." 	
			dhakajack says, "I was expecting a creepy message..." 	
			PaulSharke says, "I'd love the transcript. pfsheckarski@gmail.com if you'd be so kind." 	
			GDorn asks, "what did it used to say?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Sure. One sec." 	
			PaulSharke says, "The message originally says "Welcome to Cicada Creek."" 	
			GDorn says, "oh, right" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say hello" 		
	

Floyd | (to yourself)
Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "yell concierge" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search closet" 		
	

Floyd | The closet is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "there should totally be a bell on the counter" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "enter closet" 		
	

Floyd | It's not a walk-in closet. It's just a set of shelves with a door in
Floyd | front, really.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn asks, "also, anagram puzzle?" 	
			dhakajack says, "a bell and a guest list...but perhaps they've been taken already..." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "move letters to spell "SATAN IS MY FRIEND"" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Sent." 	
			PaulSharke says, "GDorn, I wouldn't have a clue as to how to go about coding an anagram puzzle. Haha." 	
			GDorn says, "yeah, me neither" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Jacqueline, thanks very much." 	
			GDorn says, "okay, I think we come back here later. we can get into the humming room now." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West

Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Paul), "You're welcome." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | The west end of the building houses the motel's front office. Wooden
Floyd | stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of here. A path
Floyd | leads around back of the motel to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East

Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door seven" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the door to Room Seven with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door seven with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to Room Seven.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room seven" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to Room Seven.
Floyd |
Floyd | Room Seven
Floyd | Party streamers have been hung from the ceiling. There's also a cake
Floyd | here, with candles burning. The room is far from welcoming, though. The

Floyd | mattress is missing from the bed. The floor is uncarpeted. The windows,
Floyd | barred.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |

Floyd | Beside the cake, you see a birthday card.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says, "um." 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x card" 		
	

Floyd | On the outside is a drawing of seven presents, with a vial being
Floyd | dropped into each box. Inside the card you see:
Floyd |
Floyd | Patient A: Foaming at the mouth.
Floyd | Patient B: BAC ten times above legal limit.
Floyd | Patient C: Loss of bladder control.

Floyd | Patient D: Requires immediate transfusion.
Floyd | Patient E: Burns indicative of flammable chemicals.
Floyd | Patient F: Cursory examination indicates immediate application of rape
Floyd | kit.
Floyd | Patient G: Dehydrated.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn asks, "that'd be the cubby holes?" 		PaulSharke says, "Yep." 	
			dhakajack asks, "and if we go with g=7, we'd be in the dehydrated patient room?" 	
			GDorn asks, "do we solve cubby hole 3 by peeing, or finding a diaper?" 	
			inky says, "it'd be funny if this was all a surprise birthday party setup" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x streamer" 		
	

Floyd | Paper bands crisscross the ceiling. They may have been colorful once,
Floyd | but either sunlight or age has faded them.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x candles" 		
	

Floyd | Wax, pastel swirls. They seem to have faded with age.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x cake" 		
	

Floyd | Some birthday candles have been stuck in the frosting and lit. Looking
Floyd | at the cake, you realize how hungry you are. You can't remember the
Floyd | last time you've eaten something. Your mouth waters.

Floyd |
Floyd | Written on the cake is: "WELCOME HOME, WALKER".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "For values of 'funny' that equal ' really fucked up?'" 	
	GDorn shrugs 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat cake" 		
	

Floyd | As hungry as you are, you don't know how long this cake has been here,
Floyd | or who made it. You decide to keep your fast a little while longer.
Floyd | Sure makes your mouth water, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "spit" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get candles" 		
	

Floyd | You can't resist. You pull out a candle and lick the frosting off the
Floyd | end. Saliva floods your mouth. You replace the candle, feeling oddly
Floyd | lonely.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take saliva" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ew, replacing the candle" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look out window" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | It's missing its mattress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | It's been painted over, and you can't see anything through it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "break window" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "scrape window" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn window" 		
	

Floyd | You must supply a second noun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open windo" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | You pry at the window, but it has been sealed shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "break window" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ha - I, um, didn't think to do that bit with the candle." 	
			DavidW says, "I did 'make a wish'." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Heh. I'm proud of the little touches here and there. But overwhelmed by how many more I could and need to add." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I meant to make a wish but forgot, I think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I know I blew them out." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "lie on bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Or tried." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push bed" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x stain" 		
	

Floyd | It's missing its mattress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "ha ha" 	
			GDorn says, "I hate it when my stain is missing its mattress" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oops... heh" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Argh. Yeah. I don't know how to do "only when in x, understand as etc."" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Another room?" 	
			GDorn says, "yeah" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door six" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the door to Room Six with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door six with key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)

Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a white candle (providing light)
Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "huh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I had a really hard time with room six later, Paul, but I guess you have my transcript now and can see that, so I'll shut up." 	
			inky says, "I seem to recall that 5 and 6 have their own key for some weird reason" 	
			dhakajack asks, "could we go back to 7 and check out the bathroom?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock room five with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to Room Five.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open door five" 		
	

Floyd | You push against the door, but it will not open. There must be
Floyd | something on the other side blocking it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I had the impression that room 6 hints at stuff in a future chapter." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push door five" 		
	

Floyd | You brace your shoulder against the door and push it until you feel as
Floyd | though you're going to break something. The door doesn't budge, though
Floyd | your shoulder aches.
Floyd |
Floyd | You think you hear something through the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen door" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to listen.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, weird that in my game I don't think it was ever called a 'skeleton' key." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "listen at door five" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to listen.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I guess I never examined it or something." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "listen to door five" 		
	

Floyd | You hear the same odd buzzing through the door. You're still not sure
Floyd | how to describe it, but it sets your teeth on edge and sends a thrill

Floyd | up your spine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Which may have caused me some problems." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "break door five" 		
	

Floyd | You brace your shoulder against the door and push it until you feel as
Floyd | though you're going to break something. The door doesn't budge, though
Floyd | your shoulder aches.
Floyd |
Floyd | You think you hear something through the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "So many bugs..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So little time? heh" 	
			inky says, "the key to door five is around back anyway" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Yeah, I got that far (which is why I'm mostly watching)." 	
			PaulSharke says, "Oh, I've got plenty of time. Just not enough experience with Inform 7, or with coding & testing in general." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot

Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | The west end of the building houses the motel's front office. Wooden
Floyd | stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of here. A path
Floyd | leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to inky), "You mean, there is a key on room five's window." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the semi-circular path around the motel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, East

Floyd | A narrow alley runs the length of the motel, with motel rooms' windows
Floyd | on one side and a tall fence on the other. The alley continues to the
Floyd | west. East leads back around to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The windows have been painted over, except for one. After a quick
Floyd | count, you decide the unpainted window belongs to Room Five.

Floyd |
Floyd | Taped to Room Five's window is a brass key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "good point" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a white candle (providing light)

Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | (the skeleton key with the umbrella)

Floyd | You don't see the point in that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push brass key with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | You prod the key with the umbrella, but you just can't manage to get

Floyd | it. You'll need to get up closer somehow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		GDorn asks, "anybody see anything we can stand on?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "climb fence" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there's an obvious thing to stand on which (I guess) you haven't seen yet" 	
			dhakajack asks, "could we use the mattressless bed as a ladder?" 	
			DavidW says, "They haven't seen it yet." 	
			DavidW says, "None of the beds are mobile." 	
			dhakajack says, "ah, ok" 	
			DavidW says, "A bed might break that creaky deck anyway." 	
	Taleslinger arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		GDorn says, "I was disconnected for a bit, so I don't know where else we've been or could have gone." 	
	JamesJolley arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Behind the Motel, West
Floyd | The narrow alley behind the motel ends here. The only way back is to
Floyd | the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "from our inventory I would guess we haven't been in rooms one through four yet" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to search?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "though maybe I'm wrong" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search alley" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yeah, that might be a good idea" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes, I would search all the rooms." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, East

Floyd | A narrow alley runs the length of the motel, with motel rooms' windows
Floyd | on one side and a tall fence on the other. The alley continues to the
Floyd | west. East leads back around to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The windows have been painted over, except for one. After a quick
Floyd | count, you decide the unpainted window belongs to Room Five.

Floyd |
Floyd | Taped to Room Five's window is a brass key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And if you manage to get into one of the ones that I could get into, I shall squeal happily and start playing." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the semi-circular path back around the motel to the parking
Floyd | lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.

Floyd | The west end of the building houses the motel's front office. Wooden
Floyd | stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of here. A path
Floyd | leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look under deck" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see underneath it, except through cracks in the planks. It's
Floyd | too dark to make anything out, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door one" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the door to Room One with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door one with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to Room One.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open door one" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to Room One.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room One
Floyd | The room smells as if someone went on a week-long bender in here. There

Floyd | are beer bottles strewn all over the bed and floor. A thin chapbook
Floyd | lies on the bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x chapbook" 		
	

Floyd | It, like the rest of Room One, reeks of alcohol. Many of the pages are
Floyd | stained by it, and some of the ink has been smudged. Most of the pages
Floyd | remain legible.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | You flip to a random page in the chapbook and read it:
Floyd |

Floyd | stained cock          smoky bolt        red bribe
Floyd | hidden storm  hidden bed
Floyd | stubble    runs away
Floyd |      mother
Floyd |     sinful bolt    worries  gold   storm    oozes
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley asks (of tales), ""it's quite interesting seeing how others play isn't it?" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You flip to a random page in the chapbook and read it:
Floyd |

Floyd | bullet
Floyd |     cock   bleeds
Floyd |    shot  runs away cash
Floyd |   buzzed bribe      gold      breaks
Floyd |    sinful bolt     fears storm
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "huh, that's new." 	
			GDorn says, "Patient A was foaming at the mouth." 	
			Lucea says, "in my copy of the game it wouldn't let me read it twice" 	
			dhakajack says, "I'd guess this is pt B -- high blood alcohol" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Lucea, that sounds like a bug. It should be repeatable. I'll look into it." 	
			DavidW says, "It was repeatable for me." 	
			Lucea says, "one sec, let me make sure I'm right" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x botles" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Sadly, I'm thinking now, I didn't get into some of the rooms due to bugs. I couldn't unlock room one, for instance, due to a disambiguation with keys issue. I will now shut up about my transcript and join in. :)" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x bottles" 		
	

Floyd | Different brands, different sizes, but each and every one drained of
Floyd | its last drop. Still, it smells awful in here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Jacqueline, disambiguation bugs are my bane. Sorry about that. I'll fix it." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | The bottom of the shower has been splattered with vomit, like much of
Floyd | the rest of the alcove. It stinks of alcohol.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline smiles and nods. 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "turn on shower" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		(from DavidW) PaulSharke says, "why do you think the car keys got taken?" 	
			Lucea says, "ignore that" 	
			inky says, "parser gnomes, I should have known" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "light alcohol" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn alcohol" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "mixing up read and get" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | After whoever drank all that beer was finished, they must have come in

Floyd | here and puked most of it back up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley says (to tales), ""it works fine. Same as using the chats in the mud itself. All i'm doing is scrolling down to listen to each line as it comes up." 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell toilet" 		
	

Floyd | The alcohol fumes make you feel a little dizzy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "flush toilet" 		
	

Floyd | It looks as though it's been clogged. You don't want to risk spilling
Floyd | even more of the vile mixture onto the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "drink toilet" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Brave move there, sniffing the toilet." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sit on toilet" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can sit down on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open toilet" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I try >listen and >smell everywhere" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | There's a chapbook on it, as well as a dozen beer bottles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "listen toilet" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to listen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "any game that supports flush toilet is a good game" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink beer" 		
	

Floyd | The thought of knocking back the foam at the bottom of these bottles
Floyd | makes the bile rise in your throat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "lower bile" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline makes a note of that for Waterhouse. 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | After whoever vomited in the toilet was through there, they moved on to
Floyd | the sink, and got sick all over again. It reeks of booze.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I sense a theme with the plumbing..." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search chapbook" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "But what if I write another game set in the backcountry? There are no flushable privies..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x floor" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, ">L IN HOLE" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room One
Floyd | The room smells as if someone went on a week-long bender in here. There
Floyd | are beer bottles strewn all over the bed and floor. A thin chapbook
Floyd | lies on the bed.
Floyd |

Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley says (to floyd,), "look under bed" 		inky says, ">CONSTRUCT CRUDE TOILET APPARATUS OUT OF TWIGS AND FOREST CREATURES" 	
			inky says, "THEN FLUSH IT" 	
			Lucea says, ">AIM AT TREE" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			PaulSharke says, "inky, hahaha" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x close door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the door to Room One.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh yeah, I seem to recall the looking under bed thing was broken" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search shower" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Obvious you have a better command of the parser than I." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get in bed" 		
	

Floyd | You're not tired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "inky, yeah, I noticed someone tried it earlier and I made a note of it. Already have a page of notes so far." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | *** Run-time problem P11: Although the window to Room One is allowed to
Floyd | have the property "other side", no value was ever given, so it can't

Floyd | now be used.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "whoops" 	
			dhakajack says, "oops..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Not tired? But what if we just want to urinate on the mattress?" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Thought I fixed that one, too..." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "urinate on mattress" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stain mattress" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "read chapbook" 		
	

Floyd | You flip to a random page in the chapbook and read it:

Floyd |
Floyd |    stained chain  shot
Floyd |    storm  stuck shiver         chain
Floyd |    white hair      gold        chain
Floyd |       shiver      lies
Floyd | regret

Floyd |   locked up shot      pukes
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "puke" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "read chapbook" 		
	

Floyd | You flip to a random page in the chapbook and read it:
Floyd |

Floyd | bullet    goes in circles
Floyd | burst tumor    eats fucking hair      needs
Floyd |    hard casket   lies
Floyd |      stunted cash     tumor
Floyd |       tumor   drives mother     bleeds
Floyd | nails   pays

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat hair" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I promise I don't play all games like a 12-year-old boy" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the door to Room One is in the way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I promise I don't write all my games like a 12-year-old boy." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door them sw" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to open the door to Room One.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door then sw" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to Room One.
Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West

Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door two with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to Room Two.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open door two" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to Room Two.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the door to Room Four is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room two" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room Two
Floyd | A television here casts dim light onto the walls and bed opposite it.
Floyd | The bedsheets have been rumpled.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the

Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | A used condom floats in the toilet water.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a squelching noise from the bed. A squelch, then a tearing
Floyd | sound. Then nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "turn on tv" 		
	

Floyd | The TV is already on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x tv" 		
	

Floyd | You're not sure what you expect. A frozen image, a test pattern, snowy
Floyd | static. But instead you see a room. This room, shot from the ceiling.
Floyd | And yourself, looking at the television.
Floyd |
Floyd | And a man, sitting on the edge of the bed behind you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look behind me" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man strokes his thighs, and twitches.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Okay, have fun, everyone. See y'all next week." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | You whirl to face the man directly.

Floyd |
Floyd | He has vanished.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x sheets" 		
	

Floyd | The sheets have been twisted and kicked to the foot of the bed. There's
Floyd | a pale stain on the mattress, halfway between the foot and the head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l under mattress" 		
	

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "oh, right, this was the part that was buggy" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | A used condom floats in the toilet water.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Yeah, sorry" 	
	GDorn says (to floy), "x condom" 		Lucea says, "no, it's OK" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x condom" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like it has been used. It also looks larger than the average
Floyd | condom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "bugs happen" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get condom" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell condom" 		
	

Floyd | Unless a very good reason to take it comes up, you'll leave it where it
Floyd | is.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, earlier I meant to type 'tried' not 'tired,' but the phone rang right as I was trying to finish my inappropriate joke." 	
			PaulSharke says, "I'm writing that on a Post-It and sticking it to my monitor" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn channel" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "You smell nothing unexpected... that is to say, you wretch." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a sink. It's stained, like most everything else here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn off television" 		
	

Floyd | You can't find the power button on the television.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'm trying to kill a bug right now" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "flush toilet" 		
	

Floyd | You jiggle the handle, but it must be broken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "break television" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get tv" 		
	

Floyd | It's bolted down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline, the park ranger, does not approve. 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take sheets" 		
	

Floyd | The thought of touching it makes you uncomfortable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell them" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see "them" (the birthday candles) at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a sink. It's stained, like most everything else here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell sheets" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a shower. It has one of those fancy shower heads, though. The
Floyd | ones with different massage settings.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x shower head" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the shower.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yeah, this was the sleazy room" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on shower" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "massage me" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Lucea, that was a weird bug with the 'smell them' command..." 	
			GDorn smacks self. 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn shower head" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to turn the shower.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "7 sins. right." 	
			Lucea says, "Probably left off a pluralname" 	
			Lucea says, "or whatever the I7 equivalent is, assuming you use I7" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x sheets then x it" 		
	

Floyd | The sheets have been twisted and kicked to the foot of the bed. There's
Floyd | a pale stain on the mattress, halfway between the foot and the head.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sheets have been twisted and kicked to the foot of the bed. There's
Floyd | a pale stain on the mattress, halfway between the foot and the head.

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind you, a voice moans. You pivot, but no one is there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "hrm. maybe not." 	
			PaulSharke says, "I do. I'll comb through the code." 	
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yeah, pluralname" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room Two
Floyd | A television here casts dim light onto the walls and bed opposite it.
Floyd | The bedsheets have been rumpled.

Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unplug tv" 		
	

Floyd | You reach for the plug, but then realize that, with the power out, this
Floyd | TV shouldn't even be on in the first place. You hesitate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "nice" 	
	

Floyd | The sheets have been twisted and kicked to the foot of the bed. There's
Floyd | a pale stain on the mattress, halfway between the foot and the head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "flip mattress" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take mattress" 		
	

Floyd | The thought of touching it makes you uncomfortable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley says (to floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Haha, everybody's rubbing that bug in." 	
	JamesJolley says (to floyd), "move sheets" 		
	

Floyd | The thought of touching it makes you uncomfortable.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x stain" 		
	

Floyd | The sheets have been twisted and kicked to the foot of the bed. There's
Floyd | a pale stain on the mattress, halfway between the foot and the head.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says, "sw" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | From the shower you hear the distinct sound of male grunting. As soon
Floyd | as you glance into the shower, though, the grunting stops, and you see
Floyd | nothing there.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wash sheets" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "unlock door three" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the door to Room Three with?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "key" 		
	

Floyd | That's unlocked at the moment.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter door three" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the knob and push the door, but it won't open. Something is
Floyd | jammed against the door on the other side. It gave a little when the
Floyd | door banged against it, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door three with key" 		
	

Floyd | That's unlocked at the moment.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "unlock door four with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to Room Four.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the door to Room Four is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open room four" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to Room Four.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "break door three" 		
	

Floyd | You brace your shoulder against the door and shove it as hard as you
Floyd | can. Whatever is on the other side slowly gives, until it has been
Floyd | pushed far enough back from the doorway that you can squeeze through.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "whoa, I didn't even try that" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room three" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room Three
Floyd | The room is in total disarray. The bed has been turned onto its side,

Floyd | forming an impromptu barrier. The bureau was pushed away from the wall
Floyd | and braced against the door, at least until you shoved it back as you
Floyd | entered. A long board, presumably a mirror, has been taken off the
Floyd | bureau and turned towards a wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the

Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a whimper behind the bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I feel somewhat stupid now" 	
			GDorn says, "it did say it gave a little" 	
			Lucea says, "considering I tried it in Possession" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x mirror" 		
	

Floyd | The reflective surface has been turned towards the wall. You lift it up

Floyd | and take a peek, but see nothing except yourself. You realize this is
Floyd | literally true: nothing else reflects in the mirror except you. In the
Floyd | reflection, it appears as though you stand in a void. You replace the
Floyd | mirror against the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "turn mirror" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "talk to mirror" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter mirror" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh, sorry about that" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Could be I didn't implement enough catch-all verbs for that action. I similarly forgot to include "get" in the "umbrella taking" puzzle." 	
			Lucea says, "long story" 	
			Lucea says, "no, I just didn't think of it" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | Someone has urinated in the toilet, and has not flushed. Whoever did it
Floyd | must have a poor diet. The air here is pungent with the smell of it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a sink.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a shower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break mirror" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "flush toilet" 		
	

Floyd | You jiggle the handle, but it must be broken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | It's hard to smell anything here except the general miasma. It smells
Floyd | like an animal has marked its territory in here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear a stifled whimper. You think it's coming from behind the bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l behind bed" 		
	

Floyd | As you eye the bed, you note that the sheets and mattress have a

Floyd | tell-tale stain on them. It smells almost as though some animal has
Floyd | marked its territory here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find, behind the upturned bed, several items arranged on the floor.
Floyd | There are scattered religious symbols here, along with a well-worn
Floyd | volume titled A Survival Guide for Young Boys and a flashlight.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Broken toilets are part of a long-standing survival horror tradition." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | You flick the flashlight on. It has a strong beam, stronger than the

Floyd | light which the candle provides. You blow out the flame and leave the
Floyd | candle behind, opting for the flashlight instead.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x young boys" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x guide" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the Survival Guide.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "read guide" 		
	

Floyd | The corner of a page has been dogeared. You read a passage which has
Floyd | been underlined there:

Floyd |
Floyd | "It is never wise to talk to strangers. If you must, make sure you
Floyd | never allow them to corner you in a poorly lit place."
Floyd |
Floyd | Scrawled in the margins is: "don't look at him. when he came into my
Floyd | room, i hid my head under the blanket. i could still hear him but he

Floyd | went away"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | The corner of a page has been dogeared. You read a passage which has

Floyd | been underlined there:
Floyd |
Floyd | "It is never wise to talk to strangers. If you must, make sure you
Floyd | never allow them to corner you in a poorly lit place."
Floyd |
Floyd | Scrawled in the margins is: "don't look at him. when he came into my

Floyd | room, i hid my head under the blanket. i could still hear him but he
Floyd | went away"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room Three
Floyd | The room is in total disarray. The bed has been turned onto its side,
Floyd | forming an impromptu barrier. The bureau was pushed away from the wall
Floyd | and braced against the door, at least until you shoved it back as you
Floyd | entered. A long board, presumably a mirror, has been taken off the
Floyd | bureau and turned towards a wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a white candle, a Survival Guide and some religious symbols
Floyd | here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bureau" 		
	

Floyd | It was pushed up against the door, as if someone was trying to prevent
Floyd | anyone from entering this room.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x symbols" 		
	

Floyd | Most of the symbols are Christian -- crosses, a few rosaries, a
Floyd | full-blown wooden crucifix -- but you also spot a Star of David, a

Floyd | crescent moon, and even a few you don't recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take symbols" 		
	

Floyd | You've never been especially superstitious. That survival guide looks

Floyd | much more useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get guide" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x drawers" 		
	

Floyd | It was pushed up against the door, as if someone was trying to prevent
Floyd | anyone from entering this room.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open drawers" 		
	

Floyd | The drawers are all empty.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room Three
Floyd | The room is in total disarray. The bed has been turned onto its side,
Floyd | forming an impromptu barrier. The bureau was pushed away from the wall

Floyd | and braced against the door, at least until you shoved it back as you
Floyd | entered. A long board, presumably a mirror, has been taken off the
Floyd | bureau and turned towards a wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a white candle and some religious symbols here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "brb" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | As you eye the bed, you note that the sheets and mattress have a
Floyd | tell-tale stain on them. It smells almost as though some animal has
Floyd | marked its territory here.
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | As you eye the bed, you note that the sheets and mattress have a
Floyd | tell-tale stain on them. It smells almost as though some animal has
Floyd | marked its territory here.
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yeah, I should stop hogging Floyd" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No no - you're fine." 	
	JamesJolley says (to floyd), "look in mirror" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley says (to floyd), "x mirror" 		
	

Floyd | The reflective surface is turned towards the wall. You leave it that
Floyd | way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley says (to floyd), "talk to reflection" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "light candle" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to light the white candle with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "lighter" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "lighter" 		
	

Floyd | You spark the lighter, and a small spurt of flame rises from its tip.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hold the lighter to the candle's wick. It ignites, and sheds an

Floyd | unsteady light.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "light white candle" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to light the white candle with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "lighter" 		
	

Floyd | The candle is already lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "burn sheets with candle" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to burn the bed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "burn ed" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "burn bed" 		
	

Floyd | You must supply a second noun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push bureau" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So this room is 'Loss of bladder control?'" 	
			Lucea says, "whoops. poor ed" 	
			Lucea says, "sorry, ed" 	
	JamesJolley says (to floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It was pushed up against the door, as if someone was trying to prevent
Floyd | anyone from entering this room.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | The drawers are all empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to push), "bureau" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "push bureau" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put mirror on bureau" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the full-length mirror before you can put it on
Floyd | top of something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get mirror" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "push it" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn it" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | Someone has urinated in the toilet, and has not flushed. Whoever did it
Floyd | must have a poor diet. The air here is pungent with the smell of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a sink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink toilte" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a shower.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink toilet" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Eww." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search behind bed" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Sorry" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look behind bed" 		
	

Floyd | As you eye the bed, you note that the sheets and mattress have a
Floyd | tell-tale stain on them. It smells almost as though some animal has
Floyd | marked its territory here.

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Heh." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter room four" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | The power must be out. You can't see a thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "turn on flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh yeah" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   an umbrella

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck

Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter room three" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room Three
Floyd | The room is in total disarray. The bed has been turned onto its side,
Floyd | forming an impromptu barrier. The bureau was pushed away from the wall

Floyd | and braced against the door, at least until you shoved it back as you
Floyd | entered. A long board, presumably a mirror, has been taken off the
Floyd | bureau and turned towards a wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a flashlight, a Survival Guide, some religious symbols and
Floyd | a white candle here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there is some weird inventory thing here" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | flashlight: Taken.
Floyd | Survival Guide: Taken.
Floyd | religious symbols: You've never been especially superstitious.
Floyd | white candle: You don't need it, now that you have the flashlight.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you auto-drop stuff or something" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, you hear a small voice, a boy's voice, say,

Floyd | "Please don't take my light." You turn, but there's no one there.
Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "or it gets moved back to the room" 	
			Lucea says, "oh, that" 	
			Lucea says, "weird" 	
			Lucea says, "well, not weird" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | It's not as hefty as you'd prefer, but it works well enough.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "yeah, when we got the flashlight, it dropped the candle. then we took the candle and it dropped the flashlight, but I think it was silent" 	
			inky says, "aha" 	
			PaulSharke says, "I'll take a look at that. That's pretty much working as intended, but just barely. It should be a lot smoother." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room four" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room Four
Floyd | This room stinks. Reeks of gasoline, actually. It's overpowering.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the

Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a room key here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | (the room key)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn gasoline" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the toilet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So, between posting results and people phoning me, I've been distracted... which rooms do we think we've figured out?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the sink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the shower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says, "...floyd l" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room Four
Floyd | This room stinks. Reeks of gasoline, actually. It's overpowering.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a bed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "1-alcohol, 2-rape, 3-bladder, 4-flammable, 5-buzzing sound, 6-?, 7-cake" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "burn room" 		
	

Floyd | You must supply a second noun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "light lighter" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to light the cheap lighter with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "self" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem productive.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn on lighter" 		
	

Floyd | You spark the lighter, and a small spurt of flame rises from its tip.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "drop lighter" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lighter heats up very quickly, and burns your hand. You let the

Floyd | flame go out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "well, I tried" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get lighter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn it on" 		
	

Floyd | You spark the lighter, and a small spurt of flame rises from its tip.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you can walk in with the lit candle" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "burn room" 		
	

Floyd | You must supply a second noun.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lighter heats up very quickly, and burns your hand. You let the
Floyd | flame go out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "IF YOU WANT TO DIE" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x room key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small key with a '6' imprinted on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | It's been painted over, and you can't see anything through it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Yeah, lighting the lighter in here should kill you. Why isn't that working? Argh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm... so we are left with 'Foaming at the mouth,' 'Requires immediate transfusion,' and 'Dehydrated.'" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door six" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the door to Room Six with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door six with room key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to Room Six.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open room six" 		
	

Floyd | (the key to Room Six)
Floyd | That's not something you can open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn asks, "isn't there a key ring mod that checks to see if you have the right key in your inventory?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open that six with this six" 		
	

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, Locksmith" 	
			PaulSharke says, "GDorn, if there is, my game sure needs it. Also, some disambiguation." 	
			Lucea says, "yeah, that was one of my main concerns about the game" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door six" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to Room Six.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "unlocking doors gets very annoying very fast" 	
			GDorn says, "yeah, use Locksmith." 	
	

Floyd | What do you want to enter?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room six" 		
	

Floyd | (the key to Room Six)
Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "like thta" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room Six
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of running water from the alcove.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bright white light steams down from a gaping crack in the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small stepladder rests underneath the crack, as if someone wanted to

Floyd | reach up and into the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a TV here. It's unplugged at the moment, but you could swear
Floyd | you'd seen something on the screen as you opened the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you can do 'enter door 6'" 	
			GDorn says, "well, that was lucky" 	
			inky says, "or six or whatever" 	
			Lucea says, "that, even. but I can sympathize. synonyms like that suck" 	
			Lucea says, "I mean, not in a way that's the author's fault. they just inherently suck" 	
			GDorn says, "it does seem odd that I7 wouldn't check other ambiguous terms to see if 'enter' makes sense on them." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x water" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the toilet or the faucet?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "faucet" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the faucet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You listen to the running water in the alcove. It sounds odd to you,
Floyd | wrong somehow. Too... pleasant. It's not the sound you expect from a
Floyd | motel bathroom: the shrill whine of water rushing out of steel and
Floyd | plashing against a ceramic basin.

Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly you realize it sounds more like a brook than a sink or shower.
Floyd | The water burbles. You can almost hear birds, can imagine a gentle
Floyd | breeze through treetops overhead.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the shower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "climb stepladder" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the small stepladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x gap" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | The crack extends deeply up into the ceiling, almost as if it was the
Floyd | bottom of a long chimney or chute. The light shining down the hole
Floyd | dazzles your eyes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter gap" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x crack" 		
	

Floyd | The crack extends deeply up into the ceiling, almost as if it was the
Floyd | bottom of a long chimney or chute. The light shining down the hole
Floyd | dazzles your eyes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter crack" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "mind the gap" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room Six (on the small stepladder)
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of running water from the alcove.
Floyd |

Floyd | Bright white light steams down from a gaping crack in the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a TV here. It's unplugged at the moment, but you could swear
Floyd | you'd seen something on the screen as you opened the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x light" 		
	

Floyd | (the flashlight)
Floyd | It's not as hefty as you'd prefer, but it works well enough.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x alcove" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the alcove or the toilet?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "step into the light" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the small
Floyd | stepladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x the alcove" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the alcove or the toilet?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enlarge crack" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "go towards the light" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enlarge crack" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter light" 		
	

Floyd | (the flashlight)
Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter crack" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "No, Carol Ann! Stay away from the light! The light is bad!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(sorry)" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x screen" 		
	

Floyd | You reach around and plug the set in.
Floyd |

Floyd | "--one man, standing against corruption."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "but, I don't want to turn it on, just look at it." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x screen" 		
	

Floyd | You attend the television.
Floyd |
Floyd | It appears to be a commercial for an upcoming movie. "Look out!"
Floyd | screams a Black man (one of those actors whose name you always forget)
Floyd | in full bunker gear. He turns the hose he's holding onto a gout of
Floyd | flame engulfing another firefighter. "Nooo!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "watch tv" 		
	

Floyd | You attend the television.
Floyd |

Floyd | The scene has changed to a funeral. The heroic firefighter kneels by
Floyd | his fallen partner's son. "I'll find out who did this," he whispers,
Floyd | jaw clenched. "I promise."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You attend the television.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And now," booms the announcer, "the people behind it all will stop at
Floyd | nothing to silence the truth." The scene switches again, and now the

Floyd | firefighter has his friend's son cradled in his arms as he rushes out
Floyd | of an exploding building.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "watch tv" 		
	

Floyd | You attend the television.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, the commercial cuts from the polished cinematography to
Floyd | grainy footage of... a storage trunk? Is it the same commercial? Yes,
Floyd | it must be: you can still hear the musical score and explosions in the
Floyd | background, though they are muted, distant. Then they fade altogether.

Floyd | You study the shot of the trunk for a moment. It's almost like a
Floyd | security feed, or a webcam.
Floyd |
Floyd | Loud banging breaks the silence. It's coming from the trunk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The signal cuts out. The screen is blank; the speakers, silent.

Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, the light shining from the crack in the ceiling goes out. The
Floyd | pleasant liquid burble from the sink vanishes. The temperature drops
Floyd | several degrees.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Room Six (on the small stepladder)
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the

Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | The ceiling has a deep, dark crack in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a TV here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x crack" 		
	

Floyd | The crack is pitch dark, and extends as far as you are able to see into
Floyd | it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | You can't bear to gaze into the hole for long. It's darker than it
Floyd | should be. There's nothing there, anyway.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "shine light in crack" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 3 out of a possible 6, in 360 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell crack" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "plug in tv" 		
	

Floyd | It's already plugged in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "listen crack" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to listen.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline looks at GDorn. "Man. Between you and Lucea..." 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "taste crack" 		
	

Floyd | You taste nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "snort crack" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "warm crack with lighter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Better get on verb implementation." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "taste self" 		
	

Floyd | You taste nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You'd have to get off the small stepladder first.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | You pry at the window, but it has been sealed shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		PaulSharke says, "The whole game's really just a metaphor for drug abuse." 	
	

Floyd | You get off the small stepladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Room Six

Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | The ceiling has a deep, dark crack in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small stepladder rests underneath the crack, as if someone wanted to

Floyd | reach up and into the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a TV here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take ladder" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "put lighter in crack" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			GDorn says, "well, there we go" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell crack" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "aw." 	
			Lucea says, "I was hoping for a response there" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "lick crack" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "to take the most literal interpretation of the metaphor" 	
			dhakajack says, "we can use ladder to either reach the hook in office or the key taped to room 5 window" 	
			Jacqueline says (to GDorn&Lucea), "This game wasn't written in ADRIFT..." 	
			Lucea says, "I don't get it" 	
			GDorn says, "let's see if we can steal the hook. or hang ourselves from it." 	
			Jacqueline says (to dhakajack), "Lead on..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a small stepladder
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a key to Room Six
Floyd |   a Survival Guide
Floyd |   a flashlight (providing light)
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)

Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "(side note: if it's a drug abuse metaphor, I need to go revise my review. again.)" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | The west end of the building houses the motel's front office. Wooden

Floyd | stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of here. A path
Floyd | leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "since dreams and such tend to be archetypical anyway" 	
			GDorn asks, "huh. would interesting things have happened if we'd not been wearing the cleaning mask?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I'm just joshing about the drug abuse metaphor." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "enter office" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Motel Reception
Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates is the
Floyd | office's largest piece of furniture. Small cubbyholes hang on one wall,
Floyd | each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums behind
Floyd | the counter.
Floyd |

Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook.
Floyd |
Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door opens onto a utility
Floyd | closet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "oh" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You can only get into something free-standing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "ack" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "drop ladder" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I never thought about that... I wore the mask the whole time once I found it." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the small stepladder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "jump on hook" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Which was pretty much immediately." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | But you're already on the small stepladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "GDorn, if you attempt to enter Room Four without the mask, you're denied entry because the smell overwhelms you." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x hook" 		
	

Floyd | It's unreasonably high up on the wall. Unfortunately, there's nothing
Floyd | in the room near it. Even if you climbed onto the counter and jumped,
Floyd | you wouldn't be able to reach it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "insert hook in brain" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell hook" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch hook" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Great, now I gotta implement a brain object." 	
			GDorn says (to PaulSharke), "funny you should mention that..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You'd have to get off the small stepladder first.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "she had a hook in her head" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get off ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the small stepladder.
Floyd |

Floyd | Motel Reception
Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates is the
Floyd | office's largest piece of furniture. Small cubbyholes hang on one wall,
Floyd | each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums behind
Floyd | the counter.
Floyd |

Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook.
Floyd |
Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door opens onto a utility
Floyd | closet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get ladder" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "taste hook" 		
	

Floyd | You taste nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | The west end of the building houses the motel's front office. Wooden

Floyd | stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of here. A path
Floyd | leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the semi-circular path around the motel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, East
Floyd | A narrow alley runs the length of the motel, with motel rooms' windows
Floyd | on one side and a tall fence on the other. The alley continues to the
Floyd | west. East leads back around to the parking lot.

Floyd |
Floyd | The windows have been painted over, except for one. After a quick
Floyd | count, you decide the unpainted window belongs to Room Five.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taped to Room Five's window is a brass key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop ladder" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the small stepladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | (the brass key)
Floyd | Something on the other side of the window catches your eye.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "huh, Hook in her Head actually makes great background music for this" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "untangle eye" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look window" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look in window" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the window to Room Six, window to Room Seven or the
Floyd | window to Room Five?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look in window five" 		
	

Floyd | The first thing you see is a pair of eyes looking back at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Not close to the window, but across the room. It's a person, collapsed
Floyd | against the door. You open your mouth to shout out to them, but then

Floyd | you see another body, and another. You press your face against the
Floyd | glass.
Floyd |
Floyd | They're all dead. There's at least a dozen corpses in the room. That's
Floyd | a rough estimate: a few are badly mutilated. Several are piled up
Floyd | against the door; no wonder you couldn't get it open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says, "...floyd search bodies" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bodies" 		
	

Floyd | There's at least a dozen corpses in the room. That's a rough estimate:

Floyd | a few are badly mutilated. Several are piled up against the door; no
Floyd | wonder you couldn't get it open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell bodies" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the window to Room Six, window to Room Seven or the
Floyd | window to Room Five?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open window five" 		
	

Floyd | You pry at the window, but it has been sealed shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open window five" 		
	

Floyd | You pry at the window, but it has been sealed shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break window" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "break window five" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the window to Room Six, window to Room Seven or the
Floyd | window to Room Five?
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the brass key, the key to Room Six or the skeleton
Floyd | key?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break window five" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x brass" 		
	

Floyd | It's a brass key. It is cold, much colder than it should be.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a brass key
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a key to Room Six

Floyd |   a Survival Guide
Floyd |   a flashlight (providing light)
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "I bet the bodies won't be there when we circle around to the frond" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break window 5 with umbrella" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "front" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "head key with lighter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I want to be able to break the window" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "heat key with lighter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I'll find a more intelligent way of refusing the command, Lucea." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "hit window with flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the window to Room Six, window to Room Seven or the
Floyd | window to Room Five?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'm sorry" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "hit window five with flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke exclaims, "Lucea, don't be! This is very helpful for me!" 	
			Lucea says, "that came out harsher than intended" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "down" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the small stepladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Motel, East
Floyd | A narrow alley runs the length of the motel, with motel rooms' windows
Floyd | on one side and a tall fence on the other. The alley continues to the
Floyd | west. East leads back around to the parking lot.

Floyd |
Floyd | The windows have been painted over, except for one. After a quick
Floyd | count, you decide the unpainted window belongs to Room Five.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a small stepladder here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get ladder" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x fence" 		
	

Floyd | It's tall and weathered, yet still sturdy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb it" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "east" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the semi-circular path back around the motel to the parking
Floyd | lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Parking Lot
Floyd | A deck on the north side of the lot fronts the motel's several rooms.
Floyd | The west end of the building houses the motel's front office. Wooden

Floyd | stairs lead up to the deck northwest and northeast of here. A path
Floyd | leads around back of the motel to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x stairs" 		
	

Floyd | Attached to the dilapidated motel. It's weathered, rotting in places.
Floyd | It appears safe to walk on, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search them" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see "them" (the religious symbols) at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search stairs" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look under stairs" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see underneath it, except through cracks in the planks. It's
Floyd | too dark to make anything out, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn on flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | You switch on the flashlight.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look under stairs" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see underneath it, except through cracks in the planks. It's
Floyd | too dark to make anything out, though.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look under stairs with flashlight" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look under the deck.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "point flashlight under stairs" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock room five with key five" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door five with key five" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door five" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the door to Room Five with?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a small stepladder
Floyd |   a brass key

Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a key to Room Six
Floyd |   a Survival Guide
Floyd |   a flashlight (providing light)
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a skeleton key

Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock door five with brass key" 		
	

Floyd | That's unlocked at the moment.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter door five" 		
	

Floyd | You push against the door, but it will not open. There must be
Floyd | something on the other side blocking it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break door five" 		
	

Floyd | You brace your shoulder against the door and push it until you feel as
Floyd | though you're going to break something. The door doesn't budge, though

Floyd | your shoulder aches.
Floyd |
Floyd | You think you hear something through the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The brass key isn't for door five." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You brace your shoulder against the door and push it until you feel as
Floyd | though you're going to break something. The door doesn't budge, though
Floyd | your shoulder aches.
Floyd |

Floyd | You think you hear something through the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "oh, right" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear the same odd buzzing through the door. You're still not sure
Floyd | how to describe it, but it sets your teeth on edge and sends a thrill
Floyd | up your spine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "And door five is open, but blocked. By the bodies you saw." 	
			Lucea says, "Right." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck

Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter office" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Reception
Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates is the

Floyd | office's largest piece of furniture. Small cubbyholes hang on one wall,
Floyd | each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums behind
Floyd | the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook.
Floyd |

Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door opens onto a utility
Floyd | closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "Wait, it's open?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock interior door" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the interior door with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "unlock interior door with brass key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	JamesJolley goes home. 		DavidW says (to Lucea), "Door five was unlocked by the skeleton key ages ago." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unlock fridge" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the fridge with?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "brass key" 		
	

Floyd | The brass key turns in the lock, and it opens with a satisfying click.
Floyd | You toss the padlock aside and untie the knots in the chains. Then you
Floyd | pile the chains to one side. Nothing bars access to the fridge now.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell fridge" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "open fridge" 		
	

Floyd | You open the fridge, revealing silver vials labeled A through G and a

Floyd | prescription.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open fridge" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get vials" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, Vial A, Vial B, Vial C, Vial D, Vial E, Vial F or

Floyd | Vial G?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			DavidW asks, "brass key is cold - fridge ... get it?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get a and b and c and d and e and f and g" 		
	

Floyd | Vial A: You take all the vials at once.
Floyd | Vial B: You already have that.
Floyd | Vial C: You already have that.
Floyd | Vial D: You already have that.
Floyd | Vial E: You already have that.

Floyd | Vial F: You already have that.
Floyd | Vial G: You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "read prescription" 		
	

Floyd | In nearly illegible handwriting are the words Diagnosis undetermined.
Floyd | Sort and deposit each of these samples into the corresponding patient's
Floyd | box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "oof." 	
	Rainyday arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Heh. I never made that connection, believe it or not." 	
			Lucea says, "well, my own fault for being lazy" 	
			Rainyday asks, "how's it going?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Still hacking away at Paul's game." 	
			Lucea says, "I guess that's the player will get it wrong corollary: the player is lazy" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x vial a" 		Jacqueline smiles. 	
	

Floyd | Each of the vials is opaque, silver, and sealed. Each is marked with a

Floyd | different letter A through G.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Rainyday), "They're getting close to the end. It's time for one of the last puzzles." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open vial a" 		
	

Floyd | You tug at both ends, but the vial has been seamlessly welded shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "okay, we just hafta remember which patient was in which room." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell a" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial A)
Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat a" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial G)
Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink a" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial A)
Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x prescription" 		
	

Floyd | In nearly illegible handwriting are the words Diagnosis undetermined.
Floyd | Sort and deposit each of these samples into the corresponding patient's
Floyd | box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put vial a in box 1" 		
	

Floyd | You put Vial A into Box 1.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I took some notes, but only wrote down 1-4." 	
			DavidW says, "The card is back still in room 7, I think." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put vial f in box 2" 		
	

Floyd | You put Vial F into Box 2.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put vial c in box 3" 		
	

Floyd | You put Vial C into Box 3.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "credits" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put vial e in box 4" 		
	

Floyd | You put Vial E into Box 4.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "info" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "version" 		
	

Floyd | Storm Cellar
Floyd | An IntroComp 2008 Entry by P. F. Sheckarski
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 080818 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd | Identification number: //1AADEB0E-2FBF-4708-9064-51EB2F76684D//
Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0 (2N) / Library serial number 080126

Floyd | Standard Rules version 2/080430 by Graham Nelson
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn asks, "mind if I go get that card?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "needs a transfusion...must have been vampire...hence mirror, crucifix, etc.?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "which room was that?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out and east and east and enter room seven and get card and out and west and west and enter office" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "east then east" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the
Floyd | west.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "enter room seven then get card then out then west then west then enter office" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Room Seven
Floyd | Party streamers have been hung from the ceiling. There's also a cake
Floyd | here, with candles burning. The room is far from welcoming, though. The
Floyd | mattress is missing from the bed. The floor is uncarpeted. The windows,

Floyd | barred.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cramped, stained alcove separates a toilet, sink and shower from the
Floyd | rest of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beside the cake, you see a birthday card.

Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, East
Floyd | You hear an odd hum here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Stairs lead down from the deck back south to the parking lot.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Five, Six and Seven here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Central Motel Deck
Floyd | There are more rooms to the east. Room One and the office are to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see the doors to rooms Two, Three and Four here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Deck, West
Floyd | You can see the office's front door and the door to Room One here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Motel Reception
Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates is the
Floyd | office's largest piece of furniture. Small cubbyholes hang on one wall,
Floyd | each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums behind
Floyd | the counter.

Floyd |
Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook.
Floyd |
Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door opens onto a utility
Floyd | closet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x card" 		
	

Floyd | On the outside is a drawing of seven presents, with a vial being
Floyd | dropped into each box. Inside the card you see:

Floyd |
Floyd | Patient A: Foaming at the mouth.
Floyd | Patient B: BAC ten times above legal limit.
Floyd | Patient C: Loss of bladder control.
Floyd | Patient D: Requires immediate transfusion.
Floyd | Patient E: Burns indicative of flammable chemicals.

Floyd | Patient F: Cursory examination indicates immediate application of rape
Floyd | kit.
Floyd | Patient G: Dehydrated.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "now that's interesting" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "go to room one" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks (of Paul), "You said you didn't know how to code an anagram puzzle, but this bit with the vials and cubbyholes is kinda like that, no?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look cubbies" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look at boxes" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6 or Box 7?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in boxes" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6 or Box 7?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I suppose you could look at it like a rudimentary anagram puzzle. Imagine solving an anagram puzzle coded like this, though. It's clumsy enough as it is." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look in box 1" 		
	

Floyd | In Box 1 is Vial A.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look in box 2" 		
	

Floyd | In Box 2 is Vial F.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look in box 3" 		
	

Floyd | In Box 3 is Vial C.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look in box 4" 		
	

Floyd | In Box 4 is Vial E.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look in box 5" 		
	

Floyd | Box 5 is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a birthday card
Floyd |   silver vials labeled A through G
Floyd |   a small stepladder

Floyd |   a brass key
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a key to Room Six
Floyd |   a Survival Guide
Floyd |   a flashlight (providing light)
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)

Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline waves and makes an isquiesque departure for home. 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x vials" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, Vial A, Vial F, Vial C, Vial E, Vial G, Vial D or
Floyd | Vial B?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		DavidW says, "btw, you guys might want to save at some point." 	
			Lucea asks, "can you save on floyd?" 	
			GDorn says, "herg. I think you probably should not group the vials. it makes it hard to tell which ones you are holding and which ones are already in boxes" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky clears the save counter. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "GDorn, you're right." 	
			PaulSharke says, "I added 'vials suck ass; fix them' to my notes." 	
			GDorn says, "I guess if you have the whole thing solved, it won't matter much, but if you're not totally sure, it sucks" 	
			PaulSharke says, "If you 'take all' it should jump them all back to your inventory" 	
	Jacqueline gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x card" 		
	

Floyd | On the outside is a drawing of seven presents, with a vial being

Floyd | dropped into each box. Inside the card you see:
Floyd |
Floyd | Patient A: Foaming at the mouth.
Floyd | Patient B: BAC ten times above legal limit.
Floyd | Patient C: Loss of bladder control.
Floyd | Patient D: Requires immediate transfusion.

Floyd | Patient E: Burns indicative of flammable chemicals.
Floyd | Patient F: Cursory examination indicates immediate application of rape
Floyd | kit.
Floyd | Patient G: Dehydrated.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		dhakajack says, "I'm pretty sure of the first four: 1B, 2F, 3C, 4E" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's what I had." 	
			GDorn says, "okay, we that leaves 5,6,7 and A,D,G" 	
			Lucea says, "yeah" 	
			DavidW says, "The cake in room 7 made your mouth water." 	
			Lucea says, "A sounds like rabies" 	
			dhakajack says, "ah...that could dehydrate you (or be mistaken for foaming, I suppose...)" 	
			GDorn says, "yeah, I'm guessing the dehydrated one is the one where we shut off the water noise" 	
			dhakajack asks, "was that room 6 -- with the crack?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put vial a in box 7" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding Vial A before you can put it into something
Floyd | else.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "try a 'take all' I think" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put a in 7" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial A in Box 7)
Floyd | You need to be holding Vial A before you can put it into something

Floyd | else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Room 6 had the crack, the TV with the firefighters, and the babbling brook sink." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take a" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial A)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put a in 7" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial A in Box 7)
Floyd | You put Vial A into Box 7.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put d in 5" 		
	

Floyd | (Vial D in Box 5)
Floyd | You put Vial D into Box 5.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put g in 6" 		
	

Floyd | You put Vial G into Box 6.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a birthday card
Floyd |   Vial B
Floyd |   a small stepladder
Floyd |   a brass key
Floyd |   a cheap lighter
Floyd |   a key to Room Six

Floyd |   a Survival Guide
Floyd |   a flashlight (providing light)
Floyd |   a cleaning mask (being worn)
Floyd |   a skeleton key
Floyd |   an umbrella
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put b in 1" 		
	

Floyd | You put Vial B into Box 1.
Floyd |
Floyd | Upon placing the final vial into its box, you hear the door across the

Floyd | room click. You turn to investigate, but the door has already started
Floyd | to open.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the buzzing before you see its source. The sound is loud,
Floyd | furious. Like cicadas, but like wasps: half mating call and half
Floyd | warning. Then the door opens.

Floyd |
Floyd | A naked corpse stands at the door. It has no distinguishing sexual
Floyd | features despite its nudity, but its body is covered in tumors of all
Floyd | sizes.
Floyd |
Floyd | It steps towards you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "there ya go" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell corpse" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "oooOOOooOoooOoOOo" 	
			DavidW says, "Call it a 'being'." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get chains" 		
	

Floyd | They're too heavy to lug around.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pale being advances on you. You swear you can feel its buzz in your
Floyd | teeth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "I just laughed pretty hard at 'smell corpse'." 	
			Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "Remind me to never explore a haunted hotel with you." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "run" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.
Floyd |

Floyd | It draws closer. The buzz grows louder, if that's possible. Your whole
Floyd | skull vibrates with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "taste body" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "taste being" 		
	

Floyd | You taste nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | It raises an arm towards you. Another moment, and it will be able to
Floyd | touch you. The buzz is so loud, so violent, you feel as though it has
Floyd | ruptured something deep inside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You attempt to escape, but find yourself pinned by the reception
Floyd | counter. You'd have to climb over it to escape, but it looks old and
Floyd | rotten. You're not sure it can support your weight.
Floyd |

Floyd | The pale being reaches you. It closes a hand around your arm. You can't
Floyd | pull away. The buzz has maddened you, stunned you. It's so loud, too
Floyd | loud. You can barely hear the sound your flesh makes as it's peeled
Floyd | from your body.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 4 out of a possible 6, in 469 turns.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" 	
			Lucea says, "uh. sorry" 	
			dhakajack says, "death happens..." 	
			Lucea says, "better not explore haunted houses with me either" 	
			DavidW says, "If only you were like a boy scout and better prepared for the situation." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That, GDorn, is what you get for smelling an advancing menacing corpse." 	
			PaulSharke says, "Hahaha" 	
			GDorn says, "hehehe" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Thank you for saving." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Motel Reception

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		Lucea says, "Pungent, with notes of blood and fecund earth" 	
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You attempt to escape, but find yourself pinned by the reception
Floyd | counter. You'd have to climb over it to escape, but it looks old and
Floyd | rotten. You're not sure it can support your weight.
Floyd |
Floyd | It draws closer. The buzz grows louder, if that's possible. Your whole
Floyd | skull vibrates with it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb counter" 		
	

Floyd | You put a foot onto the counter and prepare to hoist yourself over, but
Floyd | the shelf you had your foot on snaps in two. You fall to the ground.

Floyd | The being lurches toward you. You spring to your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | It raises an arm towards you. Another moment, and it will be able to
Floyd | touch you. The buzz is so loud, so violent, you feel as though it has
Floyd | ruptured something deep inside you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You put a foot onto the counter and prepare to hoist yourself over, but
Floyd | the shelf you had your foot on snaps in two. You fall to the ground.
Floyd | The being lurches toward you. You spring to your feet.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pale being reaches you. It closes a hand around your arm. You can't
Floyd | pull away. The buzz has maddened you, stunned you. It's so loud, too
Floyd | loud. You can barely hear the sound your flesh makes as it's peeled
Floyd | from your body.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 4 out of a possible 6, in 469 turns.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat tumor" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the tumor)
Floyd | That seems to be a part of the the pale being.
Floyd |
Floyd | It draws closer. The buzz grows louder, if that's possible. Your whole
Floyd | skull vibrates with it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill being" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | It raises an arm towards you. Another moment, and it will be able to

Floyd | touch you. The buzz is so loud, so violent, you feel as though it has
Floyd | ruptured something deep inside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "snrk" 	
			Lucea says, "violence is most definitely the answer to this one" 	
			Rainyday asks, "now what?" 	
			Lucea says, "at least, it is for him" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "read guide" 		
	

Floyd | The corner of a page has been dogeared. You read a passage which has

Floyd | been underlined there:
Floyd |
Floyd | "It is never wise to talk to strangers. If you must, make sure you
Floyd | never allow them to corner you in a poorly lit place."
Floyd |
Floyd | Scrawled in the margins is: "don't look at him. when he came into my

Floyd | room, i hid my head under the blanket. i could still hear him but he
Floyd | went away"
Floyd |
Floyd | The pale being reaches you. It closes a hand around your arm. You can't
Floyd | pull away. The buzz has maddened you, stunned you. It's so loud, too
Floyd | loud. You can barely hear the sound your flesh makes as it's peeled

Floyd | from your body.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 4 out of a possible 6, in 469 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "yeahhhh I need to add a better "attack" response" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "attacking it should kill you" 	
			GDorn says (to PaulSharke), "make it squishy." 	
			Rainyday asks, "try hiding your head?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "hide in closet" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter closet" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "close eyes" 		
	

Floyd | It's not a walk-in closet. It's just a set of shelves with a door in
Floyd | front, really.
Floyd |
Floyd | It draws closer. The buzz grows louder, if that's possible. Your whole
Floyd | skull vibrates with it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You squeeze your eyes shut. You can hear the thing coming closer. The
Floyd | buzz fills your head until you're sure that your eardrums will burst.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the buzz fades, and soon has gone altogether. You risk a peek. The

Floyd | tumorous being is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by two points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "close eyes" 		
	

Floyd | That won't make your problems go away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Rainyday), "Good guess, though." 	
			Lucea exclaims, "ooh!" 	
			DavidW says, "hooray" 	
			GDorn says, "oh, hey. I though we'd have to restore from easlier and go get a blanket." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hooray!" 	
			DavidW says, "You're almost done." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x eyes" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Motel Reception
Floyd | A long countertop with signage regarding per-night rates is the
Floyd | office's largest piece of furniture. Small cubbyholes hang on one wall,
Floyd | each labeled with numbers one through seven. A mini-fridge hums behind

Floyd | the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | High up on a wall, near the ceiling, is a hook.
Floyd |
Floyd | An interior door in the north wall leads deeper into the building,
Floyd | presumably to a back office. A slender door opens onto a utility

Floyd | closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyds), "attack eyes" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get eyes" 		
	

Floyd | That seems to be a part of yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Endgame
Floyd | You can see the interior door here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "See, I was thinking that as long as we didn't examine it, we would be okay. Then again, I suck at puzzles." 	
			Lucea says, "I suck at puzzles too. I was just trying stuff" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter it" 		
	

Floyd | Stairs plunge into darkness here. You follow them. The air is damp; the
Floyd | walls, concrete. You descend for much longer than makes any
Floyd | architectural sense.
Floyd |

Floyd | You turn towards the head of the stairs and realize that something is
Floyd | swooping down at you. Something with a sharp, crooked beak and
Floyd | bone-white feathers dripping with tar. It shrieks and flashes its
Floyd | talons at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You fling yourself down the stairs, into the darkness.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** To be continued ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | In that game you scored 6 out of a possible 6, in 475 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "there we go" 	
			Jacqueline dances the happy dance. 	
			dhakajack exclaims, "yay!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yay!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hahaha 'You descend for much longer than makes any architectural sense.'" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Thanks so much for the playthrough, everyone. I've got a ton of really great notes now." 	
			Lucea exclaims, "Yay!" 	
			dhakajack says, "Very nice set up with the pairing of room descriptions and boxes." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "You're welcome!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, I'm still up for playing." 	
			PaulSharke says, "dhakajack, it's a relief to hear someone say that. That puzzle's been through several difficult incarnations." 	
			Lucea says, "Me too" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Taleslinger and RainyDay... you two want to play rock scissors paper or mud wrestle or someting over which we play next?" 	
			PaulSharke says, "I can stay for a little while longer, too." 	
			GDorn asks, "what happens if you get them wrong?" 	
			Lucea says, "I'm guessing you die" 	
			Taleslinger says (to rainyday), "Scissors...oh wait!" 	
			PaulSharke says, "GDorn, nothing unfortunately. I should add a "doesn't work" response if you get them in the wrong order." 	
			Rainyday says, "um ..." 	
			Rainyday says, "if we armwrestle, I'll probably lose" 	
			dhakajack exclaims, "it's getting on towards midnight in Belgium, so I'm going to head off to bed...good luck with the next game!" 	
			Rainyday asks, "Well, my game isn't likely to take long, wanna try it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "YOU DIE" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, wait, that's if you get them right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, man am I laggy today." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Night, dhakajack." 	
			Taleslinger says, "It's Ladies First anyway." 	
	dhakajack goes home. 		Rainyday says, "The only reason it shouldn't be over in 5 minutes is if I keep pointing out things to look at." 	
			GDorn says, "my main feedback is that it's a great mood piece, but they 'why' is missing. granted, that could be added in the future..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay. Hooray for agreement!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list z" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	PaulSharke says, "Floyd, you charmer." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list f" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "f209 failsafe fear ferrousring fff fiendish finetune firebird firetower firwitch fleece floatpoint flowers fluidoflife fmsr4 forachange forms fourin1 freefall frenfive friday frobozzi frozen frust ftf fusillad futzmutz fyleet" 		GDorn says, "you know the part of resident evil where you walk into a room and then for no reason at all a giant freakin' snake comes out of the chimney and you hafta fight it? I wanted to know why." 	
	inky says, "it's fiendish" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load fiendish" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Wake up!  Time to start another day of work.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fiendish Zoo

Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Elizabeth Heller
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 080820 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Zookeeper's Office
Floyd | Your personal work space contains a chair, a filing cabinet, a

Floyd | bookshelf, and a battered old table which serves as a desk.  A passage
Floyd | to the west leads to the locker room.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a pointless snowglobe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get snowglobe then x it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, it's more of an ashglobe, really ... when you shake it, bits of
Floyd | fire and brimstone rain down upon a miniature metropolis.  You've had

Floyd | it for a long time; it was a gift upon some occasion or other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shake it" 		
	

Floyd | The small bits of ash inside the globe swirl about, wreaking

Floyd | destruction upon the tiny city inside.  After a few moments, they
Floyd | settle back into place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "smell it" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | It's not much more than a plank of wood with legs under it.  You aren't

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "eat globe" 		
	

Floyd | even certain that it is real wood.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | That's plainly inedible.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "GDorn, yeah. There's definitely a problem with the balance of pacing and foreshadowing and plot, etc., as Emily pointed out in her review." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You are the demon Enzak, and you're in charge of the Fiendish Zoo.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | There is a puff of orange smoke, which makes you sneeze.  Nothing else
Floyd | happens.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "what I should've done is stopped it after the kitten turned up, to leave a bit of narrative tension" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "help" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yay Xyzzy response." 	
			DavidW says, "#clubf My main problem with this zoo game was that it wasn't clear what my character was supposed to do." 	
			Lucea says, "yes, I liked the xyzzy response" 	
			Rainyday says, "making xyzzy responses is so fun and easy, I don't know why every game doesn't do it" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Zookeeper's Office
Floyd | Your personal work space contains a chair, a filing cabinet, a
Floyd | bookshelf, and a battered old table which serves as a desk.  A passage

Floyd | to the west leads to the locker room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x shelf" 		
	

Floyd | The bookshelf does not actually contain any books at present.  Someone

Floyd | has written in yellow chalk on the shelf: "Borrowed books, will return
Floyd | later.  M."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "It's not appropriate for the tone of some games." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday exclaims, "I implemented stuff for that cabinet. I really did!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "It just ... didn't work ..." 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "get cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "sit in chair" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the old chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Records of the zoo are stored in there, of feeding schedules and bills
Floyd | and vet appointments and things of that sort.  Very boring.  A minor
Floyd | imp takes care of all the paperwork and brings you things that require
Floyd | your personal signature.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline pats Liz on the back sympathetically. 	
			Rainyday says, "it was supposed to say "Don't worry about the files; your assistant takes care of all that."" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | It's your basic wooden chair, nothing special.  Not comfortable enough
Floyd | to relax in, but suitable for sitting down when you need to take a

Floyd | break.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "ah well. I fix." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sit in chair" 		
	

Floyd | But you're already on the old chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "sign paperwork" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the old chair.
Floyd |

Floyd | Zookeeper's Office
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Fiendish Zoo is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long

Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Fiendish Zoo is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long

Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			DavidW says, "heh" 	
			Lucea says, "heh, I was just about to do that" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Locker Room
Floyd | Here is where most of your tools and supplies are stored.  Piled up
Floyd | around the walls are buckets, mops, brooms, hoses and bottles of

Floyd | cleaning solutions.  There are also freezers (blue, green, and red)
Floyd | full of food for the zoo residents, some feed bins, and in one corner
Floyd | stands a large oven.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a sack (in which are ten lumps of coal) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search bins" 		
	

Floyd | You rummage aimlessly through the bins, but you don't find anything
Floyd | unexpected in there.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x locker" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x sack" 		
	

Floyd | It's a plain sack made of rough cloth, extremely dirty because it's
Floyd | filled with coal.  To save storage space, and for the convenience of
Floyd | the zookeeper (namely you), there is only one sack of coal -- but it is
Floyd | virtually bottomless.

Floyd |
Floyd | Rumor has it that the Boss Himself made this sack, after He was tricked
Floyd | by a clever tailor.  All you know for certain is that the sack has been
Floyd | Zoo property for as long as you've worked here, and somehow it can
Floyd | never be completely filled.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search freezers" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Locker Room
Floyd | Here is where most of your tools and supplies are stored.  Piled up
Floyd | around the walls are buckets, mops, brooms, hoses and bottles of
Floyd | cleaning solutions.  There are also freezers (blue, green, and red)

Floyd | full of food for the zoo residents, some feed bins, and in one corner
Floyd | stands a large oven.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a sack (in which are ten lumps of coal) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x coal" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x oven" 		
	

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The oven is used to heat and cook food for those zoo creatures that
Floyd | like their meals hot.  Appropriately, it is fueled with a coal-like
Floyd | substance from the nether planes, and has a maw like the jaws of Hell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x lump" 		
	

Floyd | "Coal" is a convenient word for this black substance, but it doesn't
Floyd | come from those pitiful scratches that mortals call mines.  Fiendish
Floyd | coal is dug from the deepest foundations of the world, where nameless
Floyd | Things gnaw tunnels out of rock in the eternal darkness.  The unlucky

Floyd | demons who mine this coal tend not to live very long.  But it burns
Floyd | nice and hot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "sorry, I just wanted you all to get a look at that" 	
			Rainyday says, "I spent some time on the sack and the coal" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat lump" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the lump of coal)
Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "nice, I missed it during play" 	
			DavidW says, "me too" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put lump in oven" 		
	

Floyd | (the lump of coal in the oven)
Floyd | You put the lump of coal into the oven.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn oven on" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x oven" 		
	

Floyd | The oven is used to heat and cook food for those zoo creatures that
Floyd | like their meals hot.  Appropriately, it is fueled with a coal-like
Floyd | substance from the nether planes, and has a maw like the jaws of Hell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "where nameless" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get in oven" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "go on and look in the freezers" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "bake a fiendish cake" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "where nameless" 	
			Taleslinger | Things gnaw tunnels out of rock in the eternal darkness - is that from Tolkien? 	
			DavidW says, "The oven also has a paw like the claws of Cerberus." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search freezers" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x freezers" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "Yup. Gandalf's speech about the Balrog." 	
			Rainyday says, "I wondered if anyone would notice that" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x freezer" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the blue freezer, the red freezer, or the green

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "x blue" 		
	

Floyd | freezer?
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | These chilly, insulated chests are full of food for Zoo denizens.  The

Floyd | blue one contains dairy foods and eggs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "open blue" 		
	

Floyd | You pull open the blue freezer and take a look.  It is well stocked

Floyd | with cheeses, bottles of milk, and eggs (not the hatching kind) from
Floyd | many types of beasts.
Floyd |
Floyd | You close the freezer again, so as not to let all the cold air escape.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "It's one of my favorite parts as well." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wish we could make fiends, like Vendetta." 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x green" 		
	

Floyd | These chilly, insulated chests are full of food for Zoo denizens.  The
Floyd | green one contains vegetables and fruits.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "open green" 		
	

Floyd | You open the green freezer to have a peek.  Though fewer of the Zoo
Floyd | residents are vegetarians than meat-eaters, the ones who do eat plant

Floyd | matter eat a lot more of it.  This freezer contains large quantities of
Floyd | various fruits, vegetables, roots, and so on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Having seen the contents, you shut the freezer, lest the temperature in
Floyd | the room equalize with the temperature in the freezer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "irta Velveeta" 	
			Lucea says, "having worked at a pet store for a week, this is accurate" 	
			inky says, "or make friends" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "heh" 	
			Taleslinger gives Guy Fawkes mask to Jacqueline. 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x red" 		
	

Floyd | These chilly, insulated chests are full of food for Zoo denizens.  The
Floyd | red one contains meats and fish.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "open red" 		
	

Floyd | You pull open the door of the red freezer and peer inside.  It's
Floyd | stocked with all manner of steaks, ground-up patties, bones, organs and

Floyd | whole carcasses.  Lots of Zoo animals eat flesh or other body parts.
Floyd |
Floyd | After a moment, you shut the freezer, to make sure the cold things in
Floyd | there stay cold.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		PaulSharke asks, "I take it we're not meant to take things out of the freezer, since they close immediately after we open them?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x bins" 		
	

Floyd | The feed bins contain all the food for Zoo creatures that doesn't need
Floyd | to be kept cold: dried grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, honey, et
Floyd | cetera.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "right ... I should've put stuff in them, the finished game will have things in them" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Lucea), "Just a week? What happened? They didn't like how you were smelling and tasting and otherwise manipulating all the animals?" 	
			DavidW says (to Paul), "I assume that they're just for show." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Kidding... I like that you do that when playing games, Lucea." 	
			GDorn says, "well, djangocon just got interesting again so I'm probably just going to read the transcript later." 	
			Lucea says, "I got fired for being incompetent" 	
			Jacqueline says, "oh" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Locker Room
Floyd | Here is where most of your tools and supplies are stored.  Piled up
Floyd | around the walls are buckets, mops, brooms, hoses and bottles of
Floyd | cleaning solutions.  There are also freezers (blue, green, and red)
Floyd | full of food for the zoo residents, some feed bins, and in one corner

Floyd | stands a large oven.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a sack (in which are nine lumps of coal) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "take sack" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Employee Entrance, outside the Locker Room

Floyd | You stand just outside the employee entrance to the zoo.  Behind you,
Floyd | to the south, is the door back into the locker room.  West is the main
Floyd | visitors' entrance to the zoo, and north is the employee entrance.  On
Floyd | either side, you are surrounded by tall fencing topped with barbed
Floyd | wire.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear an odd sound, and suddenly you notice a small furry creature
Floyd | at your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get cat" 		
	

Floyd | You reach down and pluck the kitten from the ground by the scruff of
Floyd | its neck.  It goes limp, as kittens will do when handled in this
Floyd | fashion, but after a moment it raises its head to look at you.  "Mew?"
Floyd | it says, blinking its round blue eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		(from Taleslinger) Lucea says, "But cat and mice in one cage saved so much room!" 	
			Rainyday says, "oh, you should've looked at the junk in the locker room too" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Locker Room
Floyd | Here is where most of your tools and supplies are stored.  Piled up
Floyd | around the walls are buckets, mops, brooms, hoses and bottles of

Floyd | cleaning solutions.  There are also freezers (blue, green, and red)
Floyd | full of food for the zoo residents, some feed bins, and in one corner
Floyd | stands a large oven.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We missed something. I found a coin back there." 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "eat cat" 		
	

Floyd | He's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x junk" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search supplies" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search tools" 		
	

Floyd | You shift a few items around and uncover a tarnished silver coin!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get coin" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x coin" 		Rainyday says, "there it is" 	
	

Floyd | It's a small metal disk, so covered with corrosion that you can't make
Floyd | out any of the worn writing on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "flip coin" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 2 out of a possible 100, in 50 turns, earning
Floyd | you the rank of Minion.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hunh, look at that" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat coin" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Employee Entrance, outside the Locker Room
Floyd | You stand just outside the employee entrance to the zoo.  Behind you,
Floyd | to the south, is the door back into the locker room.  West is the main
Floyd | visitors' entrance to the zoo, and north is the employee entrance.  On
Floyd | either side, you are surrounded by tall fencing topped with barbed

Floyd | wire.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x wire" 		
	

Floyd | It's as sharp as the claws of demons.  Nastier demons than you, even.

Floyd | If metal could be cunning, the sharp little bits of this wire atop the
Floyd | fence would be.  It is there to make certain that nothing will try to
Floyd | enter the Fiendish Zoo by climbing over that fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb fence" 		
	

Floyd | The barbed wire deters you.  Besides, why climb the fence when there's
Floyd | a perfectly good door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x gate" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Employee Entrance, outside the Locker Room
Floyd | You stand just outside the employee entrance to the zoo.  Behind you,
Floyd | to the south, is the door back into the locker room.  West is the main
Floyd | visitors' entrance to the zoo, and north is the employee entrance.  On
Floyd | either side, you are surrounded by tall fencing topped with barbed

Floyd | wire.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x entrance" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dread Portal

Floyd | You stand at the main entrance to the Fiendish Zoo.  This is where the
Floyd | visitors come through, and therefore the dread portal that serves as a
Floyd | gate is intimidating indeed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x protal" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x portal" 		
	

Floyd | Impressively decorated in black iron and decorated with the most
Floyd | twisted, terrible relief images possible, the Dread Portal also
Floyd | permanently reeks of brimstone, sulfur, and scorched flesh.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your bosses went all-out for this one, putting the budget out of

Floyd | balance for quite some while.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Lack of exits mentioned" 	
			Rainyday says, "yeah, I need to fix that" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter portal" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the Dread Portal is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The portal's to the north, I figured out." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The Dread Portal is closed, locked and sealed, and until you finish
Floyd | your day's work, it's going to stay that way.  Can't have visitors
Floyd | wandering through the Zoo while you're making your rounds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a silver coin
Floyd |   a small fluffy kitten
Floyd |   a sack (open)

Floyd |     nine lumps of coal
Floyd |   a pointless ashglobe
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "hug cat" 		
	

Floyd | Keep your mind on the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet kitten" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put kitten in sack" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten doesn't seem to want to go in the sack.  It sinks its claws

Floyd | into your hand and yowls, until you are forced to drop it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get cat" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat kitten" 		
	

Floyd | He's plainly inedible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kill cat" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "meow" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "try dropping the cat" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x cat" 		
	

Floyd | This baby feline has soft white fluffy fur, and large blue eyes.  Most
Floyd | humans would undoubtedly consider it extremely cute.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake cat" 		
	

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "juggle cat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop cat" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten manages to land on its feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "yay" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get cat" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "swing cat" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing sensible to swing here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "the cat will follow you if you leave it on the ground" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Employee Entrance, outside the Locker Room
Floyd | You stand just outside the employee entrance to the zoo.  Behind you,

Floyd | to the south, is the door back into the locker room.  West is the main
Floyd | visitors' entrance to the zoo, and north is the employee entrance.  On
Floyd | either side, you are surrounded by tall fencing topped with barbed
Floyd | wire.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | Nothing very interesting here.  This is simply a curving tunnel with
Floyd | two exits: to the south is back to the employee entrance, and to the

Floyd | northwest is your entry to the Zoo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Note: Sleeping cats don't always land on their feet." 	
			Lucea says, "it isn't asleep" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "drop cat" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten manages to land on its feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten looks at you hopefully.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "it just threw a shit fit about the sack" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "I don't want to know." 	
			Rainyday says, "yeah, the sack is going to be a player's holdall, but the cat doesn't like to be in the bag" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "kick cat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to jacq), "They don't hurt themselves, they just get as mad as a wet ... cat." 	
			Jacqueline says (to RainyDay), "Well, the cat is out of the bag." 	
			DavidW says, "I figured the sack was a holdall." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacq), "ow" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "I know. I'm (sort of) sorry." 	
			Rainyday says, "if you leave the cat on the ground, it should follow" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Gate
Floyd | You are just inside the Dread Portal, and the Zoo is open before you.

Floyd | It's built in a ring-shaped circuit, so you can walk northeast or
Floyd | northwest from here.  To the south is the Dread Portal, and to the
Floyd | southeast is the tunnel that leads to the locker room.
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten follows you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger blows the Pun Police Whistle. Woe unto ye, O teller of bad puns! Here come the Pun Police! 		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "take the rest of the day off" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Many enter through the Dread Portal ... but few depart that way.  In
Floyd | any case, you work here, so there's no reason to be leaving just yet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Station Aleph

Floyd | For the benefit of visitors, signs here point in several directions.
Floyd | To the west is the manticore.  To the east is the cockatrice.  To the
Floyd | southeast is back to the main entrance, and to the northeast is Station
Floyd | Beth.
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Gate

Floyd | You are just inside the Dread Portal, and the Zoo is open before you.
Floyd | It's built in a ring-shaped circuit, so you can walk northeast or
Floyd | northwest from here.  To the south is the Dread Portal, and to the
Floyd | southeast is the tunnel that leads to the locker room.
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | There's more of the Fiendish Zoo that way, but apparently something is
Floyd | wrong with the path -- a large sign on the northeast walkway reads,

Floyd | "DANGER -- DO NOT ENTER."
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten pounces at its shadow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x shadow" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "the kitten will do random things if it's on the ground nearby" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is there really danger, or is that area just not implemented?" 	
			DavidW says, "The fiendish devil monkeys aren't implemented yet." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | Your singing is abominable.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'm guessing it's the cockatrice" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drop kitty" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten manages to land on its feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "there's danger, AND it's not implemented yet, but I'm working on it" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | There's more of the Fiendish Zoo that way, but apparently something is
Floyd | wrong with the path -- a large sign on the northeast walkway reads,

Floyd | "DANGER -- DO NOT ENTER."
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten twitches its ears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "x ears" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "comment - I want to be able to go ne anyway" 	
			Rainyday asks, "oh bother, can you drop the cat when you're not holding it?" 	
			Lucea says, "even if it kills me" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "drop cat" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten manages to land on its feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drop kitty" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten manages to land on its feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			Rainyday says, "yup. Damn. Better fix that." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Liz), "Yep." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "remove pants" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "like, the first time tells you there's a sign, and the second time you ignore it" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Schr?dinger's Cat!" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Inside the Gate
Floyd | You are just inside the Dread Portal, and the Zoo is open before you.
Floyd | It's built in a ring-shaped circuit, so you can walk northeast or
Floyd | northwest from here.  To the south is the Dread Portal, and to the
Floyd | southeast is the tunnel that leads to the locker room.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a kitten here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, ">DROP CAT IN DUPLICATOR" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Station Aleph
Floyd | For the benefit of visitors, signs here point in several directions.
Floyd | To the west is the manticore.  To the east is the cockatrice.  To the
Floyd | southeast is back to the main entrance, and to the northeast is Station
Floyd | Beth.

Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "throw cat ne" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to throw the kitten.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cockatrice Lair
Floyd | Here is where the cockatrice lives.  Its habitat is barred on the
Floyd | ground level and has a high net over the top.  Oddly, you don't see it
Floyd | anywhere in its habitat.  Maybe it's hiding, or asleep.
Floyd |

Floyd | The kitten follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "throw cat" 		
	

Floyd | The kitten manages to land on its feet.

Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten washes its paws.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x habitat" 		
	

Floyd | The floor of the cockatrice's habitat is spread with straw, which needs
Floyd | to be changed every so often.  Tough, spindly bushes poke up here and
Floyd | there from the ground.  Several of the bushes have been turned to stone
Floyd | by the monster's famous gaze.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is also a trough where the cockatrice takes its meals, and a

Floyd | large, shallow clay fountain-pot where it can bathe and drink.  But the
Floyd | cockatrice itself is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "is there a lizard in the game?" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "x bars" 		
	

Floyd | The same kind of bars on most of the cages here.  Hard, dark, and all
Floyd | but impervious to damage.  The ones on the cockatrice habitat look
Floyd | normal enough.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "shake bars" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the bars)
Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x trough" 		
	

Floyd | It's a trough where you put the cockatrice's food.  Scattered bits of
Floyd | dried corn and beetle shells, leftovers from its last meal, are in
Floyd | evidence.

Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten twitches its ears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x habitat" 		
	

Floyd | The floor of the cockatrice's habitat is spread with straw, which needs
Floyd | to be changed every so often.  Tough, spindly bushes poke up here and
Floyd | there from the ground.  Several of the bushes have been turned to stone
Floyd | by the monster's famous gaze.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is also a trough where the cockatrice takes its meals, and a

Floyd | large, shallow clay fountain-pot where it can bathe and drink.  But the
Floyd | cockatrice itself is nowhere in sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten pounces at its shadow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l in trough" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Aw" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x pot" 		
	

Floyd | The clay vessel is halfway between a small fountain and a birdbath.
Floyd | The water is getting a bit stagnant, but the cockatrice prefers it that
Floyd | way.
Floyd |

Floyd | The kitten bats at a bit of debris.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "search habitat" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten twitches its ears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "enter habitat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to foyd), "l" 		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "x debris" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Cockatrice Lair
Floyd | Here is where the cockatrice lives.  Its habitat is barred on the
Floyd | ground level and has a high net over the top.  Oddly, you don't see it
Floyd | anywhere in its habitat.  Maybe it's hiding, or asleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a kitten here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten twitches its ears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put kitten in habitat" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the kitten before you can put him into something
Floyd | else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x net" 		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x net" 		
	

Floyd | The cockatrice likes to fly around a bit, so the net is there to allow
Floyd | it some air space but prevent it from escaping.  You can't see any
Floyd | holes in it from here.
Floyd |

Floyd | The kitten twitches its ears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | The cockatrice likes to fly around a bit, so the net is there to allow
Floyd | it some air space but prevent it from escaping.  You can't see any
Floyd | holes in it from here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The kitten twitches its ears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb net" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take kitten then put kitten in habitat" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "maybe I should make some back entrances to the habitats and allow entry into them" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "x bushes" 		
	

Floyd | The cockatrice's natural home is a hot, dry wasteland.  Not much grows
Floyd | there, except these bushes, which are thorny and no good to eat.  One
Floyd | or two of them have been petrified, and are now bush-shaped sculptures
Floyd | of rock.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break sculptures" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		PaulSharke says, "Then you get to contend with rules that allow you to see into a room while in a different room. Fun times." 	
			Rainyday says, "ergh" 	
			Lucea says, "UGH" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, fun times." 	
			Lucea says, "sorry, bad memories" 	
			Rainyday says, "I'm having enough trouble with a cage like that right now" 	
			Lucea says, "eventually I said screw it and made the particular room frosted glass" 	
			Rainyday says, "in I7 it's not hard, you just say the container is transparent" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "knock off for the day" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "(there's a narrative reason)" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "get back and get corn?" 	
			PaulSharke says, "I mean rooms, not containers. The room related rules are more complicated, unfortunately" 	
			Taleslinger says (to ps), "oh yes" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.

Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.

Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | lump of coal: Taken.
Floyd | habitat: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | bushes: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | trough: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | pot: That's hardly portable.

Floyd | net: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | bars: That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x pot" 		
	

Floyd | The clay vessel is halfway between a small fountain and a birdbath.
Floyd | The water is getting a bit stagnant, but the cockatrice prefers it that
Floyd | way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter pot" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   nine lumps of coal
Floyd |   a small fluffy kitten
Floyd |   a silver coin
Floyd |   a sack (open but empty)

Floyd |   a pointless ashglobe
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell pot" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "smell me" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "put coal in kitten" 		
	

Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.

Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.
Floyd | lump of coal: He can't contain things.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "lol, it's not that kind of pot" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "smell kitten" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I mean" 	
			Lucea says, "water dishes smell nasty" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Our games aren't very smelly." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drink water" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "well, that's not true. some water dishes smell nastier than others" 	
			Rainyday says, "yeah, but you're a distance away from the thing" 	
			Rainyday asks, "you're separated by bars ... how can I make that clearer?" 	
			Lucea says, "parakeet dishes are clean. cockatiel dishes are a bit worse. and finch dishes smell and look absolutely disgusting." 	
			Rainyday says, "apparently players don't seem to understand that" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "touch pot" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Cockatrice Lair
Floyd | Here is where the cockatrice lives.  Its habitat is barred on the
Floyd | ground level and has a high net over the top.  Oddly, you don't see it
Floyd | anywhere in its habitat.  Maybe it's hiding, or asleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "bother. You shouldn't be able to reach ti." 	
			inky says, "hmm, I understood it" 	
			Lucea says, "probably mention in the description of the pot, etc. that it's out of reach somehow" 	
			DavidW says, "There's one old IFComp game where every room has a smell. You're a spy named Jane, iirc." 	
			inky says, "but I figured you could maybe reach some stuff through the bars" 	
			Rainyday says, "everything in the habitat ought to be untouchable" 	
			Lucea says, "over by the far bars, or something" 	
			Rainyday says, "if you could reach through the bars of a cockatrice's cage, you'd regret it ^^" 	
			Lucea says, "wait, what kind of cockatrice are we talking" 	
			Lucea asks, "the ones that can stone you with breath, or glares, or what?" 	
			Rainyday says, "I dunno, I guess it's a thing that looks like a cross between a lizard and a rooster" 	
			Rainyday says, "and can turn you to stone with a glare" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			Lucea says, "more than you ever want to know about (Nethack, anyway) trices: [ LINK ]" 	
			PaulSharke says, "They're worth lots of experience points." 	
			inky says, "it seems like it should have one-way opaque glass rather than bars" 	
			inky says, "unless demons can't be stoned" 	
			Rainyday says, "Demons can't be." 	
			Lucea says, "demons can't be stoned in nethack" 	
			Lucea says, "but this isn't nethack. heh." 	
			Rainyday says, "I added that to the description of the cockatrice, but I guess since it's not around, the player won't find that out" 	
			DavidW says, "You'd think there'd be smoky eyeglasses out near the entrance for visitors to wear." 	
			Rainyday says, "lol, great idea" 	
			Lucea says, "unless it's a "zoo" that secretly kills the visitors" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Cockatrice Lair

Floyd | Here is where the cockatrice lives.  Its habitat is barred on the
Floyd | ground level and has a high net over the top.  Oddly, you don't see it
Floyd | anywhere in its habitat.  Maybe it's hiding, or asleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "they come for entertainment, they leave DEAD" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Station Aleph
Floyd | For the benefit of visitors, signs here point in several directions.

Floyd | To the west is the manticore.  To the east is the cockatrice.  To the
Floyd | southeast is back to the main entrance, and to the northeast is Station
Floyd | Beth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | There is more of the Fiendish Zoo that way ... but you've reached the
Floyd | end of this intro version.  Stay tuned for the finished version of
Floyd | "Fiendish Zoo," coming soon!

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** End of Intro ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 2 out of a possible 100, in 117 turns, earning

Floyd | you the rank of Minion.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Station Aleph
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Manticore Cave
Floyd | The manticore lives in a large cage that includes a variety of rocks
Floyd | and small trees for climbing, some soft cushions and furs to lounge on,

Floyd | and a little stream with a pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lying in its enclosure, occasionally twitching its tail, is the
Floyd | manticore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Rainyday says, "let's go visit the manticore" 	
			PaulSharke says, "Oops I drove us over a cliff" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "manticore, hello" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore gets up, moves around, and then lies down again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I'm sort of scared of the manticore." 	
			Rainyday asks, "why?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask manticore about author" 		
	

Floyd | (the manticore about that)
Floyd | The manticore is not in a talkative mood today, it seems.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'm more scared of the cockatrice" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask manticore about cockatrice" 		
	

Floyd | (the manticore about that)
Floyd | The manticore gets up, moves around, and then lies down again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Every manticore I've encountered in fiction has been a brutish-but-happy fellow" 	
			Jacqueline says (to RainyDay), "I used to play a lot of Archon, I guess." 	
			PaulSharke says, "I'm terrified of this kitten. It's FOLLOWING US AROUND. It must be plotting something." 	
			Rainyday says, "well done ... finally dawn breaks :)" 	
			Lucea says, "kind of like the Dopefish of land creatures. without the killing-you part." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x manticore" 		
	

Floyd | (the manticore)
Floyd | The manticore has a humanlike face, the body of a lion, and the tail of
Floyd | a giant scorpion.  It is one of the more intelligent creatures in the

Floyd | zoo, and can even speak a few words (when it feels like it).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull tail" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask manticore about me" 		
	

Floyd | (the manticore about that)
Floyd | The manticore gets up, moves around, and then lies down again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha dopefish" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kiss manticore" 		
	

Floyd | (the manticore)

Floyd | Keep your mind on the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet manticore" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	PaulSharke says (to Floyd), "throw lump at manticore" 		
	

Floyd | (the manticore)
Floyd | You lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Manticore Cave
Floyd | The manticore lives in a large cage that includes a variety of rocks

Floyd | and small trees for climbing, some soft cushions and furs to lounge on,
Floyd | and a little stream with a pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lying in its enclosure, occasionally twitching its tail, is the
Floyd | manticore.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x furs" 		
	

Floyd | They're just some dirty cushions that the manticore is lounging on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "feel them" 		
	

Floyd | I'm not sure what "them" refers to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "touch furs" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "manticore, your mom" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore gnaws on a toy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "manticore, xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore has better things to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline will be right back, as someone is at her door. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pool" 		
	

Floyd | It's a pool of water, fed by a small stream, which is there so the
Floyd | manticore can have a drink or splash around, if it feels so inclined.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "maybe it is THE COCKATRICE" 	
			Rainyday asks, "just curious ... I have my own ideas, but what other beasts would you guys like to see here?" 	
			DavidW says, "well, the kitten is obviously not as innocent as it appears. How'd it get in? It's probably a shapechanging spy." 	
			Lucea asks, "Cerberus?" 	
			Alex says (to Lucea), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Cerberus is a three-headed guard dog." 	
			Rainyday says, "nah, Cerberus is on duty, he's not in the zoo." 	
			PaulSharke says, "I think the problem I have so far is that I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be doing something, if anything. Maybe if we had a checklist, and the only thing left on our checklist for the day was something like, 'Inspect each of the habitats.'" 	
			DavidW says, "A griffin, perhaps." 	
			DavidW says (to PaulSharke), "ditto" 	
			PaulSharke says, "I'm a pretty big fan of golems." 	
			Rainyday says, "Yes, I do need to add that" 	
			Rainyday says, "ooh boy, if you like golems, you might love a game I'm working on for the IFcomp" 	
			PaulSharke says, "if not a golem then perhaps a cave troll" 	
			Rainyday says, "cave troll ... yes, that might be good ..." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Mind Flayer!" 	
			Lucea says, "I like a green slime. since they scare the crap out of me" 	
			Rainyday says, "I'm planning to add a black unicorn, a Taurean (dire bull) ..." 	
			Taleslinger says, "add one of the really reidiculous d&d monsters. like a rust monster." 	
			Rainyday says, "oh, and there's going to be a werebear" 	
			Rainyday says, "which LOVES kittens ... as snacks" 	
			Lucea says, "oh dear" 	
			Lucea exclaims, "Ooh! I know!" 	
			Lucea says, "Ferrets. There must be ferrets." 	
			Rainyday asks, "ferrets? Ferrets are fiendish?" 	
			Lucea says, "to me they are forever fiendish" 	
			Lucea says, "they got me fired" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "manticore, sit" 		
	

Floyd | (on the manticore)
Floyd | The manticore has better things to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh" 	
			inky says, "put in some kind of tribble-like thing that reproduces a bunch if it gets out of its cage" 	
			Rainyday says, "Tribbles are too cute ... maybe some sort of dangerous insect though" 	
			Rainyday asks, "heh, maybe I'll add sandkings. You ever read that story?" 	
			Lucea says, "fire ants? killer bees? killer FIRE bees." 	
			DavidW says, "Giant sandworm" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Godzilla!" 	
			GDorn says, "some guy named Gerry" 	
			Rainyday decides to add a line about Godzilla being away on loan to Neptune 	
			Jacq is bacq. 	
			DavidW says, "I think a shapechanger of some sort ought to be included, somewhere, even if not one of the exhibits." 	
			Rainyday says, "interesting idea ... that'd be one hell of a puzzle to code though" 	
			Taleslinger says, "A giant monster, whose habitat is a cardboard city" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm... so is this meant to be like one of those vetrinarian games, sort of?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or just to showcase a bunch of neat animals?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to irta), "vegeterian" 	
			Lucea says, "could always have two different objects for the shapechanger, maybe" 	
			Rainyday says, "not really a veterinarian game. I mean, the player should have some tasks to do, but I was more interested in the kitten actually" 	
			Lucea says, "unless it shapeshifts at will" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I'm always more interested in kittens." 	
			Lucea says, "as am I" 	
			Rainyday says, "there WAS going to be a plot around here somewhere..." 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "hehe. um." 	
			DavidW says, "...where the demon could play croquet with flamingoes..." 	
			Rainyday says, "well, no. I wonder what flamingoes would look like in a fiendish zoo." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Naughty, you." 	
			Lucea says, "red, I gues" 	
			Lucea says, "guess" 	
			Rainyday says, "red, malicious, gossipy" 	
			DavidW says, "flaming" 	
			Rainyday says, "there should be an ice exhibit with dire penguins" 	
			DavidW says, "Tentacle vine tree." 	
			Rainyday says, "No. It's a Fiendish Zoo, not a Fiendish Arboretum." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... I stepped away to return and find that we're mostly discussing Liz's game but not really still tinkering... on to Taleslinger's game?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to rainyday), "add an invisible creature!" 	
			Rainyday asks, "hmm. Invisible .... invisible ... invisible what?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "You mean like the one in Seveh Nux? That little shit drove me insane, though." 	
			Taleslinger says, "...rainyday Stalker!" 	
			Lucea says, "an invisible nymph is even more evil" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Haven't played that." 	
			Rainyday says, "Huh. An invisible stalker. Not a bad idea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "AH! INVISIBLE OWLBEAR!" 	
			Rainyday me takes a note 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry. I just think owlbears are funny." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Invisible monkey with visible pants." 	
			Rainyday says, "hmm, maybe I should have an owlbear who wears glasses" 	
			Rainyday says, "I find it interesting how everyone here thinks of D&D monsters" 	
			DavidW says, "I didn't." 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Manticore Cave

Floyd | The manticore lives in a large cage that includes a variety of rocks
Floyd | and small trees for climbing, some soft cushions and furs to lounge on,
Floyd | and a little stream with a pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lying in its enclosure, occasionally twitching its tail, is the
Floyd | manticore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "manticore, hello" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore ignores you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Add an evil, soulless, multinational corporation from Shadowrun then" 	
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore gets up, moves around, and then lies down again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore ignores you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rainyday says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | The manticore is capable of understanding you -- it just doesn't
Floyd | particularly care.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Rainyday), "Well, I have stopped playing Archon and now play lots of Zangband." 	
			Lucea says, "Nethack, actually" 	
			DavidW says, "Poor forgotten grue." 	
			Lucea says, "and Rogue, I guess" 	
			PaulSharke exclaims, "I'm off to spend time with family. Thanks again, all!" 	
			Rainyday says, "hmm. A grue might be a worthy addition. Except you couldn't see it." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Btw, we can start with mine, if you care" 	
	PaulSharke goes home. 		Rainyday says, "that's fine ... I think you've seen most of what there was to see this time" 	
			Rainyday says, "sorry it was so spare, it needs a lot more work" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was why I asked earlier, but no one answered me." Jacqueline sniffles. 	
			Lucea says, "A good start though" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit?

		Taleslinger says (to rainyday), "Yeah, Looking forward to see more." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list b" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "b2demo babel babel2 babel31 babes badguys balances bandit bap barometer bb bbp bear bearg bedlam bedtime beet beingandrewplotkin bellwater beneath bestman bestof3 bigmama bj blair bloody bluemen bmch bomber booth break-in breakin bronze bse bunny" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load bedtime" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Busy week. L.A., Helsinki, Mexico City  and back. Finally home, jet-lag
Floyd | hit you like a brick to the face. Randa was kind, understanding, then
Floyd | with her own soft determination beckoned you to get up from the sofa
Floyd | and put your son to bed. For a moment you gave in to the illusion that

Floyd | you're living the good life, making money, coming home to your family
Floyd | once the tie-up is completed. Then you realize you've been away for six
Floyd | months, a lifetime at his age. You look down on him, guilt in your
Floyd | stomach.
Floyd |  But then he smiles, the smile that always reminds Randa of you, and
Floyd | you feel a wave of irrational, overwhelming pride. Danny pulls up his

Floyd | blanket, and murmurs, already half-asleep:
Floyd |
Floyd |  "Dad, will you tell me a story?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bedtime story
Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Taleslinger

Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 080819 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, it looks like you have your work cut out for you. Randa
Floyd | introduced Prince George, who is sent by king Sean to save some
Floyd | princess. (Even though Danny isn't yet old enough to get his head

Floyd | around the idea of wanting to save a girl.) Looks like the prince did a
Floyd | lot of traveling yesterday, saw a lot of landscape, did a lot of
Floyd | singing, and Danny fell asleep when he finally reached some bridge.
Floyd | Picking up there, you clear your throat and begin:
Floyd |
Floyd | At the Bridge

Floyd | "The old, (once upon a time) sturdy wooden bridge had crossed the
Floyd | Clearwater River from east to west for as long as the prince could
Floyd | remember, and according to the stories, it had been there long before
Floyd | that, built when the kingdom was young. He fondly remembered hiding in
Floyd | the thick scrub below the bridge from his father's guards when he was
Floyd | but a boy. "

Floyd |
Floyd | "A big and nasty mountain troll guarded the bridge, a burred stone axe
Floyd | in his brawny fists."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Rainyday says, "thanks" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x danny" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "a clubfloyd" 		Jacqueline says (to Rainyday), "Good luck with finishing... and I'm glad you hung around for ClubFloyd." 	
	

Floyd | "Clubfloyd is this weekly meeting where a lot of players play a game on
Floyd | IfMud. Maybe they're playing this one day. If so - Hey Club Floyd!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "hit troll" 		
	

Floyd | (with the sword)
Floyd | "Working up all of his courage, the prince drew his sword, and, setting
Floyd | his face, marched towards the troll. The troll saw him approach and
Floyd | roared: 'Ha! You will fall by the order of...'
Floyd |  You look around the room.

Floyd |
Floyd |  'Kur-Tayn. Order of Great Wizard Kur-Tayn.'"
Floyd |
Floyd | --glaring light...

		Lucea says, "Ha ha" 	
			Rainyday says, "I think I'd better be getting along, I hope to see the transcript posted soon and I will take some more notes" 	
			Rainyday says, "thanks all for looking at my game" 	
			Lucea exclaims, "no problem!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "haha - ClubFloyd cameo. Nice." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Whoa! Danny has switched on his night lamp, effectively blinding you.
Floyd | When you finally blinked the spots away, he is sitting up in his bed,
Floyd | shouting:
Floyd | "Daaaad, that is so stupid. I mean, if this Cue-Train wizard was such a
Floyd | mighty wizard, he wouldn't let a troll, of all creatures, guard the
Floyd | only bridge leading to his castle! I mean, everyone knows they're dumb

Floyd | and easily tricked. No, he would set up something really dangerous
Floyd | there, something...cool."
Floyd | His eyes have gotten a dreamy quality you don't like at all.
Floyd | "Like what?" you ask carefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You know, in today's episode of SPACE RANGERS, they fought this really

Floyd | evil robot."
Floyd |
Floyd | "A robot, son? The prince lived hundreds of years ago..." Danny has
Floyd | crossed his arms, a gesture that reminds you of Randa and makes clear
Floyd | this argument is lost. "Well, this Cure-Tan guy is a wizard, right?"
Floyd |

Floyd | At the Bridge
Floyd | "The old, (once upon a time) sturdy wooden bridge had crossed the
Floyd | Clearwater River from east to west for as long as the prince could
Floyd | remember, and according to the stories, it had been there long before
Floyd | that, built when the kingdom was young. He fondly remembered hiding in
Floyd | the thick scrub below the bridge from his father's guards when he was

Floyd | but a boy. "
Floyd |
Floyd | "A robot was on the bridge."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Rainyday goes home. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x robot" 		
	

Floyd | "So, son, what was this robot from SPACE KNIGHTS like?"
Floyd |
Floyd | He folds his arms, and in an accusing voice, says: "Well, the robot in
Floyd | Space RANGERS was this really dangerous looking tripod thing, with this

Floyd | red light on the top, which could turn into a LASER BEAM which
Floyd | VAPORIZED EVERYTHING it hit, including people! It killed some of the
Floyd | STARLIGHT's crew! It nearly hit First Officer Leena, you know, the cat
Floyd | woman..." Ah, childhood crushes. "And she was buried under all this
Floyd | rubble..." "Yeah, son, see, we have our own story here."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says (to jacq), "You can ask the robot / troll about some out of world stuff." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask robot about me" 		
	

Floyd | "Well, this Jack Chambers is a cool guy. Do you know about the one time
Floyd | his uncle send him a magic box?"

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince jumped.
Floyd |

Floyd |  The robot jumped, landing with a *thud*. The bridge creaked ominously,
Floyd | but held."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | You take a deep breath to present a rousing rendition of "Off to see
Floyd | the wizard", but then Danny cringes. "He's not going to sing again, is
Floyd | he?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Okay, change of plan.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "I mean 'heh' Jack Chambers." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | "Aww,Dad, dancing is sooo gay."

Floyd |
Floyd |  "What do you mean "gay?""
Floyd |  He looks nonplussed. "You know, not cool."
Floyd |
Floyd |  "No son, it doesn't meant that. Not at all."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Then what does it mean, Dad?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Uh, we'll talk about that later. Just keep in mind that it isn't a bad
Floyd | word, okay?"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger asks (of jacq), "You remember him?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes. Duh." 	
			DavidW says, "Sure. Jack in the box." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "remove pants" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says, "Soooo...This piece about dancing is from an actual conversation a friend of mine had with his son." 	
			Lucea says, "awesome" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "looked at the sky" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Emily has disconnected. 		
	Emily goes home. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | "It was an old wooden bridge, made of thick logs, aged by hundreds of
Floyd | carriages, and the steps of a thousand wanderers."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell robot" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince smelled nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Lucea says, "someone needs to take up the smelling gauntlet" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "looked" 		
	

Floyd | At the Bridge
Floyd | "The old, (once upon a time) sturdy wooden bridge had crossed the
Floyd | Clearwater River from east to west for as long as the prince could
Floyd | remember, and according to the stories, it had been there long before

Floyd | that, built when the kingdom was young. He fondly remembered hiding in
Floyd | the thick scrub below the bridge from his father's guards when he was
Floyd | but a boy. "
Floyd |
Floyd | "A really dangerous looking tripedal robot stood on the bridge, casting
Floyd | the red light from his headpiece around threateningly."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x headpiece" 		
	

Floyd | "The headpiece was...er...headshaped, right...and...er...silvery as
Floyd | well..."Danny sighs, then he suddenly jumps up and says: "Yeah! And the

Floyd | prince would see it mimicking his every move-" Your son, now all full
Floyd | of exictement, shifts his body left and right, staring you right square
Floyd | in the eye. "Every..move. Because that's how these robots learned. By
Floyd | copying their enemies."
Floyd | "But what the prince also saw, was a small on/off button."
Floyd | "Danny opens his mouth to protest, but you shut him off:"Well, the

Floyd | wizard had no robot factory, so he'd had to have a way to switch it
Floyd | off." Danny frowns, unconvinced, but he's letting you continue."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "examined the scrub" 		
	

Floyd | "The thick scrub..." You just realized that this would be a great
Floyd | chance to tell your son all about flowers and plants. If only you knew
Floyd | something. Oh well. "...hid a secret path that led under the bridge."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "walked the path" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something The Prince can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "searched the scrub" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince found some thorns. Ouch!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "found the path" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the bridge

Floyd | "The wooden supporting structures loomed above the prince like the
Floyd | remnants of a very ecologically aware lost civilization. A muddy slope
Floyd | lead down to the water and up towards the scrub."
Floyd |
Floyd | "A small pebble stuck out of the mud."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger scribble scribble 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince decided to take the easy way out and just swim across..."
Floyd | "Come on dad, the wizard would've anticipated that. There'd be sharks

Floyd | and mines and octopuses..." "In a river?" "Just sharks and mines then!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "looked at the bridge" 		
	

Floyd | "To the prince it looked like this supporting structure was what kept

Floyd | the bridge from collapsing. "But Dad, wouldn't that be somewhat
Floyd | dangerous? Wouldn't it be better if they just replaced the whole
Floyd | bridge?" "Yes, son, but see, the kingdom had no money for that. It's a
Floyd | hum...tax thing. Happens everywhere."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "take pebble" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climbed the bridge" 		
	

Floyd | "It looked like these structures had been  designed in an especially
Floyd | unclimbable manner."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince was carrying:
Floyd |   a pebble
Floyd |   a sword
Floyd |
Floyd | "Dad, mum never said anything of a sword!" You wink at him. "Son, this
Floyd | is a boy's story now."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Under the bridge
Floyd | "The wooden supporting structures loomed above the prince like the

Floyd | remnants of a very ecologically aware lost civilization. A muddy slope
Floyd | lead down to the water and up towards the scrub."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pebble" 		
	

Floyd | "A small, round, white, pebble."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat pebble" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "By the way, I really liked the past tense thing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dug mud" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says, "It's mostly thanks to David Fisher and nitku, honestly." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dug the mud" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dug" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		inky says, "you don't smell with a gauntlet!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dig" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		inky says, "it'd be a smelling noselet" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x mud" 		
	

Floyd | "The mud was just that, plain old mud."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "searched the mud" 		
	

Floyd | The prince prodded the mud with his boot, but found nothing useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "got the mud" 		
	

Floyd | No, you're trying to tell Danny that playing in the dirt is not cool.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ate the mud" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking Mud)
Floyd | No, you're trying to tell Danny that playing in the dirt is not cool.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "ate the pebble" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | At the Bridge
Floyd | "A really dangerous looking tripedal robot stood on the bridge, casting
Floyd | the red light from his headpiece around threateningly."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "killed himself" 		
	

Floyd | What did The Prince want to kill himself with?
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "threw the pebble at the robot" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince threw the pebble with all his power, but it just bounced
Floyd | off the robot's metal hull harmlessly."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		GDorn asks, "is there a past-tense library, or did you need to implement all of these yourself?" 	
			Jacqueline cries. 	
			GDorn says, "get pebble" 	
			GDorn says, "er" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get pebble" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot made a grabbing motion with one of his legs, carefully
Floyd | balancing on the other two. Then it stood on all three again."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "throw pebble at button" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince threw the pebble with all his might..."
Floyd |  Danny has folded his arms. "But he wouldn't be able to throw it hard
Floyd | enough to actually push the button. That would be ridiculous."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Lucea says, "pushed the button" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "pushed the button" 		
	

Floyd | "The button was high up on the robot's head, and the prince could see
Floyd | no way to get up there."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "climbed the robot" 		
	

Floyd | "The robot kicked the prince away with one well aimed...kick. The
Floyd | prince landed a few feet away in the bushes, but immediately stood up
Floyd | again. That's an important lesson, son. They can kick you down, but you

Floyd | have to get up again."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "throw sword at button" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the button)

Floyd | That seemed to be a part of the robot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says (to gdorn), "There is an extension that puts all library responses into past tense. Nitku worked some regular expression magic, nd I had to painstakingly replace most library verbs." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "laughed" 		
	

Floyd | "Why did the prince do this, dad?" "Because, son, no matter how dire
Floyd | the circumstances, it's always important to keep on the sunny side of
Floyd | things."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Lucea says, "I thought I'd mention that one" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "scream" 		
	

Floyd | "Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Danny covers his ears.
Floyd |
Floyd |  The door opens, and Randa peeks in, and you stare sheepishly at the
Floyd | ground. "I appreciate that you fellas are having fun" she says,

Floyd | smirking motherly "but keep it down, okay?" She closes the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | Danny says: "A magic word implemented by Will Crowther in the original
Floyd | text adventure, known as "Advent" or "Colossal Cave Adventure", among
Floyd | other names. It was the first magic word the player encountered, and
Floyd | transported the player between two locations on incantation. It is now
Floyd | included in many current games as an homage. (cf) IfWiki."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "plugh" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince jumped.
Floyd |
Floyd |  The robot jumped, landing with a *thud*. The bridge creaked ominously,
Floyd | but held."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says, "Oh! Wait!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "plover" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Lucea asks, "yes?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "a dw" 		
	

Floyd | "David Welbourn is a canadian guy who wrote a *lot* of walkthroughs and

Floyd | works on IfWiki. Despite all this, he found time to test this game."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "bother" 		
	

Floyd | True fathers don't teach their sons such language!

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince jumped.
Floyd |

Floyd |  The robot jumped, landing with a *thud*. The bridge creaked ominously,
Floyd | but held."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "went down" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the bridge
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Bedtime story is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long
Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if The Prince's been there before).
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Under the bridge
Floyd | "The wooden supporting structures loomed above the prince like the
Floyd | remnants of a very ecologically aware lost civilization. A muddy slope
Floyd | lead down to the water and up towards the scrub."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		DavidW says, "wow. I got a in-game mention? Cool." 	
			Taleslinger says, "All testers did!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "a jacq" 		
	

Floyd | [I can't figure out who you want to talk to.]
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | At the Bridge
Floyd | "The old, (once upon a time) sturdy wooden bridge had crossed the

Floyd | Clearwater River from east to west for as long as the prince could
Floyd | remember, and according to the stories, it had been there long before
Floyd | that, built when the kingdom was young. He fondly remembered hiding in
Floyd | the thick scrub below the bridge from his father's guards when he was
Floyd | but a boy. A small, almost invisible path lead down, under the bridge."
Floyd |

Floyd | "A really dangerous looking tripedal robot stood on the bridge, casting
Floyd | the red light from his headpiece around threateningly."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The prince could see a pebble here."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "a jacq" 		
	

Floyd | "Well, she organizes the comp in which this game was entered.Also,
Floyd | recently, she isn't too fond of being called kitten." The robot rubs
Floyd | one cheek."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline isn't sure she wants to know if she's in there, but maybe because she's the comp organizer... 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a Jacqueline" 		
	

Floyd | "Well, she organizes the comp in which this game was entered.Also,
Floyd | recently, she isn't too fond of being called kitten." The robot rubs

Floyd | one cheek."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "Timing. he" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, heh" 	
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "a taleslinger" 		
	

Floyd | "This unit hasn't stored any information about this."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a testers" 		
	

Floyd | "This unit hasn't stored any information about this."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "The H is going on this keyboard. Sigh." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "a marius" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, he's this, you know, german guy."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a randa" 		
	

Floyd | "The robot said: "That is simply the most beautiful and caring person

Floyd | in the world." Danny nods. "Yes. Yes, she is."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Lucea says, "aw" 	
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "a ifmud" 		
	

Floyd | "This awesome Chat-MUD with a lot of helpful people on a lot of helpful
Floyd | channels."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a raif" 		
	

Floyd | "This unit hasn't stored any information about this."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says, "I can't believe I forgot to implement Taleslinger as a synonym." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a danny" 		
	

Floyd | "Well" said the robot thoughtfully, "Danny is a really bright boy. And
Floyd | handsome, too." "Dad!" says Danny, trying to act embarassed, but
Floyd | blushing and secretly smiling with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "a dad" 		
	

Floyd | "Well, this Jack Chambers is a cool guy. Do you know about the one time
Floyd | his uncle send him a magic box?"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "uncle" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a uncle" 		
	

Floyd | "This unit hasn't stored any information about this."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a box" 		
	

Floyd | "This unit hasn't stored any information about this."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "took inventory" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince was carrying:
Floyd |   a sword

Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot looked down at itself, and then discovered it had no
Floyd | pockets."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince was carrying:
Floyd |   a sword
Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot looked down at itself, and then discovered it had no
Floyd | pockets."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "Dude - 'take inventory' works? Neat." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't expect it to." 	
			DavidW says, "That's standard Inform." 	
			DavidW says, "That should work in your own games." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess I've never tried it." 	
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "version" 		
	

Floyd | Bedtime story
Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Taleslinger

Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 080819 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd | Identification number: //09DFA578-9195-42BE-8482-2CAF99768813//
Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0 (2N) / Library serial number 080126
Floyd | Standard Rules version 2/080430 by Graham Nelson
Floyd | Custom Library Messages version 25/080420 by David Fisher

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Taleslinger says, "one of my testers reported all these robot responses as bugs." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit me" 		
	

Floyd | (with the sword)

Floyd | "The prince pointed the sword at himself and hit his chest lightly.
Floyd |
Floyd |  The robot raised one leg and punched himself in the headpiece. It
Floyd | staggered for a moment before it regained its composure.
Floyd |
Floyd | 'Why is the bio-unit doing this? This hurts!'"

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "So, we have a sword, and the robot mimics us. Maybe if we stab ourself in the chest..." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill me with sword" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince pointed the sword at himself and hit himself in the chest

Floyd | lightly.
Floyd |
Floyd |  The robot raised one leg and punched himself in the headpiece just as
Floyd | lightly.
Floyd | "Wow dad, this robot learns fast!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill eyes with sword" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit me hard" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit my head" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stab robot" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "attack robot with sword" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince moved, drawing his sword, knowing that, the bigger they

Floyd | are, the lighter they fall."
Floyd | Danny sits up again, all excitement:"But-but-but, Dad, the robot was
Floyd | nearly invincible! See, Captain Asteroyd even fired a polytron bomb at
Floyd | it! They had to modify one of the STARLIGHT's engine to build an
Floyd | anti-matter bomb which could destroy it. Do you see why Cute-Trance
Floyd | would set up such a thing as a guard? The prince has no way to get past

Floyd | it!" You ruffle your hair, stumped.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "sing to robot" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, I only understood the first part of what you said."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		inky asks, "I forget, did we see its headpiece?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yes" 	
			Taleslinger says, "actually, this puzzle has 2 solutions" 	
			inky says, "aha, I thought so" 	
			inky says, "I found the other one" 	
			Lucea says, "I found the one with the bridge" 	
			inky says, "but couldn't figure out what to do with the button" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x button" 		
	

Floyd | "There was a small, barely visible on/off button on the robot's
Floyd | headpiece."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch head" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		DavidW asks, "huh. Two solutions, eh?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear sword" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince can't wear that!
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		DavidW says, "yeah, I found the bridge one." 	
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "press button" 		
	

Floyd | "The button was high up on the robot's head, and the prince could see
Floyd | no way to get up there."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "scratch forehead" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "robot, press the button" 		
	

Floyd | The robot had better things to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "x prince" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince was a strong and nimble young fellow, always polite to his
Floyd | elders and peers, a boon to his country and friends. And, contrary to
Floyd | what your mother said, he looked nothing like George Clooney."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince was carrying:
Floyd |   a sword
Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot looked down at itself, and then discovered it had no

Floyd | pockets."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "saluted" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "touch forehead" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remove crown" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x head" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch ear" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "hold head" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open mouth" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x forehead" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "close eyes" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn aronud" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn around" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "punch self" 		
	

Floyd | (with the sword)
Floyd | "The prince pointed the sword at himself and hit himself in the chest

Floyd | lightly.
Floyd |
Floyd |  The robot raised one leg and punched himself in the headpiece just as
Floyd | lightly.
Floyd | "Wow dad, this robot learns fast!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "raise hand" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "x headpiece" 		
	

Floyd | "The headpiece was...er...headshaped, right...and...er...silvery as
Floyd | well..."Danny sighs, then he suddenly jumps up and says: "Yeah! And the
Floyd | prince would see it mimicking his every move-" Your son, now all full
Floyd | of exictement, shifts his body left and right, staring you right square

Floyd | in the eye. "Every..move. Because that's how these robots learned. By
Floyd | copying their enemies."
Floyd | "But what the prince also saw, was a small on/off button."
Floyd | "Danny opens his mouth to protest, but you shut him off:"Well, the
Floyd | wizard had no robot factory, so he'd had to have a way to switch it
Floyd | off." Danny frowns, unconvinced, but he's letting you continue."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn myself off" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something The Prince could switch.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "drop sword then punch self then get sword" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot held up one of its legs, then opened the claw at its end,

Floyd | then put the leg down again."
Floyd |
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "punch self" 		
	

Floyd | What did The Prince want to punch himself with?
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fist" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | The Prince was carrying nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot looked down at itself, and then discovered it had no
Floyd | pockets."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get sword" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The robot made a grabbing motion with one of his legs, carefully
Floyd | balancing on the other two. Then it stood on all three again."
Floyd |

Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climbed bridge" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much would have been achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "headbutted the robot" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, you're mumbling."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sat down" 		
	

Floyd | "Dad, I only understood the first part of what you said."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sat" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince sat.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot sat down as well.
Floyd |
Floyd |  Its headpiece was still high out of reach above the prince.
Floyd |

Floyd | So the prince stood back up."
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "hugged the robot" 		
	

Floyd | "As the prince approached the robot, it lowered it's head, blinding him

Floyd | with the red light. "NO TRESPASSING! NO TRESPASSING! EXTERMINATION
Floyd | IMMINENT!"  Danny clutches your sleeve. "Dad! The prince better be
Floyd | careful!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		Jacqueline says, "Too bad I wasn't quick enough or I could have tried >THINK ABOUT GRANDMA after Lucea tried >TURN MYSELF OFF." 	
			Lucea says, "ew" 	
			Taleslinger says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "See?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "stood on his head" 		
	

Floyd | "But, dad, there was no such thing here!"

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then
Floyd | "The button was high up on the robot's head, and the prince could see
Floyd | no way to get up there."

Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		inky says, "it lowered its head!" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "layed down" 		
	

Floyd | "The prince lay down.

Floyd |
Floyd | The robot folded its long legs gracefully, and, by lying down it placed
Floyd | headpiece near the prince.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Prince then

		inky says (to GDorn), "nice!" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "pushed the button" 		
	

Floyd | The prince leapt forward and pressed the button. Instantly, the whole
Floyd | robot went limp, and CRASH! BOOM! ZAM! it collapsed into a big,
Floyd | metallic heap." Danny beams at you proudly. "Captain Asteroyd never
Floyd | thought of that!" You shrug nonchalantly.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Randa opens the door, then peeks into the room. "Sorry to interrupt you
Floyd | two, but the beginning of this game is over." "But mooom -" Danny
Floyd | begins to whine. "Sorry, son, you know the rules. Only a short intro,
Floyd | that's why it's called IntroComp." Danny pulls up his blanket. "Man,
Floyd | this is just not fair. Just as it was getting interesting" Danny pouts.

Floyd | Randa pats you on the shoulder, as you get up to kill the light.
Floyd |
Floyd |  "Sorry, son. Maybe later."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have won. For now... ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yay!" 	
			Lucea says, "yay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I liked the Randa bit at the end." 	
			DavidW says, "Such a nice game." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Thanks." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I know we've gone for quite awhile, but since some of you hadn't been able to play The Bloody Guns--and its quite short--maybe we could do one more?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, I'm around next week, but not the week after, so I'd like to plow through them all." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Taleslinger says, "Sorry, not for me. I'm already way past my ...bedtime." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think I solved this one in, like 15 minutes." 	
			Lucea says, "but I have to leave at 7" 	
			Taleslinger says, "But thanks everyone for playing this." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Understood - have a good night's sleep. Thanks for haning in for us to play yours." 	
			Lucea exclaims, "no problem!" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Lucea), "Seven's in 25 minutes?" 	
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		Jacqueline says, "I think we might actually do it in that amount of time." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load bloody" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Loading game...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                         The Theatre Of The Sensible
Floyd |                                  presents:

Floyd |                                A BLOODY LIFE
Floyd |
Floyd |                              A Day In The Life
Floyd |                         Of An Unfortunate Physician
Floyd |                                  Caught Up
Floyd |                               In A Soap Opera

Floyd |
Floyd |                       Written, Directed and Produced
Floyd |                                     by
Floyd |                      Quentin.D.Thompson and associates
Floyd |
Floyd | Created with Malmberg and Welch's Adventure Game Toolkit

Floyd |
Floyd | This game is being executed by:
Floyd |
Floyd |     AGiliTy, The (Mostly) Universal AGT Interpreter, Version 1.1.1
Floyd |     Copyright (C) 1996-1999,2001 by Robert Masenten
Floyd |     Glk version

Floyd |
Floyd | Choose <I>nstructions, <A>GiliTy Information, or <other> to start the
Floyd | game
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd | q
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Life has been kind of strange these days....you can't really make out

Floyd | what the hell your hospital - sorry, Institute - is coming to. Reckless
Floyd | procedures, personal complications....even your own daughter is acting
Floyd | sort of fishy. Could it be that you, in fact, are the one to solve the
Floyd | mystery of this generalized unprofessional conduct?
Floyd |           --- HIT ANY KEY ---
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ack - should have checked first." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/quit" 		
	

Floyd | /
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [ Entrance                                                Score: 0
Floyd | Moves: 0 ]
Floyd | This is the entrance to the Richard Aloysius Thompson Honoris Institute
Floyd | of Oncology, Molecular Gastro-Enterology, Genetic Pathology, and a lot
Floyd | of other things strictly kept on paper. Incidentally, it's also where
Floyd | you work. The main gate leads north, and there is a sidewalk on either

Floyd | side of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd |  Are you sure you want to quit?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list b" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "b2demo babel babel2 babel31 babes badguys balances bandit bap barometer bb bbp bear bearg bedlam bedtime beet beingandrewplotkin bellwater beneath bestman bestof3 bigmama bj blair bloody bluemen bmch bomber booth break-in breakin bronze bse bunny" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list g" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "galatea gardening glass glow gna go godot gostak gotid grail grip ground gryscale guess guilty gumshoe gunmute" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "list t" 		
	Floyd says (to DavidW), "tangle tapestry tatctae tdragon tempest temple tenuous the_one theatre thedayishothitler thief timeout tk1 toonesia tortoise tow11 towerofbeef transfer trip triune troll tryst205 ttl tube" 		Jacqueline says, "One sec... he loaded it awhile back, I can go look." 	
	DavidW says, "heh the day is hot hitler" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "list j" 		
	Floyd says (to DavidW), "jack jackmills janitor jarod jewel jigsaw jigsaw_footnotes jigsaw_game journey jump" 		DavidW says, "hm. I just don't see it." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "list t" 		
	Floyd says (to Lucea), "tangle tapestry tatctae tdragon tempest temple tenuous the_one theatre thedayishothitler thief timeout tk1 toonesia tortoise tow11 towerofbeef transfer trip triune troll tryst205 ttl tube" 		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, no I can't because I had to log that account off. Hrm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It should be bloodyguns one word, if it keeps with the original file name." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list b" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "b2demo babel babel2 babel31 babes badguys balances bandit bap barometer bb bbp bear bearg bedlam bedtime beet beingandrewplotkin bellwater beneath bestman bestof3 bigmama bj blair bloody bluemen bmch bomber booth break-in breakin bronze bse bunny" 		DavidW asks, "Maybe it's there but not in the list?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "load bloodyguns" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Bloody Guns
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2008 Stuart Allen
Floyd | Release 1 / build 6 / JACL verb.library version 21

Floyd |
Floyd | This game is a work of fiction. No character in this story is based
Floyd | upon the life of any real person, living or dead.
Floyd |
Floyd | This game would not exist in its present form if not for the generous
Floyd | assistance of Jack Mullholland. Mr Mullholland served as an

Floyd | anti-aircraft gunner in Darwin during World War II and I am extremely
Floyd | grateful to him for taking the time to share his personal experiences
Floyd | and answer my endless questions.
Floyd |
Floyd | Type 'menu' for further information about playing this game.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "WEIRD" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, WOO" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, aw... no music." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "hmm, yeah, that is weird" 	
			DavidW says, "Guess you'll have to type 'hum-hum-hum' a lot." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "menu" 		
	

Floyd | Hit any key to begin
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
Floyd | SUNDAY 22 MARCH 1942
Floyd |
Floyd | The sun has almost risen above the tops of the gum trees at the far
Floyd | side of the field and it will soon be too hot to play cricket. From

Floyd | your position in the outfield you watch as Jenkins begins his loping
Floyd | stride towards the crease to deliver the final ball of the over. The
Floyd | other fielders, dressed only in khaki shorts, boots and wide brimmed
Floyd | hats stand stationary in the oppressive humidity. For a moment you
Floyd | think you can hear the faint throbbing drone of approaching aircraft,
Floyd | but then nothing. You tilt your head slightly, straining to hear then

Floyd | jump at the frantic clanging of the improvised air raid bell.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Man the bloody guns!" Sergeant Thompson yells as he drops his bat and
Floyd | lets Jenkins' ball run wide.
Floyd |
Floyd | The players sprint from the field to the anti-aircraft gun mounted

Floyd | behind you at the western edge of the site as the sound of aircraft
Floyd | returns louder than before.
Floyd |
Floyd | The worn leather cricket ball rolls to a stop near your feet.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait... darn it. I came up with a song earlier for Storm Cellar, but forgot to share it while Paul was here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh well." 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | > A fiendishly clever move.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take ball" 		
	

Floyd | > You take the cricket ball.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jenkins runs past you and grabs your arm, pulling you towards the

Floyd | anti-aircraft gun. "Come on you daft bugger, we've got a war to fight!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The assembly area
Floyd | This flat, bare-earth area connects the four anti-aircraft guns. To the
Floyd | southeast a gap in the tall earth banks that surround gun number three
Floyd | allows entry to your station. To the south, between guns three and

Floyd | four, is a low hut that serves as primitive sleeping and eating
Floyd | quarters for you and the rest of your crew. To the north, a path
Floyd | through the tall dry grass between guns one and two leads to the
Floyd | Command Post while the oval lies to the east. Beside you a crude timber
Floyd | frame suspends an old oxygen cylinder just above a shallow pit in the
Floyd | ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | An iron bar used to strike the cylinder in order to raise the alarm is
Floyd | resting on the ground by the frame.
Floyd |
Floyd | Soldiers run past you towards the four gun emplacements as bombs begin
Floyd | to fall on ships in the harbour.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "So, no prompts either. At least it's running." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get bar" 		
	

Floyd | > You take the iron bar.
Floyd |

Floyd | Someone grabs your hat from behind and replaces it roughly with an
Floyd | ill-fitting helmet as you are barrelled through the entrance to gun
Floyd | number three.
Floyd |
Floyd | The gun emplacement
Floyd | Crew members scramble to their stations around the tall anti-aircraft

Floyd | gun mounted here; the drone of the approaching single-engine Japanese
Floyd | "Val" dive bombers sharpens to a distinctive strum.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your heart pounds as the routine of countless drills races through your
Floyd | mind: get a shell from Smith, set the fuse on it to the appropriate
Floyd | time for the height of the aircraft then pass it to Jenkins for

Floyd | loading.
Floyd |
Floyd | You wait nervously for Smith as he disappears into the armoury to fetch
Floyd | a shell.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I'm going to bow out on this, as I've solved it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, by the way, at this point, once the music goes away, there are little bombing noises in the background. Some close, some farther away." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So while you guys play I'll just intermittently go PEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWBRRRRRRGH" 	
			Jacqueline says, "and peeeeeeewwwwwwbrrrrrgh when it's farther away." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "look bomber" 		
	

Floyd | > You can't see any such thing as "bomber".

Floyd |

		McMartin says, "("I'm going to sing the boom song now." SIX MONTHS LATER)" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't especially like battle games. Especially dropping into it without knowing what's what." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | > You hear the sound of the approaching aircraft and exploding bombs.

Floyd |
Floyd | Smith stumbles then regains his footing as he emerges from the armoury
Floyd | at speed carrying a shell for the anti-aircraft gun and your fuse
Floyd | setting tool. In two more strides he crosses the emplacement and hands
Floyd | them both to you.
Floyd |

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "set fuse" 		
	

Floyd | > To set the fuse you need to specify a length of time to set it to.
Floyd | For example, to set the fuse to three and a half seconds, simply type
Floyd | "set the fuse to 35".
Floyd |

Floyd | Shockwaves and dissonance as a bomb explodes nearby.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith ducks back into the armoury.
Floyd |

		GDorn says, "I'm not fond of games where non-actions make time go by anyway" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I dunno. If you stop to listen, that takes time." 	
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "set fuse to 35" 		
	

Floyd | > You slide the setting tool down over the nose of the shell until its
Floyd | lugs engage with the holes in the fuse ring. Rotating the tool you set
Floyd | the fuse to 35 tenths of a second.

Floyd |

		inky says, "this game is pretty short, so it doesn't matter a huge amount" 	
	

Floyd | "Right'oh Davis, pass the shell up to me now," Jenkins calls down from
Floyd | his post at the loading tray.
Floyd |

Floyd | Smith returns from the armoury with another shell and stands beside
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "How do we figure out fuse timing? I haven't the foggiest notion." 	
			GDorn says, "yeah, but this was me getting feedback from a nonaction command (set fuse)" 	
			Jacqueline will only hint if asked. 	
			GDorn says, "the game was feeding me instructions, and then time went by." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give shell to jenkins" 		
	

Floyd | > You heave the shell up to Jenkins who places it into the loading tray

Floyd | then rams it home into the chamber. Without pause, Sergeant Thompson
Floyd | pulls the firing lever and the gun responds with a deafening crack. The
Floyd | barrel recoils, slowed by the oil-filled dampers, and the hot shell
Floyd | casing is ejected onto the ground along with a plume of acrid smoke.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shell shrieks through the air, climbing through a steep parabolic

Floyd | arc towards the closest of the approaching "Val" dive bombers. As the
Floyd | fuse expires the shell detonates into a cloud of white smoke well below
Floyd | the aircraft.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith hands you a new shell.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "Oh, hm. Yeah." 	
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "set shell to 70" 		
	

Floyd | > You slide the setting tool down over the nose of the shell until its
Floyd | lugs engage with the holes in the fuse ring. Rotating the tool you set

Floyd | the fuse to 70 tenths of a second.
Floyd |
Floyd | Another bomb falls too close for comfort just beyond the camp
Floyd | perimeter.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith ducks back into the armoury.

Floyd |

		
	vaporware says (to Floyd), "give shell to jenkins" 		
	

Floyd | > You pass the shell up to Jenkins who loads it into the gun. Sergeant
Floyd | Thompson pulls the firing lever and the gun responds with a deafening

Floyd | crack. The barrel recoils, and the hot shell casing is ejected along
Floyd | with another plume of hot smoke that fills the humid air of the gun
Floyd | emplacement.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the fuse expires the shell detonates into a cloud of white smoke
Floyd | significantly above the aircraft.

Floyd |
Floyd | A nearby blast sends dust and debris over the revetments into the gun
Floyd | emplacement.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith returns from the armoury with another shell and hands it to you.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "So between 35 and 70?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "set fuse to 60 then give shell to jenkins" 		
	

Floyd | > You slide the setting tool down over the nose of the shell until its
Floyd | lugs engage with the holes in the fuse ring. Rotating the tool you set
Floyd | the fuse to 60 tenths of a second.

Floyd | Jenkins takes the shell from you then loads it for Sergeant Thompson to
Floyd | fire.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the fuse expires the shell detonates into a cloud of white smoke
Floyd | significantly above the aircraft.
Floyd |

Floyd | Smith hands you a new shell.
Floyd |

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "set fuse to 50 then give shell to jenkins" 		
	

Floyd | > You slide the setting tool down over the nose of the shell until its
Floyd | lugs engage with the holes in the fuse ring. Rotating the tool you set

Floyd | the fuse to 50 tenths of a second.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith ducks back into the armoury.
Floyd | Jenkins takes the shell from you then loads it for Sergeant Thompson to
Floyd | fire.
Floyd |

Floyd | As the fuse expires the shell detonates into a cloud of white smoke
Floyd | well above the aircraft.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith returns from the armoury with another shell and hands it to you.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "try 40" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "set fuse to 42 then give shell to jenkins" 		
	

Floyd | > You slide the setting tool down over the nose of the shell until its
Floyd | lugs engage with the holes in the fuse ring. Rotating the tool you set
Floyd | the fuse to 42 tenths of a second.
Floyd | Jenkins takes the shell from you then loads it for Sergeant Thompson to

Floyd | fire.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the fuse expires the shell detonates into a cloud of white smoke
Floyd | that envelopes the aircraft. After what seems like minutes, the dive
Floyd | bomber emerges from the cloud in an ever tightening spiral. You watch
Floyd | with mixed emotions as the fuselage plunges into the warm waters of the

Floyd | Timor Sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rest of the gun crew erupts into a loud cheer as you scan the skies
Floyd | for any sign of parachutes.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the loud hailer in the command post comes the call of "Tally-ho"

Floyd | -- American P40 Kittyhawk fighters have engaged the bombers and all gun
Floyd | crews are to cease fire.
Floyd |
Floyd | [YOUR SCORE JUST WENT UP BY 10 POINTS]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | > The gun emplacement
Floyd | The floor of the gun emplacement is a circular concrete pad almost ten
Floyd | metres in diameter. Sandbag revetments, back filled with earth on the
Floyd | outside, form the perimeter of the pit. The 3.7 inch Vickers

Floyd | anti-aircraft gun stands bolted to the concrete, its barrel protruding
Floyd | through fragments of camouflage netting suspended high above your head.
Floyd | The only exit from the emplacement is a gap in the revetments to the
Floyd | northwest, while a small room set into the south wall serves as an
Floyd | armoury.
Floyd |

Floyd | Gunner Jenkins is standing on the gun by the breach.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sergeant Thompson is standing on the gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smith is standing beside you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sea" 		
	

Floyd | > You can't see any such thing as "sea".
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x jenkins" 		
	

Floyd | > Tall and thin, Jenkins is the camp's larrikin. His use of humour as a
Floyd | protective barrier has prevented you, or perhaps anyone else, from
Floyd | becoming particularly close to him.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gunner Davis report to the command post," announces the loud hailer to

Floyd | a chorus of jeers from the other gunners. "Trouble again, eh, Davis?"
Floyd | Jenkins calls with much delight .
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Are we Davis? I wasn't keeping notes." 	
			GDorn says, "by process of elimination, yes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I think so." 	
			DavidW says, "I wasn't tracking locations either." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | > The gun emplacement

Floyd | The floor of the gun emplacement is a circular concrete pad almost ten
Floyd | metres in diameter. Sandbag revetments, back filled with earth on the
Floyd | outside, form the perimeter of the pit. The 3.7 inch Vickers
Floyd | anti-aircraft gun stands bolted to the concrete, its barrel protruding
Floyd | through fragments of camouflage netting suspended high above your head.
Floyd | The only exit from the emplacement is a gap in the revetments to the

Floyd | northwest, while a small room set into the south wall serves as an
Floyd | armoury.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gunner Jenkins is standing on the gun by the breach.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sergeant Thompson is standing on the gun.

Floyd |
Floyd | Smith is standing beside you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | > The assembly area

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | > Display mode set to verbose.
Floyd |

Floyd | The assembly area
Floyd | This flat, bare-earth area connects the four anti-aircraft guns. To the
Floyd | southeast a gap in the tall earth banks that surround gun number three
Floyd | allows entry to your station. To the south, between guns three and
Floyd | four, is a low hut that serves as primitive sleeping and eating
Floyd | quarters for you and the rest of your crew. To the north, a path

Floyd | through the tall dry grass between guns one and two leads to the
Floyd | Command Post while the oval lies to the east. Beside you a crude timber
Floyd | frame suspends an old oxygen cylinder just above a shallow pit in the
Floyd | ground.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | > Outside the command post
Floyd | Tall dry grass surrounds the low sand-bag walls of the command post. A
Floyd | well-worn track through the grass leads south to the assembly area.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | > The command post
Floyd | The command post is nothing more than a roofless area formed by low
Floyd | sand-bag walls. Of prominence here is the Kerrison Predictor, an

Floyd | electro-mechanical computer atop a timber tripod that sends positioning
Floyd | information to four guns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lieutenant Roberts is standing by the Kerrison Predictor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sergeant Witheridge waits patiently by Lieutenant Roberts.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Davis," Lieutenant Roberts says as you enter. "Thank you for getting
Floyd | here so quickly. Soon after the first raids in February we set up an
Floyd | observation post on Melville Island to provide an early warning of
Floyd | aircraft approaching from the north. As you have just seen for
Floyd | yourself, we didn't get that warning.

Floyd |
Floyd | "We haven't been able to raise Melville on the radio since, so I need
Floyd | you to head out there and find out what is going on. They may have been
Floyd | bombed themselves or they may just be having radio trouble. Either way
Floyd | I need you to find out and report back to me so I've sent someone to
Floyd | ask Miki to take you out to the island. Go grab your gear then head

Floyd | down to the beach south of the oval. Miki will meet you there."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Man, I just watched Letters from Iow Jima last night, so this is more surreal than last time I played it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh! And I forgot!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "PEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWBRGGH" 	
			DavidW says, "I really don't want to be in the hot spot right now. I have chores to do." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except maybe it's done with the bombing sounds." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Enh, you're pretty much at the end." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | > "Before you go Davis, there's one last thing," Lieutenant Roberts
Floyd | says as he wipes the sweat from his brow. "In order to prevent enemy
Floyd | boats from landing in Snake Bay where the observation post is, the Navy
Floyd | laid a series of concrete mooring blocks, each twenty feet across."
Floyd |

Floyd | Lieutenant Roberts reaches into the top pocket of his shirt and hands
Floyd | you a folded piece of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | "This map shows the precise location of these blocks. They're too deep
Floyd | to affect Miki's canoe, but there is a motor launch based on Melville
Floyd | and if you need to bring that back you'll need to know where they are.

Floyd | The tidal flow is restricted in Snake Bay and with a six foot draft the
Floyd | launch draws too much to clear them, even on a high tide."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank you, sir," you reply at attention.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, and Davis, be careful. I've got a bad feeling about this one but

Floyd | with the rest of the army having pulled further inland I just can't
Floyd | spare any more men to go with you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I will, sir."
Floyd |
Floyd | You exchange salutes with Lieutenant Roberts.

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside the command post
Floyd | Tall dry grass surrounds the low sand-bag walls of the command post. A
Floyd | well-worn track through the grass leads south to the assembly area.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | > The assembly area
Floyd | This flat, bare-earth area connects the four anti-aircraft guns. To the
Floyd | southeast a gap in the tall earth banks that surround gun number three
Floyd | allows entry to your station. To the south, between guns three and

Floyd | four, is a low hut that serves as primitive sleeping and eating
Floyd | quarters for you and the rest of your crew. To the north, a path
Floyd | through the tall dry grass between guns one and two leads to the
Floyd | Command Post while the oval lies to the east. Beside you a crude timber
Floyd | frame suspends an old oxygen cylinder just above a shallow pit in the
Floyd | ground.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oops - lag." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | > The hut

Floyd | Mosquito netting lines the inside of this hut that serves as your
Floyd | sleeping and eating quarters. Five-foot high sandbag walls force you to
Floyd | stoop below the baking-hot corrugated iron roof. There are ten bunks
Floyd | against the far wall, one for each of the members of your crew.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your kit bag is under your bunk.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your rifle is leaning against the wall beside your bunk.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bag" 		
	

Floyd | > You take your kit bag.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get rifle" 		
	

Floyd | > You are carrying too much to take your rifle.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | > You are carrying a cricket ball, an iron bar, a steel helmet (being
Floyd | worn), a setting tool, a map of Snake Bay, your kit bag and your dog
Floyd | tags (being worn).

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop tool" 		
	

Floyd | > You drop the setting tool.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get rifle" 		
	

Floyd | > You take your rifle.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | > The assembly area
Floyd | This flat, bare-earth area connects the four anti-aircraft guns. To the
Floyd | southeast a gap in the tall earth banks that surround gun number three
Floyd | allows entry to your station. To the south, between guns three and
Floyd | four, is a low hut that serves as primitive sleeping and eating

Floyd | quarters for you and the rest of your crew. To the north, a path
Floyd | through the tall dry grass between guns one and two leads to the
Floyd | Command Post while the oval lies to the east. Beside you a crude timber
Floyd | frame suspends an old oxygen cylinder just above a shallow pit in the
Floyd | ground.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | > Darwin Oval (outfield)
Floyd | You are standing in the outfield on the western side of Darwin Oval.
Floyd | The pitch can be seen in the centre of the oval while to the southeast

Floyd | lies a cliff edge over which the harbour can be seen. Further to the
Floyd | west the barrels of the four anti-aircraft guns can be seen above their
Floyd | surrounding revetments.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | > The south of the oval
Floyd | Weathered coastal scrub covers the ground between the oval to north and
Floyd | the hill side to the south. A narrow but well-worn trail works its way
Floyd | down to the beach below.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | > The beach
Floyd | Deep trenches dug above the high tide line scar the beach where sand
Floyd | has been excavated for bagging. A steep path leads north from here

Floyd | through the mangroves back up to the oval.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you look out to sea you spot Miki, one of the local Aboriginal men,
Floyd | paddling around the point in his dugout canoe. Each powerful stroke of
Floyd | his paddle ends with a barely perceptible twist of the blade to keep
Floyd | his course. As he runs the canoe up onto the beach he places his paddle

Floyd | flat across the gunwhales and a broad smile comes to his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Come on balanda, army man saying we going to Melville," Miki shouts as
Floyd | he waves you to enter the canoe.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter canoe" 		
	

Floyd | > You place your hands on the bow of the canoe and push it back into
Floyd | deeper water. Once you are wading up to your knees you jump in and Miki
Floyd | hands you a paddle.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You sitting up the front, balanda. Just keep paddling and I'll get us
Floyd | where we're going." Levering his paddle against the side of the canoe
Floyd | he spins the bow out to sea and the two of you head towards Melville
Floyd | Island.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "paddle" 		
	

Floyd | To be continued...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The game is over.
Floyd |

Floyd | You have earned:
Floyd |    10% for shooting down the "Val" dive bomber.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "oh. Over that quick, huh?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Literally took me about 15 minutes." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm just not up to reading all that much war text right now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, I liked this one, however short. I guess the non-standard interpreter was a pain for many, and others would like to have an option for no sound (reasonable, though I liked the audio)." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And yeah, I'm not into war games, so I'm not sure why I liked this one, but I did." 	
			Jacqueline says, "My husband didn't play it, but he hates it because I kept singing the music from it." 	
			Jacqueline shrugs. "It got stuck in my head." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And then I realized it was driving him insane, so I didn't really go out of my way to avoid singing it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "In fact, I might go play it right now for him..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Guess that's enough intros for a day." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, we can play what's left next Sunday." 	
			Jacqueline says, "See you guys next week!"	
	



[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]








ClubFloyd Transcript: IntroComp 2008 Session 2, by Various Authors
As played on ifMUD on September 14, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript for the remaining third of the 2008 IntroComp entries not played previously, in the following order: Phoenix's Landing: Destiny, by Carolyn VanEseltine; and Nine-Tenths of the Law, by Jack Welch. These games were originally released as part of the 2008 IntroComp. You can learn more about these games, including how to download them, by visiting the ifWiki.

If you'd like to skip to a particular game in the transcript, you can click on the individual title:
Phoenix's Landing: Destiny
by Carolyn VanEseltine

Nine-Tenths of the Law
by Jack Welch


WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
			
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load phoenix" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like instructions?  [Please respond with YES or NO.]

		Jacqueline says, "The instructions are just for people new to IF, or we need them to know about special commands... I forget." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Are there special commands other than 'think about,' Carolyn?" 	
			CarolynV says, "A bit of both. (Or am I supposed to keep my mouth shut?)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh, nah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just don't spoil us on plot and we're good." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I'll say yes, then." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Welcome to Phoenix's Landing!
Floyd |
Floyd | This is an interactive fiction game (or, if you prefer, a text

Floyd | adventure game.)  You can interact with this game through a variety of
Floyd | commands.  The commands you enter will cause your viewpoint character
Floyd | (the "you") to take certain actions, and, as various actions are taken,

Floyd | the story will unfold.
Floyd |
Floyd | With rare exception, you can enter commands whenever you see a >.  (The

Floyd | most notable exception is if you are having a conversation, in which
Floyd | case you will have to finish your conversation first.  You will know
Floyd | that you are in a conversation if the game has supplied you with a

Floyd | numbered list of potential conversation responses.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Here are some useful commands....

Floyd |
Floyd | HELP will show you this message.
Floyd |

Floyd | LOOK (or L) will show what is around you.
Floyd | EXAMINE <object> (or X <object>) will take a closer look at a specific

Floyd | object.
Floyd | INVENTORY (or I) will show you what you are carrying.

Floyd |
Floyd | When you want to manipulate an item, try commands like GET <object>,
Floyd | DROP <object>, WEAR <object>, REMOVE <object>, and PUT <object> IN/ON


Floyd | <another object>.
Floyd |
Floyd | When you want to talk to someone, you can TALK TO <person>.  Sometimes,
Floyd | other people will talk to you of their own accord.  When you are
Floyd | conversing with someone, you will be presented with a list of numbered


Floyd | options.  Type in the number you want on each turn in order to continue
Floyd | through the conversation.
Floyd |
Floyd | When you want to move from place to place, try commands like EAST,
Floyd | WEST, NORTH, and SOUTH, or RETREAT (which will take you back in
Floyd | whichever direction you just came from).  You can also SIT, STAND,


Floyd | KNEEL, and LIE to assume different positions.  It is more comfortable
Floyd | to SIT ON CHAIR than to sit on the ground, though you can only do this
Floyd | if there is a chair nearby.
Floyd |
Floyd | Occasionally, it is useful to take a moment and THINK ABOUT something,
Floyd | such as one of the gods, one of the races, or someone that you have


Floyd | met.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you don't want to do anything at all, you can WAIT and see what
Floyd | happens next.
Floyd |
Floyd | Important commands also include QUIT, SAVE, RESTORE, and RESTART.  They


Floyd | do exactly what they sound like.
Floyd |
Floyd | These are the most important commands, but they are not the only
Floyd | commands implemented in the game.  When in doubt, experiment!  You may
Floyd | be surprised by what you can do.
Floyd |


Floyd | Have fun, and good luck!
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ooh - retreat is a nice verb." 	
			Limax says, "Huh. I didn't know about that one" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		Jacqueline asks, "hm... press space, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, silly me." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | When this story began, it began this way....
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In a place that was no place at all, three presences gathered.  One was


Floyd | dead, one would never die, and one existed somewhere in between.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Undying commanded the ghost, *Speak, as you spoke to me.*
Floyd |
Floyd | The ghost, a translucent, haggard man, showed fear in every quiver of
Floyd | his insubstantial being, yet he spoke before the Presences.  "My lords,


Floyd | when I was born, a geas and star were cast upon my path.  There was a
Floyd | deed that I was fated to do, yet I was torn from life before it could
Floyd | be completed.  This was not in the stars, and it was not in my fate,
Floyd | yet it came to be.  I have been wronged."
Floyd |
Floyd | *You have been wronged.*  It was the Other, and each word twisted the


Floyd | shape of the ghost's existence.  *Yet past is past, and done is done.
Floyd | You cannot return to life.  You must go on.*
Floyd |
Floyd | *Yet who could alter what I set into motion?*  The Undying's words were
Floyd | stern, and, like the Other's words, they beat upon the ghost and caused
Floyd | the ghost to vibrate like a bell.  *There are few who could change this


Floyd | soul's path, and only one who would.  There must be an answer for
Floyd | this.*
Floyd |
Floyd | *We will answer between ourselves, then,* said the Other.  *It is
Floyd | nothing to this ghost.  I will send him on his way.*
Floyd |


Floyd | *No,* said the Undying.
Floyd |
Floyd | There was a pause.
Floyd |
Floyd | *no?* said the Other, and, with that soft syllable, a cold wind raced
Floyd | over every leaf in some faraway forest.


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "I swiped RETREAT from someone, but I can't remember who -- possibly it was an example from the documentation?. It was more of a 'someday this will be useful' command than anything else...." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's a neat verb idea to include. I'll have to remember that." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | *No,* said the Undying.   *For he accepted his path and his fate, and,


Floyd | in accepting, he gave all that he was.  Mortal though he is, he lost
Floyd | all, and he has earned protection.  In the name of the King, I claim
Floyd | his redemption.*
Floyd |
Floyd | *What is dead is dead, and dead shall not breathe,* the Other said
Floyd | indifferently.  *He is lost, and he rots beneath the stones.*


Floyd |
Floyd | *But I will mark his path again,* said the Undying.  *And I will set
Floyd | another upon that path, and I will send this ghost to watch over his
Floyd | successor.  If his successor accepts the path as deeply and fully as
Floyd | he, then that one will reap where this one has sowed.  And I call upon
Floyd | you to witness and to obey.*


Floyd |
Floyd | There was a silence like the silence before a storm, when the very sky
Floyd | draws breath, but there was no sky in this place that was not a place.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


		Jacqueline says, "I have to say, Carolyn, that I wasn't too keen on the vast amounts of text without opportunity for interaction here at the beginning." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure how you could correct that, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Letting the player fiddle at this point would be difficult." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | *Set your star upon his successor, but leave your geas upon this
Floyd | ghost,* the Other said.  *What you have done shall not be undone, but
Floyd | I, too, have my rights.  I, too, am among the stars, though I stretch


Floyd | beyond them as well.*
Floyd |
Floyd | *You are among the stars,* said the Undying.  *I accept your obedience,
Floyd | and I accept your claim.*
Floyd |
Floyd | The Other considered.  *Then this path is mine, as well, to shape.  A


Floyd | little.*
Floyd |
Floyd | *A little,* the Undying acceded.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Other turned its attention to the ghost.  *We will choose, you and


Floyd | I, until the clay of your successor's being is created.  This, I will
Floyd | choose first: your successor's gender.  She will be she, as you have
Floyd | been he, thus creating balance.  Balance,* the Other added to the
Floyd | Undying, not unsardonically, *is of the essence.*
Floyd |
Floyd | *So let it be,* the Undying replied blandly.  Then, to the ghost: *It


Floyd | is your choice, now.*
Floyd |
Floyd | And in the place that was no place, a concept came, and another, until
Floyd | nine concepts were arrayed before the ghost.  The ghost perceived these
Floyd | nine:
Floyd |


Floyd | a sword - the concept of Power
Floyd | a spiderweb - the concept of Agility
Floyd | a dandelion - the concept of Endurance
Floyd | a book - the concept of Brilliance
Floyd | a mask - the concept of Cunning
Floyd | a candle - the concept of Awareness


Floyd | a crown - the concept of Presence
Floyd | a rose - the concept of Guile
Floyd | a jewel - the concept of Serenity
Floyd |
Floyd | *Choose,* said the Undying, *and what you choose will be born in your
Floyd | successor.*


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Before The Story
Floyd | There was no up, no down, no north, no south, no dawn, and no dusk.
Floyd | This was a place that is no place at all.  The passing of time itself
Floyd | was all but meaningless -- yet there was meaning in the passage of


Floyd | time; not much, but enough that three presences gathered here
Floyd | meaningfully, and enough that they could converse.
Floyd |
Floyd | The ghost perceived a sword, a spiderweb, a dandelion, a book, a mask,
Floyd | a candle, a crown, a rose, and a jewel.
Floyd |


		Nitku says, "I think it could be easily compressed to one screen without losing anything important." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, there's some mood-building happening here, but yes, perhaps." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, let's choose book." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Any objections?" 	
			Nitku says, "Nope." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "choose book" 		
	

Floyd | The ghost hesitated for a long moment before reaching out to choose the
Floyd | book.
Floyd |


Floyd | The Other said, *Brilliance.  As you will.  In return, I choose
Floyd | Awareness.*
Floyd |
Floyd | To the ghost, the Undying said, *Your successor will have Brilliance.
Floyd | She will think methodically but clearly, and she will see through those
Floyd | who would confuse her mind with Cunning.  But one who is Aware will


Floyd | endure against her and see the end of her road before she can reach
Floyd | it.*
Floyd |
Floyd | The book, mask, and candle faded from the ghost's perception.  The
Floyd | sword, the spiderweb, the dandelion, the crown, the rose, and the jewel
Floyd | remained.


Floyd |
Floyd | *Choose again,* said the Undying, *and what you choose will be born in
Floyd | your successor.*
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "I hear you on the long un-interactivity. I've heard a *lot* on the subject of my overly long cut scenes. (grin)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "You pick this time." 	
			Nitku says, "I'd take the rose" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "choose rose" 		
	

Floyd | The ghost hesitated for a long moment before reaching out to choose the

Floyd | rose.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Other said, *Guile shall be hers.  In return, I choose Presence.*
Floyd |
Floyd | To the ghost, the Undying said, *Your successor will have Guile.  She

Floyd | will be subtle and strong in persuasion, and those with Serenity will

Floyd | yield before her, convinced her aims are their own.  But one with
Floyd | Presence will entrance her to follow a new banner and forget her own
Floyd | will.*
Floyd |
Floyd | The rose, crown, and jewel faded from the ghost's perception.  The

Floyd | sword, the spiderweb, and the dandelion remained.

Floyd |
Floyd | *Choose again,* said the Undying, *and what you choose will be born in
Floyd | your successor.*
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "I'm curious - and just a yes or no or a 'sort of' will do... does it change the game a great deal, depending on what we choose here? This is only my second play-through." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Limax), "You still here? Want to make the next choice?" 	
			Limax says, "I didn't go back and try different combinations... I didn't know how much that would differ from what would happen" 	
			Limax says, "Okay" 	
			DavidW says, "boy. A lot to read." 	
			Limax asks, "What's left?" 	
			CarolynV says, "This is a legitimate character creation system -- there are three stats (each with an aptitude) and a race being defined at this time, as well as a few cosmetic details." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Heh. Yeah. We were just chastising poor Carolyn about that!" 	
			DavidW says, "btw, BACK or GO BACK used to be more common in very old games." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "The sword, the spiderweb, and the dandelion remained." 	
			Limax says, "How about the dandelion" 	
			CarolynV says, "With that said, it doesn't affect the introduction severely during the introduction. The race affects more than anything else... it's like 5 PCs instead of just one... but the differences are (too) subtle." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Huh. I'm surprised we lost sight of that useful command." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "choose dandelion" 		
	

Floyd | The ghost hesitated for a long moment before reaching out to choose the

Floyd | dandelion.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Other said, *Endurance.  So be it.  In return, I choose Agility.
Floyd |

Floyd | To the ghost, the Undying said, *Your successor will have Endurance.
Floyd | She will have stamina and resilence, and she will endure every blow

Floyd | heaped upon her by one with Power.  But one with Agility will find her
Floyd | secret weaknesses, and her body will fail first.*
Floyd |
Floyd | The sword, spiderweb, and dandelion faded from the ghost's perception.

Floyd | *We have determined her heart and her mind and the strengths of her
Floyd | body,* said the Undying.  *Now we shall determine the shape of this

Floyd | body.*  And it seemed to the ghost, then, that five pieces of wood
Floyd | appeared before him, each different in hue: birch, ash, maple,
Floyd | rosewood, and ebony.
Floyd |

Floyd | *Choose,* the Undying said to the ghost, *and all will see your choice
Floyd | upon her skin.*

Floyd |

		Limax says, "I had to keep going back and doing a 'look' each time" 	
			Nitku says, "It's cool that each choice has a plus side and a negative side. Like rock, paper, scissors." 	
			Limax says, "Of course, with my problem with skimming, I'm not surprised I missed stuff" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x maple" 		
	

Floyd | The maple wood is golden and burnished to a rich shine.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I'm Canadian. I like maple." 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "I guess it's your turn to pick." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hahaha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, choose maple." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "choose maple" 		
	

Floyd | The ghost hesitated for a long moment before reaching out to choose the
Floyd | piece of maple.
Floyd |

Floyd | The other four woods faded away, leaving only the piece of maple.  Upon
Floyd | the piece of maple, the ghost perceived an indistinct, eyeless face.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Undying gestured again, and now seven small gems materialized: a
Floyd | ruby, a topaz, an emerald, a sapphire, an amethyst, a tiger eye agate,
Floyd | and a small dark diamond.

Floyd |
Floyd | *Choose,* the Undying said to the ghost, *and all will see your choice
Floyd | in her gaze.*

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Do all these choices actually matter? Or is it cosmetic?" 	
	maga arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x amethyst" 		Jacqueline asks, "Hm, is it my turn?" 	
	

Floyd | Purple, faceted, and sparkling, the amethyst attracts the eye.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sapphire" 		
	

Floyd | Light and dark blue coruscate through the center of the gem.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x diamond" 		
	

Floyd | Dark rainbows decorate the depths of the black jewel.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x emerald" 		
	

Floyd | A grass green star hovers just off the surface of the emerald.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask undying about gems" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Hm - it's animate, or should be, even if it's undying, eh?" 	
			CarolynV says, "Yup, that's a bug in my book." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry, Carolyn... as we play it also turns into a bit of a beta testing session (which I hope you'll find helpful rather than annoying)." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, if there are no objections, I think I'll choose..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "...the emerald." 	
			DavidW says, "I haven't played this game before. I didn't get to all the entries this year." 	
			CarolynV says, "No worries. If not for my betatesting team, the bugs would have been horrifying." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except wait, that's what I chose when I played last time." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x topaz" 		
	

Floyd | Sharp yellow light glints through the topaz's depths.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I know! I'll choose ruby... to match the Canadian flag. We'll have a theme." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "choose ruby" 		
	

Floyd | The ghost hesitated for a long moment before reaching out to choose the
Floyd | ruby.
Floyd |

Floyd | The other six gems faded away, leaving only the ruby.  It wavered and
Floyd | twinned, and then the pieces of ruby fused with the face of tan wood,
Floyd | shining softly in the place that was not a place.  Yet the face was

Floyd | incomplete, and the Other contemplated it.
Floyd |
Floyd | *I choose... this,* said the Other.

Floyd |
Floyd | And with the Other's words, a change came over the face, which became
Floyd | covered in downy fur.  The nose and mouth elongated into a snout, and

Floyd | small fangs appeared beneath the lips.  The face lost its
Floyd | indistinctness to become that of a chirop -- one of the spindly
Floyd | children of the mountains.  Her fur was as tan as a piece of polished

Floyd | maple, and her eyes were as crimson as two crimson rubies, with the
Floyd | light of intelligence shining in their depths.  Her expression was
Floyd | secretive, and she looked healthy and well-fed.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Also, it felt like the text was getting reused a lot... the whole 'The ghost hesitation for a long moment before reaching out' could have been varied, for example." 	
	Fang arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Sorry... I normally send transcripts to the authors, but I was really busy this year. Hopefully these CF sessions will make up for that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Healthy and well-fed. Just like me. Now I can relate to the PC!" 	
			Nitku says, "There was someone here who said they stopped playing as soon as they realized they had become a furry." 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "...!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I read that and it made me laugh but ... I mean, really." 	
			Fang asks (of Nitku), "...?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "Yeah, I could point you to the review, but that was the whole review." 	
			Jacqueline says, "One sec, I'll pull it up Fang. It was Horvath's review." 	
			maga says, "luckily when I played this first I ended up as one of the tree-type thingies, so I was not faced by this terrible dilemma" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | *It is done,* said the Undying.  *There will come a day when my star
Floyd | marks her sky, and when that time comes, it will be the time of your

Floyd | geas once more.  Then you will be free to guide her, and if she walks
Floyd | upon the true path, then she will gain all that you should have
Floyd | gained.*

Floyd |
Floyd |  *Or lose,* said the Other, *all that you should have lost --*  And for
Floyd | a moment, the words that shook the ghost's very substance carried

Floyd | something like sorrow and something like pain, made brighter by the
Floyd | light of life so near, the touch of death so far.
Floyd |

Floyd | *But for now,* said the Undying, in a way that could not be denied,
Floyd | *you will wait --*
Floyd |

Floyd | And, bound by the power of a word and a star, the ghost slept, and the
Floyd | world changed in many ways before he wakened.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "It's waiting for the space again. I'm really puzzled as to why it's putting (Press Space to continue) after instead of before." 	
			Nitku asks, "Bug in Floyd?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "maga did muse out loud later, however, about whether or not different choices made us a furry. (maga and I played together)" 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Phoenix's Landing: Destiny

Floyd | An Adventure Game by Carolyn VanEseltine
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 080820 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Much later, and in a place that was far more real, a young chirop

Floyd | ventured from home with her tradefather for the very first time.  She
Floyd | knew nothing of stars, geasa, ghosts, Presences, or anything else
Floyd | except that she was very proud to be along on this trip.
Floyd |

Floyd | Unfortunately, while she knew nothing of the stars, they knew something
Floyd | of her....

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Not really, but sort of. It played Glulx games, but it's not as elegant with those as with, say, z-code." 	
			CarolynV says, "Having the Floyd interface is going to get a bit weird later on when the Glulx text effects don't show." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Carolyn,Fang), "Here's the unfortunate furry review: http://nbhorvath.blogspot.com/2008/09/introcomp-2008-quick-impressions.html" 	
			Nitku says, "I remember z-code doesn't show the [push space] at all" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Carolyn), "Oh, that's true. The text colors. Well... I think the text is also indented, isn't it?" 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | It's the first time that you've been allowed to travel on a trading

Floyd | mission.  All your life has been secluded within the confines of a
Floyd | mountain cavern-town far to the west, but this year, your

Floyd | creche-fathers agreed that you should accompany your tradefather
Floyd | instead of the assistant that your tradefather normally hires for the
Floyd | journey.
Floyd |

Floyd | After weeks of travel (first down the rocky slopes and through rambling
Floyd | hills, and then through the twisting, shadowy forests) you get your

Floyd | first real look at the city of Phoenix's Landing.  Above the tall stone
Floyd | walls, you can see the tops of the buildings.  Two towers at the center
Floyd | rise highest of all, and, from your tradefather's stories over the
Floyd | years, you recognize them immediately as the temple to Ivrul and the

Floyd | governance hall.  Golden fields border the city to the west and south,
Floyd | with a few small buildings clumped here and there.  The dark face of

Floyd | Char Cliff rises above it to the north, marking the base of First
Floyd | Mountain.
Floyd |
Floyd | When you raise your eyes to First Mountain, the city seems no larger

Floyd | than a child's city built from shards of fallen stone.  The city
Floyd | nestles beneath the cliff as a pup to its mother, yet it is larger than

Floyd | any city you have ever seen.  You have no plans to visit the chiroptera
Floyd | here, but you know that other creche-clans dwell in the range beyond
Floyd | Char Cliff, and the thought is oddly comforting.
Floyd |

Floyd | But -- the city!  You can see it more clearly, now, and excitement
Floyd | bubbles up within you.

Floyd |
Floyd | To journey through the shadowy forests, you joined a caravan, and now
Floyd | the mounted guardsmen scatter forward and back, tending to their
Floyd | various claims since the forest's dangers are receding away.  The

Floyd | boredom of the past week fades as you bounce slightly on the seat of
Floyd | your wagon and strain to see more.

Floyd |
Floyd | Each wagon has to pause for inspection at the guard house on the near
Floyd | side of the bridge.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are far enough back in the line of wagons to grow deeply impatient
Floyd | as you wait for your opportunity to enter the city.  Once the wagon has

Floyd | been inspected, it clatters over the broad, flat bridge and passes
Floyd | through the gates into the milling city beyond.  You catch only a few
Floyd | brief glimpses of the buildings beyond.
Floyd |

Floyd | Then it is your turn.  Your wagon rolls forward over the rutted road
Floyd | and halts.  "Inspection," the shaghal guard growls.  "All parties

Floyd | present themselves."
Floyd |
Floyd | At your father's signal, you hop down from the wagon.
Floyd |

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Oh, hm." 	
			Nitku says, "Anyhow, it would be nice if Floyd gave some indication that it's waiting for a keypress. If that's technically possible." 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Outside Phoenix's Landing
Floyd | Most of the other wagons have already passed over the bridge, but a few
Floyd | wait patiently behind yours.  Before you, a broad, sturdy bridge
Floyd | stretches over a wide and rather dubious-looking river.  Beyond the

Floyd | bridge, the gate of Phoenix's Landing gapes open to receive you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Father is here with you, which is rather a relief.  The city looks
Floyd | awfully large this close up.
Floyd |
Floyd | The large shaghal guard stands here inspecting wagons and merchants

Floyd | before he approves them to enter the city.
Floyd |

Floyd | Father says quietly, "Achatli, this should only take a moment, but
Floyd | please be on your best behavior."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I shall mail Jota and inky, I guess. That's a good suggestion." 	
			Nitku says, "You can now tell from not seeing the prompt, but that's easily missed." 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | A faint swirl of grease drifts over the surface of the murky grey
Floyd | water.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Usually whenever we find ourselves just sitting her looking at each other saying, 'duh... whaddwedonow?' we try pressing space. That's been our solution until now." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge is almost as dusty as the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | The guard approaches Father, identifies himself as Greshen, and demands
Floyd | both of your names, which your father supplies.  Greshen nods slightly

Floyd | in reply.
Floyd | (You memorize Greshen's name for future reference.)

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x father" 		
	

Floyd | You take a moment to study your clan's tradefather -- the one who

Floyd | interacts with other races and visits cities beyond the chirop
Floyd | mountains of your home.  He is your true father as well, but this is

Floyd | much less important than his position in the creche-clan, and you tend
Floyd | to forget about it from time to time.  Despite this, you have always
Floyd | been pleased by your resemblance to one another -- you share his tan
Floyd | fur and crimson eyes.  Someday, he will retire.  Because you are

Floyd | female, you could never hold the title of tradefather in a creche-clan,
Floyd | but you can hope for enough training that you can spend your life

Floyd | traveling and bartering.  Maybe you will even serve the creche-clan in
Floyd | your tradefather's stead for a time.  It is a slim hope, but a hope.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greshen inspects the contents of your father's wagon.

Floyd |

		Nitku says, "except that it doesn't show at all now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "yeah" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x greschen" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "oops greshen" 		
	

Floyd | Shaghal are the furred people of the plains and valleys.  They
Floyd | typically have brown or black fur and brown, black, amber, green, or
Floyd | dark blue eyes, although the occasional specimen displays an unsettling

Floyd | crimson hue.  Shaghal have two arms, two legs, and walk upright, as all
Floyd | people do, but their faces are distinctly canine, with short muzzles,

Floyd | black noses, and white, sharp teeth, rather like jackals or wolves.
Floyd | The resemblance is enhanced by triangular ears set high atop the skull
Floyd | and a plumed tail.  For all of that, their hands are five-fingered and
Floyd | dextrous, and you know better than to underestimate their intelligence.

Floyd |
Floyd | This particular shaghal has mahogany brown fur and dark amber eyes.  He

Floyd | carries a short, heavy staff wrapped in leather in one hand, and he
Floyd | also bears a curved axe at his hip.  He displays the scarlet and silver
Floyd | crest of Phoenix's Landing on his shoulder.
Floyd |

Floyd | Greshen seems to be taking an awfully long time with his inspection.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "This is pretty cool, the way you've altered the descriptions depending on race. I have been thinking about rewriting my game The Fire Tower (a hiking game) or doing a similar sort of game set here in Alaska, but having the season chosen randomly (or by the player) at the start, then having the entire game be different, depending. The amount of work involved is what's given my pause so far... not as bad as writing four separate games, but nearly so." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "talk to father" 		
	

Floyd | His attention is on Greshen and he doesn't want to be disturbed.

Floyd |
Floyd | Greshen finishes his inspection and turns to your father.  "Everything

Floyd | seems to be in order here," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm glad to hear it," Father replies.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x crest" 		
	

Floyd | The crest of Phoenix's Landing is a flame-wreathed scarlet bird
Floyd | silhouetted on a bright silver mountain, all set on a field of black.
Floyd | The crest appears on the shoulder of this jerkin.
Floyd |

Floyd | For the first time, Greshen's amber gaze slides over your face as he
Floyd | looks away from Father.  One of his ears twitches, and he looks

Floyd | surprised.  Instead of saying anything, though, he rummages in his vest
Floyd | for a piece of paper.  After scrutinizing the paper for a long moment,
Floyd | he stares intently into your eyes, and then he shakes his head.
Floyd | "You'll have to wait here for a moment," he says, and signals to a

Floyd | human guard standing closer to the gate.  The human guard nods briefly
Floyd | and goes into the city with a purposeful air.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I guess the re-use of phrases like 'two arms, two legs, and walk upright, as all people do' is another one of those repetitive bits of copied and pasted text that bothered me." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think about greshen" 		
	

Floyd | Greshen is a shaghal guard in Phoenix's Landing.

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think about father" 		
	

Floyd | The other races are unfortunate to have only one father apiece.  Like
Floyd | any other chirop born to a healthy creche-clan, you have five fathers,

Floyd | all well beloved: your lorefather, your lawfather, your lifefather,
Floyd | your hearthfather, and your tradefather.  Yet you are more like your
Floyd | tradefather than any other of your fathers, and you know he is your

Floyd | blood-father as well.  You have a special closeness to him, and it is a
Floyd | deep privilege to go on this journey with him.  Your tradefather's role
Floyd | as a father is to teach you and your siblings about how to interact

Floyd | with the other races, and his duty as a member of the clan is to trade
Floyd | so that the clan will prosper.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask greshen about paper" 		
	

Floyd | Father might be annoyed if you did that.

Floyd |
Floyd | A graceful chirop priest strides through the gate.  He glances about
Floyd | briefly before Greshen beckons him over.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Eyes of Justice," Greshen says respectfully.  "There was a missive
Floyd | that came out, and I think...."  Instead of finishing the sentence, he

Floyd | shows the slightly crumpled piece of paper to the young priest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The priest peruses the paper and then looks down at you.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "think about humans" 		
	

Floyd | Humans are the populous people of the oceans.  They have two arms, two
Floyd | legs, and walk upright, as all people do.  Their skin is normally light

Floyd | or dark brown, though there are paler or darker exceptions, and they
Floyd | have eyes in a wide variety of colors.  Although both genders grow hair

Floyd | from the tops of their heads, human men can be readily distinguished
Floyd | from human women because the women do not grow fur on their faces.
Floyd | Although they appear weak and unprotected, they are surprisingly
Floyd | versatile and thrive in a variety of enviroments.

Floyd |
Floyd | "A greeting to you, in virtue and honor," the priest says.  "I

Floyd | understand your name is Achatli.  Is this your first time in the city
Floyd | of Phoenix's Landing?"
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "It is true.  I have never been here before."

Floyd | [2] "Of course not.  I am well familiar with the city."
Floyd | [3] "What's your name?"

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | "I do have the advantage of you, and I can see that you feel that's

Floyd | unfair," the priest says.  "As you will.  I am Hachachi of the Stars.
Floyd | And now you will answer my question, perhaps?"

Floyd |
Floyd | (You memorize Hachachi's name for future reference.)
Floyd | [1] "It is true.  I have never been here before."
Floyd | [2] "Of course not.  I am well familiar with the city."

Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "Re: the repetition: got it." 	
			Jacqueline smiles at Carolyn and shrugs. "Sorry." 	
			DavidW says, "We might need a driver for menus like this." 	
			CarolynV says, "Oh, no offense taken at all! That was 'got it' as in 'I just wrote it down to make sure I fix that', not 'got it' as in 'yo, I got it already!'" 	
			Lucea says, "also, I'm here, sorry about lateness" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DavidW), "Wanna drive, or should I?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I've played, but wouldn't mind driving based on group input." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm out of sorts today. I'd rather others drove." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, 1 or 2, folks?" 	
			DavidW says, "1 please" 	
	Limax walks slowly out of the room and into the sunset. 		
	CarolynV is not allowed to drive. 		Jacqueline says, "I like the truth, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Hachachi nods.  "I hope you like it here.  Before I can permit you into
Floyd | the city, though, my superior -- High Caerwyn of the Stars -- requests
Floyd | to meet with you.  I trust you have no objection?"
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "It would be my pleasure."
Floyd | [2] "That seems all right...."

Floyd | [3] "Is there another way?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "1, 2, or 3?" 	
			Lucea says, "I like 3" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, belatedly, hello, Lucea." 	
			DavidW says, "[4] If that's okay with my father..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "3 then." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Hachachi frowns slightly.  Turning to your father, he explains, "It is
Floyd | merely a precaution, but there is an omen about a girl with the
Floyd | markings and hue of this child, and we expect the one we seek before
Floyd | the moon's cycle ends.  I wouldn't worry," he adds, "but it really is

Floyd | important that High Caerwyn inspects her."
Floyd |

Floyd | Father hesitates for a long moment.  Greshen tenses slightly in
Floyd | response to Father's tension, and for a moment, you fear something
Floyd | horrible will happen, but then Father says, "All right.  I'll be with
Floyd | her, of course."

Floyd |
Floyd |  Hachachi nods.  Turning to Greshen, Hachachi says, "Please take this

Floyd | wagon to the side and ensure that it remains safe.  We should return
Floyd | within the hour, but there's no need to block traffic."
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hachachi's name reminds me of the urn of remains fought over in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Leaving the wagon behind, you cross the broad bridge and enter the vast

Floyd | city from its western gate.  "This is West Flame Gate," Hachachi says
Floyd | conversationally, "and people call this neighborhood the Silver
Floyd | District.  You'll bring your wagon through this way later this evening.
Floyd | Over there is the Full Cup, a very good inn -- I recommend the ale

Floyd | highly."
Floyd |

Floyd | He continues to converse as you move through the city, but the sound
Floyd | flows around you like the mountain wind -- present, but disregarded.
Floyd | You pay more attention to the various wagons in the market square you
Floyd | pass, to the way passersby part for the young priest, to the low

Floyd | buildings on all sides, and to the people -- so many people!  You have
Floyd | never seen so many people in all your life, let alone all in one place.

Floyd | From your father's past stories, you know that this was once a chirop
Floyd | town, but that many humans and shaghal moved here as the city grew in
Floyd | prominence, and now it is a notable center of trade.
Floyd |

Floyd | In your heart, you had somehow pictured a town like your home, but the
Floyd | buildings surrounding you are very different from the caves where you

Floyd | grew up.  You did not know there were so many chirop clans in all the
Floyd | world, and here, those clanmembers mingle with an equal number of
Floyd | humans and scattered groups of shaghal.  You are comforted by the
Floyd | presence of your father.

Floyd |
Floyd | Looking forward, you see a bridge at the end of the street, and, beyond

Floyd | that bridge, you see a white spire that can only be the governance
Floyd | hall.  The governance hall and the temple of Ivrul are placed upon an
Floyd | island at the center of the city, and now, you are close enough to
Floyd | glimpse sunlight sparkling off the surrounding waters.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wide-shouldered human woman stands to the left of the bridge's base.

Floyd | Like the shaghal guard at the gate, she bears the scarlet and silver
Floyd | crest of Phoenix's Landing on one shoulder, though she carries a spear
Floyd | instead of an axe.  Hachachi nods a greeting to the human guard, who
Floyd | nods briefly in return and gestures you across the bridge.

Floyd |
Floyd | There are tiled paths here rather than cobbled streets, and Hachachi

Floyd | turns left along one of those paths, guiding you past the governance
Floyd | building and toward four buildings standing in a cluster.  The tallest
Floyd | of these by far is the silver spire that you saw before, which you
Floyd | recognized as the spire of Ivrul of the Mists.  That, however, is not

Floyd | your destination.  Instead, the priest escorts you to a stately
Floyd | building of grey marble, and you walk beneath an archway marked with a

Floyd | silver star.  This is the temple of Ferran of the Stars.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the archway is a courtyard, and you pass through the courtyard,
Floyd | through the doors, and down a short hall before entering a

Floyd | silver-walled chamber.  The most noteable feature of the room is a
Floyd | stunning blue tapestry depicting a heron among reeds.  A human woman

Floyd | garbed in black leather is seated to one side.
Floyd |
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "So we are the foreordained one?" 	
			DavidW says, "ack. more textdump." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We might be." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We are. I don't think that's too spoilery." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's so heavily foreshadowed at the beginning, after all." 	
			CarolynV says, "You sort of are. You could choose not to be." 	
	Limax arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says, "Oh. I shall keep my mouth shut, then. Interesting." 	
			Limax says, "Sorry... spontaneous reboot" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "bow to woman" 		Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "With respect to this text dump, might be nice to have some opportunities to look around as we are led to High Caerwyn. Would break up the big text dump, but still allow for the scene-building." 	
			DavidW asks, "er, push space?" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | With your father at your side, you enter.  Behind you, Hachachi says
Floyd | respectfully, "High Caerwyn, I present Achatli for your examination."
Floyd | (You memorize High Caerwyn's name for future reference.)
Floyd | High Caerwyn nods.  "Thank you, Hachachi.  I will summon you when it is

Floyd | time."

Floyd | Hachachi steps back into the hall and closes the door gently behind
Floyd | him.
Floyd |
Floyd | Heron Chamber
Floyd | The chamber is dominated by a wide tapestry hanging opposite the door.

Floyd | In shades of blue, black, silver, and gold, it depicts a magnificent

Floyd | heron standing among reeds and gazing skyward toward a night filled
Floyd | with stars.  The walls are panelled in dark wood with a subtle silver
Floyd | shimmer.  A massive black cabinet stands to one side, and a matching
Floyd | table has been positioned among four chairs at the center of the room.
Floyd |

Floyd | High Caerwyn is sitting on the tall chair positioned in front of the

Floyd | tapestry.
Floyd |

		Limax says, "And of course, the moment I get back, we're going to leave...have fun all" 	
	Limax walks slowly out of the room and into the sunset. 		Nitku asks, "Is there a way to get a list of all the names we've memorized?" 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about names" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts circle without profit.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to David), "Floyd's not giving us prompts, unfortunately." 	
			CarolynV says, "Sorry... no way to get a list of the names." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x her" 		
	

Floyd | I'm not sure what "her" refers to.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Silly Floyd" 	
			CarolynV says, "Good idea, though. -- and I have no idea why x her didn't work just then." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm... a list of names would be nice, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And yeah, >X HER should work." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x Achatli" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reflective surface nearby in which you can get a proper
Floyd | look at yourself.  However, despite your best efforts to remain tidy,
Floyd | your fur is dusty from the road, and you are not completely comfortable


Floyd | with your current appearance.  You would definitely welcome the
Floyd | opportunity to tidy up.
Floyd |
Floyd | Father has promised that opportunity once you are safely inside the
Floyd | city, which is another reason to hope for speed.
Floyd |


		Jacqueline says, "Oops... I meant to say Caerwyn" 	
			DavidW says, "er, we are inside the city, Achatli" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x Caerwyn" 		
	

Floyd | Humans are the populous people of the oceans.  They have two arms, two
Floyd | legs, and walk upright, as all people do.  Their skin is normally light


Floyd | or dark brown, though there are paler or darker exceptions, and they
Floyd | have eyes in a wide variety of colors.  Although both genders grow hair
Floyd | from the tops of their heads, human men can be readily distinguished
Floyd | from human women because the women do not grow fur on their faces.
Floyd | Although they appear weak and unprotected, they are surprisingly
Floyd | versatile and thrive in a variety of enviroments.


Floyd |
Floyd | High Caerwyn is garbed in a fitted, coal black leather vest over an
Floyd | equally dark cloth shirt.  Her ankle-length skirt is similarly made of
Floyd | fine leather, and it has been split up each side to allow for maximum
Floyd | freedom of motion.  A tear-shaped medallion hangs upon her brow from a
Floyd | fine silver chain, and several necklaces ornamented with various sigils


Floyd | encircle her throat.  The overall effect is ornate and militant at the
Floyd | same time, and not at all what you expected, though you have rarely
Floyd | encountered worshippers of Ferran of the Stars.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Achatli, be welcome," High Caerwyn greets you.  "I am Caerwyn, the
Floyd | High Priestess of Ferran of the Stars.  Tell me, what do you know about


Floyd | the Divine Judge?"
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] Tell Caerwyn in detail what the chiroptera teach about Ferran.
Floyd | [2] Claim to know nothing about Ferran.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "It seems a bit pointless to say that you've memorize a name if you can't get a list later." 	
			Nitku says, "Or misleading, rather." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. DIdn't we already get that 'what are humans' paragraph before? That ought to be a one time thing, I think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I took the 'you memorize that for later' bits as a clue that I could use the 'think about' verb for that, but yeah - a name list would be very helpful." 	
			CarolynV says, "Jacqueline's right." 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "Good point. Verbose the first time, then a brief description thereafter." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Anyway, 1 or 2?" 	
			DavidW says, "vote 1" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I'm good with 1. Nitku?" 	
			Lucea says, "works for me" 	
			Nitku says, "Go ahead" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm... anyone else actively playing besides those who've spoken?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's enough votes, regardless..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | You glance quickly at Father for approval.  "Go ahead," Father says
Floyd | gently.  "As your lorefather taught you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Our lorefather taught us that Ferran is the god of the stars.  When
Floyd | Sarvath the King went away to the desert, Ferran rose to be the

Floyd | patriarch of the gods.  After the desecration of Ivrul of the Mists,

Floyd | Ferran came to Ivrul in shame and sorrow because she was of his creche
Floyd | and Ferran had not protected her.  From the mists that are Ivrul's
Floyd | domain, Ferran created the greater chiroptera to serve and protect her
Floyd | from above and the lesser chiroptera to serve and protect her from
Floyd | below.  We are the lesser chiroptera, thirdborn by Ferran's hand.  When

Floyd | we act to protect others and to guard our families, we are Ferran's

Floyd | eyes in the darkness, just as the stars are Ferran's eyes in the sky.
Floyd | When we die, Ferran will reach into the darkness and lift us to join
Floyd | the greater chiroptera, where we will see Ivrul with our own eyes and
Floyd | serve her with our own hands."
Floyd |

Floyd | "You remember your lessons well, and you know much of Ferran," High

Floyd | Caerwyn says, "but there is more that you should know."  Her voice
Floyd | takes on a formal cadence as she continues.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Although Sarvath the King went into the desert, Ferran remains
Floyd | Sarvath's loyal servant.  As Sarvath bade him, Ferran rewards virtue by

Floyd | raising virtuous souls to the night sky after death, where they can

Floyd | watch over the world and aid those in need.  To aid people in being
Floyd | virtuous, and to aid him in his vigil, Ferran set nine constellations
Floyd | of virtue into the night sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | "But these are not the only stars in the sky.  In Sarvath's absence,

Floyd | while still honoring his vows, Ferran turned to serve Adisha the Queen.

Floyd | At times, he will present truths to his Queen through the dance of the
Floyd | stars.  Astrology, the holiest discipline of this temple, is the art of
Floyd | reading the movements of the stars.  In those movements, we can see
Floyd | both the truths set forth for men and the truths set forth for the
Floyd | Queen.

Floyd |

Floyd | "Near the constellation of the Heron, a new star has come into being.
Floyd | This star announces the coming of an important person to Adisha -- a
Floyd | person with a great destiny.  We know that this person will come to
Floyd | Phoenix's Landing before the next moonset, and we know something of the
Floyd | appearance of this person.

Floyd |

Floyd | "We need to know if you are the person we seek," High Caerwyn
Floyd | concludes.  "And to that end, I need to examine you."
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "The priest said something about markings... what markings?  What
Floyd | appearance?"

Floyd | [2] "Examine?  What kind of examination?"

Floyd | [3] "And if I am the person you seek... what does that mean?"
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "I hope it's not a cavity search." 	
			DavidW says, "oh, so lost. Too many unfamiliar names, terms, etc." 	
			Jacqueline laughs nervously at Nitku. 	
			Lucea says, "initial reaction: infoverload" 	
			Lucea says, "but then, I hadn't played it before" 	
			Jacqueline waits for everyone to be done, hoping then they'll tell her 1, 2, or 3. 	
			Lucea says, "I like 2." 	
			DavidW says, "I also vote 2" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | "The easiest way to show you is to do it," High Caerwyn says.  From a
Floyd | concealed pocket in her skirt, she takes a polished wooden case no

Floyd | larger than her palm.  When she opens the case, she reveals a set of

Floyd | onyx stones, each carved with a rune, and a folded square of blue silk.
Floyd | She spreads the silk across the chair at her side.  "I will need a
Floyd | strand of your hair," High Caerwyn says.  You draw your fingers through
Floyd | your hair, coming away with a single strand, and pass it to her.  She
Floyd | loops the strand of hair end-to-end, forming a circle upon the silk.

Floyd |

Floyd | High Caerwyn closes the case and rattles it for a moment before opening
Floyd | it.  As she pours the stones across the silk, sudden silvery-blue light
Floyd | radiates up from the silk, and the strand of hair vanishes.  The nine
Floyd | stones roll to rest in a four-pointed star -- one at the center, two on
Floyd | each arm.  Only the center stone faces upright, and that one bears the

Floyd | same stylized star as you saw above the archway.

Floyd |
Floyd | "What does that mean?" Father asks, though the tone of voice suggests
Floyd | that he has his suspicions already.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "I had a really hard time finding the line between infodump hell and 'what the heck is going on?'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The infooverload was probably really hard on maga, as he played this while doing dishes. I read it all out loud to him." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | The high priestess sits very still for a moment before picking up the

Floyd | case and putting away her set of stones.  "This is inconclusive, but I

Floyd | would like to talk with your daughter alone for a moment."  Father
Floyd | opens his mouth to protest, but she cuts him off in a clear, sharp
Floyd | voice.  "We will be here, and you will be right outside the door.  I
Floyd | assure you, there is nothing to fear."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Unacceptable," Father says coldly.  "We will discuss what must be

Floyd | discussed, you and I, and you will involve my daughter further only
Floyd | with my consent."
Floyd |
Floyd | "She is nearly to her age of majority ," High Caerwyn states.  "She has
Floyd | the right to hear about such things herself.  If she is geased -- and

Floyd | she does seem to be -- then she must know what will come of it."

Floyd |
Floyd | "And if I refuse?" your father demands.  There is a long pause as
Floyd | Father and High Caerwyn stare at one another, his crimson eyes locked
Floyd | to her dark blue eyes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The priestess of Ferran looks away first.  "Then it could be her life,"

Floyd | she says simply.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father presses the advantage.  "If it is her life, then what you
Floyd | know must be shared with me fully before you speak to her further.  She
Floyd | is bright and special and tireless, and she is honored for her learning

Floyd | by every one of her fathers.  I will permit nothing to harm her."

Floyd |
Floyd | This last, you recognize as trade manners; it would not do for this
Floyd | priestess to think you are of low value to your creche-clan, lest she
Floyd | believe that you -- and Father -- could vanish without your family's
Floyd | notice.  Still, you warm beneath his praise.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "ack. I haven't finished reading the previous textdump" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I will let someone else press space this time." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			DavidW says, "okay, I'm ready" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Everyone good with me pressing space?" 	
	Taleslinger arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Hello, Taleslinger." 	
			DavidW says, "hi Taleslinger" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hi folks." 	
			Nitku says (to Jacqueline), "Sure." 	
			Nitku says, "Hello TS." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm driving, and we're playing Phoenix's Landing." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "We're playing Textdump's Destiny, or something like that." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | High Caerwyn nods.  "Very well."  She rises from her chair, goes to the


Floyd | door, and summons the graceful chirop priest.  "Escort Achatli to the
Floyd | Cat Chamber, please, and remain until her father comes or until I join
Floyd | you."
Floyd |
Floyd | The priest bows gracefully to Caerwyn, half-spreading his arms to
Floyd | expose his patagium as he does, and then backs out of the room.  At


Floyd | your father's nod, you follow the priest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Cat Chamber turns out to be a short way down the corridor to the
Floyd | left.  Hachachi follows you in and closes the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cat Chamber


Floyd | This chamber is nearly identical to the previous room, including the
Floyd | dark walls and precisely positioned black furniture.  The primary
Floyd | difference is in the tapestry, which depicts a spotted cat instead of a
Floyd | heron, and which has been executed with accents of gold, yellow, and
Floyd | green upon black instead of blue and silver upon black.
Floyd |


Floyd | Hachachi is standing nearby.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Interaction is overrated." 	
			DavidW asks, "expose his what?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x hachachi" 		
	

Floyd | He is chirop, just like you -- one of the lithe, lightly furred people
Floyd | of the mountains.  Your father has told you of other chiroptera here,
Floyd | and it is a comfort to see one now.  Like you or your father, this
Floyd | chirop has a membrane called the patagium that stretches from hip to
Floyd | wrist, connecting his arms to his body in the fashion of a bat's wings.
Floyd | His face is small and fuzzy, and you know that fangs are hidden within


Floyd | the small snout.
Floyd |
Floyd | This particular chirop is light tan in hue, with piercing black eyes.
Floyd | Several braids have been woven into the crest of longer hair that runs
Floyd | back from his brow.  He wears a two-tone tunic in light and dark grey,
Floyd | and the tunic has been split neatly down the sides so that his patagium


Floyd | is not hampered -- a fairly traditional style of garb, which you and
Floyd | your family also favor, though the stylized star embroidered on his
Floyd | collar is not traditional.  He is young, yet carries himself with an
Floyd | air of authority.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "not finished reading!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x patagium" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, sorry." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "think about patagium" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts circle without profit.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Would you like to sit down?"  Hachachi gestures to the ring of four
Floyd | chairs.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "I want to make a what is a... textdump." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, Carolyn - we should be able to examine weird body parts. I know that opens up a slippery slope for examing all sorts of body parts, but..." 	
			DavidW asks, "Is it a body part?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Slippery slope, hehehe" 	
			CarolynV says, "DavidW - check the description from x hachachi just then, it explains what it is...." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "think about profit circles" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts circle without profit.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Nitky), "haha" 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "Yeah. I think it's sort of a wing." 	
			Taleslinger says (to nitku), "ha ha ha" 	
			CarolynV says, "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagium" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Shall we sit, or do we prefer to stand?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh - I didn't realize that was the real name, Carolyn. I guess, being a park ranger with a biology minor, I probably should have. Oops." 	
			(from Taleslinger) Jacq says, "Sir, please pack up your patagium." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I'm going to make an executive decision." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | Did you mean to sit on the floor?  (There's a black chair positioned

Floyd | facing the tapestry right there....)
Floyd | [Please respond with YES or NO.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "no" 		Lucea asks, "?" 	
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | You seat yourself in one of the black chairs.  Hachachi nods his
Floyd | approval.
Floyd |

Floyd | The priest draws a small key from a hidden pocket and opens the black

Floyd | cabinet.  At this angle, you can't really see anything of the contents
Floyd | of the cabinet, but when Hachachi turns back toward you, he is holding
Floyd | a small, opaque bottle and a pair of porcelain cups.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Are you familiar with desert appleshy?" he inquires.

Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "Desert appleshy?  I don't think so...."
Floyd | [2] Remain silent.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Well, I asked if people wanted to sit down. :)" 	
			Lucea says, "ah" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "1 or 2?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "wasn't hachachi the bad guy in tekken?" 	
			DavidW says, "I think I'll have to bow out. I'm getting too tired and cranky. Sorry." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, David... see you later!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Bye, David." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Rest up." 	
	CarolynV says, "Thank you for coming and take care...." 		Lucea says, "1" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, we have Lucea, Taleslinger, Nitku. 1 or 2?" 	
			Nitku says, "1" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's a majority!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		Taleslinger says, "2" 	
	

Floyd | "It is made by the jinn," Hachachi says as he uncorks the bottle and

Floyd | pours carefully.  The liquid that swirls into the cups is pale gold,
Floyd | but tinged with faint iridescence.  "The name is more fantastic than
Floyd | the flavor, I fear, but it has the virtue of lasting long and well in
Floyd | darkness -- so we keep a bottle in each room to quench thirst at
Floyd | appropriate times."

Floyd |

Floyd | Keeping one cup for himself, he sets the other on the table and then
Floyd | takes a moment to put the bottle away.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi sits down on the black chair positioned to the right of the
Floyd | tapestry.

Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "okay, i think that was already more text then my whole gome" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Who hasn't played, by the way?" 	
			Fang asks, "Is this some CYOA?" 	
			Lucea says, "can we spill the bottle" 	
			Lucea says, "I don't trust this stuf" 	
			Lucea says, "stuff, rather" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Heh. No, just some conversation menus." 	
			Taleslinger raises hand. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "spill bottle" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "well, empty bottle" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "break bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "have you tried xyzzy?" 	
			Lucea says, "wait, he put the bottle away." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, the bottle's been put away, Lucea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, Colossal Caves is awesome.  Now stay focused.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "Empty the cup, then. I still don't trust it" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "spill cup" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "empty cup" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pour out cup" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to pour the outside.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Heehee on the Xyzzy response." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "That's a probably and not unreasonable thing for the player to try." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Actually, do you want to drive? I've played, and would prefer to let someone who hasn't explore unfettered." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though I'm happy to drive if people want me to." 	
			Lucea says, "hmm, why not" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Cat Chamber (on the black chair positioned facing the tapestry)
Floyd | The chamber is dominated by a wide tapestry hanging opposite the door.

Floyd | In shades of gold, yellow, green, silver, and black, it depicts a
Floyd | magnificent spotted cat lounging upon a tree branch and gazing skyward

Floyd | toward a night filled with stars.  The walls are panelled in dark wood
Floyd | with a subtle silver shimmer.  A massive black cabinet stands to one
Floyd | side, and a matching table of smaller size has been positioned among
Floyd | four chairs at the center of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi is sitting on the black chair positioned to the right of the

Floyd | tapestry.
Floyd | On the small black table is a small porcelain cup of desert appleshy.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "My syntax was 'pour object out' instead of 'pour out object' -- that's a change I need to make." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "empty cup" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ah. Well, make them both work." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "pour cup out" 		
	

Floyd | (the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy out)

Floyd | You don't see anywhere appropriate to pour out the small porcelain cup
Floyd | of desert appleshy.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi tilts his cup to his lips for a moment before lowering it
Floyd | again.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell cup" 		
	

Floyd | (the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)
Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "hm" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x tapestry" 		
	

Floyd | A border of ornate black knotwork outlined delicately in gold runs
Floyd | along the edge of the tapestry.  At the center of the image, shadowy
Floyd | green leaves part to reveal a magnificent spotted cat lounging on a

Floyd | tree branch.  The yellow-gold cat all but glows against the blackness
Floyd | of the night sky.  Above the cat, fourteen bright yellow stars

Floyd | connected by thin golden lines pick out a constellation against the
Floyd | night sky, and the constellation is a second cat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi pauses to smell the aroma in his cup.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "move tapestry" 		
	

Floyd | You fail to move the wide tapestry.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi gazes into his cup for a moment and swirls the liquid

Floyd | reflectively.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline rereads Horvath's review. 	
			Jacqueline | I had the misfortune of choosing character traits that led to me playing a furry humanoid creature. This made me squirm, enough to quit the game. Not rated. 	
			Taleslinger says, "now, if we expect poison...it wot" 	
			Taleslinger says, "wouldn't be unexpected." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I know this will spark some !!!s, but I don't get why geeks are so EWWW FURRIES when they all claim to like Star Trek and Star Wars and such." 	
			CarolynV says, "Further scent implementation is something I need to do. It's not so important for the human PC, but it really matters for the shaghal PC." 	
			Lucea says, "furries have a sexual connotation that Star Trek/Wars don't" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah, I guess it would be more important to the shaghal. Good point." 	
			Nitku says (to Jacqueline), "He said here that he would've been fine with a four-legged creature. Which makes it even more strange." 	
			Taleslinger says, "We're a shaghal? Oh, behave!" 	
			Lucea says, "and I have a bad habit of smelling/listening to everything" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "heh. Huh." 	
			CarolynV says, "Oops -- no, we're the chirop, not the human." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Me too, and I think it should be implemented everywhere. Then again, that's why I don't write very many large games." 	
			Taleslinger asks (of carolyn), "is this based on any existing fantasy setting?" 	
			CarolynV says, "No, it's an original setting." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Cat Chamber (on the black chair positioned facing the tapestry)

Floyd | The chamber is dominated by a wide tapestry hanging opposite the door.
Floyd | In shades of gold, yellow, green, silver, and black, it depicts a
Floyd | magnificent spotted cat lounging upon a tree branch and gazing skyward

Floyd | toward a night filled with stars.  The walls are panelled in dark wood
Floyd | with a subtle silver shimmer.  A massive black cabinet stands to one
Floyd | side, and a matching table of smaller size has been positioned among

Floyd | four chairs at the center of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi is sitting on the black chair positioned to the right of the

Floyd | tapestry.
Floyd | On the small black table is a small porcelain cup of desert appleshy.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hachachi pauses to smell the aroma in his cup.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink cup" 		
	

Floyd | (the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)
Floyd | (first picking up the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You take a sip from the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy.  A

Floyd | flavor like honeyed apples and grapes and spring water fills your
Floyd | mouth.
Floyd |

Floyd | How can a drink be diluted and strengthened at the same time?  In
Floyd | flavor, this is rather like watered apple juice sweetened with honey,
Floyd | but the power of the drink still dizzies you briefly.  Everything

Floyd | shimmers in your vision a second after you swallow, but then your sight
Floyd | returns to normal.
Floyd |

Floyd | The subtle scent of apples and honey wafts from the cup in your hand.
Floyd |

		
	Ellison arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | (the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)

Floyd | You take a sip from the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy.  A
Floyd | flavor like honeyed apples and grapes and spring water fills your
Floyd | mouth.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi settles back in his chair.  "Now, we shall be civilized," he
Floyd | invites.  "Please, you must be curious about my city.  If you wish to

Floyd | ask questions, I will be happy to answer them -- but first, what did
Floyd | you think?"
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask hachachi about cup" 		
	

Floyd | [Use TALK TO to interact with characters.]

Floyd |

		Lucea says, "oh, right" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "talk to hachachi" 		
	

Floyd | [1] "I'm very impressed by the appleshy."
Floyd | [2] "The appleshy isn't really to my taste."

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hm... maybe we should have saved." 	
			Lucea says, "do we like it or not" 	
			Lucea says, "the appleshy, I mean" 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		Jacqueline says, "Too late to save, though, I guess." 	
			Taleslinger says, "i say 2" 	
			Taleslinger says, "though i have no idea of context" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, say 2." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh?  Well, that's a disappointment," Hachachi says.  "I'm very fond of
Floyd | it myself, and I hoped you would be."
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
Floyd | [2] "Tell me about Caerwyn?"
Floyd | [3] "Tell me about yourself?"

Floyd | [4] "Tell me about the city?"
Floyd | [5] "Tell me about geasa?"
Floyd | [6] Say nothing.

Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "any thoughts?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think I just went through them all for backstory." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | In response to your question, the chirop priest hesitates.  "I'm not

Floyd | sure what there is to tell," he says.  "I assist High Caerwyn, but not
Floyd | at services -- I assist her with the day-to-day of scheduling and
Floyd | planning and organizing.  Really, I'm rather boring."

Floyd |
Floyd | You are certain that, under the cover of fiddling with his cup,
Floyd | Hachachi is watching to see how you react.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
Floyd | [2] "Tell me about Caerwyn?"

Floyd | [3] "Tell me about your family."
Floyd | [4] "Why did you join the priesthood?"
Floyd | [5] "Tell me about the city?"

Floyd | [6] "Tell me about geasa?"
Floyd | [7] Say nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hachachi gazes into his cup for a moment and swirls the liquid
Floyd | reflectively.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | "High Caerwyn is devoted, yet caring," Hachachi answers.  "I think

Floyd | nothing concerns her so much as the lives that we lose -- for each time
Floyd | one man kills another, it is a failure of the Temple."  He studies you
Floyd | for a moment, clearly judging his words carefully.  "We must study

Floyd | virtue, and we must teach its path, or we will all be lost in a
Floyd | darkness without stars.  No one believes this more than she does.  If
Floyd | High Caerwyn were not bound by duty, her deeds would be great -- but

Floyd | she is bound by duty, the highest calling there is, and so her light is
Floyd | seen only in the deeds of those she guides."
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
Floyd | [2] "Tell me about your family."
Floyd | [3] "Why did you join the priesthood?"

Floyd | [4] "Tell me about the city?"
Floyd | [5] "Tell me about geasa?"
Floyd | [6] Say nothing.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "5" 		
	

Floyd | "Though I see why you would ask, I cannot speak further with you about
Floyd | geasa," Hachachi says apologetically.  "However, High Caerwyn will tell
Floyd | you all that you must know -- just as soon as your father consents."

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
Floyd | [2] "Tell me about your family."

Floyd | [3] "Why did you join the priesthood?"
Floyd | [4] "Tell me about the city?"
Floyd | [5] Say nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi says something, but you can't understand what he says -- the
Floyd | syllables are blurred and strange to your ear.

Floyd | The words you were about to speak fly away.
Floyd | [1] "What did  you say?"
Floyd | [2] "I feel strange...."

Floyd | [3] Say nothing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Is that a bug?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I remember that happening to me when I played, too." 	
			Lucea says, "I knew that stuff was poisonous" 	
			CarolynV says, "I think the double-display is Floyd-side, but I may be wrong. I had some major trouble getting that to work smoothly." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | "Is it the incense?  It's a bit strong in the hallways...."  Hachachi

Floyd | gazes at you in clear concern.
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "What did  you say?"
Floyd | [2] "Help me -- something's wrong!"
Floyd | [3] Say nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | The subtle scent of apples and honey wafts from the cup in your hand.
Floyd |

Floyd | Light sparkles suddenly in the corner of your vision, but when you turn
Floyd | your head, it is gone.  A wave of dizziness washes over you.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Nah, it happened to me, too, playing in a straight Glulx interpreter." 	
			Lucea says, "only one thing to do now" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill hachachi" 		
	

Floyd | [Before you can try attacking Hachachi, you will need to complete this
Floyd | conversation.  Please enter a number or type REPEAT to reacquaint
Floyd | yourself with your options.]

Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi tilts his cup to his lips for a moment before lowering it

Floyd | again.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You must be cilized and finish the conversation first, Lucea!" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "do we have a glove to slap him with?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm... is he really drinking this stuff?" 	
			Lucea says, "civilization stops when you try to poison me" 	
			Lucea says, "just saying" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Hachachi says something in reply, but you can't understand what he

Floyd | says.  But he doesn't get up to help you -- even though the edges of
Floyd | the room have started spinning....
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "What did  you say?"

Floyd | [2] Say nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hachachi pauses to smell the aroma in his cup.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your grip suddenly loosens on the small porcelain cup of desert
Floyd | appleshy.  Though you reach out with your other hand to catch the cup

Floyd | as it slides from your numb fingers, the air is thick around your hand,
Floyd | slowing your motion.  A few flying drops of desert appleshy spatter

Floyd | your hand before the cup strikes the ground.  Spilled desert appleshy
Floyd | flows across the floor.  Reaching after the cup, you lose your balance,
Floyd | and the entire world slips sideways.
Floyd |

Floyd | You stumble first to your knees and then catch yourself on your hands.
Floyd | You try to stop your fall, but the best you can do is hit the floor

Floyd | first with your shoulder instead of your face.  Fortunately, the
Floyd | jarring pain that follows is also far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi is crouching beside you.  You see his mouth moving, but you

Floyd | can't hear what he says.  You feel it, though, when he raises your
Floyd | head, slides his knee under you for support, and opens your lips with a

Floyd | clinical finger so that he can pour more desert appleshy down your
Floyd | throat.  Your faintly moaned protest chokes off beneath the draught,
Floyd | and you swallow against your will.  Everything is spinning faster and
Floyd | faster, and you are pressed down from the force of it.  Your tongue

Floyd | tastes of apples.
Floyd |

Floyd | Although your eyes are still open, your vision starts to fade.  There
Floyd | is a roaring in your head that is growing louder, and louder....
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "No, he's faking it." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Can we pretend to drink?" 	
			Nitku says, "Pardon me, good sir, if you excuse me. I must shortly go about attacking you." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		Jacqueline laughs at Nitku. 	
			CarolynV says, "It wants a space." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The thunder resolves into the pounding roar of a seething mass of
Floyd | chiroptera.  The myriad voices, the screaming, the shouting, all blends
Floyd | together and echoes through your very bones.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are standing upon a high dais, and on all sides, thousands of
Floyd | chiroptera stare up at you -- the source of the incredible tumult.  You

Floyd | had not conceived of so many people in all the world, let alone so many
Floyd | of your kin in the same place, and their frenzied behavior is alien to
Floyd | your secluded existence.  Your very heartbeat and breathing feel
Floyd | dictated by the hunger of the crowd.  You are garbed formally in a

Floyd | side-split tunic of dense, gem-adorned brocade and a long skirt, but
Floyd | you are much less concerned about your attire than you are concerned by

Floyd | the long, heavy sword gripped in your hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | A chirop woman kneels before you.  Her tan fur is sparse from great
Floyd | age, and her hands are bound tightly behind her back with coarse rope.

Floyd | Her shoulders twitch in a shiver as the cries of the crowd pound over
Floyd | you both.

Floyd |
Floyd | Though the sound of the crowd all but deafens you, a woman's clarion
Floyd | voice rises above the din of the crowd.  "She is condemned.  Strike!"
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Excuse me, sir, the quality of your refreshements demands a new, more physical kind of interaction." 	
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "run" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.

Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "...timing" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You step to the edge of the dais.  Thousands of eyes bore into you as
Floyd | you start down the steps, and the tone of the crowd's layered cries

Floyd | becomes suddenly, sharply hostile.  A heavy wave of disorientation
Floyd | follows.  This isn't you -- this isn't your place or where you
Floyd | belong....
Floyd |

Floyd | And, winging after that thought, you realize that it is nighttime.  The
Floyd | roar of the crowd fails into silence, defeated by the sudden blackness

Floyd | and the tide of stars that flow across the night sky.  The taste of
Floyd | apples fills your mouth, and stars flash across your gaze as everything
Floyd | spins away from you.
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | This, in the darkness:
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | There is a voice.  The voice is sharp, clear, female, and only newly
Floyd | familiar: Caerwyn's voice, asking, "What did you give her?"
Floyd |

Floyd | A second voice comes from the darkness.  This one is low, softer, male,
Floyd | and as little-known to you as the first.  Hachachi answers,

Floyd | "Heartkenning in dreamwine."
Floyd |
Floyd | Caerwyn: "You mistook her, perhaps, for a trained diviner?  You risk
Floyd | too much."

Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi: "It had to be risked."

Floyd |
Floyd | Caerwyn: "'Use your initiative' didn't mean kill the girl.  She's
Floyd | hardly breathing."
Floyd |

Floyd | Hachachi: "There weren't many options and there wasn't much time."
Floyd |

Floyd | Caerwyn: "There was more time before you tried to kill her."
Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi: "High One, if I was wrong, please forgive me.  I measured the
Floyd | dreamwine carefully -- six swallows, no more.  Her geas..."

Floyd |
Floyd | But the darkness is spinning, and noise comes out of the darkness -- a

Floyd | shivering, rushing noise, something more familiar than the voices.  The
Floyd | noise drowns out Hachachi's voice.  You struggle to identify this new
Floyd | sound....
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Water.  The sound is water.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are lying on cold stone, and you can hear a river not far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, Crevice
Floyd | It's hard to see much of anything here, as overhanging shelves of rock

Floyd | block almost all light from the north, and that light is a frail,
Floyd | greenish shimmer at best.  The crevice is small and cramped.  Once, it

Floyd | was a full passage, as signs of a broader tunnel do lead west, but the
Floyd | tunnel is blocked by fallen rocks.
Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "thoughts/requests/suggests?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x crevice" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, ">trip out some more" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm... W?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x rocks" 		
	

Floyd | The fallen rocks prevent you from proceeding west.
Floyd |
Floyd | When the rocks fell, we were lucky because grubmen are stupid.  Instead

Floyd | of coming to kill us, they went to pray to the grubqueen.  It would

Floyd | have been easier if they hadn't left a sentry.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "OK, there's that answer -- the GLULX text effects won't show up on Floyd. :(" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search rocks" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reflective surface nearby in which you can get a proper
Floyd | look at yourself.  However, despite your best efforts to remain tidy,

Floyd | your fur is dusty from the road, and you are not completely comfortable

Floyd | with your current appearance.  You would definitely welcome the
Floyd | opportunity to tidy up.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x light" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x light" 		
	

Floyd | Faint, greenish light is visible to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have to keep moving.  Eventually, the grubmen will realize that the
Floyd | falling rocks were on THIS side, and then they'll come to investigate.
Floyd |

Floyd | Faint, greenish light is visible to the north.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah... I was hoping they'd indent a bit, but it seems that they don't." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "think about grubmen" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts circle without profit.

Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "try going north?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Essentially, when you read something like that that seems out of context or a little to sentient, that's a weird voice talking to us and we don't know what it is yet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "s/to/too" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | There was no way to go back.  All we could do was go forward, and hope

Floyd | for a new exit somewhere past the grubmen.
Floyd |
Floyd | You stand up cautiously to avoid cracking your head on the low stone
Floyd | ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Underground

Floyd | This underground space is dimly lit by crusts of phosphorescent lichen
Floyd | clinging to the cavern roof.  Ragged spires of rock jut from the
Floyd | ground, and cool, dark shadows fill the spaces between the spires.  A
Floyd | crevice opens to the south, and a broader passage leads off to the
Floyd | east.

Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "am I an ant?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "we are seriously tripping, imho" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x lichen" 		
	

Floyd | The only light here is a dim glow emanating from the lichen clinging to

Floyd | the cavern ceiling.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get lichen" 		
	

Floyd | The patch of phosphorescent lichen is too far away.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x spires" 		
	

Floyd | Several waist-high stalagmites rise from the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wait -- this isn't the way it went....
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Man, phosphorescent lichen abounds in IF to a much larger degree than in real life, doesn't it? Heehee" 	
			CarolynV says, "I wrote this section before playing Lost Pig. The commentary on glowing lichen there was hysterically funny." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh. Yeah, I'd forgotten about that." 	
			Lucea says, "You see a phosphorescent lich." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "AHHHHHH" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, let's keep esplorin'" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, Beside the River

Floyd | The cavern opens up beside a broad underground river.  Across the

Floyd | river, small orange fires glimmer, and contorted humanoid shapes are
Floyd | visible moving in the firelight.  These are grubmen -- an annoying, not
Floyd | particularly intelligent breed of underground dweller with a tendency
Floyd | to steal animals from human and chirop settlements.  The river flows
Floyd | through a black, impassable hole to the south, but there is room to

Floyd | walk north along the river's steep bank.

Floyd |
Floyd | A narrow, not-particularly-sturdy-seeming bridge stretches over the
Floyd | river to the east.  Upon the bridge is another short grubman standing
Floyd | watch -- a rather ineffective watch, at that, since the grubman is
Floyd | staring toward the fires and has not yet noticed you.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The grubman standing on the bridge shifts anxiously from pudgy foot to
Floyd | pudgy foot.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "I missed the lichen bit in Lost Pig" 	
			CarolynV says, "Mossferescence." 	
	Jacqueline says, "Aie grubman" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x myself" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reflective surface nearby in which you can get a proper
Floyd | look at yourself.  However, despite your best efforts to remain tidy,


Floyd | your fur is dusty from the road, and you are not completely comfortable
Floyd | with your current appearance.  You would definitely welcome the
Floyd | opportunity to tidy up.
Floyd |
Floyd | I wasn't alone.  The rocks caught Achimi, but Hichaesho made it
Floyd | through.


Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill grubman" 		
	

Floyd | (the translucent white grubman)
Floyd | You can't reach the translucent white grubman from here.
Floyd |


Floyd | The grubman standing on the bridge shifts anxiously from pudgy foot to
Floyd | pudgy foot.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | Your hands are empty.


Floyd | You are wearing a dark green goat wool cloak, a pale green tunic split
Floyd | up the sides, and a long, voluminous skirt of pale green wool.  A slim
Floyd | braided leather belt encircles your waist.  You have a pair of braided
Floyd | white leather sandals on your feet.  You are also wearing a slender
Floyd | zircon-studded bracelet and a pair of dangling zircon earrings.
Floyd |


Floyd | The grubman standing on the bridge shifts anxiously from pudgy foot to
Floyd | pudgy foot.
Floyd |
Floyd | Am I dreaming?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bracelet" 		
	

Floyd | You study the slender zircon-studded bracelet for a moment, but you
Floyd | notice nothing particularly unusual.
Floyd |
Floyd | Who ARE you, and why are you in my dream?

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "wake" 		
	

Floyd | You're fairly sure that you're still dreaming, but you can't figure out
Floyd | how to wake up.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "So, whaddowedo about the grubman?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Underground, Grubman Bridge
Floyd | This narrow, rickety bridge was designed for the weight of a grubman,
Floyd | not a chirop, and it complains softly with your every movement.  There
Floyd | are no railings.  Tinted dimly orange by the nearer grubman fires, the
Floyd | river plunges swiftly past below and flows away to the south.

Floyd |

Floyd | Grubman engineering is not much of a science.  The bridge trembles
Floyd | disconcertingly underfoot.  Fortunately, the grubman guarding the
Floyd | bridge is distracted and looking away from you.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The grubman standing on the bridge shifts anxiously from pudgy foot to

Floyd | pudgy foot.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "Those two paragraphs are pretty redundant -- I need to work on that." 	
			Taleslinger says, "push grubman" 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "Go for it." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "push grubman" 		
	

Floyd | The translucent white grubman is not yet aware of your presence.
Floyd | Pushing the translucent white grubman could draw his attention, and he
Floyd | doesn't look particularly friendly.  Do you really want to proceed?

Floyd | [Please respond with YES or NO.]
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | >Against your better judgement, you approach the translucent white
Floyd | grubman.

Floyd |
Floyd | You rush at the grubman, put your hands against his back, and shove!

Floyd | With a chittering wail, the grubman falls into the river and bobs away
Floyd | to the south.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x grubman" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "That'll clean some of the grub off." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Your solution was better than mine, methinks." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I shall not be spoilery." 	
			CarolynV says, "'Do you really want to kill the dragon with your bare hands?' 'Why yes, actually, yes I do.'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, haha - inky's review." 	
			Jacqueline | This seems like it was written for the same audience as Worlds Apart. There's not quite so much Enya and magical dolphins, but to make up for it you get cat-people and getting to choose your skin and eye color. 	
			Jacqueline says, "maga keeps telling me to play Worlds Apart because it's 'the sort of floaty new age shit' I would enjoy." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hahaha, "Bad Day" just started in my playlist." 	
			maga says, "it totally is" 	
			Lucea says, "ok, be right back" 	
			Taleslinger says, "How apropos for the grubman" 	
			maga says, "although its non-sequential storytelling and fiddly puzzles would probably cause you mighty rage" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge doesn't look particularly sturdy.
Floyd |

		CarolynV asks, "What is the link for inky's review?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I *think* I ended up stopping after this, so I can start playing with you all now." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "All the reveiws that I know of are linked to here:" 	
			Jacqueline | http://www.ifwiki.org/index.php/IntroComp_2008 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cross bridge" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Underground, Beside the River

Floyd | The cavern opens up beside a broad underground river.  Across the
Floyd | river, small orange fires glimmer, and contorted humanoid shapes are
Floyd | visible moving in the firelight.  These are grubmen -- an annoying, not
Floyd | particularly intelligent breed of underground dweller with a tendency
Floyd | to steal animals from human and chirop settlements.  The river flows

Floyd | through a black, impassable hole to the south, but there is room to

Floyd | walk north along the river's steep bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | A narrow, not-particularly-sturdy-seeming bridge stretches over the
Floyd | river to the east.  From here, you can see nothing on the bridge.
Floyd |

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, no. I played beyond this. Duh." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You walk north along the bank.
Floyd |

Floyd | Underground, Beside the River

Floyd | The river passage narrows as it proceeds northward.  Farther north,
Floyd | there is nowhere to stand, but here, you can view the broad
Floyd | subterranean river by the light of the distant fires.  Twisted rock
Floyd | formations overhang the river, but none are within reach.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline's memory is very good, but sometimes rather short-lived. 	
			CarolynV says, "Thanks." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | The river is far too broad to jump, and it looks both fast and deep.
Floyd | To the south, a crude bridge spans the water.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x formations" 		
	

Floyd | Several twisted, water-smoothed stalactites overhang the river.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "climb formations" 		
	

Floyd | The twisted rock formation is too far away.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Underground, Beside the River

Floyd | The cavern opens up beside a broad underground river.  Across the
Floyd | river, small orange fires glimmer, and contorted humanoid shapes are
Floyd | visible moving in the firelight.  These are grubmen -- an annoying, not
Floyd | particularly intelligent breed of underground dweller with a tendency
Floyd | to steal animals from human and chirop settlements.  The river flows

Floyd | through a black, impassable hole to the south, but there is room to

Floyd | walk north along the river's steep bank.
Floyd |
Floyd | A narrow, not-particularly-sturdy-seeming bridge stretches over the
Floyd | river to the east.  From here, you can see nothing on the bridge.
Floyd |

Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Wait, aren't we on the side we started? The river is said to be to the east" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground

Floyd | This underground space is dimly lit by crusts of phosphorescent lichen

Floyd | clinging to the cavern roof.  Ragged spires of rock jut from the
Floyd | ground, and cool, dark shadows fill the spaces between the spires.  A
Floyd | crevice opens to the south, and a broader passage leads off to the
Floyd | east.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, Beside the River
Floyd | The cavern opens up beside a broad underground river.  Across the
Floyd | river, small orange fires glimmer, and contorted humanoid shapes are

Floyd | visible moving in the firelight.  These are grubmen -- an annoying, not

Floyd | particularly intelligent breed of underground dweller with a tendency
Floyd | to steal animals from human and chirop settlements.  The river flows
Floyd | through a black, impassable hole to the south, but there is room to
Floyd | walk north along the river's steep bank.
Floyd |

Floyd | A narrow, not-particularly-sturdy-seeming bridge stretches over the

Floyd | river to the east.  From here, you can see nothing on the bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Underground, Grubman Bridge
Floyd | This narrow, rickety bridge was designed for the weight of a grubman,
Floyd | not a chirop, and it complains softly with your every movement.  There
Floyd | are no railings.  Tinted dimly orange by the nearer grubman fires, the
Floyd | river plunges swiftly past below and flows away to the south.

Floyd |

Floyd | Grubman engineering is not much of a science.  The bridge trembles
Floyd | disconcertingly underfoot.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | With no further obstacle in your way, you carefully cross the bridge

Floyd | (which, by some minor miracle, does not break beneath your weight) and
Floyd | halt on the far side.  The space just off the bridge is slightly
Floyd | shadowed, and you can pause here to gain your bearings before
Floyd | proceeding onward.
Floyd |

Floyd | Or perhaps not -- because suddenly, everything changes....

Floyd |
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "I'm afraid the command 'cross bridge' took you back where you started. I had some difficulty sorting out the bridge as an object *and* as a room." 	
			Taleslinger says (to carolyn), "He, me too." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "press space" 		Jacqueline says, "The room should now be called 'Underground, Bridge Formerly Occupied by the Nasty Grubman Before You Pushed Him in the River You Meanie.'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, maybe that's too long a room name." 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "emote laughs!" 	
			CarolynV asks, "Woops. Someone want to fix my syntax?" 	
			Taleslinger shakes head. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Try :laughs!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Err... : shakes heas" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Er, ;:laughs!" 	
			CarolynV has better syntax now? 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "thanks!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "congratulates Carloyn, then leads everyone present in a cossack dance." 	
			(from Jacqueline) CarolynV can has cheeseburger, yes. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, you're welcome." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		Jacqueline says, "Anyway, sorry for crossing the bridge. Please continue, so we can get to the part where I stopped playing." 	
			CarolynV says, "It wants a space." 	
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You are in a new cave, though you are standing up this time.

Floyd | Everything around you is very faintly lit by greenish-yellow
Floyd | phosphorescence, which, you realize after a moment, comes from a thin
Floyd | crust of lichen on the walls.    It's like something out of a story --
Floyd | you've never seen lichen like this before.

Floyd |
Floyd | Cave Alcove

Floyd | Phosphorescent lichen illumines this underground cavern with a weak,
Floyd | sickly light.  The air is humid and unpleasant.  The only route from
Floyd | here is north.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Whoopsie." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage
Floyd | A narrow stream, no more than a few handsbreadths across, trickles in
Floyd | from the north and flows away to the southeast.  Thin crusts of
Floyd | phosphorescent lichen cling to the walls and ceiling, casting a weak,

Floyd | sickly light .  The air is humid and unpleasant.  Passages open north,
Floyd | south, southeast, southwest, and east from here.

Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "I haven't seen lichen like this before?" 	
			CarolynV says, "'you've never seen lichen like this before' except in the prior room." 	
			Lucea says, "I thought we just did" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline laughs. 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Oh noes, should we map this?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage
Floyd | Phosphorescent lichen illumines the underground passage around you, but
Floyd | with a weak, sickly light.  The air is humid and unpleasant.  There are
Floyd | exits leading north and northeast from here.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage
Floyd | Phosphorescent lichen illumines the underground passage around you, but

Floyd | with a weak, sickly light.  The air is humid and unpleasant.  There are
Floyd | exits leading northwest and south from here.

Floyd |
Floyd | I've seen fungus like this, but only outside.  On trees, sometimes, in
Floyd | forests... never in caves.
Floyd |

Floyd | But this is a dream.  Anything can happen here.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat fungus" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the thin crust of phosphorescent lichen)
Floyd | That's hardly portable.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wake up" 		
	

Floyd | You're fairly sure that you're still dreaming, but you can't figure out
Floyd | how to wake up.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I suspect that the answer is no." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pinch myself" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage

Floyd | Phosphorescent lichen illumines the underground passage around you, but
Floyd | with a weak, sickly light.  The air is humid and unpleasant.  There are
Floyd | exits leading northeast and southeast from here.

Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks (of lucea), "Oh, you're back. Wanna drive again?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I did, but ... Carolyn? Is this really a maze, or just after a few locations you pop out somewhere?" 	
	Lucea asks (of floyd), "wait, is this a maze?" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "wait, is this a maze?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I had this weird feeling it wasn't actually a maze, though I *did* map it when I played." 	
			CarolynV says, "Um... I don't want to get hit for being spoilery. I'm not sure if I can answer this." 	
			Taleslinger says (to carolyn), "there is a channel called #cf-spoilers" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay." 	
			Lucea asks, "there is?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, it's #cfspoilers" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "OOps, sorry." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		Jacqueline asks, "Okay, now that we're done interrogating Carolyn on the spoilers channel... what next?" 	
	

Floyd | Everything smells like lichen.  Still, you think the air coming from
Floyd | the northeast might be a bit fresher.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea has had her fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Lucea arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Lucea says, "whoops" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage
Floyd | A narrow stream, no more than a few handsbreadths across, trickles in
Floyd | from the north and flows away to the south.  Thin crusts of

Floyd | phosphorescent lichen cling to the walls and ceiling, casting a weak,
Floyd | sickly light .  The air is humid and unpleasant.  Passages open north,
Floyd | northwest, south, and southwest from here.

Floyd |
Floyd | As you shift position, one of your knees suddenly buckles, and you
Floyd | stumble to the side.  You successfully  catch yourself against the wall

Floyd | with an outflung hand.  When you regain your balance and pull your hand
Floyd | away, you see a black handprint on the wall.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Heh. I HATE when I do that." 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "Look! Lucea! Stuff smells!" 	
			Lucea exclaims, "Yay!" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x handprint" 		
	

Floyd | It looks as if the lichen has been damaged on one wall, as a black

Floyd | handprint mars the faint green glow.
Floyd |

		Ellison says, "ha" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | Everything smells like lichen.  Still, you think the air coming from

Floyd | the north might be a bit fresher.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage

Floyd | A narrow stream, no more than a few handsbreadths across, trickles in
Floyd | from the northeast and flows away to the south.  Thin crusts of

Floyd | phosphorescent lichen cling to the walls and ceiling, casting a weak,
Floyd | sickly light .  The air is humid and unpleasant.  Passages open
Floyd | northeast and south from here.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | Everything smells like lichen.  Still, you think the air coming from
Floyd | the northeast might be a bit fresher.
Floyd |

		Ellison says, "unfortunately, I have to get going" 	
	Ellison has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage
Floyd | A narrow stream, no more than a few handsbreadths across, trickles in

Floyd | from the northeast and flows away to the southwest.  Thin crusts of
Floyd | phosphorescent lichen cling to the walls and ceiling, casting a weak,

Floyd | sickly light .  The air is humid and unpleasant.  Passages open
Floyd | northeast and southwest from here.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | Everything smells like lichen.  Still, you think the air coming from

Floyd | the northeast might be a bit fresher.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Faintly Lit Passage

Floyd | A narrow stream, no more than a few handsbreadths across, trickles in
Floyd | from the east and flows away to the southwest.  Thin crusts of
Floyd | phosphorescent lichen cling to the walls and ceiling, casting a weak,
Floyd | sickly light .  The air is humid and unpleasant.  Passages open north,

Floyd | southwest, and east from here.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | Everything smells like lichen.  Still, you think the air coming from
Floyd | the east might be a bit fresher.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Underground, Below the Night
Floyd | Suddenly, you come around a twist in the tunnel to see light shining

Floyd | down through a broad gap in the stone -- real light, moonlight, which
Floyd | washes the lichen's sickly glow into insubstantiality.  The small
Floyd | stream coursing through the cavern has its source here, for a thin

Floyd | stream of water pours down through the gap and pools at your feet
Floyd | before wandering away through the passages.
Floyd |

Floyd | Beside the waterfall, a crude ladder leads upward and outward to a cold
Floyd | night sky.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink water" 		
	

Floyd | You scoop up some of the stream water in your hand and drink from your

Floyd | palm.  The water is cool and tastes slightly fungal.

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in water" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x myself" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reflective surface nearby in which you can get a proper
Floyd | look at yourself.  However, despite your best efforts to remain tidy,

Floyd | your fur is dusty from the road, and you are not completely comfortable
Floyd | with your current appearance.  You would definitely welcome the
Floyd | opportunity to tidy up.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter water" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "swim in water" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to swim the inside.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | Glancing around, you don't see anywhere appropriate to go swimming.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks (of carloyn), "Isn't the water a reflective surface?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Must be a very tiny stream." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Well, it's flowing." 	
	CarolynV says, ":floyd x stream" 		CarolynV says, "This is what I get for cheatin, I don't even know the syntax." 	
			CarolynV says, "Anyway, it's not very big." 	
			Lucea says, "..floyd" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is in I7, right." 	
	CarolynV says (to floyd), "x stream" 		
	

Floyd | You don't see anything unusual about the narrow stream.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "wash self" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "wash me" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "You could just do an 'instead of swimming' in this locale and say the stream is too small." 	
			CarolynV says, "I could have sworn there was a description on that. How embarrassing. -- And yes, it's in I7." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Underground, Below the Night
Floyd | Moonlight shines down through a broad gap in the stone, washing the
Floyd | lichen's sickly glow into insubstantiality.  The small stream coursing
Floyd | through the cavern has its source here, for a thin stream of water
Floyd | pours down through the gap and pools at your feet before wandering away

Floyd | through the passages.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beside the waterfall, a crude ladder leads upward and outward to a cold
Floyd | night sky.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "clean fur" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tidy up" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter stream" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "brush my fur" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take a leak" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |


		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "lick fur" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "U?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that U is how annoying 13-year-old girls in chatrooms say 'you'." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | From here, you can go south and west.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Underground, Below the Night
Floyd | Moonlight shines down through a broad gap in the stone, washing the
Floyd | lichen's sickly glow into insubstantiality.  The small stream coursing
Floyd | through the cavern has its source here, for a thin stream of water
Floyd | pours down through the gap and pools at your feet before wandering away
Floyd | through the passages.


Floyd |
Floyd | Beside the waterfall, a crude ladder leads upward and outward to a cold
Floyd | night sky.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "go for it" 	
			Lucea says, "uh" 	
			CarolynV says, "Oops! Sorry about that. U should have been identical to 'climb ladder'." 	
			Lucea says, "climb ladder" 	
	dhakajack arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd | Well done!
Floyd |
Floyd | You climb the ladder rapidly.  It is slightly slick from moisture, but
Floyd | not dangerously so, and a cool, refreshing mist envelops you as  you
Floyd | reach the top of the ladder and lift yourself onto a rocky hillside.

Floyd | Below, there are pines.

Floyd |
Floyd | You draw a deep breath of air, and it smells like incense.
Floyd |
Floyd | Incense....
Floyd |

Floyd | The hillside fades....

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "The 'well done!' is one of the Mystery Voice comments, but that doesn't show up on account of glulx. It's not just the game snarking." 	
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Balanced on the edge between wakefulness and sleep, you lie in a room
Floyd | where the smell of incense rests heavily on the air.  At least one

Floyd | blanket presses your body down, but you are not uncomfortably warm.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x blanket" 		
	

Floyd | The sheets are fine and soft -- linen, perhaps -- and there is at least
Floyd | one heavier blanket atop them, which feels like wool.

Floyd |

Floyd | To the left, there is the soft, slightly echoing scrape of a door
Floyd | opening and closing.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You give up on this unimpressive world and allow yourself to drift back

Floyd | into dreams.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		Lucea says, "whoops" 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | This, in the darkness:

Floyd |
Floyd | You are dying.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Heh. That would be a fun game to write. 'About time you solved that puzzle, you nitwit!' and 'Look at me as I sarcastically applaud your deductive technique!'" 	
			CarolynV says, "Undo isn't disabled, but it won't accept it while it is waiting for a space." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Orange light hurls itself through darkness, and it takes the shape of a
Floyd | bird.  The light-wreathed bird burns your vision as sharply as the sun
Floyd | would, but in this dream, you can gaze without looking away.  A
Floyd | feathered crest runs over the bird's skull, and its tail is as long and

Floyd | ornate as a peacock's, painted in all the myriad colors of fire.  The

Floyd | phoenix's light parts the darkness....
Floyd |
Floyd | Char Cliff
Floyd | You stand upon a narrow ledge on the side of a blackened rock cliff.  A
Floyd | thin path traces over the rock to your left, but your ledge is cut off

Floyd | from the path by a twenty-foot gap.  Far overhead, the phoenix burns in

Floyd | all its glory on a course from west to east, and beyond the phoenix,
Floyd | you see a starry expanse of night sky.  Far below, you see city
Floyd | lanterns shining against the night.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Temple of Ferran, Infirmary
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Your eyes are closed, and, in this half-dreaming state, you can't

Floyd | remember how to open them.
Floyd |
Floyd | Caerwyn's voice comes from your left.  Her voice is low but clear.
Floyd | "Hachachi.  How is our patient?"
Floyd |

Floyd | There is a pause before Hachachi responds.  His voice is very near, not

Floyd | far from your right elbow, and his soft words are heavy and slurred.
Floyd | "No change.  Still 'sleep."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hachachi, you idiot. You'd better make us better, since this is ALL YOUR FAULT." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I suspect I will be unable to scream this at him, sadly." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You give up on this unimpressive world and allow yourself to drift back
Floyd | into dreams.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. That worked." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | This, in the darkness:
Floyd |
Floyd | You are dying.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Orange light hurls itself through darkness, and it takes the shape of a

Floyd | bird.  The light-wreathed bird burns your vision as sharply as the sun
Floyd | would, but in this dream, you can gaze without looking away.  A
Floyd | feathered crest runs over the bird's skull, and its tail is as long and
Floyd | ornate as a peacock's, painted in all the myriad colors of fire.  The
Floyd | phoenix's light parts the darkness....

Floyd |

Floyd | Char Cliff
Floyd | You stand upon a narrow ledge on the side of a blackened rock cliff.  A
Floyd | thin path traces over the rock to your left, but your ledge is cut off
Floyd | from the path by a twenty-foot gap.  Far overhead, the phoenix burns in
Floyd | all its glory on a course from west to east, and beyond the phoenix,

Floyd | you see a starry expanse of night sky.  Far below, you see city

Floyd | lanterns shining against the night.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x phoenix" 		
	

Floyd | Looking at the phoenix is as painful as staring directly at the sun,

Floyd | and it leaves raw blue afterimages in your vision, yet you can still

Floyd | see the night sky beyond it.
Floyd |
Floyd | With the flick of a wingtip, the phoenix turns overhead, raining tiny
Floyd | vermilion flamelets as it shifts its course from east to south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x night sky" 		
	

Floyd | Among the scattered silver stars, you recognize the constellation of
Floyd | the Heron.  However, the constellation has changed from the version
Floyd | that normally shines in the night sky.  A new star shimmers upon the
Floyd | heron's breast.

Floyd |

Floyd | A woman descends into view upon the thin path.  In the phoenix's light,
Floyd | you see that she is a very old shaghal woman, pale with age and
Floyd | trembling with exhaustion.  Her milky white eyes are fixed upon the
Floyd | phoenix's distant radiance.  She does not look at you even for a moment
Floyd | as she hurries along her pained, stumbling course.  Upon the mountain

Floyd | breeze, you catch her anguished whisper: "Wait for me.  Wait for

Floyd | me...."
Floyd |
Floyd | From north to south, she passes down the cliff and is gone.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Man, I read shagal and can't stop thinking about Austin Powers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I kept wanting to pronounce it 'shangal' for some reasonl." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, -l" 	
			CarolynV says, "It's the Persian word for jackal." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, you're just fixated on shagging. It's part of being a college student." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "Ooh, nice touch, then." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb down" 		
	

Floyd | You must name something more substantial.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the near southern sky, the phoenix folds its wings and stoops.

Floyd | Engulfed in orange fire, it burns out of the heavens like a meteor and

Floyd | drops upon the city.  When it strikes, the buildings explode into
Floyd | flame.  A broad halo expands around the city.  The phoenix is gone; the
Floyd | city is gone....
Floyd |
Floyd | Everything is gone.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "follow her" 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Again, in the darkness:
Floyd |
Floyd | These dreams are killing you.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Phoenix's Landing, East Flame Street
Floyd | By the light of its own burning edges, a nearby signpost advises that
Floyd | this wide road bears the ill-omened name of East Flame Street.  Wooden

Floyd | buildings blaze to the north and south, and the air reeks of scorched

Floyd | vegetables from a nearby farm stand.  The air is filled with smoke and
Floyd | the sounds of crying, babbling people as the city's inhabitants flee
Floyd | toward the eastern gate.
Floyd |
Floyd | Char Cliff

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "I am not a student. Just a guy, I suppose," 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |

Floyd | In the near southern sky, the phoenix folds its wings and stoops.
Floyd | Engulfed in orange fire, it burns out of the heavens like a meteor and
Floyd | drops upon the city.  When it strikes, the buildings explode into
Floyd | flame.  A broad halo expands around the city.  The phoenix is gone; the
Floyd | city is gone....

Floyd |

Floyd | Everything is gone.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Again, in the darkness:
Floyd |
Floyd | These dreams are killing you.
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, sorry - was wanting to see if 'follow her' worked, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		CarolynV says, "'Follow' isn't an implemented command." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wake" 		Jacqueline asks, "Is Floyd stuck?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Please gods no." 	
	CarolynV pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Phoenix's Landing, East Flame Street
Floyd | By the light of its own burning edges, a nearby signpost advises that
Floyd | this wide road bears the ill-omened name of East Flame Street.  Wooden
Floyd | buildings blaze to the north and south, and the air reeks of scorched

Floyd | vegetables from a nearby farm stand.  The air is filled with smoke and

Floyd | the sounds of crying, babbling people as the city's inhabitants flee
Floyd | toward the eastern gate.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "You said it to Floyd instead of doing it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, I thought I did that!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, so I did." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x people" 		
	

Floyd | You catch no more than glimpses of faces as the crowd surges by.

Floyd | Human, chiroptera, and shaghal, every face is distorted with fear.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Again, the dream changes.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Quiet Graveyard

Floyd | The afternoon sky is completely curtained with cloud, leaving only a
Floyd | cool white glow visible above the northern mountains where the sun
Floyd | should be.  A small willow tree drops yellow leaflets along the top of
Floyd | the low stone wall bordering the graveyard, whispering softly in the
Floyd | breeze as it does.  Several gravestones stand among the tousled green

Floyd | grass, but no one has tended them for some time, and they are

Floyd | overgrown.
Floyd |
Floyd | A light autumn breeze sways the willow tree and sends more leaves
Floyd | scattering down across the wall.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "dig grave" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to dig.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, now here we are. This is where I stopped, somewhere in this location." 	
			Taleslinger says, "This is *huge* for IntroComp." 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "Yeah, I felt that way, too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I haven't finished it, and honestly wondered if it was a complete game, but asked around and learned it wasn't." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Sadly, I have to run now. Have fun, everyone. Carolyn, I am looking forward to seeing the finished game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Night. Have fun shagging." 	
			CarolynV says, "Thank you for stopping by." 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Heh, I wish." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Night" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x graves" 		
	

Floyd | The featureless, water-smoothed markers stand silent sentinel above
Floyd | forgotten graves.  Grass covers their faces.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read grave" 		
	

Floyd | The featureless, water-smoothed markers stand silent sentinel above

Floyd | forgotten graves.  Grass covers their faces.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x willow" 		
	

Floyd | The changing season has painted almost all of the willow's leaves

Floyd | yellow, and many golden leaflets have fallen from the willow's limbs to

Floyd | adorn the wall and the grass below.  (But it was spring when you
Floyd | arrived with your father... wasn't it?)  Something glints among the
Floyd | willow's branches.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "move grass" 		
	

Floyd | You fail to move the grass.
Floyd |
Floyd | A light autumn breeze sways the willow tree and sends more leaves
Floyd | scattering down across the wall.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x glint" 		
	

Floyd | (the glint)
Floyd | The glinting thing turns out to be a small mirror.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take mirror" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reflective surface nearby in which you can get a proper
Floyd | look at yourself.  However, despite your best efforts to remain tidy,

Floyd | your fur is dusty from the road, and you are not completely comfortable
Floyd | with your current appearance.  You would definitely welcome the
Floyd | opportunity to tidy up.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "UM" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mirror" 		
	

Floyd | The mirror reflects your surroundings, but it does not reflect you, and
Floyd | your surroundings are strangely transformed.  In the image, it is night
Floyd | rather than afternoon, and moonlit snowflakes drift across the wall in

Floyd | place of willow leaves.  In the willow's shadow, a human man stands
Floyd | leaning against the wall.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | Gazing into the mirror, you find that you can make out very little of

Floyd | the man's features.  This is partially because his face is averted from
Floyd | the moonlight, and partially because of the willow tree's shadow, but

Floyd | it is also partially because the moonlight does not seem to illumine
Floyd | him well.  He is an indistinct shadow among indistinct shadows.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "be back in a few" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wait! Don't go!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to man" 		
	

Floyd | You gaze into the mirror.
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "Hello?"

Floyd |
Floyd | A light autumn breeze sways the willow tree and sends more leaves
Floyd | scattering down across the wall.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | At the sound, the shadowed man in the mirror lifts his chin sharply and
Floyd | looks directly at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Can you hear me, dream creature?
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "Yes, I can hear you."

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Am I playing alone now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which is fine if I am, as I haven't played much beyond this bit, but I'm curious." 	
			Nitku says, "Sorry, I kinda phased out for a while." 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is a good part, methinks, Nitku. Phase in." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | The shadowed man in the mirror shifts his stance to brace both of his
Floyd | hands against the wall behind him.
Floyd |

Floyd | Let us talk, then.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Who are you?"
Floyd | [2] "Where am I?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | This is my grave -- or a dream of it, at least.  To the north is the
Floyd | mountain I travelled.  To the west is the city I loved, though too far
Floyd | to see from here.
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Who are you?"

Floyd |

		Nitku says, "I'm not sure what's happening anymore but I'll try to hop in." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We were on a long strange trip, and now we're in a grave yard of seemingly unmarked stones." 	
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		Jacqueline says, "We just found a mirror, and reflected in the mirror is this place, but at a different time, and we can't see our reflection. Instead, there's a man, and we're just now talking to him." 	
			dhakajack says, "I'm jumping into the story midway (and on the java-based client to boot). I'll play along when I get a clue..." 	
			CarolynV says, "The text effect here is supposed to let you know that the person you're talking to was the same person who talked to you earlier. The weird commentary as you were wandering around the river, etc." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, right." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jack), "It's worth it to download a client. I really like MUSHclient." 	
			Jacqueline says, "When we play your game, you'll be happier to have a client." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or are you on a mac?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I like Atlantis on macs." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | There is a long pause.
Floyd |

Floyd | For my failure, they buried me, and they took away my name.
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "They buried you?  Who is 'they'?"
Floyd | [2] "Who are your companions?"

Floyd | [3] "You are a ghost, then...."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | The temple of Ferran.  High Tashreg commanded that I be buried in an
Floyd | unmarked grave, and he struck my name from all records.  If any of my

Floyd | companions endure, they may be able to speak my name to you, but I know
Floyd | that many have been lost.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Who are your companions?"
Floyd | [2] "You said High Tashreg.  You don't mean High Caerwyn?"
Floyd | [3] "You are a ghost, then...."

Floyd |

		dhakajack says, "that's what I used last week. This week I'm stranded in Copenhagen with a locked down PC from work...not a lot of choice..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | I don't even know who's alive and who's dead.  Achimi is dead, but she

Floyd | died before I did.  So did Ichethe.  Hichaesho, Arleza, Draskeg...
Floyd | maybe one of them survives.  Or Hazeltricema.  The melia are

Floyd | long-lived, they say....
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "You said High Tashreg.  You don't mean High Caerwyn?"
Floyd | [2] "You are a ghost, then...."

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks (of C), "Should "Who are your companions?" have been visible before he mentioned the companions?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's sort of a rhetorical question." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | High Tashreg of the Stars.  I know no Caerwyn... but she surely came

Floyd | after my time.  If Tashreg is dead, I have no grief for it.  May he
Floyd | wander and dream, as I was bound to wander.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "You are a ghost, then...."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		CarolynV says, "Your rhetorical answer is correct -- that's a no." 	
	

Floyd | You are not a ghost, then.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the mirror, the shadowed man stands up a bit straighter.
Floyd |

Floyd | How did you come to be here?
Floyd |

Floyd | You explain how you were deceived and drugged, including, at the
Floyd | ghost's request, a description of the drink.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is called dreamwine, and they strengthen it with heartkenning -- a

Floyd | diviner's tool used in my day, though only carefully.  It draws you to
Floyd | your destiny... but if you have no greater destiny, no geas and no

Floyd | star, then it will draw you to every man's destiny.
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Can you help me?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | You are lost in dreams, and your dreams are poisoned by your fate.  If
Floyd | you have no destiny, then you will die.
Floyd |
Floyd | I died without completing my destiny.  If you accept my destiny, then

Floyd | you will live.  I can help you, if you will accept my help.
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "What is your destiny?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Ferran announces his champions to Adisha, and he charts their courses
Floyd | in the sky for the astrologers, but he does not show the path so

Floyd | clearly to those of us on the ground.  This is how I knew your drug,
Floyd | for I drank enough of the stuff while living, and drifted in enough of
Floyd | the dreams, and shed enough of my blood to diviners, and ever the
Floyd | Temple seers were there with cards and runes and mysteries to augment

Floyd | the dreams and blood-works and seemings.  They spoke of my geasa, and
Floyd | they spoke of my paths, but never would they tell me where the road

Floyd | would end.
Floyd |
Floyd | If, indeed, they knew.  I have had long enough to think on it, and now
Floyd | I doubt they did.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "And if I accept your destiny... what happens then?"

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "These [1]s feel like a thin disguise for avoiding another great big giant cut-scene." 	
			CarolynV says, "I was just thinking that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Lucea says, "same" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We need more conversation topics to make it feel like it's an actual conversation." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | I will stay with you through the dreaming, and I will draw you into
Floyd | wakefulness.  But once you are awake, you will obey me and serve me
Floyd | until the end of your days.  It is an exchange: your life for my

Floyd | destiny.  Do you accept?
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "I accept your offer."

Floyd | [2] "I refuse your offer."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "w00t! TWO OPTIONS!" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Whaddowe pick, Lucea?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The whole 'slave for life' thing doesn't appeal to me, personally." 	
			CarolynV says, "By the time I hit this point, I was running for my beta deadline. If anyone has suggestions for other stuff they would like to have asked/said to the ghost, I'm all ears (though it might be better to hit me with an email considering how long this has run....)" 	
			Lucea says, "I'd pick 2, but I have the feeling it kills me" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's save." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "And go with 2." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | The shadowed man in the mirror looks surprised.
Floyd |
Floyd | How can you reject my offer?  This will mean your death.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Because, if I do not reject it, then it is also my death.  What you
Floyd | offer is no gift -- it is slavery.  You would chain me to your will --

Floyd | but I am bound already to my creche-clan.  If I make such a vow for my
Floyd | life, I am no chirop at all, but a dead thing broken on the stones.  So
Floyd | find another way, or I will die here willingly."

Floyd |
Floyd | There is a long pause.  The shadowed man rubs his chin for a moment.
Floyd |

Floyd | And your counterproposal?
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] Answer the ghost....

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks (of C), "Are we close to the end, then?" 	
			CarolynV says, "Very." 	
			Lucea asks, "can I counterpropose by killing the ghost?" 	
			Lucea says, "that would make me very happy" 	
	inky arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Lucea says, "also, I realize this is the second time I've requested to do this" 	
			CarolynV asks, "With a note that 'very' is longer in this game than anyone else's. At the rate we've been going... maybe 10 minutes?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | "Save my life," you say.  "Come with me.  When you see the path of your
Floyd | destiny, you may tell me, and I will listen -- but I will not be bound

Floyd | to obey."
Floyd |
Floyd | And why should I make this compact?  I can merely wait for the next
Floyd | lost soul, who will be more sensible than you.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] Answer the ghost....

Floyd |

		Lucea says, "I'm not a sociopath, really" 	
			CarolynV says, "Maybe 15." 	
			Jacqueline says (to C), "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to L), "Riiiight." 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | "You should make this compact because you have been buried so long that
Floyd | you have forgotten your own name.  When another comes along... if
Floyd | another comes along... you may have been buried so long that you forget

Floyd | how to speak."  After a moment, you add, "Also, because I have a star."
Floyd |
Floyd | I accept.

Floyd |
Floyd | Break the mirror.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Hm... okay then. I guess I break it?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "break mirror" 		
	

Floyd | You smash the mirror across the low wall.  As the mirror breaks, it
Floyd | sounds like a shattering icicle, and a cold blast of wind whips across
Floyd | you, heavy with the scent of snow.  As you draw your next breath, the

Floyd | taste of winter comes with it, and a heavy, liquid coldness courses
Floyd | into your chest and down your limbs.  For a moment, you glimpse the
Floyd | shadowed man leaning against the low wall by the willow tree, but then,

Floyd | he is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | The broken shards of mirror melt before your eyes, and they, too, are

Floyd | gone.
Floyd |

		dhakajack asks, "if we had tried to break mirror earlier, would it have taken us to this point in the action?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was very well written." 	
			CarolynV says, "No, you would've just died instead." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Quiet Graveyard
Floyd | The afternoon sky is completely curtained with cloud, leaving only a

Floyd | cool white glow visible above the northern mountains where the sun
Floyd | should be.  A small willow tree drops yellow leaflets along the top of

Floyd | the low stone wall bordering the graveyard, whispering softly in the
Floyd | breeze as it does.  Several gravestones stand among the tousled green
Floyd | grass, but no one has tended them for some time, and they are
Floyd | overgrown.

Floyd |
Floyd | If you can still hear me, speak to me.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "speak to him" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to him" 		
	

Floyd | You turn your thoughts inward.
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] I can hear you.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Implement 'speak' as a synonym for 'talk,' please, C." 	
			CarolynV hears and obeys. 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Good.  Now, we need you to leave this dream.  Walk south out of the

Floyd | graveyard.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The willow tree whispers a soft goodbye as you pass the graveyard's

Floyd | boundary.

Floyd |
Floyd | An overgrown path leads down from the grassy graveyard, and you follow
Floyd | it.  As you walk, the afternoon shifts from warm to cool, and the pale
Floyd | sun sets on your right.  The sunset is shimmering and frail, but the
Floyd | clouds part to reveal a skyful of brilliantly shining stars.  Like a

Floyd | ramp supported on nothingness, the path leads up from the earth and

Floyd | into the sky, and you follow it into the night.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "It wants a space." 	
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Eventually, the path fades away, and only the a star-filled blackness

Floyd | surrounds you.  You pause to reorient.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars
Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although
Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the

Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Skyfull? Or is it really skyful?" 	
			Lucea says, "Skyfrul" 	
			CarolynV says, "Like handful: skyful." 	
			Lucea says, "er, skyful" 	
			Lucea says, "like handful" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ah, sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x blackness" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x stars" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the Heron, the Bull, the Badger, the Cat, the Hound,
Floyd | the Pelican, the Alligator, the Rat, or the Mantis?

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pelican" 		
	

Floyd | Ten glowing silver stars form the Pelican constellation.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mantis" 		
	

Floyd | Eight glowing silver stars form the Mantis constellation.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I thought these descriptions could have been more imaginative and elucidating." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Perhaps revealing myths." 	
			CarolynV says, "I'll beat you to it: this was repetitive. ;)" 	
			inky says, "they do" 	
			inky says, "I mean, once the dude starts talking about it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "oh, huh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask man about mantis" 		
	

Floyd | [Use TALK TO to interact with characters.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to man" 		
	

Floyd | You turn your thoughts inward.

Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "How do I wake up from this?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Waking is very close.  We need to find my star --

Floyd |

Floyd | "Our star."
Floyd |
Floyd | Our star.  I can sense it nearby.  Try going toward the Mantis.
Floyd |

		Fang says, "This game doesn't seem to offer a lot of choice" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mantis" 		
	

Floyd | Eight glowing silver stars form the Mantis constellation.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "walk to mantis" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "go toward mantis" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |


		
	inky says (to Floyd), "go to mantis" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "Syntax, sorry. Try GO MANTIS." 	
			inky says, "oh yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Um, hm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "go mantis" 	
			inky says, "I remember it was fiddly" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go mantic" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go mantis" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Mantis constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you

Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |
Floyd | A soft, slightly chittering voice intones, "Mantis: 'Sarvath said,
Floyd | "There shall be justice among people.  Ferran, be their judge, and move
Floyd | their hearts so they know justice when they see it."  And Ferran
Floyd | obeyed.'"

Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars

Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although

Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the
Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Alligator.

Floyd |

		inky says, "GO CRAZY" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "go alligator" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Alligator constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and

Floyd | you are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |
Floyd | A harsh, gravelly voice intones, "Alligator: 'And Sarvath said, "Let
Floyd | people be tenacious in pursuing virtue, for it will be a difficult task
Floyd | many times.  Ferran, teach them tenacity, that they may endure."  And
Floyd | Ferran obeyed.'"

Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars

Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although

Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the
Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | I sense our star past the Rat now.

Floyd |

		inky says, "this is definitely trickier with the guy's statements not marked specially" 	
			CarolynV says, "Pretend the last sentence each time is in slanty spooky dark red ghost text...." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go rat" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Rat constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you

Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small, sharp voice calls, "Rat: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be
Floyd | resourceful, that they can turn the world to their advantage without
Floyd | relying on the gods.  Ferran, teach them resourcefulness, that they may
Floyd | prosper."  And Ferran obeyed.'"

Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars

Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although

Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the
Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Go toward the Hound.

Floyd |

		(from Jacqueline) Jacqueline says, "Go, go gadget rat!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go hound" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Hound constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you
Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |

Floyd | A rich, powerful voice intones, "Hound: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people
Floyd | be loyal, even as you are, so that they will not turn against one
Floyd | another.  Ferran, teach them loyalty, for there is no truer mark of
Floyd | virtue."  And Ferran obeyed.'"
Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have

Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars
Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although

Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are

Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the
Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | I sense our star past the Heron now.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, this is way too linear." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Even if it *is* linear, I want to feel like I sort of had choices." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go heron" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Heron constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you
Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |

Floyd | A cracked, croaking voice intones, "Heron: 'And Sarvath said, "Let
Floyd | people be insightful, so that they can understand themselves and their
Floyd | flaws.  Ferran, teach them insight, for this will mark the way for
Floyd | them."  And Ferran obeyed.'"
Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have

Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars
Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although

Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are

Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the
Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Badger.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "Biggest flaw of my entry by far. While I know that the linearity *stops* past here, if I can't get anyone through the intro, it doesn't matter." 	
			Jacqueline nods. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like the recent post by Emily Short, IntroComp would be best if it was about good hooks." 	
			Nitku says, "walkthrough: badger, badger, badger, badger, mushroom, mushroom" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go badger" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Badger constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you
Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | A low, quick voice snarls, "Badger: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be

Floyd | responsible, so that they can see how their actions affect one another.
Floyd | Ferran, teach them responsibility, that they will not drive one another

Floyd | from virtue."  And Ferran obeyed.'"
Floyd |
Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of

Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |

Floyd | Among the Stars
Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although
Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the

Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |

Floyd | I sense our star past the Pelican now.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "yay" 	
			CarolynV says, "Which is a great idea... and completely not what I was thinking when I wrote mine. I went for 'write the introduction to the greatest game ever' and took it on a scope inspired by Planescape: Torment." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go pelican" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Pelican constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and
Floyd | you are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |
Floyd | A clear, strong voice calls, "Pelican: 'And when Sarvath went into the

Floyd | desert, Ferran gazed after him, and he said, 'This, I perceive, is
Floyd | virtue: the King has laid down his blood, that the world would
Floyd | prosper.'  And Ferran taught that self-sacrifice was virtue as well."
Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of

Floyd | the celestial sphere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars
Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although

Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the

Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Bull.
Floyd |

		dhakajack says, "perhaps a sequence-oriented puzzle would work here" 	
			Lucea says, "Or at least varied flavor text" 	
			Jacqueline types, "F Go Bull," then she updates her journal. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go bull" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Bull constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you
Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.

Floyd |
Floyd | A deep, melodic voice intones, "Bull: 'And there came a day when Ferran
Floyd | went into the desert, and Sarvath asked him, "How fares Adisha?  She
Floyd | has not come to me."  And in the face of the question, Ferran was

Floyd | silent and could not answer, for he had gone at Adisha's command to
Floyd | companion her, and he feared that his King was betrayed.

Floyd |
Floyd | 'Then, Sarvath said to him, "You have been loyal to my Queen and obeyed
Floyd | her commands, and I could ask no more in this regard.  But your silence
Floyd | is against virtue.  Bind your word to your deed, that you will be

Floyd | honest in the future, and teach people honesty as well."  And Ferran
Floyd | obeyed.'"

Floyd |
Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars

Floyd | You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars.  Although
Floyd | you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are
Floyd | arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning.  Between the
Floyd | stars, there is only blackness.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Cat is next.

Floyd |

		Lucea says, "the "Again, you are drifting..." in particular might have a few permutations" 	
			CarolynV says, "I can do that." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go cat" 		
	

Floyd | You approach the Cat constellation.  It flashes brilliantly, and you

Floyd | are briefly disoriented by the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | A soft, purring voice intones, "Cat: 'Then Ferran looked back at

Floyd | Sarvath, and Ferran said, "You have chosen my path through the maze,
Floyd | but what of your people?  When the paths of virtue conflict, your
Floyd | people will be destroyed if they cannot choose or reject these paths at

Floyd | will.  Therefore, let dignity be the crowning virtue of a man, that he
Floyd | may choose or reject according to it."  And Sarvath consented.'"
Floyd |

Floyd | Again, you are drifting in the night sky.  The constellations have
Floyd | rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of
Floyd | the celestial sphere.

Floyd |
Floyd | Among the Stars
Floyd | You drift among a field of glowing silver stars.  Between the stars,

Floyd | there is only blackness.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see your star here.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go my star!" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go my star" 		
	

Floyd | You reach out with the intention of entering your star, but as soon as

Floyd | you touch the star, tingling energy flows up your arm.  Startled, you
Floyd | break contact immediately.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I didn't realize it would try to parse punctuation. huh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x star" 		
	

Floyd | (your star)
Floyd | The star shines brilliantly before you, close enough to touch.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch star" 		
	

Floyd | (your star)

Floyd | You reach out with the intention of touching your star, but as soon as
Floyd | you touch the star, tingling energy flows up your arm.  Startled, you
Floyd | break contact immediately.

Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "d'oh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I shouldn't be startled the second time." 	
			Jacqueline says, "As I'm expecting it now." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What else can we try, folks?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | (your star)

Floyd | You reach out with the intention of touching your star, but as soon as
Floyd | you touch the star, tingling energy flows up your arm.  Startled, you
Floyd | break contact immediately.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get star" 		
	

Floyd | (your star)
Floyd | You cup your hands gently around the star.  "I claim you," you say to
Floyd | the star.

Floyd |
Floyd | Tingles of energy flow through your hands and up your arms as you make
Floyd | contact.  The star dims for a moment before bursting into searing

Floyd | brilliance.  Your entire body is flooded with light.
Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "(Press Space to continue.)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | You awaken, and this time, you know you are awake.  You feel rested,
Floyd | refreshed, and as well as you have ever felt, aside from the too-hot
Floyd | bedclothes.  You push the blankets away immediately and sit up.

Floyd |
Floyd | Temple of Ferran, Infirmary
Floyd | Wool and linen blankets cover the simple linen bed where you are

Floyd | sitting.  A set of shelves on the far wall supports a water jug,
Floyd | several packets of herbs and bandages, and a miniature pottery
Floyd | alligator.  There is a door to your left and a chair to your right.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hachachi rises immediately from the chair as you move.  High Caerwyn
Floyd | stands in the doorway, watching you, but she steps immediately inside

Floyd | and closes the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Can you hear me?" High Caerwyn asks.

Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "Yes, I can hear you."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm very glad of it.  There was a terrible accident.  We've been very

Floyd | worried about you."
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] Call her out on the lie.

Floyd | [2] Let the lie pass.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | "No," you say flatly.  "There was no accident.  I was there, remember?"
Floyd | Hachachi takes a step back as you look at him, and you follow up on

Floyd | your advantage by climbing out of bed.  "You poisoned me on dreamwine
Floyd | with heartkenning.  You wanted to learn my destiny."
Floyd |

Floyd | [1] "How long have I been here?"
Floyd | [2] "Where is my trade
Floyd | [3] "I want my clothes.  And then I am going to leave."

Floyd | [4] "I know my destiny, now."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, sorry. I should have asked for input, but I'm MAD AT THEM." 	
			CarolynV asks, "Weird... option 2 should have been [2]Where is my tradefather?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, huh." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Anybody dying for a certain response, or should I just continue?" 	
			Jacqueline takes silence as agreement for her to continue... 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | High Caerwyn says, "You've been ill for a long time.  He left you in
Floyd | our care."

Floyd |
Floyd | Liar.
Floyd |

Floyd | "And where is he now?" you demand.
Floyd |
Floyd | High Caerwyn says, "If you remain calm, I will send a messenger to see

Floyd | if he can be found."
Floyd |
Floyd | [1] "How long have I been here?"

Floyd | [2] "I want my clothes.  And then I am going to leave."
Floyd | [3] "I know my destiny, now."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | "And what is your destiny?" High Caerwyn asks.

Floyd |
Floyd | "It is my destiny," you coldly inform her.  "I am walking out that
Floyd | door, with my clothing... and, by the stars you serve, I expect you

Floyd | both to stay out of my way!"
Floyd |
Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "You tell her, Sister." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | And that is exactly what happens -- you storm into the hallway, with

Floyd | High Caerwyn and Hachachi on your heels.  Before you can corner an
Floyd | acolyte and demand your possessions, Caerwyn sends Hachachi to find
Floyd | them, and then you bar them both out of another greeting chamber (the

Floyd | Rat, this time) while you get dressed and verify that all your
Floyd | possessions are still intact.  After sliding your zircon earrings back
Floyd | into place, you open the door once more.

Floyd | The delay has given the high priestess time to regroup, but you ignore
Floyd | her entirely, and she stops just short of laying hands upon you or
Floyd | commanding Hachachi to do so.  You take advantage of the hesitation

Floyd | before the changes her mind.  It is only a short walk to the temple
Floyd | courtyard, and from there, you are free.
Floyd |

Floyd | That was a wild risk to take.  They might have helped you, in the long
Floyd | term -- or imprisoned you in the short term.
Floyd |

Floyd | "If you really thought so, you would have spoken up before now," you
Floyd | whisper back to the ghost.  "They worship the stars.  If my path is in
Floyd | the stars, they have no choice about it."

Floyd |
Floyd | Are you always this touchy with the clergy?
Floyd |

Floyd | "Only when they poison me."  But the tide of fury slowly ebbs as you
Floyd | face your situation.  You are now in the largest city you have ever
Floyd | seen, with no friends, no map, only the vaguest possible idea of where

Floyd | your father might be, and a nameless ghost riding along in your mind.
Floyd |
Floyd | You go south because the bridges off the Spires are south.  There's

Floyd | nothing here but temples and government, and you're sick of temples for
Floyd | the time being.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Woohoo - we stormed out naked?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or just in bed clothes, probably. Darn." 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "Bedclothes!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aw." 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "See, naked would have been *really* gutsy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I did that, once." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Granted, I was four years old." 	
			CarolynV says, "Less interesting than you think. After all, you were a chirop. You have to play the melia or human for there to be much to see." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hahaha" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			CarolynV says, "You're at the end, by the way. It just wants you to press space again." 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | (Press Space to continue.)
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Thank you for playing Phoenix's Landing!
Floyd |
Floyd | This is the end of the IntroComp sequence for this game.  To provide
Floyd | feedback, commentary, and suggestions (all of which are welcome!),
Floyd | please write to Carolyn VanEseltine at mossdogmusic@gmail.com.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Have a wonderful day!
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "So, um, do you have any hope whatsoever of finishing this? Or do you plan to just quit your job, stop having a life, and sequestering yourself for the next year?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not to be a pessimist, of course." 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
			CarolynV smiles. 	
			Jacqueline says, "I would go back and replay the other ending from our save, but Jack is here and we should probably play his game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "As it is already late where he is." 	
			CarolynV says, "I confess it's essentially the same ending." 	
			inky asks, "wait, there's another ending?" 	
			inky says, "what is the decision point" 	
			inky asks, "?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, there's another choice we could make with the ghost." 	
			CarolynV says, "The PC rebels against slavery either way, with or without the player's consent." 	
			Limax asks, "Which one are we on?" 	
			inky says, "hunh" 	
	Limax arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says, "About whether or not to help him in exchange for eternal servitude." 	
			inky says, "I thought I tried to refuse the ghost and it wouldn't let me" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "Just about to start the second game." 	
			dhakajack exclaims, "don't worry about me. I'm good for the duration... my next flight is in 8 hours!" 	
			Limax says (to Jacqueline), "Okay" 	
			Lucea says, "interesting" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I really enjoyed this, Carolyn, but yes - less linearity and fewer giant text dumps would go a loooooong way." 	
			Limax says, "I'll get the transcript on the first one from Perry later" 	
			CarolynV says, "As far as finishing it goes... I used to work for a pay-for-play multiplayer text game." 	
			Lucea says, "Overall, it's an interesting idea, but it's just... information overload. especially for introcomp" 	
			inky asks, "oh yeah? which one?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And if I'm not totally slammed with testing for TextFyre (like I am right now) when it comes time for more testing, I would love to help." 	
			inky asks, "Achaea?" 	
			Alex says (to inky), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that achaea is www.achaea.com." 	
			CarolynV says, "I'm familiar with the speed/amount of work I'd be looking at." 	
			CarolynV says, "...and the bigger problems are infrastructure." 	
			CarolynV says, "I admit it's probably more than I can swallow in a year, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, and you'll want to revamp some aspects of the intro or people will have less patience to get through it to the rest of the game." 	
			CarolynV says, "And I appreciate the testing offer." 	
			CarolynV says, "Agreed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Looking for to it, m'dear." 	
			Limax asks, "How many prizes have you given away, Jacq?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... Jack's intro now?" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Limax), "Um, I'm sorry, did you say something?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "No? Oh, okay." 	
			Limax says, "Never mind" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, none so far." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		CarolynV says, "Having played through this intro already, I'll depart... but this was a learning experience. Thanks very much for doing it and for the invite." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're welcome, C. Thanks for joining us!" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load ninetenths" 		
	

Floyd | (One last time... Press Space!)Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation,
Floyd | library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                         Nine-Tenths of the Law
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                                   by
Floyd |                               Jack Welch

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            An introduction submitted to the 2008 IntroComp
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                      Please press [Space] to begin

		Lucea asks, "is he around?" 	
			Limax says, "Oh. This one." 	
			dhakajack says, "midway between round and linear" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jack), "Worry not, as that [pausing to show unread error message] is a Floyd thing with certain games. Happens a lot at the start." 	
			Lucea says, "becaues I have a lot of commands that should work but don't" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			dhakajack says, "and slightly delayed b/c of the java-client" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Nine-tenths of the Law
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2008 Jack Welch

Floyd | Release 112 / Serial number 080818 / Inform v6.31 Library 6/11
Floyd | Type HELP for info on licencing and credits, or if you get stuck.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of
Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cheap wooden door, a shambling zombie and a shy little
Floyd | bunny rabbit here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "I didn't get past the beginning with this one." 	
			CarolynV says, "Ooh, actually... I made it through to the end of this intro, but I have a feeling I failed to solve a lot of things. I will sit back quietly and watch." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "infest zombie" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x rabbit" 		
	

Floyd | You bend your stalk and wave your eye buds towards the shy little bunny
Floyd | rabbit. You sense: A cute, fuzzy white rabbit.

Floyd |
Floyd | The little rabbit ambles downwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | You open a ring of pores on your upper stalk, revealing mucous-lined
Floyd | olfactory cavities in your trunk. You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "hunh, you did?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x zombie" 		
	

Floyd | You bend your stalk and wave your eye buds towards the shambling
Floyd | zombie. You sense: A dispossessed decaying corpse with vacant,
Floyd | unblinking eyes and slobbering lips, which is chained to the top of the

Floyd | hill by some sort of shiny black chain; any fool could tell that the

Floyd | shambling zombie is undead. In terms of fashion, the shambling zombie
Floyd | is wearing some decaying farm garments.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I didn't think anyone had" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "taste zombie" 		
	

Floyd | You open a ring of pores on your upper stalk, revealing mucous-lined
Floyd | olfactory cavities in your trunk. The shambling zombie tastes of stale
Floyd | camphor.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter zombie" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "All right, everyone needs a Lucea. I didn't catch that smell message the first time, and that's very nifty." 	
			Lucea says, "All five senses have them" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "possess zombie" 		
	

Floyd | You possess the shambling zombie.

Floyd |
Floyd | As you slide into the mind of your new host, you brush against neural
Floyd | resonances of the shambling zombie's former life. The decohering images
Floyd | are not clear and they are already fading: Haughty figures in purple
Floyd | robes...tied to the table...must get back to the farm...a greater

Floyd | purpose...to serve whom?...no escape...drinking the liquid...tastes

Floyd | awful...no problems now... must obey...obey the priests...climb the
Floyd | hill and wait...wait....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I know I didn't get anywhere" 	
			Lucea says, "granted, I only tried them because I was guessing verbs" 	
			Limax says, "It wasn't until inky kicked me in the butt after the voting deadline" 	
			Lucea says, "and then gave up and resorted to machine-gun smell X/touch X/listen X/smell Y" 	
			dhakajack says, "if you try enough non-wait moves, it give increasingly direct hints" 	
			Lucea says, "I knew what I was trying to do" 	
			dhakajack says, "my beta testers had me set that threshold high, though, as they are a lot that likes frustration" 	
			Lucea says, "so when I started getting the hints my thoughts were "I know that already. I've tried about 15 ways to do it."" 	
			CarolynV says, "The title gave me the clue -- I didn't have a syntax problem." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You are a possessed decaying corpse with vacant, unblinking eyes and
Floyd | dripping jaw. At the moment, you are chained to the top of the hill by
Floyd | some sort of shiny black chain; one might hazard a guess that you are
Floyd | undead. In terms of fashion, you are wearing some decaying farm
Floyd | garments.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "shoot me a list of synonyms later that you think would be reasonable...." 	
			CarolynV says, "Without it, I would've had a hard time, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x chain" 		
	

Floyd | The chain runs from some shackles to the ground where it melds into the
Floyd | very stone of the mountain itself. Although apparently made of black,
Floyd | volcanic glass, the chain seems supernaturally strong and not brittle
Floyd | in the least.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "enter, for one" 	
			Limax says, "My wife is calling me to lunch, so I'll be away for a bit" 	
			Lucea says, "the main issue was that at first I had figured I was a parasite" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jack), "Worry not about taking notes, really. I'll keep a transcript. Unless you seen me or Perry suddenly go offline, there'll be a transcript posted later." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Since you're waiting for a flight.)" 	
	dhakajack does not appeared worried. 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | The Hilltop

Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of
Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a fleshy white polyp and a cheap wooden door here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mountains" 		
	

Floyd | White-capped mountains fade into the distance in all directions.
Floyd | Beautiful, if bleak.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems jammed shut.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack caused some damage. The cheap wooden door looks lightly

Floyd | damaged.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x chain" 		
	

Floyd | The chain runs from some shackles to the ground where it melds into the

Floyd | very stone of the mountain itself. Although apparently made of black,
Floyd | volcanic glass, the chain seems supernaturally strong and not brittle
Floyd | in the least.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack weakened it. The cheap wooden door looks moderately
Floyd | damaged.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "polyp" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack was brilliant! The cheap wooden door looks severely
Floyd | damaged.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "possess door" 		
	

Floyd | The attempt fails; you cannot sense the neuropsychic matrix of the
Floyd | cheap wooden door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Wham!  You obliterate it! ...perhaps you can go north now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x polyp" 		
	

Floyd | An anemone-like polyp, with a thick central stalk topped with waving
Floyd | fronds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat polpy" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat polyp" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch your ample zombie jaws around the succulent polyp and
Floyd | experience the odd sensation of chewing through yourself. It is not
Floyd | pleasant.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha oops" 	
			CarolynV snickers. 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x chain" 		
	

Floyd | The chain runs from some shackles to the ground where it melds into the
Floyd | very stone of the mountain itself. Although apparently made of black,

Floyd | volcanic glass, the chain seems supernaturally strong and not brittle
Floyd | in the least.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "attack it" 		
	

Floyd | The chain is far stronger than you are and is not affected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha eat polyp" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat chain" 		
	

Floyd | Not even you can manage to eat these magical bonds!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get polyp" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | As you rip the rubbery glistening stalk from its roots, ever
Floyd | diminishing jets of green ichor spray the craggy hilltop.  Your
Floyd | consciousness fades...

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "I killed the evil polyp a few times myself." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "That works too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was great." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kiss polyp" 		
	

Floyd | Keep your mind on the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "attack polyp" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | You attack the fleshy white polyp!
Floyd | Unthinkable!  Your beautiful vegetative body has died! How eternally
Floyd | embarrassing -- killed by a mere zombie!

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	K-Y has successfully become more charming than a sandwich. 		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Quit masturbating." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I sense some hostility towards the polyp" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Lucea says, "nah, I just like death messages" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of
Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain. An opening

Floyd | leads north into the mountain itself.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a fleshy white polyp here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "I wanted to pick me up and take me with me." 	
			Fang asks, "Where was the door again?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That seems only reasonable." 	
			CarolynV says, "Wasn't hostility at all, it was practicality, so there. ;)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Lucea says, "By contrast, I had no problems with this next puzzle at all" 	
			Lucea says, "probably since it didn't involve a weird verb" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I admit that I didn't get far in this one, either." 	
			inky says, "I hit the door" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x opening" 		Lucea says, "not the door, the chain" 	
	

Floyd | A square opening to the north leads into the mountain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "and I guess destroyed it without leaving a trace behind" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't!  You are chained to the top of the hill by a set of obsidian
Floyd | shackles.
Floyd | The shackles are beginning to rub your right wrist raw.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x right wrist" 		
	

Floyd | You see your right wrist, just as you would expect.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit chain" 		
	

Floyd | The chain is far stronger than you are and is not affected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat arm" 		
	

Floyd | Choices, choices. Could you rephrase and indicate whether you mean your
Floyd | "left arm" or "right arm"?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "that's odd. It should take a few hits and give a message about destroying the door" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat right arm" 		
	

Floyd | You savagely bite off your right arm.
Floyd | The chained zombie arm flops to the ground, wriggles a bit and then


Floyd | rests there, inert.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "We already destroyed the door." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "possess arm" 		
	

Floyd | (the shackle-bound zombie arm)
Floyd | The attempt fails; you cannot sense the neuropsychic matrix of the
Floyd | shackle-bound zombie arm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take arm" 		
	

Floyd | (the shackle-bound zombie arm)
Floyd | You strain at the chain, but cannot pull it free from the rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the lacquer box, revealing a parchment note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd | A carefully folded square of parchment paper, covered with small,
Floyd | precise writing in black ink. It says:
Floyd |
Floyd | My Dear Zombie,


Floyd |
Floyd | We, the Priests of Perigee, humble and loyal followers of Order, have
Floyd | the unfortunate duty to inform you that the Ivory Key of Obsidian
Floyd | Annihilation was lost in the year 37E121A105. In subsequent
Floyd | Pereginations, we have observed that this has not constituted an
Floyd | insurmountable inconvenience, and we trust this will again be the case.


Floyd |
Floyd | We remain devoted and ever-committed to achieving Alignment.
Floyd |
Floyd | Signed,
Floyd | Laemmli, Emphyteote of Helle.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get arm" 		
	

Floyd | (the shackle-bound zombie arm)
Floyd | You strain at the chain, but cannot pull it free from the rock.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Sloping Path


Floyd | At the top, the winding path is little more than a depression in the
Floyd | gravel and mud, but lower down the mountain, it becomes more defined,
Floyd | and perhaps even sees occasional use. Near the bottom of the path a
Floyd | dirt road is visible.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shy little bunny rabbit here.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "KILL BUNNY" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You attack the shy little bunny rabbit!  The shy little bunny rabbit


Floyd | has stopped moving. Some would call it "dead", but of course, you know
Floyd | better.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Sloping Path
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says, ":floyd eat bunny" 		Jacqueline says, "Sorry." 	
	CarolynV duck 		Jacqueline says, "I just thought KILL BUNNY was funny." 	
			Limax asks, "How about eat bunny's brane?" 	
			Lucea exclaims, "bunnicula!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "eat bunny's brains" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "eat bunny" 		
	

Floyd | The shy little bunny rabbit disappears down your hideous zombie craw.
Floyd | An ominous gurgling sound erupts from deep within your body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		
	Fang arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Sloping Path
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Oo." 	
			Lucea says, "is a vampire, not a zombie, but still" 	
			Fang asks, "what did I miss?" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "smell bunny" 		
	

Floyd | The shy little bunny rabbit smells of freshly cut grass.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I am not sure I know what we're supposed to do." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | It doesn't appear that you can go in that direction, but you could go


Floyd | upwards to the The Hilltop, or downwards to the Dirt Road.
Floyd |
Floyd | The little rabbit ambles downwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "can someone pastebomb after the letter?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Dirt Road

Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of

Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the
Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shy little bunny rabbit here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I just raided the guy's garden" 	
			Lucea says, "and his house" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "After the letter, or the letter?" 	
			Fang says, "after the letter" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | A tilted sign splattered with mud and road grime. A hand-painted arrow
Floyd | points east and is crudely labeled "To".
Floyd |

Floyd | The little rabbit flees upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Well, there's a lot after the letter, what do you want to know, specifically?" 	
			inky asks, "wait, why didn't you go through the doorway?" 	
			Fang says, "well, what did we do in the short while when I was was disconnected" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dirt Road
Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of

Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the
Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "because I went the other way first" 	
			Lucea says, "and there was stuff to do" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "read signpost" 		
	

Floyd | A tilted sign splattered with mud and road grime. A hand-painted arrow
Floyd | points east and is crudely labeled "To".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "that's ca-razy" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, hold on a sec, Fang, and I can send you the transcript thus far, but I don't think we've done much." 	
			CarolynV says, "I feel like giving the player more direction was one of this game's opportunities. (To be fair, my game needed to give the player much much much less....)" 	
			CarolynV says, "My wandering around was fruitful, though. Or herbful. Or something." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Think again. That way won't work, but you might consider heading
Floyd | towards the east to the Road Into Town, towards the west to the

Floyd | Desolate Road, or upwards to the Sloping Path.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "the transcript solution is very bare bones -- it doesn't do 95% of the game-- it is just the most efficient (of multiple) way to win" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Desolate Road

Floyd | To the west, you can make out a cabin at the edge of the woods. The
Floyd | woods come right to the edge of the road, except on the north side
Floyd | where there is a small strip of meadow.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Meadow
Floyd | An unmaintained field with short grass near the road, and taller grass

Floyd | towards the surrounding woods. At the edge of the woods, there is a
Floyd | depression, and at its base, a hole. There are some rabbit tracks in
Floyd | the soft mud near the road to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in hole" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | A fine idea, except for the lack of an obvious way to go in that
Floyd | direction, but you could go towards the south to the Desolate Road, or
Floyd | downwards to the Rabbit Hole Entrance.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You are too large to fit through the Rabbit Hole Entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Desolate Road
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Nine-tenths of the Law is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives
Floyd | long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard

Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the

Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Is there anyone who doesn't prefer verbose? Just curious" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden

Floyd | A tidy little garden of the sort that is useful for growing medicinal

Floyd | herbs. You can see the cabin just to the north, and there is a
Floyd | vegetable garden to the east. On a more sombre note, there is a small
Floyd | cemetery to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see two herbs (an herb with blue flowers and an herb with

Floyd | violet flowers) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	You do not have a default channel set. 		CarolynV says, "I prefer verbose. I forget things easily." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get herbs" 		
	You do not have a default channel set. 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	You do not have a default channel set. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get blue herb" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get violet herb" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(Current channel set to #if/clubfloyd) 		Jacqueline sends a transcript to Fang to get him all caught up. 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "possess herbs" 		
	

Floyd | The attempt fails; you cannot sense the neuropsychic matrix of the

Floyd | herb.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Think again. That way won't work, but you might consider heading

Floyd | towards the north to the Front Yard, towards the east to the Vegetable
Floyd | Garden, or towards the southeast to the Graveyard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Graveyard
Floyd | A quiet, lonely corner of the property behind the cabin. In the centre

Floyd | of the graveyard is the solitary mound of grave. The pleasant garden to
Floyd | the northwest provides a comforting contrast.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an herb with yellow flowers here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | It doesn't appear that you can go in that direction, but you could go
Floyd | towards the northwest to the Garden.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get yellow herb" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Garden
Floyd | A tidy little garden of the sort that is useful for growing medicinal

Floyd | herbs. You can see the cabin just to the north, and there is a
Floyd | vegetable garden to the east. On a more sombre note, there is a small
Floyd | cemetery to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Vegetable Garden
Floyd | A small plot of land is furrowed and meticulously free of weeds. A

Floyd | large, weather-beaten stuffed wolf is mounted on a short pole. You are
Floyd | just east of the herb garden.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a nice tomato, a carrot and a stuffed wolf here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "I missed this part" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x wolf" 		
	

Floyd | What a pathetic looking...what?  Dog?  Wolf?  Hard to tell. The fur is
Floyd | completely worn away in places, and the wire frame pokes through. The

Floyd | whole thing is mounted on a short pole, in an awkward posture which
Floyd | suggests that the animal is running. Its teeth have been amateurishly
Floyd | painted red, although the paint is fading and chipped in places, and

Floyd | some of the teeth have even fallen out of their sockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x tomato" 		
	

Floyd | A paragon amongst tomatokind, this lustrous red beauty is at the very
Floyd | point of turning ripe; it is firm and free of any blemish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "possess wolf" 		
	

Floyd | The attempt fails; you cannot sense the neuropsychic matrix of the
Floyd | stuffed wolf.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "there's a lot of part here" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Can we possess the tomato?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "possess tomato" 		
	

Floyd | The attempt fails; you cannot sense the neuropsychic matrix of the nice
Floyd | tomato.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | nice tomato: Taken.
Floyd | carrot: An herb with orange flowers germinates!

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd | stuffed wolf: The stuffed wolf doesn't budge. It's no use --  it is
Floyd | definitely fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I will be so sad if - DAMN" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get herb" 		
	

Floyd | (the herb with orange flowers)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "I'll have to go, I'm not feeling sharp enough to participate. Thanks for the play so far." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Vegetable Garden
Floyd | A small plot of land is furrowed and meticulously free of weeds. A


Floyd | large, weather-beaten stuffed wolf is mounted on a short pole. You are
Floyd | just east of the herb garden.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a stuffed wolf here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I actually know someone who starred in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I get so few oportunities to name drop." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "search wolf" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x teeth" 		
	

Floyd | The better to EAT you with.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "He actually works for the Park Service." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We all give him a good-natured hard time about it." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get teeth" 		
	

Floyd | The stuffed wolf doesn't budge. It's no use --  it is definitely fixed
Floyd | in place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "You can still name drop even if we don't get to be a killer tomato. A friend of mine considers it her favorite movie." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Huh- really?" 	
	Nitku was translated with Google. Sorry. 		Limax says (to Jacqueline), "That's one of the greatest movies ever" 	
			CarolynV says, "Really. Now, mind you, I think her tastes are a bit funny, but I can tell her that I know a killer tomato actor by proxy proxy proxy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh. Okay. Then I know Costa Dillon. La la la." 	
			CarolynV says, "Yay." 	
			Jacqueline basks in the glory. 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x pole" 		
	

Floyd | A sturdy metal pole.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get pole" 		
	

Floyd | Please leave polling to politicians. You can't take the pole.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "That sounds made up" 	
			CarolynV says, "OK, that was awful." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "climb pole" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick pole" 		
	

Floyd | You give the stuffed wolf a nice wet lick!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "?!?" 	
			Fang says, "...." 	
			Limax asks, "Is the pole in the wolf?" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			inky says, "it's a scarewolf" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "What sounds made up? His name? That is seriously his name. Also, hahahagroan polling joke." 	
			Limax says, "Ouch" 	
			Lucea says, "the sound you hear is all the furryphobes closing their interpreters" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			Limax says, "Ha ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wonder if Horvath got this far." 	
			Limax says, "I doubt it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, I adore Mr. Horvath, don't get me wrong." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Vegetable Garden
Floyd | A small plot of land is furrowed and meticulously free of weeds. A
Floyd | large, weather-beaten stuffed wolf is mounted on a short pole. You are
Floyd | just east of the herb garden.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a stuffed wolf here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Garden
Floyd | A tidy little garden of the sort that is useful for growing medicinal
Floyd | herbs. You can see the cabin just to the north, and there is a
Floyd | vegetable garden to the east. On a more sombre note, there is a small
Floyd | cemetery to the southeast.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Graveyard

Floyd | A quiet, lonely corner of the property behind the cabin. In the centre
Floyd | of the graveyard is the solitary mound of grave. The pleasant garden to
Floyd | the northwest provides a comforting contrast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "So, um, what are we trying to do?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden


Floyd | A tidy little garden of the sort that is useful for growing medicinal
Floyd | herbs. You can see the cabin just to the north, and there is a
Floyd | vegetable garden to the east. On a more sombre note, there is a small
Floyd | cemetery to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the


Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There


Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table (on which is a grey potion) and a black chair (on
Floyd | which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "other than harrass stuffed wolves" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "I am not exactly sure." 	
			Lucea says, "Now we're in the guy's house" 	
			inky says, "DavidW found out something good here" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | The door's rusty hinges squeak loudly.
Floyd | Yawning and blinking, the old man and searches numbly in his long robe.


Floyd | After a minute, he finds what he is looking for and withdraws a pair of
Floyd | precision-crafted spectacles and lifts them to his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Don't wake him up." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "have we gone down the hole as a bunny?" 	
			inky says, "I guess we need some oil" 	
			inky says, "no" 	
			CarolynV says, "If I'm remembering correctly, there was a cool text effect here too that we lose with Floyd." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is

Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". There

Floyd | is a cabinet on the wall, with its doors closed. The only way out is
Floyd | back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "we haven't managed to turn into a bunny" 	
			Lucea says, "here is a fiddly contraption" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | The cabinet doors open, revealing a strange machine which is bolted to
Floyd | the wall and occupies the entire interior of the cabinet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | Within the kitchen cabinet, there is an odd-looking contraption with a
Floyd | metal funnel on the top, a crank with a wooden handle on the side, and

Floyd | recess marked "bottle" at the base, below a hollow tube.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read potion" 		
	

Floyd | A potion, grey in colour, contained in a glass bottle. The bottle has a

Floyd | small label.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "inv" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a grey potion
Floyd |   an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |   a carrot

Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   three herbs:
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers

Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)

Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read label" 		
	

Floyd | "potion of minutise."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Very Alice." 	
			inky says, "if it were Alice it would say DRINK ME" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Trues." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x minutise" 		
	

Floyd | A potion, grey in colour, contained in a glass bottle. The bottle has a
Floyd | small label.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Looks like we're off again" 	
	Limax walks slowly out of the room and into the sunset. 		Jacqueline asks, "Off?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Off is a brand of mosquito repellant." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, you." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Um, I am not to be left alone with a puzzle game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not without adult supervision." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is

Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". A
Floyd | cabinet built into the wall is open, showing a large machine inside.

Floyd | The only way out is back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, lessee" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure we need to mess with the machine yet" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Thank gods you're here." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You can't, since the warped door is in the way.
Floyd |


Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | The door's rusty hinges squeak loudly.


Floyd | Yawning and blinking, the old man and searches numbly in his long robe.
Floyd | After a minute, he finds what he is looking for and withdraws a pair of
Floyd | precision-crafted spectacles and lifts them to his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | An uncomfortable, stifling bedroom with no windows. The room is barely

Floyd | large enough to accommodate the vaguely bed-like lump of furniture in

Floyd | the middle of the room. A tall, classic mirror framed in dark wood is
Floyd | wedged between the bed and the wall. A pretty silk ribbon is tastefully
Floyd | draped across the mirror, about half-way up. The mirror reflects the
Floyd | scene in the room. The only exit, an open warped door, lies to the
Floyd | east, and leads back to the front room.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a bed (on which is a pillow) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear a steady stream of irate ranting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "he doesn't kill you, he just zaps you to the hilltop" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | The door's rusty hinges squeak loudly.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear a steady stream of irate ranting.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A cheap piece of planking set on rusty hinges. It is closed.
Floyd |


Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear a steady stream of irate ranting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | A raised, stone platform vaguely reminiscent of a neolithic bed. By no


Floyd | means inviting.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear a steady stream of irate ranting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x pillow" 		
	

Floyd | A grey, paper-thin bit of fabric that may have been a pillow in its
Floyd | former life.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That's a touch repetitive." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look under pillow" 		
	

Floyd | The pitiful pillow wafts aside, revealing a small bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | (the grey potion)
Floyd | A potion, grey in colour, contained in a glass bottle. The bottle has a
Floyd | small label.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bottle" 		
	

Floyd | (the grey potion)
Floyd | You already have the grey potion.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get small bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | An uncomfortable, stifling bedroom with no windows. The room is barely
Floyd | large enough to accommodate the vaguely bed-like lump of furniture in


Floyd | the middle of the room. A tall, classic mirror framed in dark wood is
Floyd | wedged between the bed and the wall. A pretty silk ribbon is tastefully
Floyd | draped across the mirror, about half-way up. The mirror reflects the
Floyd | scene in the room. The only exit, a closed warped door, lies to the
Floyd | east, and leads back to the front room.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can see a bed (on which are a grey potion and a pillow) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get grey" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the ribbon, a grey potion, an herb with grey


Floyd | flowers, the carrot, the nice tomato or the lacquer box?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "potion" 		
	

Floyd | (the grey potion)


Floyd | You already have the grey potion.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh no." 	
			inky says, "oops" 	
			inky says, "well, I'm not sure it matters a huge amount" 	
			CarolynV says, "If we move off a room and drop the one we have, we can come back and get this one...." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a grey potion


Floyd |   an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |   a carrot
Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   three herbs:
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers


Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Go to another room and drop our potion to pick up this other potion?" 	
			Lucea says, "you're going to have to do that soon anyway" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Lucea says, "Also, check out the colors." 	
			inky asks, "oh yeah, what's up with that? because it's dark?" 	
			dhakajack says, "the monochromatic zombo-vision creates all kinds of disambiguity problems for the parser -- I'm stil working around this." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tomato" 		
	

Floyd | A paragon amongst tomatokind, this lustrous grey beauty is at the very

Floyd | point of turning ripe; it is firm and free of any blemish.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Because it's dark. It's kind of a nifty touch. Witness the tomat." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get on bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lie on bed" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, well that would require bending, and since becoming undead, you
Floyd | have noticed a major loss of flexibility.  You are stuck in a standing

Floyd | position.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You aren't feeling especially drowsy.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb bed" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "Can we possess the old man?" 	
			Lucea says, "no" 	
			inky says, "right now we can only possess the zombie" 	
			Lucea says, "I mean, you can try, but he raises holy hell" 	
			Lucea says, "not literally" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ooh - let's try." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | It doesn't appear that you can go in that direction, but you might
Floyd | consider heading towards the east to the warped door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "he *is* a priest" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | You can't, since the warped door is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "so why not literally" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door then e" 		
	

Floyd | The door's rusty hinges squeak loudly.
Floyd | The figure on the chair wakes and searches numbly in his long robe.
Floyd | After a minute, he finds what he is looking for and withdraws a pair of

Floyd | precision-crafted spectacles and lifts them to his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear a steady stream of irate ranting.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room

Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There

Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "possess man" 		
	

Floyd | You encounter an overwhelmingly powerful psychic barrier. The attempt
Floyd | fails entirely!

Floyd |
Floyd | Road Into Town
Floyd | An unpaved road runs from east to west. A small town can be seen in the

Floyd | far distance to the east, on the far side of a stone bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an angry mob here.

Floyd | You recall the old man saying, "This may sting slightly..." The old man
Floyd | then merely leaned back, crossed his legs and nonchalantly doused you
Floyd | with some sort of fluid from a canister that he must have had hidden in

Floyd | the cushions. After some time, your panic has ebbed and you have
Floyd | returned to your senses. You realise that you are no longer in the
Floyd | house, but must have run off.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Road Into Town

Floyd | An unpaved road runs from east to west. A small town can be seen in the
Floyd | far distance to the east, on the far side of a stone bridge.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see an angry mob here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Holy water is close enough to holy hell." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh dear." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Dirt Road
Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of

Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the
Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it's a slow mob" 	
			inky asks, "ok, so now what?" 	
			inky asks, "miniaturize potion and down the rabbit hole?" 	
			inky asks, "or up through the door?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Lucea says, "I got stuck past the door. I mean, not stuck, but couldn't figure out what to do" 	
			Lucea says, "I didn't see the rabbit hole" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Desolate Road
Floyd | To the west, you can make out a cabin at the edge of the woods. The
Floyd | woods come right to the edge of the road, except on the north side
Floyd | where there is a small strip of meadow.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Meadow
Floyd | An unmaintained field with short grass near the road, and taller grass

Floyd | towards the surrounding woods. At the edge of the woods, there is a
Floyd | depression, and at its base, a hole. There are some rabbit tracks in
Floyd | the soft mud near the road to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Let's take the red pill." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a violet potion
Floyd |   an herb with orange flowers

Floyd |   a carrot
Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   three herbs:

Floyd |     an herb with yellow flowers
Floyd |     an herb with violet flowers
Floyd |     an herb with blue flowers

Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read label" 		
	

Floyd | "potion of minutise."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drink potion" 		
	

Floyd | The violet potion disappears with a PUFF!

Floyd |
Floyd | Everything around you has gotten bigger!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sorry. Obligatory joke," 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter hole" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                  Rabbi
Floyd |                  t Hol

Floyd |                   e Ent

Floyd |                   rance
Floyd |
Floyd |                     A nar
Floyd |                      row,
Floyd |                     dark,

Floyd |                    rabbi

Floyd |                   t-siz
Floyd |                   e tun
Floyd |                  nel l
Floyd |                   eadin
Floyd |                    g bot

Floyd |                     h tow

Floyd |                      ards
Floyd |                       the s
Floyd |                      urfac
Floyd |                     e and
Floyd |                    even

Floyd |                     deepe

Floyd |                     r thr
Floyd |                    ough
Floyd |                   the d
Floyd |                   ark,
Floyd |                    moist

Floyd |                     earth

Floyd |                      .

		inky says, "oh yeah, this is going to be crazy on floyd" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Neato." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't get this far." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		Lucea says, "I can't decide whether this is cool or really annoying" 	
			dhakajack says, "at this point, it's using a customized keystroke parser..." 	
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		CarolynV says, "I was wondering how this would look on floyd...." 	
	

NOTE:	As it turned out, it didn't work too well on Floyd at all, and they had to start again. You can skip to that point by clicking here.


	
	inky says (to Floyd), "down" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |                       >l dd

		Jacqueline asks, "Oh. Hm. Ideas, Jack?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		inky says, "hoo boy" 	
			Lucea asks, "uh, did we break floyd?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		dhakajack asks, "try sending a carriage return?" 	
	Lucea says, "..floyd" 		
	Lucea says, "..floyd" 		Jacqueline says, "ack." 	
	inky says, (to Floyd), "" 		Jacqueline asks (of inky), "How do we do that?" 	
			dhakajack says, "or press space" 	
	inky says, (to Floyd) "" 		Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		Lucea says, "uh, damn" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Are we doomed, then." 	
			Jacqueline says, "?'" 	
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |                        d/

		dhakajack says, "normally you'd keep typing "d"for down" 	
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		dhakajack says, "but if it goes more than a page length, the interpreter should prompt to hit space for more" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |                          ddd

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |                        dd d

		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		Fang says, "so, um" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aw, darn." 	
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		Jacqueline says, "It's just too fancy schmancy for Mr. Floydbot." 	
	Fang pushes the green 'space' button. 		CarolynV says, "I guess it's like trying to run shrapnel." 	
			dhakajack says, "not sure...." 	
			Fang says, "well, floyd is coughing out something from time to time" 	
	Lucea says (to floyde), "u" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "u" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |                           ud

		dhakajack says, "if we can't unjam, I'd say run it again." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "h" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "p" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |                         helpd

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		Lucea says, "hrm" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hmm" 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "d" 		Jacqueline says, "Well, this is very sad and anticlimactic." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "f" 		
	

Floyd |                          dhddf

		dhakajack says, "try engaging the help system ...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "help" 		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, you think we could get around this, Jack?" 	
			dhakajack says, "Doesn't look good." 	
			dhakajack says, "all but the last move of the game can be completed without going this way, though." 	
			dhakajack -( 	
	

Floyd |                           h/ddd

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		Lucea says, "I think we killed Floyd." 	
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |                          d

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "u" 		inky says, "oh well" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wait, what's Floyd doing?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "u" 		Jacqueline says, "Did we try /undo? I guess it's a touch late for that, though." 	
			dhakajack says, "try a metacommand..." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "quit" 		dhakajack says, "those lie outside the normal turn loop" 	
			Lucea says, "I think this is a Floyd-end problem" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sigh." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, what do you folks want to do?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/quit" 		dhakajack says, "I iz sorry for kill ur robotz" 	
			Lucea asks, "can someone reboot him?" 	
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Jacqueline says (to Jack), "Heehee. Aw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "inky Can." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, I did. Woo!" 	
			dhakajack says, "you could try everything else in the game...but for now, avoid the rabbit hole" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, no red pill." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That rabbit hole text was still neat, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load ninetenths" 		
	

Floyd |                           uuq/Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation,
Floyd | library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                         Nine-Tenths of the Law
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                                   by
Floyd |                               Jack Welch

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |            An introduction submitted to the 2008 IntroComp

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                      Please press [Space] to begin

		Jacqueline asks, "Okay, so, who can drive to get us back to where we were?" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Nine-tenths of the Law

Floyd | Copyright (c) 2008 Jack Welch
Floyd | Release 112 / Serial number 080818 / Inform v6.31 Library 6/11
Floyd | Type HELP for info on licencing and credits, or if you get stuck.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of

Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cheap wooden door, a shambling zombie and a shy little

Floyd | bunny rabbit here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV asks, "Can we try possessing the bunny this time?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "possess bunny" 		
	

Floyd | You can't! The shy little bunny rabbit has not been suitably prepared!
Floyd | Not yet, at least.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Oh. Thanks." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get on zombie" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "possess zombie" 		
	

Floyd | You possess the shambling zombie.
Floyd |

Floyd | As you slide into the mind of your new host, you brush against neural
Floyd | resonances of the shambling zombie's former life. The decohering images

Floyd | are not clear and they are already fading: Haughty figures in purple
Floyd | robes...tied to the table...must get back to the farm...a greater
Floyd | purpose...to serve whom?...no escape...drinking the liquid...tastes
Floyd | awful...no problems now... must obey...obey the priests...climb the

Floyd | hill and wait...wait....
Floyd |

Floyd | The little rabbit bounds downwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill bunny" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Damn bunny." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Eep - need to step away for just a very tiny moment." 	
			CarolynV says, "There's some fascinating language in this -- decohering, pereginations, emphyteote." 	
			CarolynV asks, "Who's going to drive in Jacqueline's absence?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "bite right arm" 		
	

Floyd | All this talk about your right arm is making you chomp at the bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I am back." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "bite right wrist" 		
	

Floyd | All this talk about your right wrist is making you chomp at the bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "But I'm not sure I'm a good driver." 	
			dhakajack says, "feel free...I know how it comes out ;-)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x wrist" 		
	

Floyd | You see your wrist, just as you would expect.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "bite it" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see "it" (your      areccg) at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat wrist" 		
	

Floyd | Choices, choices. Could you rephrase and indicate whether you mean your
Floyd | "left arm" or "right arm"?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "eep" 	
			CarolynV asks, "arecccg?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "right arm" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat right arm" 		
	

Floyd | You cruelly bite off your right arm.
Floyd | The chained zombie arm flops to the ground, wriggles a bit and then

Floyd | rests there, inert.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems jammed shut.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack was reasonably successful. The cheap wooden door looks
Floyd | moderately damaged.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack weakened it. The cheap wooden door looks moderately
Floyd | damaged.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack superb! The cheap wooden door looks severely damaged.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Your attack devastating! The cheap wooden door looks on the brink of
Floyd | obliteration.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Wham!  You obliterate it! ...perhaps you can go north now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Welcome
Floyd | An austere room with plain, white marble walls and a polished floor of

Floyd | checkered black and white tile. Through the remnants of the ancient
Floyd | entranceway, only the barest sliver of pale daylight penetrates the
Floyd | room (not that it matters...for you, at least). There is a closed

Floyd | marble door at the north end of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wooden bowl (in which is a fruit) and a sculpture here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bowl" 		
	

Floyd | A thick, wooden fruit bowl.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x fruit" 		
	

Floyd | A succulent grey fruit covered with minute, almost invisible bristles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bowl" 		
	

Floyd | If everyone walked off with the bowl, there wouldn't be much to welcome
Floyd | other guests. It wouldn't be a very welcoming hall, now would it?
Floyd | They're not taking any chances, though, the bowl is glued to the table.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | A sculpture of an old woman in a flowing cape. The sculpture is covered
Floyd | in dust and has aged and faded to a dark grey patina. It is difficult
Floyd | to make out any detail.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get frui" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get fruit" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "clean sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | Ew....shiny. And a bit scary!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | A gleaming, polished grey sculpture of an exceptionally evil-appearing,
Floyd | wizened old woman, with penetrating, bulbous, hungry eyes, and
Floyd | claw-like, gnarled hands. The sculpture radiates a restrained hatred
Floyd | and sense of injustice that yearns to revenge itself. It's hard to stop


Floyd | looking at it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd | Hall Of Welcome
Floyd | An austere room with plain, white marble walls and a polished floor of
Floyd | checkered black and white tile. Through the remnants of the ancient
Floyd | entranceway, only the barest sliver of pale daylight penetrates the
Floyd | room (not that it matters...for you, at least). There is a closed
Floyd | marble door at the north end of the room.


Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wooden bowl (which is empty) and a sculpture here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the marble door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Wanting
Floyd | Stairs lead downwards into this room from both the north and south
Floyd | ends; an open marble door leads out of the room to the south, and a
Floyd | closed speckled door leads northward. The room is panelled in dark


Floyd | wood, and has an arched wooden ceiling and grey, stone floor. Near the
Floyd | middle of of the room, there is a sink inset into the east wall. It
Floyd | looks like there is some sort of hole in the middle of the floor near
Floyd | the north end.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | A large marble sink is inset partway into the wall. A single white
Floyd | porcelain knob projects from the wall above the sink. Below the knob, a
Floyd | silvery wolf head points towards the sink beneath it. The wolf's mouth
Floyd | is open. At the bottom of the sink, there is a small drain hole.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "close mouth" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can close.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x wolf" 		
	

Floyd | A gleaming silver wolf's head projects from the wall above the sink.
Floyd | Its mouth is open and appears to be the end of a hollow tube.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in drain" 		
	

Floyd | The drain is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in hole" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the drain or the floor hole?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "floor hole" 		
	

Floyd | The floor hole is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Wanting
Floyd | Stairs lead downwards into this room from both the north and south
Floyd | ends; an open marble door leads out of the room to the south, and a

Floyd | closed speckled door leads northward. The room is panelled in dark

Floyd | wood, and has an arched wooden ceiling and grey, stone floor. Near the
Floyd | middle of of the room, there is a sink inset into the east wall. It
Floyd | looks like there is some sort of hole in the middle of the floor near
Floyd | the north end.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x floor hole" 		
	

Floyd | The floor of the room slopes down almost imperceptibly towards the
Floyd | centre of the room. Here, you find a small, oddly shaped hole. At the

Floyd | bottom of the long, narrow shaft, you can discern a key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "(lame)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the key, but can't reach it; the hole in the middle of the
Floyd | floor is just too narrow and deep. How frustrating.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | A complicated-looking key made of light-coloured wood
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn on sink" 		
	

Floyd | How?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn knob" 		
	

Floyd | A stream of water now flows from the wolf's mouth into the sink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "put fruit in drain" 		
	

Floyd | You jam the fruit into the drain and it fits perfectly, making a tight
Floyd | seal. The water can't drain because the drain is plugged by the fruit,
Floyd | and the water overflows the marble sink. Buoyed up by the draining
Floyd | water, a wooden key has floated out of the floor hole and now rests on

Floyd | the room's floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the speckled door or the marble door?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "speckled" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the speckled door with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "key" 		
	

Floyd | The door opens with a click.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open speckled" 		
	

Floyd | The door opens with a click.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "unlock speckled" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the speckled door with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get fruit" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn off water" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Portrait Gallery
Floyd | A long hall lined with a collection of portraits of men and women in

Floyd | priestly robes.  Some of the faces seem vaguely familiar to you.  There
Floyd | must be hexanies of them here.  One picture frame stands out in

Floyd | particular, an empty frame at the north end of the hall.  There is an
Floyd | open speckled door at the south end of the hall. To the north, there is
Floyd | an open archway which leads to an icy cavern.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x portraits" 		
	

Floyd | These are formal portraits, painted by a master.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "'hexanies' is cute" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x empty frame" 		
	

Floyd | The last frame towards the north end of the hall is not actually empty,
Floyd | but filled with a swirling, flat grey mist.  You think you can almost

Floyd | glimpse a face, but then it is gone.  There is a small nameplate under
Floyd | only this blank frame.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x nameplate" 		
	

Floyd | "NIBEX"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "NIBEX" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x mist" 		
	

Floyd | A disturbing, depthless void.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x nibex" 		
	

Floyd | In your mind's eye, you can almost focus on the face... but then it
Floyd | slips away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "enter mist" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch painting" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "ack" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch frame" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get frame" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Very Waterhouse." 	
			CarolynV asks, "ack?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think 'ack there's no response for painting'" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get portrait" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch portrait" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick it" 		
	

Floyd | You give the portraits a nice wet lick!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "eat portraits" 		
	

Floyd | Get real.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "priceless art, licked to death!" 	
			CarolynV says, "awww." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "smell mist" 		
	

Floyd | The mist seems to be part of the painting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take mist" 		
	

Floyd | The mist seems to be part of the painting.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV asks, "north?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | The temperature drops as you enter this long, echoing chamber. The
Floyd | ceiling and floor seem to be coated with a clear, slippery, hard
Floyd | substance. The walls, on the whole, look rubbery. As you contemplate
Floyd | that, you realise that you have slid to the centre of the room...
Floyd |

Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic

Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable
Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre
Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x ice" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
			Lucea says, "time for me to go, for a while at least, to commute to dinner" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Have fun, and thanks for joining us, Lucea." 	
			dhakajack says, "g'night-- thanks for playing" 	
			CarolynV says, "Good night." 	
			Lucea says, "I'll be back soon" 	
			Lucea says, "in maybe 10-15 minutes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ooh - see you then." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is far over head and, like the floor, seems frozen solid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm. Seems like >X ICE should work, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   a wooden key

Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | Your singing is abominable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the lacquer box, revealing a parchment note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd | A carefully folded square of parchment paper, covered with small,
Floyd | precise writing in black ink. It says:
Floyd |
Floyd | My Dear Zombie,

Floyd |
Floyd | We, the Priests of Perigee, humble and loyal followers of Order, have

Floyd | the unfortunate duty to inform you that the Ivory Key of Obsidian
Floyd | Annihilation was lost in the year 37E121A105. In subsequent
Floyd | Pereginations, we have observed that this has not constituted an
Floyd | insurmountable inconvenience, and we trust this will again be the case.

Floyd |
Floyd | We remain devoted and ever-committed to achieving Alignment.

Floyd |
Floyd | Signed,
Floyd | Laemmli, Emphyteote of Helle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "The room description makes me want to make it echo." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hence the singing?" 	
			CarolynV says, "Hence the singing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "breathe on flood" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, so much for trying to melt it with our HOT ZOMBIE BREATH." 	
			dhakajack asks, "can you imagine how annoying that would be if implemented in the keyboard parser?" 	
			CarolynV asks, "Singing, or hot zombie breath?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Which?" 	
			dhakajack says, "ggoo nnoorrtthh" 	
			dhakajack says, "the echoing." 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "Not okay!" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | After a catastrophic fall, you flounder helplessly for a moment.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, I think that would be more like, >GO NORTH ORTH ORTH TH" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "north orth orth th" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "north" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You can't get any traction!  You haven't moved at all!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "push north" 		
	

Floyd | You are unable to.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic

Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable
Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre

Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "slide north" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "slide north" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "pull north" 		
	

Floyd | You are unable to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing. Great minds!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "possess ice" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | After a catastrophic fall, you flounder helplessly for a moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "I broke us." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "crawl north" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "swim" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "I'm afraid I'm not a very good person to be with when your PC is stuck in the middle of a room of ice." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic
Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable

Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre

Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Neither am I." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x north exit" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "south" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You can't get any traction!  You haven't moved at all!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x n" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing unexpected in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says, "Wait... idea...." 		Jacqueline says, "meh" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "unpossess zombie" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "possess northing" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "possess nothing" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "stop possessing" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I am tempted to ask Mr. Welch for a hint." 	
			CarolynV says, "I second the motion." 	
			inky says, "hunh, I didn't think this puzzle was hard at all" 	
			CarolynV says, "Unless --" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "hint" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                        Help, Hints, and Info

Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |    > What is this?

Floyd |      Instructions
Floyd |      Help. I'm stuck!
Floyd |      The Making Of

Floyd |      Bugs
Floyd |      Acknowledgements
Floyd |      Administrivia

Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "stfu, you" 	
			inky asks, "if you were stuck in a zero-g area and wanted to move around, what would you do?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "are you asking for my reaction to your actions?" 	
			CarolynV says, "I would push on things and pull on things." 	
			Jacqueline sticks her tongue out at inky, who she normally likes, but not right now. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "float north" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |                        Help, Hints, and Info
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |    > What is this?

Floyd |      Instructions
Floyd |      Help. I'm stuck!
Floyd |      The Making Of

Floyd |      Bugs
Floyd |      Acknowledgements
Floyd |      Administrivia

Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic
Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable
Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre

Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says (to dhakajack), "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait, we're in the middle of help menus. I'm sorry." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "float north" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "My bad, I turned on the help menus because I was wondering if there was a built-in hint system." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push north" 		
	

Floyd | You are unable to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "lick floor" 		
	

Floyd | Your tongue adheres briefly to the floor and then snaps painfully back
Floyd | into your mouth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ouch" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "eat floor" 		
	

Floyd | Get real.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to Carolyn), "yeah, it just has general hints" 	
			CarolynV says, "Oh, okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a fruit


Floyd |   a wooden key
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "psht, you guys would never make it as a rocket ship" 	
			CarolynV says, "Oh." 	
			inky says, "there is a hinting device but it's at the other side of this room" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "dig corner of box into icy floor, then push north" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,

Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are ever so gently
Floyd | propelled towards the north. You are less than halfway to the northern
Floyd | wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says, "Got it." 		inky says, "hooray" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Har" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,

Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are ever so gently
Floyd | propelled towards the north. You are more than halfway to the northern
Floyd | wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are right next to the
Floyd | northern wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd | The exit is just to your north.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "deeper in the game, there is a context-specific hint system of sorts meant to help with more verbal-oriented puzzles (most of which are after the introduciton)" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,


Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are right next to the
Floyd | northern wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd | The exit is just to your north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are right next to the
Floyd | northern wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd | The exit is just to your north.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives
Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,
Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of


Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh dear." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was not a fan of that puzzle." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But then, I dislike most puzzles." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So listen not to me." 	
			CarolynV says, "Somehow, I thought going down the rabbit hole was the same as going north from the first room, so this entire area is new to me...." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You are too large to fit through the Metal Shaft.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "oh, we don't have the potion now" 	
			CarolynV says, "I never finished Storm Cellar because I couldn't solve the final puzzle." 	
			dhakajack says, "the rabbit hole would eventually dump you out here too, but you'd have a black key with reverse writing on it" 	
			CarolynV says, "I sympathize with your puzzle commentary." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Faithful Candidate,
Floyd |
Floyd | We applaude your effort and ingenuity in coming this far. Now that
Floyd | preliminaries are out of the way, we can get down to the actual process
Floyd | of neuroalignment. If you fail, no matter how gruesome your death, you


Floyd | can rest assured that there will be others, and that however long it
Floyd | takes, we shall in the end select a suitable candidate. It is more
Floyd | important to assure mental compatibility than to do so hastily.
Floyd |
Floyd | The process of alignment may be gradual, so we have provided several
Floyd | tools, found in the adjoining chambers, to aid you along the way.


Floyd |
Floyd | p.s. Sorry about the lousy poetry -- it is an unavoidable part of the
Floyd | process. And really, it is the least of your problems.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Maureen arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky clears the save counter. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Frog Room
Floyd | A round room with domed ceiling. Every surface is covered in small,
Floyd | reflective tiles. The tiles create a mosaic depicting water and lily

Floyd | pads on the floor and scores of jumping frogs as the base of the walls.

Floyd | The scene is reinforced by a continuous chorus of croaking which
Floyd | reverberates and is reflected by the tiles. You can exit to the west. A
Floyd | small, silvery tube floats in the middle of the room, lazily tumbling,
Floyd | as if weightless.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get tube" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tiles" 		
	

Floyd | The very small tiles that form the mosiacs on the walls are glasslike
Floyd | and smooth. The level of detail is astounding, and the frogs on the

Floyd | wall are so realistic that you would almost swear that they are alive.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x frogs" 		
	

Floyd | The very small tiles that form the mosiacs on the walls are glasslike

Floyd | and smooth. The level of detail is astounding, and the frogs on the
Floyd | wall are so realistic that you would almost swear that they are alive.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch frogs" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick frogs" 		
	

Floyd | You give the walls a nice wet lick!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sorry, no psychedelic trip for you, inky." 	
			inky says, "dude, where's my frog" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tube" 		
	

Floyd | It is clearly a one-note whistle, like the kind used to call dogs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "blow whistle" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There

Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table (on which is a grey potion) and a black chair (on
Floyd | which is an old man) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | You somersault out of the fireplace, covered with black soot and

Floyd | smelling like a barbeque.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | The old man is short and plump, with unkempt white hair and a stubbly

Floyd | beard of several days growth. His forehead and temples are streaked
Floyd | with deep lines, and his eyes are deeply set in dark sockets. His skin

Floyd | is pale, almost translucent, except for the dark patches under his
Floyd | eyes, and the spiderveins that run through the thin skin over his
Floyd | cheekbones. His gummy mouth harbours not a single tooth, and his flabby
Floyd | lower lip has stretched outward, draping sloppily over his double chin.

Floyd | Somewhere, his head merges into jowls which overlap his barrel chest,
Floyd | by-passing a neck entirely. He is dressed in the fine robes of a

Floyd | priest. He is sleeping comfortably on a fancy chair.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get robes" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "so DavidW claimed that there was important plot info but you had to disguise yourself" 	
			inky says, "and then talk to this guy" 	
			inky says, "but I haven't seen other clothing" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm" 	
			inky says, "except the stuff this guy is wearing" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room

Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.

Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | A short, heavy wooden table.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The modern chair is discordant with its drab and mundane surroundings.
Floyd | Whilst the rest of the room is made of stone, wood and thatch, the
Floyd | metal frame of the chair gleams brilliantly and has been finely tooled
Floyd | -- clearly, not the work of the village blacksmith. The chair is

Floyd | contoured like a human body, with a head-support, arm-rests and
Floyd | elevated knee support and foot-rests. The ample cushioning is covered

Floyd | in a supple, black material and the entire chair is reclined. There is
Floyd | a small metal lever near the right arm rest, it has been pulled upwards
Floyd | towards the headrest. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the chair
Floyd | is the old man sleeping in it.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "he's in a la-z-boy" 	
			inky says, "I am not sure what the explanation for this is" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Parallel universes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "lick chair" 		
	

Floyd | You give the black chair a nice wet lick!
Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah maybe" 	
			inky says, "there actually is some parallel universe stuff going on" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is

Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". There
Floyd | is a cabinet on the wall, with its doors closed. The only way out is

Floyd | back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | A sturdy table topped with a heavy block of light wood which bears

Floyd | evidence of years of cutting and chopping. There is a big white
Floyd | appliance under the table.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x appliance" 		
	

Floyd | A large, white enamel box with an attached hopper. The box is flat on
Floyd | every side, and altogether unremarkable, except for the words

Floyd | "recycling unit" which appear in raised script letters on the upper
Floyd | right hand corner of the unit, above the hopper. There is something in
Floyd | the hopper.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in hopper" 		
	

Floyd | In the hopper is an empty bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get empty" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x empty" 		
	

Floyd | An empty, clear bottle capped by some sort of metal seal.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x seal" 		
	

Floyd | An empty, clear bottle capped by some sort of metal seal.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "this goes with the thingy in the cabinet" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | The cabinet doors open, revealing a strange machine which is bolted to
Floyd | the wall and occupies the entire interior of the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | Within the kitchen cabinet, there is an odd-looking contraption with a
Floyd | metal funnel on the top, a crank with a wooden handle on the side, and
Floyd | recess marked "bottle" at the base, below a hollow tube.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put empty bottle in recess" 		
	

Floyd | The bottle snaps into the recess and the nozzle assembly descends,
Floyd | puncturing the cap.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Should we be saving some?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | The door's rusty hinges squeak loudly.

Floyd | The old man stirs and searches reflexively in his long robe. After a

Floyd | minute, he finds what he is looking for and withdraws a pair of
Floyd | precision-crafted spectacles and lifts them to his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "search robe" 		
	

Floyd | Whilst rifling through the old man's robe you find a pair of glasses.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear glasses" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the glasses)
Floyd | You put on the glasses.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You are a possessed decaying corpse with vacant, unblinking eyes and
Floyd | saliva-coated maw; it is apparent that you are undead.  You seem to be

Floyd | missing a right arm. In terms of fashion, you are wearing some decaying
Floyd | farm garments. At least the spectacles add an air of academic
Floyd | respectability.
Floyd |

Floyd | The elderly priest mumbles incoherently about tomatoes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get robe" 		
	

Floyd | It is not an appealing garment. Yes, it has a certain homely charm to

Floyd | it, but the smell is putting you off.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear robe" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the old man's robe)
Floyd | It is not an appealing garment. Yes, it has a certain homely charm to
Floyd | it, but the smell is putting you off.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "I'm a zombie!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "yay" 	
			inky asks, "also, clearly we need .. noseplugs?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane

Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden

Floyd | A tidy little garden of the sort that is useful for growing medicinal
Floyd | herbs. You can see the cabin just to the north, and there is a
Floyd | vegetable garden to the east. On a more sombre note, there is a small
Floyd | cemetery to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see two herbs (an herb with blue flowers and an herb with

Floyd | violet flowers) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | herb with blue flowers: Taken.
Floyd | herb with violet flowers: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Graveyard
Floyd | A quiet, lonely corner of the property behind the cabin. In the centre

Floyd | of the graveyard is the solitary mound of grave. The pleasant garden to
Floyd | the northwest provides a comforting contrast.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an herb with yellow flowers here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | herb with yellow flowers: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Vegetable Garden
Floyd | A small plot of land is furrowed and meticulously free of weeds. A

Floyd | large, weather-beaten stuffed wolf is mounted on a short pole. You are
Floyd | just east of the herb garden.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a nice tomato, a carrot and a stuffed wolf here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky is a newbie. 		CarolynV says, "Considering that you're an armless zombie possesed by a polyp, it's ironic that you're getting upset about the smell of his robe." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get tomato and carrot" 		
	

Floyd | nice tomato: Taken.
Floyd | carrot: An herb with orange flowers germinates!

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "?!?!?" 	
			CarolynV says, "I'm just curious...." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "remove clothing" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Vegetable Garden
Floyd | A small plot of land is furrowed and meticulously free of weeds. A

Floyd | large, weather-beaten stuffed wolf is mounted on a short pole. You are
Floyd | just east of the herb garden.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an herb with orange flowers and a stuffed wolf here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a carrot
Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   three herbs:

Floyd |     an herb with yellow flowers
Floyd |     an herb with violet flowers

Floyd |     an herb with blue flowers
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   a violet potion
Floyd |   a whistle

Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   a wooden key

Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get herb" 		
	

Floyd | (the herb with orange flowers)
Floyd | You're carrying too many things already.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Carolyn), "You make an excellent point." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "remove garments" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the decaying farm garments.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "But that is why it is amusing." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "wear garments" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the decaying farm garments.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put all in box" 		
	

Floyd | carrot: The carrot is too big to fit into the lacquer box.
Floyd | nice tomato: The nice tomato is too big to fit into the lacquer box.
Floyd | herb with yellow flowers: There is no more room in the lacquer box.

Floyd | herb with violet flowers: There is no more room in the lacquer box.

Floyd | herb with blue flowers: There is no more room in the lacquer box.
Floyd | violet potion: The violet potion is too big to fit into the lacquer
Floyd | box.
Floyd | whistle: The whistle is too big to fit into the lacquer box.
Floyd | fruit: There is no more room in the lacquer box.

Floyd | wooden key: There is no more room in the lacquer box.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "OK, we are capable of taking those off if we do find more clothing. (Though I see no reason to be a nekkid zombie.)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop wooden key" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get orange herb" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I suppose we won't need that particular key again" 	
			inky says, "anyway, hmm" 	
			inky says, "you can use these herbs in the machine" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Front Yard

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Nine-tenths of the Law is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives

Floyd | long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Nine-tenths of the Law is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives
Floyd | long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing," 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen


Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is
Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". A
Floyd | cabinet built into the wall is open, showing a large machine inside.
Floyd | The only way out is back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV asks, "Great minds, same ruts?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | Within the kitchen cabinet, there is an odd-looking contraption with a


Floyd | metal funnel on the top, a crank with a wooden handle on the side, and
Floyd | recess marked "bottle" at the base, below a hollow tube. A bottle is
Floyd | locked into this receptacle at the base of the machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Something like that." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put orange herb in funnel" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put orange herb in machine" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a carrot
Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)


Floyd |   a grey potion
Floyd |   a whistle
Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |


Floyd |   four herbs:
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		inky says, "...right" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen


Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is
Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". A
Floyd | cabinet built into the wall is open, showing a large machine inside.
Floyd | The only way out is back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The elderly priest rests peacefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a carrot
Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)


Floyd |   a grey potion
Floyd |   a whistle
Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |


Floyd |   four herbs:
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |     an herb with grey flowers
Floyd |


Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess it's explicitly called windowless" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop herbs" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop every herb" 		
	

Floyd | herb with orange flowers: Dropped.
Floyd | herb with yellow flowers: Dropped.
Floyd | herb with violet flowers: Dropped.


Floyd | herb with blue flowers: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get orange herb" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is


Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". A
Floyd | cabinet built into the wall is open, showing a large machine inside.
Floyd | The only way out is back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put herb in funnel" 		
	

Floyd | The herb with grey flowers slides downwards in the funnel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn crank" 		
	

Floyd | A new potion appears in the machine's recess, and the nozzle retracts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	

Floyd | (the grey potion)
Floyd | You already have the grey potion.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get all from recess" 		
	

Floyd | Be more specific, please.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "cry" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room


Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.


Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.


Floyd |
Floyd | You can see three herbs (an herb with blue flowers, an herb with violet
Floyd | flowers and an herb with yellow flowers) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop potion" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "aw" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w. n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room

Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.

Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is

Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". A

Floyd | cabinet built into the wall is open, showing a large machine inside.
Floyd | The only way out is back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read label" 		
	

Floyd | "potion of sighting."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "this one I dunno what it does" 	
	Lucea has not been spotted in the lounge vicinity. No need for caution. 		inky says, "I believe the other potions you can make are healing, poison, and miniaturization" 	
			inky says, "(so you can have 2x miniaturize)" 	
			CarolynV says, "Oo. I only found the miniaturization." 	
			inky says, "and when you drink one you end up with a bottle you can use to make another" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure what good any of them are, though" 	
			inky says, "you can kill the rabbit with the poison, but that's probably an error, and you can heal yourself if the angry mob beats you up" 	
			inky says, "(with the healing)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room

Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There

Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard

Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a violet potion and three herbs (an herb with blue flowers,
Floyd | an herb with violet flowers and an herb with yellow flowers) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drink orange potion" 		
	

Floyd | The orange potion disappears with a PUFF!

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard

Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a violet potion and three herbs (an herb with blue flowers,
Floyd | an herb with violet flowers and an herb with yellow flowers) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, I have no idea what that did" 	
			dhakajack says, "nope the poison is intentional" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.

Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You are a possessed decaying corpse with vacant, unblinking eyes and

Floyd | watering oral cavity; if you look closely around the eyes, there is no
Floyd | question but that you are undead.  You seem to be missing a right arm.
Floyd | In terms of fashion, you are wearing some decaying farm garments. At

Floyd | least the spectacles add an air of academic respectability.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tomato" 		
	

Floyd | A paragon amongst tomatokind, this lustrous red beauty is at the very

Floyd | point of turning ripe; it is firm and free of any blemish.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ah, looks like we are seeing in the dark" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm lost on the point. Perhaps I missed something, or perhaps we need to figure out how to have that conversation with the priest." 	
			inky says, "is that permanent? that is probably handy" 	
			inky says, "yeah, I have no idea what the point of any of the machine potions really are" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hold nose" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pinch nose" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "don't smell" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x robe" 		
	

Floyd | The old man is wearing a robe typical of the Order of the Perigee. It
Floyd | is not of recent vintage, nor has it seen soap and water in the recent
Floyd | past. The old man is lying on the robe, so you can only see one side of
Floyd | it, and you note a small pocket near the waist.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in pocket" 		
	

Floyd | Whilst probing the old man's robe you find absolutely nothing.

Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is a closed warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get robe" 		dhakajack says, "if you had text color effects, it would now be in "day light"colors. And no, not permanent." 	
	

Floyd | It is not an appealing garment. Yes, it has a certain homely charm to
Floyd | it, but the smell is putting you off.
Floyd |


Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oops" 	
			inky says, "well, I guess if we turn out to need it later we can restore" 	
	Ellison arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smell robe" 		
	

Floyd | A pungent old man smell mingled with sweat, alcohol, and other
Floyd | substances too horrible to mention.
Floyd |


Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:


Floyd |   a carrot
Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   a whistle
Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)


Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "anyway, any ideas for not smelling him?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put carrot in nose" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Ellison says, "I assume this is the same game about smelling that I left a couple hours ago" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "game about smelling" 	
			Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			CarolynV says, "I'm rapidly realizing that, if you have the right crowd, all games are about smelling." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That is not really true. Some are about licking things." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick man" 		
	

Floyd | You give the old man a nice wet lick!

Floyd |
Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Ellison says, "hehe" 	
			Ellison says, "ha" 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "Ew, he slept through it!" 	
			inky says, "if that doesn't wake him up, I don't know what will" 	
			CarolynV asks, "Can we eat him?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | The door's rusty hinges squeak loudly.
Floyd | The figure on the chair wakes and searches reflexively in his long
Floyd | robe. After a minute, he makes a clucking noise and mumbles "Last time

Floyd | this happened, I was looking for them for a month."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "A creaking door." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "talk to man" 		
	

Floyd | You can ASK or TELL someone ABOUT something, or you can SHOW someone
Floyd | something.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask man about me" 		
	

Floyd | "Hmmph. I suppose. Or not. Pardon. Lost my train of thought there for a
Floyd | moment."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask man about man" 		
	

Floyd | "I wouldn't really know."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask man about zombie" 		
	

Floyd | "Essentially, a zombie is a hollowed-out shell of a living being, and
Floyd | unless they're possessed by some outside agency, they're not a threat

Floyd | at all, just landscaping really. My advice: avoid them if you can, and
Floyd | watch out for their drool. "
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask man about drool" 		
	

Floyd | "I find drool repulsive. Dogs, babies, zombies, you name it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "drool" 		
	

Floyd | Now there's a job skill. A small pool of saliva evaporates.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask man about zombie drool" 		
	

Floyd | "Come again?  Didn't quite catch that. Bad hearing you know."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drool on man" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Meadow

Floyd | An unmaintained field with short grass near the road, and taller grass
Floyd | towards the surrounding woods. At the edge of the woods, there is a
Floyd | depression, and at its base, a hole. There are some rabbit tracks in

Floyd | the soft mud near the road to the south.
Floyd | You recall the old man saying, "It's called immunity Look it up. Now
Floyd | git." The old man then whipped around, lithe as a serpent, and sprayed

Floyd | you with a fine mist of liquid. After some time, your panic has ebbed
Floyd | and you have returned to your senses. You realise that you are no
Floyd | longer in the house, but must have run off.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Meadow

Floyd | An unmaintained field with short grass near the road, and taller grass
Floyd | towards the surrounding woods. At the edge of the woods, there is a
Floyd | depression, and at its base, a hole. There are some rabbit tracks in

Floyd | the soft mud near the road to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			Jacqueline says, "um, huh" 	
			inky says, "ok, I guess that is something we can try" 	
			CarolynV says, "Sentences I never thought I would say: let's go find interesting things to drool on." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom

Floyd | An uncomfortable, stifling bedroom with no windows. The room is barely

Floyd | large enough to accommodate the vaguely bed-like lump of furniture in
Floyd | the middle of the room. A tall, classic mirror framed in dark wood is
Floyd | wedged between the bed and the wall. A pretty silk ribbon is tastefully
Floyd | draped across the mirror, about half-way up. The mirror reflects the
Floyd | scene in the room. The only exit, an open warped door, lies to the

Floyd | east, and leads back to the front room.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a bed (on which is a pillow) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear the old man moving around.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x mirror" 		
	

Floyd | A beautiful antique mirror of unparallelled craftsmanship. A pretty
Floyd | silk ribbon is draped across the mirror, about half-way up. Reflected
Floyd | in the mirror, you can see a zombie dressed in the clothes of a farmer.

Floyd |

Floyd | From the adjoining room you hear the old man moving around.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There

Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the

Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a violet potion and three herbs (an herb with blue flowers,
Floyd | an herb with violet flowers and an herb with yellow flowers) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | From inside the cabin you hear the old man moving around, "Don't track
Floyd | mud into the house."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get violet" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the violet potion or the herb with violet flowers?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "potion" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | From inside the cabin you hear the old man moving around.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Desolate Road
Floyd | To the west, you can make out a cabin at the edge of the woods. The

Floyd | woods come right to the edge of the road, except on the north side
Floyd | where there is a small strip of meadow.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Dirt Road
Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of
Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the
Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You can't go that way, but you could go towards the east to the Road

Floyd | Into Town, towards the west to the Desolate Road, or upwards to the
Floyd | Sloping Path.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Sloping Path
Floyd | At the top, the winding path is little more than a depression in the
Floyd | gravel and mud, but lower down the mountain, it becomes more defined,
Floyd | and perhaps even sees occasional use. Near the bottom of the path a

Floyd | dirt road is visible.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a shy little bunny rabbit here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The little rabbit scoots downwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Dirt Road

Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of

Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the
Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shy little bunny rabbit here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get rabbit" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drool on rabbit" 		
	

Floyd | The shy little bunny rabbit briefly obeys the laws of an alien
Floyd | geometry, bubbling and warping into impossible shapes, and then settles
Floyd | down, reassuming its familiar shape as if nothing happened.  Really,
Floyd | nothing at all.


Floyd |
Floyd | On the other hand it might be worth pointing out that the shy little
Floyd | bunny rabbit is holding unusually still, has a distant, almost
Floyd | catatonic expression, and that the first hints of foamy spittle have
Floyd | made their appearance at the corners of the shy little bunny rabbit's
Floyd | mouth.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "possess rabbit" 		
	

Floyd | The psychic impulse propels the shy little bunny rabbit clear of you.

Floyd | You possess the shy little bunny rabbit.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you slide into the mind of your new host, you brush against neural
Floyd | resonances of the shy little bunny rabbit's former life. The decohering
Floyd | images are not clear and they are already fading: Hop here, hop

Floyd | there...Carrots?  Oh yes, please...more shiny stuff...shiny good...hop,

Floyd | hop...uh oh, people...bounce away... hop here, hop there...ew...what's
Floyd | that?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Oh my." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dirt Road
Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of

Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the

Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shambling zombie here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dirt Road
Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of
Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the


Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shambling zombie here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x zombie" 		
	

Floyd | A dispossessed decaying corpse with vacant, unblinking eyes and
Floyd | drooling lips; if you look closely around the eyes, there is no
Floyd | question but that the shambling zombie is undead.  The shambling zombie
Floyd | seems to be missing a right arm. In terms of fashion, the shambling


Floyd | zombie is wearing some decaying farm garments. At least the spectacles
Floyd | add an air of academic respectability.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Silly, possessed, and potentially evil bunny!  Your little paws lack
Floyd | prehensile thumbs. It is pitiful watching you make the attempt.
Floyd |


Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Road Into Town
Floyd | An unpaved road runs from east to west. A small town can be seen in the
Floyd | far distance to the east, on the far side of a stone bridge.


Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an angry mob here.
Floyd | From the crowd you overhear, "Zombies is fer killin'".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "whoops, sorry" 	
			CarolynV says, "No worries, I just wondered if we could take things away from the zombie." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Makes sense, I guess." 	
			CarolynV says, "I wish we could see what the zombie is carrying." 	
			CarolynV says, "Also, I like the line about the spectacles." 	
			inky says, "yea" 	
			inky says, "h" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "drool on mob" 		
	

Floyd | You cover the angry mob with glistening saliva. It evaporates.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "dangit" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Stone Bridge
Floyd | A sturdy bridge of worked stone spans the river. The bridge is wide
Floyd | enough for two wagons to pass side-by-side. Short walls on both sides
Floyd | of the bridge prevent anyone from accidentally falling over the edge.
Floyd | The bridge runs from east to west. There isn't much to see to the west,

Floyd | except more road, but in the distance, you can see a walled town to the

Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Checkpoint
Floyd | The road dips down a little here, bringing you to a checkpoint midway
Floyd | between the bridge and the outer walls of the town to the east. A small
Floyd | white building, little more than a free-standing closet, stands just to

Floyd | the north side of the road. "Sentry Post" is written above the

Floyd | entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a guard here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The guard attacks you!

Floyd |

Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of
Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain. An opening
Floyd | leads north into the mountain itself.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a shackle-bound zombie arm here.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are once again on your familiar hilltop. Your rabbit body took all
Floyd | the punishment that it could. Sensing imminent unpleasantness, and
Floyd | always motivated by an acute sense of self-preservation, you withdrew
Floyd | from your unfortunate host at the last possible moment, returning to

Floyd | both the comfort and immobility of your polypoid body.

Floyd |
Floyd |   The sun sets and night falls, and the world is
Floyd |    plunged into a flat, colourless panorama. You
Floyd |  stretch your fronds, searching for another host.
Floyd |

Floyd |  The sun rises, and you feel your strength ebbing.

Floyd |                   You are alone.
Floyd |
Floyd |   As the day progresses, you realise that you are
Floyd |      wilting and that your transient unlife is
Floyd |            slipping through your fronds.

Floyd |

Floyd |         No one comes. No hosts. No escape.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Wilted! ***

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "wait, what the hell" 	
			CarolynV asks, "The guard attacked.... a bunny?" 	
			inky says, "I was a sweet, innocent bunny" 	
			inky says, "never going to harm anyone except with my poisonous saliva" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Stone Bridge
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | A cute, fuzzy white rabbit; it is a fair wager that you are undead.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "I don't think your saliva is poisonous when you're a bunny." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "drool on me" 		
	

Floyd | You cover the yourself with disgusting saliva. It evaporates.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stone Bridge
Floyd | A sturdy bridge of worked stone spans the river. The bridge is wide
Floyd | enough for two wagons to pass side-by-side. Short walls on both sides

Floyd | of the bridge prevent anyone from accidentally falling over the edge.
Floyd | The bridge runs from east to west. There isn't much to see to the west,

Floyd | except more road, but in the distance, you can see a walled town to the
Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, I think I'm an undead bunny, though" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x town" 		
	

Floyd | In the distance, you can see the walls of the Town of Orlane. Near the
Floyd | walls, a phalanx of army pikemen have assembled on the roadway.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "west" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Road Into Town
Floyd | An unpaved road runs from east to west. A small town can be seen in the

Floyd | far distance to the east, on the far side of a stone bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an angry mob here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait, was it poisonous as a zombie? We licked that priest and he lived." 	
			inky says, "I think licking is not correctly simulated" 	
			inky says, "given the saliva issues" 	
			CarolynV says, "But he stopped us from drooling on him. I think that's authorial oversight." 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			CarolynV says, "west" 	
			inky says, "though he was asleep when we licked him" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Dirt Road
Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of
Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the

Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shambling zombie here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get carrot" 		
	

Floyd | Silly, possessed, and potentially evil bunny!  Your little paws lack
Floyd | prehensile thumbs. It is pitiful watching you make the attempt.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "eat carrot" 		
	

Floyd | Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. The carrot tastes earthy and sweet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "OK, I'm happy now." 	
			dhakajack says, "he doesn't *like* being licked, but he did mention that he has immunity when you tried to drool on him." 	
			Jacqueline says (to C), "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jack), "Ah." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "possess zombie" 		
	

Floyd | You possess the shambling zombie.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bunny" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Think again. That way won't work, but you could go towards the east to
Floyd | the Road Into Town, towards the west to the Desolate Road, or upwards
Floyd | to the Sloping Path.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Sloping Path

Floyd | At the top, the winding path is little more than a depression in the
Floyd | gravel and mud, but lower down the mountain, it becomes more defined,
Floyd | and perhaps even sees occasional use. Near the bottom of the path a
Floyd | dirt road is visible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Think again. That way won't work, but you might consider heading
Floyd | upwards to the The Hilltop, or downwards to the Dirt Road.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The Hilltop

Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of
Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain. An opening
Floyd | leads north into the mountain itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a fleshy white polyp and a shackle-bound zombie arm here.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Hall Of Welcome

Floyd | An austere room with plain, white marble walls and a polished floor of
Floyd | checkered black and white tile. Through the remnants of the ancient
Floyd | entranceway, only the barest sliver of pale daylight penetrates the
Floyd | room (not that it matters...for you, at least). There is an open marble
Floyd | door at the north end of the room.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a wooden bowl (which is empty) and a sculpture here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Wanting
Floyd | Stairs lead downwards into this room from both the north and south
Floyd | ends; an open marble door leads out of the room to the south, and an
Floyd | open speckled door leads northward. The room is panelled in dark wood,

Floyd | and has an arched wooden ceiling and grey, stone floor. Near the middle

Floyd | of of the room, there is a sink inset into the east wall. It looks like
Floyd | there is some sort of hole in the middle of the floor near the north
Floyd | end.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Portrait Gallery
Floyd | A long hall lined with a collection of portraits of men and women in


Floyd | priestly robes.  Some of the faces seem vaguely familiar to you.  There
Floyd | must be hexanies of them here.  One picture frame stands out in
Floyd | particular, an empty frame at the north end of the hall.  There is an
Floyd | open speckled door at the south end of the hall. To the north, there is
Floyd | an open archway which leads to an icy cavern.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "I bet the polyp is even more embarrassed if the bunny eats it than if the zombie eats it." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The temperature drops as you enter this long, echoing chamber. The


Floyd | ceiling and floor seem to be coated with a clear, slippery, hard
Floyd | substance. The walls, on the whole, look rubbery. As you contemplate
Floyd | that, you realise that you have slid to the centre of the room...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic
Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable


Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre
Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the
Floyd | room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south. g. g." 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are ever so gently
Floyd | propelled towards the north. You are less than halfway to the northern
Floyd | wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.


Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are ever so gently
Floyd | propelled towards the north. You are more than halfway to the northern
Floyd | wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are right next to the


Floyd | northern wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd | The exit is just to your north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives
Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,


Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drink potion" 		
	

Floyd | The grey potion disappears with a PUFF!
Floyd |
Floyd | Everything around you has gotten bigger!
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Metal Shaft


Floyd | A straight, metal shaft with a very low ceiling. The shaft runs east to
Floyd | west and there are exits at both ends. To the east, you can see a
Floyd | cavernous room, and to the west you catch a hint of velvet-covered
Floyd | walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Velvet Room
Floyd | An egg-shaped room which is lined floor, walls and ceiling with a lush


Floyd | grey velvet. There is a pedestal in the middle of the room. The column
Floyd | of the pedestal is covered in fabric, and the fabric has scratch marks,
Floyd | as if sliced with a razor-sharp tool. On top of the pedestal, there is
Floyd | a cat statuette. At the base of the pedestal is a small, brass plaque.
Floyd | The only exit from the room is the metal shaft to the east, which is
Floyd | very small. Next to the shaft, a grey lever sticks of out the wall.


Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a marble pedestal (on which is a cat) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | The passage leading to this room enlarges from a mere crawl space to
Floyd | true hallway as its ceiling retracts with a sliding sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess maybe we could have gone in as the bunny instead" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "read plaque" 		
	

Floyd | A polished metal plaque at the base of the pedestal reads:
Floyd |
Floyd |          My cat has a bizarre predilection
Floyd |         Preferring pushishment to affection


Floyd |    Should you meet some frustrating obstruction
Floyd |          Of perversely exotic construction
Floyd |             One need only remember that
Floyd |         for a clue, whack it with the cat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get cat" 		
	

Floyd | You are too tiny to pick up such a large cat!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it'll wear off in a bit" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.


Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.


Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd | You return to your normal size. It feels good to be normal size again.
Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get cat" 		
	

Floyd | As soon as you pick up the cat, it comes alive, hissing and arching its
Floyd | back. The chaotic mass of fur, teeth and claws is quite a handful...
Floyd | Oops!!!...dropped the shy little bunny rabbit!
Floyd | The tomato lands with a disconcerting thud.


Floyd | Doh!!!...dropped the nice tomato!
Floyd | Zounds!!!...dropped the whistle!
Floyd | Oofta!!!...dropped the fruit!
Floyd | Doh!!!...dropped the lacquer box!
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you can pay full attention to the cat, it nuzzles you.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says, "Oops." 		CarolynV says, "Oops." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "hit me with cat" 		
	

Floyd | That would be suicidal!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This is just like life around my house." 	
			CarolynV says, "Oops -- must step away for a few minutes. My non-zombified bunny needs feeding." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Velvet Room
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Velvet Room
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a shy little bunny rabbit


Floyd |   a nice tomato
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   a whistle
Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Metal Shaft
Floyd | A straight, metal shaft. The shaft runs east to west and there are
Floyd | exits at both ends. To the east, you can see a cavernous room, and to
Floyd | the west you catch a hint of velvet-covered walls.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction


Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives
Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,
Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I figure we can come back for the cat if we need it, since we can't carrying anything else" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Spiral Stairs
Floyd | The staircase is made of dull, black stone, and a bannister of the same
Floyd | material spirals down along the wall. The staircase is steep but
Floyd | regular, with landings every step. You can go up or down.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bottom Of Stairwell


Floyd | At the bottom of the staircase, there is a large room with no
Floyd | furnishings. Well, except the monkey golem and the sign. There is a
Floyd | room behind the monkey, but you can't get a good look at it. Even more
Floyd | surreally, there is a small storm cloud over the monkey's head, and
Floyd | rain is pouring down violently only in the immediate area of the
Floyd | monkey. After all that, it seems logical that the monkey is using an


Floyd | umbrella to keep dry.  Obviously, going up the stairs is also a
Floyd | consideration.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a monkey golem here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "True." 	
			inky says, "if we can't get by the guard this is the only other room I know about in the game" 	
			inky says, "er, this and the next one" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | Upon inspection, this plaque is actually part of the wall itself.
Floyd | Written in black letters upon a white background is the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |             Some say that less is more
Floyd |        A rule you'd better learn to ignore.

Floyd |      When thunder booms and lightning strikes

Floyd |     Don't worry about swords, shields or pikes.
Floyd |        If the sky is dimming avoid trouble.
Floyd |         Express your answer on the double.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Is it just me, or is this whole thing rather random?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like, not as in randomization." 	
			inky says, "yeeeeeah, you could say that" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Just as in cracktasticness?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way, mind you." 	
			inky says, "anyway, this is a riddle which I was totally stuck on" 	
			inky says, "and ended up having to do serious txd work to get the answer to" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "txd?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that txd is a zcode disassembler." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh dar." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, dear." 	
			Jacqueline reads it over and over and over. 	
			dhakajack says, "I realized that this one is difficult... you might need the cat...." 	
			inky says, "that's true" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Spiral Stairs
Floyd | The staircase is made of dull, black stone, and a bannister of the same

Floyd | material spirals down along the wall. The staircase is steep but
Floyd | regular, with landings every step. You can go up or down.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction

Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives
Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,

Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Metal Shaft
Floyd | A straight, metal shaft. The shaft runs east to west and there are

Floyd | exits at both ends. To the east, you can see a cavernous room, and to
Floyd | the west you catch a hint of velvet-covered walls.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Velvet Room

Floyd | An egg-shaped room which is lined floor, walls and ceiling with a lush
Floyd | grey velvet. There is a pedestal in the middle of the room. The column
Floyd | of the pedestal is covered in fabric, and the fabric has scratch marks,

Floyd | as if sliced with a razor-sharp tool. On top of the pedestal, there is
Floyd | a cat statuette. At the base of the pedestal is a small, brass plaque.
Floyd | The only exit from the room is the metal shaft to the east, which is

Floyd | wide open. Next to the shaft, a grey lever sticks of out the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a marble pedestal (on which is a cat) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get cat" 		
	

Floyd | As soon as you pick up the cat, it comes alive, hissing and arching its
Floyd | back. The chaotic mass of fur, teeth and claws is quite a handful...

Floyd | Oops!!!...dropped the shy little bunny rabbit!
Floyd | The tomato lands with a disconcerting thud.

Floyd | Yipes!!!...dropped the nice tomato!
Floyd | Oops!!!...dropped the whistle!
Floyd | Oy!!!...dropped the fruit!
Floyd | Dang!!!...dropped the lacquer box!

Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you can pay full attention to the cat, it nuzzles you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Metal Shaft
Floyd | A straight, metal shaft. The shaft runs east to west and there are
Floyd | exits at both ends. To the east, you can see a cavernous room, and to
Floyd | the west you catch a hint of velvet-covered walls.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives

Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,
Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of

Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Spiral Stairs

Floyd | The staircase is made of dull, black stone, and a bannister of the same
Floyd | material spirals down along the wall. The staircase is steep but
Floyd | regular, with landings every step. You can go up or down.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bottom Of Stairwell

Floyd | At the bottom of the staircase, there is a large room with no

Floyd | furnishings. Well, except the monkey golem and the sign. There is a
Floyd | room behind the monkey, but you can't get a good look at it. Even more
Floyd | surreally, there is a small storm cloud over the monkey's head, and
Floyd | rain is pouring down violently only in the immediate area of the
Floyd | monkey. After all that, it seems logical that the monkey is using an

Floyd | umbrella to keep dry.  Obviously, going up the stairs is also a

Floyd | consideration.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a monkey golem here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat seems satisfied that you have struck the monkey golem with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | You whip the cat into the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | You whip the cat into the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat asks for more as you strike it against the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cat shrieks,"This guy's trying to make a monkey out of you!  Don't
Floyd | listen to his double talk!".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat seems bemused that you have pummeled the monkey golem with it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | You whip the cat into the monkey golem.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat seems chuffed that you have hammered the monkey golem with it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The cat exclaims,"You'd better follow his instructions to the letter!".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat laughs with pleasure as you strike it against the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cat whines,"Harder!  Oh come on, he's spelling it out for ya!".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat asks for more as you drive it into the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | You slam the cat into the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | You whip the cat into the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat seems grateful that you have repeatly beaten the monkey golem
Floyd | with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat seems delighted that you have repeatly beaten the monkey golem
Floyd | with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit golem with cat" 		
	

Floyd | You bang the cat into the monkey golem.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cat howls,"Put some back into it. For you answer, look to Gibbons,
Floyd | Baboons, Chimpanzees, not Macaques, Tamarins, Lemurs, or Howlers.".


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I think that is all the hints" 	
			dhakajack says, "if so, it'll just keep repeating them..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "My cat thinks it lives on a pedestal." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Belatedly." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit golem harder with cat" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the monkey golem.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x golem" 		
	

Floyd | A beefy looking stone monkey golem stands between you and the next
Floyd | room. Clearly, he intends to block your way, because whichever way you
Floyd | move, he apes your movement. The monkey looks at you expectantly, as if


Floyd | you are supposed to say something. There is a small sign on the wall to
Floyd | the right of the monkey.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | Upon inspection, this plaque is actually part of the wall itself.
Floyd | Written in black letters upon a white background is the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |             Some say that less is more
Floyd |        A rule you'd better learn to ignore.
Floyd |      When thunder booms and lightning strikes


Floyd |     Don't worry about swords, shields or pikes.
Floyd |        If the sky is dimming avoid trouble.
Floyd |         Express your answer on the double.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Maureen goes home. 		Jacqueline asks (of inky), "So, you know the answer to this because you cheated, or you still don't know?" 	
			inky says, "I do" 	
			inky asks, "should I just give it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am perhaps the only other person playing." 	
			inky says, "ok then!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I do not mind if you nudge us along." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "storms" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask monkey about storms" 		
	

Floyd | Ook!  Ook!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "uhh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "say storms" 		
	

Floyd | (to the monkey golem)

Floyd | The clouds dissipate, and the monkey folds up his umbrella and shakes
Floyd | it to the side. There is a puff of pink smoke, and the monkey is

Floyd | replaced by a wind-up tin monkey with cymbals...perhaps you can go east
Floyd | now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "in the first clue, it may have been more accurate for the cat to say that it *is* all double talk (rather than telling you not to listen to the double talk)" 	
			inky says, "there we go" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Glowing Chamber

Floyd | This magnificent chamber pulses with living energy. There is a small
Floyd | inscription on the wall, and below it, a keyhole. The only exit from
Floyd | the room is to the west, back towards the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x keyhole" 		
	

Floyd | A hole in the wall, similar to a keyhole, but you can see nothing
Floyd | inside the hole -- only darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x inscription" 		
	

Floyd | An inscription is engraved into the material of the wall. It reads:
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Candidate,
Floyd |


Floyd | To proceed to the next phase of neuroalignment, insert the Ivory Key of
Floyd | Obsidian Annihilation into the teleport controller below.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Order of the Perigee.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, so I'm not exactly sure where to go from here" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We have that, right?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a cat

Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought we had a key." 	
			inky asks (of dhakajack), "you said we can still win without going down the rabbit hole?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess that was the last playthrough." 	
			inky says, "we dropped a bunch of stuff when we picked up the cat" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bottom Of Stairwell
Floyd | At the bottom of the staircase, there is a large room with no

Floyd | furnishings. There is an exit to the east. Obviously, going up the

Floyd | stairs is also a consideration.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a toy monkey here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get monkey" 		
	

Floyd | The cat wants your full attention. You can't pick up anything else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop cat" 		
	

Floyd | The cat reverts to the form of a stone statuette.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get monkey" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Spiral Stairs
Floyd | The staircase is made of dull, black stone, and a bannister of the same

Floyd | material spirals down along the wall. The staircase is steep but
Floyd | regular, with landings every step. You can go up or down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says, "Back." 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | It doesn't appear that you can go in that direction, but you might
Floyd | consider heading upwards to the Vaulted Junction, or downwards to the
Floyd | Bottom Of Stairwell.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives

Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,
Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral

Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Metal Shaft

Floyd | A straight, metal shaft. The shaft runs east to west and there are
Floyd | exits at both ends. To the east, you can see a cavernous room, and to
Floyd | the west you catch a hint of velvet-covered walls.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Velvet Room
Floyd | An egg-shaped room which is lined floor, walls and ceiling with a lush

Floyd | grey velvet. There is a pedestal in the middle of the room. The column
Floyd | of the pedestal is covered in fabric, and the fabric has scratch marks,
Floyd | as if sliced with a razor-sharp tool. At the base of the pedestal is a

Floyd | small, brass plaque. The only exit from the room is the metal shaft to
Floyd | the east, which is wide open. Next to the shaft, a grey lever sticks of
Floyd | out the wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd | , a fruit, a whistle, a spoiled tomato, a shy little bunny rabbit and a

Floyd | marble pedestal here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | lacquer box: Taken.
Floyd | fruit: Taken.
Floyd | whistle: Taken.
Floyd | spoiled tomato: Taken.

Floyd | shy little bunny rabbit: Taken.
Floyd | marble pedestal: The marble pedestal doesn't budge. It's no use --  it

Floyd | is definitely fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hi, C." 	
			inky says, "hmm, I guess no key here either" 	
			inky says, "anyway, what we have is a wooden key" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think that may have been the last - oh." 	
			inky says, "the only other key I know about is the ebony key, which is down the rabbit hole" 	
			inky says, "but it sounds like we can't get to it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we can just paint it white and fool the inscription." 	
			dhakajack asks, "is there a way to save the game after getting key and then reload that saved game into floyd?" 	
			inky says, "good idea!" 	
			inky says, "let's see" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Metal Shaft

Floyd | A straight, metal shaft. The shaft runs east to west and there are
Floyd | exits at both ends. To the east, you can see a cavernous room, and to

Floyd | the west you catch a hint of velvet-covered walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives

Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,

Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The temperature drops as you enter this long, echoing chamber. The
Floyd | ceiling and floor seem to be coated with a clear, slippery, hard

Floyd | substance. The walls, on the whole, look rubbery. As you contemplate

Floyd | that, you realise that you have slid to the centre of the room...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic
Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable
Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre

Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the

Floyd | room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | You can't get any traction!  You haven't moved at all!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "blow whistle" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You somersault out of the fireplace, covered with black soot and
Floyd | smelling like a barbeque.
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see three herbs (an herb with blue flowers, an herb with violet
Floyd | flowers and an herb with yellow flowers) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a shy little bunny rabbit
Floyd |   a spoiled tomato
Floyd |   a whistle

Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note

Floyd |
Floyd |   a toy monkey
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get violet" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | The man in priestly robes scratches himself in his sleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | A long, narrow room with a butcher's table. Below the table, there is

Floyd | some sort of large, cube-shaped device marked "recycling unit". A
Floyd | cabinet built into the wall is open, showing a large machine inside.

Floyd | The only way out is back south to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a butcher table here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in white" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x white" 		
	

Floyd | A large, white enamel box with an attached hopper. The box is flat on
Floyd | every side, and altogether unremarkable, except for the words
Floyd | "recycling unit" which appear in raised script letters on the upper
Floyd | right hand corner of the unit, above the hopper. There is something in


Floyd | the hopper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in hopper" 		
	

Floyd | In the hopper are two empty bottles.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put bottle in recess" 		
	

Floyd | (the empty bottle in the recess)
Floyd | The bottle snaps into the recess and the nozzle assembly descends,
Floyd | puncturing the cap.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put herb in funnel" 		
	

Floyd | The herb with grey flowers slides downwards in the funnel.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn crank" 		
	

Floyd | A new potion appears in the machine's recess, and the nozzle retracts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a


Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |


Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can see two herbs (an herb with blue flowers and an herb with
Floyd | yellow flowers) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Desolate Road
Floyd | To the west, you can make out a cabin at the edge of the woods. The
Floyd | woods come right to the edge of the road, except on the north side
Floyd | where there is a small strip of meadow.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Meadow
Floyd | An unmaintained field with short grass near the road, and taller grass
Floyd | towards the surrounding woods. At the edge of the woods, there is a
Floyd | depression, and at its base, a hole. There are some rabbit tracks in
Floyd | the soft mud near the road to the south.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "dammit, I keep typing 'f s' when I play this" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wait, shouldn't that take you s?" 	
			inky says, "not when I'm running the terp directly" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh - that." 	
			inky says, "ok, let's see" 	
	

NOTE:	The next portion of the transcript was conducted offline for technical reasons, but is included here for everyone's edification. Group play resumes when you see the normal Floyd syntax resume.


>drink potion
The violet potion disappears with a PUFF!

Everything around you has gotten bigger!

>enter hole


             Rabbi
            t Hol
           e Ent
          rance

        A nar
       row,
       dark,
        rabbi
         t-siz
         e tun
         nel l
        eadin

        g bot
       h tow
      ards
     the s
      urfac
       e and
        even
         deepe
          r thr
           ough
          the d

          ark,
           moist
            earth
             .
             >d

               Upper
               Rabbi
               t Hol
               e
                A maz
                 e of
                  twist
                   y, tu

                    rning
                     and o
                    therw
                   ise c
                   rampe
                  d pas
                   sages
                   delvi
                   ng fa
                   r int
                   o the

                  groun
                 d. Yo
                u hav
                e two
                choic
               es he
               re: u
               p and
              down.

            >d

          Warre

         ns
        A hor
        ribly
       long,
        deep,
         narro
          w pas
           sage
           of tw
           istin
          g and
           windi
            ng co

            rrido
             rs th
              at al
             terna
            tely
            spira
            l and
           zig-z
           ag ch
          aotic
          ally
         throu
        gh th

       e ear
      th. T
     here'
     s now
     here
    to go
   but u
  p and
  down.

>d

  Lower

  Reach
  es
   A mea
    nderi
     ng tu
      nnel
       throu
        gh th
       e dee
      p dar
      k ear

      th. T
      he tu
      nnel
     exten
    ds up
     and d
      own a
       s far
        as th
        e eye

        can s
        ee.
        >d

Rabbit Den
A relatively large chamber which has been dug in moist clay-like soil. Plant
roots penetrate through the ceilings and walls. The tunnel leads upwards,
back to the surface.

You can see a wall of solid carrot here.

>f eat wall
That's not a verb I recognise.

>eat wall
(the wall of solid carrot)
That's your fibre quota for this hexany....perhaps you can go south now.

>f s
That's not a verb I recognise.

>s

Rabbit Treasure Chamber
A chamber that the rabbit and his lapine ancestors have filled with collected
treasure over the ages. A small opening in the floor leads to a narrow metal
chute. A larger rabbit den is to the north.

You can see an ebony key here.

>f get key
That's not a verb I recognise.

>get key
Taken.

>enter chute
Once you enter the chute, you realise how slick it is, and find yourself
whipping around and around in an ever-descending spiral. Finally, you come to
rest on a metal door. The door clicks open, and you fall to the floor. The
metal door slams shut above you, melding undetectably into the vaulted ceiling.

Vaulted Junction
This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives you
the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft leads off to
the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east, and there is a
frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral stairway leads down.
A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of the stairs.

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives

Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,

Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ta-da" 	
			dhakajack asks, "what I had in mind was playing it quickly off line and then uploading the saved file...would that work?" 	
			CarolynV is duly impressed. 	
			inky says, "I even kept a transcript so you can fake it up" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | The soft gold of the key bears the impression of rabbit incisors, but
Floyd | the multi-hued jewels are firmly seated in their settings. The shaft
Floyd | and handle of the key are ebony. The rectangular shaft of the key

Floyd | terminates in an exceptionally intricate series of ridges and
Floyd | excavations, which suggest that it fits a very complex mechanism.

Floyd | Engraving along the shaft of the key reads "elleH ot yeK ehT" in an
Floyd | archaic script.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Jack), "I don't think that would, no." 	
			dhakajack says, "sorry--browser lag..." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Oh, you did?" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			inky says, "so now we're back north of the ice room with the key" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Frog Room

Floyd | A round room with domed ceiling. Every surface is covered in small,

Floyd | reflective tiles. The tiles create a mosaic depicting water and lily
Floyd | pads on the floor and scores of jumping frogs as the base of the walls.
Floyd | The scene is reinforced by a continuous chorus of croaking which
Floyd | reverberates and is reflected by the tiles. You can exit to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Vaulted Junction

Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives

Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,
Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of
Floyd | the stairs.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Spiral Stairs

Floyd | The staircase is made of dull, black stone, and a bannister of the same
Floyd | material spirals down along the wall. The staircase is steep but
Floyd | regular, with landings every step. You can go up or down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bottom Of Stairwell
Floyd | At the bottom of the staircase, there is a large room with no


Floyd | furnishings. There is an exit to the east. Obviously, going up the
Floyd | stairs is also a consideration.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cat here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Glowing Chamber
Floyd | This magnificent chamber pulses with living energy. There is a small


Floyd | inscription on the wall, and below it, a keyhole. The only exit from
Floyd | the room is to the west, back towards the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack exclaims, "congratulations on the meta-puzzle!" 	
			inky says, "it's the ebony key and not the ivory key, but that's as far as I'd gotten" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put ebony key in keyhole" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing seems to happen. How anticlimactic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn ebony key" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get ebony key" 		
	

Floyd | You already have the ebony key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock keyhole with ebony key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.
Floyd | You return to your normal size. It feels good to be normal size again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | The soft gold of the key bears the impression of rabbit incisors, but
Floyd | the multi-hued jewels are firmly seated in their settings. The shaft
Floyd | and handle of the key are ebony. The rectangular shaft of the key
Floyd | terminates in an exceptionally intricate series of ridges and


Floyd | excavations, which suggest that it fits a very complex mechanism.
Floyd | Engraving along the shaft of the key reads "elleH ot yeK ehT" in an
Floyd | archaic script.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there's that mirror in the old guy's bedroom" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah." 	
			CarolynV says, "Worth a shot by me." 	
			inky says, "but --" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go, inkster!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "blow whistle" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.

Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a
Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You somersault out of the fireplace, covered with black soot and
Floyd | smelling like a barbeque.
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | An uncomfortable, stifling bedroom with no windows. The room is barely
Floyd | large enough to accommodate the vaguely bed-like lump of furniture in
Floyd | the middle of the room. A tall, classic mirror framed in dark wood is

Floyd | wedged between the bed and the wall. A pretty silk ribbon is tastefully

Floyd | draped across the mirror, about half-way up. The mirror reflects the
Floyd | scene in the room. The only exit, an open warped door, lies to the
Floyd | east, and leads back to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a bed (on which is a pillow) here.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x mirror" 		
	

Floyd | A beautiful antique mirror of unparallelled craftsmanship. A pretty
Floyd | silk ribbon is draped across the mirror, about half-way up. Reflected

Floyd | in the mirror, you can see a zombie dressed in the clothes of a farmer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "reflect key in mirror" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch mirror with key" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the mirror)
Floyd | The mirror doesn't budge. It's no use --  it is definitely fixed in

Floyd | place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look at key in mirror" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "For some reason, I really thought I finished this game... but the more of this I see, the less I think I did. Is weird." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch key to mirror" 		
	

Floyd | As the key contacts its reflected twin, the mass and energy of two

Floyd | universes is concentrated into the infinitely small point of contact.

Floyd |
Floyd | You have destroyed the very concept of existence. Nice work.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** Everyone is dead!. ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "Wow." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice work, inky." 	
			inky says, "see, that was as far as I got with that line of thinking on my playthrough" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Bedroom

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch mirror" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push mirror" 		
	

Floyd | The mirror doesn't budge. It's no use --  it is definitely fixed in
Floyd | place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter mirror" 		
	

Floyd | There is a grey ribbon in the way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "go mirror" 		
	

Floyd | There is a grey ribbon in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get ribbon" 		
	

Floyd | The ancient ribbon snaps into two pieces, crumbles to dust, and then is
Floyd | no more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter mirror" 		
	

Floyd |        eht evah uoy ,rorrim eht hguorht ssap uoy sA
Floyd |      ni uoy ekil enoemos tsap gnihsurb fo noitasnes
Floyd |                                      .tcepser yreve
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Jack), "You have a !. at the end, instead of just !" 	
			inky says, "now we're talkin'" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |                      .esingocer I brev a ton s'tahT

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "inv" 		
	

Floyd |                      .esingocer I brev a ton s'tahT

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kool" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                                             moordeB

Floyd |          on htiw moordeb gnilfits ,elbatrofmocnu nA

Floyd |         ot hguone egral ylerab si moor ehT .swodniw
Floyd |            fo pmul ekil-deb yleugav eht etadommocca
Floyd |        ,llat A .moor eht fo elddim eht ni erutinruf
Floyd |        degdew si doow krad ni demarf rorrim cissalc
Floyd |   stcelfer rorrim ehT .llaw eht dna deb eht neewteb

Floyd |       nepo na ,tixe ylno ehT .moor eht ni enecs eht

Floyd |    ot kcab sdael dna ,tsae eht ot seil ,rood depraw
Floyd |                                     .moor tnorf eht
Floyd |
Floyd |      .ereh (wollip a si hcihw no) deb a ees nac uoY
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			inky says, "this is awesome" 	
			CarolynV says, "OMG." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, this is pretty great, yeah." 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "And I don't say that often!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "yrotnevni" 		
	

Floyd |                                   :gniyrrac era uoY
Floyd |                                        yek yrovi na

Floyd |                           tibbar ynnub elttil yhs a

Floyd |                                    otamot deliops a
Floyd |                                           eltsihw a
Floyd |                                             tiurf a
Floyd |       eton tnemhcrap a sniatnoc hcihw xob reuqcal a
Floyd |

Floyd |                                        yeknom yot a

Floyd |                      (nrow gnieb) sessalg fo riap a
Floyd |            (nrow gnieb) stnemrag mraf gniyaced emos
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "wollip teg" 		
	

Floyd |   llams a gnilaever ,edisa stfaw wollip lufitip ehT
Floyd |                                             .elttob
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "elottob teg" 		
	

Floyd |                       .gniht hcus yna ees t'nac uoY
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to C), "I think you mean OMFG, really. I mean, if you're going to resort to 1337 speak, might as well go all out." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "elttob teg" 		
	

Floyd |                                              .nekaT
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV asks, "OMGWTFIRDOABBQ?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's better." 	
			dhakajack says, "QBBAODRIFTWGMO" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "yek x" 		
	

Floyd |    fo noisserpmi eht sraeb yek eht fo dlog tfos ehT
Floyd |      era slewej deuh-itlum eht tub ,srosicni tibbar
Floyd |      dna tfahs ehT .sgnittes rieht ni detaes ylmrif
Floyd |        ralugnatcer ehT .yrovi era yek eht fo eldnah
Floyd |     yllanoitpecxe na ni setanimret yek eht fo tfahs
Floyd |   hcihw ,snoitavacxe dna segdir fo seires etacirtni


Floyd |      .msinahcem xelpmoc yrev a stif ti taht tseggus
Floyd |     ehT" sdaer yek eht fo tfahs eht gnola gnivargnE
Floyd |                 .tpircs ciahcra na ni "elleH ot yeK
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "...the part where the word ADRIFT is in the middle of that bothers me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			CarolynV says, "Jack, I don't know how you did this, but it is INSANE." 	
			inky says, "ok, so the key has turned to ivory" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, how in the heck..." 	
			inky says, "and the writing is backwards" 	
			inky says, "I mean, frontwards" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "rorrim ni yek tup" 		
	

Floyd |

		inky says, "I mean, not frontwards" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It is very, very cool." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "rorrim ta yek worht" 		
	

Floyd |

		CarolynV says, "Floyd stopped liking me." 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kool" 		
	

Floyd |

		inky says, "oops, not again" 	
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

		dhakajack says, "I did crazy things with text streams. The excruciating part was to get this effect to superimposed on the "twisty passage" effect of going down the rabbit tunnel." 	
			CarolynV gawks. 	
			inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			CarolynV says, "I BET." 	
			inky asks, "so we can actually leave the room and wander around the whole map?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "wow" 	
			dhakajack says, "if I recall correctly, yes -- were you so inclined..." 	
			inky says, "man oh goodness" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, are we ?won nekorb" 	
			inky says, "yeah maybe" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kool" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "!ssendas" 	
			dhakajack says, "note -- doing the entire game in reverse is not necessary, though. Not even recommended, frankly." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But still really freakin' cool." 	
	maga's studied dalliance with his venal muses is little to our taste. 		dhakajack says, "I believe that the original (reversed) key would work the lock in the mirror universe as an alternate way to finish the intro" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "awesome" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm... so I hate to ask, but are we going to call it quits here, on the supposition that Floyd will break before we finish anyway? Now that we've seen this awesomeness? Or, dear gods, is there something even more awesome to come?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "do you want to try the restore from save trick again and play it out from here?" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Will that work?" 	
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "load ninetenths" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		dhakajack says, "you've hit almost everything except possession of a couple more critters and dialogue with the old guy" 	
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                         Nine-Tenths of the Law

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                   by

Floyd |                               Jack Welch
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |            An introduction submitted to the 2008 IntroComp
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                      Please press [Space] to begin

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Nine-tenths of the Law

Floyd | Copyright (c) 2008 Jack Welch
Floyd | Release 112 / Serial number 080818 / Inform v6.31 Library 6/11
Floyd | Type HELP for info on licencing and credits, or if you get stuck.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of

Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cheap wooden door, a shambling zombie and a shy little

Floyd | bunny rabbit here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "so do you want me to play out the last bit from this save?" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure exactly what things caused it to stop working in the mirror" 	
			dhakajack says, "If everyone's had it, I don't want to torture you to [un]death with this game, though..." 	
			Jacqueline nods. 	
			inky says, "since some stuff did work" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "blow whistle" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There
Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | You somersault out of the fireplace, covered with black soot and
Floyd | smelling like a barbeque.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The figure in the chair mumbles incoherently about tomatoes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom

Floyd | An uncomfortable, stifling bedroom with no windows. The room is barely
Floyd | large enough to accommodate the vaguely bed-like lump of furniture in
Floyd | the middle of the room. A tall, classic mirror framed in dark wood is

Floyd | wedged between the bed and the wall. A pretty silk ribbon is tastefully
Floyd | draped across the mirror, about half-way up. The mirror reflects the
Floyd | scene in the room. The only exit, an open warped door, lies to the

Floyd | east, and leads back to the front room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a bed (on which is a pillow) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get ribbon" 		
	

Floyd | The ancient ribbon snaps into two pieces, crumbles to dust, and then is
Floyd | no more.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look under pillow" 		
	

Floyd | The pitiful pillow wafts aside, revealing a small bottle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The grey potion is too heavy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read label" 		
	

Floyd | "potion of aronk."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, we never did see what that one did" 	
			CarolynV asks, "Too heavy?" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "inv" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an ebony key


Floyd |   a shy little bunny rabbit
Floyd |   a spoiled tomato
Floyd |   a whistle
Floyd |   a fruit
Floyd |   a lacquer box which contains a parchment note
Floyd |


Floyd |   a toy monkey
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   some decaying farm garments (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I don't remember that." 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "x tomato" 		
	

Floyd | This disgusting grey lump of vegetable matter may have been a tomato
Floyd | once, but the soft, glistening mass is no longer appetising.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "I must have missed the tomato going bad." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You are a possessed decaying corpse with vacant, unblinking eyes and
Floyd | saliva-coated maw; any fool could tell that you are undead.  You seem


Floyd | to be missing a right arm. In terms of fashion, you are wearing some
Floyd | decaying farm garments. At least the spectacles add an air of academic
Floyd | respectability.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "maybe when we dropped it we bruised it" 	
			inky asks, "?" 	
	Lucea arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		inky says, "or maybe it's a zombie tomato" 	
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "drool on tomato" 		Lucea asks, "whoa, you're still playing?" 	
	

Floyd | You cover the spoiled tomato with wet saliva. It evaporates.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "smell tomato" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd | You return to your normal size. It feels good to be normal size again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	CarolynV says (to Floyd), "get potion" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline likes the idea of a zombie tomato. 	
			CarolynV says, "There we go." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "You missed the coolest thing ever, and yes." 	
			Lucea says, "what did I miss" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		CarolynV says, "moordeB ...on htiw moordeb gnilfits ,elbatrofmocnu nA" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter mirror" 		
	

Floyd |        eht evah uoy ,rorrim eht hguorht ssap uoy sA
Floyd |      ni uoy ekil enoemos tsap gnihsurb fo noitasnes
Floyd |                                      .tcepser yreve
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "kool" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                                             moordeB
Floyd |          on htiw moordeb gnilfits ,elbatrofmocnu nA
Floyd |         ot hguone egral ylerab si moor ehT .swodniw


Floyd |            fo pmul ekil-deb yleugav eht etadommocca
Floyd |        ,llat A .moor eht fo elddim eht ni erutinruf
Floyd |        degdew si doow krad ni demarf rorrim cissalc
Floyd |   stcelfer rorrim ehT .llaw eht dna deb eht neewteb
Floyd |       nepo na ,tixe ylno ehT .moor eht ni enecs eht
Floyd |    ot kcab sdael dna ,tsae eht ot seil ,rood depraw


Floyd |                                     .moor tnorf eht
Floyd |
Floyd |      .ereh (wollip a si hcihw no) deb a ees nac uoY
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "This stuff." 	
			Lucea says, "eeeagh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, ffuts sihT" 	
			Lucea says, "my inner parser is crying" 	
			Jacqueline says, "My inner parser is amazed." 	
			CarolynV says, "We have it on good authority you can wander around the .pam eritne" 	
			Jacqueline refrains from saying that your inner parser called me crying. 	
			inky says, "ok, so uh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wollip x" 		
	

Floyd |      evah yam taht cirbaf fo tib niht-repap ,yerg A
Floyd |                   .efil remrof sti ni wollip a neeb
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "yek pord" 		
	

Floyd |                                            .depporD
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Ghogg arrives, full of fun and funk. 		inky says (to Ghogg), "check this out:" 	
			Lucea says, "uh, yeah, I'm going to let you guys drive. this is one of those "I appreciate the work you put into this but ye gods, no."" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "kool" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                                             moordeB

Floyd |          on htiw moordeb gnilfits ,elbatrofmocnu nA

Floyd |         ot hguone egral ylerab si moor ehT .swodniw
Floyd |            fo pmul ekil-deb yleugav eht etadommocca
Floyd |        ,llat A .moor eht fo elddim eht ni erutinruf
Floyd |        degdew si doow krad ni demarf rorrim cissalc
Floyd |   stcelfer rorrim ehT .llaw eht dna deb eht neewteb

Floyd |       nepo na ,tixe ylno ehT .moor eht ni enecs eht

Floyd |    ot kcab sdael dna ,tsae eht ot seil ,rood depraw
Floyd |                                     .moor tnorf eht
Floyd |
Floyd |   a si hcihw no) deb a dna yek yrovi na ees nac uoY
Floyd |                                       .ereh (wollip

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Ghogg says, "Wrrrr" 	
			Jacqueline laughs at Ghogg. 	
			CarolynV says, "My brain is turning to jello. Yet... so emosewa." 	
			inky says, "he claims the whole game is playable this way" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, um, what do we do now?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "rrorim retne" 		
	

Floyd |                       .gniht hcus yna ees t'nac uoY

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "We just came to the mirror to read the key, right?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "rorrim retne" 		
	

Floyd | As you pass through the mirror, you have the sensation of brushing past

Floyd | someone like you in every respect.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Bedroom

Floyd | An uncomfortable, stifling bedroom with no windows. The room is barely
Floyd | large enough to accommodate the vaguely bed-like lump of furniture in
Floyd | the middle of the room. A tall, classic mirror framed in dark wood is
Floyd | wedged between the bed and the wall. The mirror reflects the scene in
Floyd | the room. The only exit, an open warped door, lies to the east, and

Floyd | leads back to the front room.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an ivory key and a bed (on which is a pillow) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I suggest you exit the mirror world before everyone goes insane" 	
			inky says, "ta-da" 	
			CarolynV exclaims, "Yay!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to dhakajack), "Heehee." 	
			inky says, "(but jack hinted at that to me before, so it's not that impressive)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | A monastically simple room, with a single chair, a low table, and a

Floyd | small fireplace. Strangely, this house has been built with no windows.
Floyd | The kitchen is to the north, and the front yard is to the east. There

Floyd | is an open warped door which leads to a room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a table and a black chair (on which is an old man) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Zzzzzzzzz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "dang! more client lag..." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Front Yard
Floyd | A small, windowless cabin to the west is framed by a lush lawn. To the
Floyd | south of the cabin, there is a small, well-tended garden. A dirt lane
Floyd | leads towards the east, where it joins up with the road into town.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see two herbs (an herb with blue flowers and an herb with

Floyd | yellow flowers) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Desolate Road
Floyd | To the west, you can make out a cabin at the edge of the woods. The

Floyd | woods come right to the edge of the road, except on the north side
Floyd | where there is a small strip of meadow.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Dirt Road

Floyd | A wheel-rutted single lane runs east and west. You are at the bottom of
Floyd | a path that leads upwards to the peak of a small mountain, while the
Floyd | road is bordered by dense woods. There is a small signpost here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Sloping Path
Floyd | At the top, the winding path is little more than a depression in the

Floyd | gravel and mud, but lower down the mountain, it becomes more defined,
Floyd | and perhaps even sees occasional use. Near the bottom of the path a
Floyd | dirt road is visible.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The Hilltop
Floyd | A craggy, windswept patch of dirt atop the smallest in a vast range of

Floyd | mountains. A barely visible path leads down the mountain. An opening
Floyd | leads north into the mountain itself.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a fleshy white polyp and a shackle-bound zombie arm here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall Of Welcome
Floyd | An austere room with plain, white marble walls and a polished floor of

Floyd | checkered black and white tile. Through the remnants of the ancient
Floyd | entranceway, only the barest sliver of pale daylight penetrates the

Floyd | room (not that it matters...for you, at least). There is an open marble
Floyd | door at the north end of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wooden bowl (which is empty) and a sculpture here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Hall Of Wanting
Floyd | Stairs lead downwards into this room from both the north and south

Floyd | ends; an open marble door leads out of the room to the south, and an
Floyd | open speckled door leads northward. The room is panelled in dark wood,
Floyd | and has an arched wooden ceiling and grey, stone floor. Near the middle
Floyd | of of the room, there is a sink inset into the east wall. It looks like

Floyd | there is some sort of hole in the middle of the floor near the north
Floyd | end.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Portrait Gallery
Floyd | A long hall lined with a collection of portraits of men and women in
Floyd | priestly robes.  Some of the faces seem vaguely familiar to you.  There
Floyd | must be hexanies of them here.  One picture frame stands out in

Floyd | particular, an empty frame at the north end of the hall.  There is an
Floyd | open speckled door at the south end of the hall. To the north, there is

Floyd | an open archway which leads to an icy cavern.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The temperature drops as you enter this long, echoing chamber. The
Floyd | ceiling and floor seem to be coated with a clear, slippery, hard
Floyd | substance. The walls, on the whole, look rubbery. As you contemplate

Floyd | that, you realise that you have slid to the centre of the room...
Floyd |

Floyd | Hall Of Cold Logic
Floyd | The white ceiling and floor of the room are entirely unremarkable
Floyd | except for their unusual slickness. You can see exits near the centre
Floyd | of the north and south walls. You are dead-centre in the middle of the

Floyd | room.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,

Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are ever so gently
Floyd | propelled towards the north. You are less than halfway to the northern

Floyd | wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are ever so gently
Floyd | propelled towards the north. You are more than halfway to the northern
Floyd | wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw fruit south" 		
	

Floyd | You throw the fruit towards the south; and you catch it in mid-air,
Floyd | after it bounces off the southern wall. You are right next to the

Floyd | northern wall and equidistant between the western and eastern walls.
Floyd | The exit is just to your north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Vaulted Junction
Floyd | This room is remarkable for its high, arched ceiling which almost gives
Floyd | you the impression of being outside at night. An inclined metal shaft
Floyd | leads off to the west, there is some sort of tiled chamber to the east,

Floyd | and there is a frozen cavern to the south. In addition, a steep spiral
Floyd | stairway leads down. A sign is engraved into the wall near the top of

Floyd | the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Spiral Stairs
Floyd | The staircase is made of dull, black stone, and a bannister of the same

Floyd | material spirals down along the wall. The staircase is steep but
Floyd | regular, with landings every step. You can go up or down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Bottom Of Stairwell
Floyd | At the bottom of the staircase, there is a large room with no
Floyd | furnishings. There is an exit to the east. Obviously, going up the
Floyd | stairs is also a consideration.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cat here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Glowing Chamber
Floyd | This magnificent chamber pulses with living energy. There is a small
Floyd | inscription on the wall, and below it, a keyhole. The only exit from
Floyd | the room is to the west, back towards the stairs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock keyhole with ivory key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put ivory key in keyhole" 		
	

Floyd | A strange sounds builds and builds, like someone running a set of metal
Floyd | keys slowly up and down the strings of a harp. Slowly, your
Floyd | surroundings fade.

Floyd |

Floyd | You are standing on the command deck of a starship.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large viewing screen shows a planet, with patches of blue ocean and
Floyd | land peeking through the cloud cover.
Floyd |

Floyd | Congratulations, you have completed the introduction to "Nine-tenths of

Floyd | the Law"!
Floyd |
Floyd | The continuation will be released in 2009.
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "TADA" 	
			inky says, "hooray" 	
	dhakajack gives everyone a standing ovation. Yay|2 		Jacqueline says, "!ykni ,emosewa het era uoY" 	
			CarolynV asks, "Jack, was there another way to reach this end, or am I absolutely hallucinating?" 	
			CarolynV says, "Er, another way to reach *an* end, not this end." 	
			dhakajack says, "that final room is a bottleneck -- the end of the intro -" 	
			CarolynV says, "Wow. I am made of fail, then. I must have mistaken one of the death scenes for the correct ending somehow." 	
			dhakajack says, "you had to either get there this way or entirely in reverse (which might well damn you to play the rest of the game in reverse for good measure)." 	
			CarolynV says, "I'm really glad that I stuck around... I didn't see a whole lot of that." 	
			dhakajack says, "you hit every room. What you didn't see was a lot of potential dialogue with the old man. There are also a couple other possessible creatures." 	
			dhakajack says, "thanks for playing everyone -- I see quite a few places that need polishing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're very welcome, Jack. Thank you for stopping by to be here as we played." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks to both of you for being here." 	
			CarolynV smiles.	
	



[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]








ClubFloyd Transcript:
Queen of Swords by Jessica Knoch
Snowblind Aces by C.E.J. Pacian
As played on ifMUD on September 21, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Queen of Swords, written by Jessica Knoch and Snowblind Aces, written by C.E.J. Pacian.

Queen of Swords was originally released as part of the 2003 IF Art Show, where it took Best of Show. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

Snowblind Aces was originally released as part of the TIGSource IF Competition called Text the Halls, where it took first place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing these games, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played these games, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	inky asks, "should we get started then?" 		
	DavidW says, "yeah, I can use up some of that new drive." 		
	inky says, "ha ha" 		
	inky says, "I guess it is more or less just us today, but that seems to be the way it goes" 		
	Gunther arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	dhakajack arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Bert asks, "For RPG's, didn't we have some special mode for spoilish interludes?" 		
	Bert asks, "Does the script Jacq uses for these do that?" 		
	inky says, "well, she took a version of lpsmith's, so I assume so" 		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Bert asks (of inky), "Didn't he have to do something special to indicate when to do that and for which channels?" 		
	Bert says, "Since A) not all interludes were spoilish and B) he presumably wouldn't have known to include #cfspoilers anyway." 		
	inky says, "yeah, in the script it has a list of what channels do what" 		
	DavidW says, "Where's Lucea? How can we be triumphant without our triumpherant? (ooh, that can't be spelt right)" 		
	inky says, "but I assume she made those changes in it" 		
	inky says, "hmm, given that she's not logged in I assume she's not logging in" 		DavidW says, "Anyway. Perry's logging. We can wait a bit or start anytime." 	
			inky says, "ok, let's go" 	
			inky asks, "queen of swords first?" 	
			DavidW says, "sure" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "load queen" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                           THE QUEEN OF SWORDS
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                     [Please press SPACE to begin.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Each week, you spend four hours round-trip in a car to take a
Floyd | beginner's fencing class at the Virginia Academy of Fencing in
Floyd | Springfield. It's fun, you tell yourself, and it never hurts to be more
Floyd | active. David, on the other hand, wants to compete. Your husband wants

Floyd | to join the U.S. Fencing Association and begin competing in regional
Floyd | tournaments after only eight weeks of classes, when they tell people to
Floyd | take lessons for a whole year before competing. However, David will
Floyd | want what David will want, and you love your husband dearly, so...
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a tournament in Glen Falls this weekend, and you're going. On

Floyd | your last trip to VAF you spent over $900 on electric fencing
Floyd | equipment. The real problem is going to figure out how to use all of
Floyd | it: what plugs into where, which piece you need to put on first, and
Floyd | how to fence with a floor cord holding you back. That's why you and
Floyd | David are going to use tonight, while you have the room at the local
Floyd | library reserved, to practice gearing up for electric.

Floyd |
Floyd | David gets a good parking spot downtown, and the two of you haul the
Floyd | bags of equipment out of the trunk and into the library. The librarians
Floyd | wave at you as you pass, already used to seeing you, and the two of you
Floyd | make your way to one of the larger meeting rooms upstairs to set up the
Floyd | electric strip.

Floyd |
Floyd | David drops his equipment bag near the door and smiles at you. "I'll
Floyd | put the strip up," he says. "Why don't you go ahead and get your stuff
Floyd | on?" You look at your bag uncertainly. "I'm not sure I know where
Floyd | everything goes," you say. He grins. "Me neither," he says. "If you
Floyd | have trouble, let me know, and I'll try to help." He takes the bag with

Floyd | the scoring box and floor reels and goes to set up a table. You survey
Floyd | the room.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Queen of Swords
Floyd | An Interactive Fencing Lesson

Floyd | Copyright (c) 2003 by Jessica Knoch
Floyd |
Floyd | Players may wish to type ABOUT.
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 030426 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library

Floyd | A large, open room, with plenty of room for a few fencers to practice.
Floyd | Of course, tonight it's just you and David. A row of tall windows line
Floyd | the western wall, and stacks of chairs are at either end of the long
Floyd | north-south room. The door to the hallway is east. An industrial-type
Floyd | carpet in garish red covers the floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | The open windows let in a welcome breeze.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | "The Queen of Swords" was written as an entry in the Event Division of

Floyd | the 2003 Interactive Fiction Art Show, organized by Marnie Parker. For
Floyd | more information about fencing, and some general tips on exploring this
Floyd | work, players may wish to type HELP. Experienced IF players will find
Floyd | it sufficient to note that examining objects may be important; that
Floyd | David is a source of help; and that the verb ATTACH can be quite
Floyd | useful. The most important fencing verb is, well, FENCE. The work tries

Floyd | to convey a close approximation of the preparation for fencing with
Floyd | electric gear, fiddly bits and all.
Floyd |
Floyd | Finally, thanks to Andrew Plotkin for his answers on raif and advice on
Floyd | his website. Oh, one final note: the game refers to a "lam?," but for
Floyd | simplicity's sake, you may type "lame." (It's still pronounced

Floyd | luh-MAY!)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims, "Eeeagh, huge textdump!" 	
			Nitku says, "It's not that bad, actually" 	
			inky says, "the short version seems to be that you're practicing getting your fencing gear on" 	
			Nitku says, "Compared to many others" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a fencing bag (which is closed)

Floyd |
Floyd | David pushes the table against the eastern wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open bag" 		
	

Floyd | The bag is bulky enough to get in your way when you try.
Floyd |
Floyd | David notices your conflict, and says, "You could just put the bag
Floyd | down, love. It'll be fine right there."
Floyd |
Floyd | He sets the bag of scoring equipment on the table and opens it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look just as you always have.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a fencing bag (which is closed)
Floyd |
Floyd | David is rummaging in the bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put bag on table" 		
	

Floyd | You put the fencing bag on the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes a floor reel and floor cord from the bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open bag" 		
	

Floyd | You open the fencing bag, revealing a mask, a jacket, a body cord, an
Floyd | electric foil, a lam?, a glove, a plastron and a chest protector.
Floyd |

Floyd | He walks to the north end of the room and sets down the floor reel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to bert), "It's no textdump, it's art." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x david" 		
	

Floyd | Your husband is a tall man in his mid-thirties, with clear gray eyes
Floyd | and a wonderfully misshapen nose. His smile lights up your day, and he
Floyd | doesn't smile much except at you: but he smiles a lot at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | David plugs the floor cord into the floor reel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x david" 		
	

Floyd | Your husband is a tall man in his mid-thirties, with clear gray eyes
Floyd | and a wonderfully misshapen nose. His smile lights up your day, and he
Floyd | doesn't smile much except at you: but he smiles a lot at you.

Floyd |
Floyd | David walks back to the center of the room and looks in the bag on the
Floyd | table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "punch nose" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "hit david with foil" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit David.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "hit david" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | David pulls the scoring box out of the bag and sets it on the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wield foil" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x lame" 		
	

Floyd | The lam? (pronounced "luh-MAY") is like a sleeveless, metal vest, used
Floyd | in electric foil fencing to define your target area--literally, since
Floyd | the opponent's blade must strike you on the lam? to complete the
Floyd | correct circuit. It The lam? is made to cover your torso from neck to

Floyd | waistline, with an additional section in front best described by
Floyd | drawing a line from your hips to your pelvis. Yours is an Uhlmann lam?,
Floyd | quite high quality, although it cost a good deal. There is a small,
Floyd | metal D-ring (shaped like the letter D) sewn into the back of the lam?.
Floyd |
Floyd | He plugs the free end of the first floor cord into the scoring box.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look just as you always have.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes the other floor cord out of the bag and plugs one end into
Floyd | the box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "the lam? is lame" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | The D-ring is sewn onto the back of your lam?. Its purpose is solely to
Floyd | give the hook from the floor reel something to latch onto, to give the
Floyd | three-prong connection a bit of slack and make your life easier.
Floyd |

Floyd | David takes the other reel from the bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | A handy little device: this is the thing that makes it all work. The

Floyd | scoring box lights up whenever a fencer (properly plugged in, of
Floyd | course) scores a touch, and lets you know whether it was on-target (on
Floyd | the lam?) or off-target (anywhere else) by lighting up either the
Floyd | fencer's colored light (on) or white light (off). You're fencing on the
Floyd | right side, so the green light is yours, and the red light is David's.
Floyd |

Floyd | He walks down to the south end of the room, and winks at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "too fast for me" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get box" 		
	

Floyd | There's no reason to do anything besides look at the lights.
Floyd |
Floyd | Setting the floor reel on the carpet, David plugs the free end of the
Floyd | floor cord into it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x lights" 		
	

Floyd | A handy little device: this is the thing that makes it all work. The
Floyd | scoring box lights up whenever a fencer (properly plugged in, of
Floyd | course) scores a touch, and lets you know whether it was on-target (on
Floyd | the lam?) or off-target (anywhere else) by lighting up either the

Floyd | fencer's colored light (on) or white light (off). You're fencing on the
Floyd | right side, so the green light is yours, and the red light is David's.
Floyd |
Floyd | David turns to survey his work.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I have about five screenfuls to read." 	
			inky says, "ok, we can pause a bit" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pause" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x reel" 		
	

Floyd | The floor reel is made to connect you to the floor cord. It's supposed
Floyd | to sit at the end of the strip, and the floor cord plugs into it. The
Floyd | hook that comes out the front attaches to the fencer's body cord, and

Floyd | when released it retracts like a self-retracting tape measure. Your
Floyd | floor reels are Uhlmann made, with dark blue plastic casing and rubber
Floyd | feet to keep them in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oops," David says, "I forgot to plug in the box."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull floor cord to floor reel" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to pull the floor cord.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug floor cord to floor reel" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug floor cord into floor reel" 		
	

Floyd | David will plug in all of the floor cords. Just worry about your own
Floyd | stuff for now.
Floyd |
Floyd | He walks back to the table in the center of the east wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in bag" 		
	

Floyd | In the fencing bag are a mask, a jacket, a body cord, an electric foil,
Floyd | a lam?, a glove, a plastron and a chest protector.

Floyd |
Floyd | David peers in the bag and gets out the AC adapter for the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug reel into body cord" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | David plugs the adapter into the box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess we just put this stuff on" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x chest protector" 		
	

Floyd | The chest protector is hard plastic, molded to fit your body. Females
Floyd | are required to wear them at USFA competitions, and you're just as
Floyd | glad, since it really cuts down on the bruises. The elastic bands hook

Floyd | behind your back like a bra.
Floyd |
Floyd | He plugs the free end of the adapter into the electrical outlet in the
Floyd | wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x plastron" 		
	

Floyd | The plastron is a thin, white, half-shirt, designed to protect the
Floyd | underarm of your weapon arm from an errant hit. It has elastic bands to
Floyd | secure it in place, and it is supposed to go on under everything else.
Floyd |

Floyd | "There!" David says, looking over the electric strip in satisfaction.
Floyd | He turns to you. "Now, let's get suited up and then we can fence!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get chest protector" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David looks you over. "Looks like you don't quite have all your stuff.
Floyd | Check in your bag--if you need help with something, show it to me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You start to pull the chest protector on, but the unfamiliar cold
Floyd | plastic stops you. Ah yes, you're supposed to have the plastron on
Floyd | underneath!
Floyd |

Floyd | Meanwhile, David gets his gear on amazingly fast. He says, "We'll
Floyd | salute as soon as we're both ready."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get plastron" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David connects to the far floor reel. "I'm about ready," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the plastron.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess we wear the plastron first" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear chest" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the chest protector.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x jacket" 		
	

Floyd | Your jacket covers your torso and arms while you fence. They are
Floyd | required to be white, and yours zips up the front (making it much
Floyd | easier to put on by yourself). Although the FIE requires 800 Newton
Floyd | resistance, you are merely fencing in the USFA, which has much more lax

Floyd | requirements than its European counterpart, so yours is only rated at
Floyd | 350 Newtons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get glove" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | White, with leather on the palm for a better grip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the glove.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear jacket" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the jacket)
Floyd | You must unzip the jacket before you can put it on.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unzip it" 		
	

Floyd | You fumble with the zipper, but the glove is too thick to allow you to
Floyd | get a good grasp.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove glove" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the glove.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unzip jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the jacket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the clean, white jacket on and tug it into place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "zip jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You zip up the jacket, tugging the zipper up to make sure it's all the
Floyd | way up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "version" 		
	

Floyd | The Queen of Swords
Floyd | An Interactive Fencing Lesson
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2003 by Jessica Knoch
Floyd |

Floyd | Players may wish to type ABOUT.
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 030426 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0 (2N) / Library serial number 991113
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | Your fencing bag is a calming maroon color. It's long enough to hold a
Floyd | foil, and deep enough to hold your mask, clothes, and all the other
Floyd | cords and things you need for fencing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the glove.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search baf" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search bag" 		
	

Floyd | In the fencing bag are a mask, a body cord, an electric foil and a
Floyd | lam?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the mask)
Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear cord" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord)
Floyd | (first taking the floor cord)
Floyd | David will plug in all of the floor cords. Just worry about your own
Floyd | stuff for now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "baf seems to contain a wurb" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear lame" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the lam?)

Floyd | The mask blocking your peripheral vision makes your task difficult. You
Floyd | seem to remember it's the very last piece of equipment to go on, just
Floyd | before you begin a bout.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove mask. wear lame" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd | You must unzip the lam? before you can put it on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x lame" 		
	

Floyd | The lam? (pronounced "luh-MAY") is like a sleeveless, metal vest, used
Floyd | in electric foil fencing to define your target area--literally, since
Floyd | the opponent's blade must strike you on the lam? to complete the
Floyd | correct circuit. It The lam? is made to cover your torso from neck to

Floyd | waistline, with an additional section in front best described by
Floyd | drawing a line from your hips to your pelvis. Yours is an Uhlmann lam?,
Floyd | quite high quality, although it cost a good deal. There is a small,
Floyd | metal D-ring (shaped like the letter D) sewn into the back of the lam?.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "unzip lame. wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You fumble with the zipper, but the glove is too thick to allow you to
Floyd | get a good grasp.
Floyd | You must unzip the lam? before you can put it on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remove glove" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the glove.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "unzip lame. wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the lam?.
Floyd | You struggle to get your jacketed arms through the small openings in
Floyd | the lam?. Finally, you get it on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear gloves" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the glove.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search bag" 		
	

Floyd | In the fencing bag are a body cord and an electric foil.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to
Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In
Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "attach it to lame" 		
	

Floyd | That's not supposed to attach directly to the lam?. You may wish to
Floyd | attach it to the D-ring, or it may not be necessary at all.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "attach it to d-ring" 		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Bert pushes the green 'space' button. 		inky asks, "...er?" 	
			Bert says, "I see." 	
			DavidW says, "hm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		Nitku says, "It was all too lam? for Floyd" 	
			DavidW asks, "Restart?" 	
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Bert asks, "I guess it ended itself?" 	
			inky says, "that was weird" 	
			inky says, "maybe we tried to attach the cord to itself" 	
			Bert says, "Odd that it did it when no one was even typing." 	
			inky says, "well, it does have that cpu limit" 	
			inky says, "in theory" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "Mmm, yeah." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "load queen" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message]

		Bert says, "So it could have been spinning madly." 	
	Bert pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                           THE QUEEN OF SWORDS
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                     [Please press SPACE to begin.]

		DavidW says, "oh, an endless loop, eh? grr" 	
			inky says, "I think so" 	
			inky says, "I looked and it was using 95% cpu" 	
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Each week, you spend four hours round-trip in a car to take a
Floyd | beginner's fencing class at the Virginia Academy of Fencing in
Floyd | Springfield. It's fun, you tell yourself, and it never hurts to be more
Floyd | active. David, on the other hand, wants to compete. Your husband wants
Floyd | to join the U.S. Fencing Association and begin competing in regional
Floyd | tournaments after only eight weeks of classes, when they tell people to

Floyd | take lessons for a whole year before competing. However, David will
Floyd | want what David will want, and you love your husband dearly, so...
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a tournament in Glen Falls this weekend, and you're going. On
Floyd | your last trip to VAF you spent over $900 on electric fencing
Floyd | equipment. The real problem is going to figure out how to use all of

Floyd | it: what plugs into where, which piece you need to put on first, and
Floyd | how to fence with a floor cord holding you back. That's why you and
Floyd | David are going to use tonight, while you have the room at the local
Floyd | library reserved, to practice gearing up for electric.
Floyd |
Floyd | David gets a good parking spot downtown, and the two of you haul the

Floyd | bags of equipment out of the trunk and into the library. The librarians
Floyd | wave at you as you pass, already used to seeing you, and the two of you
Floyd | make your way to one of the larger meeting rooms upstairs to set up the
Floyd | electric strip.
Floyd |
Floyd | David drops his equipment bag near the door and smiles at you. "I'll

Floyd | put the strip up," he says. "Why don't you go ahead and get your stuff
Floyd | on?" You look at your bag uncertainly. "I'm not sure I know where
Floyd | everything goes," you say. He grins. "Me neither," he says. "If you
Floyd | have trouble, let me know, and I'll try to help." He takes the bag with
Floyd | the scoring box and floor reels and goes to set up a table. You survey
Floyd | the room.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Queen of Swords
Floyd | An Interactive Fencing Lesson
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2003 by Jessica Knoch
Floyd |

Floyd | Players may wish to type ABOUT.
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 030426 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library
Floyd | A large, open room, with plenty of room for a few fencers to practice.
Floyd | Of course, tonight it's just you and David. A row of tall windows line

Floyd | the western wall, and stacks of chairs are at either end of the long
Floyd | north-south room. The door to the hallway is east. An industrial-type
Floyd | carpet in garish red covers the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | The open windows let in a welcome breeze.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put bag on table" 		
	

Floyd | You put the fencing bag on the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | David pushes the table against the eastern wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open bag" 		
	

Floyd | You open the fencing bag, revealing a mask, a jacket, a body cord, an
Floyd | electric foil, a lam?, a glove, a plastron and a chest protector.

Floyd |
Floyd | He sets the bag of scoring equipment on the table and opens it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "plastron first" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David is rummaging in the bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to

Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In
Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes a floor reel and floor cord from the bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Gunther says, "this is one bizarre-ass game" 	
	olethros arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		inky asks, "does this thing about the cord running up your sleeve and down your back matter?" 	
			DavidW says (to Gunther), "It's from IF Art Show." 	
			inky says, "I guess we can put on the other stuff and see" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get plastron then wear it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | He walks to the north end of the room and sets down the floor reel.

Floyd | You put on the plastron.
Floyd |
Floyd | David plugs the floor cord into the floor reel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get chest protector then wear it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David walks back to the center of the room and looks in the bag on the
Floyd | table.

Floyd | You put on the chest protector.
Floyd |
Floyd | David pulls the scoring box out of the bag and sets it on the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I am curious if the tedious 'get your gear on' thing is going to turn out to be the whole game." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get lame then wear it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | He plugs the free end of the first floor cord into the scoring box.

Floyd | You could put the lam? on, but you know it would make more sense to put
Floyd | the jacket on first.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes the other floor cord out of the bag and plugs one end into
Floyd | the box.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get jacket" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes the other reel from the bag.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Jacket was 3rd, I thought." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You must unzip the jacket before you can put it on.

Floyd |
Floyd | He walks down to the south end of the room, and winks at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unzip it" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the jacket.
Floyd |
Floyd | Setting the floor reel on the carpet, David plugs the free end of the
Floyd | floor cord into it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the clean, white jacket on and tug it into place.
Floyd |
Floyd | David turns to survey his work.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear lame" 		
	

Floyd | You stop to think. It'd be silly to put the lam? on over your unzipped
Floyd | jacket.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Oops," David says, "I forgot to plug in the box."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Oh, it's art show, not intro?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "zip jacket then wear lame" 		
	

Floyd | You zip up the jacket, tugging the zipper up to make sure it's all the
Floyd | way up.
Floyd |
Floyd | He walks back to the table in the center of the east wall.
Floyd | You must unzip the lam? before you can put it on.
Floyd |

Floyd | David peers in the bag and gets out the AC adapter for the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "unzip lame" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the lam?.
Floyd |
Floyd | David plugs the adapter into the box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear lame" 		
	

Floyd | You struggle to get your jacketed arms through the small openings in
Floyd | the lam?. Finally, you get it on.
Floyd |
Floyd | He plugs the free end of the adapter into the electrical outlet in the

Floyd | wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yes, art show" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "zip lame" 		
	

Floyd | You zip up the lam?, and adjust the Velcro at the collar to make sure
Floyd | you have a proper fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | "There!" David says, looking over the electric strip in satisfaction.
Floyd | He turns to you. "Now, let's get suited up and then we can fence!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show cord to david" 		
	

Floyd | (the body cord to David)
Floyd | "Hm," David says. "You need to put the two-prong connector into your
Floyd | jacket sleeve. Try that."

Floyd |
Floyd | David looks you over. "Looks like you don't quite have all your stuff.
Floyd | Check in your bag--if you need help with something, show it to me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Duchess arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put connector in sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the two-prong connector or the three-prong
Floyd | connector?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put two-prong connector into jacket sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | That would be far too difficult for you to try while you're wearing the
Floyd | jacket. You're just not that coordinated yet.
Floyd |

Floyd | Meanwhile, David gets his gear on amazingly fast. He says, "We'll
Floyd | salute as soon as we're both ready."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to take off the lam? first.
Floyd |
Floyd | David connects to the far floor reel. "I'm about ready," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put two-prong connector into jacket sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | That would be far too difficult for you to try while you're wearing the
Floyd | jacket. You're just not that coordinated yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "man oh goodness this game" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove lame" 		
	

Floyd | It's almost impossible to take off a lam? while it's zipped up; you're
Floyd | pretty sure about that one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to take off the lam? first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Gunther asks, "is this secretly Annoyotron 5?" 	
			inky says, "hot disambig-disambig action" 	
			Bert says, "This seems like the sort of thing a decent game would do for you." 	
	Duchess asks, "unzip first, maybe?" 		Bert says, "Except I'm betting the author intends all this to be the point of the game." 	
			DavidW asks, "Is the lame outside or inside the jacket?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "unzip lame then remove lame then unzip jacket then remove jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the lam?.
Floyd | Taking off the lam? is almost as much of a struggle as putting it on,
Floyd | but somehow you manage.

Floyd |
Floyd | You get the thing off, eventually.
Floyd | You unzip the jacket.
Floyd | You pull your arms out of the slightly sweaty sleeves. It takes a bit
Floyd | of flapping, but you manage to get out of the jacket.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "unzip lame. remove it. remove jacket" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd | Taking off the lam? is almost as much of a struggle as putting it on,
Floyd | but somehow you manage.

Floyd |
Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put two-prong connector into jacket sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the two-prong end of the body cord into the jacket sleeve.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "whoops, sorry" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear lame. zip it. wear jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You could put the lam? on, but you know it would make more sense to put
Floyd | the jacket on first.
Floyd | You zip up the lam?, and adjust the Velcro at the collar to make sure
Floyd | you have a proper fit.

Floyd | You pull the jacket on, trying to keep the dangling bits of the body
Floyd | cord out of the way. What a pain!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show cord to david" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord to David)
Floyd | (first taking the floor cord)
Floyd | David will plug in all of the floor cords. Just worry about your own
Floyd | stuff for now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show body cord to david" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the body cord)
Floyd | "Hm," David says. "You need to put the two-prong connector into your
Floyd | jacket sleeve. Try that."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i did you asshole" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to inventory.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		* Duchess has joined the channel. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a body cord

Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and open but empty)
Floyd |   a lam?
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "unzip lame. wear it. zip it" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the lam?.
Floyd | You stop to think. It'd be silly to put the lam? on over your unzipped
Floyd | jacket.
Floyd | You zip up the lam?, and adjust the Velcro at the collar to make sure

Floyd | you have a proper fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l in bag" 		
	

Floyd | In the fencing bag are a mask, an electric foil and a glove.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the glove)
Floyd | You put on the glove.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get foil" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wield it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "wait wait" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the mask)
Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Wait?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Did the cord unplug when you showed it to David?" 	
			inky says, "I think the body cord got pulled out back there" 	
			Bert says, "Oh for the love of..." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get naked" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "undress" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remove mask, glove" 		
	

Floyd | mask: You already have that.
Floyd | glove: You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask (being worn)
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)

Floyd |   a body cord
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and open but empty)
Floyd |   a lam?
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "remove all" 		
	

Floyd | AC adapter: Just let it be.
Floyd | floor cord: David will plug in all of the floor cords. Just worry about
Floyd | your own stuff for now.

Floyd | floor reel: There's no need to move either of the reels; David will
Floyd | have them just where he wants them.
Floyd | David: This isn't really the time or the place, is it?
Floyd | strip: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | carpet: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | comfy chair: That's hardly portable.

Floyd | window area: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | table: That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "take off mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "take off glove" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the glove.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "doff all" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unzip lame then take it off" 		
	

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You unzip the lam?.
Floyd | What do you want to take the lam??

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "doff lame" 		
	

Floyd | Taking off the lam? is almost as much of a struggle as putting it on,
Floyd | but somehow you manage.

Floyd |
Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unzip jacket then doff it" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd | You pull your arms out of the slightly sweaty sleeves. It takes a bit
Floyd | of flapping, but you manage to get out of the jacket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Gunther says, "yay doff" 	
			Gunther says, "best word ever" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put two-prong connector in sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the two-prong end of the body cord into the jacket sleeve.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear jacket then zip it" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the jacket on, trying to keep the dangling bits of the body
Floyd | cord out of the way. What a pain!
Floyd | You zip up the jacket, tugging the zipper up to make sure it's all the

Floyd | way up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear lame then zip it" 		
	

Floyd | You struggle to get your jacketed arms through the small openings in

Floyd | the lam?. Finally, you get it on.
Floyd | You zip up the lam?, and adjust the Velcro at the collar to make sure
Floyd | you have a proper fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the glove.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | First things first: you NEVER salute with a mask on. It's considered
Floyd | very rude.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug in cord" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord

Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library
Floyd | A large, open room, with plenty of room for a few fencers to practice.
Floyd | Of course, tonight it's just you and David. A row of tall windows line

Floyd | the western wall, and stacks of chairs are at either end of the long
Floyd | north-south room. The door to the hallway is east. An industrial-type
Floyd | carpet in garish red covers the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table are a scoring box, a bag of scoring equipment (which is
Floyd | empty) and a fencing bag (which is empty).

Floyd |
Floyd | The open windows let in a welcome breeze.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an AC adapter, a floor cord and a floor reel here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x foil" 		
	

Floyd | You've brought your best electric foil along for today's lesson. The
Floyd | blade is 36 inches long, and the whole thing weighs just under 500
Floyd | grams. Your bell guard is still nice and shiny, thanks to a lack of
Floyd | use. The grip is a pistol grip of the Visconti style, painted blue so

Floyd | you can tell it apart from David's. There's also a two-prong receptacle
Floyd | for your body cord to plug into.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oho" 	
			Gunther asks, "maybe you need to wear the mask but flip ot open?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug body cord in receptacle" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug two-prong in foil" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the two-prong connector, which pokes out through your sleeve
Floyd | next to your glove, to the foil. It clicks into place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug three-prong" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to plug the three-prong connector in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "scoring" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the scoring box or the bag of scoring equipment?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "box" 		
	

Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | A handy little device: this is the thing that makes it all work. The
Floyd | scoring box lights up whenever a fencer (properly plugged in, of
Floyd | course) scores a touch, and lets you know whether it was on-target (on
Floyd | the lam?) or off-target (anywhere else) by lighting up either the
Floyd | fencer's colored light (on) or white light (off). You're fencing on the
Floyd | right side, so the green light is yours, and the red light is David's.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x reel" 		
	

Floyd | The floor reel is made to connect you to the floor cord. It's supposed
Floyd | to sit at the end of the strip, and the floor cord plugs into it. The

Floyd | hook that comes out the front attaches to the fencer's body cord, and
Floyd | when released it retracts like a self-retracting tape measure. Your
Floyd | floor reels are Uhlmann made, with dark blue plastic casing and rubber
Floyd | feet to keep them in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x strip" 		
	

Floyd | The "strip" is the area that fencers actually fence on. In your
Floyd | tournament on Saturday, the strips will be drawn out on the floor in
Floyd | paint or tape: one meter wide by fourteen meters long, with warning
Floyd | lines and en guarde lines and everything. Here, you and David just make

Floyd | your best guess as to where the lines are. But today, you have a real
Floyd | strip set up in some respects: the table in the middle of the eastern
Floyd | wall holds the scoring box, which is connect via the floor cords to a
Floyd | floor reel, one at either end of the strip. That's all it takes for you
Floyd | and David to plug in and have a real electric bout.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug three-prong to reel" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug three-prong into reel" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the three-prong end of the body cord with the hook out of
Floyd | the floor reel. Getting close to fencing time!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "whine" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)

Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look just as you always have.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)

Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "shoot author" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x foil" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You've brought your best electric foil along for today's lesson. The

Floyd | blade is 36 inches long, and the whole thing weighs just under 500
Floyd | grams. Your bell guard is still nice and shiny, thanks to a lack of
Floyd | use. The grip is a pistol grip of the Visconti style, painted blue so
Floyd | you can tell it apart from David's. There's also a two-prong receptacle
Floyd | for your body cord to plug into.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show it to david" 		
	

Floyd | David looks your foil over. "Looks like it's in working condition," he
Floyd | says. "Just hang on to it until we're ready to fence. You'll need it
Floyd | for the salute!" His eyes twinkle at you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x glove" 		
	

Floyd | White, with leather on the palm for a better grip.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show it to david" 		
	

Floyd | "Not much I can do to help with that," David says. "You'll just have to
Floyd | put it on."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear foil" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | You're already wearing that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "the cord is not worn is it?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x jacket" 		
	

Floyd | Your jacket covers your torso and arms while you fence. They are
Floyd | required to be white, and yours zips up the front (making it much
Floyd | easier to put on by yourself). Although the FIE requires 800 Newton
Floyd | resistance, you are merely fencing in the USFA, which has much more lax

Floyd | requirements than its European counterpart, so yours is only rated at
Floyd | 350 Newtons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show jacket to david" 		
	

Floyd | David takes the jacket from you and holds it so you can slip your arms
Floyd | in easier. "Here," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, wait a sec," David says. "Let me unzip it first." He tugs the
Floyd | zipper down and opens the jacket. "Okay, go ahead."
Floyd |

Floyd | The mask blocking your peripheral vision makes your task difficult. You
Floyd | seem to remember it's the very last piece of equipment to go on, just
Floyd | before you begin a bout.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show jacket to david" 		
	

Floyd | David takes the jacket from you and holds it so you can slip your arms
Floyd | in easier. "Here," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, wait a sec," David says. "Let me unzip it first." He tugs the

Floyd | zipper down and opens the jacket. "Okay, go ahead."
Floyd |
Floyd | You're already wearing that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "geez" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "wear cord" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord)
Floyd | (first taking the floor cord)
Floyd | David will plug in all of the floor cords. Just worry about your own

Floyd | stuff for now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Gunther says, "yay bugs" 	
			Bert asks, "Maybe wearing the jacket without his help unplugs the cord?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to
Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In

Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "wear body cord" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the body cord)
Floyd | You can't wear that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to olethros), "There's a difference between the floor cord and the body cord." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a body cord
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil

Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and open but empty)
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "plug in body cord" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "put body cord in jacket" 		Bert says, "Naturally, if you don't specify, the game assumes you mean the floor cord, since that's the one you never need to interact with." 	
	

Floyd | That would be far too difficult for you to try while you're wearing the
Floyd | jacket. You're just not that coordinated yet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "remove jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to take off the lam? first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "It's all messed up again." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x two=prong" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x two-prong" 		
	

Floyd | The two-prong end attaches to your electric foil. The blue plastic
Floyd | casing is marked with a stylized "U" for "Uhlmann," the company in
Floyd | Germany that made it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "how they fuck did this happen?" 	
			DavidW says, "We were almost ready" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "attach alligator clip to lame" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the alligator clip directly to the metal vest, remembering
Floyd | to put it on the weapon arm side of your body as the rules require.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to dhaka), "oho" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "plug two-prong into foil" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the two-prong connector, which pokes out through your sleeve
Floyd | next to your glove, to the foil. It clicks into place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "so, uh, where did that come from?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x two-prong" 		
	

Floyd | The two-prong end attaches to your electric foil. The blue plastic
Floyd | casing is marked with a stylized "U" for "Uhlmann," the company in
Floyd | Germany that made it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we've got ot remove our jacket and put the body cord bacj in" 	
			olethros says, "examine the cord" 	
			inky says, "man, my typing" 	
			Bert says, "Nice that examining the connectors doesn't tell you if they're connected to anything." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x jacket" 		
	

Floyd | Your jacket covers your torso and arms while you fence. They are
Floyd | required to be white, and yours zips up the front (making it much
Floyd | easier to put on by yourself). Although the FIE requires 800 Newton

Floyd | resistance, you are merely fencing in the USFA, which has much more lax
Floyd | requirements than its European counterpart, so yours is only rated at
Floyd | 350 Newtons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a body cord
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil

Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and open but empty)
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to

Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In
Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove jackety" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "you have to put the alligoator to the lami, the three prong to the reel and the two-prong to the foil" 	
	two-star arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove jacket" 		DavidW says (to Bert), "That's a big problem, yeah" 	
	

Floyd | You'll have to take off the lam? first.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "doff glove then unzip lame then doff lame then unzip jacket then doff jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the glove.
Floyd | You unzip the lam?.
Floyd | Taking off the lam? is almost as much of a struggle as putting it on,

Floyd | but somehow you manage.
Floyd |
Floyd | You get the thing off, eventually.
Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd | You pull your arms out of the slightly sweaty sleeves. It takes a bit
Floyd | of flapping, but you manage to get out of the jacket.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put body cord in jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the two-prong end of the body cord into the jacket sleeve.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show jacket to david" 		
	

Floyd | David takes the jacket from you and holds it so you can slip your arms
Floyd | in easier. "Here," he says.
Floyd |

Floyd | You pull the jacket on, trying to keep the dangling bits of the body
Floyd | cord out of the way. What a pain!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear jacket then zip jacket then wear lame then zip lame" 		
	

Floyd | You're already wearing that!
Floyd | You zip up the jacket, tugging the zipper up to make sure it's all the
Floyd | way up.
Floyd | You struggle to get your jacketed arms through the small openings in
Floyd | the lam?. Finally, you get it on.
Floyd | You zip up the lam?, and adjust the Velcro at the collar to make sure

Floyd | you have a proper fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "So did it work?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord

Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Gunther says, "the only amusement I'm getting from this game is imagining this in real life" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "plug two-prong into foil" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the two-prong connector, which pokes out through your sleeve
Floyd | next to your glove, to the foil. It clicks into place.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach clip to lame" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the alligator clip directly to the metal vest, remembering
Floyd | to put it on the weapon arm side of your body as the rules require.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug three-prong" 		olethros says, "the ground" 	
	

Floyd | What do you want to plug the three-prong connector in?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "reel" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the three-prong end of the body cord with the hook out of
Floyd | the floor reel. Getting close to fencing time!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the glove.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hrm" 	
			Lucea says, "I'm fairly lost too" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord

Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I thought we were ready now" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "hold foil" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | First things first: you NEVER salute with a mask on. It's considered
Floyd | very rude.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "open mask" 		
	

Floyd | You fumble with the zipper, but the glove is too thick to allow you to
Floyd | get a good grasp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x foil" 		
	

Floyd | You've brought your best electric foil along for today's lesson. The
Floyd | blade is 36 inches long, and the whole thing weighs just under 500
Floyd | grams. Your bell guard is still nice and shiny, thanks to a lack of
Floyd | use. The grip is a pistol grip of the Visconti style, painted blue so

Floyd | you can tell it apart from David's. There's also a two-prong receptacle
Floyd | for your body cord to plug into.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "If they ever revive I Love Lucy, we'll suggest a fencing show." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask david about foil" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't know, love," David says. "Can it wait until later?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "open mask" 		
	

Floyd | You fumble with the zipper, but the glove is too thick to allow you to
Floyd | get a good grasp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show foil to david" 		olethros says, "foil is not connected" 	
	

Floyd | David looks your foil over. "Looks like it's in working condition," he
Floyd | says. "Just hang on to it until we're ready to fence. You'll need it
Floyd | for the salute!" His eyes twinkle at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "remove glove then open mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the glove.
Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show lame to david" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, these things are a pain," David says. David unzips the lam? on the
Floyd | sly, so as not to draw your attention to the fact that he's doing it.
Floyd | He holds the lam? up for you to put one jacketed arm through, then
Floyd | helps guide your other arm into the small hole. He turns you around to

Floyd | face him, and straightens the lam? for you. "There you are," he says,
Floyd | and kisses your cheek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "idiot game" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | The mask blocking your peripheral vision makes your task difficult. You
Floyd | seem to remember it's the very last piece of equipment to go on, just
Floyd | before you begin a bout.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask (being worn)
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove

Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "doff mask then wear glove then wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd | You put on the glove.
Floyd | You put on the mask.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x cord" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord)
Floyd | The floor cords are nothing more than long, insulated wires that carry

Floyd | electrical current between the floor reels and the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show protector to david" 		
	

Floyd | David smiles at you. He holds the chest protector out for you, and you

Floyd | slip your arms under the straps. The mask blocking your peripheral
Floyd | vision makes your task difficult. You seem to remember it's the very
Floyd | last piece of equipment to go on, just before you begin a bout.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to
Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In

Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x three" 		
	

Floyd | This end is about two inches wide, with three metal prongs protruding
Floyd | from blue plastic casing. The plastic is marked with a stylized "U."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Wait, the chest protector is last?" 	
			Bert asks, "And so is the glove?" 	
			Gunther says, "no the mask" 	
			olethros says, "the mask is last" 	
			DavidW says, "The mask is lastest" 	
			Bert says, "OK, let me say it again:" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show protector to david" 		
	

Floyd | David smiles at you. He holds the chest protector out for you, and you
Floyd | slip your arms under the straps. The mask blocking your peripheral
Floyd | vision makes your task difficult. You seem to remember it's the very

Floyd | last piece of equipment to go on, just before you begin a bout.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it = the mask here" 	
			Bert says, "Oh." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)

Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show protector to david" 		
	

Floyd | David smiles at you. He holds the chest protector out for you, and you
Floyd | slip your arms under the straps. You're already wearing that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I just removed it" 	
			Gunther says, "it's still broken" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show plastron to david" 		
	

Floyd | David takes the plastron from you and holds it out. You work your arm
Floyd | in, and let David make the connections to keep it on.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "why are you showing the 'protector' to david?" 	
			inky says, "I dunno, I'm pretty stumped" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord

Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to olethros), "Because the game said to show him things to find out what they are for or how they work." 	
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "show codpiece to david" 		inky says, "we have the cord in the jacket, the cord is plugged in in three places" 	
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "How is David removing underlayers things?" 	
			olethros asks, "is it really?" 	
			DavidW says, "er, underlayered" 	
			Bert says, "By the power of poor programming." 	
			inky says, "he's our husband, he's got practice" 	
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to olethros), "I dunno, there doesn't seem to be any way to check." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different

Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to
Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In
Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kill david" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Duchess has disconnected. 		
	Duchess runs through the jungle with the wind in her hair and the sand at her feet. 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "plug three prong to floor" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Look, it's swordfighting. How is violence not the answer?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug three-prong in reel" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the three-prong end of the body cord with the hook out of

Floyd | the floor reel. Getting close to fencing time!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug three-prong in reel" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the three-prong end of the body cord with the hook out of

Floyd | the floor reel. Getting close to fencing time!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "taser david with foil" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "plug two-prong in sword" 		DavidW says, "ha" 	
	

Floyd | You attach the two-prong connector, which pokes out through your sleeve

Floyd | next to your glove, to the foil. It clicks into place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "oh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach clip to lame" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the alligator clip directly to the metal vest, remembering
Floyd | to put it on the weapon arm side of your body as the rules require.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "talk to david" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look just as you always have.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)

Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "help" 		
	

Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)

Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Quick tip: to see if you're hooked up yet, you can always try SALUTE or
Floyd | FENCE.
Floyd |

Floyd | Fencing is, to various degrees and various people, a sport and a hobby.
Floyd | Today's Olympic-style sport is derived from the older, classical style
Floyd | of swordplay developed in Europe over the last several hundred years.
Floyd | In this work, as in the USFA (www.usfencing.org), the modern rules and
Floyd | styles are used.
Floyd |

Floyd | What that means to you is that the director (person who scores the
Floyd | match, or referee) is aided by electrical equipment: each fencer wears
Floyd | a metal vest called a lam? and plugs their foil (the weapon used in our
Floyd | game) into a box with lights. When the plunger on the tip of your foil
Floyd | is depressed (usually against the opponent), one of the lights on the
Floyd | box will light up. If *your* foil contacted *my* lam?, your colored

Floyd | light (either red or green, depending on which side you're on) will
Floyd | light up, indicating a touch on a valid target (which could score a
Floyd | point or "touch"). If your foil contacted anything else (my arm or leg,
Floyd | your shoe, the floor, the director), then the white light (we both have
Floyd | one colored and one white) will light up. The director watches the
Floyd | action, watches the box, and decides who, if anyone, gets a point each

Floyd | time he or she stops the action.
Floyd |
Floyd | It gets a bit more complicated when both fencers score a valid hit, but
Floyd | suffice it to say that the director must decide which of the two had
Floyd | priority, or right-of-way, to attack. That person is awarded the touch.
Floyd |

Floyd | Anyway, the important thing for you to figure out is just how to set up
Floyd | the electric circuits in the first place. The different circuits allow
Floyd | the box to distinguish between on-target and off-target hits; that is
Floyd | why your lam? must be connected to the circuit somehow. Obviously your
Floyd | foil has to be connected, so that the box will register when your foil
Floyd | tip is depressed. And all of it has to be reported back to the box over

Floyd | an electric circuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | For more hints as to what needs to be connected where, be sure to
Floyd | examine everything, maybe even the things David sets up.
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "This game even won its year. man." 	
			Bert asks, "Really?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "fence" 		
	

Floyd | You don't have all your gear on yet (not counting the mask, of course).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "become darth vader" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "push tip" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I believe so, yeah" 	
			Bert says, "I guess I'm glad I don't play IF Art Show games, then." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask

Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)

Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | The D-ring is sewn onto the back of your lam?. Its purpose is solely to

Floyd | give the hook from the floor reel something to latch onto, to give the
Floyd | three-prong connection a bit of slack and make your life easier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "wear foil" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks (of Bert), "Galatea?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach d-ring to lame" 		
	

Floyd | That's not supposed to attach directly to the lam?. You may wish to
Floyd | attach it to the D-ring, or it may not be necessary at all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach hook to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "put cord in d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord in the D-ring)
Floyd | David will plug in all of the floor cords. Just worry about your own
Floyd | stuff for now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | You're already wearing that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a mask
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)

Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "put body cord in d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the body cord before you can put it into
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hold foil" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "fuck you" 		
	

Floyd | That's not like you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "sure it is" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think the d-ring connects to the reel" 	
			olethros says, "I sah goodbye" 	
	olethros has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Bert says (to W), "Right, exactly. I didn't need to play the IF Art Show games to find out about Galatea." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x cord" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord)

Floyd | The floor cords are nothing more than long, insulated wires that carry
Floyd | electrical current between the floor reels and the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x reels" 		
	

Floyd | The floor reel is made to connect you to the floor cord. It's supposed
Floyd | to sit at the end of the strip, and the floor cord plugs into it. The
Floyd | hook that comes out the front attaches to the fencer's body cord, and
Floyd | when released it retracts like a self-retracting tape measure. Your
Floyd | floor reels are Uhlmann made, with dark blue plastic casing and rubber
Floyd | feet to keep them in place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Gunther says (to Bert), "but thumper and I wrote a z4 and z7 game, respectively, for the Art Show!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach alligator clip to lame" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the alligator clip directly to the metal vest, remembering

Floyd | to put it on the weapon arm side of your body as the rules require.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "So if anything decent does show up there, that's evidence that I'll end up getting to play it anyway, even if I ignore the Art Show completely." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "attach hook to cord" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord)
Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | The D-ring is sewn onto the back of your lam?. Its purpose is solely to
Floyd | give the hook from the floor reel something to latch onto, to give the
Floyd | three-prong connection a bit of slack and make your life easier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Gunther says, "ok, tell me when you're starting the next game" 	
	Gunther has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x hook" 		
	

Floyd | The hook has a receptacle for the three-prong connector of the body
Floyd | cord, and it also attaches to the fencer's D-ring to prevent

Floyd | unnecessary pulling on the body cord.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "attach hook to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x david" 		
	

Floyd | Your husband is a tall man in his mid-thirties, with clear gray eyes
Floyd | and a wonderfully misshapen nose. His smile lights up your day, and he

Floyd | doesn't smile much except at you: but he smiles a lot at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Man, I have never ever done any fencing at all, and I already hate the sport." 	
			inky says, "so I dunno, it seems like we are kind of confused here" 	
			inky asks, "should I try to dig up some help?" 	
			Bert asks, "Kind of?" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm confused." 	
			dhakajack says, "this is why guns replaced swords" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "david's foil" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I can't follow what's happened or tell the current status." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "salute with middle finger" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Yeah." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Gunther says, "later, gunswords replaced both guns and swords, and then gigantic robotic exosuits replaced those" 	
			Bert says, "A game about putting on a giant robotic exosuit would be so much cooler than this." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "don exosuit" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Also, this is the future?" 	
			inky says (to Bert), "no" 	
			inky says, "ok, anyway, I dunno, guys" 	
			inky says, "I can't find a walkthrough or anything" 	
			inky asks, "should we call it quits and go onto the other one?" 	
			DavidW says, "I thought we were really close, but it's difficult when we're all trying stuff." 	
			Nitku says (to Inky), "Yea" 	
			DavidW says, "We end up undoing each other's progress." 	
			Bert asks, "Do you want to try one solo run?" 	
			dhakajack says, "maybe from the top (e.g., restart?)" 	
			inky says, "yeah, how about if you restart and we'll just watch and offer suggestions if we see anything" 	
			Gunther says, "if you do, do it in your own frotz :)" 	
			Bert says, "A proper RESTART might also help, just in case there's anything the game doesn't properly undo when you try to undo everything." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to restart?

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                           THE QUEEN OF SWORDS
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                     [Please press SPACE to begin.]

		DavidW says, "I haven't tested if my own frotz works yet." 	
			Bert says (to W), "OK, go for it." 	
			Gunther says, "it might help if you make david dress you" 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Each week, you spend four hours round-trip in a car to take a
Floyd | beginner's fencing class at the Virginia Academy of Fencing in

Floyd | Springfield. It's fun, you tell yourself, and it never hurts to be more
Floyd | active. David, on the other hand, wants to compete. Your husband wants
Floyd | to join the U.S. Fencing Association and begin competing in regional
Floyd | tournaments after only eight weeks of classes, when they tell people to
Floyd | take lessons for a whole year before competing. However, David will
Floyd | want what David will want, and you love your husband dearly, so...

Floyd |
Floyd | There's a tournament in Glen Falls this weekend, and you're going. On
Floyd | your last trip to VAF you spent over $900 on electric fencing
Floyd | equipment. The real problem is going to figure out how to use all of
Floyd | it: what plugs into where, which piece you need to put on first, and
Floyd | how to fence with a floor cord holding you back. That's why you and

Floyd | David are going to use tonight, while you have the room at the local
Floyd | library reserved, to practice gearing up for electric.
Floyd |
Floyd | David gets a good parking spot downtown, and the two of you haul the
Floyd | bags of equipment out of the trunk and into the library. The librarians
Floyd | wave at you as you pass, already used to seeing you, and the two of you

Floyd | make your way to one of the larger meeting rooms upstairs to set up the
Floyd | electric strip.
Floyd |
Floyd | David drops his equipment bag near the door and smiles at you. "I'll
Floyd | put the strip up," he says. "Why don't you go ahead and get your stuff
Floyd | on?" You look at your bag uncertainly. "I'm not sure I know where

Floyd | everything goes," you say. He grins. "Me neither," he says. "If you
Floyd | have trouble, let me know, and I'll try to help." He takes the bag with
Floyd | the scoring box and floor reels and goes to set up a table. You survey
Floyd | the room.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The Queen of Swords
Floyd | An Interactive Fencing Lesson
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2003 by Jessica Knoch
Floyd |
Floyd | Players may wish to type ABOUT.
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 030426 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10

Floyd |
Floyd | McIntire Meeting Room, Downtown Library
Floyd | A large, open room, with plenty of room for a few fencers to practice.
Floyd | Of course, tonight it's just you and David. A row of tall windows line
Floyd | the western wall, and stacks of chairs are at either end of the long
Floyd | north-south room. The door to the hallway is east. An industrial-type

Floyd | carpet in garish red covers the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | The open windows let in a welcome breeze.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop bag" 		Bert exclaims (at Gunther), "I just told him to!" 	
	

Floyd | You set the bag down, out of the way against a wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | David pushes the table against the eastern wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | You open the fencing bag, revealing a mask, a jacket, a body cord, an
Floyd | electric foil, a lam?, a glove, a plastron and a chest protector.

Floyd |
Floyd | He sets the bag of scoring equipment on the table and opens it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take plastron" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David is rummaging in the bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the plastron.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes a floor reel and floor cord from the bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take lame" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | He walks to the north end of the room and sets down the floor reel.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lame" 		
	

Floyd | The lam? (pronounced "luh-MAY") is like a sleeveless, metal vest, used
Floyd | in electric foil fencing to define your target area--literally, since

Floyd | the opponent's blade must strike you on the lam? to complete the
Floyd | correct circuit. It The lam? is made to cover your torso from neck to
Floyd | waistline, with an additional section in front best described by
Floyd | drawing a line from your hips to your pelvis. Yours is an Uhlmann lam?,
Floyd | quite high quality, although it cost a good deal. There is a small,
Floyd | metal D-ring (shaped like the letter D) sewn into the back of the lam?.

Floyd |
Floyd | David plugs the floor cord into the floor reel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | David walks back to the center of the room and looks in the bag on the
Floyd | table.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take jacket" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | David pulls the scoring box out of the bag and sets it on the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unzip lame" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the lam?.

Floyd |
Floyd | He plugs the free end of the first floor cord into the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unzip jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You unzip the jacket.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes the other floor cord out of the bag and plugs one end into
Floyd | the box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x jacket" 		
	

Floyd | Your jacket covers your torso and arms while you fence. They are
Floyd | required to be white, and yours zips up the front (making it much
Floyd | easier to put on by yourself). Although the FIE requires 800 Newton
Floyd | resistance, you are merely fencing in the USFA, which has much more lax

Floyd | requirements than its European counterpart, so yours is only rated at
Floyd | 350 Newtons.
Floyd |
Floyd | David takes the other reel from the bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach body cord to jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | He walks down to the south end of the room, and winks at you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | Your jacket covers your torso and arms while you fence. They are
Floyd | required to be white, and yours zips up the front (making it much
Floyd | easier to put on by yourself). Although the FIE requires 800 Newton

Floyd | resistance, you are merely fencing in the USFA, which has much more lax
Floyd | requirements than its European counterpart, so yours is only rated at
Floyd | 350 Newtons.
Floyd |
Floyd | Setting the floor reel on the carpet, David plugs the free end of the
Floyd | floor cord into it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches

Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to
Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In
Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |
Floyd | David turns to survey his work.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Maybe put it in the sleeve?" 	
			inky says, "I wonder if anyone ever gets stabbed to death in the US because it has laxer regulations on the protectors" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put body cord in sleeve" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the two-prong end of the body cord into the jacket sleeve.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oops," David says, "I forgot to plug in the box."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You start to pull the jacket on, but something feels funny. Your front
Floyd | seems very... unprotected. Maybe there's another piece you're supposed
Floyd | to wear first.
Floyd |

Floyd | He walks back to the table in the center of the east wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear chest protector" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the chest protector)

Floyd | You put on the chest protector.
Floyd |
Floyd | David peers in the bag and gets out the AC adapter for the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the jacket on, trying to keep the dangling bits of the body
Floyd | cord out of the way. What a pain!
Floyd |
Floyd | David plugs the adapter into the box.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks (of inky), "Does the lower resistance force mean that you hit harder or lighter?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "zip jacket" 		
	

Floyd | You zip up the jacket, tugging the zipper up to make sure it's all the

Floyd | way up.
Floyd |
Floyd | He plugs the free end of the adapter into the electrical outlet in the
Floyd | wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear lame" 		
	

Floyd | You struggle to get your jacketed arms through the small openings in
Floyd | the lam?. Finally, you get it on.
Floyd |
Floyd | "There!" David says, looking over the electric strip in satisfaction.

Floyd | He turns to you. "Now, let's get suited up and then we can fence!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to inky), "I would have thought it meant that you only had to hit with 350N of force to trigger a 'hit'." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "zip lame" 		
	

Floyd | You zip up the lam?, and adjust the Velcro at the collar to make sure
Floyd | you have a proper fit.
Floyd |
Floyd | David looks you over. "Looks like you don't quite have all your stuff.
Floyd | Check in your bag--if you need help with something, show it to me."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, hunh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach alligator clip to lame" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the alligator clip directly to the metal vest, remembering
Floyd | to put it on the weapon arm side of your body as the rules require.

Floyd |
Floyd | Meanwhile, David gets his gear on amazingly fast. He says, "We'll
Floyd | salute as soon as we're both ready."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "my read was that it was supposed to resist that much force" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach two-prong to foil" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the two-prong connector, which pokes out through your sleeve
Floyd | next to your glove, to the foil. It clicks into place.
Floyd |

Floyd | David connects to the far floor reel. "I'm about ready," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "but I guess yours makes more sense" 	
			Bert says, "I dunno." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take foil" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cord" 		
	

Floyd | (the floor cord)
Floyd | The floor cords are nothing more than long, insulated wires that carry
Floyd | electrical current between the floor reels and the scoring box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x body cord" 		
	

Floyd | Your body cord is used in electric fencing to connect several different
Floyd | circuits of electricity. On one end, the two-prong connector attaches
Floyd | to your electric foil. The other end has an alligator clip, to hook to
Floyd | your lam?, and a three-prong connector, to plug into the floor reel. In

Floyd | between is about five feet of insulated wiring, which is supposed to
Floyd | run up your sleeve and down your back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Actually, since it's the jacket rather than the lame, I think yours does." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put reel in d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to move either of the reels; David will have them just
Floyd | where he wants them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Since it looks like the jacket is armor, while the lame is what registers hits." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach reel to d-ring" 		inky says, "hmm yeah" 	
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach three-prong to reel" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the three-prong end of the body cord with the hook out of
Floyd | the floor reel. Getting close to fencing time!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach reel to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear glove" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the glove)
Floyd | You put on the glove.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach reel to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug reel to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   an electric foil
Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)

Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | Fencers don't salute until they are completely plugged in and ready to
Floyd | fence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask david about reel" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't know, love," David says. "Can it wait until later?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask david about d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't know, love," David says. "Can it wait until later?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | The D-ring is sewn onto the back of your lam?. Its purpose is solely to
Floyd | give the hook from the floor reel something to latch onto, to give the
Floyd | three-prong connection a bit of slack and make your life easier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "That's what I think SHOW is for." 	
			Bert says, "Rather than ASK." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hook reel to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a glove (being worn)
Floyd |   an electric foil

Floyd |   a chest protector (being worn)
Floyd |   a jacket (being worn and closed)
Floyd |     a body cord
Floyd |   a lam? (being worn)
Floyd |   a plastron (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "there was some comment in the .. jacket's? description about how maybe you attach to the d-ring and maybe you don't" 	
			dhakajack says, "it might want the ATTACH verb" 	
			inky says, "so I guess we could try it either way" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach reel to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You're not suited up enough to plug in yet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wierd foil" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wield foil" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb you need today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the mask)

Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach reel to d-ring" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the hook from the floor reel to the D-ring on your lam?. One

Floyd | step closer to fencing!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | First things first: you NEVER salute with a mask on. It's considered

Floyd | very rude.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oho!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove mask" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "salute" 		
	

Floyd | You raise your foil in a traditional salute towards David. He smiles at
Floyd | you, and you sweep the blade downward to finish the salute. You are now
Floyd | (almost) ready to fence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear mask" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fence" 		
	

Floyd | You drop into your en guarde position, pleased to see David doing the
Floyd | same. You have fenced him often enough to know that you need to hang
Floyd | back, wait, and try to parry (or block) his attack, and riposte (or
Floyd | attack immediately after parrying). You take a few cautious steps
Floyd | forward (advances) and back (retreats), while waiting for him to make

Floyd | the first move. The floor cord tugs gently at you, through the hook-up
Floyd | on the D-ring, but after a few moments you don't notice it at all.
Floyd |
Floyd | David makes a few feints, which you ignore, and then suddenly he is
Floyd | attacking! You try to parry, but it comes too late, and a loud buzz
Floyd | emanates from the scoring box. You look at the box, and see David's red

Floyd | light glowing, indicating that he scored a valid touch. You knew that
Floyd | much; you can still feel the spot on your chest where he landed. But to
Floyd | see it on the box is so exciting!
Floyd |
Floyd | "One," you say to David, holding up a finger to indicate that he scored
Floyd | a touch. He nods, and backs up to his en guarde line. You both pause,

Floyd | and then begin fencing again. This time, you think, maybe it isn't such
Floyd | a good idea to try to defend, since he is so much faster than I am!
Floyd | With that in mind, you spring forward, tapping David's blade aside as
Floyd | you lunge (a "beat attack"). But David is fast, and he recovers from
Floyd | the beat in time to parry your attack. His riposte comes for you, and
Floyd | you do your best to parry it, but the buzzing of the score box can't be

Floyd | denied.
Floyd |
Floyd | This time, there are two lights: David's red on-target light, and your
Floyd | white off-target light. You must have hit him off-target somewhere in
Floyd | there. Since the two of you are pretty new to the sport, and you have
Floyd | no director or referee to oversee your bout, you both shrug.

Floyd | Right-of-way, or "priority," can be hard to call, so you decide to
Floyd | throw it out.
Floyd |
Floyd | .....
Floyd |
Floyd | You and David spend the next hour practicing with your electric

Floyd | equipment, preparing for Saturday's tournament in Glen Falls. You don't
Floyd | expect to win any bouts in the tournament, and maybe not even to score
Floyd | any touches, but you feel confident you will at least know how to hook
Floyd | up.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		dhakajack exclaims, "yay!" 	
			inky says, "hooray" 	
			DavidW says, "whew" 	
			inky asks, "so what were we forgetting? attaching the d-ring to the reel?" 	
			DavidW says, "We had to wear the mask before attaching it, then remove the mask for the salute." 	
			dhakajack exclaims, "that's one heck of a cut scene!" 	
			Bert says, "What the #@(*$." 	
			Bert says, "So we couldn't salute until we were attached, we couldn't attach until we had the mask on, but we weren't supposed to wear the mask until we'd saluted." 	
			Bert says, "And then our reward for finally getting through this tedious thing that should ahve been mostly automated anyway was to get another big textdump and then have the game end." 	
			DavidW says, "Wear mask. Attach. Remove mask. Salute. Wear mask. Fence. ... yeah." 	
			inky says, "well, it's an art show piece" 	
			inky says, "so the experience is supposed to be the reward" 	
			Bert says, "Art sucks." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			Bert exclaims, "The experience was the un-fun part!" 	
			inky asks, "ok, anyway, should we charge onto the next one, or do people want five minutes?" 	
			Bert exclaims, "The only part of the game that would have been enjoyable would be the bit where we get to actually fence, and that part we weren't allowed to do!" 	
			DavidW says (to Gunther), "We finished Queen; we're about to start the next one." 	
	Gunther arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		DavidW says (to inky), "I say charge on." 	
			Gunther says, "thanks" 	
			dhakajack says, "could be worse. We could have had the text dump followed by a half hour of undressing again." 	
			Gunther says, "I gather from recap it wasn't worth i t" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Bert says, "I guess art isn't supposed to be fun. It's supposed to, um. Communicate a feeling or a deep truth or to connect with the viewer in a deep and meaningful way or to express something about the universe." 	
	inky hollers, "next game starting (Snowblind Aces)" 		
	Gunther says (to Floyd), "no it was not" 		
	Floyd says (to Gunther), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		Bert says, "In which case, this piece successfully made me feel something, and expressed a deep truth about why I never want to take up fencing." 	
			Lucea says, "I mean, I enjoyed Galatea, a lot" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "load snowaces" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd | It only takes a moment of inattention.  The snowstorm draws thicker and

Floyd | the faint grey silhouette of the reconnaissance plane fades away
Floyd | completely.  You bank hard, yanking on the control column with mild
Floyd | panic, but it's too late.  Your paths have diverged, unlikely to cross
Floyd | again as long as this lethal weather continues.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lumbering two-seater plane you were supposed to be escorting is

Floyd | alone and unprotected.  And she is out there: lightning fast, deadly
Floyd | accurate and cold as ice.  You'd consider turning back to the airbase
Floyd | right away.
Floyd |
Floyd | If, that is, you even knew where you were.
Floyd |

Floyd | Snowblind Aces
Floyd | An adventure/romance in the snow by C.E.J.  Pacian
Floyd | Version 5 - Developed with TADS 3
Floyd |
Floyd | [Type 'About' if this is your first time playing.
Floyd | Type 'Credits' to learn who's responsible for this drivel.]

Floyd |
Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)
Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the
Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all
Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.

Floyd |
Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "from lurking this seemed like a big fiddle-with-the-machine puzzle" 	
			inky says, "so my recollection about this game is that it was written for a TIGSource comp or something" 	
			inky says, "so semi-outside the community" 	
			inky says, "and I believe it won there" 	
			DavidW says, "That's right. Text the Halls." 	
			inky says, "also, this guy wrote some other thing I don't remember" 	
			inky says, "so he's very memorable!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | Snowblind Aces is a short, highly replayable adventure/romance, written
Floyd | in two weeks for the TIGSource Text the Halls competition.  This is

Floyd | intended to be a puzzle-less game, but if you do get stuck, type HINTS
Floyd | to read some relevant pointers.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some notes about conversations: converse using 'ASK/TELL [character]
Floyd | ABOUT [subject]'.  Type 'TOPICS' to see a list of subjects that your
Floyd | character thinks are currently relevant.

Floyd |
Floyd | From time to time you'll see some more unusual responses suggested in
Floyd | brackets, for example '(You could remind Leonard who you are, or
Floyd | pretend not to know him)'.  Sometimes you can simply change the subject
Floyd | to something else, but often you'll have to choose one of the suggested
Floyd | actions (although typing REMIND or PRETEND should suffice).

Floyd |
Floyd | If your interpreter is spiffy enough, conversations will feature blue,
Floyd | underlined hyperlinks that you can click on to follow the flow of the
Floyd | dialogue.
Floyd |
Floyd | Finally, note that the path through this game is short and

Floyd | straightforward.  You can spend a lot of time talking with the other
Floyd | character, but you don't have to if you don't want.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hugses,
Floyd |    Pacian
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The author later wrote Gun Mute." 	
			inky says, "there we go" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pretend" 		
	

Floyd | The word "pretend" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | (If this was an accidental misspelling, you can correct it by typing
Floyd | OOPS followed by the corrected word now.  Any time the story points out
Floyd | an unknown word, you can correct a misspelling using OOPS as your next
Floyd | command.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "oh. puzzleless?" 	
			Bert says, "Um." 	
			inky says, "I think it's mostly conversational" 	
			Gunther asks, ""hugses"?" 	
			Bert says, "Yeah. But weird." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x column" 		
	

Floyd | Your Swordfish's trusty joystick features a tempting red button on the
Floyd | top.  Pushing or pulling the column will adjust your pitch.

Floyd |
Floyd | You suppress a shiver.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push column" 		
	

Floyd | You grip the control column tightly and push it forward, hoping to sink
Floyd | within sight of the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Almost before you can react, a huge shape swoops out of the white void
Floyd | below: a scarlet triplane, close enough that you can see its pilot, and
Floyd | the surprised expression on her face.  You pull on the control column

Floyd | hard and punch the throttle, feeling your plane strain to rise higher.
Floyd | For an instant you think you've avoided disaster.
Floyd |
Floyd | And then the whole fuselage lurches, the sound of metal on metal
Floyd | scraping right into your brain as you collide glancingly with the other
Floyd | plane.  You look over your shoulder just in time to see the scarlet

Floyd | triplane disappear into the clouds, trailing thick black smoke.
Floyd | Turning back to your controls you immediately notice the epileptic
Floyd | motion of the rapidly spinning altimeter.
Floyd |
Floyd | It would seem that you have a problem.
Floyd |

Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd | (If you'd prefer not to be notified about score changes in the future,
Floyd | type NOTIFY OFF.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | You press the button and your plane's twin machineguns strafe the murk
Floyd | ahead in a display of bright muzzle flash and loud, mechanical
Floyd | rattling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Pointless, but satisfying all the same.
Floyd |
Floyd | The engine stalls for a second before lurching back to life, something
Floyd | loose and metallic grating inside it.

		inky says, "it is funny that we got a point for that" 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "good work blowing up your plane!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | VERBOSE mode is now selected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky asks, "once 50 Cent's preferred ride", really?" 		DavidW says, "I think we need to land, or parachute." 	
	inky says, "(er, whoops)" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "land plane" 		
	

Floyd | The word "land" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "pull joystick" 		
	

Floyd | The control column moves loosely, clearly having no effect on the
Floyd | plane's ailerons.
Floyd |
Floyd | The control column twitches spasmodically.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a revolver, and you're wearing a pair of goggles, a
Floyd | parachute pack, a white scarf, a fur-lined jacket, some breeches, and
Floyd | some sheepskin boots.

Floyd |
Floyd | The propeller flickers in its motion, struggling to keep turning.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm guessing: parachute" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot me" 		
	

Floyd | You miss.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance over your shoulder in time to see something go flying
Floyd | backwards from beneath the plane.  Hopefully nothing too important...

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ha." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot me".

Floyd |
Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)
Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the
Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all
Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.

Floyd |
Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x column" 		
	

Floyd | Your Swordfish's trusty joystick features a tempting red button on the
Floyd | top.  Pushing or pulling the column will adjust your pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance over your shoulder in time to see something go flying
Floyd | backwards from beneath the plane.  Hopefully nothing too important...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "That's some bad aim there." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "x column".
Floyd |

Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)
Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the
Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all
Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.
Floyd |

Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Is that the entire set of controls?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x seat" 		
	

Floyd | You are sitting in the pilot's seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance over your shoulder in time to see something go flying
Floyd | backwards from beneath the plane.  Hopefully nothing too important...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I dunno, given that the guns are on the outside, I would say that is realistic simulation" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You check your parachute and climb up onto your seat.  After you throw
Floyd | your leg over the side, it's surprisingly easy to push yourself away
Floyd | from the plane and leap into the mist.

Floyd |
Floyd | Not quite as aerodynamic as your Swordfish, you drop like a stone,
Floyd | plummeting into the murky white void below.  Ice and fog crowd close
Floyd | around you, obscuring every direction.  The only reason you know you're
Floyd | falling is because of the way your stomach seems to still be a hundred
Floyd | metres above you somewhere.  Remembering the single parachute jump you

Floyd | performed in basic training, you fumble with the chord and yank hard,
Floyd | the harness suddenly seeming to pull you upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Falling
Floyd | You're hanging from a parachute, descending slowly into a blank white
Floyd | void.  Without the sound of your plane's engine, everything seems

Floyd | shockingly silent.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to inky), "We're holding a revolver." 	
			inky says, "oh, whoops" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky clears the save counter. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(Possibly it would have been wiser to save *before* jumping from an airplane.)" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Your plane will have hit the ground by now, shattering into pieces,

Floyd | bursting into flames.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "heehee" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | But you're okay.  You made it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The hard part is over.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The mist beneath you parts.  Below you are thick, evergreen trees,

Floyd | garnished with snow, clinging to sharp black rocks.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now you have a frame of reference, you realise just how fast you're
Floyd | falling.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | You open your eyes.  You feel remarkably well given the circumstances.
Floyd | The air is fresh and invigorating, the sound of birdsong and rustling
Floyd | leaves is like soothing music.  Time to get moving - for all you know,
Floyd | you might be behind enemy lines.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest Clearing (lying on the ground)

Floyd | Snow-coated evergreen trees surround you on all sides, their roots
Floyd | tangling into rugged black rocks.  Snow falls from the bright white sky
Floyd | above.
Floyd |
Floyd | The canopy of your parachute is suspended in the branches of a tree,
Floyd | like a giant, tattered spider's web.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims, "Hey! I intentionally didn't open the chute!" 	
			DavidW asks, "I wonder if we'll get to smooch with the most beautiful bald girl spy in the orient?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "z".
Floyd |
Floyd | Falling
Floyd | You're hanging from a parachute, descending slowly into a blank white
Floyd | void.  Without the sound of your plane's engine, everything seems
Floyd | shockingly silent.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove chute" 		
	

Floyd | You just cheated death.  If you wanted to commit suicide, you missed
Floyd | your chance.

Floyd |
Floyd | The mist beneath you parts.  Below you are thick, evergreen trees,
Floyd | garnished with snow, clinging to sharp black rocks.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now you have a frame of reference, you realise just how fast you're
Floyd | falling.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You open your eyes.  You feel remarkably well given the circumstances.
Floyd | The air is fresh and invigorating, the sound of birdsong and rustling
Floyd | leaves is like soothing music.  Time to get moving - for all you know,
Floyd | you might be behind enemy lines.

Floyd |
Floyd | Forest Clearing (lying on the ground)
Floyd | Snow-coated evergreen trees surround you on all sides, their roots
Floyd | tangling into rugged black rocks.  Snow falls from the bright white sky
Floyd | above.
Floyd |

Floyd | The canopy of your parachute is suspended in the branches of a tree,
Floyd | like a giant, tattered spider's web.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Also, I forget: do we know which side we're on?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x web" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't look like this parachute will be saving any further lives.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get cute" 		
	

Floyd | The word "cute" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get chute" 		
	

Floyd | You are already carrying the parachute pack.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a revolver, and you're wearing a pair of goggles, a
Floyd | parachute pack, a white scarf, a fur-lined jacket, some breeches, and
Floyd | some sheepskin boots.
Floyd |
Floyd | An icy breeze passes through the clearing, the soft rustling of leaves
Floyd | following in its wake.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x trees" 		inky asks, "do we know what war this is?" 	
	

Floyd | The trees seem unperturbed by the cold.  You envy them.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "also, we saw a red plane, so I assume we are snoopy" 	
			Bert says, "It's always WWII." 	
			DavidW asks, "I dunno. I suppose it said at the beginning?" 	
			dhakajack says, "bi- and tri-planes would place it in WWI" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x jacket" 		
	

Floyd | The best protection against the northern weather short of setting
Floyd | yourself on fire.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Nitku asks, "Were biplanes used in any other war than WWI?" 	
			Bert | The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II. 	
			DavidW says, "no insignia" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok, comment retracted." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x forest" 		
	

Floyd | The word "forest" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Forest Clearing (lying on the ground)
Floyd | Snow-coated evergreen trees surround you on all sides, their roots
Floyd | tangling into rugged black rocks.  Snow falls from the bright white sky
Floyd | above.

Floyd |
Floyd | The canopy of your parachute is suspended in the branches of a tree,
Floyd | like a giant, tattered spider's web.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bird chirrups melodically.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You sit up, feeling a lot weaker than you thought you were.  As you
Floyd | start to shift your legs, something inside your left calf moves.  White
Floyd | lightning bolts of pain jolt across your vision and you collapse back

Floyd | with a scream of pain.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've broken your leg.  You're lying in the freezing snow, and you're
Floyd | not going anywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "huh." 	
			Bert says, "We had torpedoes? Dang, what a wasted opportunity..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take stick" 		
	

Floyd | You see no stick here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | The trees seem unperturbed by the cold.  You envy them.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear something rustling among the trees.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x roots" 		
	

Floyd | The word "roots" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot tree" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x leg" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't look like that would achieve much.

Floyd |
Floyd | A feral icekin blunders into the clearing, looking around with its
Floyd | empty black eyes.  Probably attracted by your scream of pain.  Nice
Floyd | going, Lucas.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your left leg looks normal enough, but something feels very wrong
Floyd | inside it.  The slightest movement is agony.
Floyd |
Floyd | The icekin looks around, breathing heavily through its sharp, uneven
Floyd | teeth.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	two-star says (to floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear the icekin's rasping breaths.
Floyd |
Floyd | The icekin fixes its lifeless black eyes on you, emitting a low growl.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x icekin" 		
	

Floyd | A lumbering, bipedal creature, its shaggy white coat stained with
Floyd | blood.  It clutches a long, rusted blade.

Floyd |
Floyd | The icekin lumbers towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "wait, *what*?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot icekin" 		
	

Floyd | You level your revolver at the icekin and squeeze the trigger.  It
Floyd | grunts, and takes a few shuffling steps towards you, as if it hasn't
Floyd | even noticed what's happened.
Floyd |

Floyd | After the third step, blood begins to drip from its mouth, and it
Floyd | collapses face-down into the snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | A dark figure strides into the clearing, a flare gun in her hand.  She
Floyd | slips it into her belt and rests a hand on her hip, surveying you with
Floyd | her one good eye.  "I heard a scream," she says wryly, "But it seems

Floyd | you can handle yourself."  She looks disapprovingly at your gun."You
Floyd | don't need to point that thing at me, Lucas.  They pay us to shoot
Floyd | planes and we're both grounded after our little airborne contretemps,
Floyd | aren't we?"
Floyd |
Floyd | You smile in spite of the pain.  "The Scarlet Baroness."

Floyd |
Floyd | She allows herself a carnivorous grin.  "Yes.  The two great aces, face
Floyd | to face at last."
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |

Floyd | (You could tell her it feels like you already know her, or play it
Floyd | cool.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I was trying to get a branch to make a splint." 	
			olethros says, "fencing... with a poisoned torpedo" 	
	Fang arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		inky says, "yeah, I am just weirded out by the genre" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x baroness" 		
	

Floyd | The Scarlet Baroness is a tall, imposing woman with long, fiery red

Floyd | hair and an eyepatch.  She's clad in black leather and a thick fur
Floyd | coat.  You have her full attention.
Floyd |
Floyd | An awkward silence hangs between the two of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell her it feels like I already know her" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes," you say.  "It doesn't feel like an introduction.  You and I, we
Floyd | know one another better than many friends.  Than many lovers, even."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Exactly," she says with a crooked grin.  "I know I've consumed every

Floyd | snippet of information that might give me an advantage over you, I've
Floyd | learnt your flying style, your weaknesses and quirks.  I expect no less
Floyd | from you.  And we're certainly dance partners of the most intimate
Floyd | kind.  There's no-one else I'd be happier to have shoot me out of the
Floyd | sky."
Floyd |

Floyd | Your eyes meet.  Her's is icy green, studying you in a way you find
Floyd | difficult to fathom - catlike, perhaps, or aloof.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Imelda," she says suddenly.  "Maybe you just know me as the Scarlet
Floyd | Baroness, but my name's Imelda von Strassenbach."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Come on," she adds, "I think it's going to really get snowing soon.
Floyd | We need to get to shelter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "Did we just start the second game?" 	
			Bert asks, "...'Scarlet Baroness'...?" 	
			Bert says, "Cheese factor ++" 	
			inky says (to Fang), "yeah" 	
			inky says, "we're a WWII flying ace and our plane crashed" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Forest Clearing (lying on the ground)
Floyd | Snow-coated evergreen trees surround you on all sides, their roots
Floyd | tangling into rugged black rocks.  Snow falls from the bright white sky
Floyd | above.
Floyd |

Floyd | The canopy of your parachute is suspended in the branches of a tree,
Floyd | like a giant, tattered spider's web.
Floyd |
Floyd | A dead icekin lies in the snow, steam rising from its pooling blood.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda watches you intently.

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks down at your leg.  "Are you okay?  Can you walk?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I think it's broken."
Floyd |
Floyd | She kneels down by your side.  "Let me take a look."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Be sure to look twice as long," you advise her, "since you just have
Floyd | the one eye."
Floyd |
Floyd | She purses her lips.  "You're right.  I'll do that."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Ow!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah, it's broken alright."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thanks, doctor."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I'll have to see about making a splint.  And then I guess you'll have
Floyd | to lean on me, if you don't mind."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Anything to help you feel useful."
Floyd |
Floyd | Downed Triplane (lying on the ground)

Floyd | A scarlet triplane lies half-buried in the snow, leaning to one side.
Floyd | You're huddled beneath its slanting wing, mostly sheltered from the
Floyd | freezing wind and falling snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda is huddled close by your side.
Floyd |

Floyd | "It's getting dark," Imelda says.  "We'll have to stay here at least
Floyd | for tonight, and then move on tomorrow morning if the weather lets up."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "and then our opponent's plane crashed two and she's a girl so I assume there weill be smooches eventually" 	
			inky says, "er, crashed too" 	
			olethros asks, "do we have to fix it through the use of a cumbersome parser and a buggy implementation?" 	
			DavidW says, "I was *trying* to make a splint, lady." 	
			inky says, "I guess maybe we could be a girl too" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're Lucas Thane: daredevil fighter ace, knight of the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | "By the way," Imelda says, "why exactly did you feel the need to fly
Floyd | into me?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "That's funny," you reply.  "I thought that you were the one who flew
Floyd | into me."
Floyd |
Floyd | The triplane rocks slightly in the wind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "smoochies, yep" 	
	two-star says (to floyd), "kiss imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You're not about to kiss the enemy without at least a hint that she'd
Floyd | like you to.
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda sighs, her breath hanging in front of her like a delicate cloud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "haha" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "preposition Imelda" 		
	

Floyd | The word "preposition" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "smell cloud" 		
	

Floyd | You are not aware of any cloud here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks (of Fang), "'With'? Maybe 'Between'?" 	
			DavidW says, "You won't cross the enemy's borders that easily, I guess." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about splint" 		
	

Floyd | You meet Imelda's eye and she looks at you expectantly.
Floyd |
Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about leg" 		
	

Floyd | "Is my leg going to be okay, do you think?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda affects nervousness.  "Well, I was trying not to let you know,
Floyd | but I think it's going to be fatal.  If you have any last minute
Floyd | confessions of love to tell to someone, you should probably do it
Floyd | sooner rather than later."
Floyd |
Floyd | You shrug.  "No, nothing like that."

Floyd |
Floyd | She folds her arms.  "Oh.  I see."
Floyd |
Floyd | Your breath leaves little clouds in the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks (of Fang), "Or how about 'underneath'?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "see, she'd like us to" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about love" 		
	

Floyd | You clear your throat.  "So, Imelda, how are things with the men in
Floyd | your life?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Do you mean my male friends among the Sky Mercenaries?  Or are you
Floyd | sneakily trying to ask about us?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Snow continues to drift down from above.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "topics" 		
	

Floyd | You could ask her about herself, your predicament, the Swordfish

Floyd | biplane, the Thunderbolt triplane, the feral icekin, the Sky
Floyd | Mercenaries, us, friends, or her eyepatch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "confess love" 		
	

Floyd | The word "confess" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		two-star says, "A Gentleman never ends a sentence with a preposition." 	
			inky says, "man, sky mercenaries" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about us" 		
	

Floyd | "Imelda, about us..."
Floyd |
Floyd | She looks down at her feet.  "What about us?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Well, what's your take on it?  Why do we keep circling around one
Floyd | another?  In the air or otherwise."
Floyd |
Floyd | Still without looking at you, she says, "I can't really remember how we
Floyd | first met, except that I suddenly realised this plane from the 5th
Floyd | Imperial Air Squadron kept seeking me out to duel with me, probably

Floyd | because I'm an obvious target in my scarlet plane.  I usually brought
Floyd | down every enemy plane I came across, but you always managed to escape.
Floyd | I only shot you down that once.  I started to research you, found out
Floyd | who you were, started to learn your flying style, had a chance to kill
Floyd | you, but didn't take it, and then flew into you in the middle of a
Floyd | snowstorm.  And now here we are."

Floyd |
Floyd | There's a pause, and then she adds, "But that's not what you asked,
Floyd | really, is it?  That's just the story of us - I didn't mention my
Floyd | feelings at all."  She smiles apologetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | A chill wind passes under the wing, making you both shiver.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "I'm sure this isn't WWII" 	
			Fang asks, "what's an icekin?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about feelings" 		
	

Floyd | "So what are your feelings for me?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda remains strangely silent, just looks at you with an ambiguous
Floyd | expression.  If you want to press the matter, perhaps you should tell
Floyd | her about your feelings.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "it is a two-legged yeti dude who tried to kill us when we crashed" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about my feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |

Floyd | (You could tell her you're in love with her, or tell her she's like
Floyd | your best friend.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, choices" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about love" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | You rub your hands together to try to keep them warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda i'm in love" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | "By the way," Imelda says, "you're not really dying."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I know," you reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Just thought I'd check."
Floyd |
Floyd | A chill wind passes under the wing, making you both shiver.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell imelda I'm in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda i'm in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "whoops" 	
			DavidW says, "This is TADS 3. You can do those elaborate tells it suggests." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask imelda about love" 		
	

Floyd | You clear your throat.  "So, Imelda, how are things with the men in
Floyd | your life?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Do you mean my male friends among the Sky Mercenaries?  Or are you
Floyd | sneakily trying to ask about us?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about my feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |
Floyd | The triplane rocks slightly in the wind.

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could tell her you're in love with her, or tell her she's like
Floyd | your best friend.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda you're in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | You rub your hands together to try to keep them warm.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell imelda I'm in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "tell imelda I'm in love" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmmmm" 	
			Bert asks (of W), "You can, can you?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about icekin" 		
	

Floyd | "You know, I'd never seen an icekin up close before today."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda laughs.  "Count yourself lucky.  Icekin come in all shapes and
Floyd | sizes, but they all have pointy teeth and empty stomachs.  Just be glad
Floyd | this was a feral with a blunt knife.  It'd gut you and eat you, and
Floyd | that's it.  The Ice Queen's trained icekin soldiers, on the other hand,

Floyd | now you really don't want them to take you prisoner."
Floyd |
Floyd | Your breath leaves little clouds in the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "imelda, I love you" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could tell her you're in love with her, or tell her she's like
Floyd | your best friend.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I can't read, though, it's all a blur of pixels." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "tell imelda about love" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her i'm in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "So I don't know what it suggested." 	
			Nitku says, "Maybe it expects "tell her YOU'RE in love with her"" 	
			inky says, "everyone hold off and let Jota do the two commands in sequence" 	
			Lucea says, "(You could tell her you're in love with her, or tell her she's like your best friend.)" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could tell her you're in love with her, or tell her she's like

Floyd | your best friend.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her i'm in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | You decide to just say it.  You don't even look at her.  "Imelda, I'm

Floyd | in love with you."
Floyd |
Floyd | She refrains from looking at you either.  "I'm in love with you too,"
Floyd | she states, matter-of-factly.  "It makes perfect sense, I think.  We're
Floyd | young, we're forced to deal with one another repeatedly in intense,
Floyd | passionate, but graceful and playful circumstances, we understand the

Floyd | stresses, the fears we each experience, we both love flying... and so
Floyd | we grow attracted to one another."
Floyd |
Floyd | The two of you lean closer as she speaks, your lips brushing together.
Floyd | "My lips are numb," you complain.
Floyd |

Floyd | She shushes you.  "Let me warm them up."
Floyd |
Floyd | After a while, you lean back, faces flushed, sitting perhaps a little
Floyd | closer than before.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda straightens her hair and exhales slowly.  "That was almost as

Floyd | satisfying as shooting you down."
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims, "Finally!" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In 52 moves, you have scored 4 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a wing commander.

Floyd |
Floyd | (To see a detailed accounting of your score, type FULL SCORE.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "copulate with imelda" 		
	

Floyd | The word "copulate" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "heh, wing commander" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "full score" 		
	

Floyd | In 52 moves, you have scored 4 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a wing commander.  Your score consists of:
Floyd |    1 point for aerobatics
Floyd |    1 point for knowing when to quit
Floyd |    1 point for suriving a feral icekin
Floyd |    1 point for telling Imelda how you feel about her

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "shoot imelda up" 		
	

Floyd | You see no imelda up here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You lean over to Imelda and kiss her on the lips.  She kisses you back,
Floyd | forcefully.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undress" 		
	

Floyd | The word "undress" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we're a wing commander because we don't need a wing man" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a revolver, and you're wearing a pair of goggles, a
Floyd | white scarf, a fur-lined jacket, some breeches, some sheepskin boots,
Floyd | and a makeshift splint.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove jacket" 		
	

Floyd | The risk of hypothermia is too great.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "I don't think this is actually AIF" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove breeches" 		
	

Floyd | It's extremely cold.  You don't really have much to show off right now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "So?" 	
			inky says, "just smoochiecomp" 	
			Bert exclaims, "That shouldn't keep us from trying!" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "screw imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You see no way to screw Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda's attention drifts away from you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "shoot jacket" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't look like that would achieve much.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda meets your eye briefly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "so beneath your pants is a smooth patch" 	
			Bert says, "Removing trousers is a standard IF tactic." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about eyepatch" 		
	

Floyd | You meet Imelda's eye and she looks at you expectantly.
Floyd |
Floyd | You meet Imelda's single eye.  "Um..." you say, "so how did you...?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "How did I what, Lucas?" she replies innocently.
Floyd |

Floyd | You clear your throat.  "You know... the eye patch..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "What about it, Lucas?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, I was just wondering what happened to your eye."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I was shot," she says simply.  "It's an occupational hazard when
Floyd | you're around planes with machineguns strapped to them."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, I've noticed."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I wonder if I can shoot things" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "remove eyepatch" 		
	

Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "It worked in I-0. It worked in Lost Pig. It probably worked in other games, but I can't remember them right now." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about snow queen" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about ice queen" 		
	

Floyd | "So, as the Ice Queen's pet fighter pilot I bet you've had tea with her
Floyd | and everything?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda raises her chin.  "She did personally present a medal to me.
Floyd | Her hands were really cold...  But I'm hardly her pet.  The Sky
Floyd | Mercenaries always retain full autonomy.  We're merely under contract
Floyd | to her and the Northern Territories."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "You could try rocking the plane, I suppose." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "topics" 		
	

Floyd | You could ask her about herself, your predicament, the Swordfish
Floyd | biplane, the Thunderbolt triplane, the Northern Territories, the Sky
Floyd | Mercenaries, us, yourself, how you first met, shooting you down, the

Floyd | chance to kill you, duelling, or friends.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I-0 and Lost Pig is one hell of a crossover" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about sky mercenaries" 		
	

Floyd | "What exactly are you Sky Pirates all about then?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks at you with her good eye and sighs theatrically.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Sky Mercenaries," you correct yourself, "whatever."
Floyd |

Floyd | "We're the children of Aerocity, born in the skies, at home there,
Floyd | understanding wind, gravity and inertia the way most people understand
Floyd | walking."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're not afraid of heights then?"
Floyd |

Floyd | She smiles.  "No, Lucas, not really."  After a moment she adds, "Look,
Floyd | I know we get a bad rap in the southern newspapers, but we're people
Floyd | just like anyone else.  I couldn't wish for better friends than those I
Floyd | have on the zeppelin."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about predicament" 		
	

Floyd | "This is quite a situation we're in," you say.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yep," Imelda agrees.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Any idea what to do?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda tips her head to one side.  "Maybe."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Care to share?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Well, as I see it, we have two main problems.  We need to get to
Floyd | safety tomorrow, and we need to keep warm."
Floyd |
Floyd | Snow continues to drift down from above.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to Lucea), "Ha ha." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about zeppelin" 		
	

Floyd | "So you guys are based on a zeppelin?" you ask Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course," she says smugly.  "There's no quicker way to get your

Floyd | planes in the air than to have them in the air already."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get eyepatch" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "haha what" 	
			DavidW says, "I can never follow conversation games at this speed." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about safety" 		
	

Floyd | "I was thinking," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Did it hurt?" she asks.
Floyd |
Floyd | "A little.  Mostly it was just an unfamiliar sensation.  What I was
Floyd | thinking was that we should head south from here.  We'll probably reach

Floyd | the Imperial lines in no time.  After that, a hot bath, some steaming
Floyd | soup..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda seems unconvinced.  "Or we could head north.  We'll probably
Floyd | reach the Northern lines in no time, after which etcetera, etcetera."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hang on," you say, "Weren't you telling me I didn't ever want to end
Floyd | up a prisoner of the Ice Queen's icekin soldiers?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You won't be a prisoner of the icekin soldiers.  You'll be my
Floyd | prisoner."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Sounds a bit kinky for my tastes."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda smiles slyly.  "You have no idea."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Maybe we should just split up," you suggest.  "I bet we could both
Floyd | make it by ourselves.  Then no-one has to be anyone's prisoner."

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda shrugs.  "Look, I'm heading north.  I'd love it if you'd come
Floyd | with me, but..."
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,
Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "Grunk car get in crash. Grunk not able to get home. Maybe Grunk able to use sex appeal to hitch ride?" 	
	olethros arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about warmth" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "wear eyepatch" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now wearing the eye patch.
Floyd |
Floyd | You rub your hands together to try to keep them warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about ice queen" 		inky says, "ha ha!" 	
	

Floyd | "So, as the Ice Queen's pet fighter pilot I bet you've had tea with her
Floyd | and everything?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda raises her chin.  "She did personally present a medal to me.
Floyd | Her hands were really cold...  But I'm hardly her pet.  The Sky
Floyd | Mercenaries always retain full autonomy.  We're merely under contract
Floyd | to her and the Northern Territories."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | "I've got an idea to keep us warm," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a break from breathing into her hands.  "Sounds great to me.
Floyd | What is it?"

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could suggest thinking warm thoughts, suggest sharing body heat,
Floyd | or suggest making a fire.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Fang says, "SHARE" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "suggest thinking warm thoughts" 		
	

Floyd | "Well," you begin uncertainly, "we could think warm thoughts."
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda offers you a very condescending look.  "So even as our bodies
Floyd | freeze to death, we'll be warm in our minds?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Exactly.  We just need to picture ourselves sitting in front of a
Floyd | roaring fire, or lying on a sunny beach, or... uh, inside the stomach
Floyd | of a feral icekin..."

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda pats you on your unbroken leg.  "It's a good thing you have
Floyd | looks," is all she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "share body heat" 		
	

Floyd | The word "share" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "suggest sharing body heat" 		
	

Floyd | That command can't be used right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "drat" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | "I've got an idea to keep us warm," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a break from breathing into her hands.  "Sounds great to me.
Floyd | What is it?"

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could suggest thinking warm thoughts, suggest sharing body heat,
Floyd | or suggest making a fire.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "fools" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "suggest sharing body heat" 		
	

Floyd | "I was just thinking how we're both so cold, and yet we're both full of
Floyd | red hot blood..."
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda raises an eyebrow.  "Cannibalism?"
Floyd |
Floyd | You grimace.  "Hugging?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda smiles evilly.  "Oh, I see.  Can't bear to keep your hands to
Floyd | yourself for much longer?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "It would take an iron will."
Floyd |
Floyd | She slips her arms around your waist and presses herself against you.
Floyd | "Still, it's a small price to pay to avoid freezing to death."
Floyd |

Floyd | You wrap your arms around her in turn.  "Yes," you say austerely, "we
Floyd | must be brave."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | "I've got an idea to keep us warm," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a break from breathing into her hands.  "Sounds great to me.
Floyd | What is it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | The triplane rocks slightly in the wind.

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could suggest thinking warm thoughts, suggest sharing body heat,
Floyd | or suggest making a fire.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Hmm." 	
			Fang says, "perhaps we should persuade her to the side of freedom" 	
			Bert says, "You'd think the previous interaction would have altered this one." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda to go south" 		
	

Floyd | Imelda refuses your request.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about safety" 		
	

Floyd | "About where we're headed..." you begin.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Have you reached a decision yet?"  Imelda asks you.
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,
Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda to go south" 		
	

Floyd | Imelda refuses your request.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "is this where we cuddle in the Ton-Ton for warmth?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "agree to go north" 		
	

Floyd | "Okay," you say.  "I'll go north with you."

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "tell imedla about empire" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda squeezes you around the waist.  "I'm glad.  And...  I know what
Floyd | a sacrifice this must be for you.  Thank you."
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | The word "imedla" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "s/Ton-Ton/icekin/" 	
			inky asks (of dhakajack), "are you saying we should cut open her belly?" 	
			inky says, "oh" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about empire" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "topics" 		
	

Floyd | You could ask her about your predicament, herself, Aerocity, keeping
Floyd | warm, getting to safety, the Swordfish biplane, the Thunderbolt
Floyd | triplane, the Northern Territories, newspapers, us, yourself, how you

Floyd | first met, shooting you down, the chance to kill you, duelling, or
Floyd | friends.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about newspapers" 		
	

Floyd | "Have you read any newspapers recently?" you ask Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You mean like the Northern Financial Times?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I mean like the Weekly Mirror or the Mail News."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I thought as much.  A shocking amount of those papers is about us,
Floyd | isn't it?  According to one, I'm irresponsible for continuing to fly
Floyd | into combat while blatantly pregnant with your love child."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I wonder what they'd make of all this..."  You wave your hand around
Floyd | at your cosy little love nest in the freezing snow.

Floyd |
Floyd | "If we don't make it," Imelda says, "they'll turn it into our lovers'
Floyd | suicide pact."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Headline: They couldn't bring themselves to fight any more!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Downed Triplane (lying on the ground)
Floyd | A scarlet triplane lies half-buried in the snow, leaning to one side.
Floyd | You're huddled beneath its slanting wing, mostly sheltered from the

Floyd | freezing wind and falling snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda is huddled close by your side, watching you intently.
Floyd |
Floyd | A chill wind passes under the wing, making you both shiver.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about aerocity" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about safety" 		
	

Floyd | "About where we're headed..." you begin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you changed your mind?"  Imelda asks you.  "We were both going to
Floyd | head north."

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could ask her to go south with you, tell her you should split up,
Floyd | or tell her you haven't changed your mind.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about aerocity" 		
	

Floyd | "I've heard of Aerocity, but I'm not sure I believe in it.  It's
Floyd | supposed to be a city suspended from balloons?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda bursts out with laughter.  It's nice to see her be so familiar

Floyd | with you, but you can't help but feel a bit embarrassed.  "That's a
Floyd | good one, I'll have to remember that.  No, Lucas, Aerocity is not a
Floyd | city suspended from balloons, but it is high up in a mountain range.
Floyd | We're quite familiar with the concept of falling, and our efforts to
Floyd | avoid it have made us the best in the world at flying."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The slanting triplane wing is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda laughs suddenly.  "A city suspended from balloons.  That's

Floyd | brilliant."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "So how do we do this whole 'going north' thing?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "enter triplane" 		
	

Floyd | That is not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x plane" 		
	

Floyd | A plane with three wings, one on top of the other.  Bit extravagant,
Floyd | really.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "tomorrow" 	
			Bert says, "Ah." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about northern territories" 		
	

Floyd | You look around at the thick snowfall.  "The climate's nice in the
Floyd | Northern Territories this year."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I guess this is why they call her the Ice Queen."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, I don't think any of this is going to resolve until the end of the game" 	
			DavidW says, "So first the smoochies, sleep, then travel, I guess." 	
			inky asks, "did we try making a fire?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about herself" 		
	

Floyd | "So..." you begin, "why not tell me a little about yourself, Imelda?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks thoughtful.  "I suppose... it's a bit of a broad topic.

Floyd | Tell you what, why don't we start with you telling me about myself."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You want me to tell you about yourself?" you repeat.  "Don't you
Floyd | already know yourself quite well?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm interested to know what you think of me.  Come on, tell me."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about herself" 		
	

Floyd | You take a deep breath.  "Okay.  You're the notorious ace Sky Mercenary
Floyd | known as the Scarlet Baroness, real name Imelda von Strassa- von

Floyd | Strassenba-"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Von Strassenbach."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Who's telling this story?  Imelda von Strassenbach.  A fiery redhead
Floyd | with an ice cold temperament."

Floyd |
Floyd | "More than my temperament is ice cold at the moment."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You've racked up over seventy confirmed kills-"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Seventy-six."

Floyd |
Floyd | "You're an outstanding pilot, who can best even the most elite southern
Floyd | pilots, and you're hopelessly in love, according to the scandal sheets,
Floyd | with one Lucas Thane, the Benevolent Empire's ace of aces."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda seems happy with your little report.  "Is that so," she purrs.

Floyd | "Although: hopelessly in love, pursuing in a predatory fashion... it's
Floyd | a thin line, I think."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We haven't tried a fire yet." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about benevolent empire" 		
	

Floyd | "You're surely a fan of the Benevolent Empire and its attempts to
Floyd | civilise the world?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda scoffs.  "It's hard to consider an empire benevolent when it

Floyd | thinks that rearranging the world to suit its own economic needs is
Floyd | 'civilising' it."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You don't think the people of the Northern Territories would benefit
Floyd | from giving us all their noxious petroleum?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "I think they've benefited best by giving it to us Sky Mercenaries."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about warmth" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about me" 		
	

Floyd | "Do you know much about me?" you ask Imelda.
Floyd |

Floyd | "All the important stuff," she says.  "Your flying style, your
Floyd | weaknesses."
Floyd |
Floyd | You study her carefully.  "My weaknesses?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You always underestimate your ability to fly in a crosswind, you're

Floyd | too afraid of stalling, and you've balked at two separate opportunities
Floyd | to shoot me down because the bullets would probably have passed through
Floyd | my body."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I see."
Floyd |

Floyd | Snow continues to drift down from above.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | "I've got an idea to keep us warm," you tell Imelda.

Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a break from breathing into her hands.  "Sounds great to me.
Floyd | What is it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could suggest thinking warm thoughts, suggest sharing body heat,
Floyd | or suggest making a fire.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "suggest making a fire" 		
	

Floyd | You look around.  "I think we could build a fire.  If we put it right
Floyd | there it should be close enough to warm us up, but the wind will blow

Floyd | the smoke away from us."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda crawls out from under the wing and stands up, snow crunching
Floyd | beneath her feet.  "Okay, I'll go find some wood, or anything else that
Floyd | looks like it'll burn.  Give me your gun.  I'd hate to have to face
Floyd | down a feral icekin with nothing but a couple of pine branches."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Don't you still have that flare gun?" you ask her.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah, but I'd rather save its one shot for summoning help.  Come on,
Floyd | hand it over."
Floyd |

Floyd | (You could agree, or politely refuse.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda for flare gun" 		
	

Floyd | "We can talk after I get back," Imelda says.  "In the meantime, just

Floyd | tell me: are you going to give me your gun?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "trade" 		
	

Floyd | The word "trade" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I love the agree refuse gimmick" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "agree" 		
	

Floyd | You hand your gun to Imelda, handle first.  "You've not managed to

Floyd | shoot me yet," you tell her, "and it's hardly for lack of trying.  I
Floyd | think you must like me too much."
Floyd |
Floyd | She purses her lips and tucks the revolver into her belt.  "It's
Floyd | certainly not that you're a difficult target to hit."
Floyd |

Floyd | She turns around and stomps off into the snow.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes slowly while Imelda is gone.  You feel yourself growing
Floyd | sleepy, and the feeling leaves your hands and feet.  Only the dull pain
Floyd | in your broken leg keeps you awake.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You snap back to reality as something approaches, trudging quickly
Floyd | through the frost.  Before you have time to consider what to do if it
Floyd | turns out to be a dangerous creature, Imelda appears in front of you
Floyd | and dumps an armful of branches and sticks into the snow.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Gods it's cold," she announces, throwing herself onto all fours and
Floyd | crawling back under the wing.  She curls up right next to you,
Floyd | shivering, and you obligingly wrap your arms around her to help warm
Floyd | her up.  Not entirely a selfless act, as you're pretty cold yourself.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay," Imelda says after a while.  "Got to try and turn this ugly heap
Floyd | of sticks into a nice fire..."
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could let her get on with it, or tell her you can do better.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "whoops?" 	
			Fang asks, "or yay?" 	
			Bert shrugs. 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In 98 moves, you have scored 6 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a world-famous ace.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "heh" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her i can do better" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT

Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda rearranges the piles of sticks slightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her you can do better" 		
	

Floyd | You shift your broken leg so that you can grab a couple of sticks from
Floyd | the pile.  "I think the Boy Scouts need to take over here," you tell
Floyd | Imelda.
Floyd |

Floyd | She gives you a very doubtful look.  "Excuse me?  The Sky Guides are
Floyd | more than capable of rubbing two sticks together.  Unless you can think
Floyd | of a way an all-male group might have gained extra practice in that
Floyd | regard?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Clearly you don't have enough confidence in your abilities to just get

Floyd | on with it."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm just trying to get you to save your energy."
Floyd |
Floyd | You both tend to the sticks in intense silence from then on.  But the
Floyd | fire doesn't suddenly spark to life, it forms slowly from a wisp of

Floyd | smoke, and it's hard to tell which of you is more responsible for it.
Floyd | When it's crackling away nicely, you both sit back,
Floyd | shoulder-to-shoulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I told you to save your energy," Imelda says.  "That was clearly my
Floyd | spark that lit it."

Floyd |
Floyd | You shake your head.  "My sparks were much more vibrant.  You could
Floyd | tell they had the Lucas Thane never-give-up attitude."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Fine, keep lying to yourself.  We both know the truth."
Floyd |

Floyd | "I agree that one of us is in denial, but I don't think it's me."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda holds out her hands to the fire.  "It's nice that we got it
Floyd | done, though."
Floyd |
Floyd | You hold out your own hands.  "I don't dispute that."

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Why am I addressing the game in the second person?" 	
			inky says, "ok, this dialogue is pretty good" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure it's good as an IF game as opposed to static fiction, but" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about child" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In 101 moves, you have scored 7 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | the southern Ace of Aces.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "wasn't something about a lovechild?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "win game" 		
	

Floyd | The word "win" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about lovechild" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "That was one of the rumors the tabloids printed about her." 	
			Bert says, "And us." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about newspaper" 		
	

Floyd | "Have you read any newspapers recently?" you ask Imelda.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You mean like the Northern Financial Times?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I mean like the Weekly Mirror or the Mail News."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I thought as much.  A shocking amount of those papers is about us,
Floyd | isn't it?  According to one, I'm irresponsible for continuing to fly

Floyd | into combat while blatantly pregnant with your love child."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I wonder what they'd make of all this..."  You wave your hand around
Floyd | at your cosy little love nest in the freezing snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | "If we don't make it," Imelda says, "they'll turn it into our lovers'

Floyd | suicide pact."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Headline: They couldn't bring themselves to fight any more!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about northern territories" 		
	

Floyd | You look around at the thick snowfall.  "The climate's nice in the
Floyd | Northern Territories this year."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I guess this is why they call her the Ice Queen."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "topics" 		
	

Floyd | You could ask her about your predicament, getting to safety, the
Floyd | Swordfish biplane, the Thunderbolt triplane, falling, herself, flying,

Floyd | us, how you first met, shooting you down, the chance to kill you,
Floyd | duelling, friends, ace of aces, her kill count, or her hair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about hair" 		
	

Floyd | "Your hair is the most striking colour," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | She runs her fingers through her curls.  "Thank you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Is it natural?"
Floyd |

Floyd | She suddenly glares at you.  "You might maintain the most fleeting hope
Floyd | of one day finding out for sure."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ouch" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about dueling" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about the chance to kill me" 		
	

Floyd | "That one time you came out of the sun..." you begin.  "It was perfect.
Floyd | You had me."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes," Imelda says.  "I had you.  Not just your plane, but you.  I
Floyd | couldn't take the shot.  You've done the same yourself."

Floyd |
Floyd | You lightly touch her arm.  "Well, we're the only ones who know."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about kill count" 		
	

Floyd | "What was that number again?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I've downed seventy six aircraft," she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | You sniff.  "A lot of balloons and two-seaters, though..."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hug her" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap your arms around Imelda and squeeze her tightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why Lucas," she says wryly, hugging you back, "you must contain your

Floyd | obvious desire for me."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm just trying to keep warm," you reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, keep telling yourself that."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about ace of aces" 		
	

Floyd | You look around the snowy environs.  "It's interesting when you think
Floyd | about it... here we both are, two aces of aces..."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Aces of aces?  There's the ace of aces, which is myself.  And then
Floyd | there are a few regional titles like southern ace of aces, like this
Floyd | fellow who's all looks and no brains.  You'd like him.  But it's not
Floyd | really a concept that makes sense when you pluralise it."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Sure it does," you insist.  "There's room for more than one at the

Floyd | top."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Not much room.  It'd be pretty cramped."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have some sort of objection to being physically close to me?"
Floyd |

Floyd | She reaches over to toussle your hair.  "Only in the abstract."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You let your head rest on Imelda's shoulder, and sleep descends like a

Floyd | dark blanket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The night is cold, and the two of you cling to one another for warmth,
Floyd | but the snow has finally stopped falling and the fire burns until
Floyd | morning.
Floyd |

Floyd | Then the two of you struggle to your feet, Imelda just contending with
Floyd | aches and cramps while you have to worry about your broken leg.
Floyd | Looking around at the pristine forest, everything covered in thick
Floyd | sheets of snow, you begin to make your way north, Imelda encouraging
Floyd | you to lean on her as much as you can.  Eventually, the bright scarlet
Floyd | wingtip of her triplane has disappeared from view.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Not long after that...
Floyd |
Floyd | You sit by the window, looking down on the clouds, feeling the
Floyd | throbbing of the zeppelin's engine.  The door opens and Imelda enters.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Is this a conjugal visit?" you ask her.
Floyd |
Floyd | She looks puzzled.  "Have I ever made any other kind of visit?"
Floyd |
Floyd | She walks across your improbably luxurious cabin - not that you're

Floyd | allowed to leave it - and sits on the window sill next to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Are you okay?" she asks.  "I thought they'd be a little more lenient
Floyd | with you, but it seems you're going to be in here til the war ends."
Floyd |
Floyd | You shrug.  "The view's nice.  The company's great.  I've caught up on

Floyd | my reading."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Wouldn't you be more comfortable lying on the bed?" she asks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You look at her with mock naivety.  "Why do you ask?"
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Years later...
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda rolls off of you and sparks up a cigarette, the sheets around
Floyd | her hips.  You study her silhouette in the twilight.
Floyd |

Floyd | "The air race tomorrow," she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Everyone will be there," you say proudly.  "Everyone wants to see the
Floyd | world's most famous aces competing against one another."
Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a deep drag and lets the smoke curl slowly from her lips

Floyd | before speaking.  "I just want to make sure you know I won't hold back,
Floyd | just because it's you."
Floyd |
Floyd | You laugh.  "You're not going to get a chance to.  You'll have to be
Floyd | flat out just to be able to spot me on the horizon."
Floyd |

Floyd | She holds out her hand and you take it.  "May the best woman win," she
Floyd | says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "May she come second, after me," you counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a moment's pause.  The quiet sounds of evening drift in through

Floyd | an open window.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Lucas..."  Imelda takes a deep breath.  "There's something I need to
Floyd | ask you.  After the race, what... what's going to happen?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Easy," you say.  "I go where you go.  As always."

Floyd |
Floyd | She smiles.  "That's going to be difficult.  I'll be going where you're
Floyd | going.  We'll be chasing one another in circles."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Like dogfighting all over again."
Floyd |

Floyd | She kisses the corner of your mouth.  "I love you."
Floyd |
Floyd | You kiss her back, passionately.  "I love you too."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Many years later...

Floyd |
Floyd | The champagne cork pops explosively and you both jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Careful," Imelda says, "you'll have someone's eye out."
Floyd |
Floyd | You pour out two glasses.  "Yes, you have to be careful in that

Floyd | regard."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank you," Imelda says, taking a glass and bringing it to her lips.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hold on, we haven't had a toast yet."
Floyd |

Floyd | "That's easy," she says, raising her glass.  "To us.  And another
Floyd | twenty years of fucking, flying and friendship."
Floyd |
Floyd | "To the three 'F's," you agree, tapping your glass against hers.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The three 'F's."

Floyd |
Floyd | You take a deep breath of mountain air.  The precarious buildings of
Floyd | Aerocity surround you, glistening with frost.  "It's quite a view," you
Floyd | say, looking across the world from up high.
Floyd |
Floyd | "As good as flying," Imelda says.  "Almost as good as love."

Floyd |
Floyd | You lean together and kiss, the setting sun glinting on snow-topped
Floyd | mountains.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** THE END ***
Floyd |

Floyd | In 111 moves, you have scored 7 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | the southern Ace of Aces.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or

Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "holy crap" 	
			Bert says (to Fang), "You left off the preposition." 	
			inky says, "wow" 	
			inky says, "I guess we can see the endings" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "endings" 		
	

Floyd | Well, you finished Snowblind Aces.  But perhaps you were surprised by
Floyd | the way it turned out?

Floyd |
Floyd | Throughout the game you've made a number of decisions which have
Floyd | affected the way Lucas and Imelda will treat one another for the rest
Floyd | of their lives.  There are eight decisions in total, five of which
Floyd | you'll be forced to make in order to complete the game, and three more
Floyd | which you discover by talking to Imelda.  I've tried to make the game

Floyd | as simple to play through as possible, so hopefully your next action
Floyd | will be to type 'restart' and try doing things a little differently...
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or

Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "wow, eight decisions" 	
			inky says, "I didn't notice any other than which way you persuade her to go and whether you give her the gun" 	
			Bert says, "The gun is presumably one." 	
			Bert says, "And so is ab-- that." 	
			inky says, "and I guess whether you're nice or a jerk" 	
			Fang says, "there's probably an ending with the sharing body heat" 	
			inky says, "apparently we picked all nice" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "amusing" 		
	

Floyd | Have you tried:
Floyd |
Floyd | Eating your breeches?

Floyd | Examining your parachute pack after discovering you've broken your leg?
Floyd | Typing 'xyzzy'?
Floyd | Asking Imelda about tiger sauce?
Floyd | Shooting yourself?
Floyd | Shooting Imelda?
Floyd | Sleeping at the controls of your plane (before the collision)?

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang says, "and tell her you love her" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "Nice and doormat." 	
			inky says, "good point" 	
			inky says, "I assume we could have just said "let's build a fire and sleep on separate sides with a sword between us"" 	
			Bert says, "Yeah, you can also tell her you're friends." 	
			Bert asks, "Also, tiger sauce?" 	
			Fang says, "or you could shoot her" 	
			inky says, "you'll just have to restart and find out" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | It only takes a moment of inattention.  The snowstorm draws thicker and
Floyd | the faint grey silhouette of the reconnaissance plane fades away

Floyd | completely.  You bank hard, yanking on the control column with mild
Floyd | panic, but it's too late.  Your paths have diverged, unlikely to cross
Floyd | again as long as this lethal weather continues.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lumbering two-seater plane you were supposed to be escorting is
Floyd | alone and unprotected.  And she is out there: lightning fast, deadly

Floyd | accurate and cold as ice.  You'd consider turning back to the airbase
Floyd | right away.
Floyd |
Floyd | If, that is, you even knew where you were.
Floyd |
Floyd | Snowblind Aces

Floyd | An adventure/romance in the snow by C.E.J.  Pacian
Floyd | Version 5 - Developed with TADS 3
Floyd |
Floyd | [Type 'About' if this is your first time playing.
Floyd | Type 'Credits' to learn who's responsible for this drivel.]
Floyd |

Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)
Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the
Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all
Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.
Floyd |

Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd | The word "y" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | (If this was an accidental misspelling, you can correct it by typing
Floyd | OOPS followed by the corrected word now.  Any time the story points out
Floyd | an unknown word, you can correct a misspelling using OOPS as your next
Floyd | command.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | The word "xyzzy" is not necessary in this story.  Honest.
Floyd |
Floyd | You suppress a shiver.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just decreased by one point.)
Floyd | (If you'd prefer not to be notified about score changes in the future,
Floyd | type NOTIFY OFF.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | Paragon of irresponsibility, you decide to rest your weary eyes while
Floyd | at the controls of your plane.  You never find out just what it was
Floyd | that you hit in mid-air, in the midst of this intense snowstorm, but by
Floyd | the time you hit the ground you're wide awake.

Floyd |
Floyd | *** YOU HAVE DIED ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 2 moves, you have scored -1 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a plague bearer.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | That isn't one of the options.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "sleep".
Floyd |
Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)
Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the

Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all
Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | The word "xyzzy" is not necessary in this story.  Honest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The propeller catches and restarts.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just decreased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			olethros says, "hey nice little game" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove parachute" 		
	

Floyd | Not that you expect to bail out, but you never know...
Floyd |
Floyd | The engine judders briefly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a revolver, and you're wearing a pair of goggles, a
Floyd | parachute pack, a white scarf, a fur-lined jacket, some breeches, and

Floyd | some sheepskin boots.
Floyd |
Floyd | The engine wheezes mechanically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove breeches" 		
	

Floyd | It's extremely cold.  You don't really have much to show off right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | A strong gust of wind rocks the plane.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "eat them" 		
	

Floyd | Lucas not chew on pants.  Lucas officer and gentleman, not hungry orc.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Yay." 	
			inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "when did -- man" 	
			Fang says, "heh" 	
			inky says, "I didn't realize this was that recent" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "version" 		
	

Floyd | Snowblind Aces version 5

Floyd |
Floyd | TADS 3 Library version 3.0.12
Floyd | T3 VM (mjr-T3) version 3.0.12
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "though I guess lost pig is a year old by now" 	
			Bert says, "Darn TADS." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "notes" 		
	

Floyd | The word "notes" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x goggles" 		
	

Floyd | The goggles allow you to keep your eyes open when travelling at high
Floyd | speed through subzero skies.

Floyd |
Floyd | You feel the buffeting of the wind against your plane subtly changing
Floyd | its heading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to inky), "Feels like two." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You're not going to abandon a perfectly good plane in mid-air!
Floyd |
Floyd | A faint shadow flickers in the corner of your eye, but when you look,

Floyd | there's nothing in that direction but mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | You press the button and your plane's twin machineguns strafe the murk

Floyd | ahead in a display of bright muzzle flash and loud, mechanical
Floyd | rattling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Pointless, but satisfying all the same.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pause to wipe a build-up of frost from your goggles.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "dive" 		
	

Floyd | The word "dive" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull controls" 		
	

Floyd | The word "controls" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "push stick" 		
	

Floyd | You grip the control column tightly and push it forward, hoping to sink
Floyd | within sight of the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Almost before you can react, a huge shape swoops out of the white void

Floyd | below: a scarlet triplane, close enough that you can see its pilot, and
Floyd | the surprised expression on her face.  You pull on the control column
Floyd | hard and punch the throttle, feeling your plane strain to rise higher.
Floyd | For an instant you think you've avoided disaster.
Floyd |
Floyd | And then the whole fuselage lurches, the sound of metal on metal

Floyd | scraping right into your brain as you collide glancingly with the other
Floyd | plane.  You look over your shoulder just in time to see the scarlet
Floyd | triplane disappear into the clouds, trailing thick black smoke.
Floyd | Turning back to your controls you immediately notice the epileptic
Floyd | motion of the rapidly spinning altimeter.
Floyd |

Floyd | It would seem that you have a problem.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)
Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the
Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all

Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The engine stalls for a second before lurching back to life, something
Floyd | loose and metallic grating inside it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull stick" 		
	

Floyd | The control column moves loosely, clearly having no effect on the
Floyd | plane's ailerons.

Floyd |
Floyd | The control column twitches spasmodically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z.z.z.z." 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The propeller flickers in its motion, struggling to keep turning.
Floyd |

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance over your shoulder in time to see something go flying
Floyd | backwards from beneath the plane.  Hopefully nothing too important...
Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | The engine finally gives out, spluttering to a halt.
Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Thick black smoke begins to rise from the engine.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z.z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | You feel the plane's nose dropping as your airspeed slows.
Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Your altimeter reads 200m.  You should seriously consider bailing out.
Floyd |

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Your altimeter reads 100m.  You should seriously consider bailing out.
Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | The mists below part, and you see the ground for the first time in
Floyd | hours, sharp black rocks breaking through the snow.  Thankfully, you
Floyd | don't even feel it when you hit.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** YOU HAVE DIED ***
Floyd |

Floyd | In 20 moves, you have scored -1 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a plague bearer.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "z".
Floyd |
Floyd | Biplane Cockpit (sitting in the pilot's seat)

Floyd | You're seated in the cockpit of your Swordfish biplane, exposed to the
Floyd | elements.  The small windscreen ahead does little to keep the harsh,
Floyd | icy wind from cutting right through you, and you're surrounded on all
Floyd | sides by blinding white mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plane's control column juts up in front of you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You check your parachute and climb up onto your seat.  After you throw
Floyd | your leg over the side, it's surprisingly easy to push yourself away

Floyd | from the plane and leap into the mist.
Floyd |
Floyd | Not quite as aerodynamic as your Swordfish, you drop like a stone,
Floyd | plummeting into the murky white void below.  Ice and fog crowd close
Floyd | around you, obscuring every direction.  The only reason you know you're
Floyd | falling is because of the way your stomach seems to still be a hundred

Floyd | metres above you somewhere.  Remembering the single parachute jump you
Floyd | performed in basic training, you fumble with the chord and yank hard,
Floyd | the harness suddenly seeming to pull you upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Falling
Floyd | You're hanging from a parachute, descending slowly into a blank white

Floyd | void.  Without the sound of your plane's engine, everything seems
Floyd | shockingly silent.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | The word "xyzzy" is not necessary in this story.  Honest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your plane will have hit the ground by now, shattering into pieces,
Floyd | bursting into flames.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just decreased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot me" 		
	

Floyd | You miss.
Floyd |
Floyd | But you're okay.  You made it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "shoot me".
Floyd |
Floyd | Falling
Floyd | You're hanging from a parachute, descending slowly into a blank white

Floyd | void.  Without the sound of your plane's engine, everything seems
Floyd | shockingly silent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Taking back one turn: "xyzzy".
Floyd |
Floyd | Falling
Floyd | You're hanging from a parachute, descending slowly into a blank white
Floyd | void.  Without the sound of your plane's engine, everything seems
Floyd | shockingly silent.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You don't think it would be a good idea to sleep right now.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your plane will have hit the ground by now, shattering into pieces,
Floyd | bursting into flames.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | The word "sing" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | The word "dance" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | Just as soon as you're standing on the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | But you're okay.  You made it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Nice response." 	
			DavidW says (to Bert), "heh. Nice one." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "shoot me" 		
	

Floyd | You miss.
Floyd |
Floyd | The hard part is over.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Considering that it can apply throughout the whole game." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open chute" 		
	

Floyd | Which chute do you mean, the parachute pack, or the parachute canopy?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "canopy" 		
	

Floyd | The parachute canopy is too far away.
Floyd |

Floyd | The mist beneath you parts.  Below you are thick, evergreen trees,
Floyd | garnished with snow, clinging to sharp black rocks.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now you have a frame of reference, you realise just how fast you're
Floyd | falling.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You open your eyes.  You feel remarkably well given the circumstances.
Floyd | The air is fresh and invigorating, the sound of birdsong and rustling
Floyd | leaves is like soothing music.  Time to get moving - for all you know,
Floyd | you might be behind enemy lines.
Floyd |

Floyd | Forest Clearing (lying on the ground)
Floyd | Snow-coated evergreen trees surround you on all sides, their roots
Floyd | tangling into rugged black rocks.  Snow falls from the bright white sky
Floyd | above.
Floyd |
Floyd | The canopy of your parachute is suspended in the branches of a tree,

Floyd | like a giant, tattered spider's web.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x pack" 		
	

Floyd | A bulky backpack that will let you descend gracefully to the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | A bird chirrups melodically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in the parachute pack.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear snow crunching nearby.  Probably nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | That is not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | An icy breeze passes through the clearing, the soft rustling of leaves
Floyd | following in its wake.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove it" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer wearing the parachute pack.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear snow crunching nearby.  Probably nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "whoopsies" 	
	Taleslinger arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're Lucas Thane: daredevil fighter ace, knight of the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | An icy breeze passes through the clearing, the soft rustling of leaves
Floyd | following in its wake.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x leg" 		
	

Floyd | Yep, one functional left leg.  Good for standing on and walking with.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "right leg" 		
	

Floyd | The word "right" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "broken leg" 		
	

Floyd | The word "broken" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I guess we have to walk to find out." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | Just as soon as you're standing on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x right leg" 		
	

Floyd | The word "right" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You sit up, feeling a lot weaker than you thought you were.  As you
Floyd | start to shift your legs, something inside your left calf moves.  White
Floyd | lightning bolts of pain jolt across your vision and you collapse back
Floyd | with a scream of pain.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've broken your leg.  You're lying in the freezing snow, and you're
Floyd | not going anywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x pack" 		
	

Floyd | A worthless piece of crap that couldn't slow down a feather in an
Floyd | updraft.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear something rustling among the trees.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ha." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot me" 		
	

Floyd | You miss.

Floyd |
Floyd | A feral icekin blunders into the clearing, looking around with its
Floyd | empty black eyes.  Probably attracted by your scream of pain.  Nice
Floyd | going, Lucas.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z.z.z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | The icekin looks around, breathing heavily through its sharp, uneven
Floyd | teeth.
Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The icekin fixes its lifeless black eyes on you, emitting a low growl.

Floyd |
Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The icekin lumbers towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The icekin raises its furry white paw.  The jagged edge of the rusty
Floyd | blade is brought into sharp relief against the white mists above.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | A loud report shatters the quiet, resounding through the forest.
Floyd | Flocks of black birds rise in flurries from the trees.  The icekin
Floyd | sways slightly on the spot, its blank expression shifting to one of
Floyd | vague confusion.  And then it slumps to the ground, almost as if
Floyd | falling suddenly asleep.
Floyd |

Floyd | A dark figure strides into the clearing, a smoking flare gun in her
Floyd | hand.  She lets it fall to the snow and rests a hand on her hip,
Floyd | surveying you with her one good eye.  "So," she says.  "It's you.  I
Floyd | imagine your plane fared as badly as mine."
Floyd |
Floyd | You smile in spite of the pain.  "And it's you.  Aiding and abetting

Floyd | the enemy.  What a poor example of patriotism."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm a mercenary, Lucas, and you're not really one to talk yourself,
Floyd | are you?"  She pauses and sighs.  "After all this time," she says
Floyd | softly, "here we are.  Face to face on the ground.  It's..."  She
Floyd | trails off.

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could tell her it feels like you already know her, or play it
Floyd | cool.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "That was probably a decision." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You could never!  Well, if you were both in planes, certainly.  Quite
Floyd | frequently in fact.  But not face to face!

Floyd |
Floyd | An awkward silence hangs between the two of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "play it cool" 		
	

Floyd | You offer her a cordial smiles.  "It's a pleasure to meet you,
Floyd | Baroness."
Floyd |
Floyd | She laughs.  "Imelda.  Just call me Imelda.  Come on, we need to get to
Floyd | shelter."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about shelter" 		
	

Floyd | Imelda looks around apprehensively.  "Actually, I think we should get
Floyd | moving rather than hang around chatting.  The snowfall's getting
Floyd | thicker all the time."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm not going anywhere," you say.  "I think my leg's broken."
Floyd |
Floyd | She kneels down by your side.  "Let me take a look."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Be sure to look twice as long," you advise her, "since you just have

Floyd | the one eye."
Floyd |
Floyd | She purses her lips.  "You're right.  I'll do that."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ow!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Yeah, it's broken alright."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thanks, doctor."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'll have to see about making a splint.  And then I guess you'll have
Floyd | to lean on me, if you don't mind."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Anything to help you feel useful."
Floyd |
Floyd | Downed Triplane (lying on the ground)
Floyd | A scarlet triplane lies half-buried in the snow, leaning to one side.
Floyd | You're huddled beneath its slanting wing, mostly sheltered from the

Floyd | freezing wind and falling snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda is huddled close by your side.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's getting dark," Imelda says.  "We'll have to stay here at least
Floyd | for tonight, and then move on tomorrow morning if the weather lets up."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about fire" 		
	

Floyd | You meet Imelda's eye and she looks at you expectantly.
Floyd |

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your breath leaves little clouds in the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about warmth" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | You rub your hands together to try to keep them warm.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "the crack about looking twice as long because she only has one eye is kind of in bad taste" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about imelda" 		
	

Floyd | "So..." you begin, "why not tell me a little about yourself, Imelda?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks thoughtful.  "I suppose... it's a bit of a broad topic.

Floyd | Tell you what, why don't we start with you telling me about myself."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You want me to tell you about yourself?" you repeat.  "Don't you
Floyd | already know yourself quite well?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm interested to know what you think of me.  Come on, tell me."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Yeah, she seemed to feel that way as well." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "I think you suck" 		
	

Floyd | The word "think" is not necessary in this story.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You take a deep breath.  "Okay.  You're the notorious ace Sky Mercenary
Floyd | known as the Scarlet Baroness, real name Imelda von Strassa- von

Floyd | Strassenba-"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Von Strassenbach."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Who's telling this story?  Imelda von Strassenbach.  A fiery redhead
Floyd | with an ice cold temperament."

Floyd |
Floyd | "More than my temperament is ice cold at the moment."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You've racked up over seventy confirmed kills-"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Seventy-six."

Floyd |
Floyd | "You're an outstanding pilot, who can best even the most elite southern
Floyd | pilots, and you're hopelessly in love, according to the scandal sheets,
Floyd | with one Lucas Thane, the Benevolent Empire's ace of aces."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda seems happy with your little report.  "Is that so," she purrs.

Floyd | "Although: hopelessly in love, pursuing in a predatory fashion... it's
Floyd | a thin line, I think."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "topics" 		
	

Floyd | You could ask her about your predicament, the Swordfish biplane, the
Floyd | Thunderbolt triplane, the feral icekin, the Benevolent Empire, herself,
Floyd | newspapers, ace of aces, her eyepatch, her kill count, or her hair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about thunderbolt" 		
	

Floyd | You look over your shoulder at the fuselage of Imelda's plane.  "So,
Floyd | you think you're too good for just two wings, then?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Rate of climb," she says assuredly.  "Gaining and losing height will

Floyd | win and lose dogfights for you.  Three wings give you the capability to
Floyd | climb at an incredible rate.  And when you roll, that translates to
Floyd | maneuvrability in any direction.  I know there's pilots who like
Floyd | durability or speed, but to me, nothing beats being able to turn to
Floyd | constantly keep your guns on an opponent, especially if they're also
Floyd | struggling to keep their nose up."

Floyd |
Floyd | You make an ambiguous noise.  "Sounds like it might be alright for
Floyd | some, I suppose."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks at you, fixedly.  "After the war, I'll put you in the
Floyd | pilot's seat of one of these things, and you'll see just what I mean."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about swordfish" 		
	

Floyd | "I hear the Swordfish has a pretty good reputation on the other side of
Floyd | the lines."

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda suppresses a smile.  "It kick-started development of the
Floyd | Thunderbolt triplane, I'll give it credit for that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "what are we doing? Trying to get the bad ending?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about predicament" 		
	

Floyd | "This is quite a situation we're in," you say.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yep," Imelda agrees.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Any idea what to do?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda tips her head to one side.  "Maybe."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Care to share?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, as I see it, we have two main problems.  We need to get to
Floyd | safety tomorrow, and we need to keep warm."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "No, a different ending." 	
			Bert says, "One where we're not her boytoy." 	
			Bert asks, "Perhaps one where we're even equals?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "ha ha more" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about safety" 		
	

Floyd | "I was thinking," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Did it hurt?" she asks.
Floyd |

Floyd | "A little.  Mostly it was just an unfamiliar sensation.  What I was
Floyd | thinking was that we should head south from here.  We'll probably reach
Floyd | the Imperial lines in no time.  After that, a hot bath, some steaming
Floyd | soup..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda seems unconvinced.  "Or we could head north.  We'll probably

Floyd | reach the Northern lines in no time, after which etcetera, etcetera."
Floyd |
Floyd | You draw a breath through your teeth.  "I'm not sure I want to end up a
Floyd | prisoner of those icekin soldiers."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You won't be a prisoner of the icekin soldiers.  You'll be my

Floyd | prisoner."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Sounds a bit kinky for my tastes."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda smiles slyly.  "You have no idea."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Maybe we should just split up," you suggest.  "I bet we could both
Floyd | make it by ourselves.  Then no-one has to be anyone's prisoner."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda bites her lip.  "I think we should stay together.  At the least
Floyd | you need someone to lean on.  If you aggravate your broken leg you
Floyd | might end up severing an artery or something..."

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,
Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we're not her boytoy in the previous ending!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda to go south" 		
	

Floyd | Imelda refuses your request.
Floyd |
Floyd | Snow continues to drift down from above.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we are a POW, though" 	
			Lucea says, "have we shot her yet/" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about benevolent empire" 		
	

Floyd | "You're surely a fan of the Benevolent Empire and its attempts to
Floyd | civilise the world?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda scoffs.  "It's hard to consider an empire benevolent when it
Floyd | thinks that rearranging the world to suit its own economic needs is
Floyd | 'civilising' it."

Floyd |
Floyd | "You don't think the people of the Northern Territories would benefit
Floyd | from giving us all their noxious petroleum?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I think they've benefited best by giving it to us Sky Mercenaries."
Floyd |

Floyd | A chill wind passes under the wing, making you both shiver.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I think if you want to get equals you'll have to split up here, or convince her to come with you" 	
			Bert says, "But the dialog for years later is all about how we follow her everywhere." 	
			Bert says, "So we're her puppy dog." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about benevolent empire" 		
	

Floyd | "You're surely a fan of the Benevolent Empire and its attempts to
Floyd | civilise the world?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda scoffs.  "It's hard to consider an empire benevolent when it
Floyd | thinks that rearranging the world to suit its own economic needs is
Floyd | 'civilising' it."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You don't think the people of the Northern Territories would benefit
Floyd | from giving us all their noxious petroleum?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "I think they've benefited best by giving it to us Sky Mercenaries."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about benevolent empire" 		
	

Floyd | "You're surely a fan of the Benevolent Empire and its attempts to
Floyd | civilise the world?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda scoffs.  "It's hard to consider an empire benevolent when it
Floyd | thinks that rearranging the world to suit its own economic needs is
Floyd | 'civilising' it."

Floyd |
Floyd | "You don't think the people of the Northern Territories would benefit
Floyd | from giving us all their noxious petroleum?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I think they've benefited best by giving it to us Sky Mercenaries."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her we should split up" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |

Floyd | "By the way," Imelda says, "why exactly did you feel the need to fly
Floyd | into me?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "That's funny," you reply.  "I thought that you were the one who flew
Floyd | into me."
Floyd |

Floyd | The triplane rocks slightly in the wind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "oops" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about safety" 		
	

Floyd | "About where we're headed..." you begin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you reached a decision yet?"  Imelda asks you.
Floyd |
Floyd | A chill wind passes under the wing, making you both shiver.
Floyd |

Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,
Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her we should split up" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her you should split up" 		
	

Floyd | "We're still technically enemies," you say.  "We'll just have to go our
Floyd | separate ways."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda shakes her head.  "No, I can't leave you limping through the
Floyd | snow on a broken leg.  Look, if you really want me to, I'll go south
Floyd | with you.  But I'd much rather you came north with me."

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,
Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "if this triplane's a rockin', don't come a knockin'" 	
			Bert says, "Stupid pronouns." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda to go south" 		
	

Floyd | Imelda refuses your request.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your breath leaves little clouds in the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about tiger sauce" 		
	

Floyd | "Have you ever had Tiger Sauce?" you ask.

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks puzzled.  "You mean sauce made from tigers?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I think it's tiger milk, actually."
Floyd |
Floyd | She turns her nose up.  "No thanks."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, you'd be surprised."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda to go south with you" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).
Floyd |
Floyd | Snow continues to drift down from above.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "suggest splitting up" 		
	

Floyd | The word "splitting" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Hrm. I think I can't get the syntax right." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about safety" 		
	

Floyd | "About where we're headed..." you begin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you reached a decision yet?"  Imelda asks you.

Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,
Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Looks like it's possible to get her to go south." 	
			olethros asks, "arent we already her toyboy?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her you should split up" 		
	

Floyd | "We're still technically enemies," you say.  "We'll just have to go our
Floyd | separate ways."

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda shakes her head.  "No, I can't leave you limping through the
Floyd | snow on a broken leg.  Look, if you really want me to, I'll go south
Floyd | with you.  But I'd much rather you came north with me."
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree to go north with her, ask her to go south with you,

Floyd | tell her you should split up, or tell her you can't decide.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask her to go south with you" 		
	

Floyd | "I think you should come south with me," you say.  "The Benevolent

Floyd | Empire always treats its prisoners well, and I have plenty of clout.
Floyd | We'd be able to spend quite a bit of time together."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda looks a bit conflicted for a moment.  And then she nods.  "Okay.
Floyd | I've looked after you for a while, now maybe it's your turn.  I won't
Floyd | be sorry to leave the war behind, either.  So, yes, let's go south."

Floyd |
Floyd | The triplane rocks slightly in the wind.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros has disconnected. 		
	olethros was too old and infirm for your purpose. 		Bert says, "There we go. The exact order of commands seems really important in this game." 	
			Fang says, "yay" 	
			Bert says, "Getting an extra command in between messes up the sequence." 	
	olethros arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Please select a file in which to save the current position >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "That's a T3 problem." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | "I've got an idea to keep us warm," you tell Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a break from breathing into her hands.  "Sounds great to me.
Floyd | What is it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could suggest thinking warm thoughts, suggest sharing body heat,

Floyd | or suggest making a fire.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "suggest making a fire" 		
	

Floyd | You look around.  "I think we could build a fire.  If we put it right

Floyd | there it should be close enough to warm us up, but the wind will blow
Floyd | the smoke away from us."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda crawls out from under the wing and stands up, snow crunching
Floyd | beneath her feet.  "Okay, I'll go find some wood, or anything else that
Floyd | looks like it'll burn.  Give me your gun.  I'd hate to have to face

Floyd | down a feral icekin with nothing but a couple of pine branches."
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could agree, or politely refuse.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "refuse" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm sorry," you tell her, "it's not that I don't trust you, it's
Floyd | just..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda nods.  "It's just that we're both, technically, enemies.  I

Floyd | understand."
Floyd |
Floyd | You go to say more, but she turns around and scampers off, her
Floyd | footsteps crunching in the snow.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Time passes slowly while Imelda is gone.  You feel yourself growing
Floyd | sleepy, and the feeling leaves your hands and feet.  Only the dull pain
Floyd | in your broken leg keeps you awake.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You snap back to reality as something approaches, trudging quickly

Floyd | through the frost.  Before you have time to consider what to do if it
Floyd | turns out to be a dangerous creature, Imelda appears in front of you
Floyd | and dumps an armful of branches and sticks into the snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gods it's cold," she announces, throwing herself onto all fours and
Floyd | crawling back under the wing.  She curls up right next to you,

Floyd | shivering, and you obligingly wrap your arms around her to help warm
Floyd | her up.  Not entirely a selfless act, as you're pretty cold yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay," Imelda says after a while.  "Got to try and turn this ugly heap
Floyd | of sticks into a nice fire..."
Floyd |

Floyd | You rub your hands together to try to keep them warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could let her get on with it, or tell her you can do better.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "man, you are just cutting off all your chances for smoochies" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her you can do better" 		
	

Floyd | You shift your broken leg so that you can grab a couple of sticks from
Floyd | the pile.  "I think the Boy Scouts need to take over here," you tell

Floyd | Imelda.
Floyd |
Floyd | She gives you a very doubtful look.  "Excuse me?  The Sky Guides are
Floyd | more than capable of rubbing two sticks together.  Unless you can think
Floyd | of a way an all-male group might have gained extra practice in that
Floyd | regard?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Clearly you don't have enough confidence in your abilities to just get
Floyd | on with it."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm just trying to get you to save your energy."
Floyd |

Floyd | You both tend to the sticks in intense silence from then on.  But the
Floyd | fire doesn't suddenly spark to life, it forms slowly from a wisp of
Floyd | smoke, and it's hard to tell which of you is more responsible for it.
Floyd | When it's crackling away nicely, you both sit back,
Floyd | shoulder-to-shoulder.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I told you to save your energy," Imelda says.  "That was clearly my
Floyd | spark that lit it."
Floyd |
Floyd | You shake your head.  "My sparks were much more vibrant.  You could
Floyd | tell they had the Lucas Thane never-give-up attitude."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Fine, keep lying to yourself.  We both know the truth."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I agree that one of us is in denial, but I don't think it's me."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda holds out her hands to the fire.  "It's nice that we got it
Floyd | done, though."

Floyd |
Floyd | You hold out your own hands.  "I don't dispute that."
Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims, "I just wanted to establish dominance first!" 	
			inky says, "pssht" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You're not about to kiss the enemy without at least a hint that she'd
Floyd | like you to.

Floyd |
Floyd | Snow continues to drift down from above.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about love" 		
	

Floyd | You clear your throat.  "So, Imelda, how are things with the men in
Floyd | your life?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Do you mean my male friends among the Sky Mercenaries?  Or are you
Floyd | sneakily trying to ask about us?"
Floyd |

Floyd | You rub your hands together to try to keep them warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about us" 		
	

Floyd | "Imelda, about us..."

Floyd |
Floyd | She looks down at her feet.  "What about us?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, what's your take on it?  Why do we keep circling around one
Floyd | another?  In the air or otherwise."
Floyd |

Floyd | Still without looking at you, she says, "I can't really remember how we
Floyd | first met, except that I suddenly realised this plane from the 5th
Floyd | Imperial Air Squadron kept seeking me out to duel with me, probably
Floyd | because I'm an obvious target in my scarlet plane.  I usually brought
Floyd | down every enemy plane I came across, but you always managed to escape.
Floyd | I only shot you down that once.  I started to research you, found out

Floyd | who you were, started to learn your flying style, had a chance to kill
Floyd | you, but didn't take it, and then flew into you in the middle of a
Floyd | snowstorm.  And now here we are."
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a pause, and then she adds, "But that's not what you asked,
Floyd | really, is it?  That's just the story of us - I didn't mention my

Floyd | feelings at all."  She smiles apologetically.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about feelings" 		
	

Floyd | "So what are your feelings for me?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda remains strangely silent, just looks at you with an ambiguous
Floyd | expression.  If you want to press the matter, perhaps you should tell
Floyd | her about your feelings.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about your feelings" 		
	

Floyd | You cough.  "Imelda, I just wanted to say that..."
Floyd |
Floyd | (You could tell her you're in love with her, or tell her she's like
Floyd | your best friend.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell imelda you're in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.  Please use ASK ACTOR ABOUT
Floyd | TOPIC (or just A TOPIC).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "tell her you're in love with her" 		
	

Floyd | You decide to just say it.  You don't even look at her.  "Imelda, I'm
Floyd | in love with you."

Floyd |
Floyd | She refrains from looking at you either.  "I'm in love with you too,"
Floyd | she states, matter-of-factly.  "It makes perfect sense, I think.  We're
Floyd | young, we're forced to deal with one another repeatedly in intense,
Floyd | passionate, but graceful and playful circumstances, we understand the
Floyd | stresses, the fears we each experience, we both love flying... and so

Floyd | we grow attracted to one another."
Floyd |
Floyd | The two of you lean closer as she speaks, your lips brushing together.
Floyd | "My lips are numb," you complain.
Floyd |
Floyd | She shushes you.  "Let me warm them up."

Floyd |
Floyd | After a while, you lean back, faces flushed, sitting perhaps a little
Floyd | closer than before.
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda straightens her hair and exhales slowly.  "That was almost as
Floyd | satisfying as shooting you down."

Floyd |
Floyd | (Your score has just increased by one point.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm. I'm in love" 	
			Bert says, "No, we're 'you', not 'I'." 	
			DavidW says, "oh. okay." 	
			Bert says, "We need to match what it says word-for-word, apparently." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "hug imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap your arms around Imelda and squeeze her tightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why Lucas," she says wryly, hugging you back, "you must contain your
Floyd | obvious desire for me."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm just trying to keep warm," you reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, keep telling yourself that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about keeping warm" 		
	

Floyd | You hold your hands out to the fire.  "This is nice."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes," Imelda agrees, "my fingers don't feel quite ready to snap off
Floyd | anymore."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "hug imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You wrap your arms around Imelda and squeeze her tightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why Lucas," she says wryly, hugging you back, "you must contain your
Floyd | obvious desire for me."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm just trying to keep warm," you reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, keep telling yourself that."
Floyd |
Floyd | A chill wind passes under the wing, making you both shiver.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks (of inky), "Is that better?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss imelda" 		
	

Floyd | You lean over to Imelda and kiss her on the lips.  She kisses you back,

Floyd | forcefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "tell her about desire" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "topics" 		
	

Floyd | You could ask her about your predicament, getting to safety, the feral
Floyd | icekin, the Northern Territories, the Sky Mercenaries, herself,

Floyd | newspapers, us, yourself, how you first met, shooting you down, the
Floyd | chance to kill you, duelling, friends, ace of aces, her eyepatch, what
Floyd | she's doing after the war, her kill count, or her hair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In 81 moves, you have scored 5 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a group captain.
Floyd |
Floyd | (To see a detailed accounting of your score, type FULL SCORE.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about duelling" 		
	

Floyd | "It's a strange past-time, really, trying to shoot one another out of
Floyd | the air."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes," Imelda agrees, "we should take up chess or ballroom dancing
Floyd | instead."
Floyd |
Floyd | The triplane rocks slightly in the wind.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about what she's doing after the war" 		
	

Floyd | "Aside from sticking me in a triplane, you got any plans for after this
Floyd | all blows over?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Imelda scratches her ear.  "I don't know.  I really don't know.  I went
Floyd | straight from aristocracy to being a fighter pilot.  This is
Floyd | preferable, believe it or not.  But you'd have to be insane to want to
Floyd | do this forever.  Or maybe I am insane, I don't know.  I just don't
Floyd | know."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "'So, what time do you get off work?'" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "well, you're not going to get as smoochie an ending, I'm guessing" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "propose to imelda" 		
	

Floyd | The word "propose" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "though only marginally" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "marry imelda" 		
	

Floyd | The word "marry" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | In 83 moves, you have scored 5 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a group captain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about marriage" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hunh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about ballroom dancing" 		
	

Floyd | "Do you dance?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Not when I'm this cold," Imelda says.  "But I learnt ballroom dancing

Floyd | when I was young.  I can be as graceful on my feet as in the air."
Floyd |
Floyd | "We'll have to dance some time," you suggest.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Certainly," she says mischievously, "but I warn you, my hands have
Floyd | been known to wander."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'll keep a careful eye on you, don't worry."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "what are we missing?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask imelda about chess" 		
	

Floyd | "Do you play chess?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "More than that," Imelda says.  "I win at chess."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I don't remember." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "full score" 		
	

Floyd | In 86 moves, you have scored 5 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a group captain.  Your score consists of:
Floyd |    -2 points for perpetuating a meme
Floyd |    1 point for aerobatics
Floyd |    1 point for knowing when to quit
Floyd |    1 point for suriving a feral icekin

Floyd |    1 point for planning ahead
Floyd |    1 point for diplomacy
Floyd |    1 point for keeping warm
Floyd |    1 point for telling Imelda how you feel about her
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "play chess" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha!" 	
			olethros asks, "oooh?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "tell imedla about chess" 		
	

Floyd | The word "imedla" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "what was the meme?" 	
			Alex says (to olethros), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that meme is an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture. Furthermore, BrenBarn is a meme." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "tell imelda about chess" 		
	

Floyd | You chat briefly with Imelda, but find out nothing important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "xyzzy" 	
			olethros says, "aha, I see" 	
			inky asks, "oh, it wasn't tiger sauce?" 	
			Fang asks, "can we sleep now?" 	
			olethros says, "sleep with tiger!" 	
			DavidW says (to Fang), "I think so." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "sleep with her" 		
	

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "alas" 	
			DavidW asks, "just 'sleep', no?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You let your head rest on Imelda's shoulder, and sleep descends like a
Floyd | dark blanket.
Floyd |

Floyd | The night is cold, and the two of you cling to one another for warmth,
Floyd | but the snow has finally stopped falling and the fire burns until
Floyd | morning.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the two of you struggle to your feet, Imelda just contending with
Floyd | aches and cramps while you have to worry about your broken leg.

Floyd | Looking around at the pristine forest, everything covered in thick
Floyd | sheets of snow, you begin to make your way south, Imelda encouraging
Floyd | you to lean on her as much as you can.  Eventually, the bright scarlet
Floyd | wingtip of her triplane has disappeared from view.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Not long after that...
Floyd |
Floyd | The guard shoots you a black look, but you show him your authorisation
Floyd | and he unlocks the door.  Inside, Imelda sits at a table, looking
Floyd | thoroughly bored.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Lucas," she sighs.  "Things are looking up."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm really sorry for this," you tell her.  "It seems the intelligence
Floyd | services can do what they want and there's nothing we can do about it.
Floyd | They treated you well, at least?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "They accepted it when I refused to answer their questions, yes.  The
Floyd | northern ace of aces is out of action, if they beat me up, their own
Floyd | ace of aces will probably follow suit.  I don't think they're really
Floyd | that interested in getting information out of me, to be honest.  It
Floyd | seemed like a formality.  A boring, boring formality."
Floyd |

Floyd | You take a deep breath and then say, "They're prepared to put you under
Floyd | house arrest in a nice little town not too far south of here."
Floyd |
Floyd | "And how often will I see you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "As often as I can make the journey."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Will you..."  She clears her throat.  "Will you be able to stay the
Floyd | night?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "If I bribe the right guard, I should think so."
Floyd |

Floyd | She grins carnivorously.  "Well, that's the important thing."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm sorry for this."
Floyd |
Floyd | She smiles.  "It's okay, I know it's not your fault."
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Years later...
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda rolls off of you and sparks up a cigarette, the sheets around
Floyd | her hips.  You study her silhouette in the twilight.
Floyd |

Floyd | "The air race tomorrow," she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Everyone will be there," you say proudly.  "Everyone wants to see the
Floyd | world's most famous aces competing against one another."
Floyd |
Floyd | She takes a deep drag and lets the smoke curl slowly from her lips

Floyd | before speaking.  "I don't like the way you take so many risks to try
Floyd | and beat me.  You could die."
Floyd |
Floyd | You laugh.  "You just want to make sure you win."
Floyd |
Floyd | She shoots you a fierce look.  "I'm not joking."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, I know, Mel, I know."
Floyd |
Floyd | You rest your hand reassuringly on her leg.  "Maybe we should pack in
Floyd | the daredevil flying anyway.  It's for the young and carefree, people
Floyd | with nothing to lose.  Whereas we're..."

Floyd |
Floyd | She places her hand on top of yours."We have one another."
Floyd |
Floyd | You nod.  "But still, the race tomorrow..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Imelda laughs.  "You're going to do great," she says.  "You'll be

Floyd | finishing second.  Right after me."
Floyd |
Floyd | "We'll see."
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a moment's pause.  The quiet sounds of evening drift in through
Floyd | an open window.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Lucas..."  Imelda takes a deep breath.  "There's something I need to
Floyd | ask you.  After the race, what... what's going to happen?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I..."  You shake your head.
Floyd |

Floyd | She looks at you sadly.  "Yeah, you never did let that barrier drop.  I
Floyd | guess it's too much to imagine that people who've tried to kill one
Floyd | another could ever end up being too close."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I will miss you," you tell her.
Floyd |

Floyd | She kisses the corner of your mouth.
Floyd |
Floyd | You slip your arm around her and kiss her back.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Many years later...

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh my god, Lucas Thane it is you"
Floyd |
Floyd | You spin around and find yourself facing a strangely familiar redheaded
Floyd | woman.  "Imelda?  Is that you?  You look so different!"

Floyd |
Floyd | She touches her fingers to her cheeks.  "It's the glass eye.  No-one
Floyd | from back then recognises me anymore."
Floyd |
Floyd | "That's terrible," you say, "I thought the eye patch really suited
Floyd | you."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, it doesn't help much to look like a pirate when you're designing
Floyd | planes."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Monoplanes, eh?  Who'd have thought it?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "I know!  Look, you've got to come round some time, reminisce about old
Floyd | times."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Sounds like a plan."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Are you still the dashing bachelor of legend?"

Floyd |
Floyd | You look thoughtfully at the sky.  "Oh, you know how it is.  You meet a
Floyd | lot of people, but they never match up to the one that got away."
Floyd |
Floyd | She looks at you thoughfully.  "You're a stupid bastard, Lucas Thane,"
Floyd | she says softly.

Floyd |
Floyd | You just stare at her.
Floyd |
Floyd | She points a thumb over her shoulder.  "My place is this way.  Come
Floyd | on."
Floyd |

Floyd | Uncertain what to expect, you take her hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** THE END ***
Floyd |
Floyd | In 88 moves, you have scored 5 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a group captain.

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, that was pretty sweet also" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "notes" 		
	

Floyd | "It was the practice of German aces to visit the site of their
Floyd | opponent's crash in order to confirm their combat report and only the

Floyd | final question concerned [Oswald] Boelcke - would his own death be
Floyd | 'fercht oder getrocknet' (literally 'wet or dry', that is burned or
Floyd | mutilated to death)."  Alan Clark, Aces High
Floyd |
Floyd | The idea of a notorious fighter ace called the Scarlet Baroness is
Floyd | obviously inspired by the Red Baron of the First World War - Manfred

Floyd | von Richthofen, an aristocratic hunter turned fighter pilot.
Floyd | Richthofen is an interesting character in his own right, clocking up 80
Floyd | confirmed kills (perhaps dispproportionately of vulnerable two-seater
Floyd | planes), he was often depicted (either flatteringly or unflatteringly)
Floyd | as a callous and cold man who considered shooting down enemy planes to
Floyd | be no different from hunting animals.

Floyd |
Floyd | Although there may well have been such an aspect to him, like most of
Floyd | the fighter pilots of that era he had a great respect and understanding
Floyd | for enemy pilots.  In the common practice of landing by downed planes
Floyd | to confirm the kill (or in Richthofen's case, to collect a trophy),
Floyd | pilots from opposite sides might well end up conversing.  Captured

Floyd | enemy pilots, whether dead or alive, would always be treated with
Floyd | respect and courtesy by their opposing squadrons.  (It was whilst
Floyd | talking to one captured allied pilot that Richthofen learnt of the
Floyd | rumour that he (the ace in the red plane) was a woman.)
Floyd |
Floyd | And yet, despite the common depiction of WWI fighter aces as being the

Floyd | knights of the air, their affinity for one another was probably most
Floyd | inspired by a common understanding of the brutality of their conflict.
Floyd | Pilots were given almost no training.  New members of the Royal Flying
Floyd | Corps were called 'twenty minuters' with respect to their expected
Floyd | lifespan.  Senseless waste of lives was as common in the air as in the
Floyd | trenches.  Unlike in the world of Snowblind Aces, pilots were never

Floyd | issued parachutes - it was considered that this would merely enable
Floyd | cowardice.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lucas Thane, depending on how you play him, is a mixture of two of the
Floyd | top three French aces.  Charles Nungesser was the quintessential
Floyd | daredevil ace, who would crawl into his plane after a night out

Floyd | drinking and partying, perform death defying stunts, crash, break all
Floyd | his bones, and still crawl into the plane again the next day.  After
Floyd | the war, he continued to risk his life in the air, and disappeared
Floyd | during an attempted transatlantic crossing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Georges Guynemer, on the other hand, managed to become a pilot inspite

Floyd | of his youth and ill health.  He was relatively shy and unassuming,
Floyd | prone to truly anachronistic acts of chivalry towards the enemy.  As
Floyd | the war dragged on, Guynemer's physical and mental health began to
Floyd | deteriorate.  A national hero, Guynemer was expected by his superiors
Floyd | and the public to continue to risk his life in combat.  He refused to
Floyd | retire, afraid of what would be said of him, and was eventually

Floyd | presumed killed in an ambush one overcast morning - though his body was
Floyd | never found.
Floyd |
Floyd | Despite Imelda's insistence to the contrary, the triplane was - in our
Floyd | universe, anyway - by and large a failed experiment.  The British
Floyd | Sopwith Triplane and German Fokker Dr1. were both hugely successful,

Floyd | living up to the intended 'increased maneuvrability, reduced speed' of
Floyd | the design, but a plethora of other triplanes have justifiably
Floyd | disappeared into the mists of history, remembered only as peculiar
Floyd | mutants.
Floyd |
Floyd | As a final note, if you find yourself in the Northern Territories these

Floyd | days and are attacked by a feral icekin, please remember that they are
Floyd | endangered, so you should probably let it eat you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or

Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "hah" 	
			Bert says, "I guess we should ahve shot the icekin, for one thing." 	
			Bert says, "Also, we should have figured out that last point." 	
			inky says, "we should have given her the gun instead of refusing" 	
	Korodzik arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Fang says, "did we tell her we loved her" 	
			Fang asks, "?" 	
			inky says, "I don't think the icekin thing mattered much" 	
			Korodzik says, "hello" 	
			inky says, "though maybe it affected the danger of the race later on" 	
			inky says, "but the gun was obviously a trust issue" 	
			dhakajack says, "maybe there is an alternate ending where you marry the icekin and have icekindling" 	
			inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Korodzik says, "well, I've got no time for playing, so I'll just leave a permament trace in the transcript" 	
			inky says (to Korodzik), "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "we're almost done anyway" 	
			inky asks (of Bert), "is there a way to get more than 7 points?" 	
			DavidW says, "I think the points just plot how far into the story you are." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | That isn't one of the options.
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "full score" 		
	

Floyd | In 88 moves, you have scored 5 of a possible 7 points.  This makes you
Floyd | a group captain.  Your score consists of:
Floyd |    -2 points for perpetuating a meme
Floyd |    1 point for aerobatics

Floyd |    1 point for knowing when to quit
Floyd |    1 point for suriving a feral icekin
Floyd |    1 point for planning ahead
Floyd |    1 point for diplomacy
Floyd |    1 point for keeping warm
Floyd |    1 point for telling Imelda how you feel about her

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says (to inky), "I dunno, but I'm sure we could get more than five." 	
			olethros says, "we have -2 for the xyzzy thing" 	
			Korodzik says, "farewell fellow interactivefictionlings" 	
			inky says, "yeah, we just got a joke penalty" 	
			Bert says, "Perpetuating a meme... oh." 	
			Lucea says, "that would be my fault" 	
			Bert says, "Never mind." 	
	Korodzik goes home. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "amusing" 		
	

Floyd | Have you tried:
Floyd |
Floyd | Eating your breeches?
Floyd | Examining your parachute pack after discovering you've broken your leg?

Floyd | Typing 'xyzzy'?
Floyd | Asking Imelda about tiger sauce?
Floyd | Shooting yourself?
Floyd | Shooting Imelda?
Floyd | Sleeping at the controls of your plane (before the collision)?
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the
Floyd | last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, read
Floyd | some NOTES on the game, find out a little more about the ENDINGS, or
Floyd | QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, I guess we tried those" 	
			inky says, "you know, a lot of these war games have switched to the theme that the two sides are pretty much indistinguishablely bad" 	
	WeirdBeard arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		inky says, "but there aren't many that have the idea that one side is better but the other side still has understandable motivations" 	
			Bert says, "There's your niche." 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "I guess that is in fact yet another thing in the thing I'm working on" 	
			Lucea asks, "didn't war literature do that, though, long ago?" 	
			inky says, "although it's not a war game" 	
			Bert says, "I guess you could play that either way. You're on the good side, but later discover that the bad side isn't *all* bad..." 	
			Bert says, "...or you start out trying to pursue your understandable motivation, and only later realize that your side's means may not justify the ends you're pursuing." 	
			inky says, "the t3 special dialogue in this one seemed like a mixed success" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure you could do it in a straight ask/tell system" 	
			dhakajack says, "the dialogue system seemed a lot more natural to me than one which waits for #1 #2 or #3 prompts" 	
			Lucea says, "I'm not really a fan of topic prompts to be honest" 	
			dhakajack says, "true, that is constraining" 	
			inky asks (of Lucea), "the "you can tell her you love her or punch her in the nose" thing?" 	
			Lucea says, "they always seem like conversation menus trying not to be conversation menus" 	
			Lucea says, "yeah, that" 	
			inky says, "well, it's not technically constraining in the sense that you can ask her about other stuff" 	
			inky says, "but it may feel constraining" 	
			inky says, "which is just as bad" 	
			Bert says, "I had a lot of trouble with the restricted command ordering thing." 	
			Bert says (to inky), "It's also constraining in the syntax." 	
			Bert says, "We had a lot of cases where we entered one of those commands slightly wrong, and it rejected it." 	
			Bert says, "Because it doesn't use normal command processing." 	
			inky says, "yeah, though that's an implementation issue" 	
			DavidW says, "If the special commands weren't when-to-use dependent, I'd like them a little better." 	
			inky says, "that's true" 	
			inky says, "I guess I should say it's partly an implementation issue" 	
			Bert says, "So 'tell her <blah blah>' and 'tell imelda <blah blah>' weren't the same, because it wanted a specific string." 	
			inky says, "it's true that if you allow non-standard commands then there's no standard phrasing format" 	
			inky says, "(but for any specific issue you could code it to allow that)" 	
			Bert says, "Yeah, I think the ADRIFT folks say the same thing." 	
			inky says, "heh" 	
			Bert exclaims, "For any command that doesn't work, we can just add another special case to handle that one!" 	
	Gunther has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		inky says, "I mean, the problem is if you ditch all the special-case commands then you pretty lose the ability to express any special-case ideas" 	
			Bert asks, "Why's that?" 	
			inky asks, "I dunno, how would the player phrase them?" 	
			Lucea says, "that's back to the old parser, where you type >TELL IMELDA ABOUT LOVE and assume from context that you're telling her you love her, not that love is a crock" 	
			Bert asks, "Why couldn't it be implemented to allow 'tell <npc> <arbitrary string>' as one command and 'suggest <arbitrary string>' as another command and 'ask <npc> to <arbitrary string>' as another?" 	
			Bert asks, "Or whatever?" 	
			inky says, "I guess if you keep the topic list idea but still the player just asks >ASK X ABOUT TOPIC PHRASE" 	
			Bert asks, "So that normal parsing could apply to the <npc> part for those commands where it should apply?" 	
			Lucea says, "partly that'd depend on the PC's characterization" 	
			inky says (to Bert), "yeah, I suppose" 	
			inky says, "I mean, for that specific example it seems like people will just as likely say "what, I was supposed to type 'suggest blah blah' instead of 'tell blah blah'?"" 	
			dhakajack says, "Always using ASK X ABOUT Y puts you in the mode of always asking questions -- it makes you seem passive/reactive" 	
			inky says (to dhakajack), "that is an interesting way to put it" 	
			Bert asks, "I mean, isn't it just generally accepted without argument that requiring players to enter exact specific syntaxes is *not* good design?" 	
			inky says, "(personally I'm switching to >TALK ABOUT X as the default)" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "That's what I did in LP, and it seemed to work fine." 	
			inky says, "heh" 	
			Bert says, "But that was that sort of game." 	
			inky says, "I guess the characterization there didn't matter so much" 	
			inky asks, "so were ask and tell indistinguishable there?" 	
			Bert says, "In this game, I'm not saying that the things where it said 'suggest blah blah blah' should have allowed you to type 'ask about blah' instead." 	
			Lucea asks, "just curious: how bad was the code for that?" 	
			Lucea says, "I mean, not *bad*, but extensive" 	
			Lucea says, "that could have been phrased better" 	
			Bert says, "I'm saying that the things where it said stuff like 'suggest blah her blah you' should have allowed 'suggest blah imelda blah me'." 	
			inky says, "oh, sure" 	
			inky says, "I am 100% in agreement there" 	
			Bert says (to Lucea), "For LP? The parsing code was extensive but only moderately complicated." 	
			Bert says, "(Assuming you meant LP, since no one here knows what the code for Snowblind Aces looks like.)" 	
			inky says, "but what I'm wondering is if the idea as a whole is unworkable" 	
			Bert says, "LP actually cheated a *lot* with those kinds of topic things." 	
			inky says, "and if conversation has to be parsed by the same parser as any other command" 	
			Lucea says, "yeah, I meant LP" 	
			Bert says, "Most commands whose response resembled dialogue with an NPC were actually just TALK TO X ABOUT Y under the hood." 	
			Lucea says, "hrm." 	
			inky asks, "including 'yes' and 'no' and stuff?" 	
			inky says, "er, assuming there were any questions" 	
			Bert says, "Oh yes." 	
			inky asks, "so what did you do? record the current question somewhere, and check it when they say yes/no?" 	
			Bert says, "(Well, except for the bits where you could end the game early, but that was just a before rule catching the 'yes' before it got handled normally.)" 	
			inky asks, "and then clear it after a while if they don't respond to it?" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "There weren't actually any NPC questions that Grunk needed to answer." 	
			inky says, "oh, heh" 	
			Bert says, "But if there were, yeah, I'd have probably just set a flag somewhere and then tested the flag inside the yesTopic when it executed." 	
			Bert says, "(And then cleared the flag automatically when it was no longer a going concern.)" 	
			inky asks, "how much tracking of the state of the current conversation did you do?" 	
			Bert says, "But, like, SHOW X TO Y is actually equivalent to TELL Y ABOUT X if you have the appropriate object in your inventory." 	
			inky says, "excellent" 	
			inky asks, "like are there cases where you can ask about something twice in a row to get more info?" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "I kept track of what topics Grunk knew about (i.e. what you were allowed to ask about) and what topics Grunk had in mind for that NPC (i.e. the ones that were suggested in the TOPICS list)." 	
			inky says, "right, that makes sense" 	
			Bert says, "And yeah, there are a couple topics where the routine for it will test the game state to see what answer to give, and at least one or two where the routine will set the appropriate state to indicate 'answer 1 already given; give answer 2 next time'." 	
			Bert says, "In particular, the PIG topic has about a dozen different possible answers." 	
	Fang has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Bert says, "So pigTopic has stuff like 'else if ((self.number >= 4) && (someOtherFlagIsSet)) { self.number = 5; blahBlahBlah... }" 	
	Nitku has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Lucea asks, "LP didn't have Grunk's dialogue, right?" 	
			Bert says, "Right." 	
			inky says, "that makes a number of things easier" 	
			Bert says, "It does have things like '"<spoilers redacted>?" gnome ask. Grunk tell gnome Yes. Pig <spoilers redacted>! Gnome smile at Grunk. "That's excellent!" him say.'" 	
			Bert says, "Er, except lower case 'yes', not capital." 	
			Bert says, "So it does have Grunk's side of the conversation, but not in the form of direct quotes." 	
			Lucea says, "that does make things a lot easier" 	
			Lucea says, "I mean, in a good way; I thought the conversation system there worked quite well" 	
			Bert says, "It helped that the narrator *was* the speaker." 	
			Lucea says, "all the asking didn't bother me, possibly because it made sense; the gnome knows a lot more than you" 	
			Bert says, "So it doesn't feel like you're missing the protagonist's PoV in the conversation if the protagonist is the one who is doing the summarizing." 	
			inky says, "hmm yeah" 	
			inky says (to DavidW), "I guess you can close the log whenever if you haven't" 	
			DavidW says, "okay" 	
			



[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]








ClubFloyd Transcript: Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin
As played on ifMUD on September 28, 2008...
...then continued on January 18, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Spider and Web, written by Andrew Plotkin. Spider and Web was originally released in 1998. It was nominated for nine Xyzzy awards (everything but Best NPCs). It ultimately took a total of five Xyzzies (for Best Game, Best Puzzles, Best Individual NPC, Best Individual Puzzle, and Best Use of Medium). You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

The game was played during two sessions: the first was on September 28, 2008, and the second (we finished the game at the request of someone who was sad to see the transcript end prematurely) was on January 18, 2009. You can skip straight to the second session by clicking [HERE].

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	inky hollers, "Spider and Web, starting now in the toyshop" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "load tangle" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | On the whole, it was worth the trip. The plains really were broad and
Floyd | grain-gold, if scarred with fences and agricultural crawlers. The

Floyd | mountains were overwhelming. And however much of the capital city is
Floyd | crusted with squat brick and faceless concrete hulks, there are still
Floyd | flashes of its historic charm. You've seen spires above the streets --

Floyd | tiny green parks below tenements -- hidden jewels of fountains beyond
Floyd | walls. Any bland alley can conceal balconies wrought into iron gardens,
Floyd | fiery mosaics, a tree or bed of flowers nurtured by who knows who.

Floyd |
Floyd | This alley, however, is a total washout. It ends in flat bare dirty
Floyd | brick, and you've found nothing but a door which lacks even the

Floyd | courtesy of a handle. Maybe you should call it a day.
Floyd |
Floyd | Spider And Web

Floyd | Interactive Fiction
Floyd | Copyright 1997-8 by Andrew Plotkin.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about". For credits, "credits".)

Floyd | Release 4 / Serial number 980226 / Inform v6.14 Library 6/6
Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0
Floyd |

Floyd | End of Alley
Floyd | It's a narrow dead end here, with walls rising oppressively high in
Floyd | three directions. The alley is quite empty, bare even of trash. (Your

Floyd | guidebook warned you: the police are as efficient about litter laws as
Floyd | about everything else they do.) You can retreat to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | A plain metal door faces you to the east, near the alley's end. It's
Floyd | firmly shut.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	baf says, "woo" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It's a naked sheet of metal, a foot taller than you, as wide as your

Floyd | outstretched arms. No handle, no keyhole, no label, no sign. No obvious
Floyd | way to open it at all, unless the black plate embedded beside it will
Floyd | serve.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf asks, "Anyone here not played this before?" 	
			DavidW says, "I havent" 	
			DavidW says, "except a bit of it" 	
			baf says, "Because such a person should probably be in the driver's seat here." 	
			K-Y says, "ooh, I want to see the thought processes that go into figuring this out" 	
	K-Y arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Duchess arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Duchess says, "no desire to play, but i will watch" 		
	[peanut-gallery] Duchess asks, "isn't there a peanut-gallery for club floyd?" 		
	[peanut-gallery] Duchess says, "what channel is that" 		
	[peanut-gallery] Taleslinger says, "Yeah, it's #clubfloyd" 		
	[peanut-gallery] Gunther says, "#cf-spoilers" 		
	[peanut-gallery] Gunther says, "if you've played" 		inky asks, "hmm, ok, is DW really the only one who hasn't played it?" 	
	[cfspoilers] * Duchess has joined the channel. 		
	[cfspoilers] Duchess says, "i have!" 		popka says, "I'm a total IF outsider, but I've actually played this..." 	
	[cfspoilers] Duchess says, "this is the zarfian game, right? i think it's the only zarfian game i've completed" 		
	[cfspoilers] * DavidW has left the channel. 		* Duchess has joined the channel. 	
			dhakajack says, "I haven't played it yet" 	
			* Duchess has left the channel. 	
	[cfspoilers] Taleslinger says, "It's by zarf, yeah." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing of importance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks (of dhakajack), "oh yeah? could I talk you into driving then?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It's a naked sheet of metal, a foot taller than you, as wide as your
Floyd | outstretched arms. No handle, no keyhole, no label, no sign. No obvious
Floyd | way to open it at all, unless the black plate embedded beside it will

Floyd | serve.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plate" 		
	

Floyd | A featureless, dull black rectangle is embedded in the bricks beside

Floyd | the door. It's about the width of your palm. No fool could doubt the
Floyd | plate has something to do with opening the door, but it doesn't bear a
Floyd | clue about how to do it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push plate" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch plate" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "sure..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "knock on plate" 		
	

Floyd | There is no response.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | You scrape your knuckles without result. There isn't even any sound;
Floyd | it's like knocking on the side of a mountain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bricks" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are brownish brick, not recently washed. They stretch at
Floyd | least two stories above you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | The bricks are narrowly mortared. There's not a bit of hold to grasp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | End of Alley
Floyd | It's a narrow dead end here, with walls rising oppressively high in
Floyd | three directions. The alley is quite empty, bare even of trash. (Your


Floyd | guidebook warned you: the police are as efficient about litter laws as
Floyd | about everything else they do.) You can retreat to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A plain metal door faces you to the east, near the alley's end. It's
Floyd | firmly shut.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | The steel is immobile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search alley" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search bricks" 		
	

Floyd | It's just bricks. They stop for the door, and the small plate next to
Floyd | it, but everywhere else they're implacably solid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search plate" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search door" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mouth of Alley
Floyd | You're in the entrance of a narrow brick alley, which runs further in
Floyd | to the north. To the south a broad street courses by, congested with

Floyd | traffic and bicycles, although none of them seem to notice you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You leave door and alley behind, and set off to see what else this fine

Floyd | city might hold.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away sharp edges of memory, and the dim walls slowly emerge
Floyd | into your sight once again. Dark metal walls and air uncomfortably

Floyd | cool. And cool metal bands around your wrists and feet and forehead.

Floyd |
Floyd | He leans forward over his desk, through the glow of his monitors and
Floyd | controls. Impatience tightens his face.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Don't be absurd," he says. "You're no more a sightseer than the Old

Floyd | Tree in Capitol Square; and if you'd had enough sense to walk away from

Floyd | that door, you wouldn't be here. You don't and you didn't and are; we
Floyd | caught you. And you're going to start by telling me how you got through
Floyd | that door. Do you understand me?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	popka says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | The man nods briefly -- a man satisfied with the least important
Floyd | detail. He touches a control. Once again, a faint whine begins to drill

Floyd | through your temples.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | On the whole, it was worth the trip. The plains really were broad and
Floyd | grain-gold, if scarred with fences and agricultural crawlers. The
Floyd | mountains were overwhelming. And however much of the capital city is
Floyd | scarred with squat brick and faceless concrete hulks, there are still
Floyd | flashes of its historic charm.

Floyd |

Floyd | This alley, however, has no time for charm. It ends in flat bare dirty
Floyd | brick, and a door which lacks even the courtesy of a handle. Not that
Floyd | you'll wait on courtesy.
Floyd |
Floyd | End of Alley

Floyd | It's a narrow dead end here, with walls rising oppressively high in

Floyd | three directions. The alley is quite empty, bare even of trash. (You're
Floyd | sure the police are as efficient about litter laws as about everything
Floyd | else they do.) You can retreat to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A plain metal door faces you to the east, near the alley's end. It's

Floyd | firmly shut.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | You scrape your knuckles without result. There isn't even any sound;

Floyd | it's like knocking on the side of a mountain.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing of importance.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search me" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x guidebook" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are brownish brick, not recently washed. They stretch at
Floyd | least two stories above you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It's a naked sheet of metal, a foot taller than you, as wide as your

Floyd | outstretched arms. No handle, no keyhole, no label, no sign. No obvious
Floyd | way to open it at all, unless the black plate embedded beside it will
Floyd | serve.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "For some reason I find it amusing when the interrogator gets annoyed." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plate" 		
	

Floyd | A featureless, dull black rectangle is embedded in the bricks beside

Floyd | the door. It's about the width of your palm. No fool could doubt the
Floyd | plate has something to do with opening the door, but it doesn't bear a

Floyd | clue about how to do it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "slide plate" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch plate" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put hand on plate" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open plate" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick plate" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	popka says (to Floyd), "kiss plate" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | You scrape your knuckles without result. There isn't even any sound;

Floyd | it's like knocking on the side of a mountain.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	popka pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | "This is tedious," the man says. "Of course you didn't walk up and
Floyd | stand there rattling the door like a nightclump. Nor did you blow
Floyd | through the keyhole." Clenched knuckles rap on the desk, tension at
Floyd | odds with his patient tone. "Nor, I add, did you break into this place
Floyd | barehanded and bare naked. You had something which opened that door,

Floyd | and you used it. Was it this?"

Floyd |
Floyd | His fist opens abruptly. Something rod-shaped gleams silver in his
Floyd | palm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh I remember why I didnt care for this game." 	
			DavidW says, "What I've dubbed gnostogenesis." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rod" 		
	

Floyd | It's your lockpick, yes. A silver rod the size of your ring finger,
Floyd | splayed at one end into a flat disc of conductor-web matrix. You can't


Floyd | make out, from this distance, whether it's undamaged.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "No? But this is yours. A guard found it inside, just before we caught


Floyd | you, and it's nothing of ours. So don't pretend you didn't carry it
Floyd | in."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]


		inky says, "yeah, it's the shtick of the game" 	
			inky says, "though it lessens a bit after the first part" 	
			popka says, "It's annoying that you have to do exactly the correct thing to proceed, but then that puzzle is worth it." 	
			DavidW says, "and I hated that shtick" 	
			DavidW says, "sorry. roommate interrupted" 	
			DavidW asks, "is it really up to me to play this then?" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		Taleslinger asks, "***glaring light*** We know you have no roommate. Wo really interrupted you?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I can take a crack at it" 	
			dhakajack says, "it's new to me..." 	
			inky says, "go for it" 	
			DavidW says, "go for it." 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
			dhakajack says, "tnx" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | On the whole, it was worth the trip. The plains really were broad and


Floyd | grain-gold, if scarred with fences and agricultural crawlers. The
Floyd | mountains were overwhelming. And however much of the capital city is
Floyd | scarred with squat brick and faceless concrete hulks, there are still
Floyd | flashes of its historic charm.
Floyd |
Floyd | This alley, however, has no time for charm. It ends in flat bare dirty


Floyd | brick, and a door which lacks even the courtesy of a handle. Not that
Floyd | you'll wait on courtesy.
Floyd |
Floyd | End of Alley
Floyd | It's a narrow dead end here, with walls rising oppressively high in
Floyd | three directions. The alley is quite empty, bare even of trash. (You're


Floyd | sure the police are as efficient about litter laws as about everything
Floyd | else they do.) You can retreat to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A plain metal door faces you to the east, near the alley's end. It's
Floyd | firmly shut.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I just hate the idea of me playing this game solo" 	
			dhakajack says, "feel free to jump in with comments." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open door with lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | It's not clear precisely how the lockpick can be used to unlock that.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x lock" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x plate" 		
	

Floyd | A featureless, dull black rectangle is embedded in the bricks beside
Floyd | the door. It's about the width of your palm. No fool could doubt the

Floyd | plate has something to do with opening the door, but it doesn't bear a
Floyd | clue about how to do it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "palm plate" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x lock pick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open plate with lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | It's not clear precisely how the lockpick can be used to unlock that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | The pick is a silver rod the size of your ring finger -- not true
Floyd | silver, of course, nothing so easily scanned. It's splayed at one end
Floyd | into a flat disc of conductor-web matrix. The status dot is blue.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x disc" 		
	

Floyd | The lockpick widens at the top, ending in a coin-sized disc with the
Floyd | woven gleam of conductor-web matrix.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch plate with lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | The steel is immobile.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		baf says, "I'm willing to do some cool but irrelevant stuff once we get the toolkit." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | The steel is immobile.

Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door slides neatly open.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man turns the lockpick again in his fingers. "This is nice, this

Floyd | truly is. We have nothing like it." A thoughtful blink. "...And this

Floyd | was the only piece of equipment you carried?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "Naturally not. I look forward to examining the others. Not," he adds,

Floyd | "that they did you good in the end."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say you are absolutely right sir" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | You remain silent.
Floyd |
Floyd | He raises an eyebrow. "Embarrassed? Clever tricks or no, it was still
Floyd | one of you and all of us, and we're not that weak. Are we." A sharp
Floyd | look from those eyes. "Let's continue. You entered the complex..."

Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		dhakajack asks, "how do you hit any key?" 	
	popka says, "push space" 		DavidW says, "push space" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "no. don't tell Floyd to push space" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok." 	
			DavidW says, "You push it in the toyshop" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x tiles" 		
	

Floyd | The floor is featureless white tile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |


Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x gap" 		
	

Floyd | The hole is about two feet by three. Through it, you can see the actual
Floyd | concrete ceiling, a few inches above the acoustical panelling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The hole is a foot out of reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the north is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

baf  says, "Floyd | You move the space across the room.  It is now under the window."

		dhakajack says (to Floyd), "normal" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is


Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x wrench" 		
	

Floyd | It's a heavy steel wrench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "perhaps push a crate south" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push crate south" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "larger" 		
	

Floyd | The larger crate is too heavy to move.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push smaller south" 		
	

Floyd | Even the smaller crate is too heavy to move.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open crate" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "smaller" 		
	

Floyd | The smaller crate is nailed shut. You can't pry it open with your
Floyd | hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x smaller" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the smaller crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open crate with wrench" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x larger" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see nothing special about the larger crate.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "hit crate" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "smaller" 		
	

Floyd | That won't help.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet

Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x smaller crate" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the smaller crate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x larger crate" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the larger crate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the south is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x look behind crates" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a bolt wrench, a

Floyd | lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a minilamp, a
Floyd | scan scrambler, an acid pack, a blast tab, a voice module, a radio
Floyd | module, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and

Floyd | a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x look behind crate" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack exclaims, "oh my. where did all that come from?!" 	
			DavidW says, "gnostogenesis again" 	
			dhakajack says, "any other ideas on these crates" 	
			PerrySimm says, "it became worthy of attention" 	
			inky says, "er, window" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x crate" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "larger" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the larger crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | The larger crate is nailed shut. You can't pry it open with your hands.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pry crate open with wrench" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it with wrench" 		
	

Floyd | It's a wrench, not a crowbar.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "And that stuff wasnt worthy before??" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x slide crates" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "well, we were playing dumb to the interrogator" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pull crates" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pull crate" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ignore the crates for now. Try the other door" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |

Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corner At Doors

Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above

Floyd | you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door is very definitely closed.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x metal door" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the west is metal. It has no handle; another black plate is
Floyd | visible beside it. The door is closed.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open metal door" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't open by itself.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh, and check behind the crates. There may be a vent" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not

Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search crates" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search smaller crate" 		
	

Floyd | The smaller crate is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search larger crate" 		
	

Floyd | The larger crate is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open larger crate" 		
	

Floyd | The larger crate is nailed shut. You can't pry it open with your hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look behind smaller crate" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind larger" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "bah" 	
			dhakajack says, "oh well" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door is very definitely closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "use the rod on the western door plate" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a bolt wrench, a
Floyd | lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a minilamp, a
Floyd | scan scrambler, an acid pack, a blast tab, a voice module, a radio

Floyd | module, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and
Floyd | a key transmitter).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		popka says, "I don't think you can do much in this game aside from what it wants." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch lockpick to plate" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | The metal door slides open. Beyond, several people are working at
Floyd | cluttered desks. One looks up absently, and then stares; and then a

Floyd | loud buzzer echoes down the hall. Moments later, three guards charge
Floyd | towards you, weapons drawn.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack presses the large red button on the FREE DONUTS machine. Within seconds, the room is flooded with a thousand tiny, happy donuts, running about your feet in an exuberant dance of freedom. They then disappear as quickly as they had arrived. 		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "'push space', not 'push button'" 	
			DavidW says, "wrong button" 	
			dhakajack says, "ha! oops" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "That would be the logistics office. Five agents working at the time,
Floyd | very diligent men and women. None of whom recall their door popping
Floyd | open on them." He shakes his head. "Your electronic key is a lovely

Floyd | toy, but you don't have to play with it for my sake." He touches a
Floyd | control.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white

Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving

Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.

Floyd |

Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door is very definitely closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | (the hole)
Floyd | The hole is about two feet by three. Through it, you can see the actual
Floyd | concrete ceiling, a few inches above the acoustical panelling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick and a
Floyd | toolcase (which is open) (in which are a minilamp, a scan scrambler, an
Floyd | acid pack, a blast tab, a voice module, a radio module, a timer, a
Floyd | toggle switch, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and a key


Floyd | transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above


Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "metal" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the west is metal. It has no handle; another black plate is
Floyd | visible beside it. The door is closed.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x black plate" 		
	

Floyd | A featureless, dull black rectangle is embedded in the wall beside the
Floyd | metal door.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "metal" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't open by itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line


Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x line" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a red marking, painted on the floor tiles southeast of you.


Floyd | The line is very slightly scuffed in the center.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		DavidW says, "The interrogator told us we never opened the west door" 	
			dhakajack asks, "and we believe him?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You step across the line and continue down the corridor... into the
Floyd | sight of six guards or so, who are posted at the next intersection.
Floyd |


Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man raises an eyebrow. "None of those guards saw you until much


Floyd | later. Shall we try it again?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | The man touches a control.


Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving


Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of


Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |


Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I'd love to get the crates and then climb up there...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the north is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "You don't need the crates to get up there." 	
			DavidW asks, "can the crates be climbed where they are?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "normal" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to popka), "hey" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "lok" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open


Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "OK, I'll shut up." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not


Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb crate" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "larger" 		
	

Floyd | You climb up on the larger crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb smaller" 		
	

Floyd | (getting off the larger crate)
Floyd | You climb up on the smaller crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Wide rectangles cover the ceiling with the grey, dimpled texture of
Floyd | good acoustical insulation. Between the panels are the glowing strips

Floyd | which illuminate the area.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet (on the smaller crate)
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not

Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | The acoustical panels won't move.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "drat" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x strip" 		
	

Floyd | Glowing strips of plastic cross the ceiling panels.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get strip" 		
	

Floyd | Those are a part of the panel ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get panel" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "hit panel" 		
	

Floyd | The acoustical panels won't move.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your hands slam against the ceiling panels, but they

Floyd | hold firm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your hands slam against the ceiling panels, but they

Floyd | hold firm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push panel" 		
	

Floyd | The acoustical panels won't move.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x smaller crate" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the smaller crate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit panel with wrench" 		
	

Floyd | That won't help.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb down" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "normally such panels are flimsy and held only by gravity" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb down" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump down" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump off" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You get down off the smaller crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "down" 		
	

Floyd | The only exit is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The only exit is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb larger crate" 		
	

Floyd | You climb up on the larger crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push smaller" 		
	

Floyd | Even the smaller crate is too heavy to move.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "getting off supporters in IF is one of those things where the standard libraries usually feel like they are not that complete" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You get down off the larger crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I use 'stand'" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not

Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |

Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push crate south" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smaller" 		
	

Floyd | Even the smaller crate is too heavy to move.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a bolt wrench, a
Floyd | lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a minilamp, a
Floyd | scan scrambler, an acid pack, a blast tab, a voice module, a radio

Floyd | module, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and
Floyd | a key transmitter).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, I don't remember this part exactly, but I am surprised there are crates that you can't move" 	
	popka says (to Floyd), "attach acid to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the acid pack. The toggle switch turns

Floyd | brown to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I mean, I thought that was the whole point of crates" 	
	popka says (to Floyd), "put acid on small crate" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the acid pack before you can put it on top of
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "take acid" 		
	

Floyd | You take the acid pack (and the toggle switch connected to it.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "put acid on small crate" 		
	

Floyd | You put the acid pack on the smaller crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "flip toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the brown switch on. The acid capsule goes off with a piercing
Floyd | hiss. An acrid mist fills the area.
Floyd |
Floyd | You watch, awed and pleased at once, as the steel wrench sublimes away.


Floyd |
Floyd | Your skin begins to itch.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]


		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man


Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | He is frankly impressed. "It works that quickly?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "Notice we're carrying the wrench..." 	
			dhakajack asks, "er?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say usually" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |


Floyd | "I really am curious."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say me too" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "was that a bug?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | You remain silent.


Floyd |
Floyd | "Nothing forthcoming? After inventing that remarkable show for me?
Floyd | Because," he adds, "there is no trace of any acid having been used in
Floyd | this complex. And we found the wrench sitting on the crate, unharmed."
Floyd | He reaches for his controls.
Floyd |


Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		popka says, "Yeah." 	
			dhakajack says, "maybe" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white


Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands


Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open metal door" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't open by itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the north is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |

Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a bolt wrench, a
Floyd | lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are an acid pack, a

Floyd | toggle switch, a minilamp, a scan scrambler, a blast tab, a voice
Floyd | module, a radio module, a timer, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and
Floyd | a key transmitter).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are faced with tough white composite. They are smooth and
Floyd | blank, except for one ventilator grille near the ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack exclaims, "ack!" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb large crate" 		
	

Floyd | You climb up on the larger crate.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I know" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb small crate" 		
	

Floyd | (getting off the larger crate)

Floyd | You climb up on the smaller crate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | A plastic grille is visible high on the wall, just below the ceiling.

Floyd | One corner is stamped "VEN DUCT L-15."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | A plastic grille is visible high on the wall, just below the ceiling.

Floyd | One corner is stamped "VEN DUCT L-15."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open grille" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator grille is beyond your reach, on a different wall than

Floyd | the one you stand near.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing special, beyond a ventilation grille's constant hiss.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb larger" 		
	

Floyd | (getting off the smaller crate)
Floyd | You climb up on the larger crate.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your hands slam against the ceiling panels, but they
Floyd | hold firm.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open grille" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator grille is beyond your reach, on a different wall than
Floyd | the one you stand near.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "grab grille" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "jump at grille" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "waylay grille" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "It's not important, anyway." 	
			DavidW says, "argh" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | Wide rectangles cover the ceiling with the grey, dimpled texture of
Floyd | good acoustical insulation. Between the panels are the glowing strips

Floyd | which illuminate the area.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stad" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You get down off the larger crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "shall we look around in hallway or stay here?" 	
			popka says, "Oh, I thought we were in a different room for some reason." 	
			DavidW says, "there might be other grilles" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok, let's have a tour...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above

Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing special, beyond a ventilation grille's constant hiss.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are faced with tough white composite. They are smooth and

Floyd | blank, except for one ventilator grille near the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open grille" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator grille is a bit beyond your reach.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | A plastic grille is visible high on the wall, just below the ceiling.

Floyd | One corner is stamped "VEN DUCT J-10."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,

Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x climb" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "enter hole" 		
	

Floyd | The space above the ceiling panels is only a few inches high. You can't
Floyd | fit into it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x space" 		
	

Floyd | You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over
Floyd | the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a
Floyd | few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.

Floyd |

Floyd | A small package, wrapped in cloth, is sitting on the panelling, just a
Floyd | few inches from your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x package" 		
	

Floyd | It's an oblong bundle of cloth, a bit larger than your palm.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your fingertips ache dully. And a nearby ventilator grille seems to be

Floyd | hissing directly into your ear.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | A plastic grille is visible high on the wall, just below the ceiling.

Floyd | One corner is stamped "VEN DUCT J-10."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open grille" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator grille isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground, flexing your stiff hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x cloth" 		
	

Floyd | It's an oblong bundle of cloth, a bit larger than your palm.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search cloth" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW clears the save counter. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above


Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd | Corner At Doors (hanging from the ceiling)
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap. You


Floyd | are clinging to the lip of the hole; your feet dangle a foot above the
Floyd | ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the panel ceiling or the concrete ceiling?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "concrete" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search panel" 		
	

Floyd | (the hole)
Floyd | You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over
Floyd | the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a
Floyd | few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.


Floyd |
Floyd | The space is empty as far as you can see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground, flexing your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of


Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf says, "I once described this game to a guy who was into lit-crit stuff, and he thought the whole business with the cloth-wrapped package was amazingly postmodern for a game." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x package" 		
	

Floyd | It's an oblong bundle of cloth, a bit larger than your palm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Okay, gotta run. Just remember: The interrogator is really your father." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x tiles" 		
	

Floyd | The floor is featureless white tile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger has to return some videotapes. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x wals" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,
Floyd | a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are
Floyd | an acid pack, a toggle switch, a minilamp, a scan scrambler, a blast
Floyd | tab, a voice module, a radio module, a timer, a pushbutton, a voice


Floyd | transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put blast tab on cloth" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the blast tab before you can put it on top of


Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I really hate starting at 2. I need to eat." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get blast tab" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put blast tab on cloth" 		
	

Floyd | The bundle is still wrapped up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unwrap bundle" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x timer" 		
	

Floyd | The timer is a small black box with two dials on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other. The status dot is blue. Both the green and blue

Floyd | dials are set to 1; the timer's indicator is blank.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "that's just nuts, that 'not yet time'" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x plus link" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the toggle switch, the voice module, the radio

Floyd | module, the timer or the pushbutton?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "timer" 		
	

Floyd | The timer is a small black box with two dials on one side, and a plus

Floyd | link on the other. The status dot is blue. Both the green and blue
Floyd | dials are set to 1; the timer's indicator is blank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it'll make sense later, I say unhelpfully" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The

Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of

Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;

Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I need to eat. now." 	
			baf acts all smug about what he knows 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The door is very definitely closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of

Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x boundary" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a red marking, painted on the floor tiles southeast of you.
Floyd | The line is slightly scuffed in the center.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing special, beyond a ventilation grille's constant hiss.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | A plastic grille is visible high on the wall, just below the ceiling.
Floyd | One corner is stamped "VEN DUCT U-11."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the ceiling panels, but not
Floyd | strongly enough to do anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open grille" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator grille is a bit beyond your reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop package" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch package" 		
	

Floyd | Whatever's inside the bundle is rigid and rather heavy.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to package" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "smell package" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,
Floyd | a blast tab, a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open)
Floyd | (in which are an acid pack, a toggle switch, a minilamp, a scan

Floyd | scrambler, a voice module, a radio module, a timer, a pushbutton, a

Floyd | voice transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x radio module" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus

Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x voice module" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus

Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x key transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black disc with a key to press on one side, and a short

Floyd | antenna on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | Spider And Web is copyright 1997-8 by Andrew Plotkin. It may be copied,
Floyd | distributed, and played freely.
Floyd |
Floyd | For acknowledgements and credits, please type "credits".

Floyd |
Floyd | An introductory note: To simplify the problem of dialogue in

Floyd | interactive fiction, the "tell" and "ask" commands are not used in this
Floyd | game. Your conversational options are limited to "yes," "no," and
Floyd | saying nothing at all. Trust me -- this isn't as big a deal as it
Floyd | sounds.

Floyd |
Floyd | Also, after some consideration, I have decided not to implement body

Floyd | parts -- head, arms, legs, hands -- as separate objects. If you feel a
Floyd | desire to refer to yourself, "me" will suffice.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is possible to make a fatal mistake in this game, but you will

Floyd | immediately know you have done so. You can always "undo" after death,
Floyd | and then fix the mistake. Therefore, the game is best played straight

Floyd | through. Accept any non-fatal mistakes that you may make; you will have
Floyd | a second chance. If you back up and replay each scene for maximum
Floyd | efficiency, avoiding all mistakes, certain aspects of the game will be
Floyd | lost.

Floyd |
Floyd | However -- you will eventually reach a point where things become

Floyd | dangerous. You'll know when. Beyond that, you're playing for keeps and
Floyd | heartbeats count. Save early and often.
Floyd |
Floyd | Do not expect Spider And Web to be anything like So Far or A Change in

Floyd | the Weather. It's not. In a certain sense, this is my first
Floyd | conventional game. In another sense, it's the strangest game I know,

Floyd | and understanding what's happening is entirely your problem.
Floyd |
Floyd | This game is free. But if you feel like sending me money, I won't
Floyd | refuse. If you feel like sending me comments or bug reports, I'll be

Floyd | ecstatic. As of the beginning of 1998, I am at
Floyd |

Floyd |    erkyrath@netcom.com
Floyd |
Floyd |    Andrew Plotkin
Floyd |    7529 Murray Hill Rd #322

Floyd |    Columbia, MD 21046
Floyd |    USA

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "sorry I'm late" 	
			dhakajack says, "Hi. I'm running short on ideas...anyone, feel free to jump in" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The

		inky asks, "what happens if you cross the red line?" 	
	

Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of

Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I think we run into guards..." 	
			dhakajack says, "might be worth pushing that limit..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | As you step across the line, a sharp buzzer echoes through the
Floyd | corridors.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And then all the guards came thundering down on you? Captured before

Floyd | you'd done anything at all?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it seems like this is the only way out, so there is probably some way to disable it" 	
			baf says, "Remeber: there's no actual risk in tring stuff at this point. It's all flashback." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes that is exactly how it all went down" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "You certainly were not. There was no alarm and we both know it. Now
Floyd | let's have it again."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;

Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "did we just get into the building?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "pretty much" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary

Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line

Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "ah. the layout of this part is kind of confusing" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x line" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a red marking, painted on the floor tiles southeast of you.
Floyd | The line is slightly scuffed in the center.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x scuffed" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x scuff" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "it seems that we're being interrogated, and this is a flashback of whatever we did." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x center" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a red marking, painted on the floor tiles southeast of you.
Floyd | The line is slightly scuffed in the center.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick and a
Floyd | toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, an acid pack, a
Floyd | toggle switch, a minilamp, a scan scrambler, a voice module, a radio

Floyd | module, a timer, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and a key

Floyd | transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x scan scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can

Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[peanut-gallery] Lucea says, "I assume this is a spoiler-freer un" 		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	[peanut-gallery] inky says, "there's #cfspoilers" 		
	[peanut-gallery] Lucea says, "Right. I meant in actual commands" 		
	Fang showered after leaving the lounge, thinking this would reduce his risk of being infected. 		
	[peanut-gallery] inky says, "yeah, I think so" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open package" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick and a
Floyd | toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, an acid pack, a
Floyd | toggle switch, a minilamp, a scan scrambler, a voice module, a radio

Floyd | module, a timer, a pushbutton, a voice transmitter and a key

Floyd | transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "we haven't retrieved the package (or the wrench or anything) on this run" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The

Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "right" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands


Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is


Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The only exit is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above

Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "clean blood" 		
	

Floyd | The blood only smears further as you rub at it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x gap" 		
	

Floyd | You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over
Floyd | the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a

Floyd | few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.
Floyd |

Floyd | The space is empty as far as you can see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,

Floyd | a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are
Floyd | a blast tab, an acid pack, a toggle switch, a minilamp, a scan
Floyd | scrambler, a voice module, a radio module, a timer, a pushbutton, a

Floyd | voice transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | Your fingertips ache dully. And a nearby ventilator grille seems to be

Floyd | hissing directly into your ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn minilamp on" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)

Floyd | The minilamp has no built-in controls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small yellow tube with a lens at one end. There's a minus link

Floyd | on one edge of the tube.
Floyd |
Floyd | The tendons of your fingers are complaining.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "attach minilamp to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the minilamp. The toggle switch turns
Floyd | yellow to confirm the match.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "wow, I never thought to try that" 	
	popka says (to Floyd), "flip toggle" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | You flip the yellow switch on. The minilamp begins glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x gap" 		
	

Floyd | You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over
Floyd | the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a

Floyd | few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.
Floyd |

Floyd | The space is empty as far as you can see.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "shine minilamp in crack" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to shine the lit minilamp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "use minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "shine minilamp in gap" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to shine the lit minilamp.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "put minilamp in space" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)

Floyd | Hanging from one hand, you toss the lit minilamp up into the space
Floyd | above.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your arms are beginning to feel numb.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground, and painfully massage your forearms.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small yellow tube with a lens at one end; a beam of light shines
Floyd | out. There's a minus link on one edge of the tube, which is connected
Floyd | to a toggle switch.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search gap" 		
	

Floyd | You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over
Floyd | the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a


Floyd | few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the space, you can see a lit minilamp (connected to a toggle
Floyd | switch).
Floyd |
Floyd | You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | You take the lit minilamp (and the toggle switch connected to it.)


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search gap" 		
	

Floyd | You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over
Floyd | the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a


Floyd | few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | The space is empty as far as you can see.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your fingertips ache dully. And a nearby ventilator grille seems to be
Floyd | hissing directly into your ear.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "Aw" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | A plastic grille is visible high on the wall, just below the ceiling.


Floyd | One corner is stamped "VEN DUCT J-10."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground, flexing your stiff hands.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "toggle" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "switch toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the yellow switch off. The minilamp goes dark.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Storage Closet

Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the south is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors

Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x metal" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the west is metal. It has no handle; another black plate is

Floyd | visible beside it. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x plate" 		
	

Floyd | A featureless, dull black rectangle is embedded in the wall beside the
Floyd | metal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "remove plate" 		
	

Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get plate" 		
	

Floyd | The plate is fixed in the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a minilamp
Floyd | (connected to a toggle switch), a wrapped package, a bolt wrench, a
Floyd | lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, an
Floyd | acid pack, a scan scrambler, a voice module, a radio module, a timer, a
Floyd | pushbutton, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter).

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to radio module" 		
	

Floyd | The toggle switch is already connected to the minilamp.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "disconnect toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the minilamp, and take the toggle switch as it turns
Floyd | black again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to radio module" 		
	

Floyd | You can't connect two positive links together.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x toggle" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a two-way toggle switch on one side, and a
Floyd | plus link on the other. The switch is off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x scan" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x voice" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the voice module or the voice transmitter?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "module" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black square with an audio pickup on one side, and a short
Floyd | antenna on the other. The status dot is blue. The audio keywords are
Floyd | printed along one edge.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x keywords" 		
	

Floyd | The keywords for the voice transmitter are "tango" to switch on, and
Floyd | "waltz" to switch off. In your voiceprint only, of course.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword. The voice module's link dot flashes green in
Floyd | confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword. The voice module's link dot flashes blue in
Floyd | confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice transmitter to radio module" 		
	

Floyd | The voice transmitter doesn't have a link; it works through the voice
Floyd | module.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toggle switch, a


Floyd | minilamp, a wrapped package, a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase
Floyd | (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, an acid pack, a scan
Floyd | scrambler, a voice module, a radio module, a timer, a pushbutton, a
Floyd | voice transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pushbutton" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a button on one side and a plus link on the
Floyd | other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x timer" 		
	

Floyd | The timer is a small black box with two dials on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other. The status dot is blue. Both the green and blue
Floyd | dials are set to 1; the timer's indicator is blank.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black disc with a key to press on one side, and a short
Floyd | antenna on the other.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press disc" 		
	

Floyd | (the key transmitter)
Floyd | You press the transmitter key. The radio module's link dot flashes
Floyd | green in confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scan scrambler to radio module" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scan scrambler to radio module" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the radio module to the scan scrambler. The radio module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the key transmitter turns orange
Floyd | as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The scan scrambler is already connected to the radio module.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW back. what progress? 		Lucea asks, "anyone object to my trying something that always gives me a chuckle?" 	
			dhakajack exclaims, "go!" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "connect blast to push" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the pushbutton to the blast tab. The pushbutton turns
Floyd | purple to confirm the match.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "push pushbutton" 		
	

Floyd | Crack! The blast tab goes off in the toolcase in your hand. You feel no
Floyd | pain; just the white tide of shock and cold that rolls across you, and
Floyd | washes the blood away.

Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | The man is staring at you as if at a joke he doesn't, quite,
Floyd | understand. "And then you died."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | The man shakes his head in disgust.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		popka says, "Hehe. I wanted to do that too." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors

Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands

Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "The interrogator's reaction is perfect. (Although I should've said 'no' for more perfect reactioning)" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		baf says, "There's a moment like that in Monkey Island 2" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above

Floyd | the floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'll pull up my own copy and pastebomb it" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok, so here we are with our wrench and unwrappable package..." 	
			baf says, "whcih is also mostly told in flashback, and which at one point if you take too long to solve a puzzle you get dropped into a vat of boiling acid." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to radio" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the radio module to the scan scrambler. The radio module

Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the key transmitter turns orange
Floyd | as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to radio" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We had wrench and package when I left to eat lunch" 	
			Lucea says, ""No, you, let's see, you just grew a new hand, cleaned up all the blood, reassured the guards that the 'bang' was all in their heads..."" 	
			dhakajack says, "we made a few trips to the interrogator...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,

Floyd | a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are
Floyd | a scan scrambler (connected to a radio module), a minilamp, a toggle

Floyd | switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab, an acid pack, a voice module, a
Floyd | timer, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword. The voice module's link dot flashes green in
Floyd | confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x radio" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other. The link is connected to a scan scrambler.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press disc" 		
	

Floyd | (the key transmitter)
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot flashes briefly yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "send help" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "send sos" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge, which is connected to a radio
Floyd | module.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above

Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch scrambler to plate" 		
	

Floyd | The scan scrambler is already connected to the radio module.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "any ideas?" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't know what you've done so far." 	
			Lucea says, "I know how to get through this part, and it isn't what you think" 	
			DavidW asks, "where did 'tango' come from?" 	
			dhakajack says, "tango and waltz are voice commands for the voice module" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x voice" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the voice module or the voice transmitter?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "module" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "you're making it way, way too complicated" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't see that" 	
			popka says, "Well, I think there's something the interrogator should have said in a previous scene that he didn't." 	
			popka says, "Or I just missed it." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,
Floyd | a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are
Floyd | a scan scrambler (connected to a radio module), a minilamp, a toggle
Floyd | switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab, an acid pack, a voice module, a
Floyd | timer, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter).

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unwrap package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the voice transmitter or the key transmitter?

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "voice" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black square with an audio pickup on one side, and a short
Floyd | antenna on the other. The status dot is green. The audio keywords are

Floyd | printed along one edge.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect timer to blast tab" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the timer to the blast tab. The timer turns purple to

Floyd | confirm the match.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Storage Closet

Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I've already probably said way too much" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read keywords" 		
	

Floyd | The keywords for the voice transmitter are "tango" to switch on, and

Floyd | "waltz" to switch off. In your voiceprint only, of course.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put blast tab on large crate" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the blast tab before you can put it on top of

Floyd | something else.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get tab" 		
	

Floyd | You take the blast tab (and the timer connected to it.)

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put tab on crate" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the larger crate or the smaller crate?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "larger" 		
	

Floyd | You put the blast tab on the larger crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set timer" 		
	

Floyd | You can set the timer's green dial or its blue dial.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set green" 		
	

Floyd | The dial can be set from 1 to 20.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set green 3" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to set the green dial.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set green dial to 3" 		
	

Floyd | You set the green dial to 3. (Press the dials to activate them.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press green dial" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens; you squeeze harder, until the contact finally clicks.
Floyd | The green dial lights as you press it. The timer's indicator flashes to
Floyd | 3.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above

Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a sharp crack from somewhere nearby.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And the noise went completely unnoticed," says the man, an eyebrow

Floyd | raised.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "It did? I have been in this building all day, and I don't recall my

Floyd | lunch hour being quite so noisy." The man presses a control.
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated

Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I wish I had a macro for this...." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The

Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to

Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;
Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "would closing the door make it less noisy?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I think it would still be loud" 	
			DavidW asks, "and what are we trying to accomplish anyway? who are we? What is this place?" 	
			baf says, "That is a very good question to ask." 	
			dhakajack says, "apparently, we have all kinds of cool paramilitary gadgets." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;

Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "Have we tried getting out yet?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "out of the flashback or out of the interrogation?" 	
			Lucea says, "out of the building" 	
			dhakajack says, "yes, presumably the metal door leads out" 	
			DavidW asks, "you mean, take the package and run?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I mean open this door and decide, hey, y'know, this whole building thing isn't for me" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors

Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the north is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is


Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open


Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |


Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |


Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The only exit is south.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors


Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door is very definitely closed.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x metal" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the west is metal. It has no handle; another black plate is
Floyd | visible beside it. The door is closed.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "is it worth trying to open this door?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x finger" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "We can try. It'd probably take force" 	
			DavidW says, "he said no" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "metal" 		
	

Floyd | The steel is immobile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "but really, this part is way, way less complicated than you think it is" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "hit plate" 		
	

Floyd | There is no response.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "metal" 		
	

Floyd | That is unlikely to get a response.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "hit door with wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "metal" 		
	

Floyd | That won't help.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "remove door with bolt wrench" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the normal door or the metal door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "metal" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to remove the metal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x hinge" 		
	

Floyd | The northern door is comfortingly ordinary -- white paint, hinges, and
Floyd | a handle which needs nothing more sophisticated than fingers. The door
Floyd | is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "what are you doing?" 	
			Lucea says, "trying to break the metal door" 	
			DavidW asks, "why?" 	
			Lucea says, "they wanted to" 	
			dhakajack says, "just trying to run out the possibilities" 	
			DavidW says, "we opened it ages ago" 	
			DavidW says, "There were 5 people in there.\" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,


Floyd | a bolt wrench, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are
Floyd | a blast tab, a radio module, a timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp, a
Floyd | toggle switch, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice
Floyd | transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The interrogator said those people never saw us come in" 	
			dhakajack says, "and we didn't use the acid, or the explosives, according to him." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "um, best way I can think to describe this..." 	
			Lucea asks, "ever played the Erudition Chamber?" 	
			dhakajack says, "nope" 	
			DavidW says, "well, found no trace of acid. Didnt hear explosive." 	
			Lucea says, "oh. well. never mind then" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			dhakajack asks, "maybe we're wasting our time in the flashback...should we try to get back to the interrogator?" 	
			dhakajack says, "or does that seem to be scripted such our actions there are limited only to talking" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	olethros arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Lucea says, "couldn't hurt to go back to the interrogator" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to

Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;

Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'm going to pull him up again" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "put pick on plate" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its

Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |

Floyd | The door slides open, and daylight spills over you. So does a sharp
Floyd | buzzer; and, moments later, three armed guards.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course, by now -- that is, by then -- there was once again an

Floyd | observer covering the alley door. Your original diversion was clever
Floyd | but brief. So you certainly didn't re-open the door, much less leave
Floyd | and then re-enter." He touches a control.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving

Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick and a

Floyd | toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, a radio module, a
Floyd | timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, an
Floyd | acid pack, a voice module, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x toolcase" 		
	

Floyd | Your toolcase is a flat grey plastic form, lined with shaped sponge

Floyd | foam. In the toolcase are a blast tab, a radio module, a timer, a scan
Floyd | scrambler, a minilamp, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a
Floyd | voice module, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "hm. We have to reget that package each time, eh?" 	
			popka says, "we could reload instead, I think the last save was after we got it." 	
			dhakajack says, "yes -- the package and our old friend the bolt wrench" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "eat sponge foam" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the foam padding)

Floyd | The foam padding is part of the case.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "maybe we don't need the package" 	
			DavidW says, "I suspect restore is not our friend in this game." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors

Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands

Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "It says as much in about." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet

Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get bolt" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors

Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x hinge" 		
	

Floyd | The northern door is comfortingly ordinary -- white paint, hinges, and
Floyd | a handle which needs nothing more sophisticated than fingers. The door

Floyd | is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Perhaps after X visits to the interrogator, he'll reveal new info." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "remove normal door" 		
	

Floyd | You're not wearing that.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above

Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "hrm." 		DavidW asks, "what's se?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | As you step across the line, a sharp buzzer echoes through the
Floyd | corridors.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | "We've been over this. We track all metal within the critical zones. I
Floyd | know you're good; you surely noticed the ceiling web."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea exclaims, "let's find out!" 	
			DavidW asks, "Ceiling web?" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "As you like. But you didn't carry metal past it. Stop wasting my
Floyd | time." He punches a control, harder than necessary.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		DavidW asks, "Track ALL METAL?" 	
			Lucea says, "yeah, all metal" 	
			dhakajack says, "I hope we don't have any dental filling or for that matter iron in our red blood cells..." 	
			inky says, "hmm, maybe it should have said that the first time" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick and a
Floyd | toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, a radio module, a

Floyd | timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, an
Floyd | acid pack, a voice module, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | The pick is a silver rod the size of your ring finger -- not true
Floyd | silver, of course, nothing so easily scanned. It's splayed at one end

Floyd | into a flat disc of conductor-web matrix. The status dot is blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "did we have the wrench the first time, though?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x web" 		
	

Floyd | The lockpick widens at the top, ending in a coin-sized disc with the
Floyd | woven gleam of conductor-web matrix.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ceiling web" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the panel ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small yellow tube with a lens at one end. There's a minus link
Floyd | on one edge of the tube.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the ceiling panels, but not
Floyd | strongly enough to do anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "this part is confusing because as far as I can tell there are two "Corridor Boundary" locations" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The

Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands


Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |


Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "which are identical, except one has a lot of guards and one doesn't" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,
Floyd | a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, a
Floyd | radio module, a timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp, a toggle switch, a
Floyd | pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice transmitter and a key


Floyd | transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop toolcase" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors


Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a blast tab, a radio
Floyd | module, a timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp, a toggle switch, a


Floyd | pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice transmitter and a key
Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it


Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "is any thing we carry safe?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package
Floyd | and a lockpick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "i'm going to see if the package is ok" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You step across the line and continue down the corridor... into the
Floyd | sight of six guards or so, who are posted at the next intersection.
Floyd |


Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		Lucea says, "wait, wait" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |


Floyd | The man raises an eyebrow. "None of those guards saw you until much
Floyd | later. Shall we try it again?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "uh" 	
			Lucea says, "we might still need the wrench, though" 	
			dhakajack says, "we could try throwing a metallic object and trigger the sensor...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)


Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls, and you sit restrained
Floyd | in a steel chair. Across from you is a desk covered with panels of
Floyd | instrumentation. The man faces you from behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man touches a control.
Floyd |


Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white
Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors


Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above


Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "so we have this metal web that detects stuff that is mteal" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open normal door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "we shouls try to examine things in the white room , eh?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not


Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is
Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get bolt" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless


Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "er interrogation chamber I mean" 	
			DavidW says, "I cant draw right now, so I'm confused about what the map might look like." 	
			dhakajack says, "i'm going to go to the line, but not cross it." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of

Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to

Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;

Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x web" 		
	

Floyd | The lockpick widens at the top, ending in a coin-sized disc with the

Floyd | woven gleam of conductor-web matrix.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | Wide rectangles cover the ceiling with the grey, dimpled texture of

Floyd | good acoustical insulation. Between the panels are the glowing strips
Floyd | which illuminate the area.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance

Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;
Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of

Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary

Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | Wide rectangles cover the ceiling with the grey, dimpled texture of
Floyd | good acoustical insulation. Between the panels are the glowing strips

Floyd | which illuminate the area. You notice that to the southeast, beyond the
Floyd | red boundary line, the ceiling panels are also striped with the

Floyd | characteristic glitter of a scan web.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "erase red line" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "ah. That would be the characteristically not-noticed-before glitter...." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			DavidW asks, "can scan web be scrambled?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a bolt wrench, a
Floyd | wrapped package, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which

Floyd | are a blast tab, a radio module, a timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp,
Floyd | a toggle switch, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice

Floyd | transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a bolt wrench, a

Floyd | wrapped package, a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which
Floyd | are a blast tab, a radio module, a timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp,
Floyd | a toggle switch, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice
Floyd | transmitter and a key transmitter).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "throw bolt se" 		
	

Floyd | You toss the wrench across the line; a sharp buzzer immediately sounds.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | "This is tiring. I've been in this base all day and I heard no alarm."
Floyd | The man touches a control before you can respond.
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white

Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "also walking se with nothing fails too, right?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line

Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You step across the line and continue down the corridor.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I believe you're forgetting something." The man gazes at you levelly.
Floyd | "Our forensics people went over the area very thoroughly after we
Floyd | captured you. And we found evidence that you'd been up in that open

Floyd | ceiling panel in the northwest corner. Did you think you could hide
Floyd | that from us?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yeah" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "hit interrogator" 		
	

Floyd | You can hardly move at all.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		popka says, "But not with any alarm..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x interrogator" 		
	

Floyd | He is greying of hair and lined, lined hard, not wrinkled. His pale
Floyd | uniform fits as comfortably as skin. It is immaculate; it bears no

Floyd | insignia but the emblem of his nation.
Floyd |

Floyd | The man is holding a lockpick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The chair is every bit as uncomfortable as its designers must have

Floyd | intended. Metal slats dig into your thighs and shoulders. Your head is
Floyd | strapped back, with too many cold itches where the leads are pasted on.
Floyd | And, of course, the steel bands that bind your hands and feet. You can

Floyd | hardly forget those.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man leans back, watching you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is panelled with ranks of controls and instruments. All, of
Floyd | course, are angled just too low for you to read.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x emblem" 		
	

Floyd | The man wears the light tan uniform of his nation, and its emblem on
Floyd | his breast.

Floyd |
Floyd | He shakes his head. "You can't. You can cover up memories, perhaps..."

Floyd | Unexpectedly, he smiles. "But 'Blood speaks loud where words fade
Floyd | away.' Eh? Now, this time, the truth."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white

Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless

Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands

Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.

Floyd |

Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		dhakajack asks, "so, this time...?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors (hanging from the ceiling)


Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap. You
Floyd | are clinging to the lip of the hole; your feet dangle a foot above the


Floyd | ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka asks, "We took our tools across the line last time with no alarm, didn't we?" 	
			Lucea says, "Yeah." 	
			DavidW asks, "Can the scan web be fooled into not working?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,

Floyd | a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a blast tab, a
Floyd | radio module, a timer, a scan scrambler, a minilamp, a toggle switch, a
Floyd | pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice transmitter and a key
Floyd | transmitter).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x scan scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge.

Floyd |

Floyd | Your fingertips ache dully. And a nearby ventilator grille seems to be
Floyd | hissing directly into your ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scan scrambler to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground, flexing your stiff hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on scramber" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on scan scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | The scan scrambler has no built-in controls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on toggle" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch on. The scrambler's status dot goes green,
Floyd | and an almost inaudible whine begins within it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | The door to the north is closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says, "...floyd push toggle" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "push toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch off. The scrambler shuts down, and its

Floyd | status dot goes blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open normal" 		
	

Floyd | You open the normal door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "we forgot the wrench" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Storage Closet
Floyd | This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not
Floyd | quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is

Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the larger crate is a bolt wrench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get bolt" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open

Floyd | to the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line

Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch on. The scrambler's status dot goes green,

Floyd | and an almost inaudible whine begins within it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "shall we go se?" 	
			Lucea says, "not from here" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open
Floyd | to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above

Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to

Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You step across the line and continue down the corridor.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "...with the metal of the wrench hidden from our ever-watchful scan
Floyd | web. A wonderful artifact, your little orange pyramid." The man spreads
Floyd | his hands in assumed awe, then shakes his head. "I don't think your

Floyd | techniques are quite that good. You could muffle the metal signature, I

Floyd | would say, but not perfectly. It would leave eddies. Small ones --
Floyd | within the error tolerances of our scan, enough to hide the wrench for
Floyd | a few minutes -- but after that? A dozen acceptable errors within ten
Floyd | minutes is... not acceptable at all.
Floyd |

Floyd | "And we picked up no such suspicious sequence; and therefore, you did

Floyd | not carry the wrench across that line. Did you."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | He stares at you for a moment. "Even if you claim your scrambler works

Floyd | perfectly," he continues, "...we found the wrench sitting on the crate
Floyd | in the closet." He smiles briefly.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You stand lightly in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white

Floyd | walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated
Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands


Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.
Floyd |


Floyd | Uh! A sharp edge is digging into one finger. You shift your grasp
Floyd | hastily, but a few drops of blood smear across the hole's lip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The
Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch on. The scrambler's status dot goes green,
Floyd | and an almost inaudible whine begins within it.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.
Floyd |


Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;
Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor By Entrance
Floyd | The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about;
Floyd | the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction

Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The

Floyd | ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of
Floyd | plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to
Floyd | the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "Why do we need the scrambler? It won't work over a long period of time anyway." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it


Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You step across the line and continue down the corridor.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man


Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man nods with consideration. "And off you went, through our secure
Floyd | zone like a scalpel through cheese. A plastic scalpel," he adds,
Floyd | smiling distantly, "so I don't know why you turned on that charming
Floyd | device. As I said, it couldn't have hidden metal for any length of


Floyd | time. Thus -- you had none. At least our scan-web keeps spies from
Floyd | carrying guns with them when they stroll through our bases." He pauses
Floyd | a moment. "Or does your side have nonmetallic guns now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "question" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Now you're lying again. We would know if you had such things, and you

Floyd | would know that we would..." A silence draws out, and you look to find

Floyd | the man staring at a far wall, as if you and your chair had dissolved
Floyd | away. Then, thoughtfully, "For all the effort we put into secrets, my
Floyd | people and yours, do we ever manage to keep any?" His eyes are on you
Floyd | again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes, and here you are. Because you don't have this one. And this is
Floyd | the secret that matters. You didn't get it, and we can keep it just a

Floyd | little longer."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "the part later on, where you actually need the scan scrambler. it isn't unwinnable because it was toggled here, is it?" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say sounds good. can i go now" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "A little longer is all we need."

Floyd |
Floyd | He shakes his head sharply. "A bit more time here, as well. And please
Floyd | don't waste any more of it with fantasy. Your next move must have
Floyd | been..."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to
Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "I'm going to step away for a minute... will someone else take the helm for a bit?" 	
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "hmm, probably not" 		popka says, "I think everyone else has played this already." 	
			Lucea says, "I've played it already, so I probably shouldn't" 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "I know the scrambler screws up after X uses. but I don't know if it gets reset" 		dhakajack says, "OK. I'll hang on." 	
			dhakajack asks, "should I try the sequence again, with the package, but without the tool box?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package,
Floyd | a lockpick and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a scan
Floyd | scrambler (connected to a toggle switch), a blast tab, a radio module,

Floyd | a timer, a minilamp, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a

Floyd | voice transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps seem to be approaching.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "we reached a new stage" 	
			dhakajack says, "ah, footsteps, yes." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Tee Junction

Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to
Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We are in Tee Junction now" 	
			inky says, "guess we'd better hide" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Diagonal Branch

Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;
Floyd | another short hall leads south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Distant footsteps sound somewhere to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, but we can't get the door openw ithout the lockpick, I assume" 	
			DavidW says, "we have lockpick" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		inky says, "oh, so we did" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You take half a step and nearly trip as you turn. A woman is standing
Floyd | to the south, at the end of the hall. She leans on the frame of an open
Floyd | door, talking to someone in the room beyond. If you continue, she will

Floyd | certainly notice you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I figured it couldn't get through the scanweb" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm lost without mapping" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Hallways run northwest, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | The footsteps to the east grow louder.
Floyd |

Floyd | The woman nods and leans back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the corridor, across the red line.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't think so. There were people up and down the west corridor
Floyd | during that interval. You weren't seen back there. Besides, it would
Floyd | hardly be elegant," and he smiles very suddenly. "We've had that part

Floyd | of the story. Repeating it would be redundant, yes? Bad art."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "You don't think so? You must not have had my fiction tutor." You did

Floyd | not expect to hear a chuckle in this room. "For all the stakes, it
Floyd | comes down to you telling stories, doesn't it? You spin me a story, and

Floyd | I listen."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say ok" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | He nods. "The oldest profession. Although you've been reluctant -- I
Floyd | can't expect better, I suppose. Anyway." He blinks. "This verse isn't
Floyd | yet right." He touches a control.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Tee Junction

Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to
Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door is very definitely closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | The footsteps seem to be approaching.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I don't remember that line. I don't think the interrogator knows what it means" 	
			inky says, "heh" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the south is metal. As usual, it has a black sensor plate
Floyd | beside it. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch lockpick to plate" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.
Floyd |


Floyd | The footsteps to the north grow louder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to


Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick is clinging to the black plate by the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps move out of a branch corridor to the north -- a trio of


Floyd | guards, still heading this way. You dodge back out of their line of
Floyd | view, flattening yourself inside the west side of the tee.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the guards coming closer.
Floyd |


Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.


Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the guards coming closer.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | The metal door slides open. To the north, the footfalls of the guards


Floyd | cease, startled by this apparition. Then they begin again -- hurrying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You hurl yourself towards the open door, snatching at the lockpick as


Floyd | you go by. Nearly -- but your fingers close wrong, and the silver rod
Floyd | clatters to the floor behind you as you dive over the threshold. The
Floyd | door slides closed; you are left in quiet dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | A moment later, the door slides open again. A surprising number of
Floyd | pulse guns are aimed through it, all at you.


Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |


Floyd | Impatience is plain between his eyes, now. "Yes, you had time to get
Floyd | inside. But the door, did you notice, would have come open in full view
Floyd | of Mobile Three? You did notice, in truth, that's what you showed me."
Floyd |
Floyd | He shakes his head. "But Three says they didn't see you at all, and
Floyd | they certainly didn't see you fooling around with that door, and they


Floyd | certainly didn't enact that tableau at the end. With the guns." He
Floyd | seems particularly disgusted with that touch, for some reason. "Is it,
Floyd | what, you just enjoy a dramatic scene?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Spare me." He touches a control.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction

Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to

Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End South

Floyd | The corridor ends here, blank, with a single steel door on the north
Floyd | wall. The door is closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | Distant footsteps sound somewhere to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It doesn't open by itself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the north is metal. As usual, it has a black sensor plate
Floyd | beside it. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Distant footsteps sound somewhere to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch lockpick to plate" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door to the north isn't important.

Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps are clearer now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door is very definitely closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the west grow louder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch lockpick to sensor" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End South

Floyd | The corridor ends here, blank, with a single steel door on the north
Floyd | wall. The door is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door to the north is metal. As usual, it has a black sensor plate
Floyd | beside it. The door is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | The footsteps to the west grow louder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm lost if I cant map and take notes" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch lockpick to door" 		
	

Floyd | The pick does not react to the metal door, other than a brief red flash
Floyd | of the status dot.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | The steel is immobile.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the west are very clear now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "connect lockpick to plate" 	
			DavidW asks, "is this the same door he said you didnt go thru?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I think I haven't tried this yet" 	
			DavidW says, "maybe you waylaid that woman instead" 	
			dhakajack says, "it looks like there is a problem recognizing the plate here" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock door with pick" 		
	

Floyd | It's not clear precisely how the lockpick can be used to unlock that.
Floyd |
Floyd | The guards come around the corner. Well-trained guards, of course, look

Floyd | both ways when they enter an intersection. For a moment you stare at
Floyd | them staring at you. Then they draw their weapons.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		inky says, "pshaw" 	
			dhakajack says, "she was talking to someone, so I'd have had to taken them both out." 	
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The squad on Mobile Three, the ones you say stumbled into you. You do
Floyd | have their images right; I know you saw them. But they say they never

Floyd | saw you. Did they lie?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "A helpful answer at last! Thank you. Now let's have it again."

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to
Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Diagonal Branch

Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;
Floyd | another short hall leads south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Distant footsteps sound somewhere to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You take half a step and nearly trip as you turn. A woman is standing
Floyd | to the south, at the end of the hall. She leans on the frame of an open

Floyd | door, talking to someone in the room beyond. If you continue, she will
Floyd | certainly notice you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You return up the corridor, across the red line.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Stories or none, I know you haven't been back to the west corridor."

Floyd | The man touches a control.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	inky pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to
Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the

Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put pick on plate" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | The footsteps seem to be approaching.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch

Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this
Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a
Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |

Floyd | As you step into the intersection, three guards walk out of the
Floyd | northeast branch. For a moment they stare at you staring at them. Then

Floyd | they draw their weapons.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "No, understand, this isn't in question. The guards did not see you,
Floyd | not toenail or eyebrow. They heard a noise, something clattering across
Floyd | the floor, in the eastern dead-end corridor. That's what they

Floyd | investigated. That's what you're trying to explain here. Clear?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "ah" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Good."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to

Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End South
Floyd | The corridor ends here, blank, with a single steel door on the north
Floyd | wall. The door is closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | Distant footsteps sound somewhere to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put pick on plate" 		
	

Floyd | The metal door to the north isn't important.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		inky says, "hmm-te-hmm" 	
			dhakajack says, "I think we need to create a diversion in this dead end." 	
			inky says, "I assume we create a distraction here to give us time to get through the debate" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a lockpick, a
Floyd | wrapped package and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a scan

Floyd | scrambler (connected to a toggle switch), a blast tab, a radio module,
Floyd | a timer, a minilamp, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a
Floyd | voice transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |

Floyd | Distant footsteps sound somewhere to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to

Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps move out of a branch corridor to the north -- a trio of

Floyd | guards, still heading this way. You dodge back out of their line of
Floyd | view, flattening yourself inside the west side of the tee.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "throw radio module east" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the radio module)
Floyd | The radio module clatters down the hall into the dead end.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Did you hear that?" comes a voice from the north. "Sounded like it was
Floyd | coming from the wiring closet," another guard says, a frown in his
Floyd | tone.

Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps begin to hurry. The three guards round the corner, and

Floyd | run down the east hall -- without a glance at where you huddle in the
Floyd | western branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ah, nice" 	
			inky says, "of course, we weren't unlocking the door" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You hold your breath and slip around the corner, out of the guards'
Floyd | line of sight. And pause... and there is no cry of alarm. You exhale --

Floyd | silently -- and stroll off to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | "A streetcorner dazzler would be proud. You distract Mobile Three with
Floyd | the radio module; when they follow the noise, you walk up the corridor.
Floyd | Yes?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "...and then they bring the radio module to Security's attention." He
Floyd | turns a palm out, displaying the silver rod in his hand. "And it looks,
Floyd | instead, a great deal like your lockpick. Not that they knew what it
Floyd | was at the time, of course. But we may as well correct the detail of


Floyd | which object you threw." He touches a control.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		inky says, "picky picky" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off to


Floyd | the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that the
Floyd | east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear footsteps somewhere to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps seem to be approaching.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north grow louder.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps move out of a branch corridor to the north -- a trio of


Floyd | guards, still heading this way. You dodge back out of their line of
Floyd | view, flattening yourself inside the west side of the tee.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "throw lockpick east" 		
	

Floyd | The lockpick clatters down the hall into the dead end.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Did you hear that?" comes a voice from the north. "Sounded like it was
Floyd | coming from the wiring closet," another guard says, a frown in his
Floyd | tone.
Floyd |


Floyd | The footsteps begin to hurry. The three guards round the corner, and
Floyd | run down the east hall -- without a glance at where you huddle in the
Floyd | western branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You hold your breath and slip around the corner, out of the guards'
Floyd | line of sight. And pause... and there is no cry of alarm. You exhale --
Floyd | silently -- and stroll off to the north.
Floyd |


Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Very neat. Behind the backs of the guards, and leave them to mumble


Floyd | over the lockpick -- not that they knew what it was at the time, of
Floyd | course. And you slip north into the core areas."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | "There's nowhere else," says the man, almost patiently. "I assumed
Floyd | Security was later, because the lab is your primary objective. Was, to
Floyd | say." His voice slows, again contemplative, unsettling to you. "Your
Floyd | story is predictable. Did you expect that?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "There is tension, but the flow is clear. The hero will extract the
Floyd | secret plans and escape; I wouldn't believe you if you said anything
Floyd | else. Except, of course, you didn't escape."
Floyd |


Floyd | He is still seated, but his eyes are the eyes of a man pacing. "This
Floyd | isn't a story. Do you have any imagination? Do you realize what this
Floyd | technology will be used for?" He seems as astonished at the outburst as
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "Naturally. You were sent for, and so you came." That must be a quote.
Floyd | "Implications are someone else's job. 'Clean War.' No troops, no
Floyd | civilian blood. One man at a time, slipped into an office or a palace,
Floyd | beyond any hope of wall or guard. Or not even a man -- a grenade, a


Floyd | canister of gas. The end," wryly -- "of security. I'd be out of a job."
Floyd | His eyes are distant, and again you feel that you are the least
Floyd | important thing in the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Bad enough if we get it first. We'll take you apart, or just threaten
Floyd | to. Harsh but quick. It would be over, we'd have won. But if your


Floyd | people get it too, if you'd gotten out with the data, do you
Floyd | realize...?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "Of course you don't. You just march. But see... Knives at each other's
Floyd | throats. How long could that last? Two years, five. Eventually it would
Floyd | be too tempting, some premier or on-commander who poses too much
Floyd | immediate threat." Somehow his eyes are holding yours. "Then it would
Floyd | be literal knives at each other's literal cursed throats. Whole
Floyd | governments beheaded overnight. Same for anyone who tries to move up,


Floyd | take charge. It wouldn't end. Could you swear, honestly, that anyone
Floyd | left on your side wouldn't keep using it on anyone left on our side?
Floyd | Senate-men? Troops? Farmers?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | There is a long pause; and then the man smiles... not at you. "And in
Floyd | spite of that, or anything -- I march too. Let's get back to that. The
Floyd | lab."
Floyd |


Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | The corridor from the east ends here, and a single door looms to the
Floyd | west. It's no larger than the doors you've seen elsewhere; but it
Floyd | somehow looks... heavy. Unyielding. Reinforcing struts cross the door's
Floyd | face, and the surface is sheathed with some black coating.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door is no larger than the doors you've seen elsewhere; but it
Floyd | somehow looks... heavy. Unyielding. Reinforcing struts cross the door's
Floyd | face, and the surface is sheathed with some black coating. However, the
Floyd | black plate beside the door is quite standard.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x coating" 		
	

Floyd | The door and its struts are coated with some dead-black material. You
Floyd | do not recognize it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x struts" 		
	

Floyd | The door is reinforced with thick square bars, which run down and along

Floyd | its entire front. The struts are coated with the same black material as
Floyd | the rest of the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch door" 		
	

Floyd | The black surface gives very slightly to your touch -- soft, but thin,
Floyd | over steel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | The door is immobile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to door" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | The corridor from the east ends here, and a single door looms to the
Floyd | west. It's no larger than the doors you've seen elsewhere; but it

Floyd | somehow looks... heavy. Unyielding. Reinforcing struts cross the door's
Floyd | face, and the surface is sheathed with some black coating.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x bars" 		
	

Floyd | The door is reinforced with thick square bars, which run down and along
Floyd | its entire front. The struts are coated with the same black material as

Floyd | the rest of the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "there must be a normal way to use the panel" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The laboratory door is very definitely closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | Wide rectangles cover the ceiling with the grey, dimpled texture of
Floyd | good acoustical insulation. Between the panels are the glowing strips
Floyd | which illuminate the area, and also the characteristic glitter of a
Floyd | scan web.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch panel" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is a foot out of your reach.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch sensor" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | The door is no larger than the doors you've seen elsewhere; but it
Floyd | somehow looks... heavy. Unyielding. Reinforcing struts cross the door's
Floyd | face, and the surface is sheathed with some black coating. However, the
Floyd | black plate beside the door is quite standard.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x plate" 		
	

Floyd | A featureless, dull black rectangle is embedded in the wall beside the
Floyd | laboratory door.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch plate" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "lick plate" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package
Floyd | and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a radio module, a scan
Floyd | scrambler (connected to a toggle switch), a blast tab, a timer, a
Floyd | minilamp, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice


Floyd | transmitter and a key transmitter).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unwrap package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory


Floyd | The corridor from the east ends here, and a single door looms to the
Floyd | west. It's no larger than the doors you've seen elsewhere; but it
Floyd | somehow looks... heavy. Unyielding. Reinforcing struts cross the door's
Floyd | face, and the surface is sheathed with some black coating.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "You can die for real here, but I'd best not..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You follow the corridor's curve to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lab Junction


Floyd | The white corridor runs south and east from here, with a wide branch
Floyd | curving northwest towards the laboratory.
Floyd |
Floyd | You jerk back from the intersection, a reflexive startled leap; there
Floyd | are six guards down the hall to the south. They do not seem to have
Floyd | seen you.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Lab Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs south and east from here, with a wide branch


Floyd | curving northwest towards the laboratory. You are standing just inside
Floyd | the northwest branch, out of sight of the guards to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear voices among the guards to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | (to the guards)
Floyd | One of the guards is talking quietly. The words, of course, are drowned
Floyd | out by the ever-present ventilation.
Floyd |


Floyd | One of the guards says "Yes, with'."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You duck across the intersection. The guards to the south, distracted


Floyd | by their own business, do not notice you; so you continue unchallenged
Floyd | to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]


		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man


Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You could have used the blast tab, did you realize? It would have
Floyd | punched through the door, I'm sure. You would have been in and out. By
Floyd | that much you missed starting a war. Or ending the one we've got."
Floyd |


Floyd | The man stops, gives you a measured glance. "This is a war, for all
Floyd | that we're not shooting."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x express general agreement" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | A wry chuckle. "Truly, you think more like me than my own by-commander
Floyd | does. I think: if this is peace, why are the armies getting larger? And
Floyd | even more money on secrets than on simple guns."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | A one-sided smile. "I'll make a note of that, for our estimates of your
Floyd | budget schedules."

Floyd |

Floyd | He passes that off with a tense wave. "It's frustrating. You say you
Floyd | haven't thought about this technology. It could put our footprints on
Floyd | the moons. We could walk to other stars as easily as to the bathhouse.
Floyd | Oceans and mountains wouldn't be walls..." Again he is watching you
Floyd | intently.

Floyd |

Floyd | "That, I think, is what our masters are afraid of. They'll face death
Floyd | before living without walls. You, is that why you're here? Why you're
Floyd | willing to unchain a war of assassination?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "Then why... no. Business first." He takes a breath, and calms.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You left the lab without using your explosive. You came back to
Floyd | Security. To get your precious lockpick, for the lab door?" The silver


Floyd | rod flashes between his fingers; you had forgotten he was holding it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "Perhaps other reasons as well, but I think the pick must have been


Floyd | first in your mind. Show me."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Before you can move, a buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls.

Floyd | Moments later, you hear guards running in your direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | "Yes, the wonderful scan-scrambler. But, as I said earlier, it cannot
Floyd | be miraculous. The high-sensitivity webs around Security could be
Floyd | fooled; but the scrambler's presence would leave eddies. Glitches, you
Floyd | understand. More than a few of those in a handful of seconds, and the
Floyd | watchdogs get suspicious. As you showed me -- the alarms would ring."

Floyd | He raises an eyebrow. "In fact, you couldn't have made it up the

Floyd | corridor with the scrambler active. Let's just take it as read that it
Floyd | wasn't."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	WeirdBeard has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a wrapped package
Floyd | and a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a toggle switch, a radio
Floyd | module, a scan scrambler, a blast tab, a timer, a minilamp, a
Floyd | pushbutton, an acid pack, a voice module, a voice transmitter and a key

Floyd | transmitter).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "this part is really annoying, by the way" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is

Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber
Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on

Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the
Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "An amateur, I think, could have walked through a doorway without ever

Floyd | seeing the scan-web above it. You haven't impressed me thus far, but I
Floyd | don't truly think you're incompetent."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch
Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this
Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a

Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Are you saying you left without this?" The man produces a pen and

Floyd | holds it up for your inspection.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | It's an ordinary-looking pen. It's hard to tell from this distance, but
Floyd | the nib appears to be missing, and there seems to be a dark stain on
Floyd | the tip of the casing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "That's better. One of my people is still recovering from its effect."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	K-Y has successfully become more charming than a sandwich. 		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at


Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps


Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch

Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on toggle" 		
	

Floyd | The switch is already on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room

Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All

Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment after you step into the room, the scrambler emits a sharp
Floyd | squeal. Then a sharper crackling noise -- and then a thread of smoke,

Floyd | as its quiet vibration ceases.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x talbe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a plastic worktable, a slab built onto the south wall. There

Floyd | is nothing on the table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Oh no, that doesn't sound good." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search lockers" 		
	

Floyd | All the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lockers" 		
	

Floyd | The locker doors vary in size, from palm-length cubbies to a closet
Floyd | apparently large enough to walk into. All the doors are closed. Each
Floyd | locker has a four-digit number on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | It's an ordinary-looking pen. The nib looks a bit sharp, though.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at

Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x lockers" 		
	

Floyd | The locker doors vary in size, from palm-length cubbies to a closet
Floyd | apparently large enough to walk into. All the doors are closed. Each

Floyd | locker has a four-digit number on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x closet" 		
	

Floyd | The locker doors vary in size, from palm-length cubbies to a closet

Floyd | apparently large enough to walk into. All the doors are closed. Each
Floyd | locker has a four-digit number on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open them" 		
	

Floyd | The lockers do not have handles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All

Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing but white tile.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "count lockers" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x locker 1000" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the lockers.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros has disconnected. 		
	olethros was too old and infirm for your purpose. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing special, beyond a ventilation grille's constant hiss.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You didn't set off the alarm going in, and you weren't found inside,

Floyd | so you must have suppressed the scan-web coming out as well. Yes?" He
Floyd | does not wait for a reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch

Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn toggle on" 		
	

Floyd | The switch is already on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to examine?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The room to the south is filled with lockers; there is a table at the
Floyd | far end.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can barely see a band of scan-web over the doorway, just inside the
Floyd | room.

Floyd |

Floyd | A buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls. Moments later, you hear
Floyd | guards running in your direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We went back, you must know, and looked at every stray spark in the
Floyd | scan-data. We know how you used the scrambler. On and off, briefly
Floyd | enough to never upset our systems. And it did not get you caught."

Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine

Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "so you have to turn it off when it's safe" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All

Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | A moment after you step into the room, the scrambler emits a sharp
Floyd | squeal. Then a sharper crackling noise -- and then a thread of smoke,

Floyd | as its quiet vibration ceases.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn off toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch off. The scrambler's status dot flickers

Floyd | black.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch on. The scrambler's status dot flickers

Floyd | black.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, a buzzer begins to sound.

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps

Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You didn't set off the alarm going in, and you weren't found inside,
Floyd | so you must have suppressed the scan-web coming out as well. Yes?" He
Floyd | does not wait for a reply.
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I'm missing something here..." 	
			DavidW says, "You might have to fix the scrambler? Or time it better." 	
			baf says, "Once the scrambler is dead, it's dead." 	
			dhakajack says, "the alternative may be to not take any metal out of the room" 	
			DavidW asks, "How do I know that?" 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "I really hope it isn't unwinnable because of that part" 		DavidW says, "This game let's me assume nothing" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch


Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "you have no idea." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at


Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | A moment after you step into the room, the scrambler emits a sharp


Floyd | squeal. Then a sharper crackling noise -- and then a thread of smoke,
Floyd | as its quiet vibration ceases.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.
Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get package" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unwrap package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "darn. still not time..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]


		DavidW says, "try connecting the toogle to the timer and timer to the scrambler" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)


Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You didn't set off the alarm going in, and you weren't found inside,
Floyd | so you must have suppressed the scan-web coming out as well. Yes?" He
Floyd | does not wait for a reply.


Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to timer" 		
	

Floyd | You can't connect two positive links together.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "and let the timer make the time it;s on shorter" 	
			DavidW says, "oh maybe the toggle isnt needed" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which

Floyd | is open) (in which are a toggle switch, a scan scrambler, a radio

Floyd | module, a blast tab, a timer, a minilamp, a pushbutton, an acid pack, a
Floyd | voice module, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter) and a wrapped
Floyd | package.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect pushbutton to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the pushbutton to the scan scrambler. The pushbutton turns
Floyd | orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x green dial" 		
	

Floyd | The green dial is set to 1.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blue dial" 		
	

Floyd | The blue dial is set to 1.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x timer" 		
	

Floyd | The timer is a small black box with two dials on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other. The status dot is blue. Both the green and blue
Floyd | dials are set to 1; the timer's indicator is blank.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push green dial" 		
	

Floyd | The green dial lights as you press it. The timer's indicator flashes to
Floyd | 1.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push blue dial" 		
	

Floyd | The blue dial is now lit as well.

Floyd |
Floyd | The timer's blue dial flashes once, and the indicator flashes to 1. The
Floyd | status dot goes green, but as the timer isn't linked to anything,

Floyd | that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The timer's green dial flashes once, and the indicator flashes to 1.
Floyd | The status dot goes blue, but as the timer isn't linked to anything,

Floyd | that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read instructions on timer" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press pushbutton" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot flashes briefly yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | The timer's blue dial flashes once, and the indicator flashes to 1. The
Floyd | status dot goes green, but as the timer isn't linked to anything,

Floyd | that's all.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.

Floyd |

Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | The timer's green dial flashes once, and the indicator flashes to 1.
Floyd | The status dot goes blue, but as the timer isn't linked to anything,
Floyd | that's all.

Floyd |

Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect timer to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the timer to the scan scrambler. The timer turns orange to
Floyd | confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn green to 5" 		
	

Floyd | You set the green dial to 5.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press green dial" 		
	

Floyd | The green dial lights as you press it. The timer's indicator flashes to
Floyd | 5.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at


Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | The timer changes to 4.


Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |


Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		DavidW says, "too long" 	
			dhakajack says, "oops" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."


Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "And the green dial sets the delay?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "one must be delay before activation, and the other is duration of activation?" 	
			DavidW asks, "does blue dial set duration?" 	
			dhakajack says, "i think green is the delay" 	
			DavidW says, "I think green is delay" 	
			dhakajack says, "me too." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect timer to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the timer to the scan scrambler. The timer turns orange to

Floyd | confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set green dial to" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that number.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set green dial to 1" 		
	

Floyd | You set the green dial to 1.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set blue dial to 5" 		
	

Floyd | You set the blue dial to 5.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press blue dial" 		
	

Floyd | The blue dial lights as you press it. The timer's indicator flashes to

Floyd | 5. The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press green dial" 		
	

Floyd | The green dial is now lit as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | The timer changes to 4.

Floyd |
Floyd | A buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls. Moments later, you hear
Floyd | guards running in your direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | "We went back, you must know, and looked at every stray spark in the
Floyd | scan-data. We know how you used the scrambler. On and off, briefly
Floyd | enough to never upset our systems. And it did not get you caught."

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "er, isnt the point of using the timer to have a short activation?" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		dhakajack says, "well, I thought it might have been damaged by some sort of field specifically in the security room" 	
			Lucea asks, "have you tried all the tools at your disposal?" 	
			dhakajack says, "um. no." 	
			dhakajack says, "the shortest activating option would be the pushbutton" 	
			Lucea says, "we tried that" 	
			DavidW says, "I dont know that at all" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a timer, a scan scrambler, a pushbutton, a

Floyd | toggle switch, a radio module, a blast tab, a minilamp, an acid pack, a
Floyd | voice module, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter) and a wrapped
Floyd | package.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "we haven't tried: the blast, the acid, and the voice" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black disc with a key to press on one side, and a short

Floyd | antenna on the other.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "earlier we were told that there was no explosion, and that no acid was found" 	
			Lucea says, "Ah. Then we haven't tried the voice" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pushbutton" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a button on one side and a plus link on the
Floyd | other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the voice module to the scan scrambler. The voice module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the voice transmitter turns
Floyd | orange as well.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lamp" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small yellow tube with a lens at one end. There's a minus link
Floyd | on one edge of the tube.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.

Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get voice module" 		
	

Floyd | You take the scan scrambler (and the voice module connected to it.)

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop voice module" 		
	

Floyd | You drop the scan scrambler (and the voice module connected to it.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a timer, a pushbutton, a
Floyd | toggle switch, a radio module, a blast tab, a minilamp, an acid pack, a
Floyd | voice transmitter and a key transmitter.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a scan scrambler (connected to a voice module) and a

Floyd | wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine

Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | A buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls. Moments later, you hear
Floyd | guards running in your direction.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We went back, you must know, and looked at every stray spark in the

Floyd | scan-data. We know how you used the scrambler. On and off, briefly

Floyd | enough to never upset our systems. And it did not get you caught."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the voice module to the scan scrambler. The voice module

Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the voice transmitter turns

Floyd | orange as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You take the scan scrambler (and the voice module connected to it.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You drop the scan scrambler (and the voice module connected to it.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.

Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing of importance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.


Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |


Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."


Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "ok, was trying to see if I could enter the room without metal and use the scrambler only on the way out." 	
			dhakajack says, "no matter what we do, it seems that the scrambler is good for 3 turns" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at


Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | A moment after you step into the room, the scrambler emits a sharp


Floyd | squeal. Then a sharper crackling noise -- and then a thread of smoke,
Floyd | as its quiet vibration ceases.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]


		dhakajack says, "ack." 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)


Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You didn't set off the alarm going in, and you weren't found inside,
Floyd | so you must have suppressed the scan-web coming out as well. Yes?" He
Floyd | does not wait for a reply.


Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "once the scrambler smokes, it is dead" 	
			olethros says, "oh spider and web" 	
			dhakajack says, "apparently. I was just trying to see if I could move with enough economy to get in, grab the pen and flee before it triggered the alarm." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect pushbutton to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the pushbutton to the scan scrambler. The pushbutton turns
Floyd | orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press pushbutton" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot flashes briefly yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at


Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps


Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn off toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the black switch off. The link dot flashes blue in

Floyd | confirmation, but as the switch isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn on toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the orange switch on. The scrambler's status dot goes green,
Floyd | and an almost inaudible whine begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All

Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | A moment after you step into the room, the scrambler emits a sharp
Floyd | squeal. Then a sharper crackling noise -- and then a thread of smoke,

Floyd | as its quiet vibration ceases.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "anyone have a spare scrambler?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is

Floyd | drawn. Now, you suspect, it's an expensive paperweight. You must have
Floyd | brought it into a countermeasure induction field. There's a minus link
Floyd | on one edge, which is connected to a toggle switch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "check the lockers" 	
			Lucea says, "it may be unwinnable" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a scan scrambler (connected to a toggle switch),

Floyd | a pushbutton, a voice module, a timer, a radio module, a blast tab, a
Floyd | minilamp, an acid pack, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter) and
Floyd | a wrapped package.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unwrap package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "i was hoping it was my spare...." 	
			DavidW says (to Lucea), "twould be a poor jest" 	
			inky says, "because we used it way back in the beginning, she means" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x lockers" 		
	

Floyd | The locker doors vary in size, from palm-length cubbies to a closet
Floyd | apparently large enough to walk into. All the doors are closed. Each

Floyd | locker has a four-digit number on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I dunno if that got erased when the interrogator complained about it, though" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x combination" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x number" 		
	

Floyd | You look at a random locker. The number 9877 is visible on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open 9877" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x number" 		
	

Floyd | You look at a random locker. The number 9262 is visible on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "eat pen" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | It's an ordinary-looking pen. The nib looks a bit sharp, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "perhaps the interrogator wears a number" 	
			dhakajack says, "I think we stabbed someone with the pen...perhaps we lured them in here" 	
			Lucea says, "I'm testing it on my machine now" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...

Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You didn't set off the alarm going in, and you weren't found inside,
Floyd | so you must have suppressed the scan-web coming out as well. Yes?" He

Floyd | does not wait for a reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch

Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this

Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a
Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, you've forgotten the pen again. You had it with you, as we
Floyd | discovered shortly thereafter."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		baf asks, "Have you guys tried all three doorways?" 	
			Lucea says, "Not unwinnable" 	
			Lucea says, "Although, yeah, once you figure out how to screw up the scan, there's cool stuff to be seen" 	
			DavidW says, "cant map. no idea of layout" 	
	K-Y arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex

Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "well, you're in a hallway" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says, "oops" 		Lucea says, "well, you're in a hallway, with doors to the north, east, and south" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white

Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take

Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "space" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is

Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		popka asks, "Which ways of activating the scanner haven't we tried?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to toggle" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.

Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "There's something you haven't tried that has nothing to do with different tools" 	
			popka says, "Scan scrambler, I mean." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office

Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take
Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | A moment after you step into the room, the scrambler emits a sharp

Floyd | squeal. Then a sharper crackling noise -- and then a thread of smoke,
Floyd | as its quiet vibration ceases.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Well, it does" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is an imposing mass, plain of line but precisely crafted.
Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "but it's more about how you're approaching the problem" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search desk" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x cabinets" 		
	

Floyd | Three-drawer metal cabinets stand in rows along each wall. The drawers

Floyd | are the normal size for file folders; there is a tiny black plate on
Floyd | the front of each one. The cabinets are all closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "how are we supposed to know you can't take the scrambler with you? other than it screwing up" 		
	popka says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can

Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. Now, you suspect, it's an expensive paperweight. You must have
Floyd | brought it into a countermeasure induction field. There's a minus link

Floyd | on one edge, which is connected to a toggle switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "Oh. That's how." 		Lucea asks, "we brought it into a countermeasure induction field?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I'm hoping that from this office we can turn off the security measures..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You pull on a few of the handles, but all the drawers seem to be
Floyd | locked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		popka says, "Seems like a fancy bit of technobabble, that." 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		DavidW says, "need the lockpick" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch lockpick to plate" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open cabinet with lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a scan scrambler (connected to a toggle switch),
Floyd | a pushbutton, a voice module, a timer, a radio module, a blast tab, a
Floyd | minilamp, an acid pack, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter) and

Floyd | a wrapped package.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "oh yeah, we threw away the lockpick" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white

Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take
Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "you threw it away to distract the guards" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sketches" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the portrait of a young man, the drawing of a night
Floyd | sky or the seascape?

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "portrait" 		
	

Floyd | A young man looks out from precise ink stippling. His expression is
Floyd | serious, and dark eyes meet yours with near-visible force. You have

Floyd | never seen his face before.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get portrait" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the portrait of a young man from the wall.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | The sketch is in soft talc-pencil, but nonetheless the stars shine out,
Floyd | hard distant facets in a jewel-black expanse. One moon is high and one

Floyd | is rising; they too are in bright focus, every crater and mare. The

Floyd | cool burning moons'-light tints the sky silver from behind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get sky" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the drawing of a night sky from the wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "anyway, I need to go procure food" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x seascape" 		
	

Floyd | Grey waves beat below an indeterminate, cloudy sky. Nearly lost in the
Floyd | distance is a raft -- a tiny shape bearing away beneath a wind-torn
Floyd | white sail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get seascape" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the seascape from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The


Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a bookcase stands by the
Floyd | desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | Some rich wood, in pleasingly irregular spans, polished but naturally
Floyd | dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | The bookcase is hand-carved, hung with wooden ivy vines and tiny
Floyd | berries. Volumes of technology journals fill some shelves; but others
Floyd | display antique folios, leather-bound collections of plays, and a small
Floyd | array of dawn-tales and fireside stories.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search wall" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any unusual cracks or spaces in the panelling. But then,
Floyd | it would be unusual if you could.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x plays" 		
	

Floyd | You see the complete works of Gahtmahan, "Nightclumps and
Floyd | Wind-Whispers," a volume of Connaeus woodcuts... if you had time, the
Floyd | shelves would be worth a closer look. You don't.
Floyd |


Floyd | (I hope you weren't expecting some kind of "Rito and Imita" in-joke.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha." 	
			DavidW says, "So Far ref" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x vines" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I couldn't let that part go" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x berries" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x journals" 		
	

Floyd | You see the complete works of Gahtmahan, "Nightclumps and
Floyd | Wind-Whispers," a volume of Connaeus woodcuts... if you had time, the
Floyd | shelves would be worth a closer look. You don't.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is an imposing mass, plain of line but precisely crafted.
Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search desk" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | You peer hopefully under the desk, but even there the floor is

Floyd | relentlessly tidy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The

Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a bookcase stands by the
Floyd | desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sail" 		
	

Floyd | Grey waves beat below an indeterminate, cloudy sky. Nearly lost in the
Floyd | distance is a raft -- a tiny shape bearing away beneath a wind-torn

Floyd | white sail.
Floyd |
Floyd | The drawing has been removed from the wall, revealing a magnetic
Floyd | mounting pad on the back.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pad" 		
	

Floyd | A magnetic pad is visible on the back of the sketch. It's nothing
Floyd | unusual; it just keeps the thing on the wall where it belongs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pad" 		
	

Floyd | That's part of the sketch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bishop asks, "Yeah, wasn't it dumb of you to use such an important device as a distraction?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sketch" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the seascape, the drawing of a night sky or the
Floyd | portrait of a young man?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sky" 		
	

Floyd | The sketch is in soft talc-pencil, but nonetheless the stars shine out,
Floyd | hard distant facets in a jewel-black expanse. One moon is high and one

Floyd | is rising; they too are in bright focus, every crater and mare. The
Floyd | cool burning moons'-light tints the sky silver from behind.
Floyd |
Floyd | The drawing has been removed from the wall, revealing a magnetic

Floyd | mounting pad on the back.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Seriously. You'd think your guy would be a bit smarter." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch sketch to cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the seascape, the drawing of a night sky or the
Floyd | portrait of a young man?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove panelimg" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove paneling" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch seascape to cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove panelling" 		
	

Floyd | You're not wearing those.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch seascape to cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Three-drawer metal cabinets stand in rows along each wall. The drawers
Floyd | are the normal size for file folders; there is a tiny black plate on
Floyd | the front of each one. The cabinets are all closed.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open panelling" 		
	

Floyd | They're not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch seascape to plate" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The


Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a bookcase stands by the
Floyd | desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get books" 		
	

Floyd | The books are unlikely to help with what you need to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You pull on a few of the handles, but all the drawers seem to be

Floyd | locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "I think we've exhausted this room" 	
			dhakajack says, "at least we have some paper to draw on with our pen" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "when you leave, your scrambler's just going to go apesiht" 	
			DavidW says, "we burnt out the scrambler" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except three sketches (a
Floyd | seascape, a drawing of a night sky and a portrait of a young man), a

Floyd | toolcase (which is open) (in which are a scan scrambler (connected to a

Floyd | toggle switch), a pushbutton, a voice module, a timer, a radio module,
Floyd | a blast tab, a minilamp, an acid pack, a voice transmitter and a key
Floyd | transmitter) and a wrapped package.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is
Floyd | drawn. Now, you suspect, it's an expensive paperweight. You must have
Floyd | brought it into a countermeasure induction field. There's a minus link


Floyd | on one edge, which is connected to a toggle switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "Shouldn't have taken it into a 'countermeasure induction field', I guess..." 	
			Lucea says, "there's gotta be a better way" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | As you leave the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex


Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps
Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |


Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You didn't set off the alarm going in, and you weren't found inside,


Floyd | so you must have suppressed the scan-web coming out as well. Yes?" He
Floyd | does not wait for a reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]


		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the


Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "(your guy's 'stupidity', is, IIRC, an important clue, although I only figured it out much much later)" 		dhakajack asks, "what if we don't bring it into the room to the south...does it still burn out?" 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "Yeah, I picked up on that" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scarmbler" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine


Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "hence the "you'd think he's smarter"" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |


Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | A buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls. Moments later, you hear
Floyd | guards running in your direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...


Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We went back, you must know, and looked at every stray spark in the
Floyd | scan-data. We know how you used the scrambler. On and off, briefly


Floyd | enough to never upset our systems. And it did not get you caught."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		Lucea says, "whoops, forgot to actually toggle it" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the


Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "No, it was already on." 	
			dhakajack says, "the toggle was in the on position," 	
			Lucea says, "Let's try something that isn't the toggle" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok, so that doesn't work." 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "I hate that toggle" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x toggle" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a two-way toggle switch on one side, and a


Floyd | plus link on the other. The switch is on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x toolbox" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a toggle switch, a scan scrambler, a pushbutton,


Floyd | a voice module, a timer, a radio module, a blast tab, a minilamp, an
Floyd | acid pack, a voice transmitter and a key transmitter) and a wrapped
Floyd | package.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "We seem to have many methods of activating (and deactivating) the scrambler at our disposal." 	
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "I could never, ever get the timer doohickey to work." 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "neither could I" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "it's fiddly mechanical wankery" 		dhakajack says, "I'm not sure how that helps." 	
			dhakajack says, "let me try an experiment..." 	
			Lucea says, "someone mentioned not actually taking it with you" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.


Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "disconnect toggle from scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the scan scrambler, and take the toggle switch as it
Floyd | turns black again.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		dhakajack says, "ok, so it's OK for a turn" 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea exclaims, "!!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn toggle off" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the black switch off. The link dot flashes blue in
Floyd | confirmation, but as the switch isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "in the previous attempt, I'd left it in the hallway before going south. It burnt out." 	
			popka says, "No, it didn't actually..." 	
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "Raise your hand if you _didn't_ cheat and use the voice module instead..." 		popka says, "The alarm sounded because you left it on too long." 	
			dhakajack says, "oh? So maybe we could use either voice or radio control on it..." 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "That was cheating?" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "(I admit I had to turn to the walkthrough for this point, but when I was trying stuff before I usually used simple stuff like the pushbutton)" 		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "Well, the 'real story' is that you used the timer." 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the voice module to the scan scrambler. The voice module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the voice transmitter turns
Floyd | orange as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | toggle switch: Dropped.
Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at


Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | Talking to yourself might draw attention.
Floyd |
Floyd | A buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls. Moments later, you hear
Floyd | guards running in your direction.


Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		DavidW says, "I think because the toggle was on when connecting it,you may have wasted some time" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "We went back, you must know, and looked at every stray spark in the
Floyd | scan-data. We know how you used the scrambler. On and off, briefly
Floyd | enough to never upset our systems. And it did not get you caught."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "ah" 		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "so, you think this can be done with the toggle" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x toggle" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a two-way toggle switch on one side, and a

Floyd | plus link on the other. The switch is on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "Arguably, telling the interrogator that you were using the voice module is a clever misdirection to keep him from speculating on what else you could have done with the VM, but, really, we all did it 'cause we're lazy." 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "switch toggle off" 		
	

Floyd | You flip the black switch off. The link dot flashes blue in

Floyd | confirmation, but as the switch isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I dont know" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect toggle to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the toggle switch to the scan scrambler. The toggle switch
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think the timer is the answer" 	
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "hee hee" 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "I thought -- hmm" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "disconnect toggle from scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the scan scrambler, and take the toggle switch as it
Floyd | turns black again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect timer to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the timer to the scan scrambler. The timer turns orange to
Floyd | confirm the match.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "my faint memory is you actually had to use the voice module for some reason, but maybe not" 		dhakajack asks, "delay? duration?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn green to 2" 		
	

Floyd | You set the green dial to 2.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "turn blue to 5" 		
	

Floyd | You set the blue dial to 5.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "no no" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok..." 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "yeah, you definitely had to use the voice module for some really important reason" 		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "You had to because the timer was so incomprehensibly difficult to use that nobody actually did...." 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "I wonder how it'd turn out in a poll" 		DavidW says, "green to 2. blue to 1. push green. push blue. run." 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, ""Did you use the timer or the voice module?"" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "- whoa, they ARE using the timer" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set green to 2" 		
	

Floyd | You set the green dial to 2.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "set blue to 1" 		
	

Floyd | You set the blue dial to 1.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push green" 		
	

Floyd | The green dial lights as you press it. The timer's indicator flashes to
Floyd | 2.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "push blue" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens; you squeeze harder, until the contact finally clicks.
Floyd | The blue dial is now lit as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | The timer changes to 1.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |


Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All
Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.


Floyd |
Floyd | The timer's blue dial flashes once, and the indicator flashes to 1. The
Floyd | scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine begins
Floyd | within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps


Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "Apparently DavidW understands how it works. We'll have to ask him to explain it to the rest of us." 		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)


Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --


Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "What are you doing?" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm guessing how the timer works. I guessed wrong" 	
			dhakajack says, "trying to be clever with the scrambler" 	
			Lucea says, "Ah" 	
			Lucea says, "Nice try though" 	
			dhakajack asks, "also, should I have dropped the scrambler?" 	
			DavidW says, "we should have waited for the timer to hit 0." 	
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "I'll have to try replaying and figuring out how the timer works some time." 		DavidW says, "no" 	
			Lucea says, "wait" 	
			DavidW says, "we need the damn thimg to get back" 	
			Lucea says, "what about the thing that screwed up the scrambler" 	
			DavidW says, "what thing" 	
	olethros has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Lucea says, "the jargonyelectroscrewifier" 	
			dhakajack says, "the countermeasure field" 	
			DavidW says, "the blahbah field? Hiding in the scan web, I guess" 	
			dhakajack says, "clearly, we need a counterjargonyelectroscrewification device." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x web" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the metal-scan web or the bands of body-scan web?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd | Just inside each of the three doorways, on the ceilings of the three
Floyd | rooms, you see a glittering band of scan-web. The web's narrow spacing
Floyd | indicates a tight scan -- capable of picking up resonance signals off

Floyd | even a naked human body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "body-scan web?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x metal" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the metal-scan web or the things in the room to the
Floyd | north?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "things" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop asks, "I haven't been followign the actual game -- have y'all managed to kill yourselves in-sim yet?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x metal web" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is lined with scan-web in addition to the lighting strips.
Floyd | The web's wide spacing indicates a metal-resonance scan.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		popka says, "So, barring some way to disable the countermeasure field, it seems we can't take the scrambler into one of those rooms without it breaking." 	
			dhakajack says, "stepping away from the keyboard for a moment..." 	
			DavidW says, "The key transmitter is our remote activation option, I guess" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x receiver" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black disc with a key to press on one side, and a short
Floyd | antenna on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push key" 		
	

Floyd | You press the transmitter key. The radio module's link dot flashes
Floyd | green in confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x radio module" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "Huh. That's the right track but not quite right...." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect it to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the radio module to the scan scrambler. The radio module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the key transmitter turns orange

Floyd | as well.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop all but key" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.

Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "which way is the pen?" 	
			popka says, "south, I think" 	
	[cfspoilers] Bishop says, "(also, maybe AP made the timer so fiddly so that most folks would use the VM in this section, guaranteeing they at least knew how the VM worked when it became imperative that they be able to use it.)" 		dhakajack says, "s" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push key" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot flashes briefly yellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push key" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot flashes briefly yellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange pyramid, traced with conductor matrix. It can
Floyd | detect and scramble scan-web on any frequency... or so the theory is

Floyd | drawn. There's a minus link on one edge, which is connected to a radio
Floyd | module.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x scrambler dot" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the scan scrambler.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x scrambler's dot" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to examine the scan scrambler.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x module" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the radio module or the voice module?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x radio" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small orange box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other. The link is connected to a scan scrambler.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull antenna" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the radio module, the voice module, the voice
Floyd | transmitter or the key transmitter?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "the key is like a morse code key -- when you hit it, it's like sending the radio a "dot", so the scrambler turns on momentarily." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "module" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the radio module or the voice module?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "radio" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hold down key" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "press key" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot flashes briefly yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "hold key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "doh." 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		DavidW asks, "it's not enough for the dot to be yellow, is it?" 	
			popka says, "It's not working unless you hear the whine, I think." 	
			DavidW asks, "are any of our things light-activated?" 	
			dhakajack says, "no" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect radio module to lamp" 		
	

Floyd | The radio module is already connected to the scan scrambler.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "disconnect radio module" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the scan scrambler, and take the radio module as it
Floyd | turns black again. The key transmitter turns black as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect radio module to lamp" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the radio module to the minilamp. The radio module turns
Floyd | yellow to confirm the match, and the key transmitter turns yellow as
Floyd | well.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push key" 		
	

Floyd | The minilamp glows for a moment, then goes out.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x timer" 		
	

Floyd | The timer is a small black box with two dials on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other. The status dot is blue. Both the green and blue

Floyd | dials are set to 1; the timer's indicator is blank.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "toolbox" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toolbox" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka asks, "I guess the radio module is meant to trigger stuff like the blast tab or acid. Do we have any other ways to activate our tools remotely?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a key transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The timer" 	
			dhakajack says, "by voice -- using the voice module plus the tango/waltz on/off commands" 	
			dhakajack says, "if we used the the voice module+radio+scrambler we could transmit our voice commands via voice transmitter..." 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "I thought you tried that?" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to inventory.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "no, I only tried voice, figuring that my voice would carry from one room to the other" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a key transmitter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ah. So try voice transmit then" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a minilamp (connected to
Floyd | a radio module), a scan scrambler, a timer, a toggle switch, a voice

Floyd | module, a pushbutton, a blast tab, an acid pack and a voice
Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small yellow tube with a lens at one end. There's a minus link

Floyd | on one edge of the tube, which is connected to a radio module.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "voice would work" 	
			DavidW says, "it's getting more awkward for me, typing with only one hand" 	
			dhakajack says, "let me try this latest version...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to radio module" 		
	

Floyd | The radio module is already connected to the minilamp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "disconnect minilamp" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the minilamp, and take the radio module as it turns
Floyd | black again. The key transmitter turns black as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop key transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect scrambler to radio" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the radio module to the scan scrambler. The radio module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the key transmitter turns orange
Floyd | as well.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black square with an audio pickup on one side, and a short
Floyd | antenna on the other. The status dot is blue. The audio keywords are
Floyd | printed along one edge.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x keywords" 		
	

Floyd | The keywords for the voice transmitter are "tango" to switch on, and
Floyd | "waltz" to switch off. In your voiceprint only, of course.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the


Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a radio module), a minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a
Floyd | voice module, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an acid pack.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can also see a key transmitter and a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x voice module" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus


Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "test without going anywhere" 	
	dhakajack says, "tango" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword. The voice module's link dot flashes green in
Floyd | confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword. The voice module's link dot flashes blue in
Floyd | confirmation, but as it isn't linked to anything, that's all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "disconnect radio" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the scan scrambler, and take the radio module as it
Floyd | turns black again. The key transmitter turns black as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the voice module to the scan scrambler. The voice module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the voice transmitter turns

Floyd | orange as well.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine

Floyd | begins within it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | A buzzer begins sounding up and down the halls. Moments later, you hear

Floyd | guards running in your direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man

Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | "We went back, you must know, and looked at every stray spark in the
Floyd | scan-data. We know how you used the scrambler. On and off, briefly
Floyd | enough to never upset our systems. And it did not get you caught."
Floyd |

Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "I missed it - where in the story does it mention/imply that the radio is the 'real' way?" 		dhakajack says, "ok, but in principle it might work..." 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "missed/forgot, rather" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the voice module to the scan scrambler. The voice module

Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the voice transmitter turns
Floyd | orange as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a scan scrambler (connected to a voice module),
Floyd | a voice transmitter, a key transmitter, a radio module, a minilamp, a
Floyd | timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an acid pack) and

Floyd | a wrapped package.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "You need to test more -- on and OFF" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "ok" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "and try sppeaking just to the transm" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | (the voice transmitter)
Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to the transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | (the voice transmitter)
Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "now for real" 	
			dhakajack asks, "so, I activate, go s, deactivate, get pen, activate, n, deactivate?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a voice
Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yeah" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All


Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.


Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "save now, please....." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yay" 	
			dhakajack exclaims, "!!!!!" 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "wait, that was dumb" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | wrapped package: Taken.
Floyd | toolcase: Taken.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | As you step into the room, a buzzer begins to sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office


Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take
Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The harsh buzz continues. Within moments you also hear footsteps


Floyd | hurrying towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "never mind that" 		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | He looks irritable. "No, no scan-web alarms. Not then, not at all."
Floyd |


Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "er, all 3 exits are webbed" 	
			dhakajack asks, "so, same shtick for all of them?" 	
			dhakajack asks, "could you restore from last save?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "thanks" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.

Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a pen and a voice

Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine

Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take
Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get seascape" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the seascape from the wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sketches" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the portrait of a young man, the drawing of a night
Floyd | sky or the seascape?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get portrait" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the portrait of a young man from the wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get sky" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the drawing of a night sky from the wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "anything else in here ?" 	
			DavidW asks, "grabbing these just because?" 	
			popka exclaims, "We have to get all the treasures!" 	
			dhakajack says, "exactly. And because we have a pen. Seems like paper would be nice to have too." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "draw on paper" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "write on sketch" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the drawing of a night sky, the portrait of a young

Floyd | man or the seascape?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sky" 		
	

Floyd | (with the pen)

Floyd | The sliver of crystal breaks off against the drawing of a night sky and
Floyd | is lost.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I doubt the pen is really a writing instrument" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | It's an ordinary-looking pen. The nib is missing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "a non-ordinary ordinary-looking pen, eh?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a

Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "save again?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber

Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on
Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the
Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | You feel a chill of memory in your bones.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive

Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are naked metal, unadorned. They give your eyes nowhere to

Floyd | rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The chair is ugly. Steel slats are riveted to a heavy metal frame, and

Floyd | the whole rests on a steel column rising from a pedestal on the floor.
Floyd | Restraints are welded to the arm and foot rests; wires hang limply from
Floyd | the head support.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ooh. Get the lockpick back maybe" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get lockpick" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is a standard modular composite design. The surface is
Floyd | panelled with ranks of controls and instruments.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "or gimmick the chair so we can escape later?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is covered with dials, readouts, screen panels, sliders, and
Floyd | dozens of other instruments. You can put no form nor name to any of
Floyd | them.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x restraints" 		
	

Floyd | The heft of the bands leaves nothing to chance.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x rests" 		
	

Floyd | The heft of the bands leaves nothing to chance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | Leads hang from the headrest. There is a sensor contact on the end of
Floyd | each one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	popka says (to Floyd), "x pedestal" 		
	

Floyd | The pedestal under the chair isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		popka says, "Aww" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search desk" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber
Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on
Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the


Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sit in chair" 		
	

Floyd | You sit down in the chair. It is not comfortable.


Floyd |
Floyd | You feel another distant chill.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You hurriedly stand up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to sit on top of?
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "chair" 		
	

Floyd | You sit down in the chair. It is not comfortable.
Floyd |
Floyd | You feel another distant chill.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x chill" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (in the chair)
Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on
Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the


Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a half-remembered cool pressure around your wrists, your
Floyd | ankles, your forehead.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x wrists" 		
	

Floyd | You stare at the metal bands, until you are certain they are not
Floyd | fastened around your limbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "does the italics not work" 		DavidW asks, "Where's our whoopie cushion?" 	
	popka says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says, "..floyd" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (in the chair)

Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on
Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the
Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment, someone is visible, facing you across the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "should we continue to feed it waits?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | You remain silent.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I have no idea" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search desk" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | The human outline bends over the desk, then regards you again. A sense
Floyd | of wordless sound moves across you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x human" 		
	

Floyd | The figure is nearly not there -- like shadows at the edge of your
Floyd | sight, or a dream of blindness. It crawls away from your vision; your
Floyd | eyes feel thick and strained.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		DavidW asks, "can you wear the helmet?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stad" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You jerk out of the chair, stumbling as you pull against restraints
Floyd | that are not there.
Floyd |

Floyd | The half-visible figure is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive

Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a

Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack is a newbie. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | wrapped package: Taken.
Floyd | toolcase: Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "er, was there nothing to take?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I didn't see anything" 	
			popka says, "It seems that if we took anything besides the pen, the interrogator would have mentioned it." 	
			Lucea says, "Part of this is a Floyd issue" 	
			dhakajack asks, "was something lost in the translation?" 	
			Lucea says, "Nothing game-changing, though. But some of the game had different formatting" 	
			dhakajack asks, "some flashback/present-time formatting?" 	
			popka says, "Ah, I was wondering whether I was the only one that couldn't see italics with this crappy java client." 	
			Lucea says, "Italics." 	
			DavidW asks, "is there no chair behind the desk? no locker numer anywhere?" 	
			dhakajack says, "we could double check..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.
Floyd | drawing of a night sky: Dropped.
Floyd | portrait of a young man: Dropped.

Floyd | seascape: Dropped.

Floyd | pen: Dropped.
Floyd | voice transmitter: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber
Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on
Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the

Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive

Floyd | no other effect.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search desk" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "looks like the only chair is the one we sat in" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing but white tile.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x floor" 		
	

Floyd | The floor is featureless white tile.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x tile" 		
	

Floyd | The floor is featureless white tile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get tile" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | You cannot move the floor tiles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The walls are naked metal, unadorned. They give your eyes nowhere to
Floyd | rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is a solid sheet of acoustical insulation. Light comes from
Floyd | glowing discs, deeply inset behind wire grilles. A band of scan-web
Floyd | runs along the ceiling in front of the doorway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "listen to wall" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch wall" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are immovable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "touch chair" 		
	

Floyd | The metal is cool and clean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sit at desk" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x discs" 		
	

Floyd | The room is illuminated by discs of glowing plastic, recessed in the
Floyd | ceiling and covered by wire grilles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The chair is ugly. Steel slats are riveted to a heavy metal frame, and
Floyd | the whole rests on a steel column rising from a pedestal on the floor.
Floyd | Restraints are welded to the arm and foot rests; wires hang limply from
Floyd | the head support.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | Leads hang from the headrest. There is a sensor contact on the end of

Floyd | each one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut wires" 		
	

Floyd | Cutting those up would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sensor" 		
	

Floyd | Leads hang from the headrest. There is a sensor contact on the end of
Floyd | each one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to sit on top of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "chair" 		
	

Floyd | You sit down in the chair. It is not comfortable.
Floyd |
Floyd | You feel another distant chill.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear wires" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a half-remembered cool pressure around your wrists, your
Floyd | ankles, your forehead.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "yeah, unfortunately you can't see the italicized stuff on floyd" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is a standard modular composite design. The surface is
Floyd | panelled with ranks of controls and instruments.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment, someone is visible, facing you across the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | The figure is nearly not there -- like shadows at the edge of your
Floyd | sight, or a dream of blindness. It crawls away from your vision; your
Floyd | eyes feel thick and strained.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | The figure is nearly not there -- like shadows at the edge of your
Floyd | sight, or a dream of blindness. It crawls away from your vision; your
Floyd | eyes feel thick and strained.


Floyd |
Floyd | The human outline bends over the desk, then regards you again. A sense
Floyd | of wordless sound moves across you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You can almost hear words, but they too drift on the edge of
Floyd | understanding.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x man" 		
	

Floyd | The figure is nearly not there -- like shadows at the edge of your
Floyd | sight, or a dream of blindness. It crawls away from your vision; your
Floyd | eyes feel thick and strained.
Floyd |


Floyd | The half-visible figure frowns and does something to its controls--
Floyd |
Floyd | The chill is gone. You are alone in the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | The desk is covered with dials, readouts, screen panels, sliders, and
Floyd | dozens of other instruments. You can put no form nor name to any of
Floyd | them.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm" 	
			dhakajack says, "I think this room is mainly atmospheric" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm not sure." 	
			DavidW says, "it might be just that, but I cant be certain" 	
			dhakajack says, "it's blurring the line between the flashback and interrogation because we are more or less superimposing the two" 	
			dhakajack says, "maybe would could go all the way -- sit down, put on the restraints, wear the electrodes...." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sit down" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sit in chair" 		
	

Floyd | But you're already on the chair.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (in the chair)

Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A steel chair squats on

Floyd | a low pedestal; facing it is an instrument-covered desk. Otherwise the
Floyd | room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The chair is ugly. Steel slats are riveted to a heavy metal frame, and
Floyd | the whole rests on a steel column rising from a pedestal on the floor.
Floyd | Restraints are welded to the arm and foot rests; wires hang limply from
Floyd | the head support.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "we havent gone back in time of course" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "wear wires" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "wear restraints" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo restraints" 		
	

Floyd | They're not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x column" 		
	

Floyd | The pedestal under the chair isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x slats" 		
	

Floyd | The chair is ugly. Steel slats are riveted to a heavy metal frame, and
Floyd | the whole rests on a steel column rising from a pedestal on the floor.
Floyd | Restraints are welded to the arm and foot rests; wires hang limply from
Floyd | the head support.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull wires" 		
	

Floyd | The wires won't break.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "you can set a save point here in case the room turns out to have been important" 	
			DavidW says, "we've done nothing worth saving for again yet" 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "are you seeing italics?" 		DavidW says, "we have pen and sketches" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
			DavidW says, "but we must've missed something somewhere" 	
			DavidW asks, "where's the angled corridor?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I think we've been very thorough in this room. According to the interrogation, though, we did stab someone with the pen. Maybe we need to explore the fourth direction..." 	
			dhakajack says, "f i" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a voice
Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "ok to head south?" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to get off the chair first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You stand up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "ok, be back after I get dinner" 	
	Lucea most certainly does not need to change her ohomemsg. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the


Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.


Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a pen, three sketches (a seascape, a portrait of a
Floyd | young man and a drawing of a night sky) and a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler

Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see three sketches (a seascape, a portrait of a young man
Floyd | and a drawing of a night sky) and a wrapped package here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "wait. We dident carry pen or sketches?" 	
			dhakajack says, "I had dropped everything here." 	
			DavidW says, "oh" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a pen and a voice
Floyd | transmitter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "since they seem to safely pass the gates with us, they might have a use?" 	
			dhakajack says, "maybe" 	
			dhakajack asks, "shall I take the sketches north again?" 	
			DavidW says, "no" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
			dhakajack asks, "do I need to activate the scrambler to go sw?" 	
			DavidW says, "I had the strong impression we were to take the pen to angled corridor" 	
			DavidW says, "no idea" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch

Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this
Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a
Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		inky says, "well, you remember you have a use for the pen (later in the story), since you used it on one of the guards (the interrogator says)" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | "No, you've forgotten the pen again. The crystal was intact when you
Floyd | left, as we discovered shortly thereafter."

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which

Floyd | is open) (in which are a voice transmitter, a voice module, a scan
Floyd | scrambler, a key transmitter, a radio module, a minilamp, a timer, a

Floyd | toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an acid pack) and a
Floyd | wrapped package.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "that's odd. I had the pen." 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		DavidW says, "but you broke it" 	
			dhakajack says, "ah." 	
			dhakajack asks, "restore?" 	
			DavidW says, "when you tried to write with it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a pen and a voice
Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a pen and a voice
Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | It's an ordinary-looking pen. The nib looks a bit sharp, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x nib" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | The pen's nib isn't a normal ball tip. It seems to be a sliver of some
Floyd | indigo crystal -- a needle-sharp sliver.
Floyd |


Floyd | >
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |


Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack is a newbie. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | wrapped package: Taken.
Floyd | toolcase: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "This is before the sketches were found" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
	[cfspoilers] * K-Y has joined the channel. 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.


Floyd | pen: Dropped.
Floyd | voice transmitter: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office
Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take
Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get sky" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the drawing of a night sky from the wall.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get portrait" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the portrait of a young man from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get seascape" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the seascape from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.


Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can also see a pen and a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | pen: Taken.
Floyd | wrapped package: Taken.


Floyd | toolcase: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd | Angle Branch
Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this
Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a
Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...


Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mm," the man says slowly. "This grows complex. As I said before, your
Floyd | scrambler leaves traces -- submerged in the scan noise if you use it


Floyd | briefly, as you have been doing, but traces nonetheless. We have since
Floyd | analyzed every sequence of the scan-web data. The results are quite
Floyd | precise; you used the scrambler four times. Four blips, on and off, you
Floyd | understand. So your story, in which you used it seven times, is not
Floyd | possible. Besides, I doubt you would have used the device
Floyd | unnecessarily. Standing around flipping it on and off, or dashing


Floyd | through a room for a cursory glance, would not be worth the risk to
Floyd | you."
Floyd |
Floyd | He shrugs. "We can play guessing-games all afternoon; but matters would
Floyd | go faster if you stuck to the facts."
Floyd |


Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a voice transmitter, a voice module, a scan
Floyd | scrambler, a key transmitter, a radio module, a minilamp, a timer, a
Floyd | toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an acid pack) and a


Floyd | wrapped package.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I said restore wouldnt be our friend" 	
			dhakajack says, "yup" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		DavidW says, "so we only visit 2 of the 3 rooms" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok, we get the pen, and then sw" 	
			DavidW says, "no" 	
			DavidW says, "that's only 1 room" 	
			dhakajack asks, "pen + sketches = 4 blips?" 	
			DavidW says, "right" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
			dhakajack says, "from the top..." 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice transmitter to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | The voice transmitter doesn't have a link; it works through the voice
Floyd | module.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack says, "oops" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to scrambler" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the voice module to the scan scrambler. The voice module
Floyd | turns orange to confirm the match, and the voice transmitter turns
Floyd | orange as well.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a voice
Floyd | transmitter, a toolcase (which is open) (in which are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a


Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack) and a wrapped package.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "drop all except voice transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | wrapped package: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says, "tango" 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Storage Room
Floyd | This narrow room is lined with steel lockers. There is a plain table at
Floyd | the south end, and the doorway to the north exits to the corridor. All


Floyd | the lockers are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.


Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler's status dot goes green, and an almost inaudible whine
Floyd | begins within it.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Office


Floyd | Dark wood panelling surrounds you, a refuge from the harsh white
Floyd | visible to the west. A massive mahogany desk sits in one corner. The
Floyd | rest of the room is mostly metal cabinets, but a few sketches take
Floyd | their share of wall, and a bookcase stands by the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes blue, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get portrait" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the portrait of a young man from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get seascape" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the seascape from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x sketches" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the drawing of a night sky, the seascape or the
Floyd | portrait of a young man?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get sky" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the drawing of a night sky from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say tango to transmitter" 		
	

Floyd | You say the keyword, and the status dot flashes green, but you perceive
Floyd | no other effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and south.


Floyd |
Floyd | Your toolcase is lying open nearby. Inside are a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a voice module), a key transmitter, a radio module, a
Floyd | minilamp, a timer, a toggle switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an
Floyd | acid pack.
Floyd |


Floyd | You can also see a wrapped package here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say waltz" 		
	

Floyd | The scrambler shuts down, and its status dot goes blue.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		dhakajack asks, "worth saving at this point, or does the reset make it moot?" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | wrapped package: Taken.
Floyd | toolcase: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch
Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this
Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a

Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.

Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.

Floyd |

Floyd | "And away you went." He considers. "You were searching the storage room
Floyd | for your lockpick, of course. I'm afraid I had it at the time.
Floyd | ...Although whoever left the pen lying out is due a reprimand. Sloppy,
Floyd | and you provided an excellent demonstration of why." His smile is, for
Floyd | the first time, self-satisfied. It's more frightening even than you

Floyd | expected -- but quickly gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | "And you entered my office looking for... what? I'm sure it wasn't my
Floyd | artwork -- that's still there, and petty vandalism is beneath you in
Floyd | any case. What, then? Passcodes, keys, open drawers and indiscretions?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say nothing" 		
	

Floyd | "I'm not at all sorry to have disappointed you. I am good at my job,
Floyd | and I am careful, which is the same thought. If you could have caught

Floyd | me loose, caught me blind or far-eyed, you might have succeeded. You
Floyd | did not." And there is a brief silence.

Floyd |
Floyd | "What am I to make of you? You are endlessly inventive in your lies, if
Floyd | less subtle than brazen; you flex like grass, sometimes stubborn as
Floyd | stone, sometimes easy with your answers. You have striven to keep this

Floyd | session calm, and I do not think it was out of fear of my anger. Your
Floyd | eyes never, never waver from mine."

Floyd |
Floyd | He leans back in his own chair, bearing your gaze. "I have tried to
Floyd | treat you as an equal, a companion in our work. That is technique, of
Floyd | course; we both know that. But it is also sincere. And I think you have

Floyd | taken it in that faith. We are faces reflected in the mirror of our
Floyd | countries' border. I think you understand that." He nods.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You do see that much. You may not be brilliant -- you make mistakes --
Floyd | but you are determined. You hold that strength to what you believe, and
Floyd | in that you are not so different from me."

Floyd |
Floyd | He shrugs, and offers a smile as honest as you have seen. "Well? Have I

Floyd | done well? It is my job to know everything about you, after all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | He bows in place, both palms open. "I am delighted."

Floyd |
Floyd | And then he reaches again for his controls. "But we are nearly done.
Floyd | You have only a few more seconds; and you have yet to show me what

Floyd | becomes of your mysterious cloth-wrapped package."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Diagonal Branch
Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;
Floyd | another short hall leads south.

Floyd |
Floyd | You throw yourself to a halt, nearly stumbling, as you hear footsteps
Floyd | approaching from the northwest... and then the guards behind you become

Floyd | audible as well. You duck around the southern corner and glance about
Floyd | desperately.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		baf says, "drumroll" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Diagonal Branch

Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;
Floyd | another short hall leads south. You are backed into the southern

Floyd | branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | The guards to the east are drawing closer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You back down the corridor, as silently as you can.
Floyd |

Floyd | Dead End
Floyd | The hallway ends in a blank white wall. A metal door stands closed to

Floyd | the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A discarded filing cabinet is standing by the wall. The drawers are
Floyd | closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "open the package?" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "unwrap package" 		
	

Floyd | It's not yet time.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door snaps open suddenly, and the uniformed figure of a guard

Floyd | begins to step through. "No, what's frustrating is that you can't tell
Floyd | us what's in that blood-cursed lab," he is saying, back over his
Floyd | shoulder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Then he sees you. He fumbles for his pulse gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "time for the pen!" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stab guard with pen" 		
	

Floyd | You feint, and then jab the pen into the guard's shoulder, as hard as
Floyd | you can. His reflexive counter hurls you into the wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | But then he shivers, once, and slides to the ground, and remains there.

Floyd |
Floyd | The door slides shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search guard" 		
	

Floyd | You pat the body down quickly, but nothing is immediately apparent. And
Floyd | you don't have time for a more thorough search.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "x file cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End
Floyd | The hallway ends in a blank white wall. A metal door stands closed to
Floyd | the west.

Floyd |

Floyd | The guard is sprawled unconscious on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | His gun lies near his limp hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | A discarded filing cabinet is standing by the wall. The drawers are

Floyd | closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf hums mission impossible theme 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get gun" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open drawers" 		
	

Floyd | You yank on the drawers; two are locked, but one comes open with an
Floyd | internal clank. The drawer is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "search drawer" 		
	

Floyd | The drawer is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hide in drawer" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "look behind cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You make a break up the hallway -- only to come into view of two groups
Floyd | of guards, at once. Their pulse guns knock you sprawling before you can
Floyd | duck back.
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have been captured ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |


Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)


Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well done." The man is applauding softly. "A heroic end to your
Floyd | shining tale; and in the large, an accurate one. But not precise. You
Floyd | fell into our hands without those fascinating tools you have been


Floyd | showing off all this time. And without the package, you understand, the
Floyd | one you found in my corridor ceiling. I am very curious to know what
Floyd | you did with those things."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |


Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		DavidW asks, "put package in drawer?" 	
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |


Floyd | Diagonal Branch
Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;
Floyd | another short hall leads south.
Floyd |
Floyd | You throw yourself to a halt, nearly stumbling, as you hear footsteps
Floyd | approaching from the northwest... and then the guards behind you become


Floyd | audible as well. You duck around the southern corner and glance about
Floyd | desperately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You back down the corridor, as silently as you can.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End
Floyd | The hallway ends in a blank white wall. A metal door stands closed to
Floyd | the west.
Floyd |


Floyd | A discarded filing cabinet is standing by the wall. The drawers are
Floyd | closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing worthy of attention, except a toolcase (which
Floyd | is open) (in which are a scan scrambler (connected to a voice module),
Floyd | a key transmitter, a radio module, a minilamp, a timer, a toggle
Floyd | switch, a pushbutton, a blast tab and an acid pack), a wrapped package,
Floyd | a pen and a voice transmitter.
Floyd |


Floyd | The door snaps open suddenly, and the uniformed figure of a guard
Floyd | begins to step through. "No, what's frustrating is that you can't tell
Floyd | us what's in that blood-cursed lab," he is saying, back over his
Floyd | shoulder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then he sees you. He fumbles for his pulse gun.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stab guard with pen" 		
	

Floyd | You feint, and then jab the pen into the guard's shoulder, as hard as
Floyd | you can. His reflexive counter hurls you into the wall.


Floyd |
Floyd | But then he shivers, once, and slides to the ground, and remains there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door slides shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open drawers" 		
	

Floyd | You yank on the drawers; two are locked, but one comes open with an
Floyd | internal clank. The drawer is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put all in drawer" 		
	

Floyd | toolcase: Done.
Floyd | wrapped package: Done.
Floyd | pen: Done.
Floyd | voice transmitter: Done.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get pen" 		baf exclaims, "Not the pen!" 	
	

Floyd | Taken.


Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "close drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You close the drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get gun" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You make a break up the hallway -- only to come into view of two groups
Floyd | of guards, at once. Their pulse guns knock you sprawling before you can

Floyd | duck back.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have been captured ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...
Floyd |

Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)

Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, yes, but you still have not bought the details. We were certainly

Floyd | not fools enough to ignore the broken cabinet drawer. You left nothing
Floyd | inside it."

Floyd |
Floyd | ...glaring light --
Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Diagonal Branch
Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;

Floyd | another short hall leads south.
Floyd |

Floyd | You throw yourself to a halt, nearly stumbling, as you hear footsteps
Floyd | approaching from the northwest... and then the guards behind you become
Floyd | audible as well. You duck around the southern corner and glance about
Floyd | desperately.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "is there a vent grille?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | Footsteps are approaching.
Floyd |
Floyd | The guards to the east are drawing closer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Diagonal Branch
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "maybe the cabinet can be climbed" 	
			dhakajack says, "ok" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You back down the corridor, as silently as you can.
Floyd |

Floyd | Dead End
Floyd | The hallway ends in a blank white wall. A metal door stands closed to
Floyd | the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | A discarded filing cabinet is standing by the wall. The drawers are
Floyd | closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | Footsteps are still approaching.
Floyd |

Floyd | The door snaps open suddenly, and the uniformed figure of a guard
Floyd | begins to step through. "No, what's frustrating is that you can't tell
Floyd | us what's in that blood-cursed lab," he is saying, back over his
Floyd | shoulder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Then he sees you. He fumbles for his pulse gun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Dead End
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stab guard with pen" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "maybe after he's stabbed" 	
			inky says, "sorry, I undid a turn" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door snaps open suddenly, and the uniformed figure of a guard

Floyd | begins to step through. "No, what's frustrating is that you can't tell
Floyd | us what's in that blood-cursed lab," he is saying, back over his
Floyd | shoulder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Then he sees you. He fumbles for his pulse gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "stab guard with pen" 		
	

Floyd | You feint, and then jab the pen into the guard's shoulder, as hard as
Floyd | you can. His reflexive counter hurls you into the wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | But then he shivers, once, and slides to the ground, and remains there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door slides shut.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | Footsteps are still approaching.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Dead End

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "so no grille that I see, but maybe I'm wrong" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "climb cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the filing cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | Wide rectangles cover the ceiling with the grey, dimpled texture of
Floyd | good acoustical insulation. Between the panels are the glowing strips
Floyd | which illuminate the area, and also the characteristic glitter of a
Floyd | scan web.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push panel" 		
	

Floyd | The acoustical panels won't move.
Floyd |

Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | The walls are faced with tough white composite. They are smooth and
Floyd | blank, except for one ventilator grille near the ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "open grille" 		
	

Floyd | You lever the grille open with your fingers.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "put all except pen in grille" 		
	

Floyd | voice transmitter: Done.

Floyd | toolcase: Done.
Floyd | wrapped package: Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps to the north are closer now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You get down off the filing cabinet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "get gun" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hold you!" comes a shout from the north. You take a quick glance;

Floyd | several guards have come around the corner. Their narrow eyes take in

Floyd | the fallen shape at your feet, and they bring up their weapons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "close grille!" 	
			dhakajack says, "doh" 	
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "close grille" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator grille is a bit beyond your reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pulse-guns to the north begins crackling. You dive for cover behind

Floyd | the cabinet, but a bolt slaps into you before you are halfway there.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have been captured ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | -- glaring light...

Floyd |
Floyd | [Hit any key.]

		
	dhakajack pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd | Interrogation Chamber (imprisoned in the chair)
Floyd | You blink away memory. The dim room comes again into focus, and the man
Floyd | behind the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man breathes out slowly; his eyes are soft with realization. "The

Floyd | ventilation duct. The ventilation duct."

Floyd |
Floyd | Still staring past you, he thumbs a switch on his desk. "Mobile Eight?"
Floyd | he says to the air. "Get down to the hallway where our friend was
Floyd | captured--" There is a muffled interruption. "Yes, I know you have. You
Floyd | missed a leaf. Open up ventilation grille M-2 and search inside. There

Floyd | should be a number of microelectronic tools inside, and a small bundle

Floyd | wrapped in cloth. Report to me immediately." He flicks the connection
Floyd | closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man spreads his hands apologetically. "I must look like a great
Floyd | fool," he says to you.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | He chuckles. "Well, I can plead an excuse; we rebuilt our ventilation
Floyd | system from the ground up, less than half a year ago. It's fenced and

Floyd | webbed and wired so that a grain of sand couldn't sneak through -- but

Floyd | only at the external intakes and the junctions. We never thought to
Floyd | check for an object cached just inside a vent. We never thought it
Floyd | would be a danger."
Floyd |
Floyd | He shrugs. "And it wasn't a danger, in fact, was it?"

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "No. We got you; you didn't get into the lab, much less get out
Floyd | afterwards. You moved a package from one hiding place to another. I

Floyd | still can't see--"

Floyd |
Floyd | A flashing light interrupts him. The man touches it, and nods. "I'll
Floyd | see soon. They're bringing it in."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | The man absently waves you to silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | A chime sounds. The man pounces on his controls, and then gestures
Floyd | impatiently towards the doorway.


Floyd |
Floyd | A guard enters. She gives you only a brief professional glance.
Floyd | Approaching the desk, she lays out a handful of small items.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man nods, dismissing her without a thought, and then stares. "This
Floyd | was all? Where's the package?"


Floyd |
Floyd | "With'?" asks the guard, puzzled.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Never mind. Go." His eyes are blazing on you as the guard slips out
Floyd | the doorway. "You. You have lied to me, and I am tired of it. I have
Floyd | had enough."


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say sorry" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say can i go now" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have not told me where the package really is."


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "deny everything" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "tell man about package" 		
	

Floyd | To simplify the problem of dialogue in interactive fiction, the "tell"
Floyd | and "ask" commands are not used in this game. Type "about" for details.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		baf says, "Save now." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | Spider And Web is copyright 1997-8 by Andrew Plotkin. It may be copied,

Floyd | distributed, and played freely.
Floyd |
Floyd | For acknowledgements and credits, please type "credits".
Floyd |
Floyd | An introductory note: To simplify the problem of dialogue in

Floyd | interactive fiction, the "tell" and "ask" commands are not used in this

Floyd | game. Your conversational options are limited to "yes," "no," and
Floyd | saying nothing at all. Trust me -- this isn't as big a deal as it
Floyd | sounds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Also, after some consideration, I have decided not to implement body

Floyd | parts -- head, arms, legs, hands -- as separate objects. If you feel a

Floyd | desire to refer to yourself, "me" will suffice.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is possible to make a fatal mistake in this game, but you will
Floyd | immediately know you have done so. You can always "undo" after death,
Floyd | and then fix the mistake. Therefore, the game is best played straight

Floyd | through. Accept any non-fatal mistakes that you may make; you will have

Floyd | a second chance. If you back up and replay each scene for maximum
Floyd | efficiency, avoiding all mistakes, certain aspects of the game will be
Floyd | lost.
Floyd |
Floyd | However -- you will eventually reach a point where things become

Floyd | dangerous. You'll know when. Beyond that, you're playing for keeps and

Floyd | heartbeats count. Save early and often.
Floyd |
Floyd | Do not expect Spider And Web to be anything like So Far or A Change in
Floyd | the Weather. It's not. In a certain sense, this is my first
Floyd | conventional game. In another sense, it's the strangest game I know,

Floyd | and understanding what's happening is entirely your problem.

Floyd |
Floyd | This game is free. But if you feel like sending me money, I won't
Floyd | refuse. If you feel like sending me comments or bug reports, I'll be
Floyd | ecstatic. As of the beginning of 1998, I am at
Floyd |

Floyd |    erkyrath@netcom.com

Floyd |
Floyd |    Andrew Plotkin
Floyd |    7529 Murray Hill Rd #322
Floyd |    Columbia, MD 21046
Floyd |    USA

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	dhakajack says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Curse that, curse you, and curse all your blood," says the man flatly.
Floyd | His finger stabs down.

Floyd |

Floyd | A killing light slams you behind the eyes. Images fall through it,
Floyd | helplessly -- door, hall -- leap -- open door -- chair --
Floyd |
Floyd | But the light doesn't let you go.
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have failed ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		baf says, "Or, um, maybe save a couple of turns ago." 	
			ctate says, "ha ha ha" 	
			inky says, "good call" 	
	*** FAST FORWARD: JANUARY 18, 2009 ***		




inky says, "ok, so for the benefit of the transcript, this is the last part of spider & web, which we played a while back but didn't finish" 	
			inky says, "assuming I did the save game right, it's picking up right *after* the big scene" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "load tangle" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | On the whole, it was worth the trip. The plains really were broad and

Floyd | grain-gold, if scarred with fences and agricultural crawlers. The
Floyd | mountains were overwhelming. And however much of the capital city is
Floyd | crusted with squat brick and faceless concrete hulks, there are still
Floyd | flashes of its historic charm. You've seen spires above the streets --
Floyd | tiny green parks below tenements -- hidden jewels of fountains beyond
Floyd | walls. Any bland alley can conceal balconies wrought into iron

Floyd | gardens, fiery mosaics, a tree or bed of flowers nurtured by who knows
Floyd | who.
Floyd |
Floyd | This alley, however, is a total washout. It ends in flat bare dirty
Floyd | brick, and you've found nothing but a door which lacks even the
Floyd | courtesy of a handle. Maybe you should call it a day.

Floyd |
Floyd | Spider And Web
Floyd | Interactive Fiction
Floyd | Copyright 1997-8 by Andrew Plotkin.
Floyd | (First-time players should type "about". For credits, "credits".)
Floyd | Release 4 / Serial number 980226 / Inform v6.14 Library 6/6

Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0
Floyd |
Floyd | End of Alley
Floyd | It's a narrow dead end here, with walls rising oppressively high in
Floyd | three directions. The alley is quite empty, bare even of trash. (Your
Floyd | guidebook warned you: the police are as efficient about litter laws as

Floyd | about everything else they do.) You can retreat to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A plain metal door faces you to the east, near the alley's end. It's
Floyd | firmly shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Interrogation Chamber
Floyd | You are in a dim room, bounded by metal walls. A scarred pedestal
Floyd | stands empty where the chair was; facing it is an instrument-covered

Floyd | desk. Otherwise the room is sterile. The bright hallway waits to the
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man is stretched on the floor, dazed and unmoving. The lines of
Floyd | his face are merely age, now.
Floyd |

Floyd | Scraps of metal lie around the pedestal, still visibly decaying.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your legs are beginning to itch fiercely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "f x cfs" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You step gingerly under the scan-web band. Silence. You recall, with
Floyd | some relief, that the man failed to turn it back on after the guard
Floyd | left.

Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the
Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch
Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this

Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a
Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Er. That was totally mangled. Sorry." 	
			DavidW says, "I can't remember much about S&W. It's not a game I respond well to." 	
			inky says, "also, I've played this before, so I'm basically just running through it with some poking around, not really solving it" 	
			Bert asks, "How can HiD be so popular while S&W, which is so clearly superior, seems less so?" 	
			inky says, "S&W won a lot of awards" 	
			inky says, "it's just old so a bunch of people entered the community after it came out" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off

Floyd | to the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that
Floyd | the east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End South
Floyd | The corridor ends here, blank, with a single steel door on the north
Floyd | wall. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The itch in your legs is nearly unbearable.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put pick on plate" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door snaps open.
Floyd |

Floyd | The itching is slowly fading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get pick" 		
	

Floyd | The pick comes free with a faint magnetic snap.

Floyd |
Floyd | The door begins to slide shut as soon as the pick loses its link.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You slide hastily through the closing door. This time, you are careful
Floyd | to keep a firm grip on your lockpick.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wiring Closet
Floyd | You have barely room to spread your arms; this tiny square chamber is
Floyd | lined with cables, pipes, wires, and junction nodes. The only exit is

Floyd | the closing door to the south, which has a small white pad beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Resting on one of the larger junction nodes is a blast tab (connected
Floyd | to a radio module).
Floyd |
Floyd | The door closes completely.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I *think* this was the place we were trying to get in before when we lost our lockpick to the guards" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		inky says, "presumably this is our blast tab here" 	
			inky says, "...er, so I guess we *did* get in before" 	
			inky says, "this game is so confusing!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x blast tab" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small purple cube, which contains enough stabilized gel to blow
Floyd | a foot-wide hole in approximately anything. There's a minus link on

Floyd | one edge, which is connected to a radio module.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x radio" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small purple box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus

Floyd | link on the other. The link is connected to a blast tab.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a lockpick, a pen, a toolcase (which is open but

Floyd | empty), a pushbutton, a toggle switch, a scan scrambler (connected to
Floyd | a timer), a minilamp, a key transmitter and a voice transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to bert), "One part might be that zarf hides the genius parts, as in So Far, under fiendishly difficult & unfair puzzles." 	
			Fang says, "I guess S&W is something you don't dare talk about" 	
			inky says, "I guess we don't have a radio projector to match this" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "disconnect radio" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the blast tab, and take the radio module as it turns

Floyd | black again. The key transmitter turns black as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | The itching is slowly fading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach button to blast" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the pushbutton to the blast tab. The pushbutton turns
Floyd | purple to confirm the match.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | Crack! You jerk back your finger as the blast tab goes off, shattering
Floyd | the junction node.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lights die, leaving you in stifling blind darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd |
Floyd | After several seconds, the lighting strips return to life, but they
Floyd | are very dim and pulsate unevenly. You find barely enough light to

Floyd | pick silhouettes out of the gloom. And the silence is oppressive. You
Floyd | realize that the constant hiss of ventilation died with the lights,
Floyd | and it has not returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wiring Closet (in dimness)
Floyd | You have barely room to spread your arms; this tiny square chamber is

Floyd | lined with cables, pipes, wires, and junction nodes. The only exit is
Floyd | the closed door to the south, which has a small white pad beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The largest junction node is a shattered ruin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "not the safest way to do it, admittedly" 	
			inky says, "also, this knocks out the power -- which means that, eg, we can cross that metal-detector strip back at the beginning" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "touch white pad" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens. You stare at the door in some embarrassment; of
Floyd | course it won't open without power.

Floyd |
Floyd | You sit down calmly to wait. It isn't too long before the guards come
Floyd | with crowbars to investigate the problem.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have failed ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			inky says, "ok!" 	
			inky says, "let's try this again without trapping myself" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You step gingerly under the scan-web band. Silence. You recall, with
Floyd | some relief, that the man failed to turn it back on after the guard
Floyd | left.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Annex
Floyd | This is the end of a short hallway, which runs southwest back to the

Floyd | main corridor. Three large doorways open to the north, east, and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your legs are beginning to itch fiercely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Angle Branch
Floyd | The corridor runs north and south, like every other hallway in this
Floyd | place. A short hallway branches off to the northeast. To the west is a

Floyd | blank metal door, with attendant black plate beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf says, "I suspect you'd find this section less confusing if the previous parts were still fresh in your mind." 	
			baf says, "Not easier, mind you. Just less confusing." 	
			inky says, "I did actually play it yesterday, but using a walkthrough" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off

Floyd | to the north, and a closed metal door to the south. You can see that
Floyd | the east hall reaches a dead end a short distance away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End South
Floyd | The corridor ends here, blank, with a single steel door on the north
Floyd | wall. The door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put rod on plate" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | The itch in your legs is nearly unbearable.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door snaps open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wiring Closet
Floyd | You have barely room to spread your arms; this tiny square chamber is

Floyd | lined with cables, pipes, wires, and junction nodes. The only exit is
Floyd | the open door to the south, which has a small white pad beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Resting on one of the larger junction nodes is a blast tab (connected
Floyd | to a radio module).
Floyd |

Floyd | The itching is slowly fading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "disconnect radio" 		
	

Floyd | You disconnect the blast tab, and take the radio module as it turns

Floyd | black again. The key transmitter turns black as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach voice to blast tab" 		
	

Floyd | The voice transmitter doesn't have a link; it works through the voice

Floyd | module.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach voice module to blast tab" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "connect voice module to blast tab" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	baf says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a radio module, a pen, a toolcase (which is open but
Floyd | empty), a pushbutton, a toggle switch, a scan scrambler (connected to

Floyd | a timer), a minilamp, a key transmitter and a voice transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "maybe I lost it already?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x radio" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black box with a short antenna on one side, and a plus
Floyd | link on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black disc with a key to press on one side, and a short
Floyd | antenna on the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push key" 		
	

Floyd | You press the transmitter key. As you expected, nothing happens; the
Floyd | cursed thing is still broken, jammed, or sabotaged.
Floyd |
Floyd | The itching is slowly fading.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, right, that's the one that goes with the radio (which didn't work)" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "attach button to blast" 		
	

Floyd | You connect the pushbutton to the blast tab. The pushbutton turns
Floyd | purple to confirm the match.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | Crack! You jerk back your finger as the blast tab goes off, shattering
Floyd | the junction node.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lights die, leaving you in stifling blind darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd |
Floyd | After several seconds, the lighting strips return to life, but they

Floyd | are very dim and pulsate unevenly. You find barely enough light to
Floyd | pick silhouettes out of the gloom. And the silence is oppressive. You
Floyd | realize that the constant hiss of ventilation died with the lights,
Floyd | and it has not returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wiring Closet (in dimness)

Floyd | You have barely room to spread your arms; this tiny square chamber is
Floyd | lined with cables, pipes, wires, and junction nodes. The only exit is
Floyd | the open door to the south, which has a small white pad beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The largest junction node is a shattered ruin.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Dead End South (in dimness)
Floyd | The corridor ends here, blank, with a single steel door on the north

Floyd | wall. The door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick is clinging to the black plate by the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get rod" 		
	

Floyd | The pick comes free with a faint magnetic snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tee Junction (in dimness)
Floyd | The white corridor runs east to west here, with a branch leading off
Floyd | to the north, and a closed metal door to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Diagonal Branch (in dimness)
Floyd | This bare stretch of hallway angles from the northwest to the east;

Floyd | another short hall leads south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor Boundary (in dimness)
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it
Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | White Junction (in dimness)
Floyd | You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls.
Floyd | The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by barely-illuminated

Floyd | strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving
Floyd | away to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corner At Doors (in dimness)
Floyd | The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless
Floyd | metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands
Floyd | closed to the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "so here's where we stashed the package before, but of course there *is* no package" 	
			inky asks, "so why did we really jump up here?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You bend and leap. Your fingers brush the edge of the hole -- catch,
Floyd | and you concentrate on holding on. Your feet swing gently a foot above
Floyd | the floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open vent" 		
	

Floyd | You shift your weight to one hand and reach out -- almost... you swing
Floyd | yourself desperately, kicking. Your fingers brush the grille. You claw

Floyd | at it, a wild swipe -- and the grille flops open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside, you can see your gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get gun" 		
	

Floyd | (with one hand, hanging by the other)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You drop lightly to the ground, flexing your fingers.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor Boundary (in dimness)
Floyd | The corridor angles here, and crosses a boundary of some sort as it

Floyd | does. A few strides down the southeast branch, a dotted red line
Floyd | crosses the floor. You can retreat from the boundary to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're about to run out of options -- the intersection to the
Floyd | southeast is occupied. The guards there are not moving. They're
Floyd | watching in both directions, with their backs to a closed metal door.

Floyd | They don't seem to have seen you; you slide deeper into the shadows
Floyd | nonetheless.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shoot guards" 		
	

Floyd | (with the gun)
Floyd | You smile in the darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two of the guards are unconscious in as many heartbeats. You shift
Floyd | your gun, straining for a better target among the shadows, and fire
Floyd | again. A third figure jerks and collapses. Then pulses are raining up

Floyd | the corridor at you, and you flatten yourself into cover.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I'm not really sure why it makes them unconscious instead of killing them" 	
			inky says, "there was a larry niven book about organleggers where you made people unconscious because you wanted to steal their kidneys after you won" 	
			Fang says, "because we're the heroes" 	
			inky says (to Fang), "not in this game!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sharp Corner (in dimness)

Floyd | The corridor cuts around a sharp angle, from the northwest to the
Floyd | north. To the south, in the end wall, is the standard featureless
Floyd | metal door; it is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Three guards are standing in the angle, with three more motionless on
Floyd | the floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hit the corner at a dead run. The remaining guards break and fall
Floyd | aside, trying to aim and roll for cover simultaneously.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Lab Junction (in dimness)
Floyd | The white corridor runs south and east from here, with a wide branch
Floyd | curving northwest towards the laboratory.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see brighter light shining around the curve to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | You tear up the hall, chased by pulse-fire.
Floyd |
Floyd | You freeze; there is movement up the corridor, to the south. It sounds

Floyd | like yet another group of guards, moving slowly but steadily in the
Floyd | darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | The hallway curves west until it reaches the black door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | The corridor from the east ends here, and a single door looms to the
Floyd | west. It's no larger than the doors you've seen elsewhere; but it
Floyd | somehow looks... heavy. Unyielding. Reinforcing struts cross the

Floyd | door's face, and the surface is sheathed with some black coating.
Floyd |
Floyd | The end of the hallway is still well-lit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You spin around, ready for pursuit, but no one appears.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put rod on plate" 		
	

Floyd | The pick locks itself rigidly to the black plate by the door. Its
Floyd | status dot flashes to yellow.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a voice from around the curve: "Wait."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a startled "What?" from the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your legs still itch. Just a bit.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | Voices drift up the hall. "It's only one..." "...armed, took down
Floyd | nearly..." There appears to be some little debate.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lockpick's status dot is sliding towards green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Look then, we'll get a pulse grenade, is that...?"
Floyd |

Floyd | The lockpick's status dot fades to pure green, and flicks steady blue.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a hollow clunk somewhere. A moment later, the door swings
Floyd | towards you. The scent of ozone brushes through the doorway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "suckers, they think we're tough" 	
			inky says, "I guess this is the opposite of what's going on in erfworld now -- you hit them hard the first time, so now they're delaying the second time" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get rod" 		
	

Floyd | The pick comes free with a faint magnetic snap.
Floyd |

Floyd | The door begins to swing shut as soon as the pick loses its link.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Fine." "Fine then." "...Fine." Some of the guards sound a bit peeved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You duck through the closing door, keeping the lockpick firmly in
Floyd | hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Laboratory

Floyd | There is no question what this place is. The room is high, brightly
Floyd | lit -- this part of the building must have its own power supply -- and
Floyd | filled with arcane, half-built, and unlabelled machinery. The heavy
Floyd | door stands open to the east; there is a small white pad and an access
Floyd | panel beside it.
Floyd |

Floyd | At the center of the chaos, and its focus, is a great silver platform
Floyd | which is wrapped in a glittering cage of scan-web. A control console
Floyd | stands next to it. Cables run out across the floor, from the platform
Floyd | to the console, from the console to the walls, and tangle around a low
Floyd | cabinet off to one side.
Floyd |

Floyd | Much paper and clutter rests on a long wooden table against one wall.
Floyd | The table also supports a notably large black device. By the other
Floyd | wall is a clear space ringed with red, with some sort of mat inside
Floyd | it. A steel cube sits on the mat.
Floyd |
Floyd | The door booms shut.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I assume if we left the lockpick out there they could get in" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the panel open, revealing a layer of subcircuitry.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shoot circuitry" 		
	

Floyd | (with the gun)
Floyd | The layer of subcircuitry showers a corona of sparks. Blue light
Floyd | crackles along the subcircuit paths.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Either that, or they have the actual key." 	
			inky says, "good point" 	
			inky asks, "what, people don't just use lockpicks to get in?" 	
			inky says, "it would be kind of cool to have a d&d-esque thieves' guild with no keys to the locks" 	
			Bert asks, "Are you saving now that you're through?" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "Heh." 	
			inky says, "just, you're entitled to whatever room you are able to get into" 	
			inky says, "yeah, there are a couple endings, so let's save" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "this, for the benefit of readers, is the lab that's our whole objective in breaking in here" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | There is a long wooden table against one wall. It is covered with
Floyd | astonishing piles of paper -- scraps, notes, diagrams, all spread
Floyd | unevenly around in varying stages of sortedness and immediacy.

Floyd |
Floyd | At one end of the table is a notable black device.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x papers" 		
	

Floyd | You quickly sort through the papers, as best you can from your
Floyd | briefing lectures. In a few moments, you have piled up a single stack
Floyd | of the most critical diagrams, tables, formulae, and notes. Everything
Floyd | else is left scattered across the table in more disarray than when you
Floyd | started.
Floyd |

Floyd | While sorting, you discovered a logic plate buried under a spread of
Floyd | scribbled diagrams.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x plate" 		
	

Floyd | It's a logic plate like most, though fairly large -- wider than your
Floyd | two spread hands. Circuit paths are dimly visible inside the smoky
Floyd | resin, and the edges sparkle with link bands.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear voices outside. "Well?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get plate" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The lock circuitry is knotted," comes a mumble from outside the door.

Floyd | "...must have done something..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)

Floyd | You have no notion what any of it means, but it all matches the
Floyd | profile you were given of material relevant to the work done here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We've got shock grenades. Should we blast?" There is a pause, and
Floyd | someone replies, "No, wait on that. Whatever's in the lab, the tech
Floyd | crowd will burst themselves if we fill it full of shrapnel."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there they are commenting on the lock, ha ha" 	
			inky says, "ok, lessee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | The black device doesn't have the half-built, rigged quality of the
Floyd | other machinery nearby. It is curved, polished, and sleek. It has
Floyd | faired vents along the top. There is a round alcove in its front,
Floyd | which contains a glass pot. The only control is a tiny black switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get pot" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | A voice says, "Someone ask around for a gas cutter."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x pot" 		
	

Floyd | It's a fat glass pot with a spout and a close-fitting lid, which
Floyd | leaves the spout open. There is a wooden handle on one side. The pot
Floyd | is empty; but the inside bottom surface seems to be crusted with some

Floyd | burnt substance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smell pot" 		
	

Floyd | It smells faintly burnt.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put papers in alcove" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers in the notable device)
Floyd | You put the stack of important papers into the notable device.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Got anywhere with the lock?" you hear. There is an irritated mutter
Floyd | in reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push tiny" 		
	

Floyd | The tiny switch begins to glow red as you turn it on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Opened. The cabinet is stuffed with blocks of subcircuitry and nests
Floyd | of ribbon-wiring. There is a gap at one point, however, as if a single
Floyd | logic plate had been removed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put plate in cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the logic plate into the gap in the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The stack of important papers is yellowing with the heat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You close the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "One of the techs thinks there's a cutter in South Storage," someone

Floyd | reports.
Floyd |
Floyd | Smoke begins to curl from the stack of important papers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		inky says, "so making the thingy operational again, and burning the research papers" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | A corner of the stack of important papers flares alight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The stack of important papers is burning brightly now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put all on table" 		
	

Floyd | stack of important papers: Done.
Floyd | glass pot: Done.
Floyd | lockpick: Done.
Floyd | gun: Done.

Floyd | radio module: Done.
Floyd | pen: Done.
Floyd | toolcase: Done.
Floyd | toggle switch: Done.
Floyd | scan scrambler: Done.
Floyd | minilamp: Done.

Floyd | key transmitter: Done.
Floyd | voice transmitter: Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Right, bring that over here."
Floyd |
Floyd | The stack of important papers has set one of the other papers on the

Floyd | table alight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x console" 		
	

Floyd | There is a free-standing console next to the cage, facing it, with a

Floyd | view off to the side of the padded mat. On the console are two
Floyd | buttons, a grey oval of contact-pad substrate, a small rectangular
Floyd | display above the oval, and a readout strip. Hand-written labels are
Floyd | marked by each control.
Floyd |
Floyd | The readout strip says, "Shut down for logic adjustment."

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a faint pop from the other side of the door. It is followed
Floyd | by vicious swearing.
Floyd |
Floyd | More of the papers on the table are burning now.
Floyd |

Floyd | Half of the stack of important papers has burned away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push upper" 		
	

Floyd | There is a faint hum, and the display lights with a brightly colored

Floyd | waveform. The console readout blinks; it now says, "Ready."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I bet their equipment never fails just when it's needed," someone
Floyd | mutters.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | The display shows a complex waveform. Several different components
Floyd | slice across the rectangle, like a rainbow of mountain ranges. You
Floyd | haven't the least understanding of what they mean.

Floyd |
Floyd | The flames on the table spread.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push oval" 		
	

Floyd | As the pressure on the oval moves, the waveform on the display mutates
Floyd | -- wave components slide up or down, shift color, change frequency.
Floyd | You cannot interpret the result... but a leap into the dark must be
Floyd | better than staying here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The stack of important papers is nearly consumed in flame.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open flap" 		
	

Floyd | You peel the flap of web away from its magnetic seals; it hangs open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch, "...could be doing in there?" "Cursed if I know. They don't

Floyd | tell me what kind of toys they play with."
Floyd |
Floyd | With a hiss, fire leaps to another pile of paper. Most of the papers
Floyd | on the table are now aflame.
Floyd |
Floyd | The stack of important papers is submerged in the greater fire.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Got it!" you hear. The door does not move. "Or, perhaps not," the
Floyd | voice continues irritably.

Floyd |
Floyd | The surface of the table is a sheet of fire, in-swept and pulled high
Floyd | in the center.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The flames crackle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Understand, it's been too long. Are there any explosives, things of
Floyd | that sort in there?" Someone farther away replies, "No, not that we've

Floyd | been told of."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "surely they keep electronic copies of this stuff" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The wall above the table is beginning to catch. You can feel heat
Floyd | shining on your skin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "apparently not!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear running footsteps outside. "Found another one!" Someone

Floyd | exhales in relief.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is a tight hiss from outside. "There it runs," someone says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Keep it steady, understand. We only need a hole big enough to fire
Floyd | through."
Floyd |
Floyd | The table itself is burning hotly now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push lower" 		
	

Floyd | The hum intensifies, coming from all around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse

Floyd | in 5. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Look at the power readout. Something's going on in there," comes a
Floyd | worried mutter from outside. A louder voice calls, "Has the cursed
Floyd | Chief finished his cursed nap yet?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter platform" 		
	

Floyd | You step through the open flap and onto the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse

Floyd | in 4. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, he cursed has." The tone is dry and amused, but the familiar
Floyd | voice chills you. "What's the situation?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Flames are crawling up the wall. Smoke is thick across the ceiling --

Floyd | fortunately, high enough that you are still below it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close flap" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the flap back against its seals, closing yourself in the

Floyd | cage.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 3."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's under control, with'," someone says calmly. "The target is

Floyd | trapped in the lab. We're bringing up a cutter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 2."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a choking sound. "Trapped in the-- in--" In all the hours you
Floyd | spent in his chair, you never heard that voice lost for words.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 1."
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's only one entrance, with-commander. We're standing in front of
Floyd | it," the voice continues, a little nervously now. "The walls are armor
Floyd | plate underneath. The ventilation system is secure. We haven't been

Floyd | briefed on any explosive or cutting equipment in the lab inventory.
Floyd | There's simply nowhere to go."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "cackle" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it seems like this is an argument for letting the guards know what they're working on" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"

Floyd |
Floyd | But a light is pouring out around you, a sourceless glow that seems to
Floyd | shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic were starlit
Floyd | ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the light you see the door burst open, with a distant,

Floyd | dreamlike roar. The lucent faces that crowd through seem to move in
Floyd | slow motion. Their guns are firing, but the pulses are frozen in
Floyd | space. You can see their eyes slide across you, the cage around you,
Floyd | the light -- the flames that are devouring everything that you leave
Floyd | behind.
Floyd |

Floyd | Then the world vanishes. Blackness slaps into you with a silent snap.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "classic zarf ending" 	
			Fang says, "and you emerge... in the lounge" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open flap" 		
	

Floyd | You peel the flap of web away from its magnetic seals; it hangs open.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Unable to initiate: scan-web
Floyd | coverage not complete."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere," the familiar voice begins, but someone interrupts: "The
Floyd | power is showing a dropoff, look at that."
Floyd |
Floyd | "All right," the man continues after a moment. "All right. Blast the
Floyd | door down. Now, please."

Floyd |
Floyd | Orders, apparently, are orders. There is a deafening roar; the door
Floyd | tears into flying shards of metal. A hail of pulse-gun fire follows
Floyd | the blast in. You don't stand a moment's chance.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "I guess we still make a difference because we destroyed stuff" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "say "xyzzy"" 		
	

Floyd | Talking to yourself might draw attention.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"

Floyd |
Floyd | But a light is pouring out around you, a sourceless glow that seems to
Floyd | shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic were starlit
Floyd | ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the light you see the door burst open, with a distant,

Floyd | dreamlike roar. The lucent faces that crowd through seem to move in
Floyd | slow motion. Their guns are firing, but the pulses are frozen in
Floyd | space. You can see their eyes slide across you, the cage around you,
Floyd | the light -- the flames that are devouring everything that you leave
Floyd | behind.
Floyd |

Floyd | Then the world vanishes. Blackness slaps into you with a silent snap.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	(jingle, jingle) 		inky asks, "does zarf do xyzzy?" 	
			Bert says, "I can't remember if you can destroy the device." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "I just wanted to leave with a cool one-liner" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "the cool one-liner you leave on is "with'-commander, he's trapped in there -- we've got the exits guarded, there's no way out"" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shoot device" 		
	

Floyd | (with the gun)

Floyd | The notable device showers a corona of sparks. Lacking a nervous
Floyd | system, however, it is unaffected by the pulse.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, yes" 	
			Bert asks, "It worked on the door panel but not this?" 	
			inky says, "the reason your gun makes people unconscious is so zarf didn't have to code firing the gun at objects" 	
			Fang asks, "maybe you can try to set it on fire?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | The black device doesn't have the half-built, rigged quality of the
Floyd | other machinery nearby. It is curved, polished, and sleek. It has
Floyd | faired vents along the top. There is a round alcove in its front,
Floyd | which contains a glass pot. The only control is a tiny black switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "naturally the device is EMP-protected" 	
			Bert says, "Oh, wrong device." 	
			inky says, "er, hardened" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "shoot black device" 		
	

Floyd | (with the gun)
Floyd | The notable device showers a corona of sparks. Lacking a nervous
Floyd | system, however, it is unaffected by the pulse.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear voices outside. "Well?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | There is no question what this place is. The room is high, brightly

Floyd | lit, and filled with arcane, half-built, and unlabelled machinery. The
Floyd | heavy door stands closed to the east; there is a small white pad and
Floyd | an access panel beside it.
Floyd |
Floyd | At the center of the chaos, and its focus, is a great silver platform
Floyd | which is wrapped in a glittering cage of scan-web. A control console

Floyd | stands next to it. Cables run out across the floor, from the platform
Floyd | to the console, from the console to the walls, and tangle around a low
Floyd | cabinet off to one side.
Floyd |
Floyd | Much paper and clutter rests on a long wooden table against one wall.
Floyd | The table also supports a notably large black device. By the other

Floyd | wall is a clear space ringed with red, with some sort of mat inside
Floyd | it. A steel cube sits on the mat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x console" 		
	

Floyd | There is a free-standing console next to the cage, facing it, with a
Floyd | view off to the side of the padded mat. On the console are two
Floyd | buttons, a grey oval of contact-pad substrate, a small rectangular
Floyd | display above the oval, and a readout strip. Hand-written labels are
Floyd | marked by each control.
Floyd |

Floyd | The readout strip says, "Shut down for logic adjustment."
Floyd |
Floyd | "The lock circuitry is knotted," comes a mumble from outside the door.
Floyd | "...must have done something..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I think it is the right device -- unless you mean -- ah, ok" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We've got shock grenades. Should we blast?" There is a pause, and

Floyd | someone replies, "No, wait on that. Whatever's in the lab, the tech
Floyd | crowd will burst themselves if we fill it full of shrapnel."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x labels" 		
	

Floyd | Scribbled between the grey oval and the display is the phrase
Floyd | "Destination waveform." The upper button says "Ready," and the lower
Floyd | button is labelled "Light the fire."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Opened. The cabinet is stuffed with blocks of subcircuitry and nests
Floyd | of ribbon-wiring. There is a gap at one point, however, as if a single
Floyd | logic plate had been removed.
Floyd |

Floyd | A voice says, "Someone ask around for a gas cutter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shoot cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | (with the gun)

Floyd | A corona of sparks showers out of the cabinet. Blue light crackles
Floyd | along the subcircuit paths and across the ribbon wiring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Spinster has had Spinster's fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Bert asks, "Hmm, you never replaced the logic plate before using it?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x logic" 		
	

Floyd | (finding the logic plate under the papers)
Floyd | It's a logic plate like most, though fairly large -- wider than your
Floyd | two spread hands. Circuit paths are dimly visible inside the smoky

Floyd | resin, and the edges sparkle with link bands.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I did (this is a restored game before I did anything)" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Lucea disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		Bert says, "Oh, right." 	
			inky says, "that parenthetical is awesome" 	
			Bert says, "Ha, yes." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shoot logic" 		
	

Floyd | (with the gun)
Floyd | A corona of sparks surrounds the logic plate. Blue light crackles
Floyd | along the circuit paths.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Got anywhere with the lock?" you hear. There is an irritated mutter
Floyd | in reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I'm not sure if that destroys it or not." 	
			inky says, "it looks to me like it does" 	
			inky says, "but (I assume) that just traps you in here, it doesn't win the game" 	
			Bert says, "So I guess there's got to be an attached second ending." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a lockpick, your gun, a radio module, a pen, a
Floyd | toolcase (which is open but empty), a toggle switch, a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a timer), a minilamp, a key transmitter and a voice

Floyd | transmitter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "'Win'? What is this 'win' you speak of?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Bert says, "(There is also at least one other ending, I believe.)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			inky says, "well, one thing we didn't do was teleport out with the papers" 	
			Bert says, "Yeah, that." 	
			inky says, "(we destroyed them insetad)" 	
			inky says, "also, this walkthrough comments you lose if you leave your equipment, which is interesting" 	
			Bert says, "It seems that destroying the papers but leaving the machine intact still leaves your enemies with a working machine, and your side with nothing." 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		Bert says, "As opposed to destroying the machine before leaving or taking the papers with you." 	
			inky says (to Bert), "yeah, that is fair -- possibly the shooting through the door does the work for you" 	
			Bert asks (of inky), "Ah, beacuse they gain your side's secret tech that way?" 	
			inky says, "and the fire" 	
			inky says, "yeah, I guess so" 	
			inky says, "let's see!" 	
			Bert says, "Good opint." 	
			Bert says, "Er, point." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "search table" 		
	

Floyd | You quickly sort through the papers, as best you can from your
Floyd | briefing lectures. In a few moments, you have piled up a single stack
Floyd | of the most critical diagrams, tables, formulae, and notes. Everything
Floyd | else is left scattered across the table in more disarray than when you
Floyd | started.
Floyd |

Floyd | While sorting, you discovered a logic plate buried under a spread of
Floyd | scribbled diagrams.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get plate" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear voices outside. "Well?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Opened. The cabinet is stuffed with blocks of subcircuitry and nests
Floyd | of ribbon-wiring. There is a gap at one point, however, as if a single
Floyd | logic plate had been removed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put plate in cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the logic plate into the gap in the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The lock circuitry is knotted," comes a mumble from outside the door.

Floyd | "...must have done something..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(Good O'Pint is probably a less-common but much-envied Irish name.)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "close cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You close the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We've got shock grenades. Should we blast?" There is a pause, and
Floyd | someone replies, "No, wait on that. Whatever's in the lab, the tech
Floyd | crowd will burst themselves if we fill it full of shrapnel."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x console" 		
	

Floyd | There is a free-standing console next to the cage, facing it, with a
Floyd | view off to the side of the padded mat. On the console are two

Floyd | buttons, a grey oval of contact-pad substrate, a small rectangular
Floyd | display above the oval, and a readout strip. Hand-written labels are
Floyd | marked by each control.
Floyd |
Floyd | The readout strip says, "Shut down for logic adjustment."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push upper" 		
	

Floyd | There is a faint hum, and the display lights with a brightly colored
Floyd | waveform. The console readout blinks; it now says, "Ready."
Floyd |

Floyd | A voice says, "Someone ask around for a gas cutter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | The display shows a complex waveform. Several different components

Floyd | slice across the rectangle, like a rainbow of mountain ranges. You
Floyd | haven't the least understanding of what they mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push oval" 		
	

Floyd | As the pressure on the oval moves, the waveform on the display mutates
Floyd | -- wave components slide up or down, shift color, change frequency.
Floyd | You cannot interpret the result... but a leap into the dark must be
Floyd | better than staying here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put all except papers on table" 		
	

Floyd | lockpick: Done.
Floyd | gun: Done.
Floyd | radio module: Done.
Floyd | pen: Done.

Floyd | toolcase: Done.
Floyd | toggle switch: Done.
Floyd | scan scrambler: Done.
Floyd | minilamp: Done.
Floyd | key transmitter: Done.
Floyd | voice transmitter: Done.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Got anywhere with the lock?" you hear. There is an irritated mutter
Floyd | in reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open flap" 		
	

Floyd | You peel the flap of web away from its magnetic seals; it hangs open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push lower" 		
	

Floyd | The hum intensifies, coming from all around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 5. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Look at the power readout. Something's going on in there," comes a
Floyd | worried mutter from outside. A louder voice calls, "Has the cursed
Floyd | Chief finished his cursed nap yet?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter platform" 		
	

Floyd | You step through the open flap and onto the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 4. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, he cursed has." The tone is dry and amused, but the familiar
Floyd | voice chills you. "What's the situation?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I assume the launching procedure for the teleporter is all carefully designed to take enough time for this ending sequence outside to play out" 	
			inky says, "like the bit at the start of So Far in the theater" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "close flap" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the flap back against its seals, closing yourself in the
Floyd | cage.

Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 3."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's under control, with'," someone says calmly. "The target is
Floyd | trapped in the lab. We're bringing up a cutter."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)
Floyd | You have no notion what any of it means, but it all matches the

Floyd | profile you were given of material relevant to the work done here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 2."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a choking sound. "Trapped in the-- in--" In all the hours you

Floyd | spent in his chair, you never heard that voice lost for words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 1."
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's only one entrance, with-commander. We're standing in front of
Floyd | it," the voice continues, a little nervously now. "The walls are armor

Floyd | plate underneath. The ventilation system is secure. We haven't been
Floyd | briefed on any explosive or cutting equipment in the lab inventory.
Floyd | There's simply nowhere to go."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.

Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"
Floyd |
Floyd | But a light is pouring out around you, a sourceless glow that seems to
Floyd | shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic were starlit
Floyd | ice. The light builds and builds...

Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the light you see the door burst open, with a distant,
Floyd | dreamlike roar. The lucent faces that crowd through seem to move in
Floyd | slow motion. Their guns are firing, but the pulses are frozen in
Floyd | space. You can see their eyes slide across you, the cage around you,
Floyd | the papers in your hand, the light.

Floyd |
Floyd | Then the world vanishes. Blackness slaps into you with a silent snap.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hey, we were supposed to lose, dammit" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "chief, bye" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Did you take the papers that time?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "%undo" 		
	Floyd says (to Bert), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open web" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the cage or the lockpick matrix disc?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cage" 		
	

Floyd | You peel the flap of web away from its magnetic seals; it hangs open.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 2. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."

Floyd |
Floyd | There is a choking sound. "Trapped in the-- in--" In all the hours you
Floyd | spent in his chair, you never heard that voice lost for words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You step off of the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 1. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."

Floyd |
Floyd | "There's only one entrance, with-commander. We're standing in front of
Floyd | it," the voice continues, a little nervously now. "The walls are armor
Floyd | plate underneath. The ventilation system is secure. We haven't been
Floyd | briefed on any explosive or cutting equipment in the lab inventory.
Floyd | There's simply nowhere to go."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "close web" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the cage or the lockpick matrix disc?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cage" 		
	

Floyd | You push the flap back against its seals.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible

Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"
Floyd |
Floyd | But a light is pouring out of the scan-web cage, a sourceless glow
Floyd | that seems to shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic

Floyd | were starlit ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | ...and vanishes with a silent snap.
Floyd |
Floyd | You shake your head in slow wonder. Unfortunately, a moment later, the
Floyd | guards outside recall you to yourself. There is a deafening roar; the

Floyd | door tears into flying shards of metal. A hail of pulse-gun fire
Floyd | follows the blast in. You don't stand a moment's chance.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have failed ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I seem to recall you can also teleport the papers randomly" 	
			Bert says, "(You wanted to lose? Here's your lose...)" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		Bert says, "Ha." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess if you teleport out without the papers you don't make a difference" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "search table" 		
	

Floyd | You quickly sort through the papers, as best you can from your
Floyd | briefing lectures. In a few moments, you have piled up a single stack
Floyd | of the most critical diagrams, tables, formulae, and notes. Everything

Floyd | else is left scattered across the table in more disarray than when you
Floyd | started.
Floyd |
Floyd | While sorting, you discovered a logic plate buried under a spread of
Floyd | scribbled diagrams.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get plate" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear voices outside. "Well?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Opened. The cabinet is stuffed with blocks of subcircuitry and nests
Floyd | of ribbon-wiring. There is a gap at one point, however, as if a single

Floyd | logic plate had been removed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put plate in cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the logic plate into the gap in the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The lock circuitry is knotted," comes a mumble from outside the door.
Floyd | "...must have done something..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You close the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We've got shock grenades. Should we blast?" There is a pause, and
Floyd | someone replies, "No, wait on that. Whatever's in the lab, the tech

Floyd | crowd will burst themselves if we fill it full of shrapnel."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push upper" 		
	

Floyd | There is a faint hum, and the display lights with a brightly colored

Floyd | waveform. The console readout blinks; it now says, "Ready."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push oval" 		
	

Floyd | As the pressure on the oval moves, the waveform on the display mutates

Floyd | -- wave components slide up or down, shift color, change frequency.
Floyd | You cannot interpret the result... but a leap into the dark must be
Floyd | better than staying here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A voice says, "Someone ask around for a gas cutter."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open flap" 		
	

Floyd | You peel the flap of web away from its magnetic seals; it hangs open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push lower" 		
	

Floyd | The hum intensifies, coming from all around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 5. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Look at the power readout. Something's going on in there," comes a
Floyd | worried mutter from outside. A louder voice calls, "Has the cursed
Floyd | Chief finished his cursed nap yet?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "If you teleport without the papers or your own gear, I wonder if you make a negative difference." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop papers" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers)
Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 4. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, he cursed has." The tone is dry and amused, but the familiar
Floyd | voice chills you. "What's the situation?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter platform" 		
	

Floyd | You step through the open flap and onto the platform.
Floyd |

Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 3. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's under control, with'," someone says calmly. "The target is
Floyd | trapped in the lab. We're bringing up a cutter."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close flap" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the flap back against its seals, closing yourself in the
Floyd | cage.
Floyd |

Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 2."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a choking sound. "Trapped in the-- in--" In all the hours you
Floyd | spent in his chair, you never heard that voice lost for words.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse

Floyd | in 1."
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's only one entrance, with-commander. We're standing in front of
Floyd | it," the voice continues, a little nervously now. "The walls are armor
Floyd | plate underneath. The ventilation system is secure. We haven't been
Floyd | briefed on any explosive or cutting equipment in the lab inventory.

Floyd | There's simply nowhere to go."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"
Floyd |

Floyd | But a light is pouring out around you, a sourceless glow that seems to
Floyd | shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic were starlit
Floyd | ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the light you see the door burst open, with a distant,
Floyd | dreamlike roar. The lucent faces that crowd through seem to move in

Floyd | slow motion. Their guns are firing, but the pulses are frozen in
Floyd | space. You can see their eyes slide across you, the cage around you,
Floyd | the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the world vanishes. Blackness slaps into you with a silent snap.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hunh!" 	
			inky says, "ok, I dunno what the hell" 	
			Bert says, "Weird." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a lockpick, your gun, a radio module, a pen, a
Floyd | toolcase (which is open but empty), a toggle switch, a scan scrambler
Floyd | (connected to a timer), a minilamp, a key transmitter and a voice
Floyd | transmitter.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"
Floyd |

Floyd | But a light is pouring out around you, a sourceless glow that seems to
Floyd | shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic were starlit
Floyd | ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the light you see the door burst open, with a distant,
Floyd | dreamlike roar. The lucent faces that crowd through seem to move in

Floyd | slow motion. Their guns are firing, but the pulses are frozen in
Floyd | space. You can see their eyes slide across you, the cage around you,
Floyd | the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the world vanishes. Blackness slaps into you with a silent snap.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put papers on platform" 		
	

Floyd | (the stack of important papers on the platform)

Floyd | You put the stack of important papers into the cage.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 4. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, he cursed has." The tone is dry and amused, but the familiar

Floyd | voice chills you. "What's the situation?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close flap" 		
	

Floyd | You push the flap back against its seals.

Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 3."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's under control, with'," someone says calmly. "The target is
Floyd | trapped in the lab. We're bringing up a cutter."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 2."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a choking sound. "Trapped in the-- in--" In all the hours you
Floyd | spent in his chair, you never heard that voice lost for words.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse

Floyd | in 1."
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's only one entrance, with-commander. We're standing in front of
Floyd | it," the voice continues, a little nervously now. "The walls are armor
Floyd | plate underneath. The ventilation system is secure. We haven't been
Floyd | briefed on any explosive or cutting equipment in the lab inventory.

Floyd | There's simply nowhere to go."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"
Floyd |

Floyd | But a light is pouring out of the scan-web cage, a sourceless glow
Floyd | that seems to shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic
Floyd | were starlit ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | ...and vanishes with a silent snap. The stack of important papers
Floyd | vanishes as well, leaving the cage empty.

Floyd |
Floyd | You shake your head in slow wonder. Unfortunately, a moment later, the
Floyd | guards outside recall you to yourself. There is a deafening roar; the
Floyd | door tears into flying shards of metal. A hail of pulse-gun fire
Floyd | follows the blast in. You don't stand a moment's chance.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have failed ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tangle3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | stack of important papers: Dropped.

Floyd | lockpick: Dropped.
Floyd | gun: Dropped.
Floyd | radio module: Dropped.
Floyd | pen: Dropped.
Floyd | toolcase: Dropped.
Floyd | toggle switch: Dropped.

Floyd | scan scrambler: You drop the scan scrambler (and the timer connected
Floyd | to it.)
Floyd | minilamp: Dropped.
Floyd | key transmitter: Dropped.
Floyd | voice transmitter: Dropped.
Floyd |

Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 4. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, he cursed has." The tone is dry and amused, but the familiar
Floyd | voice chills you. "What's the situation?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "enter platform" 		
	

Floyd | You step through the open flap and onto the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse

Floyd | in 3. Note: scan-web coverage not yet complete."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's under control, with'," someone says calmly. "The target is
Floyd | trapped in the lab. We're bringing up a cutter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close flap" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the flap back against its seals, closing yourself in the
Floyd | cage.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse

Floyd | in 2."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a choking sound. "Trapped in the-- in--" In all the hours you
Floyd | spent in his chair, you never heard that voice lost for words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The console readout blinks; it now says, "Accumulators charging: pulse
Floyd | in 1."

Floyd |
Floyd | "There's only one entrance, with-commander. We're standing in front of
Floyd | it," the voice continues, a little nervously now. "The walls are armor
Floyd | plate underneath. The ventilation system is secure. We haven't been
Floyd | briefed on any explosive or cutting equipment in the lab inventory.
Floyd | There's simply nowhere to go."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Nowhere..." the familiar voice begins, and there is a terrible
Floyd | silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then, "Blast it down," he says, very quietly. And screams, "BLAST IT!"
Floyd |
Floyd | But a light is pouring out around you, a sourceless glow that seems to

Floyd | shine straight through solidity, as if metal and plastic were starlit
Floyd | ice. The light builds and builds...
Floyd |
Floyd | Beyond the light you see the door burst open, with a distant,
Floyd | dreamlike roar. The lucent faces that crowd through seem to move in
Floyd | slow motion. Their guns are firing, but the pulses are frozen in

Floyd | space. You can see their eyes slide across you, the cage around you,
Floyd | the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the world vanishes. Blackness slaps into you with a silent snap.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have made a difference ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "If Zarf were here, we could ask him. And he'd say he couldn't remember now." 	
			jwalrus says, "so I am watching this vaguely while playing a game" 	
			inky says, "ok, I give up" 	
			inky says, "I have no idea how to not make a difference" 	
			inky says, "I guess this means that all forms of life are connected and a butterfly that flaps its wings in china produces a fancy t-shirt design in new york" 	
			jwalrus says, "and for like twenty minutes I have been thinking "man, glowgrass sounds pretty derivative of spider & web"" 	
			inky asks, "ok, anyway, anyone else have something to try here?" 	
			inky says (to jwalrus), "ha ha ha" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jwalrus), "he he" 	
	(jingle, jingle) 		Jacqueline says (to jwalrus), "heehee" 	
			inky says, "ok, thanks for playing, everyone! see you next week for a normally-scheduled clubfloyd" 	
			inky says, "also, for people who are wondering what 'really' happened in the game, since it's kind of confusing, I suggest looking at [LINK], which has a nice summary at the end" 	
			inky says, "also, I didn't actually say this line or the one before it, I'm just sticking it in the transcript because I forgot to mention it during the session." 	
			inky says, "and really, for this game transcript-editing seems totally appropriate" 	
			inky says, "(sunglasses)"	
	



[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]








ClubFloyd Transcript: Violet by Jeremy Freese
As played on ifMUD on November 23, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Violet, written by Jeremy Freese. Violet was originally released as part of the 2008 IF Competition, where it took first place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Nitku arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	DavidW hollers, "We're gonna play Violet on Floyd real soon!" 		Jota exclaims, "Quick, someone send a moosegram to Alaska!" 	
	DavidW asks, "Should we wait a bit more for people to remember, log in, rush to the washroom?" 		
	inky says, "yeah, few more minutes, maybe" 		
	crumple asks, "what are the channels for this?" 		
	inky says, "#clubfloyd, #cf-spoilers" 		
	inky says, "er, #cfspoilers" 		
	DavidW says, "There's two: ... yes, those." 		
	[cfspoilers] * Nitku has joined the channel. 		
	DavidW says, "#clubfloyd is for main chat, and should be used instead of talking off-channel." 		
	DavidW says, "#cfspoilers is for people who want to comment on the playing without spoiling for the people who are." 		* crumple has joined the channel. 	
	[cfspoilers] * crumple has joined the channel. 		
	crumple says, "i think it's cfspoilers." 		
	DavidW says, "Talking to Floyd is usually done via the f command, eg: f pull lever" 		
	DavidW says, "And there's two buttons here in the toyshop to handle entering spaces and carriage-returns: push space and push return, respectively." 		DavidW says, "hm, I'm not seeing a stampede of players entering the toyshop." 	
			inky says, "yeah, go for it" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, let's start" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "load violet" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Calm down.  All you have to do is write a thousand words and everything
Floyd | will be fine.  And you have all day, except it's already noon.

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Violet

Floyd | A Distraction by Jeremy Freese
Floyd | Release 3, November 2008
Floyd | (New readers type ABOUT; HINTS available)
Floyd |
Floyd | You told me you were making progress.  Then I find out you haven't
Floyd | finished a paragraph in five months.  What did you expect?

Floyd |
Floyd | So now here you are, up in your office.  I am sorry that today is a
Floyd | Saturday.  I am especially sorry that today is your thirtieth birthday.
Floyd | We had all kinds of adventures planned.  I refuse to feel guilty.
Floyd |
Floyd | Of course I am still upset.  I will try to set that aside and be

Floyd | encouraging.  I really do want you to succeed today.
Floyd |
Floyd | Please just write.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "hmm, how many people haven't played this?" 	
			DavidW says, "I haven't." 	
			Nitku says, "I have played." 	
			inky says, "okey doke" 	
	K-Y arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		DavidW says, "I understand that I won't be able to see helpful status bar messages." 	
			Nitku asks (of DavidW), "Are you still one-handed?" 	
			DavidW says (to Nitku), "only sorta" 	
			DavidW says, "The cast is still on, but I'm using both hands as best as I can." 	
			Bishop didn't think Violet was the kind of game you played one-handed, IYKWIM. 	
			DavidW says, "It should come off onThursday." 	
			Nitku says, "I was thinking if you want to drive. Then again there's so much to poke it probably doesn't matter if there's no designated driver." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | When Wisconsin was recruiting your advisor they promised her space for
Floyd | graduate students.  You're in a decrepit building but otherwise it's

Floyd | not bad.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've a great big desk in front of a window, a resplendent yellow
Floyd | chair, a cabinet in one corner, a giant cactus in another, and a tall
Floyd | bookcase on the back wall with an incredibly cute stool in front of it.
Floyd | The door is west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Yeah, I think this is a game where anyone can safely jump in." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You're carrying nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've a tattoo on the back of your hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tattoo" 		
	

Floyd | "Tattoo" isn't right.  You scrawled "TYVTWD" on the back of your hand
Floyd | before leaving this morning.  It stands for Take Your Violet To Work
Floyd | Day.  This is your plan: you are going to get through today by
Floyd | pretending I'm here with you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just so we're clear: you are actually alone, and presumably I am back

Floyd | at our apartment, packing and crying.
Floyd |
Floyd | Somebody is coming up the stairs.  I thought you said no one ever comes
Floyd | in on the weekend?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "rub tattoo" 		
	

Floyd | I feel a bit like you are just trying random things as a way of
Floyd | procrastinating.
Floyd |

Floyd | Please.  Just WRITE.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sit on stool" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reason to sit on the stool.  Stand on it if you need to

Floyd | reach something.  (And sit on your comfy yellow chair if you want to
Floyd | write.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sit on chair" 		
	

Floyd | Okay.  You are seated at your desk and ready to go.  Just write!
Floyd |
Floyd | Two voices in the hallway: a man and Julia.  Julia hasn't been in her
Floyd | office in weeks.  She shows up on a Saturday?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | Unfortunately, with all the pacing about and ruminating, you've been
Floyd | here over two hours but haven't actually opened your word processor
Floyd | yet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | The desktop PC is old but perfectly fine for writing.  In addition to
Floyd | your word processor, applications you can OPEN include a browser, chat
Floyd | and e-mail.

Floyd |
Floyd | The computer has a USB port in the front and is connected to the
Floyd | Internet with a cable in back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "I didn't remember seeing a computer mentioned. I guess I forgot to x desk?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | Of course the big oak desk is unusually posh for a graduate student
Floyd | office.  It belonged to a professor who had a stroke at his computer
Floyd | and none of the other faculty wanted a desk on which once rested the

Floyd | head of a dead colleague.
Floyd |
Floyd | On top of the desk are your computer, my itinerary, a framed darling
Floyd | and a pile you cannot even contemplate right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | The desk's drawer is closed.  A wastebasket is on the floor to the

Floyd | left.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you're a grad student, of course you have a computer" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i was going to add playing the comp games as part of the special clubfloyd violet release." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x framed darling" 		
	

Floyd | Why you chose this photo of me, I don't know.  It's from a party last
Floyd | summer.  I've an enormous foam lobster on my head and whipped cream all
Floyd | over my right cheek.  I'm smiling manically and look like I may be so
Floyd | tipsy that I don't know what continent I'm on.

Floyd |
Floyd | Permit me two moments of immodesty:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1.  Even in a picture where I'm not at my best, I am still clearly
Floyd | worth a thousand words.
Floyd |

Floyd | 2.  The frame itself is very cleverly done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I thought grad students were supposed to have cardboard boxes out by the dumpsters behind the lab." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open word processor" 		
	

Floyd | Open.  Chapter 3 of your dissertation awaits.  You can do it!
Floyd |
Floyd | Julia is here to sabotage you.  I'm sure of it.  She's in her office
Floyd | across the hall now, talking loudly with her door open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "well, sure, but then they have a laptop" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | (standing up first)
Floyd | It's a plain white wooden door.  On the other side is distraction and
Floyd | ruin.  Abandon hope, all ye who exit.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the wall beside the door is the lightswitch.  Above the door is a
Floyd | vent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I mean, c'mon, they're not *animals*" 	
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "I admit I did briefly wonder if there was a response to PLAY VIOLET" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | You start trying to focus on the screen and type, but you are very

Floyd | tired.   I realise that you hardly slept last night between being all
Floyd | worked up from our fight and then being banished to the dodgy futon in
Floyd | our living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Still.  I know you won't let a little grogginess stop you.  You are
Floyd | determined.  For us!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "I am not sure what Violet herself would think of that." 		K-Y says, "It took me forever to examine the stuff on the desk" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "get determined" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "ha ha" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x itinerary" 		
	

Floyd | A printout of an airline receipt for a certain Ms. Violet C., for a
Floyd | flight from Madison to Chicago to Los Angeles to Auckland to Melbourne.
Floyd | One-way, refundable.  Departing early tomorrow morning.
Floyd |
Floyd | I hate that I've given you an ultimatum.  But I don't feel like I've

Floyd | any choice.
Floyd |
Floyd | The dude with Julia sounds like the one she was flirting with at Lucy's
Floyd | party.  Remember?  He was scrawny and said his parents owned a hotel in
Floyd | Milwaukee called "The Historic Pfister."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		K-Y says, "I think 'itinerary' just brought back traumatic memories of that other game" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "it might answer for her what he's spent the past months doing while procrastinating." 		inky asks, "the travelling salesman game?" 	
			K-Y says, "never played that one" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "Good point. The animals' cages are *inside* the lab, where it's warm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You are trying, I can tell.  But each time you begin to think through
Floyd | the opening sentence you get this dull cloudy tired pain right behind
Floyd | your eyes.

Floyd |
Floyd | Okay.  You want to write.  You just need to get yourself more awake
Floyd | first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			K-Y says, "you know, that other game where you destroy your apartment while locked inside" 	
			inky says, "oh yeah" 	
			DavidW asks, "I suppose I need coffee or cola here?" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "violet was originally from adelaide instead of melbourne but a couple beta-tests suggested that adelaide might not be as widely known as i'd thought." 		DavidW says, "Personally, I'm trying oatmeal and orange juice for the B1." 	
	[cfspoilers] inky asks, "of course we know what it is -- it's some kind of artificial fruit drink, right?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coffee" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You stand.
Floyd |
Floyd | I don't know why I confided in Lucy about our problems.  I should have

Floyd | known she would tell Julia.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "find coffee" 		
	

Floyd | If you'd wanted coffee, you really ought to have stopped at Java Squid

Floyd | on the drive here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "Ha." 		DavidW asks, "Is this an office or apartment?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You need to write.  Your computer is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Besides, your office door is closed.  Might I add: for a reason.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "ha about adelaide. FIND COFFEE was implemented post-comp." 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Many graduate students would be jealous of your having a door that you

Floyd | can close, high ceilings, and, most glamorous of all, a window.  You
Floyd | also have a huge desk, a gorgeous yellow chair, a cabinet, an
Floyd | admittedly incongruous cactus, a tall bookcase, and an incredibly cute
Floyd | stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk are your computer, my itinerary, a cleverly framed picture

Floyd | and a pile you cannot even contemplate.  A wastebasket is on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | You look out the window for a moment, at the wonderfully serene park
Floyd | across the street.  We could be frolicking right now.  We could be
Floyd | canoodling in the shrubbery.  Please just write.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch cactus" 		
	

Floyd | Eek!  No.  Do you remember how last month you spent an entire afternoon

Floyd | whinging because you had a splinter?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick cactus" 		Lucea says, "bah, sorry I'm late" 	
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "It's an office." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit me" 		
	

Floyd | You engage in a few zesty rounds of abusing yourself, but I don't think
Floyd | it really gets you any more awake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pinch me" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "rub eyes" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "exercise" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry for being confused, budgie, but you're going to have to use a
Floyd | different verb for me to follow you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You open the drawer and there's a shiny little key and your notebook.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although you write on your computer, you still like to keep a pen and
Floyd | notebook handy because it sometimes helps to work out more complicated

Floyd | sentences in longhand before typing them in.  You've several pens in
Floyd | your bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hey, wallaroo: where's your bag?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "find bag" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see it here.  Where is it?
Floyd |
Floyd | Ugh.  You were so distracted this morning that you left your bag back
Floyd | at our apartment.  I am a gentle girlfriend and will refrain from
Floyd | marvelling at how it's past noon and you are only realising this now.

Floyd |
Floyd | You cannot go get your bag.  You know you are doomed to an afternoon of
Floyd | meandering distraction if you leave this office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | I believe it's the key to the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia laughing inauthentically and telling
Floyd | Historic Pfister "You are so clever."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] K-Y says, "I also went the whole game with the light off" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get bag" 		
	

Floyd | Do not even try to blame me for you forgetting your bag.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from drawer" 		
	[cfspoilers] K-Y says, "I'm not sure if there was a point to that" 		
	

Floyd | One thing at a time today, dundeecake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "FIND BAG especially should have been implemented." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, vegemite.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take notebook" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, lorikeet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It's a smallish notebook, about 10x15 centimetres.  The cover is

Floyd | lenticular. From this angle, it's a drawing of the comic book hero
Floyd | Professor Detective telling one of his graduate students, "You carry
Floyd | the heaviest of all burdens: POTENTIAL."
Floyd |
Floyd | Several pages inside the notebook have writing on them.
Floyd |

Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  Today in the park, a laughing
Floyd | couple that could have been us toss a frisbee back and forth, and an
Floyd | older gentleman is walking his malamute.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "read notebook" 		
	

Floyd | The first page with writing has a sentence ending with the word "gaps."
Floyd | You've crossed this out and rewritten it with "lacunae" instead.  That
Floyd | you crossed out and tried "interstices."  You crossed that out in
Floyd | favour of "interstitial lacunae," but then that has several lines
Floyd | through it and a little drawing of me saying "Quit being pretentious."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] K-Y says, "I think immediately I expected a 'block out all light from passing under the door' puzzle" 		inky says, "lorikeet sounds very sweet" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock cabinet with key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the cabinet, glancing briefly at the trophy on top as you
Floyd | do.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trophy" 		
	

Floyd | You trained for months and had to run the entire race in the rain.  A
Floyd | chintzy little medal after all that?  You deserve better!  So
Floyd | afterwards I took the big sign I'd held up for you and spent two days
Floyd | folding it into a proper trophy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "aw, the notebook gets better" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Last night, near the very end:
Floyd | "I want you to have your birthday present regardless."
Floyd | "Violet, I'll write the thousand words."

Floyd | "I planned a treasure hunt for you.  I wrote clues!  It was going to
Floyd | end in your office."
Floyd | "I am going to write tomorrow.  I promise."
Floyd | "Look in that cabinet you never use.  You'll like how I wrapped it."
Floyd |
Floyd | You open the cabinet, revealing a very odd balloon and a plastic bottle

Floyd | filled with a fluorescent pink liquid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Every time I hear Violet call you 'wallaroo', I think of the Seatbelts song 'Ask DNA'." 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i'm looking forward to seeing lorikeets when i go to oz next month." 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "wallaroos, too." 		Bert says, "(Although I can never remember the name of it, so I had to look it up before I could say that.)" 	
	[cfspoilers] inky asks, "have you been there before?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x balloon" 		
	

Floyd | It's about 25 centimetres across, milky white rubber decorated with

Floyd | purple ink swirls.  A strange furry thing is inside, its three long
Floyd | legs pressing against the sides.  At the bottom of the balloon is a
Floyd | bright yellow tab on which I've written "Pull me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia talking about her abs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "no, this will be my first time. meeting my girlfriend's family, among other things." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The bottle is dusty.  Is this even yours, or is it left over from

Floyd | Marty?
Floyd |
Floyd | The label has several large characters of what looks like a cross of
Floyd | Chinese, Cyrillic, and cuneiform.  Small type beneath says  "Divine
Floyd | Soda Mega Energy". The label also has a drawing of a devil poking a man
Floyd | in the [bother]* with an electrified pitchfork.  The man's eyes bulge

Floyd | and his mouth rounds into a scream.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bottle is filled with a fluorescent pink liquid.
Floyd |
Floyd | You start looking toward the door with an irksome dreaminess.  Whatever
Floyd | else about Julia, the woman knows how to choose perfume.  Of course,

Floyd | I'm not sure how much she's poured on herself that you can smell it
Floyd | this far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | (BTW: I've decided I'm just going to "*" whenever I have an aside.
Floyd | ASIDE or * and I'll tell you.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "right on" 		
	[cfspoilers] Bert asks, "Do they have a comic shop for you?" 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "I assume there will be a hilarious scene where they drink you under the table" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "heh" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "hee! we'll see!" 		DavidW says, "I guess I've found some sort of energy drink." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The only part of the label in English says "Divine Soda Mega Energy."

Floyd | The bottle is filled with a fluorescent pink liquid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, muttonplum.

Floyd |
Floyd | You look toward the door: the perfume again.  I agree that it's really
Floyd | appealing.  But, still, this is Julia!*
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean it" 		
	

Floyd | I'm sorry if I'm being obtuse, little numbat, but I don't understand
Floyd | what that would accomplish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "aside" 		
	

Floyd | Remember when you first asked me out?  I said, "You already have a
Floyd | girlfriend."
Floyd | "I wouldn't if I had known I was going to meet you."
Floyd | "How charming.  Will you say the same thing to the woman you dump me

Floyd | for?"
Floyd | "Julia and I aren't serious.  She doesn't even care about me.  I'm the
Floyd | respectable diversion after the mess with the emeritus history
Floyd | professor leaving his wife.  The only reason she'd be upset is she's
Floyd | proud of her streak where no man has ever broken up with her."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "smell perfume" 		
	

Floyd | It's annoying how smitten you seem to be with Julia's perfume.  I'm not
Floyd | going to indulge you by describing its appeals in detail.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open bottle" 		
	

Floyd | It's open.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  A blond-haired father and

Floyd | even-blonder son are walking into the park from the east, and entering
Floyd | your view from the west is a zombie.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drink liquid" 		
	

Floyd | Holy [bother] is that strong!  You feel like your brain is now a giant
Floyd | sparkler.  You feel invincible.  You feel like buying a circus.  You
Floyd | feel like moving to South America and starting a revolution.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dissertation?  You feel like writing a trilogy.  And an opera.  You
Floyd | feel like fathering roomfuls of monkeys to type randomly until they

Floyd | write your dissertation for you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Whatever else, you're now plenty alert.  (I'm e-mailing Marty to find
Floyd | out where I can get some of that.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | Completely, unblinkingly alert, you start thinking again about the
Floyd | first sentence.  "Previous scholarship has typically conceptualized..."
Floyd | Six seconds later you check your e-mail.  You switch back to your word

Floyd | processor for a bit, but then you start reading some blogs.  You check
Floyd | your e-mail again.  Then back to blogs.
Floyd |
Floyd | I suspect this is much of how the past several months in your office
Floyd | have gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You start again.  Except you immediately check your e-mail.  Then you
Floyd | read some web comics.  Then a few of your favourite Professor Detective
Floyd | fanblogs.

Floyd |
Floyd | Please, gumnut.  You need to focus.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly "...You could use
Floyd | mine to calculate pi..."*
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "american spelling of conceptualized since it is him typing." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "focus" 		
	

Floyd | For me, honestly, it's as simple as that.  For you, it's more

Floyd | difficult.  You are still wonderful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "aside" 		
	

Floyd | Remember the story about how when Julia was in college, she told two

Floyd | math guys she'd hook up with whichever one memorised pi to the most
Floyd | places?  She made them stand on chairs at a party, alternating digits
Floyd | until one of them missed.  She claims it went on for two hours.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then she didn't even go home with the winner!  Instead there was a
Floyd | Russian computer scientist who claimed he could spontaneously generate

Floyd | truly random digits.  She said, "Prove it!"  He said, "Four!"  And she
Floyd | swooned and pulled him into a bathroom.
Floyd |
Floyd | I cannot believe she told you that story and you continued dating her.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "scream at julia" 		
	

Floyd | That is what Julia wants.  She wants you to engage her.  She wants you
Floyd | to argue with her because she knows it will get you wound up and then
Floyd | you won't be able to concentrate the rest of the day.  You must ignore
Floyd | her.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't even see those asterisks." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "the asterisks are red if the interpreter displays color." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kiss photo" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x frame" 		
	

Floyd | I took the concert flier from our first "date" and made it into a hard
Floyd | plastic laminate--you know, like a Shrinky Dink.  I made a clear
Floyd | plastic sheet the same size to go over the front of the photograph.
Floyd | Then I fused a sturdy binder clip to the two pieces to hold everything
Floyd | in place.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are thinking about your bag.  Sure, it's unfortunate, but there's
Floyd | nothing you can do.  So just forget about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "This wasn't a true story, right?" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple asks, "the internet puzzle actually kind of is. otherwise, no. hey, they didn't do the ABOUT?" 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "the value of the random digit has been changed" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "the pi thing" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | (standing up first)
Floyd | Your window is immediately behind your desk, about two metres high and
Floyd | one wide.  It has an old grey blind, which is raised.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the sill I am a bit surprised to see a lighter.

Floyd |
Floyd | You look out the window.  The zombie in the park is dressed like an
Floyd | investment banker, but you recognise him as a zombie because of the
Floyd | pasty skin, blood dripping from his mouth, and lurching gait.  He
Floyd | pauses to look at his watch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take lighter" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, sticky pudding.  It's hard for me to be enthusiastic about
Floyd | lighters as a woman who owns her own blowtorch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lower blind" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the cord and nothing happens.  You complained to me about this
Floyd | weeks ago and I explained what the problem likely was and how to fix
Floyd | it.  Remember?

Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia going on loudly about how you get a
Floyd | discount if you get both tongue piercings at the same time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cord" 		
	

Floyd | It's a plain white cord, easily tangled.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "untangle it" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull cord" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the cord again and nothing happens.  I think you'll have to
Floyd | get on your desk and look at the blind to figure out what's wrong.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool creaks as you climb onto it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  A second zombie enters the park
Floyd | from the east, holding a sign.  The first zombie looks relieved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blind" 		
	

Floyd | (first getting off the stool)
Floyd | I wish the blind was more colourful.  It's raised.  There's a cord.
Floyd |
Floyd | I don't think you're going to be able to figure out what the problem is

Floyd | with the blind from down here.  You'll have to get onto the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "KISS PHOTO and UNTANGLE CORD should have been implemented." 		
	olethros arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | You know those hipsters-dressed-up-as-zombies, they're always agitating
Floyd | about something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | You know those hipsters-dressed-up-as-zombies, they're always agitating
Floyd | about something.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia talking about her [bother].  I can't

Floyd | believe you dated someone so crass.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on desk" 		
	

Floyd | You climb onto your desk.  Be careful, fruit cup.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blind" 		
	

Floyd | You can see what's wrong with the blind now.  The little whatever is
Floyd | stuck.*  This is easy: you can just FIX it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "aside" 		
	

Floyd | Actual-Me of course knows precisely what the whatever is called.  I
Floyd | used the right term when I explained the workings of your blind to you

Floyd | at length on that napkin at WinkyDog.  Imaginary-Me is using "whatever"
Floyd | because you don't remember.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] (from Bert) crumple opens the source and starts working on Release 4. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fix blind" 		
	

Floyd | You squint at the whatever for awhile and fiddle.  Squint, fiddle,
Floyd | still stuck.  I think when I said you could easily fix it what I really
Floyd | meant was that, if I were there, I could easily fix it.
Floyd |

Floyd | Squint, fiddle, SNAP.  You did it!  Or, wait, maybe you broke it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looking closer, you've definitely broken the whatever.  Perhaps you've
Floyd | also fixed it.  I can't tell.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your eyes go all dreamy again as the latest waft of Julia's perfume

Floyd | induces another galling little reverie.  Ugh.  You have to snap out of
Floyd | this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "damn I am late" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blind" 		
	

Floyd | The blind is raised.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "hee. just keeping a list for now." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull cord" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the cord and the blind lowers halfway, then stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You raise the blind.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  The sign held by the zombie says
Floyd | "Zombies Was People Too".  Another pair of people dressed up as zombies

Floyd | enter the park.  One holds a sign saying "Undead and Proud!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "pull blind" 		
	

Floyd | (presuming you want to pull the cord)

Floyd | You pull the cord and the blind lowers halfway again.  That's all the
Floyd | lower it's going now that you've broken the whatever.  Ugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | I'm confused.  You're presently standing on the floor of your office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "hmm. I was thinking you could physically pull the blinds down. and then maybe put something heavy on them to hold them down" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x whatever" 		
	

Floyd | It's broken now.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "Impressive, huh?
Floyd | When I was in high school my guidance counsellor recommended that I
Floyd | become a contortionist."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "IIRC you dont pull the blinds down all the way" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take whatever" 		
	

Floyd | That seems to be a part of the blind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "but they could break if you try that" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | (getting off the desk first)
Floyd | You look at the blank screen for a few moments and then check your
Floyd | e-mail.  You hit refresh just in case someone has e-mailed in the last
Floyd | four seconds.  Now you are looking at procrastination self-help
Floyd | websites.  I am trying to remain calm.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | No pretence, even: you start checking e-mail immediately.  Now you are
Floyd | watching some random online food safety videos.  We need to face the

Floyd | fact that you must somehow force yourself to be offline before you'll
Floyd | get any writing accomplished.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are thinking about your bag again.  "Why am I always so forgetful?"
Floyd | you say aloud.  "Why am always I so disorganized?"  Lorikeet, dwelling
Floyd | on it won't help. "I know!" you exclaim.  "Why do I always dwell on

Floyd | everything?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x modem" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | The PC is old but fine.  Applications include a word processor,
Floyd | browser, chat, and e-mail.

Floyd |
Floyd | The computer has a USB port in the front and is connected to the
Floyd | Internet with a cable in back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "yeah, i had PULL DOWN BLIND suggested in beta but wasn't sure how exactly to implement it." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unplug cable" 		
	

Floyd | You unplug the ethernet cable.  Good!  It has to be easier to write if
Floyd | you can't chat, check e-mail, and surf the web whenever you want.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You resume thinking about the first sentence.  You fidget.  Your hands
Floyd | tremble a bit.  You want to check your e-mail.  You want to read blogs.
Floyd | And then: you retrieve the cable and plug it back into the computer.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ugh.  I didn't know it was this bad, spongemuffin.  I don't know what
Floyd | to say.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "It's not so much
Floyd | that I'm double jointed as just very determined."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "make a new verb" 		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "or FORCE BLIND DOWN" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unplug cable" 		
	

Floyd | Done, weet-bix.  You're now holding the ethernet cable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | (standing up first)
Floyd | For a graduate student like yourself, having an office with a window
Floyd | and a great view is almost too much to hope for.  A window that
Floyd | actually opens is, in fact, too much to hope for.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "break window" 		
	

Floyd | It's hard for me to see what purpose breaking your window would serve.
Floyd | More importantly, someone would almost certainly see and call campus
Floyd | security, and that will introduce new hassles to your afternoon and
Floyd | prevent you from getting any writing done.

Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  There are maybe a dozen zombies
Floyd | in the park now, lurching and milling about.  Two unfurl a
Floyd | blood-spattered banner that says, "What do we want?  Brains!  When do
Floyd | we want them?  Brains!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat cable" 		
	

Floyd | I'm confused.  That's not something you can eat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "chew cable" 		
	

Floyd | Please do not squander your afternoon indiscriminately gnawing at
Floyd | things around your office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "cut cable with teeth" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to cut the blue ethernet cable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "step on cable" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know why they've used a 50 foot ethernet cable when it's less
Floyd | than three feet from your computer to the jack.  Much of the cable is
Floyd | dirty from all the dust and whatever else has collected underneath your
Floyd | desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "Sure, she's
Floyd | cute.  If you can get past the mole."
Floyd |
Floyd | Hey!  Watch it, Julia.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x connector" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Can we lock it in the cabinet and toss the key?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put cable in wastebasket" 		
	

Floyd | You put the blue ethernet cable into the wastebasket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | You try again.  Two minutes later you take the cable and plug it back
Floyd | into the computer.  You start idly googlestalking friends from primary
Floyd | school.

Floyd |
Floyd | Okay.  We are not going to to be able to work out your "internet
Floyd | addiction" issues today, lemon squidgie.  We need to figure out a way
Floyd | forward anyway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cable" 		
	

Floyd | Done, berry smush.  You're now holding the ethernet cable.
Floyd |
Floyd | Meanwhile, it has become officially disconcerting just how much you're
Floyd | distracted by Julia's strumpy perfume.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "ah. davidw is quick." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unplug it" 		
	

Floyd | The cable is not plugged in to the computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take balloon" 		
	

Floyd | (standing up first)

Floyd | Yours, pollywaffle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in cabinet'" 		
	

Floyd | On the cabinet's top is a spectacularly intricate origami trophy.

Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  The zombie march has attracted
Floyd | counter-protesters.  One of them is an older man in overalls who is
Floyd | holding an American flag in one hand and a sign saying "These colors
Floyd | don't lurch" in the other.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put cable in it" 		
	

Floyd | You put the blue ethernet cable into the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can close.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying "She makes things that look like
Floyd | summer camp crafts and tries to convince people they're art."

Floyd |
Floyd | I wonder if I'd get away with it if I killed her right before my flight
Floyd | leaves tomorrow morning.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | You close the cabinet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock cabinet with key" 		
	

Floyd | You lock the cabinet.  Clever little wallaroo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It's University Drab, about a metre high with a silly fake wood front.
Floyd | It's closed and locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | On top of the cabinet is the opposite of drab: a stupendously intricate
Floyd | origami trophy.
Floyd |

Floyd | You are thinking about your bag again.  Honestly, you probably don't
Floyd | even really need a pen, except now you're obsessing about how you'd
Floyd | have a pen if only you hadn't forgotten your bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple asks, "why didn't CLOSE IT work?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in vent" 		
	

Floyd | Why would you think you can reach the vent from here?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "it thought you meant the cable" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool creaks again as you climb onto it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "(it was the last direct object)" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in vent" 		
	

Floyd | Why would you think you can reach the vent from here?
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia loudly saying "I bet when they first hooked

Floyd | up, she was like, 'Would you like to see my didgeridoo?'"  (That has to
Floyd | be the most gallingly inept fake Australian accent I have ever heard.
Floyd | She sounds like a Norwegian parakeet.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vent" 		
	

Floyd | (first getting off the stool)
Floyd | It's an ordinary vent with a metal grill.
Floyd |
Floyd | A purplish bit of something is under the right bottom corner of the

Floyd | vent.  You can't see what it is from down here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "purplish" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what

Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x purplish" 		
	

Floyd | You can't really make out what the purplish bit is from down here.

Floyd | You'd need to move something over to the door that you can stand on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move stool to door" 		
	

Floyd | The stool is now by the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  A wood-panelled van pulls up on
Floyd | the street in front of the park.  "Wood-panelled" doesn't perhaps
Floyd | describe it right, as it's more like someone put wood veneer around the
Floyd | entire frame of the van, to make it look like a ship or something.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool creaks once again as you climb onto it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x purplish" 		
	

Floyd | It's some thread.  But, like I said, nutter butter, it's stuck in the
Floyd | corner of the vent above you.  If you want to get a good look at it,
Floyd | take it first.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, cuttlefish.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia laughing and mock-shrieking "Or maybe,

Floyd | 'Touch my kiwi!  Touch my kiwi!'"  Ugh.  How can someone almost have
Floyd | her Ph.D. and not know that kiwis are New Zealand, not Australia?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x thread" 		
	

Floyd | It's perhaps ten centimetres long.  I adore lilac!  I've a jumper this
Floyd | colour (I mean, a sweater--such a quirky word.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vent" 		
	

Floyd | The vent has a square metal grill.  You try to look into the vent but
Floyd | it's dark and you are still maybe 30 centimetres or more below it.  You
Floyd | won't be able to see into the vent from here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "this ends up being a red herring. i cut about 10-15% from violet for timing reasons, including more with this." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open vent" 		
	

Floyd | I'm sure one day you'll have an office with a window you can open and a
Floyd | vent you can close.  But not while you're a graduate student.
Floyd |

Floyd | You have another incredibly annoying swoony moment because of Julia's
Floyd | perfume.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "but the vent had to stay because it figures in the ending." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in vent" 		
	

Floyd | Unfortunately, the key doesn't quite fit between the bars of the grill
Floyd | in front of the vent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grill" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a metal grid.  It's not the kind you can open or close.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break grill" 		
	

Floyd | You are trying to break random things as a way of procrastinating.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  The back door of the van opens
Floyd | and ten pirates storm out of the back, swords raised.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You are already on the stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat key" 		
	

Floyd | It looks so easy in movies!   You put it in your mouth and will
Floyd | yourself to swallow hard.  But when the key is at the top of your
Floyd | throat, some primordial terror reflex kicks in and you cough the key
Floyd | back into your hand.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Bear in mind that, meanwhile, I'm using the walk-in closet of our
Floyd | apartment as a "studio."

Floyd |
Floyd | You've a quite large desk in front of a window, a resplendent yellow
Floyd | chair, a cabinet in one corner, an absurdly large cactus in another,
Floyd | and a tall bookcase on the back wall with an incredibly cute stool.
Floyd | The door is west.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the desk are your computer, my itinerary, a cleverly framed picture
Floyd | and a pile you cannot even contemplate.  A miraculously intricate
Floyd | origami trophy sits on top of the cabinet.  A wastebasket is on the
Floyd | floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "You've been

Floyd | working out.  I've noticed."
Floyd |
Floyd | Oh no.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | (first getting off the stool)
Floyd | Two weeks ago:
Floyd | "Violet.  Take this.  Do not give it back to me for a month."
Floyd | "Is this your car key?"

Floyd | "Just the trunk.  The boot.  I put all the books from my office in
Floyd | there."
Floyd | "You said you just needed to read one more book and then you were ready
Floyd | to write."
Floyd | "And you pointed out that I've said that several times before.  You're
Floyd | right.  I've read enough.  I just need to get what's in my head onto

Floyd | the computer."
Floyd |
Floyd | Of course I'm so used to seeing your bookcase full that it's strange
Floyd | now to see it nearly empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the second shelf is a book.  On the bottom shelf is a smartly-done

Floyd | snowglobe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i'm not sure what to make more obvious that the pile is something one needs to examine." 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "that is, what to do that clues that better." 		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "I think in my case, I took a while to examine the pile because at the start, Violet was discouraging me from examining everything in the room." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing.  I'm not sure what you were expecting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "I don't know about anyone else." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key behind it" 		
	

Floyd | The bookcase is bolted firmly to the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your attention wanders as you start admonishing yourself again for

Floyd | forgetting your bag.  Oh, sweateroo.  Your gaze upward in
Floyd | self-loathing, whereupon you are suddenly distracted by something odd
Floyd | about the sprinkler in the corner above the cactus.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x sprinkler" 		
	

Floyd | Remember?  Last October:
Floyd | "Hey, wallaroo, why is there a pen between the sprinkler and the
Floyd | ceiling?"
Floyd | "It's been there since I moved in."
Floyd | "How could somebody even wedge a pen up in there like that?"

Floyd | "It's even more mysterious considering that the previous occupant of
Floyd | this office was a dwarf."
Floyd | "Marty! He was hilarious! Remember the prank with the disappearing ink
Floyd | toner cartridge?"
Floyd | "That was mostly you, dear.  All Marty did was slip it in Julia's
Floyd | printer before her big presentation."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "look under desk! under desk!" 		DavidW says, "oh dear" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x book" 		
	

Floyd | This is the latest "last book you really must read before you are able
Floyd | to write your dissertation without a nagging feeling that there is one
Floyd | more book you really must read."  If you start reading it now, hours
Floyd | will go by, and you won't write your thousand words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | It's a glass globe with a plain wooden bottom.  Inside is a happy
Floyd | winter scene, with a paunchy, smiling figurine in a white outfit and
Floyd | snow up to his ankles.  His hands look like they are covered with
Floyd | chocolate.

Floyd |
Floyd | (BTW: you know full well that Marty is not a dwarf.  He isn't even
Floyd | especially short.*)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sprinkler" 		
	

Floyd | The sprinkler looks pretty ordinary.  What's not ordinary is the pen
Floyd | that is wedged at an angle between the nozzle and the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia squealing, "Wait, it's your birthday, too?

Floyd | Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | It's a bright lavender tube, like the brand of gel-ink pen that Marty

Floyd | used to use.  There are some scratchings on the side that look like
Floyd | letters, but from here you cannot read what it says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "aside" 		
	

Floyd | It's interesting how your mind consistently malforms men who have
Floyd | crushes on me.  Colin has three tiny birthmarks on his cheek and you
Floyd | call him "Splotchy Boy."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move stool to sprinkler" 		
	

Floyd | If you want to move the charming stool, possible places are to the DESK
Floyd | (where the chair is), to the DOOR (where the stool is), to the CORNER
Floyd | by the cactus, or to the BOOKCASE.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move stool to corner" 		
	

Floyd | The stool is now as close to the corner as it can get, considering that
Floyd | the pot and cactus are in the way.  Because the floor here is uneven
Floyd | and the stool is flimsy, it's extremely wobbly.  Please do not try to

Floyd | stand on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  A pirate with a sword attacks a
Floyd | zombie who protects himself with surprising agility for the recently
Floyd | reanimated.  Another pirate affixes a mast to the top of the van.
Floyd | Still another hunches beside the van sticking a fake wooden leg over

Floyd | his real leg.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "I think I need to stop entering commands, actually. I missed if there was a designated driver" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pot" 		
	

Floyd | The pot is big and looks like pewter.  We've both been baffled at how
Floyd | heavy it is.  I wonder if the business school professor had the cactus
Floyd | specially repotted before he left just to make it more expensive for
Floyd | Madison to dispose of.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push pot" 		
	

Floyd | The pot is incredibly heavy and you cannot move it anywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i think they said it was anyone jump in." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | I wish you wouldn't, but, you climb on to the stool.  You start
Floyd | reaching up to the sprinkler but then you begin to lose your balance
Floyd | and the stool tips over beneath you and you fall, hitting your head on

Floyd | the edge of the pot.  You are out cold.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's sad to think that perhaps our relationship would have been saved
Floyd | if only you'd kept ample office supplies on hand.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Our relationship is over ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | We don't have to end this way.  You can UNDO the last turn.  You can

Floyd | also RESTART or RESTORE a saved game.  If you'd rather finish breaking
Floyd | my heart, then by all means, QUIT.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Time travel makes me twitchy.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i couldn't figure out how to display different messages each time you undo except to have them selected randomly (that is, couldn't do in order)" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea asks, "no [cycling]?" 		DavidW says, "I don't seem to be making much progress yet." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x creature" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert clears the save counter. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x balloon" 		
	

Floyd | It's about 25 centimetres across, milky white rubber decorated with
Floyd | purple ink swirls.  A strange furry thing is inside, its three long
Floyd | legs pressing against the sides.  At the bottom of the balloon is a
Floyd | bright yellow tab on which I've written "Pull me!"
Floyd |

Floyd | You are distracted by a startled grunt from Historic Pfister.  I do not
Floyd | believe this is happening.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "no, because it undoes the counter." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull yellow tab" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the tab and the balloon deflates with a pop and whoosh.  You
Floyd | hear me shout "Happy birthday!" and zestily toot a kazoo.
Floyd |

Floyd | What's left is a white rubber square with a message written on it.  You
Floyd | are also holding the three-legged furry thing, which you now realise is
Floyd | an electronic device.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "hm" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "re: save. it's impossible to get violet in an unwinnable state (to my knowledge), other than ending the game." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x square" 		
	

Floyd | It's about 10 centimetres square and has a message handwritten in
Floyd | purple on it.  One corner is a double piece stitched over so that it is

Floyd | like a tiny pouch.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the "pouch" is a small chip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "you guys managed to lose!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | You stretch the rubber square so that you can read what I've written:
Floyd |
Floyd | Happy birthday!  I know you wanted a boring ordinary music player, but

Floyd | I got my brother to send the latest piece of consumer electronics
Floyd | GENIUS from the kangaroo corridor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behold: the platyPod!  Why three headphones?  The middle one attaches
Floyd | by suction to your forehead for complete hands-free and display-free
Floyd | control.  Not to mention kick-[bother] extra bass.  Why is it furry?

Floyd | Don't ask me: Melbourne is in the throes of an epic fake-fur fad I
Floyd | don't understand.  But this is going to be a HUGE hit, and not just
Floyd | among the armless blind.
Floyd |
Floyd | Charge it with your computer.  Then SCRUNCH YOUR BROW to turn it on.
Floyd | I've already put some bonus presents on it.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are my FAVOURITE!
Floyd | Violet
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "Yeah, but last year, there were some 'terp problems that magically appeared just in time for Floyd to keep crashing while playing the Comp winner." 		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "So I figured better superstitious than sorry." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like a set of over-the-head headphones, except there is a
Floyd | third one and it's covered with short, brown fur.  There's a little

Floyd | plug that allows it to connect to the USB port of a computer.  Tiny
Floyd | letters on the plug say "platyPod."
Floyd |
Floyd | Julia's stupid perfume again.  Remember when she was all excited to
Floyd | meet Lucy's brother after she heard he was a pheromone scientist?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug playpod to port" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug in platypod" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to plug the inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug platypod in port" 		
	

Floyd | You plug in the platyPod.  It will beep when it is fully charged.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chip" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get a good look at the chip while it's still in the pouch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i never thought of PLUG PLATYPOD TO PORT." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take chip" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, chunky rabbit.
Floyd |
Floyd | (The rubber is really strong and stretchy for how thin it is, isn't it?
Floyd | I got it from a company that makes weapons-grade slingshots.)

Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  The zombies and pirates stop and
Floyd | point toward the sky to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says, "Sorry I'm late... just got in from a trip." 	
			DavidW says, "hi, Jacqueline" 	
	maga arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		olethros asks, "did you pardon any turkeys?" 	
			DavidW says, "That slingshot hint sounds like the square is the way to get the pen." 	
			DavidW says, "hi maga" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chip" 		
	

Floyd | It's like one of those chips in a musical greeting card, with a tiny
Floyd | plum-coloured "V." painted on it.  When you squeeze it you hear me

Floyd | shout "Happy birthday!" and then a cheery kazoo toot.
Floyd |
Floyd | BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!  The platyPod is fully charged.  You retrieve it and
Floyd | return to what you were doing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put chip in platypod" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a customised version of one of those chips that are in
Floyd | musical greeting cards.  You don't have to worry about trying to find
Floyd | something to put it into.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "see, davidw gets the slingshot clue. someone on rock paper shotgun said that puzzle was impossible." 		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "yes I remember the clue as well" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "squeeze chip" 		
	

Floyd | You hear me shouting "Happy birthday!" followed by a cheery kazoo toot.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Historic Pfister making noises perhaps best
Floyd | characterised as mewling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] maga says, "davidw is kind of l33t as puzzles go" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear platypod" 		
	[cfspoilers] Jacqueline says (to maga), "'Kind of?'" 		
	

Floyd | The platyPod fits nicely in your ears and against your forehead.  It is

Floyd | switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn it on" 		
	

Floyd | There's no switch of any kind of the platyPod.  It's completely

Floyd | hands-free!  (That is, once it's on your head.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The rubber square has instructions for how to turn on the platyPod.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] K-Y says, "I distinctly remembered cue #1 when cue #2 popped up" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i don't know these strange combinations of letters and numbers hip people use." 		
	[cfspoilers] olethros says, "I was somewhat stymied about what was the object i was supposed to throw at it though" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "scrunch brow" 		
	

Floyd | My voice: "Look, it even lets you record a start-up message!  How the
Floyd | platyPod works: You cycle through the different playlists by RAISING
Floyd | your left or right eyebrow.   NOD to skip to the next track.  JIGGLE
Floyd | your head clockwise to turn the volume up, and jiggle it anticlockwise
Floyd | to turn it down."
Floyd |

Floyd | The platyPod turns on.  A mechanical Aussie voice announces, "Now
Floyd | playing 'MC Dingo: Straight Outta Down Under'" You groan, because you
Floyd | are like every other parochial American who refuses to give Australian
Floyd | hip-hop a proper chance.
Floyd |
Floyd | The volume is low.  You can still sometimes hear Julia and Historic

Floyd | Pfister across the hall.
Floyd |
Floyd | You tug your hair anguishedly and say out loud, "The pen is emblematic
Floyd | of what a [bother]-up I am."  Please, chocolate crackle.  It's just a
Floyd | pen.  Don't start down one of your spirals about it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] K-Y says, "but I blanked on the syntax" 		
	[cfspoilers] Bert says, "YM 'h1p'. HTH." 		Jacqueline asks, "No such hands-free device exists, right?" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "the syntax was hard for that. it accepts anything anyone in beta tried, i think." 		Jacqueline asks, "Even without the silly name?" 	
			Lucea says, "I'm not sure how it'd pick up raising an eyebrow" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "raise right eyebrow" 		
	

Floyd | A mechanical Aussie voice announces, "Now playing Professor Detective:

Floyd | The Novel."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I don't see how it could not" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Professor Detective explains to Undergraduate Constable Duffy that a
Floyd | murderer who escapes justice will invariably kill again, and the same
Floyd | logic applies to plagiarists.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Well, and it would all be complicated by the fact that not very many people (I would suppose) can raise one eyebrow independent of the other." 	
			Lucea asks, "what of people who can't raise only one?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Professor Detective is doing a crossword during a faculty meeting when
Floyd | suddenly the lights go out and a woman screams.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Timing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | The Confounder has Professor Detective tied up in his secret hideout

Floyd | next to the cyclotron.   The Confounder cackles and taunts, "Let's see
Floyd | if tenure will save you now."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "What were we supposed to be writing again?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Professor Detective follows a shadowy figure into one of the steam
Floyd | tunnels underneath the engineering building.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I think that a device with programmable grimacing would be quite practical" 	
			olethros says (to davidw), "just stuff" 	
			Lucea says, "Dissertation." 	
			olethros asks, "thesis?" 	
			maga says, "I think a lot of people want to see a Professor Detective game" 	
			Lucea says, "er, iirc" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Man, you're really getting into the game!" 	
			olethros asks, "detects your profession?" 	
			DavidW says (to maga), "I think so too" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're as distracted as the PC." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Professor Detective understands that every second counts when you are
Floyd | trying to foil a plot to destroy the world, but these are his office
Floyd | hours.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod\" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Professor Detective sighs and clarifies to Undergraduate Constable
Floyd | Duffy that, no, what he is explaining about the muddy footprint will

Floyd | not be on the test.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "raise right eyebrow" 		
	

Floyd | A mechanical Oz voice announces, "Now playing Primrose Meanwell." She's
Floyd | the friend from uni I was telling you about.   Absolutely the shyest
Floyd | person--then last week I get an e-mail announcing she's recorded an
Floyd | album!
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Julia saying, "Wait, if today is the 24th, and

Floyd | you are 24, that makes this your golden birthday."  Well, then.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Lucea says, "I would absolutely listen to this, by the way." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Primrose sings about how she likes to write in her journal.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline steps away to take a much-needed post-travel relaxing and headache-reducing bath. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Primrose sings about how she has a special purple pen that she uses
Floyd | when she writes about boys.  I'm not sure I've ever heard a lead singer
Floyd | whose voice is so inconspicuous.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "raise right eyebrow" 		
	

Floyd | A mechanical Oz voice announces, "Now playing Warren Tim Harried:
Floyd | Greatest Hits" (Hooray!  Our favourite!)
Floyd |

Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  Holy [bother].  Somebody built a
Floyd | dirigible for this.  The outside appears to be covered in aluminium
Floyd | foil, so it's good it just missed the power lines as it descends into
Floyd | the park.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nod" 		
	

Floyd | Warren Tim Harried is playing "Please Don't (My Grandma Gave Me That)"
Floyd | from Runt with an Accordion, recorded when he was fourteen years old.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jiggle head clockwise" 		
	

Floyd | You move your head in cute little clockwise circles.  The volume is now
Floyd | so loud that you cannot hear Julia and Historic Pfister at all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "load square" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You're carrying a small chip, a rubber square, a bit of lilac thread, a
Floyd | lighter, an empty plastic bottle, a notebook and a shiny little key,
Floyd | and you're wearing the platyPod.
Floyd |

Floyd | Warren is playing "Someday They'll Go Too Far," which became a hit on
Floyd | local pirate radio stations after being discovered by school
Floyd | authorities and played on the evening news.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot key at pen" 		
	

Floyd | Hmm.  While I didn't have this in mind when I made it, the rubber
Floyd | square could be used like a slingshot if you put a suitable object in
Floyd | the little pouch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in square" 		
	

Floyd | That isn't a container, spicy biscuit.  Unless I'm misunderstanding
Floyd | what you are trying to do.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | As strong and stretchy as the rubber is, you basically have a slingshot
Floyd | now that something is in the pouch.  You could SHOOT SOMETHING.  If I'm
Floyd | going to patent this, I should think about whether this unanticipated

Floyd | functionality exposes me to any legal risk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "No Normal Boy Would Write That Song," recorded
Floyd | during a weekend furlough from a private psychiatric facility for
Floyd | troubled adolescent boys.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW shoots the harmful Gene Ray at pen, whose lips turn into bulbous green sacs of air. 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "it should understand PUT X IN SQUARE as PUT X IN POUCH." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | The key isn't going to work.  It gets half-stuck coming out of the
Floyd | pouch and then just flutters to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take pen" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach it.  The sprinkler is more than three metres off the
Floyd | floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, banana squizzle.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have got to get over Julia's perfume.  I am being indulgent with
Floyd | you here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put chip in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the small chip into the rubber square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | The chip isn't really a good shape for this.  It flies in a odd arc and
Floyd | misses several feet to the right.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take chip" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, toaster strudel.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  The zombies and pirates have
Floyd | regained their composure and are lurching and marauding (respectively)

Floyd | toward the landed aircraft.  The hatch at the bottom opens with strange
Floyd | green smoke billowing out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put lighter in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | The lighter is a bit too long to fit in the pouch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You're carrying a small chip, a shiny little key, a rubber square, a
Floyd | bit of lilac thread, a lighter, an empty plastic bottle and a notebook,
Floyd | and you're wearing the platyPod.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The only part of the label in English says "Divine Soda Mega Energy."
Floyd | The bottle is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | You look up at the ceiling.  "Colin wouldn't have forgotten his bag."

Floyd | you say ruefully.  "Colin would never be without a pen."  Please,
Floyd | mintchip.  This is not a helpful line of thinking.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take quill" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take thorn" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cactus" 		
	

Floyd | Supposedly the cactus belonged to a business school professor who left

Floyd | Madison for another university in a snit.  An accidental transposition
Floyd | of numbers on a form caused it to be moved in here instead of
Floyd | University Botanical Disposal, and your department won't pay to move it
Floyd | again so it's been here for years.
Floyd |
Floyd | Obtrusive, sure, but at least it hides that ugly pipe leading up to the

Floyd | sprinkler on your wall.  Plus plants are cheery.  I'm glad the pot is
Floyd | too heavy for you to be able to move it yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pipe" 		
	

Floyd | The garish chrome pipe was obviously added sometime after the building
Floyd | was built, in response to some amendment to the fire code.  It is flush
Floyd | against the wall and runs all the way up to a sprinkler that is only a
Floyd | few inches from the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tag" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | There was a professor at uni in Melbourne who was sacked for living in
Floyd | an office smaller than this.  He had a few kangaroos loose in the top
Floyd | paddock, as my mum would say.
Floyd |

Floyd | You've a big desk in front of a window, a gorgeous yellow chair, a
Floyd | cabinet in one corner, a giant cactus in another, and a tall bookcase
Floyd | on the back wall with an incredibly cute stool.  The door is west.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk are your computer, my itinerary, a cleverly framed picture
Floyd | and a pile you cannot even contemplate.  A fabulously intricate origami

Floyd | trophy sits on top of the cabinet.  The bookcase contains a book and a
Floyd | smartly-done snowglobe.  A wastebasket is on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "My Lonesome Pain is Not A Polka" from We Paid You
Floyd | For Happy, the artistic breakthrough composed while he supported
Floyd | himself with gigs at family reunions and retirement centres.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in wastebasket" 		
	

Floyd | It's the standard issue University Dreary--sullen cousin of University
Floyd | Drab--metal wastebasket.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wad of gum is stuck to the wastebasket's rim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gum" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the gum off the wastebasket's rim.  Ick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "roll gum" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the piece of Two Bob Slobber bubble gum into the rubber
Floyd | square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | You're looking out the window again.  Two aliens step through the
Floyd | hatch, green skin and giant foreheads.  Eight other aliens jump out of
Floyd | the bushes and start attacking the pirates and zombies with these

Floyd | silver sticks that have a chartreuse coil wrapped around them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | The gum is maybe not quite dense enough to work.  It flies in a looping

Floyd | arc and hits the ceiling several inches from the sprinkler without much
Floyd | velocity.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gum" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, crunchie.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | Underneath your desk you see the amethyst-encrusted Sword Of
Floyd | Dissertator Melancholia.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing from Drumsticks, the bootleg album recorded during a
Floyd | performance at a family fried chicken restaurant.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sword" 		
	

Floyd | Wallaroo.  I was just kidding about there being a hitherto unnoticed
Floyd | "Sword Of Dissertator Melancholia" under your desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sword" 		
	

Floyd | Don't belabour the joke.  There is no sword here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "haha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That time on the sixth floor of the library:
Floyd | "Violet, that was-- that was--"
Floyd | "Magical?"

Floyd | "How did you do that?"
Floyd | "Any sufficiently awesome girlfriend is indistinguishable from magic."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "very nice" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move wastebasket" 		
	

Floyd | Moving the wastebasket around your office isn't going to accomplish
Floyd | anything, cheese nip.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "You With the Notepad," the stunning and entirely

Floyd | improvised final track done without once breaking eye contact with a
Floyd | woman later identified as Francine Kinkle, music editor for a local
Floyd | college newspaper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "disassemble frame" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x frame" 		
	

Floyd | As I said, I took the concert flier from our first "date" and made it
Floyd | into a hard plastic laminate--you know, like a Shrinky Dink.  I made a
Floyd | clear plastic sheet the same size to go over the front of the
Floyd | photograph.  Then I fused a sturdy binder clip to the two pieces to

Floyd | hold everything in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x clip" 		
	

Floyd | I've fused the binder clip to the rest of the frame.  You can't do

Floyd | anything to it without breaking the frame, which, it goes without
Floyd | saying, has considerable sentimental value for us both.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "DISASSEMBLE FRAME, never thought of that for BREAK." 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "well, he doesn't want to break it" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in trophy" 		
	

Floyd | It's exactly the same shape as the trophy they give to the winner of
Floyd | Sydney's Marathon.  Bright fuchsia lines curl in and out of the folds.
Floyd |

Floyd | I am going to be so angry if you're hiding a story about Julia doing
Floyd | some kind of Pavlovian conditioning experiments on you with the perfume
Floyd | when the two of you dated.*
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "aside" 		
	

Floyd | Don't even try to act like that's implausible.  Julia is so twisted.
Floyd | This is the woman who once asked if she could put on an album of
Floyd | recorded 911 calls while the two of you were intimate.  (And you
Floyd | continued dating her afterwards!  Unbelievable!)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "Julia listens to Lisa Germano?" 	
			olethros says, "oh btw" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "who is julia" 		
	

Floyd | Oh, you know.  You know intimately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unfold trophy" 		
	

Floyd | You take the trophy I made for you and methodically unfold it.  I

Floyd | cannot decide whether to be exasperated or moved by how you are so
Floyd | careful not to tear it.  You're now holding a crumply sign, about a
Floyd | metre square.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ugh.  I was so excited to give you that trophy.  I realise you are
Floyd | desperate because you don't want me to leave.  You can do this.  I am

Floyd | cheering for you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "hee" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | It's all crumply now.  The bright fuchsia letters say:
Floyd |
Floyd | You are my
Floyd | FAVOURITE!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cover window with sign" 		
	

Floyd | (putting the crumply sign on the sill)
Floyd | You put the sign on the sill.  The sign and the blind together now

Floyd | block the view out your window entirely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "did we get the message about being sleepy yet?" 	
			inky says, "we got over being sleepy already" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "yay! one of the four major puzzles down." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw rubber at pen" 		
	

Floyd | It's too flappy.  It ends up just fluttering to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | You look up at the ceiling again.  "Colin finished his Ph.D.  Colin has

Floyd | a job at Yale."  Colin is not germane to your current predicament.
Floyd | It's just a pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take rubber" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, teacake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x floor" 		
	

Floyd | It's drab and would look much better if we found a rug that matched the
Floyd | chair.  (I'm not sure why I am so preoccupied with your office decor
Floyd | when what I want is for you to finish so we can get out of Madison.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The floor slopes alarmingly downward over in the corner by the cactus,
Floyd | like that whole part of the room may be about to collapse.

Floyd |
Floyd | On your floor is a wastebasket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "teacake was precious blueberry teacake and then i decided that was too much." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | Remember how Marty hung a couple of his paintings when this was his
Floyd | office?  I wish you'd put up at least a couple posters.  Your walls are
Floyd | so dreary and bare.  Not anything to worry about today, of course.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lightswitch is on the wall by the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lightswitch" 		
	

Floyd | It's just an ordinary lightswitch.  The light is on.

Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing the title track from Francine.  (Actually, all 37
Floyd | songs on the album are officially titled "Francine.")
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x light" 		
	

Floyd | It's a long, unadorned fluorescent bulb, like there is in all the other
Floyd | graduate student offices in the building.  I am so glad I bought the
Floyd | happy light for my studio.  There is no way I would get work done
Floyd | during the winter in Madison without it.  I'm so glad it's finally

Floyd | spring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | It was just some dreary old office chair that they dragged up from the

Floyd | basement for you, but then I came up one weekend with this amazing
Floyd | yellow veloury-pleatherish fabric and upholstered it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fabric" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search chair" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on your yellow chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i didn't realize X LIGHT had two sentences starting with 'I'm so glad' in it. ugh." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, marshmallow twimble.  I still can't believe I stayed up two
Floyd | nights straight making it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing the song unofficially titled "Parking Garage,"
Floyd | following the convention of identifying tracks on Francine by the
Floyd | location of the tryst the liner notes say inspired them.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It's a glass globe with a plain wooden bottom.  Inside is a happy
Floyd | winter scene, with a paunchy, smiling figurine in a white outfit and

Floyd | snow up to his ankles.  His hands look like they are covered with
Floyd | chocolate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "shake the snowglobe! shake it!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | But, you said you thought it was brilliant.  Why would you want to
Floyd | break it?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | But, you said you thought it was brilliant.  Why would you want to
Floyd | break it?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x base" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn over snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "see, this maybe i should change and let him break it." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake it" 		
	

Floyd | You shake the globe vigorously.  The snow starts swirling around the
Floyd | globe, turning pink and then red.
Floyd |

Floyd | Remember? Watching television at midnight:
Floyd | "The Saskatoon Strangler.  He killed six people before being arrested
Floyd | by the mounties in 1986."
Floyd | "A documentary about a serial killer at bedtime?"
Floyd | "Only six people, Violet.  Plus, he worked as a confectioner!"
Floyd | "If I can't sleep, you can't complain about the noise when I start

Floyd | working on something."
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Booth Seven at Steak'n'Shake," the track on Francine
Floyd | that got him tour dates opening for ironic death metal icon Jimmy
Floyd | Catkicker.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "I think so" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "yeah, i think that's better than making the person find the tater tot first." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | The snow is now a blood red blizzard roiling around the figurine in the
Floyd | middle, whose eyes now gleam sinister and whose hands now look like
Floyd | they are covered in blood instead of chocolate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | The snow becomes a beautiful blood red.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put snowglobe in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | The snowglobe is too big to fit in the pouch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i didn't realize the tater tot was going to not be immediately found by people." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bottom shelf" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the bottom shelf.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're distracted by Julia's perfume again.  I'm sure she sprayed on a

Floyd | second gallon this morning just to sidetrack you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x top shelf" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the top shelf.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x middle shelf" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the middle shelf.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x book" 		
	

Floyd | Sure, the book looks like something you'd find interesting.  I'm not
Floyd | going to describe its contents any further, though, as I don't want to
Floyd | risk enticing you to start reading it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open book" 		
	

Floyd | I can see why the book is relevant to your dissertation, but it isn't
Floyd | what you are building it up in your mind as being.  And you know that

Floyd | you don't really need to read it in order to start writing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You look once more to the ceiling.  "Colin is never without office
Floyd | supplies.  Colin never mispronounces 'Aussie' like it rhymes with
Floyd | 'bossy'."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x eraser" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x paper clip" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pile" 		
	

Floyd | It's detritus from teaching, a couple unfinished side projects, and the
Floyd | earlier dissertation topic that you asked We Never Speak Of Again.
Floyd | It's been accumulating and now makes you feel too overwhelmed even to
Floyd | contemplate.

Floyd |
Floyd | Except today, when you absolutely must write, you are feeling an
Floyd | overwhelming urge to tidy it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search pile" 		
	

Floyd | What you really feel compelled to do with the pile is tidy it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tidy pile" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up one thing, then put it back down.  You pick up another then
Floyd | put that down.  You start thinking that what you really need is
Floyd | comprehensive office-straightening solution.  You're thinking about
Floyd | making a diagram, maybe a spreadsheet.
Floyd |

Floyd | STOP.  This is not what you should be doing today.
Floyd |
Floyd | Out of the pile, however, you do pick up a potato gem.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gem" 		
	

Floyd | (I always forget they aren't called potato gems here.  Just like I can
Floyd | never remember that it's "cotton candy" instead of "fairy floss.")
Floyd |
Floyd | I think you brought tater tots for your lunch a fortnight ago.  I hope

Floyd | it's not older than that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing from his follow-up album to Francine, which was also
Floyd | titled Francine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gem in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the tater tot into the rubber square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | You're a very good shot.  I guess you were serious about that spooky
Floyd | bowhunting uncle.  The tater tot misses the pen by less than half an
Floyd | inch and hits the wall, where it shatters.
Floyd |

Floyd | I think you've the right idea, though.  One more shot and I bet you'll
Floyd | hit it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gem" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "see, now he can break the globe, but he might be misled into thinking he can't." 		DavidW asks, "waa. We need more ammo?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tidy pile" 		
	

Floyd | After the earlier try, you've realised that tidying the mess is not a
Floyd | good use of your time today.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | It's an enviable desk, even if someone did die on it.  On top are your
Floyd | computer, my itinerary, a cleverly framed picture and a pile you cannot
Floyd | even contemplate.
Floyd |

Floyd | The desk's drawer is empty.  A wastebasket is on the floor to the left.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing excerpts from "Why?," originally an eighty-three
Floyd | minute song in which he stops playing once to cry and twice to leave
Floyd | voicemails for Francine.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, uh, there's a thing you can do now you couldn't do before" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "watching a live play of one's game is even more interesting than reading a beta transcript." 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "maybe a daemon-message type thing? (yeah, I7 doesn't have daemons, I still call them that)" 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "yeah, the time makes a difference" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | Within three minutes you've taken the cable out of the cabinet and are
Floyd | watching a video of a dog dressed as a ballerina.  Oh, plucky wombat.

Floyd | If you can't be disciplined, then you'll have to be clever.
Floyd |
Floyd | You do unplug the cable again and lock it back in the cabinet.  Now,
Floyd | what to do with the key?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | I'm doing jazz hands right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple asks, "what's a daemon message?" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "It's like the every-turn rules, or the "at the time _____ happens" rules, kind of" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the shiny little key into the rubber square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | The key isn't going to work.  It gets half-stuck coming out of the
Floyd | pouch and then just flutters to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, plucky wombat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the piece of Two Bob Slobber bubble gum into the rubber
Floyd | square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "It's Because He Plays Guitar, Isn't it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "so maybe "you get a clue about really wanting to break things all of a sudden five turns from now" except maybe not so obvious." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | The gum is maybe not quite dense enough to work.  It flies in a looping
Floyd | arc and hits the ceiling several inches from the sprinkler without much
Floyd | velocity.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gum" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, honeytoast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on key" 		
	

Floyd | Clever, wonkabar.  Unfortunately, the gum's not that sticky.  You'd
Floyd | just peel it off again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "chew gum" 		
	

Floyd | When I made you try it before, you said that it tastes sort of like
Floyd | American bubble gum, only if one added soy sauce, pieces of pickled
Floyd | meat, and a bit of blood.

Floyd |
Floyd | And add to that now a strong mildew taste.  Yuck.  You gag and spit the
Floyd | gum back out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on key" 		
	

Floyd | Unfortunately, the gum's not that sticky.  You'd just peel it off
Floyd | again.
Floyd |
Floyd | Don't think you can stealthy-sniff and I won't notice.  You need to get

Floyd | over that perfume.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum in nose" 		
	

Floyd | You wouldn't be able to concentrate with the mildewy meat-gum smell.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close nose" 		
	

Floyd | That might block out Julia's maddening perfume for a few moments, but
Floyd | you can't hold your nose all afternoon.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break frame" 		
	

Floyd | You try to break the frame gently.  I fused the binder clip well,
Floyd | however, so you end up having to pull and twist to get it apart.  When

Floyd | you do, the front and back each break into several pieces, and so what
Floyd | is now on the desk along with the binder clip and photograph are some
Floyd | pitiful little plastic shards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Obviously I won't be able to repair it.
Floyd |

Floyd | I loved that frame.  I'm not sure what you are expecting me to say.
Floyd | Hooray?
Floyd |
Floyd | Remember when I handed you the itinerary last night?  Your response:
Floyd | "So I have tomorrow.  What do I need to do?"

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take clip" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Please," I told you, "I don't want yet another promise."
Floyd | "I will write tomorrow. I will write every day until it is done."
Floyd | "You won't.  You'll have reasons, excuses.  Maybe more lies.  I can't
Floyd | believe you've been lying--"

Floyd | "Violet, I will write one thousand words tomorrow.  I will bring the
Floyd | pages to you as proof.  I will do this every day."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put clip in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | Then I covered my face with my hands because otherwise I wouldn't have

Floyd | been able to say it:
Floyd | "You won't.  I know you believe that you will.  But you won't actually
Floyd | do it."
Floyd | "Of course I will, Violet.  I have to."
Floyd | "And yet you won't.  That's how we're stuck.  I can't keep waiting and
Floyd | pretending. Every day? Budgie, you won't even do it tomorrow."

Floyd | "I will.  One thousand words.  Nothing will stop me."
Floyd |
Floyd | I need for you to write today.  I wish you could just sit and type.  I
Floyd | realise you can't.  Of course it hurts to watch you destroy things I
Floyd | spent days making for you.  But do whatever you must.  I don't want to
Floyd | leave you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "yay! second puzzle almost done. (except, it's not clear it's a cutscene, is it?)" 		
	K-Y pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | Just because you are imagining me doesn't mean I'm a mindreader.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put clip in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the binder clip before you can put it into

Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | You start doing your Colin imitation.  "Why, Violet, as I was reading
Floyd | the proofs of my second book last night, I started thinking about that
Floyd | boyfriend of yours.  How is he?  Still fussing about not having a pen?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take clip" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, jellysquish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put clip in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the binder clip into the rubber square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put clip on nose" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the binder clip)
Floyd | You've put the binder clip on your nose.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x frame" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't smell anything now that you've a binder clip on your nose, so
Floyd | you're liberated from Julia's perfume ruining your concentration.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | Within three minutes you've taken the cable out of the cabinet and are
Floyd | watching a video of a dog dressed as a ballerina.  Oh, chutney.  If you
Floyd | can't be disciplined, then you'll have to be clever.
Floyd |
Floyd | You do unplug the cable again and lock it back in the cabinet.  Now,

Floyd | what to do with the key?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Careful!  You know how you get nosebleeds.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	vimes arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x photo" 		
	

Floyd | I've already described the photograph of me with the giant foam lobster
Floyd | on my head.  I am definitely worth a thousand words.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing from Listen, one of the few known albums in which a

Floyd | single artist plays guitar and accordion simultaneously.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | I'm surprised you don't have any pictures from home up, but I can be

Floyd | especially sentimental since home for me involves crossing both the
Floyd | equator and International Date Line.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've a great big desk in front of a window, a resplendent yellow
Floyd | chair, a cabinet in one corner, a giant cactus in another, and a tall
Floyd | bookcase on the back wall with an incredibly cute stool.  The door is

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk are some pitiful little plastic shards, a photograph, your
Floyd | computer, my itinerary and a pile you cannot even contemplate.  The
Floyd | bookcase holds a book.  A wastebasket is on the floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shards" 		
	

Floyd | The red and black plastic shards were once part of a frame I lovingly
Floyd | made for you, and before that they were part of a poster from the
Floyd | concert we attended on our first date.  Now they are useless.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on shards" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the pitiful little plastic shards would achieve
Floyd | nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on thread" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the bit of lilac thread would achieve nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tie thread to key" 		
	

Floyd | In Melbourne we had to be able to tie ten different kinds of knots in
Floyd | order to graduate from secondary school.  I'm not sure what would be
Floyd | accomplished by trying to tie the thread to the shiny little key,

Floyd | though.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Can Jimmy Do This?," which one music critic called
Floyd | "the most ambitious guitar solo ever by someone who had been playing
Floyd | the instrument for less than a week."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x itinerary" 		
	

Floyd | A printout of an airline receipt for a certain Ms. Violet C., for a
Floyd | flight from Madison to Chicago to Los Angeles to Auckland to Melbourne.
Floyd | One-way, refundable.  Departing early tomorrow morning.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | A printout of an airline receipt for a certain Ms. Violet C., for a
Floyd | flight from Madison to Chicago to Los Angeles to Auckland to Melbourne.

Floyd | One-way, refundable.  Departing early tomorrow morning.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read notebook" 		
	

Floyd | This page has two drawings of your advisor.  On the left she looks

Floyd | enthusiastic; on the right, worried and disappointed.  The speech
Floyd | balloon on the left says "Think big!  I've never had a student with so
Floyd | much potential!"  The balloon on the right says, "THE BEST DISSERTATION
Floyd | IS A DONE DISSERTATION."
Floyd |
Floyd | Your advisor is nutty anyway.  I'm still angry about the time she made

Floyd | you catsit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "violet's last name is crumple, btw. violet crumble is an australian candy bar." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key under door" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the key under the door.  It feels good to be rid of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | A few moments later you hear a noise and look down to see the key
Floyd | skidding back under your door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, rockmelon.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "An Inch Too Tall" from Not Exactly Fair To Them,
Floyd | recorded during the extended tour that followed Listen.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a spunky little key.  You can't break it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Am I the only one playing?" 	
	[cfspoilers] McMartin says, "It's not restricted to Australia by any means. I see it here in the States all the time." 		Lucea says, "entering in commands, yeah" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "it's the shatter that matters." 		Lucea says, "I don't know if that's how it was in the beginning; I showed up late" 	
			DavidW asks, "any ideas what the 2nd ammo might be? Or how to ditch the key?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pile" 		
	

Floyd | The pile is such a reminder of the problems you've had being scattered
Floyd | that you cannot even contemplate it without feeling defeated.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "contemplate pile" 		
	

Floyd | You can't without becoming a puddle.  This is what I'm saying.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | The PC is old but fine.  Applications include a word processor,
Floyd | browser, chat, and e-mail.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your computer is disconnected from the Internet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh, that does work" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | It's bolted to the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | You look up.  "Colin would never--"  ENOUGH.  Colin has no relevance to
Floyd | this whatsoever.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "he never opened any of the applications on the computer. alas." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | It's an excellent desk, even if someone did keel over on it.  On top
Floyd | are some pitiful little plastic shards, a photograph, your computer, my
Floyd | itinerary and a pile you cannot even contemplate.

Floyd |
Floyd | The desk's drawer is empty.  A wastebasket is on the floor to the left.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take drawer" 		
	

Floyd | That seems to be a part of your desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x knob" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mouse" 		
	

Floyd | Frankly, chutney, you're in so much trouble if you break your computer

Floyd | that I'm not sure I want you mucking about with the peripherals.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "so much for using the mouseball at ammo, eh?" 	
	[cfspoilers] vimes asks, "Did you indeed add some comp games?" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "wait. Comp games are offline." 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "The protagonist is doomed." 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "no, i was tempted, but things like the ngah angah would have had hard syntax." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tot" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search shards" 		
	

Floyd | The red and black plastic shards were once part of a frame I lovingly

Floyd | made for you, and before that they were part of a poster from the
Floyd | concert we attended on our first date.  Now they are useless.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i had ideas for a julia-related lucuburator joke." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take shards" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, marble munch.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Hedge Clippers" from This Is What You Drove Me To,
Floyd | Mrs. Kinkle-Catkicker.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lick gum" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "chew gum" 		
	

Floyd | No way are you putting that back in your mouth.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gum" 		
	

Floyd | It's a slightly wet pink blob with little specks of brown.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "squeeze gum" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "davidw keeps trying to lick things." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on key" 		
	

Floyd | Unfortunately, the gum's not that sticky.  You'd just peel it off
Floyd | again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You're carrying some pitiful little plastic shards, a shiny little key,
Floyd | a pink sticky blob of bubble gum, a deftly-crafted snowglobe, a rubber
Floyd | square, a small chip, a bit of lilac thread, a lighter, an empty

Floyd | plastic bottle and a notebook, and you're wearing the platyPod.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also have a binder clip on your nose.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Bagel Slicer," in which his playing is spirited but
Floyd | clearly far below his usual skills.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i think he's forgotten about the stool." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | Of course you can't open the snowglobe.  I sealed it with industrial
Floyd | glue.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "break it! break it!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on chip" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the small chip would achieve nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "ugh. that was definitely a design failure on my part." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x platypod" 		
	

Floyd | Presumably it looks like a three-legged space creature is attacking
Floyd | your head.  Comfy, though.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lighter" 		
	

Floyd | The lighter is promoting some race car driver whose car is #67.  Our
Floyd | Number.
Floyd |

Floyd | I was tipsy at a party and you were one of four random dudes trying to
Floyd | talk to me at once.  I interrupted to tell my favourite joke.  "Why is
Floyd | six afraid of seven?"
Floyd | "Because seven eight--"
Floyd | "No!" I shouted, "Because seven [the sickest thing I could come up with
Floyd | at the moment] nine."

Floyd |
Floyd | The other men chuckled uncomfortably.  You laughed so hard you spit
Floyd | Guinness on my face.  That was when I decided I liked you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open lighter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Teeth," in which obviously substandard musicianship
Floyd | is accompanied by complaints about the difficulty playing with only one

Floyd | finger.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. The only reason I can see the lighter used for is to start a fire to make the sprinkler turn on." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull pot" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what the purpose of doing that would be.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push pot" 		
	

Floyd | The pot is incredibly heavy and you cannot move it anywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dig pot" 		
	

Floyd | This is perhaps not the best day to evince a new interest in gardening.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		vimes says, "#tangent >POL POT" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | It's University Drab, about a metre high with a silly fake wood front.
Floyd | It's closed and locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x front" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You are going to open the door while your ex-girlfriend is hooking up
Floyd | with someone right across the hall?  And then what?  Do you really
Floyd | think that whatever happens is going to be something where you'll be
Floyd | able to write afterwards?  You need to stay here and focus.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off light" 		
	

Floyd | Done.  The room is much dimmer, with most of the light coming from the
Floyd | computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pause for a moment.  Your shoulders slump.  You say "Colin--," then

Floyd | stop.  You're thinking about the pen again, aren't you?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Here in your office, you have a huge desk, a gorgeous yellow chair, a

Floyd | cabinet, a giant cactus, a tall bookcase, and an incredibly cute stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk are a photograph, your computer, my itinerary and a pile
Floyd | you cannot even contemplate.  The bookcase contains a book.  A
Floyd | wastebasket is on the floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "stool! stool!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | Fine.  That's better than having the light only coming from the

Floyd | computer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | This is how office furniture at Wisconsin works: the bookcase is bolted

Floyd | to the wall, and yet the shelves are so rickety that I'm sure if you
Floyd | try to climb the bookcase, one of them will collapse and you'll sprain
Floyd | something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "he's so close! stool! stool!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move stool to bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | The stool is now back in its intended location by the bookcase.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool creaks once again as you climb onto it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "So I Lied (Pathetic, I Know)," from the compilation
Floyd | of songs he mailed to his manager at erratic intervals from different

Floyd | locations in the rural West.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | I think it was smart of you to take away your books, although of course

Floyd | now the bookcase does look dreary.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the second shelf is a book.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x whatever" 		
	

Floyd | (first getting off the stool)
Floyd | It's broken now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blind" 		
	

Floyd | As I've already said, I wish the blind was more colourful.  I also wish
Floyd | it wasn't stuck halfway down the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sill" 		
	

Floyd | The sill is behind and slightly below the desk.  It's painted white.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the sill is a crumply sign.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple wills davidw to get back on the stool. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "roll gum" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what

Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "mold gum" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what

Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "reshape gum" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what

Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "any ideas? I'm kinda floundering." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search pipe" 		
	

Floyd | The garish chrome pipe was obviously added sometime after the building
Floyd | was built, in response to some amendment to the fire code.  It is flush
Floyd | against the wall and runs all the way up to a sprinkler that is only a
Floyd | few inches from the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Your Cult Sounds Pretty Cool," his last known

Floyd | recording.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		vimes asks, "What's the current distraction?" 	
			DavidW says, "The pen, I guess." 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "no! it's the internet!" 		DavidW says, "I shot at it with the potato gem, but the gem shattered and I need something else." 	
			DavidW says, "I also need to ditch the key." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | For a graduate student like yourself, having an office with a window

Floyd | and a great view is almost too much to hope for.  A window that
Floyd | actually opens is, in fact, too much to hope for.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "keyhole" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x keyhole" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Nitku asks, "Is there a command that would tell what the current distraction is?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat key" 		
	

Floyd | Not to suggest you're wimpy, but I could swallow that key if I had to.
Floyd | I don't know if you are too squeamish or what.  You gag wildly and
Floyd | cough up the key almost immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on key" 		
	

Floyd | Unfortunately, the gum's not that sticky.  You'd just peel it off
Floyd | again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "WRITE" 		
	[cfspoilers] vimes says, "'write'" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat key" 		
	

Floyd | It's not going to work, sticky pudding.  You are lucky you didn't vomit

Floyd | the last time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Nitku says, "Ah of course." 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "it's also on the status line, but that doesn't carry over to Floyd." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open gum" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren Tim Harried is playing "Please Don't (My Grandma Gave Me That)"
Floyd | from Runt with an Accordion, recorded when he was fourteen years old.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wastebasket" 		
	

Floyd | It's the standard issue University Dreary metal wastebasket.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | It's the standard issue University Dreary metal wastebasket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | Underneath your desk is a portal to an enchanted realm about to be
Floyd | destroyed by an evil sorcerer who can only by stopped by you--you, the
Floyd | lost prince, possessor of hitherto untapped wizarding powers that are
Floyd | your sacred birthright.

Floyd |
Floyd | Plus, if you succeed, a team of faerie elves will write your
Floyd | dissertation for you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		vimes says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x realm" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x portal" 		
	

Floyd | I wish there really was a portal.  Faerie elves rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | Okay.  You should go back to trying to write.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "best. desk. evar." 	
			DavidW asks (of inky), "What's the thing I can do now that I couldn't before?" 	
			vimes says, "no argument there. My desk sucks. (The portal to the realm from my office was the otherwise-worthless closet.)" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "originally there were four things under the desk. but that got a little much." 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "break the snowglobe." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move stool to door" 		
	

Floyd | The stool is now by the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | You pause and look wallowy.  You slouch.  It's just a pen.  Please.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool creaks once again as you climb onto it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vent" 		
	

Floyd | The vent has a square metal grill.  You try to look into the vent but
Floyd | it's dark and you are still maybe 30 centimetres or more below it.  You

Floyd | won't be able to see into the vent from here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "light lighter" 		
	

Floyd | The lighter ultimately doesn't work well, just flickering enough that

Floyd | you can maybe BURN something.  (Burning things!  Yay!)  You wouldn't be
Floyd | able to use it as a source of illumination.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn cactus" 		
	

Floyd | (first getting off the stool)
Floyd | When my brother did his year abroad in the US, it was at a place called
Floyd | the Burning Cactus ranch.  Did I ever tell you that?  I guess I
Floyd | must've.  Anyway, it would be fabulous to set the cactus on fire, but
Floyd | you don't seem to be able to manage it with the lighter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see how you'd be able to burn that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Someday They'll Go Too Far," which became a hit on

Floyd | local pirate radio stations after being discovered by school
Floyd | authorities and played on the evening news.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stool" 		
	

Floyd | Remember?  Me, looking triumphant as I haul the flimsy stool into our
Floyd | apartment:
Floyd | "Look what I found in the dumpster!  Just what you need!"
Floyd | "Do you think it will collapse if I stand on it?"
Floyd | "Not immediately.  Just be careful."
Floyd | "I can't believe the secretary said I was 'undeserving' when I asked if

Floyd | I could have a stool."
Floyd | "This stool is better, anyway.  Maybe I'll paint it!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha portal... I never saw that. This game has so many tiny bits that give me joy." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | OK.  I'm done with this.  There's actually nothing under your desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under desk" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under your desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x finneal" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple asks, "what's a finneal?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x photo" 		
	

Floyd | I've already described the photograph of me with the giant foam lobster
Floyd | on my head.  I am definitely worth a thousand words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn photo over" 		
	

Floyd | I understand neither what you are wanting to do nor why.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "No Normal Boy Would Write That Song," recorded
Floyd | during a weekend furlough from a private psychiatric facility for

Floyd | troubled adolescent boys.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plastic" 		
	

Floyd | The red and black plastic shards were once part of a frame I lovingly

Floyd | made for you, and before that they were part of a poster from the
Floyd | concert we attended on our first date.  Now they are useless.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x laminate" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dissertation" 		
	

Floyd | You've made some really handsome margin and font choices already for
Floyd | your dissertation, wallaroo.  Now all you need is text.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "http://www.denninger.com/whatisf.htm" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look tired, which is understandable given the length of our
Floyd | "discussion" last night.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're carrying some pitiful little plastic shards, a shiny little key,

Floyd | a pink sticky blob of bubble gum, a deftly-crafted snowglobe, a rubber
Floyd | square, a small chip, a bit of lilac thread, a lighter, an empty
Floyd | plastic bottle and a notebook, and you're wearing the platyPod.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also have a binder clip on your nose.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in bottle" 		
	

Floyd | I'm not sure what that would accomplish.  If you put the key in the
Floyd | bottle, you'll just be able to get it back out again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn bottle" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see how you'd be able to burn that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "My Lonesome Pain is Not A Polka" from We Paid You

Floyd | For Happy, the artistic breakthrough composed while he supported
Floyd | himself with gigs at family reunions and retirement centres.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i don't know why X ME doesn't provide the inventory more commonly." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "melt bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn gum" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see how you'd be able to burn that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i wish he'd turn the channel to MC Dingo." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x notebook" 		
	

Floyd | It's a smallish notebook, about 10x15 centimetres.  As you're holding
Floyd | it now, the cover features Professor Detective telling Undergraduate
Floyd | Constable Duffy, "In both my vocations, intelligence means little

Floyd | without DISCIPLINE."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "read notebook! read notebook!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "discipline me" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what
Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read notebook" 		
	

Floyd | On the top half of this page are a few beginnings of sentences, all
Floyd | crossed out.  On the bottom you've written:
Floyd |
Floyd |  lazy       lazy
Floyd |     lazy    lazy lazy
Floyd |       lazy lazy

Floyd |   lazy    lazy    lazy
Floyd |         lazy   lazy
Floyd |    lazy   lazy     lazy
Floyd |       lazy    lazy
Floyd |
Floyd | Wallaroo.  You are not lazy.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read notebook" 		
	

Floyd | On this page you've just written:
Floyd |

Floyd |         FAILURE
Floyd |         FAILURE
Floyd |         FAILURE
Floyd |         FAILURE
Floyd |         FAILURE
Floyd |         FAILURE

Floyd |         FAILURE
Floyd |
Floyd | You are such a drama queen.  We are going to get your dissertation
Floyd | unstuck today.  You'll wish you'd thought to bring me along sooner.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read notebook" 		
	

Floyd | The remaining pages of the notebook are blank.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pause and look morose.  You do the thing where you put your hands
Floyd | on your temples and start tugging your hair.  Please forget about the

Floyd | pen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn notebook" 		
	

Floyd | Given your conviction that you must have a pen and notebook handy in

Floyd | order to write on your computer, you'd better not.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to DavidW), "#belated you can break something now" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break window" 		
	

Floyd | It's hard for me to see what purpose breaking your window would serve.
Floyd | More importantly, someone would almost certainly see and call campus
Floyd | security, and that will introduce new hassles to your afternoon and
Floyd | prevent you from getting any writing done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "(I can get more explicit, but you're running out of stuff to break)" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a spunky little key.  You can't break it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break stool" 		
	

Floyd | Why would you do that?  Besides my having painted the stool so lovely
Floyd | for you, you wouldn't be able to get to anything on top of the bookcase
Floyd | anymore.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | Ugh.  Okay.  You break the snowglobe against the pipe.  You pick up the
Floyd | figurine and the base, the latter of which you realise now was just a
Floyd | coaster I took from the kitchen.  You leave the broken glass on the

Floyd | floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | I can make another snowglobe easy enough.  The figurine is intact, and
Floyd | that's the part that took more than two days.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing from Drumsticks, the bootleg album recorded during a

Floyd | performance at a family fried chicken restaurant.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coaster" 		
	

Floyd | It's a University of Wisconsin coaster, with a photo of the mascot

Floyd | Bucky Badger on the front.  Bucky's beady eyes never fail to creep me
Floyd | out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put coaster in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | The coaster is too big to fit in the pouch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x figurine" 		
	

Floyd | Luckily he's not damaged.  He looks smaller outside the globe.  I don't
Floyd | know if I will want to make another snowglobe or do something
Floyd | different.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put figurine in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | Done.  I'm not sure I like this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot pen" 		
	

Floyd | The Saskastoon Strangler sails through the air and hits the pen
Floyd | headfirst, knocking it loose.  The pen falls to the floor. The figurine
Floyd | careens ahead into the wall and shatters.
Floyd |

Floyd | Unbelievable.  Un-be-[bother]ing-lievable.
Floyd |
Floyd | Remember?  That night sitting on the swings, shortly after we started
Floyd | dating?  I was emphatic that we had to end this before we got serious.

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | "But, Violet," you said, "I'm already serious."
Floyd | "Coming to Wisconsin was supposed to be a great adventure.  I didn't
Floyd | know it was so cold.  I thought Madison was bigger.  I miss my family.
Floyd | My friends are all leaving when they finish their MFAs.  Mine is
Floyd | already done.  We only have a future if I stay.  And if I stay, I would
Floyd | just be waiting."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | We had that conversation the day after you turned 28, because I was
Floyd | determined to break up with you and thought only a cretin would dump
Floyd | someone on their birthday.

Floyd |
Floyd | You convinced me to stay.  You said you would be done in a year, a year
Floyd | and a half at the most.   Instead: two years now.  Two years.  And this
Floyd | is what you need to do because you can't just sit your [bother] down
Floyd | and write?
Floyd |

Floyd | I know you aren't doing this to hurt me.  I'll try go back to being
Floyd | Your Upbeat Aussie Girlfriend.  But, honestly: what am I supposed to
Floyd | think here?  How am I supposed to feel?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take pen" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, weet-bix.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "You With the Notepad," the stunning and entirely
Floyd | improvised final track done without once breaking eye contact with a

Floyd | woman later identified as Francine Kinkle, music editor for a local
Floyd | college newspaper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read pen" 		
	

Floyd | I cannot be blamed for Marty leaving you a pen with "You do not deserve
Floyd | Violet" etched on the side.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sprinkler" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like an ordinary sprinkler.  Nothing intriguing about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple asks, "whoa! bug?" 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "hmm, it's "weet-bix" and not "weetabix", hunh" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "it's weet-bix in australia, weetabix in the uk." 		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "aha" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x glass" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "water" 		
	

Floyd | You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what

Floyd | you mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x water" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | Within three minutes you've taken the cable out of the cabinet and are

Floyd | watching a video of a dog dressed as a ballerina.  Oh, dundeecake.  If
Floyd | you can't be disciplined, then you'll have to be clever.
Floyd |
Floyd | You do unplug the cable again and lock it back in the cabinet.  Now,
Floyd | what to do with the key?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "he just has the internet puzzle left" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You're carrying a shiny little key, a pen, a coaster, some pitiful

Floyd | little plastic shards, a pink sticky blob of bubble gum, a rubber
Floyd | square, a small chip, a bit of lilac thread, a lighter, an empty
Floyd | plastic bottle and a notebook, and you're wearing the platyPod.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also have a binder clip on your nose.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn shards" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see how you'd be able to burn that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you actually saw the solution to this already" 	
			inky says, "not that that helps you much" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "well, no, i guess the platypod and the book, as well. the book hasn't even shown itself as a problem because he hasn't solved the internet puzzle." 		DavidW says, "I tried eating the key and sticking the gum to it." 	
			DavidW says, "and pushing it under the door and putting it in the vent" 	
			Lucea says, "you're not going to be able to do anything if you've still got access to that key" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat key" 		
	

Floyd | It's not going to work, berry smush.  You are lucky you didn't vomit
Floyd | the last time.
Floyd |

Floyd | Warren is playing the title track from Francine.  (Actually, all 37
Floyd | songs on the album are officially titled "Francine.")
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, those are all reasonable (just not correct)" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key under door" 		
	

Floyd | A few moments later someone has slid the key back into your office.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, wallaroo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "the vent is probably the closest to the right idea" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "he hasn't noticed the theme with the puzzles." 		DavidW says, "I would guess there's a drain under the cactus." 	
			DavidW says, "The floor tipping that way and the sprinkler would argue for a drain there." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x drain" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "the reason for the cactus is to disallow a whole lot of ways of trying to get to the pen." 		inky says, "hmm, I think the floor is just tippy there to keep you from getting at the sprinkler conveniently" 	
			DavidW says, "I can't toss the key out the window" 	
			inky says, "that is correct" 	
			DavidW says, "There doesn't seem to be a way to open the grill of the vent." 	
			inky says, "that is also correct" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum on thread" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the bit of lilac thread would achieve nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "there isn't. the vent is just there for the ending." 		
	[cfspoilers] Jacqueline says, "Oh please tell me he tried putting the key under the door. I'm afraid I have a headache and I'm only half paying attention, unfortunately." 		inky says, "it is generally true that you have to put the key somewhere and then do something so you can't get it back again" 	
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "he did" 		DavidW says, "The lighter is explicitly not a lightsource, so it can't help me see into the vent." 	
			Lucea says, "It's a good thing Marty isn't the one writing; he might have considerably more trouble." 	
	[cfspoilers] Jacqueline says, "yay" 		DavidW says, "I wanted to melt the plastic shards or bottle onto the key to make it unusable." 	
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "I hope that wasn't too obvious." 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "the message for PUT KEY UNDER VENT is better if you don't have the platypod on though." 		DavidW asks, "Does the cabinet autolock? I can't just put the key in the cabinet WITH the cable, can I?" 	
			inky says, "alas no" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in pouch" 		
	

Floyd | You put the shiny little key into the rubber square's "pouch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put pouch under door" 		
	

Floyd | I don't really see what that would accomplish, dundeecake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take key" 		
	

Floyd | Yours, wallaroo.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing the song unofficially titled "Parking Garage,"
Floyd | following the convention of identifying tracks on Francine by the
Floyd | location of the tryst the liner notes say inspired them.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on cactus" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the giant cactus would achieve nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in pot" 		
	

Floyd | That won't work.  You would just fish it out again later, dundeecake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key in computer" 		
	

Floyd | That isn't a container, wallaroo.  Unless I'm misunderstanding what you
Floyd | are trying to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unscrew pen" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pen" 		
	

Floyd | With its cap on it looks like a bright lavender tube.  Crudely etched
Floyd | on the side is a message:
Floyd |
Floyd | You do not deserve Violet

Floyd |
Floyd | Eek.  Apparently Marty had it for me worse than I realised.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove cap" 		
	

Floyd | When you take off the cap, purple gunk sprays out of it and all over
Floyd | your clothes.  Marty!
Floyd |
Floyd | I don't know how he rigged that.  I also don't know why men conclude
Floyd | that the best way of expressing anguish over me is through some display
Floyd | of mechanical cleverness.  Remember Colin and the 50-foot aluminium

Floyd | peacock?
Floyd |
Floyd | The pen itself actually works.  Of course, your clothes are ruined.
Floyd | Worse, you are starting to itch.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "Booth Seven at Steak'n'Shake," the track on Francine

Floyd | that got him tour dates opening for ironic death metal icon Jimmy
Floyd | Catkicker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "there is some kind of bug with X PEN, although it won't otherwise affect gameplay." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x clothes" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know what the purple gunk is, but it's certainly making you
Floyd | itch.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are itchy.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove clothes" 		
	

Floyd | You place your clothes neatly next to the cactus.
Floyd |

Floyd | So now you're standing in your office naked, with a red binder clip on
Floyd | your nose and what looks like a furry three-legged space creature on
Floyd | your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are ready to write now.  I can feel it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hooray." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | It's a completely ordinary pen cap.  I still don't understand how Marty
Floyd | rigged it to squirt that purple gunk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. Still don't know what to do about the key." 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "it shouldn't have said he's ready to write now, though. none of the beta testers this part before solving the internet puzzle, but i should have anticipated the possibility." 		inky says, "ok, bigger hint: you need to put it someplace, then ensure you can't reach it again" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "davidw would be an awesome beta tester, i suspect." 		DavidW says, "hm. I see no bondage equipment here." 	
	[cfspoilers] Jacqueline says, "Yes, he is." 		inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "uh" 	
			inky says, "you're already naked, how much more fanservice do you want from this game" 	
			DavidW asks, "Violet, where's the handcuffs?" 	
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "lucea was a completely excellent beta tester." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "find handcuffs" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tattoo" 		
	

Floyd | "TYVTWD" in red marker on the back of your right hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x birthmark" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea exclaims, "Thanks!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw key at sprinkler" 		
	

Floyd | There's no point to doing that now that the pen is no longer wedged
Floyd | above the sprinkler.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw key at light" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what that would accomplish.  Please just write.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing from his follow-up album to Francine, which was also

Floyd | titled Francine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on light" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the fluorescent light would achieve nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "maybe it'd help if he hadn't gotten the trophy yet" 		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "since it mentions that the trophy's on top of the cabinet" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on whatever" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the whatever would achieve nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on bind" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you are talking about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on blind" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the blind would achieve nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you do have to put it someplace high, yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Here in your office, you have a huge desk, a resplendent yellow chair,
Floyd | a cabinet, a giant cactus, a tall bookcase, and an incredibly cute
Floyd | stool.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the desk are a photograph, your computer, my itinerary and a pile
Floyd | you cannot even contemplate.  The bookcase holds a book.  In addition,
Floyd | on the floor are your clothes, fake snow and a wastebasket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on top of bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | The bookcase is too tall for you to put anything on top of it unless
Floyd | you are standing on the stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move stool to bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | The stool is now back in its intended location by the bookcase.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing excerpts from "Why?," originally an eighty-three
Floyd | minute song in which he stops playing once to cry and twice to leave

Floyd | voicemails for Francine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | This is how office furniture at Wisconsin works: the bookcase is bolted

Floyd | to the wall, and yet the shelves are so rickety that I'm sure if you
Floyd | try to climb the bookcase, one of them will collapse and you'll sprain
Floyd | something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on top of bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | The bookcase is too tall for you to put anything on top of it unless
Floyd | you are standing on the stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on stool" 		
	

Floyd | The stool creaks once again as you climb onto it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put key on top of bookcase" 		
	

Floyd | Curious, dundeecake.  Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You are already on the stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "get off stool" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Warren is playing "It's Because He Plays Guitar, Isn't it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break stool" 		
	

Floyd | Gently, but irreparably, you break the stool.
Floyd |
Floyd | I know it was practically broken already, but I loved that stool.  I
Floyd | know I said to do "whatever you must."  It still hurts to watch what

Floyd | that "must" is taking from us.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ultimately, yes, I understand.  Then again, I'm speaking just as your
Floyd | imaginary rendition of me.  Actual-Me was already fed up enough to buy
Floyd | a plane ticket; I'm not sure how you expect to explain this.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "oh yeah, I would like it if 'stand' got down off the thing you were on" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple exclaims, "hooray!" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | You try again.  Within a few seconds you start wondering what the fear
Floyd | of writing is called.  Scribophobia?  Graphophobia?  You go to look it
Floyd | up online.  You can't.  You itch to check your e-mail.  You can't.
Floyd |
Floyd | So you start thinking about Chapter 3 again.  Woo-woo!   The train of

Floyd | ideas is finally pulling into keyboard station.  I can see the first
Floyd | sentence now.
Floyd |
Floyd | But the music is so loud that it spoils your concentration and
Floyd | everything derails.  Ugh.  It's like trying to write while sitting next
Floyd | to the amps at a concert.   I didn't think I could possibly hate Julia

Floyd | any worse than after she posted my cell phone # on those marsupial
Floyd | fetish listservs.  You cannot let her win.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky asks, "isn't that an inform standard?" 		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "i don't know. i wrote the code for getting on and off myself because it didn't do something else the way i wanted. i'll put it on my list, though." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "raise right eyebrow" 		
	

Floyd | The platyPod clicks and the oz-hop you fail to properly appreciate
Floyd | resumes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | The volume on the platyPod is too loud for you to concentrate.
Floyd |
Floyd | Not to be morbid, but it's too bad you aren't a bit hard of hearing.

Floyd | Then the platyPod could block out the remaining noise without being too
Floyd | loud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jiggle head clockwise" 		
	

Floyd | You move your head in adorable little clockwise circles.  TOO LOUD!
Floyd | TOO LOUD!  You jiggle your head anticlockwise to turn it back down.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glance over to the book.  You're fidgeting.  You know you've
Floyd | already more than enough ideas for a first draft.  Just put the book
Floyd | out of your mind today.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn book" 		
	

Floyd | (standing up first)
Floyd | Gee, budgie.  Far be it from me to be the moral conscience when fire is

Floyd | involved, but that's a library book.  There's bound to be a hefty fine.
Floyd | And it seems a little insane.  If you really want to, we can, but it
Floyd | shouldn't be a rash decision.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "burn book" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the book)
Floyd | I was secretly hoping you would.  You light the book on fire and it
Floyd | burns magnificently!  Yay!  That was epic to watch, and now we don't
Floyd | have to deal with you being tempted anymore to read.

Floyd |
Floyd | The coughing and light smoke damage are well worth it.   I'll go
Floyd | halfsies on the library fine.
Floyd |
Floyd | As for the sprinkler: nothing.  Not one drop.  Don't even pretend to be
Floyd | surprised to learn that the University gives graduate students offices

Floyd | in a death-trap.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] Lucea says, "out of all the things I had to do, that one was the hardest" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | (first sitting on chair)
Floyd | The volume on the platyPod is too loud for you to concentrate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jiggle head counterclockwise" 		
	

Floyd | You move your head in jaunty little anticlockwise circles. The volume
Floyd | is not loud.  You can still sometimes hear Julia and Historic Pfister
Floyd | across the hall.  (Hopefully the platyPod 2.0 will allow more precise
Floyd | volume control.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You're ready to write.  Except now you are looking at the door.  True,
Floyd | you can still sometimes hear Julia and Historic Pfister across the
Floyd | hall.  The noise not loud enough as to normally be a distraction, but I
Floyd | can understand that your ex-girlfriend and some dork hooking up is not

Floyd | "normally."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum in ears" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything in your ears so long as you are wearing the

Floyd | platyPod.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are distracted by Historic Pfister's shrieking attempts to summon a
Floyd | deity.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove platypod" 		
	

Floyd | The platyPod automatically turns off when you remove it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gum in ears" 		
	

Floyd | You are marvellous.  The gum does not block out all sound, but some.
Floyd | You can still hear Julia and Historic Pfister when they are being
Floyd | especially loud.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear platypod" 		
	

Floyd | The platyPod still fits well, as the earpieces nestle nicely into the
Floyd | gum.  The platyPod is switched off.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "ooh, he got that right away. he's all done except for the peeing." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "scrunch brow" 		
	

Floyd | My voice: "Look, it even lets you record a start-up message!  How the

Floyd | platyPod works: You cycle through the different playlists by RAISING
Floyd | your left or right eyebrow.   NOD to skip to the next track.  JIGGLE
Floyd | your head clockwise to turn the volume up, and jiggle it anticlockwise
Floyd | to turn it down."
Floyd |
Floyd | The platyPod turns on.  The platyPod clicks and the oz-hop you fail to

Floyd | properly appreciate resumes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The volume is on low, and it's even lower with the gum in your ears.
Floyd | Nonetheless, you can still sometimes faintly hear Julia and Historic
Floyd | Pfister across the hall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "ha ha" 		
	[cfspoilers] maga asks, "is heteronormativity on?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jiggle head clockwise" 		
	

Floyd | You move your head in endearing little clockwise circles.  The volume
Floyd | is still not that loud given the gum in your ears, but you can no
Floyd | longer hear Julia and Historic Pfister at all.  Hee.  Take that, Julia!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You try again.  But then you hear MC Dingo rhyme "casino" and "albino"
Floyd | and it breaks your concentration entirely.  When I put oz-hop on your
Floyd | platyPod, I wasn't really thinking of it as writing music.
Floyd |

Floyd | MC Dingo contends that you're not a real gangsta unless you come from a
Floyd | country originally founded as a gangsta colony.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple says, "he didn't do ABOUT, so he didn't see that option." 		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "raise left eyebrow" 		
	

Floyd | The platyPod clicks and Warren is kicking [bother] on his accordion
Floyd | again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You try again.  But then you start doing air accordion to Warren Tim
Floyd | Harried.  I'm not sure how easy it is going to be able for you to write
Floyd | while the most compelling musician ever is playing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "raise left eyebrow" 		
	

Floyd | The platyPod clicks and the nondescript melodies of Primrose Meanwell
Floyd | begin once more.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | You write two more sentences.  I can tell you're feeling more
Floyd | confident.  I knew you could do this.  You conclude the first paragraph
Floyd | with an especially provocative participle.  Then you hit enter and
Floyd | realise:
Floyd |
Floyd | You have to pee.

Floyd |
Floyd | Unbelievable.  This must be an anxiety thing.  You are killing me.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pee in bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You do.  Obviously I didn't watch.  I'm disgusted but proud of your
Floyd | perseverance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[cfspoilers] crumple asks, "was that a bug?" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write" 		
	

Floyd | You write a second paragraph.  Then a third.  You're past a thousand
Floyd | words within a few hours.  You decide you want to finish the entire
Floyd | section.  You do.  Not your best prose, but that isn't the point.

Floyd | Julia and the zombies have long gone when you finish, which you are
Floyd | thankful for when you need to run naked out to the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | You rehearse what you want to tell me all the way home.  Instead,
Floyd | there's a note on the door:
Floyd |

		
	[cfspoilers] inky says, "I think it was just pausing to hit a key" 		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |    Gone.  Sorry.
Floyd |
Floyd |    Violet

Floyd |
Floyd | You had to have known I was going to leave you anyway.  All the clues
Floyd | were there.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | "SURPRISE!" thirty people jump up and shout when you open the door.
Floyd | Good thing you were covering your [bother] with the pages you wrote.
Floyd |
Floyd | One hour and three drinks later, you aren't even that embarrassed.  I
Floyd | pull you into the kitchen and kiss you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You said you wanted something twisted for your birthday."
Floyd | "I was thinking more along the lines of you in peculiar lingerie."
Floyd | "I spent much of today hyperventilating thinking it was too cruel."
Floyd | "I figured out some important things today.  So, at worst, it was an
Floyd | extremely instructive cruel."
Floyd | "I'll still understand if you're angry."

Floyd | "You're the one who's going to be angry.  I have to tell you something
Floyd | about the snowglobe.  And the origami trophy.  And--"
Floyd |
Floyd | I put my hand on your chest to stop you.  "I've a confession that
Floyd | supersedes yours."

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | I open up my laptop and show you.  On my screen is your office, as seen
Floyd | from the vent above the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Of course you're bewildered.  I explain: "When I was hiding your

Floyd | birthday present, I rigged a camera up there.  Not to spy!  Or, not to
Floyd | spy like that. I needed to know when you were coming home for the
Floyd | party.  I thought it would just be you at your computer.  I didn't know
Floyd | you'd end up naked and peeing in a soda bottle."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I spent the entire day imagining that you were watching me," you say.

Floyd | "Maybe it only worked because you actually were."
Floyd | "Watching you break everything was maddening," I tell you, "but I'm
Floyd | still here.  I understand, even.  Sort of.  So long as you understand
Floyd | that you're only getting store-bought presents for a while."
Floyd |
Floyd | We've reached the hard part.  "I'm committed to this, budgie.  But I

Floyd | don't know what we're going to do with you."

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | "No, Violet.  What are we going to do with you?  My turn is done.  It's
Floyd | the only fair thing."
Floyd | "You've been miserable.  You'll be happier this way."

Floyd | "I'm already happier.  Today made it so clear.  This is not what I'm
Floyd | meant to be doing with my life.  I know, I've spent six years in
Floyd | graduate school, I should be crying right now.  Instead I feel
Floyd | wonderful.  I love you so much."
Floyd |
Floyd | Me too, wallaroo.

Floyd |
Floyd | Three weeks later we are holding hands in the supereconomy section of a
Floyd | flight to Australia.  My brother is lending me money to open a
Floyd | curiosities shop.  He's found you a job at a comic book shop until you
Floyd | decide what's next.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | * * *
Floyd |
Floyd | I know it's not precisely Plan A, but we are happy and unstuck.  This
Floyd | is winning.  What now?  I understand if you just want to QUIT now that

Floyd | the merry glow of victory is upon us.  But you can also UNDO the last
Floyd | turn, RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or (bonus!) view some of the
Floyd | so-called AMUSING things you might've missed.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "amusing" 		
	

Floyd | Apparently a tradition in these games is that a victorious player is
Floyd | allowed to view a list of humorous things they may've missed on the
Floyd | path to triumph.  While I remain nonplussed that a stranger has turned
Floyd | one of the more emotionally complicated days of my romantic life into a

Floyd | "text adventure" game, I've resolved to be a sport about it.
Floyd | Forthwith, then, let me review some possibly-overlooked highlights of
Floyd | our neuroses:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1.  ABOUT, CREDITS, and COPYRIGHT were also written by Actual Me.
Floyd |

Floyd | 2.  On your computer, you can OPEN BROWSER (multiple times), OPEN
Floyd | E-MAIL (ditto), and OPEN CHAT (eek).
Floyd |
Floyd | 3.  Various commands commonly implemented in other games have their own
Floyd | responses here, including QUIT, BUY (something), SING, SCORE, SECRETS,
Floyd | TOPICS, TIME, SORRY, NORMAL, SHORT, VERBOSE, THINK ABOUT something,

Floyd | REMEMBER, CRY, WAVE, and the traditional magic word XYZZY.
Floyd |
Floyd | 4.  After you SHAKE THE GLOBE, EXAMINE IT for a few successive turns
Floyd | and/or EXAMINE THE FIGURINE.
Floyd |
Floyd | 5.  Some things you may have missed examining along the way: ME, JULIA

Floyd | (once she's around), LIQUID, GUNK, THREAD (then take something), GUM a
Floyd | second time, ZOMBIE (couple of times), PIRATE, CEILING, WALL, and
Floyd | FLOOR.  Also, the notebook has several pages to READ and its lenticular
Floyd | cover changes messages when you examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | 6.  Some of the ways to achieve less happy endings to the game are to

Floyd | BURN PILE, insist on trying to OPEN DOOR once Julia is around, MOVE
Floyd | STOOL TO CORNER and STAND ON STOOL, MAKE LOVE TO JULIA, either EXAMINE
Floyd | BOOK too many times or carry the book too many turns, and THROW
Floyd | WASTEBASKET AT PEN.
Floyd |
Floyd | 7.  Much miscellany, a few examples of which are LOOK UNDER DESK,

Floyd | SWALLOW GUM and KEY, DELETE BROWSER or CHAT, BURN
Floyd | COASTER/PLATYPOD/CACTUS, PUT SQUARE IN POUCH, OPEN VENT, ASK VIOLET
Floyd | ABOUT SOMETHING, PUT KEY IN PILE (after cable is in cabinet), RIP
Floyd | CABLE, do anything to the JACK, PUT things in NOSE, KICK something,
Floyd | CLIMB BOOKCASE, TAKE VIOLET, and SLIDE KEY UNDER DOOR.
Floyd |

Floyd | 8.  As (bonus!) easter eggs, WARREN EGG presents all the Warren Tim
Floyd | Harried tracks, JULIA EGG presents all the main events across the hall,
Floyd | and PETNAME EGG greets you with one of my petnames.
Floyd |
Floyd | I'm debuting a new line of stainless steel numbats at the shop and
Floyd | won't keep prattling.  My husband has sworn off the Internet and so

Floyd | can't type this himself, but he wanted me to tell you hello and that,
Floyd | even though he's sometimes wistful about not finishing his Ph.D., it
Floyd | was plainly for the best.
Floyd |
Floyd | Epilogically yours,
Floyd | Violet

Floyd |
Floyd | Now what, wallaroo?  Shall we UNDO, RESTART, RESTORE, or just QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hooray" 	
			inky says, "once again you demonstrate your superior puzzle-solving abilities" 	
			DavidW says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "petname egg" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.

Floyd |
Floyd | Now what, dundeecake?  Shall we UNDO, RESTART, RESTORE, or just QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		crumple says, "you had an unusual order through the game, partly because you got the gist of the pen puzzle right away." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now what, wallaroo?  Shall we UNDO, RESTART, RESTORE, or just QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		inky says, "hunh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), ""cf4"" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Restore failed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now what, dundeecake?  Shall we UNDO, RESTART, RESTORE, or just QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "petname egg" 		
	

Floyd | Hey, wallaroo.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "petname egg" 		
	

Floyd | You're great, dundeecake.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "petname egg" 		
	

Floyd | I adore you, wallaroo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "petname egg" 		
	

Floyd | You're the best, dundeecake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "I think this might work better by restarting" 	
			inky says, "I'll just do this all day" 	
			inky says, "when I am feeling :C" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "julia egg" 		
	

Floyd | 1.  Somebody is coming up the stairs.  I thought you said no one ever
Floyd | comes in on the weekend?
Floyd |
Floyd | 2.  Two voices in the hallway: a man and Julia.  Julia hasn't been in
Floyd | her office in weeks.  She shows up on a Saturday?
Floyd |

Floyd | 3.  Julia is here to sabotage you.  I'm sure of it.  She's in her
Floyd | office across the hall now, talking loudly with her door open.
Floyd |
Floyd | 4.  The dude with Julia sounds like the one she was flirting with at
Floyd | Lucy's party.  Remember?  He was scrawny and said his parents owned a
Floyd | hotel in Milwaukee called "The Historic Pfister."

Floyd |
Floyd | 5.  I don't know why I confided in Lucy about our problems.  I should
Floyd | have known she would tell Julia.
Floyd |
Floyd | 6.  You are distracted by Julia laughing inauthentically and telling
Floyd | Historic Pfister "You are so clever."

Floyd |
Floyd | 7.  You are distracted by Julia talking about her abs.
Floyd |
Floyd | 8.  You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly "...You could
Floyd | use mine to calculate pi..."*
Floyd |

Floyd | 9.  You are distracted by Julia going on loudly about how you get a
Floyd | discount if you get both tongue piercings at the same time.
Floyd |
Floyd | 10.  You are distracted by Julia talking about her [bother].  I can't
Floyd | believe you dated someone so crass.
Floyd |

Floyd | 11.  You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "Impressive,
Floyd | huh?  When I was in high school my guidance counsellor recommended that
Floyd | I become a contortionist."
Floyd |
Floyd | 12.  You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "It's not so
Floyd | much that I'm double jointed as just very determined."

Floyd |
Floyd | 13.  You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "Sure, she's
Floyd | cute.  If you can get past the mole."
Floyd |
Floyd | Hey!  Watch it, Julia.
Floyd |

Floyd | 14.  You are distracted by Julia saying "She makes things that look
Floyd | like summer camp crafts and tries to convince people they're art."
Floyd |
Floyd | I wonder if I'd get away with it if I killed her right before my flight
Floyd | leaves tomorrow morning.
Floyd |

Floyd | 15.  You are distracted by Julia loudly saying "I bet when they first
Floyd | hooked up, she was like, 'Would you like to see my didgeridoo?'"  (That
Floyd | has to be the most gallingly inept fake Australian accent I have ever
Floyd | heard.  She sounds like a Norwegian parakeet.)
Floyd |
Floyd | 16.  You are distracted by Julia laughing and mock-shrieking "Or maybe,

Floyd | 'Touch my kiwi!  Touch my kiwi!'"  Ugh.  How can someone almost have
Floyd | her Ph.D. and not know that kiwis are New Zealand, not Australia?
Floyd |
Floyd | 17.  You are distracted by Julia saying especially loudly, "You've been
Floyd | working out.  I've noticed."
Floyd |

Floyd | Oh no.
Floyd |
Floyd | 18.  You are distracted by Julia squealing, "Wait, it's your birthday,
Floyd | too?  Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Floyd |
Floyd | 19.  You are distracted by a startled grunt from Historic Pfister.  I

Floyd | do not believe this is happening.
Floyd |
Floyd | 20.  You are distracted by Historic Pfister making noises perhaps best
Floyd | characterised as mewling.
Floyd |
Floyd | 21.  You are distracted by Julia saying, "Wait, if today is the 24th,

Floyd | and you are 24, that makes this your golden birthday."  Well, then.
Floyd |
Floyd | 22.  You are distracted by Historic Pfister's shrieking attempts to
Floyd | summon a deity.
Floyd |
Floyd | 23.  You are distracted by Historic Pfister saying excitedly, "Okay,

Floyd | now you're a princess, and I'm a ninja!"
Floyd |
Floyd | 24.  You are distracted by Historic Pfister making a noise that doesn't
Floyd | sound very much like a ninja, unless there is an order of yodelling
Floyd | ninja I don't know about.
Floyd |

Floyd | 25.  You are distracted by Historic Pfister making contented little
Floyd | yelping sounds.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have to pee.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "yelping sounds induce a need to pee" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. Where was the gender selection made? I don't remember an option." 	
			crumple says, "clearly, i need to revisit the design decision behind not letting the player BREAK SNOWGLOBE until after they've shattered the tater tot." 	
			inky says, "it's listed in the about" 	
			crumple says, "type ABOUT." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | I get sloshed at a dinner party and tell the story, and a few months
Floyd | later I receive an e-mail from a man I don't remember announcing that

Floyd | I'm a "game."  I suppose I should be flattered.
Floyd |
Floyd | Or perhaps you should be flattered.  You are the one who gets to
Floyd | pretend to be my boyfriend.
Floyd |
Floyd | We proceed by you typing what you want to do.  Don't get cute: type a

Floyd | verb, or a verb and noun, or maybe verb-noun-preposition-noun.  The
Floyd | following are examples of things you can do:
Floyd |
Floyd | WRITE
Floyd | EXAMINE DESK (or X DESK)
Floyd | TAKE ITINERARY

Floyd | OPEN DRAWER
Floyd | STAND ON CHAIR
Floyd | LOOK UNDER DESK
Floyd | PUT ITINERARY ON CABINET
Floyd |
Floyd | I'll report what happens, and we go from there.  You can probably trip

Floyd | me up if you try to be an arse about it, but what's the fun of that?
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an inventory of what you are holding at any time by typing
Floyd | I or EXAMINE ME (X ME).  If you want a summary description of the room
Floyd | you're in, just LOOK.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can save the game by typing SAVE, and restore a saved game by
Floyd | typing RESTORE.  I'll be desolate if you QUIT.
Floyd |
Floyd | What else?  CREDITS and COPYRIGHT are available whenever.  If you're
Floyd | ever stuck, I can give you a HINT.   If you want to take back your last
Floyd | action, UNDO bends space-time to your regretful will.

Floyd |
Floyd | Finally: you are male by default (curse you, patriarchy!).  I'm not
Floyd | changing my gender on your behalf, but you are welcome to change yours.
Floyd | Just type FEMALE or, more stylishly, HETERONORMATIVITY OFF.
Floyd |
Floyd | I would wish you luck, but you don't need luck.  You just need to

Floyd | write.
Floyd |
Floyd | Virtually yours,
Floyd | Violet
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I also have to do this" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "patriarchy off" 		
	

Floyd | I suspect that's a fair bit more difficult to program.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "The power of a betatester." 	
			inky asks, "wait, do what?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "credits" 		
	

Floyd | I know at the beginning it says "by Jeremy Freese," which I would
Floyd | deeply resent if me "being a game" wasn't already so absurd.  I will

Floyd | try to not dwell further on his creepy expropriation of me. I cannot,
Floyd | however, sit quiet while the many others who helped Freese go
Floyd | egregiously unacknowledged.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	

Floyd | For starters:
Floyd | I wouldn't have my very own all-text adaptation if not for Inform 7, by
Floyd | Graham Nelson, Emily Short, and colleagues.  Freese also leeched off I7
Floyd | extensions written by Emily Short, David Fisher, and Jon Ingold.
Floyd | Freese pestered readers of rec.arts.int-fiction for aid, and among
Floyd | those who helped were J.D. Clemens, Eric Eve, Jesse McGrew, Peter

Floyd | Pears, Andrew Plotkin, Emily Short, and (especially) Mike Tarbert.
Floyd | Freese badgered others into beta testing, including Gemma Bristow,
Floyd | Corey Colyer, James Cunningham, Benji Dahood, Molly Geene, Dan
Floyd | Hirschman, Javri, Tiffany Julian, Sarah Morayati, Carl Muckenhoupt,
Floyd | Lucy Pigpuppet, Reiko, Thomas Say, Stephan Schonberg, and Ramona White.
Floyd | Eric Dean Freese made cover art.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push space" 		
	

Floyd | Worst of all:
Floyd | Freese used R. C. M. so thoroughly in creating this that he's an
Floyd | absolute [bother] for not dedicating the whole thing to her.

Floyd |
Floyd | Annoyedly yours,
Floyd | Violet
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		crumple says, "i will confess to some ambivalence about the cover art." 	
			DavidW asks, "I'm wondering what the thread is for. Is that used in the female-PC plot option?" 	
			Bert says, "It is foreshadowing of the ending." 	
			inky says, "it is a dangling plot thread" 	
			crumple says, "no. it foreshadows the ending." 	
			DavidW says, "Or was that just a clue abo... ah, oka" 	
			DavidW says, "+y" 	
			Limax says, "Help me. I'm falling in a pit" 	
			crumple says, "there was originally going to be more with the vent, but i cut about part of violet for timing reasons." 	
	Limax arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline if whoever is keeping it sends me the full transcript, I'll work on getting the site updated (there are a couple of back transcripts that need to be processed, I think). 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I'll send it." 	
			DavidW says (to crumple), "Good game. That was fun." 	
			Lucea asks, "Did we ever open the browser/email/chat?" 	
			DavidW says, "no, we never did that." 	
			Limax says, "Aw man... too late as usual." 	
			Limax cries 	
			crumple says (to davidw), "thanks! it was interesting watching you play it. i didn't realize how different watching someone live would be from just reading a transcript." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open browser" 		
	

Floyd | You get a "Server Not Found" message.  See!  Disconnecting yourself
Floyd | from the Internet was a good idea!
Floyd |
Floyd | Primrose sings about how the idea of living with eight housemates
Floyd | sounded like fun but she actually spends most weekends hiding from them

Floyd | in her room.  You pay no attention.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have to pee.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "oh, it's still at the end" 	
			DavidW says, "I wanted to listen to the whole Prof Adventure thing on the pod, but I can do that later." 	
			crumple says (to lucea), "you were the beta-tester who had the idea for a server not found message." 	
			DavidW says (to Lucea), "inky undid from the end." 	
			Lucea asks, "I did?" 	
			vimes says, "Cheers! I'm off to dinner now." 	
	vimes was passed by the passive voice. 		crumple says (to lucea), "yeah, having a different message for that was your idea." 	
			Lucea says, "I don't remember that... nice touch, at any ratee" 	
			Lucea says, "-e" 	
			DavidW asks, "Are we done for today? Or did people want to play with it a bit more?" 	
	lunasspecto arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		DavidW says, "(I, too, would like food, except lunch,)" 	
			crumple is off. Thanks DavidW! 	
			DavidW says, "thank you!" 	
			Limax asks (of DavidW), "Didn't you already have lunch?" 	
	crumple goes home. 		Lucea says, "Oh, I didn't know we wouldn't be restarting. Sorry about that earlier" 	
			DavidW says, "I had a late breakfast of oatmeal and o.j." 	
	inky says (to lunasspecto), "I am afraid we are just ending" 		
			



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ClubFloyd Transcript: Nightfall by Eric Eve
As played on ifMUD on December 7, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Nightfall, written by Eric Eve. Nightfall was originally released as part of the 2008 IF Competition, where it took second place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
			Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Think it'll just be you and me today?" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "by the way, Limax sends his regrets. He has a radio meeting followed by his daughter's birthday party today, so he can't be here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Unfortunately, Eric can't make it, and couldn't have even had he had more notice. But he's pleased we're playing it and he's looking forward to the transcript." 	
			DavidW says, "We might be the only one's playing, maybe. I dunno." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Ah, yeah. I actually saw that in the recap. Kind of him to take the time to express that." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Have you played it?" 	
			DavidW says, "No. I haven't." 	
			DavidW says, "All I know is glimpses of almost-reviews. That the PC's stayed in a town that was being evacuated(?) to look for a woman friend." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's about all I know as well." 	
			DavidW says, "And that the cover art is purty." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh?" 	
	two-star arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		DavidW says, "btw, I've had no sleep last night, so you must let me get my coffee before we start." 	
			DavidW says, "It should be ready in a few minutes." 	
			DavidW says, "(hm. Maybe a few sugar-filled Fudge-O cookies would be in order also.)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, I too had some insomnia (though I did sleep). Coffee sounds like a Very Good Thing." 	
			Jota asks, "What's this week's game?" 	
			inky says, "nightfall" 	
			Jota asks, "That's the #2 comp game?" 	
			inky says, "yep" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jota), "Yep." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "You got the post-comp version uploaded, right?" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Eric did e-mail me back and specifically asked if we were using it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Cool." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Jota&inky), "Have you two played this?" 	
			Jota says, "I have, yeah." 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			Jota says, "I will be happy not to play it again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "aww and woo" 	
			Jota asks, "Woo?" 	
			Alex says (to Jota), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that woo is me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, just woo that you like it enough to play it again and will play it with us because I think it's otherwise just me and David. Not that that's bad or anything, but sometimes it feels like this should be called DuoFloyd." 	
	inky arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jota says, "Er? I think you misread me." 	
			inky says, "two-star's there" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though last week, sadly, there were one or two other people around." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky asks, "sadly?" 	
			inky says, "oh, right" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jota), "Oh, yeah. So I did misread." 	
			Jota says, "(Now you make me feel guilty.)" 	
	Jacqueline asks, "Hi, two-star. Are you going to play Nightfall with us?" 		Jacqueline asks, "Why would that make you feel guilty? Just because you know that the author will read this transcript?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jota), "FWIW, I can be bribed." 	
	DavidW arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jota says, "Because you were so pleased to have someone else playing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It is okay, Jota. I am used to having my dreams crushed one by one." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Worry not." 	
			Jota asks, "What's the next one I can work on?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(I am pulling some of that stuff maga calls 'girl shit,' by the way.)" 	
	Nitku arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline asks (of Jota), "What do you mean, the next game we're going to play so that you can play it in advance and then not play it with us?" 	
			DavidW says, "He means which dream he can crush next." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline hollers, "We shall be playing Eric Eve's Nightfall at the top of the hour in the Toyshop & Floyditorium." 		Jacqueline says, "Oh, right. Well, I'd like my sinus infection to clear up, Jota, as well as the headache from my ear infection. AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT... I hope." 	
	Korodzik arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jota exclaims, "I could make your heat go off!" 	
			Jota says, "If I bribe maga enough." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hello, Korodzik." 	
			Jacqueline glars at Jota. 	
			Korodzik says, "Hello, Jacqueline." 	
			Jacqueline says, "then glarEs at Jota." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jota), "I know how good you are at making the heat go out." 	
			DavidW says, "now, children" 	
			Taleslinger says, "What are you people talking about? I thought this channel was family-friendly!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You all walked in late. Instead of play this week's ClubFloyd game, Jota has instead decided to go on his own real life quest to shatter my dreams, one by one." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But enough about that. We start in three minutes!" 	
			DavidW says, "I wonder if I have a spare sugar packet. I don't think those five cookies were quite enough." 	
			Taleslinger thinks we should have a map handy. 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Oh... good point." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have heard that this week we should have a driver, too." 	
			Taleslinger says, "there is a pdf included. Look at it ye mighty, and despair." 	
			Taleslinger says, "This game is kinda huge." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am still sort of not entirely well (sinus/ear infection), so I'd rather not be the driver." 	
			inky says, "the map is at http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/games/competition2008/glulx/nightfall/Nightfall%20Map.pdf" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Are you up for being the driver, ye of no sleep?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Danke." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I might be able to." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Holy crikey this is a big ol' map." 	
			DavidW asks, "Should I look at the map too?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Or is it a spoiler?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, it's probably useful to have in another window at the least, I should think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nah, doesn't look too spoilery." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just looks like a big city map." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Although there are some colors on it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I've no idea what those mean, so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I guess we're past due to start." 	
			Nitku says, "I think the colors are just streets and not-streets." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I can't really participate. I have a test tomorrow, and am cross-checking with some people on ICQ and Skype." 	
	Cathy arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says (to Cathy), "Woo. Just in time." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I take a peek, though. Nitku said I might like this and I haven't yet looked at it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load nightfall" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit? Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation,
Floyd | library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | You've lived in this city all your life, but now you may be the last
Floyd | man left here. It's already dusk, and before the next dawn comes --
Floyd | well, it's not quite clear what's expected, but the whole city has fled
Floyd | from it. You could and should have been on that last train. You would
Floyd | have been on that last train but for her.
Floyd |

Floyd | Nightfall
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story by Eric Eve
Floyd | Release 2 / Serial number 081122 / Inform 7 build 5U92 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Platform 1

Floyd | The train accelerates northwards up the track, its rear carriage
Floyd | disappearing into the distance. Just a minute ago this long, draughty
Floyd | platform was crammed with the last batch of people leaving the city.
Floyd | Now there isn't another soul in sight. The indicator boards are all
Floyd | blank: no more trains will be leaving here today - if ever. Just to the
Floyd | north the bridge across to Platform 2 has been blocked off with a steel

Floyd | gate; the only way out from here is thus east, back to the ticket
Floyd | office.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just as the last echo of the departing train fades away, the sun
Floyd | finally sinks beneath the western horizon.
Floyd |

Floyd | [First time players should type ABOUT].
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "ooh, that is a huge map. This was for IF Comp?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yep." 	
			inky says, "yep" 	
			Nitku says (to Taleslinger), "I remember saying there's some interesting aspect to it, but I don't remember what it was anymore." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Is it completeable in a couple to three hours?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |  > Introduction to Nightfall

Floyd |    Instructions for Play
Floyd |    Time and Turns
Floyd |    Hints
Floyd |    Credits
Floyd |    Readme

		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Nightfall takes place in a city the Player Character knows well; he's
Floyd | lived there all his life and so has a far better knowledge of the local
Floyd | geography than the player begins with. To help bridge this knowledge

Floyd | gap you can use the command GO TO X or FIND X (these mean the same
Floyd | thing) to go either to a named destination or an object the player
Floyd | knows about. This command will take the player character towards his
Floyd | destination one step at a time. To continue towards the destination,
Floyd | use the CONTINUE command (which you can abbreviate to C). Note that the
Floyd | CONTINUE command can be used after any number of intervening commands,

Floyd | including explicit compass-movement commands.
Floyd |
Floyd | The exit lister in the status line shows a list of directions you can
Floyd | go in from your current location. Any directions in upper case indicate
Floyd | directions to locations you haven't yet visited.
Floyd |

Floyd | Several locations trigger memories the first time you visit them. If
Floyd | you want see the memory associated with the location you're in again,
Floyd | you can use the command REMEMBER. To see the memory associated with
Floyd | another location you've visited, use the command REMEMBER <location
Floyd | name>, for example REMEMBER BAR. You can use the command PLACES to list

Floyd | the names of all the places you've visited. To recapitulate all the
Floyd | memories you've triggered so far, you can use the command RECAP.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can use the command THINK to get some ideas for what to do next.
Floyd | These will be the player character's ideas, and some of them may be
Floyd | better than others. This command helps bridge the gap between player

Floyd | knowledge and player character knowledge. If you're stuck and THINK
Floyd | doesn't give you enough of a hint, you can try the command THINK HARDER
Floyd | (or just THINK HARD), which in some cases may provide a much more
Floyd | explicit hint.
Floyd |
Floyd | In brief, make regular use of the THINK command as an integral part of

Floyd | the game. Use THINK HARDER for hints.
Floyd |
Floyd | To converse with other characters use commands like ASK BOB ABOUT RING
Floyd | or TELL BOB ABOUT DAGGER; these commands may be abbreviated to A RING
Floyd | or T DAGGER. You can also respond to certain questions asked by other
Floyd | characters with a simple YES or NO.

Floyd |
Floyd | Finally, you may not like the ending you get first time round. To avoid
Floyd | having to play all the way through again from the beginning to find a
Floyd | better ending, you may want to save at fairly regular intervals.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

		Taleslinger says, "We talked about atmosphere, and how it can be created by bits that are "non-interactive on purpose."" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, for those who were late, we're using a driver this week." 	
			Nitku says, "ah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So give any commands you'd like entered here, and DavidW'll type them in." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |  > Introduction to Nightfall
Floyd |    Instructions for Play
Floyd |    Time and Turns
Floyd |    Hints
Floyd |    Credits

Floyd |    Readme
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |  > Introduction to Nightfall
Floyd |    Instructions for Play

Floyd |    Time and Turns
Floyd |    Hints
Floyd |    Credits
Floyd |    Readme

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Platform 1
Floyd | The station feels sadly deserted, a ghost station in what has already
Floyd | become a ghost city. Not long ago this long, draughty platform was
Floyd | crammed with the last batch of people leaving the city. Now there isn't

Floyd | another soul in sight. The indicator boards are all blank: no more
Floyd | trains will be leaving here today - if ever. Just to the north the
Floyd | bridge across to Platform 2 has been blocked off with a steel gate; the
Floyd | only way out from here is thus east, back to the ticket office.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a small brown envelope (closed).
Floyd |
Floyd | [You can change inventory listing style with the commands I WIDE, I
Floyd | TALL, I CURT and I MINIMAL]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x envelope" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small square envelope, only a couple of inches to a side.
Floyd | There's nothing written on it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gate" 		
	

Floyd | A large slatted steel gate has been closed across the foot of the
Floyd | bridge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open envelope" 		
	

Floyd | You slit it open with your finger, and find a small silver key within.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small, unmarked silver key.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline asks, "Hm. Save often, floss regularly, eh?" 	
	inky clears the save counter. 		DavidW asks, "head east?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | A slightly stocky young man of 28, dressed for a chilly night.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a distant hoot from the departing train as it rounds some bend
Floyd | on the outskirts of the city.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Ticket Office
Floyd | It's the sheer emptiness of this place that strikes you. Just a few
Floyd | minutes ago a press of people were jostling one another in ill-natured

Floyd | queues, increasingly anxious to buy their tickets to safety. Now every
Floyd | ticket position is closed, and there's no one here, just a bare empty
Floyd | hall with nothing to see but the now irrelevant timetables posted on
Floyd | the walls and the station clock ticking ever on into the fateful night.
Floyd | The equally deserted platform is just to the west, while the way out to
Floyd | Station Road lies to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | While you were queuing for your ticket just a few minutes ago, Jeremy
Floyd | turned to you and said, "She's still in the city, you know. She's not
Floyd | leaving; apparently there's something frantically important she has to
Floyd | do here."
Floyd |

Floyd | "More important than getting away from the Enemy?" you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So she says," he replied, with a dismissive shrug, "Oh, and by the
Floyd | way, I nearly forgot. She asked me to give you this." He handed you a
Floyd | small brown envelope.
Floyd |

Floyd | You didn't need to ask who he meant. There were thousands of women in
Floyd | the city, but only one she - in Jeremy's case because of their
Floyd | relationship; in yours - well, it was then that your notion about
Floyd | staying behind for her finally started to harden into resolve.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger tries the madlib thingy. 		
	The cheese tried to looking the funny tree. 		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Shh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		Korodzik says, "I'm back after being AFK." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x clock" 		
	

Floyd | The clock that hangs here is an old-fashioned round one with a white
Floyd | face and Roman numerals round its dial. According to this clock the
Floyd | time is now three minutes past eight.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "north?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Oops, was the madlibs visible to everyone?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			Taleslinger covers his mouth. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, or remember." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | While you were queuing for your ticket just a few minutes ago, Jeremy
Floyd | turned to you and said, "She's still in the city, you know. She's not
Floyd | leaving; apparently there's something frantically important she has to

Floyd | do here."
Floyd |
Floyd | "More important than getting away from the Enemy?" you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So she says," he replied, with a dismissive shrug, "Oh, and by the
Floyd | way, I nearly forgot. She asked me to give you this." He handed you a

Floyd | small brown envelope.
Floyd |
Floyd | You didn't need to ask who he meant. There were thousands of women in
Floyd | the city, but only one she - in Jeremy's case because of their
Floyd | relationship; in yours - well, it was then that your notion about
Floyd | staying behind for her finally started to harden into resolve.

		Jacqueline says, "Though we may have already gotten the memory here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure, move on. Or think." 	
			DavidW says, "ah. Is that how it works." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Station Road
Floyd | As you emerge into Station Road you find that the sky has already
Floyd | turned black, but a full moon has risen, bathing the street in ghostly
Floyd | light which blends strangely with that from the row of lamp posts

Floyd | parading eastwards towards the junction with York Street. The entrance
Floyd | to the main railway station lies directly to the south. Otherwise,
Floyd | there's little here but litter.
Floyd |
Floyd | The quiet is momentarily broken by the sound of a loudspeaker in a
Floyd | nearby street. It can't be the Enemy - not yet; after a moment you

Floyd | realize it must be the police. You can't make out what the voice is
Floyd | saying, but you can guess.
Floyd |

		
	olethros arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Hi and welcome. David's driving, though so far I'm not seeing why we need a driver but people say we do, so." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x litter" 		
	

Floyd | A couple of lager cans, boxes containing the remnants of take-away
Floyd | meals, scraps of packaging, all left littering the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a distant rumble of thunder off to the west. At least, it

Floyd | sounds a bit like thunder.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search litter" 		
	

Floyd | The litter looks quite useless to you, and you aren't about to start a
Floyd | new career as a refuse collector.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Junction of York Street and Station Road
Floyd | This is normally one of the busiest junctions in the city, mainly due
Floyd | to the traffic from the railway station, but now there isn't so much as

Floyd | a bicycle in sight, just the ever-present street lighting, the river
Floyd | running by to the east, and the sign pointing north towards the City
Floyd | Sports Ground, south towards Mandlebury Bridge and the Hospital, and
Floyd | west towards the Railway Station.
Floyd |
Floyd | You stand at the Junction, considering which way to go next. You know

Floyd | where she lives, of course: in a flat at 18 Gladstone Terrace, a few
Floyd | blocks south of the railway station, so that would be one obvious place
Floyd | to try. The other would be her office, at 12 Devon Road, some way to
Floyd | the east of the station, across the river (you can use the GO TO
Floyd | command to find your way round the city; e.g. GO TO HER OFFICE or GO TO
Floyd | GLADSTONE TERRACE).

Floyd |
Floyd | [To see your character's thoughts in future, use the THINK command.]
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "House?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm really enjoying the writing. He's doing a great job of creating the mood." 	
			DavidW says, "Hard to tell what the key is for." 	
			Jacqueline says, "True. But I guess we should try to find her and see if there are more clues where she might be." 	
			Korodzik says, "go to Gladstone Terrace" 	
			DavidW says, "I suppose house first, but I'd guess the office." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to gladstone terrace" 		
	

Floyd | (Gladstone Terrace)
Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (South)
Floyd | This part of York Street has moved considerably up-market in recent

Floyd | years. The old Victorian terraces lining the west side of the street
Floyd | may be small, and were probably built for Victorian labourers, but the
Floyd | recent hike in property prices makes them the best that many young
Floyd | professionals can afford. They lack nearby parking spaces, but that
Floyd | wouldn't be a problem tonight; there isn't a single car in sight;
Floyd | everyone with a car has used it to get away. The eerily deserted street

Floyd | continues alongside the river to north and south.
Floyd |

		Korodzik says, "um..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)

Floyd | Embankment
Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York
Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.
Floyd |

Floyd | This is where you found her that dreadful night, seven years ago. Her
Floyd | clothes were soaked of course, but it's the water streaming from her
Floyd | long dark hair that you remember most vividly now - that and the fact
Floyd | that she was kneeling by Kate's body.
Floyd |
Floyd | She looked up, obviously distressed, but then relieved to see a

Floyd | familiar face. "She fell - off the bridge" she gasped, swallowing hard
Floyd | as she wiped the damp hair out of her eyes, "I don't know how - just a
Floyd | few minutes ago - I tried to save her - but - well - I dived in and I
Floyd | managed to get her out - but she's not breathing!"
Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment you just stood there, overcome by shock as you stared at

Floyd | her, unwilling to take in what she had just said. Then she galvanised
Floyd | you into action: "For goodness' sake! Don't just stand there! Fetch
Floyd | help! Go and call an ambulance!"
Floyd |
Floyd | And so off you ran, south towards the city hospital.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "I think there's probably a lot going on in the background of this game when we use that command, making Floyd slow down, perhaps?" 	
			olethros asks, "are we already so far ahead?" 	
			Korodzik says, "We've just began." 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Not very far in, no." 	
			DavidW asks, "continue to terrace?" 	
			DavidW asks, "This is yet another memory, yes?" 	
			olethros says, "indeed" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, a memory." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure, continue to the house." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		olethros says, "plenty of partially overlapping memories" 	
			olethros says, "I've also played this, so I can't really drive at all" 	
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | Sussex Street (north)
Floyd | A row of large Edwardian town houses lines the west side of the street,
Floyd | overlooking the river to the east. The houses are all in darkness, and
Floyd | the street deserted, making it all seem not quite real -- almost as if
Floyd | you'd wandered onto a film set or were experiencing a dream. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues north to the Embankment and south towards the junction

Floyd | with Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I have no idea who Jeremy or Kate are, of course." 	
			olethros asks, "> remember jeremy ?" 	
			olethros asks, "or > whois jeremy ?" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "whois jeremy?" 		Jacqueline says, "Hm, worth a try." 	
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "whois jeremy" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "remember jeremy" 		
	

Floyd | The best way to do that is to find the places that trigger particular
Floyd | memories.
Floyd |

		
	Korodzik yawns Leviathanally. 		olethros says, "bah" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "who is two words?" 	
			DavidW says, "It's keyed to places, not people or things." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	

Floyd | (going south)

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace, where she
Floyd | lives, leads off to the west. Further north the street runs along the
Floyd | west bank of the river, but just here the river bends towards the

Floyd | southeast and parts company with the road.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace

Floyd | This short cul-de-sac is noticeably less well lit than the main road
Floyd | just to the east; although the bright moonlight compensates for this
Floyd | somewhat, parts of the street lie in mysterious shadow. At its western
Floyd | end, the street terminates at the railway line, along the side of which
Floyd | lie a large number of loose stones. Just short of the tracks the block
Floyd | of flats where she lives stands on the south side of the street.

Floyd |
Floyd | When you walked her home one night, about two years ago, this was as
Floyd | far as you got. You had hoped she would at least invite you in for a
Floyd | coffee. Indeed, for a moment you thought she seemed just on the point
Floyd | of doing so, but then all she said was, "Thank you - it was good to
Floyd | talk." Just before she turned away to let herself in, she added, "I'll

Floyd | see you around." Then she disappeared inside, leaving you standing in
Floyd | the street as if you could not possibly have expected anything else.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "What Enemy could be so bad that everyone would leave town? And where would they go? England isn't so big that you could empty London and hide the people elsewhere from an Enemy that terrible." 	
			Korodzik asks, "Aliens?" 	
			Korodzik asks, "Robots?" 	
			Alex says (to Korodzik), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that robots are making plans for humans, but Alex is swore to secrecy." 	
			Korodzik asks, "Robot aliens?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take stone" 		
	

Floyd | You select a large round stone and take that.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Heh. Aliens had come to mind." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x flats" 		
	

Floyd | She lives at number 18. It's three storeys tall, but otherwise a
Floyd | perfectly ordinary block of flats, especially by night, and you can't
Floyd | recall ever having seen it by day. As you might expect, there's a
Floyd | doorbell by the door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ring doorbell" 		
	

Floyd | You ring the bell for flat G, but no one answers.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | The street door is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | You need a key to unlock the street door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the small silver key)
Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

		Korodzik asks, "ring doorbell for D sharp?" 	
			Korodzik ) 	
			Korodzik -) 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Korodzik says, ";-)" 	
			Cathy asks, "can we look in a window?" 	
			DavidW says (to Cathy), "Just tried that. There isn't one." 	
			Jacqueline says, "ifMUD: Foiling smilies since The Beginning." 	
			Korodzik says, "That is going to stay in the online transcript forever." 	
			Korodzik says, "Poor me." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It looks extremely solid, as if particularly designed to keep burglars
Floyd | out, but at least there's a doorbell next to it, as well as a large

Floyd | number 18 on it.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh. Yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we're in the wrong place." 	
			Korodzik says, ">BURGLE" 	
			Jacqueline says, ">THINK" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | If she's not at home, her office would be the next obvious place to
Floyd | try. It's at 12 Devon Road, in the northeast part of the city.
Floyd |

		DavidW tries not to look too superior. 	
			Cathy says, "guess we should go see if she works the night shift..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to her office" 		Jacqueline says, "Heh. I thought that as well, but we all felt like going to the house first for whatever reason." 	
	

Floyd | (going to Her Office)

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the

Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts
Floyd | company with the road.
Floyd |

		
	vimes arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		DavidW says, "I was outvoted." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think this is his way of making us walk through the city to take it all in. It's not a bad method." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "It's reminding me of when I lived in a British city, except without all the noise and people. heh" 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |

Floyd | Sussex Street (north)
Floyd | A row of large Edwardian town houses lines the west side of the street,
Floyd | overlooking the river to the east. The houses are all in darkness, and
Floyd | the street deserted, making it all seem not quite real. Sussex Street
Floyd | continues north to the Embankment and south towards the junction with
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | Embankment

Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York
Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | A distant clock strikes the quarter-hour; time is marching on.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "The delays are odd." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "I think it's the game chugging away behind the scenes, finding our way." 	
			DavidW says, "I hope the time of day isn't too important." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It seems to be Floyd, not the mud." 	
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd | As you're about to step onto the bridge, you happen to glance up and
Floyd | notice a CCTV camera fixed to a nearby lamp-post. If there are police
Floyd | still in the city, they might see you walk past it, and you'd much

Floyd | rather they didn't, since they'd probably try to make you leave.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Reasonable enough." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw stone at camera" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate; throwing things at CCTV cameras is the kind of loutish
Floyd | behaviour you've always disapproved of. But tonight of all nights may
Floyd | be a night for bending the rules. The large stone leaves your hand and
Floyd | hits the end of the camera, knocking it so that it now points over the
Floyd | river, into which the stone falls. You have joined the ranks of the
Floyd | louts.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Nicely done, man." 	
			DavidW says, "thank you" 	
	

Floyd | (going east)

Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge
Floyd | It's strange - almost unnatural - to see this bridge so deserted.
Floyd | You're more used to seeing it jammed with slow-moving rush-hour
Floyd | traffic, or at least a steady flow. But now there's nothing here apart
Floyd | from the bare tarmac, the street lights (one of which now has a large
Floyd | placard attached to it), the stone parapet, and the river sliding

Floyd | silently past below.
Floyd |
Floyd | It suddenly strikes you that you have, just once before, seen the
Floyd | bridge this deserted - a night burned on your memory. You were walking
Floyd | home from a late party - if only you had left that party a few minutes
Floyd | earlier you might have arrived here just in time to stop Kate falling

Floyd | to her death.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x placard" 		
	

Floyd | It reads
Floyd |

Floyd | EVACUATION NOTICE
Floyd | An Unknown Enemy is coming! They are expected to arrive by nightfall.
Floyd | For your own safety, please ensure that you are well clear of the city
Floyd | before dusk. Extra trains are being laid on for those without any other
Floyd | transport. In case of difficulty, contact the police.
Floyd |

		Korodzik asks, "Wouldn't this result in the police investigating the destroyed camera?" 	
	Firion arrives, full of fun and funk. 		DavidW says (to Korodzik), "I don't plan on waiting around to greet them." 	
			Cathy says, "sounds like a scam to me... band of thieves scaring everyone away so they can loot places" 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "Very secret agent." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember'" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You have, just once before, seen the bridge this deserted - a night
Floyd | burned on your memory. You were walking home from a late party - if
Floyd | only you had left that party a few minutes earlier you might have
Floyd | arrived here just in time to stop Kate falling to her death.

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)
Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a
Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east

Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old newspaper lies abandoned just outside the fish and chip shop.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of a car engine and see a pair of headlights
Floyd | approaching rapidly from the east.

Floyd |

		Firion asks, "What are you folks playing?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Firion), "Nightfall, by Eric Eve." 	
			Firion asks (of Jacqueline), "Sounds like an interesting game. I might try it sometime. For now, spectating is fine, right?" 	
			Cathy asks, "x car?" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. That newspaper's probably important, but I bet that's the police." 	
			DavidW says (to Cathy), "no, we need to hide. I think north into the park." 	
	K-Y arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Korodzik says, ">PICK UP NEWSPAPER THEN HIDE BEHIND IT" 	
			DavidW says (to Korodzik), "er, we'd still stand out." 	
			DavidW asks, "may we go north?" 	
			Korodzik says, ">THEY CANNOT SEE US IF WE CANNOT SEE THEM." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Korodzik says, "sorry" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee. I think he was kidding, but it was a creative and funny idea nonetheless." 	
			Cathy asks, "why not hide in the shop?" 	
			DavidW says (to Cathy), "It's probably locked." 	
			DavidW says, "The city's supposed to be empty except for the police." 	
			Cathy says, "whatever... I just picture a park as mostly open space" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Jump from the bridge like Kate did!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Save first, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I read 'shadowy entrance'. That sounds like a hiding spot to me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, you just did that. heh" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I just... yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah, try the shadowy entrance, sure." 	
			Cathy says, "good point; go for it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the shadows of the park entrance just in time to avoid
Floyd | being caught in the beam of the approaching car's headlamps. You stand
Floyd | to watch as the car drives past onto Mandlebury Bridge. As it passes

Floyd | under the street lights in Mandlebury Road you can see that it's a
Floyd | police car. Your first thought is that it has been sent to investigate
Floyd | the CCTV camera you just knocked with that stone, but then it occurs to
Floyd | you it might just be out looking for stragglers left behind in the
Floyd | city. In either case, it seems a good idea to keep out of its way, so
Floyd | you carry on into the park.

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Park
Floyd | Although you've often been here in daylight, you've never visited the
Floyd | park by night before, and it looks quite different by moonlight. By day
Floyd | it's a pleasant, green open space overlooking the river to the west,
Floyd | but now it's shrouded in sinister black, cold and unwelcoming. The main

Floyd | exit onto Mandlebury Road lies to the south, but there's also a narrow
Floyd | lane off to the east leading to the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | When time permits you often come here to eat your lunch on the park
Floyd | bench. On one such occasion about four years ago you saw her jogging
Floyd | past on a circuit of the park. The second time round, much to your

Floyd | delight, she stopped to catch her breath and chat. You can't remember a
Floyd | great deal of the conversation - you were just so pleased to be talking
Floyd | with her - but you do remember she was enthusing about some book she'd
Floyd | just read.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you read any Stanilev?" she asked.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I've never heard of him," you admitted.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He's a great thinker, you should read him, you really should," she
Floyd | urged you, "Until I read him I never realized anyone else could feel
Floyd | that way. It was so liberating!"

Floyd |
Floyd | But though you promised her you'd look out for a copy of Stanilev's
Floyd | book, somehow you never got round to it.
Floyd |

		Cathy asks, "back S to get the paper?" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. Not sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wouldn't mind checking out the paper, but only if the coast is clear." 	
			DavidW says, "I want to look at the bench, then get the paper" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bench" 		
	

Floyd | Although you can scarcely make out more than its outline now, you know

Floyd | it to be an old wooden bench, well weathered by years of exposure to
Floyd | the elements.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a roar overhead. Perhaps it's just a jet airliner, but perhaps
Floyd | it's a warplane, or even an incoming missile. You pause, unconsciously
Floyd | holding your breath as you listen to its approach. But then, at last,

Floyd | it fades away: not a missile, then, at any rate.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)

Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a
Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old newspaper lies abandoned just outside the fish and chip shop.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take newspaper" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the old newspaper, fumbling a little as you try to keep the
Floyd | separate sheets together while they resist your efforts with the most
Floyd | stubborn display of the innate cussedness of inanimate objects. You

Floyd | eventually manage to tame it, with the surviving sheets forced into a
Floyd | reasonable semblance of order.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | Most of it is missing, and the rest of it is at least several weeks

Floyd | old. Apart from the grease stains testifying to its use as a
Floyd | fish-and-chips wrapper, it is full of the usual bad news about
Floyd | undesirable things on the increase: inflation, unemployment, taxes,
Floyd | crime, global warming; according to one columnist, there's even a sharp
Floyd | rise in severe personality disorders among the under thirties. The sole
Floyd | surviving page of foreign news is no cheerier, since it bemoans

Floyd | increasing tension in the Middle East coupled with the danger of former
Floyd | Soviet republics selling nuclear weapons on the black market.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. Continue to the office?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally

Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "weird the bank and supermarket are lit." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "c? or you want to check it out?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that C IS C." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we should ignore them for now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "me too" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)

Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I hope we're not going to waltz right past the HQ." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. I'm having trouble figuring out where we're going on the map, but I guess I'll just hide and watch." 	
			DavidW says, "oh, we're going NE. We shouldn't need to brave the police station yet." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	

Floyd | (going northeast)

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street
Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the
Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a
Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "What threw me off was the 'Mandl Rd E' at the far east side of the map." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I see where we are now." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northeast)
Floyd | Church Street Bus Stop

Floyd | The bus stop stands at the junction of Church Street, which runs
Floyd | northeast and southwest from here, and School Lane, which leads off to
Floyd | the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A drunken tramp is staggering around in the middle of the street,
Floyd | singing loudly and tunelessly.

Floyd |
Floyd | There are many bus-stops in the city, but only this one holds special
Floyd | memories for you. As a teenager you often used to wait here for your
Floyd | bus home from school. It was on her route home, too, and though she
Floyd | took a different bus from yours, you'd sometimes spot her on her bus
Floyd | when it stopped here. Once or twice she spotted you too, and then she'd

Floyd | always smile and wave, as if you were some long-lost friend. And even
Floyd | as a teenager she was so pretty!
Floyd |
Floyd | The tramp sways unsteadily on his feet, and stares in your direction,
Floyd | as if willing his eyes to focus.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "x tramp?" 	
			DavidW says, "I kinda want to shove on past." 	
			DavidW says, "Or at least try to." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northeast)
Floyd | The drunken tramp staggers into your path, grabs your arm and says "I
Floyd | must have a drink." He seems determined not to let you pass until he
Floyd | gets what he wants.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "drat. I was afraid of that." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask tramp about drink" 		
	

Floyd | "Do I take it you'd like something to drink?" you enquire.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hallelujah, the man has more than one brain cell!" the tramp replies.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask tramp about liquor store" 		
	

Floyd | The tramp sways unsteadily on his feet. "Spare some change, mate?" he
Floyd | asks hopefully.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "What have we in our possession?" 	
			DavidW says, "An envelope, key, and greasy newspaper." 	
			Korodzik says, ">CLUB TRAMP TO DEATH WITH KEY, duh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Point." 	
			DavidW says, "The supermarket, maybe? Except we might not have money on us." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, who needs money when the whole world is deserted?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We could also go around." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, we can't. It doesn't connect up except the Very Long Way Around." 	
			DavidW says, "Going around still takes us past the market" 	
			Jacqueline says, "True." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure, let's head that way and see." 	
			Korodzik says, "Going to go soon. Sorry." 	
			DavidW says, "well, we could also try violence." 	
			DavidW says, "Although I doubt it would work." 	
			inky says, "punch him in the snoot" 	
			Jacqueline says, "With our bare hands? David, your wrist has only just healed!" 	
			inky says, "you can totally take a homeless guy" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(DavidW just got a cast off his arm.)" 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "That's what I'm thinking." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "But we're pacifists!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, save. Or don't, since we just did, I guess." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit tramp" 		
	

Floyd | There's a brief but vicious scuffle, in which you fail to make much
Floyd | impression on him.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere across the city a clock chimes the half-hour.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "IF protagonists are such wusses" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "drat" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Well, we didn't die." 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "I know!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "once, just once i want that to work" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Cover his head with a newspaper, THEN hit him in the snoot." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or just go to the market." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to supermarket" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Supermarket)
Floyd | It looks like you'll have to go back and find another route.

Floyd |
Floyd | The tramp points down the hill. "There's a church down there" he says,
Floyd | "I used to sing in the choir. Would you believe that?" He starts to
Floyd | sing in a distorted parody of plain-chant, "Dies irae, dies illa,
Floyd | solvet saeclum in favilla!" and then offers the following translation:
Floyd | "That day of wrath, when fucking everything ends in ashes."

Floyd |

		Korodzik says, "Bye." 	
	Korodzik goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "Oh. I thought Korodzik was just saying goodbye to the tramp." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask tramp about church" 		
	

Floyd | The tramp scratches his head, as if deeply puzzled by your remark. "The
Floyd | whole world is coming to an end, so let's get drunk!" he suggests.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Bye, Korodzik." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Belatedly..." 	
			DavidW asks, "I'm wondering if the church has communion wine?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like you'll have to go back and find another route.
Floyd |
Floyd | The tramp points down the hill. "There's a church down there" he says,

Floyd | "I used to sing in the choir. Would you believe that?" He starts to
Floyd | sing in a distorted parody of plain-chant, "Dies irae, dies illa,
Floyd | solvet saeclum in favilla!" and then offers the following translation:
Floyd | "That day of wrath, when fucking everything ends in ashes."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh hey, perhaps." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nothing like the blood of Christ to solve a tramp puzzle. That's almost as bad as the sheer violence alternative, but let's see how it goes." 	
			DavidW says, "why isn't he letting me leave." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street

Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the
Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a
Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, c is taking you northwest." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right." 	
			DavidW says, "But it shouldn't. I changed my destination to supermarket." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, did you? I missed that." 	
			DavidW asks, "Church or Supermarket, now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, N, then N maybe E maybe E." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Enh, church." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Since we're here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Churchyard
Floyd | A churchyard by moonlight is always a little spooky, but it is doubly

Floyd | so tonight, with the city so deserted. The gravestones are little more
Floyd | than looming shadows in the dark; the great bulk of St Michael's Church
Floyd | is just to the north, while the lych-gate to the south leads back out
Floyd | to Church Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | Kate's grave is somewhere here among the others; you used to visit it

Floyd | often. You'll never forget the shock you received when you came one day
Floyd | only a few weeks after Kate's funeral to find the grave desecrated. At
Floyd | least, someone had knocked over the headstone and smashed it, and the
Floyd | flowers were all torn up and strewn around. The police never did catch
Floyd | the culprits, and put it down to local hooligans, but that never seemed
Floyd | quite satisfactory somehow; why should it be Kate's grave that was

Floyd | attacked in this way?
Floyd |
Floyd | It's long since been put right, of course, but the memory of the broken
Floyd | gravestone still leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Kate deserved
Floyd | better than that - much better.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x kate's grave" 		
	

Floyd | It's too dark to make any of them out individually, but you know Kate's
Floyd | is among them somewhere, and you'd have no difficulty finding it in the
Floyd | light.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Nave
Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian
Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,
Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained

Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.
Floyd |
Floyd | You remember when you came here for Kate's funeral, just over six years
Floyd | ago. She was sitting up in one of the front pews, quite unaware of your
Floyd | presence, although your eyes kept wandering to the back of her head. At

Floyd | some appropriate point in the service she went up to the lectern and
Floyd | made some thoroughly fitting speech about the tragically early death of
Floyd | her dear friend Kate, who had had a wonderful life ahead of her. You
Floyd | can't remember precisely what she said; what you remember is how solemn
Floyd | and composed she was as she spoke, saying just the right things in just
Floyd | the right sombre tone, without ever giving way to emotion and tears.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Man, we've got some baggage." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chancel" 		
	

Floyd | The chancel is to the east, set off from the nave for the use of choir
Floyd | and clergy.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "what's a chancel?" 	
			inky | "Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the altar at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. 	
			Jacqueline says, "She pushed Kate. I know it." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chancel
Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall
Floyd | on the north side of the altar.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x altar" 		
	

Floyd | The altar is currently quite bare, the altar furniture no doubt locked
Floyd | away to protect it from burglaries.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (first trying to open the small wooden door)
Floyd | The small wooden door is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It may be small, but it looks pretty solid, with large iron hinges and
Floyd | an arched shape at the top. It's currently closed.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | You knock on the small wooden door, but there is no response.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stalls" 		
	

Floyd | Two rows of dark wooden stalls line either side of the chancel.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in stalls" 		
	

Floyd | The choir stalls is empty.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look under stalls" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, if the game's keepin' track of our sins, maybe we should go to the market. Otherwise, try smashing the door with some of that tramp-stomping action you had going on earlier." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think we're doing much here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I'm thinking we should go to the market." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "sit in stalls" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the choir stalls.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You get out of the choir stalls.
Floyd |

Floyd | Chancel
Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall
Floyd | on the north side of the altar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nave
Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian
Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,

Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained
Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x font" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large round font, made of stone, and covered by a wooden lid.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Removing the lid reveals a large iron key in the font.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ooh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take iron key" 		
	

Floyd | Just a little reluctantly, you lift the iron key from its naively
Floyd | trusting hiding place, where it was perhaps left for the use of a
Floyd | church cleaner or some dear old lady coming to arrange the flowers.

Floyd | You're not that eager to add robbing churches to your achievements.
Floyd |

		inky says, "oho" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Indeed." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | (first putting the lid back on the font)
Floyd |
Floyd | Chancel
Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall

Floyd | on the north side of the altar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with iron key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the small wooden door.
Floyd |

Floyd | As a distant clock chimes quarter to the hour, it occurs to you it
Floyd | might be time to pay a visit to her office.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small wooden door.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Vestry
Floyd | A plain wooden table runs under the window of this small, narrow room,

Floyd | with an old-fashioned safe set into the opposite wall. The only way out
Floyd | is via the door to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a large blue diary.
Floyd |

		inky says, "oho" 	
			inky says, "I never saw this part" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sadly, there is no wine." 	
			inky says, "perhaps it's in the safe" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x diary" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the large blue diary)
Floyd | You flick through the diary. It's mainly a record of services and
Floyd | parish meetings, but you find an entry from two days ago that catches
Floyd | your eye: "Meet DS at KA 2 pm". "KA" is likely to be the Kings Arms,
Floyd | the pub in the High Street.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "A pub ought to have booze." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | All you can see of it is the green-painted metal door set into the
Floyd | wall. It's unlikely to contain anything of interest, just crosses,
Floyd | candlesticks and communion wafers.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | The safe is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock safe with iron key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock safe with silver key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "crack safe" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop diary" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Vestry
Floyd | A plain wooden table runs under the window of this small, narrow room,
Floyd | with an old-fashioned safe set into the opposite wall. The only way out
Floyd | is via the door to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a large blue diary here.
Floyd |

		inky says, "I imagine the way it works is if you go to the king's arms and look around you can find the combination" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | The window looks out over part of the churchyard.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sill" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small wooden door or the safe?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "safe" 		
	

Floyd | All you can see of it is the green-painted metal door set into the
Floyd | wall. It's unlikely to contain anything of interest, just crosses,

Floyd | candlesticks and communion wafers.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wooden door" 		
	

Floyd | It may be small, but it looks pretty solid, with large iron hinges and
Floyd | an arched shape at the top. It's currently open

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x arched shape" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "hm." 	
			DavidW asks, "Continue to market?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah." 	
			DavidW asks, "Should we bother to lock up?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chancel
Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall
Floyd | on the north side of the altar.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the small wooden door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door with iron key" 		
	

Floyd | You lock the small wooden door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Nave
Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian
Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,
Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained
Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.

Floyd |
Floyd | Somewhere in the distance a dog barks. You're not sure whether it's a
Floyd | local stray or the advance guard of the enemy, perhaps using dogs to
Floyd | flush out anyone remaining in the city. After a short while the barking
Floyd | stops.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put iron key in font" 		
	

Floyd | The font is closed.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open font" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the round wooden lid and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's made of some dark wood, and looks both well-worn and solid.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put iron key in font" 		
	

Floyd | You put the large iron key into the font.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | (first putting the lid back on the font)
Floyd |

Floyd | Churchyard
Floyd | A churchyard by moonlight is always a little spooky, but it is doubly
Floyd | so tonight, with the city so deserted. The gravestones are little more
Floyd | than looming shadows in the dark; the great bulk of St Michael's Church
Floyd | is just to the north, while the lych-gate to the south leads back out
Floyd | to Church Street.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street
Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the

Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a
Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of a car, and see headlights approach, so you
Floyd | instinctively dive into the shadows. A police patrol car drives past
Floyd | again, hopefully not looking for you, but you don't want them to see

Floyd | you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to supermarket" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Supermarket)
Floyd | [To continue an existing journey you can use the command CONTINUE or

Floyd | just C]
Floyd | (going southwest)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east

Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |

Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are

Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northeast)

Floyd | The supermarket is all locked up; you can't get in.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x supermarket" 		
	

Floyd | The supermarket occupies the entire corner on which it stands, and was
Floyd | seemingly designed by an architect desperate to win the International

Floyd | Bland Building of the Millennium contest. Through its plate glass
Floyd | window you can see the front part of the shop is partially lit, perhaps
Floyd | as a security measure. An unmistakeable security measure is the burglar
Floyd | mounted just above the entrance.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x alarm" 		
	

Floyd | It's a square, red box with "Metro Alarms" printed on it.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "hrm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window you can see the partly-lit interior of the shop,
Floyd | with a rack of budget CDs prominently displayed near the front.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "try the Kings Arms to the south?" 	
			Jacqueline glances at the map. 	
			DavidW says, "Which takes us further out of the way, unfortunately." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, out of the way's not a huge issue, really." 	
			Jacqueline says, "There's a bar nearby." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Down on the high street." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Probably locked, of course." 	
			DavidW says, "That's the Kings Arms. We just read about it in the diary." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to kings arms" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Lounge Bar)
Floyd | (going south)

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

		
	Cathy has had her fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says, "Right." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)

Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly
Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly
Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

Floyd | You'll never forget the terrible shock you got when you happened to be
Floyd | passing this way not long after Kate's funeral (which had left you
Floyd | feeling pretty down in any case). She (not Kate - she) had stepped out
Floyd | of the Hairdressers, and for a moment you almost failed to recognize
Floyd | her, she'd had her hair cut so dreadfully short. You hated it at once;
Floyd | she'd had such a glorious mane of long dark hair, but this - well, it

Floyd | must have shown in your face, since she remarked, more than a little
Floyd | snippily. "I thought it was time for a change", and then stalked off up
Floyd | the street before you could reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the event she must have agreed with your judgement, though, since
Floyd | she never had her hair cut like that again; instead the way she let it

Floyd | grow longer year by year suggested she hardly had it cut again at all.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd | It seems that the Kings Arms is one more place left open in the rush to

Floyd | flee the city. You walk inside without any difficulty.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lounge Bar
Floyd | The interior of the Kings Arms matches its exterior, going for an olde
Floyd | worlde feel. On balance, you consider that a good thing, since even if
Floyd | the old-fashioned rustic look is largely a bogus marketing creation,

Floyd | the Lounge Bar of the Kings Arms at least feels as if it has some kind
Floyd | of character beyond the plastic blandness imposed by all too many
Floyd | soulless breweries. Besides, you really rather like the cosy feel the
Floyd | exposed wooden beams give to the place, and the way it divides the
Floyd | space into irregular nooks and crannies.
Floyd |

Floyd | The bar must have been evacuated in a hurry, since half the lights have
Floyd | been left on, the street exit to the east has been left wide open, and
Floyd | the counter left unattended.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the bar counter are a matchbook and a bar mat.
Floyd |

Floyd | You met her here about three years ago. You'd been giving her some
Floyd | routine legal advice on the phone, and you'd managed to drop the
Floyd | suggestion of a drink into the conversation. A little to your surprise
Floyd | she'd agreed, and that evening, you only had to wait for about five
Floyd | minutes before she walked in, spotted you from across the bar and came
Floyd | and joined you at your table.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Tell me," she said, once you'd bought her a drink and you'd both
Floyd | settled down for a chat, "What would you like to be remembered for?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm not sure I'd ever given it much thought," you replied, "I suppose
Floyd | I'd be pretty content to be remembered as a decent sort of bloke."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, I'm sure you'll be remembered for that, David!" she laughed, "But
Floyd | I've been thinking; how sad it must be to pass through life and never
Floyd | leave any kind of impression."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You seem to have made quite an impression round here already," you

Floyd | remarked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Maybe -- but is it enough?" she wondered, "There are times when I feel
Floyd | that whatever I do, it's never quite enough!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "It sounds like you're demanding too much of yourself," you suggested.

Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment she stared at you, as if pondering how best to respond to
Floyd | this idea. Then she suddenly brightened, briskly changing the subject,
Floyd | "Sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear about my existential angst all
Floyd | evening --  so, tell me about your day."
Floyd |

Floyd | So you did, and from there the conversation wandered on to other
Floyd | topics, till she quite suddenly announced that she had to leave.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. So much for me thinking it'd be locked." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from counter" 		
	

Floyd | matchbook: You pick up the matchbook and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's the sort of matchbook you see all over the place used to advertise
Floyd | the establishment that handed it out; from the front cover it's

Floyd | apparent that it must have come from the Grand Hotel (in Market
Floyd | Street). This one has no matches left in it, but inside someone has
Floyd | doodled:
Floyd |
Floyd |       H
Floyd | MASTEMA

Floyd |   H   C
Floyd |   E   K
Floyd |   D   E
Floyd |  TEMPTRESS
Floyd |   V     C
Floyd |  MILLIONAIRE

Floyd |   L     M
Floyd |
Floyd | bar mat: You pick up the bar mat and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The front of it bears a crude depiction of the Kings Arms, and a slogan
Floyd | advertising "Mottles Real Ale". On the back someone has scribbled:

Floyd | "2M -> Uzbekistan
Floyd |
Floyd | arm's deal?
Floyd |
Floyd | whats the plan?"

Floyd |

		inky says, "that is an elaborate doodle" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, Tablesaw was here, working on his next crossword puzzle." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm wondering if we're meant to go to the Grand Hotel next." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "There's no booze here?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Can we search the bar?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search bar" 		
	

Floyd | Lounge Bar
Floyd | The interior of the Kings Arms matches its exterior, going for an olde
Floyd | worlde feel. On balance, you consider that a good thing, since even if

Floyd | the old-fashioned rustic look is largely a bogus marketing creation,
Floyd | the Lounge Bar of the Kings Arms at least feels as if it has some kind
Floyd | of character beyond the plastic blandness imposed by all too many
Floyd | soulless breweries. Besides, you really rather like the cosy feel the
Floyd | exposed wooden beams give to the place, and the way it divides the
Floyd | space into irregular nooks and crannies.

Floyd |
Floyd | The bar must have been evacuated in a hurry, since half the lights have
Floyd | been left on, the street exit to the east has been left wide open, and
Floyd | the counter left unattended.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x drink" 		
	

Floyd | The usual selection of brandy, martini, gin, whisky, sherry and the
Floyd | like are on display behind the bar counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere across the city a clock chimes the hour. Time may be
Floyd | starting to run out.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. Take one." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take whisky" 		
	

Floyd | You don't really like the idea of looting your local, but telling
Floyd | yourself that it's in a good cause you reach over the counter and take

Floyd | a bottle of scotch.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "w00t" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Now we have something to hit the tramp over the head with." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to tramp" 		
	

Floyd | (going to Church Street Bus Stop)
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd | You walk back out into the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)
Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly

Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly
Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "I like this Go To business very much." 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the

Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)

Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town
Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's
Floyd | not a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury Street
Floyd | is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to the

Floyd | High Street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |

Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northeast)
Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street
Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the
Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a

Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	crumple arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	

Floyd | (going northeast)

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street Bus Stop
Floyd | The bus stop stands at the junction of Church Street, which runs
Floyd | northeast and southwest from here, and School Lane, which leads off to
Floyd | the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | A drunken tramp is staggering around in the middle of the street,
Floyd | singing loudly and tunelessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |
Floyd | The tramp staggers around, singing raucously, "Beautiful mushroom,

Floyd | cloud over me!"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give scotch to tramp" 		
	

Floyd | You hand the bottle to the tramp saying, "Here, mate; have this!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The tramp takes the bottle from your grasp and stares at it blearily
Floyd | for a few moments. Then he removes the top with his teeth and takes a
Floyd | large swig. "Thanks, mate; that's just the ticket!" he declares.
Floyd |
Floyd | Still singing, he staggers away, probably to be picked up by the police
Floyd | before long.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to her office" 		
	

Floyd | (going to Her Office)
Floyd | (going northeast)
Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of Devon Road and Church Street
Floyd | This three-way road junction is well lit. Devon Road leads off to the
Floyd | north, Tilbury Road to the east, and Church Street to the southwest.
Floyd | Immediately to the south of the junction stands the High School you
Floyd | attended as a teenager.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Good deal." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | Devon Road (mid)

Floyd | Devon Road continues north and south between leafy gardens and the
Floyd | occasional small office. In the latter category is the student letting
Floyd | office where she works, which stands just to the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd | (first trying to open the letting office door)
Floyd | The letting office door is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with silver key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the letting office door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the letting office door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Her Office (in darkness)
Floyd | Too little light filters in from the outside for you to be able to see
Floyd | much in here apart from vague dark shapes, but you think the light
Floyd | switch is by the door. The way out is to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've been here once or twice before; she's occasionally used your
Floyd | firm for legal advice. She set up in business here shortly after
Floyd | graduating, specializing in student lets. The business seems to have
Floyd | been moderately successful - at least, it's still going and she's not
Floyd | obviously poverty-stricken - but it's never grown, since she still

Floyd | works by herself after seven years at it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the light switch on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Her Office

Floyd | Her office is almost painfully tidy. The modern pine desk standing in
Floyd | the middle of the floor is quite uncluttered. Behind it on the back
Floyd | wall is a small safe, right next to an impressive collection of
Floyd | certificates. The sole door is out to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the modern pine desk are a blotter and a green telephone.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blotter" 		
	

Floyd | On the blotter she has scribbled the words "Borodino Overture", and
Floyd | then a little further down "Home Office" and finally "No danger".
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "huh." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under it" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Search the desk." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | It's of a clean, plain, modern design, large enough both to afford
Floyd | plenty of working space and to impart a certain status to its owner. A
Floyd | set of three drawers forms a pedestal down the right-hand side.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the modern pine desk are a blotter and a green telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawers" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate to start rifling through her desk; apart from a guilty
Floyd | feeling of sleazy dishonesty at behaving like a common burglar, you

Floyd | sense that searching her office drawers might be to cross the line from
Floyd | interest to infatuation; you are almost as much relieved as
Floyd | disappointed to find all the drawers locked.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x telephone" 		
	

Floyd | It's a standard handset.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | It's a standard-looking wall-safe, of the sort one might keep papers

Floyd | in, equipped with a combination dial.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dial" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large numbered dial, which can be turned to any of the digits 0
Floyd | to 99.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial to 88" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you turn the dial to 88.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial to 46" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you turn the dial to 46.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial to 26" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you turn the dial to 26.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open safe" 		
	

Floyd | (first trying to unlock the small safe)
Floyd | It looks like you'll need to use the dial to unlock the safe.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "use dial" 		
	

Floyd | From the look of it, the way to use the dial is to turn it to any
Floyd | number between 0 and 99.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Just guesing, or did you see those numbers somewhere and I'd missed it?" 	
			(from inky) DavidW says "hike!" 	
			DavidW says, "I wasn't guessing. I was counting letters in the words on the blotter." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ooh. Sneaky." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial clockwise to 88" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x certificates" 		
	

Floyd | The certificates show a range of her achievements, but her degree
Floyd | certificate is conspicuous by its absence.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Did we read the certificates?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read them" 		
	

Floyd | The certificates are not your immediate concern.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I am suddenly directionless." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Think" 	
			DavidW asks, "The game pushed us here to do what?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | "Borodino Overture"  -  With a chuckle you realize that these words
Floyd | point to precisely the same number as "Home Office", which, after all,
Floyd | probably doesn't refer to the government department.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "idgi" 	
			inky says, "you could look up "Borodino Overture" if you don't know what it is" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "me neither... number? Like what you were trying to puzzle out with the safe?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or a phone number?" 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps 'home office' is 12, eg 12 Devon Rd" 	
			DavidW asks (of inky), "It's a real overture?" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			DavidW says, "1812" 	
			DavidW says, "I still don't get it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. No danger." 	
			DavidW asks, "Is 'no danger' a number as well?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, the way she has it written there seems like it might be." 	
			DavidW says, "1812 isn't a number from 0 to 99, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I was thinking 18-12" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But then it's too many numbers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or too few." 	
			DavidW asks, "18-12-12?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "These could also point to a - hm, try it." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial to 18" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you turn the dial to 18.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "They could also point to a phone number rather than a safe combo, but yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial to 12" 		
	

Floyd | As you turn the dial to 12 you hear a faint click.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "OH HO" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open safe" 		
	

Floyd | The safe door swings open easily. She did mean you to open it, you tell
Floyd | yourself, otherwise she wouldn't have sent you the key to her office

Floyd | and left that clue on the blotter.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the safe you see a small brass key and some miscellaneous
Floyd | papers.
Floyd |
Floyd | The green phone suddenly starts ringing.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "She's watching us!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, probably not. Just amusing." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do we... answer it?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "answer phone" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the green telephone.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello, I am just checking that the delivery of the merchandise was
Floyd | satisfactory. Central car park, as we agreed - you know what to do
Floyd | now?" asks a slightly accented voice.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hello," you reply, trying to place the accent, "Who is this? I'm
Floyd | afraid..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I am sorry, I must have a wrong number." the phone abruptly goes dead
Floyd | again.
Floyd |

Floyd | You replace the receiver, still trying to place the accent. It sounded
Floyd | vaguely Russian.
Floyd |
Floyd | As a clock chimes the quarter-hour you hear a dreadful scream from not
Floyd | far away. Your heart races momentarily until you realize it's just the
Floyd | yowling from a cat-fight.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Well, we're no secret agent, are we, Comrade?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, take the stuff and look at the papers." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from safe" 		Firion says, "How ironic you should make such a statement, since my first project involves playing as a secret agent infiltrating an abandoned Russian base." 	
	

Floyd | small brass key: You pick up the small brass key and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's the kind of small brass house key that might unlock any of a
Floyd | billion homes. On it is stamped "18G".
Floyd |
Floyd | miscellaneous papers: You pick up the miscellaneous papers and examine

Floyd | them.
Floyd |
Floyd | They appear to relate to her letting business; you look through them
Floyd | quickly, but without knowing what you're looking for it's hard to find
Floyd | anything of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | Among these otherwise uninteresting papers you discover a printed
Floyd | email.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read email" 		
	

Floyd | It's a printed copy of an email, addressed to her from one

Floyd | edward.dawlish@freegov.org. The main body of the email reads:
Floyd |
Floyd | > So I hope you will give very serious consideration to my
Floyd | > application to represent the party at the next general
Floyd | > election.

Floyd |
Floyd | We have given your CV and letter the most serious consideration but
Floyd | regret to inform you that we felt unable to add your name to our
Floyd | short-list of candidates. As I'm sure you will appreciate this has long
Floyd | been a safe seat, and we thus have an unusually strong field of
Floyd | potential candidates, many of whom already have considerable

Floyd | parliamentary experience.
Floyd |
Floyd | > I have been active in many aspects of local life,
Floyd | > and I believe this makes me uniquely well suited
Floyd | > to represent this community.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your participation and achievements in the life of this city have
Floyd | indeed been remarkable, and we recognize that. We accordingly feel you
Floyd | would make an *excellent* candidate for the city council, and very much
Floyd | hope you will consider offering yourself as a candidate for the
Floyd | forthcoming local elections (we could virtually guarantee to find you a

Floyd | winnable ward). Any experience gained as a local councillor would also
Floyd | stand you in very good stead should you wish to pursue parliamentary
Floyd | ambitions at some later date.
Floyd |
Floyd | The email is dated about two years ago. At the bottom of it is written
Floyd | in large red letters: "NO!".

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Oho. 18G is her flat, right?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off lights" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the light switch off.

Floyd |
Floyd | It is now pitch dark in here!
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Devon Road (mid)
Floyd | Devon Road continues north and south between leafy gardens and the
Floyd | occasional small office. In the latter category is the student letting
Floyd | office where she works, which stands just to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Out of the corner of your eye you catch a fleeting glimpse of someone

Floyd | walking off into the distance to the north. You're not sure if it was
Floyd | her or not. You're not even sure it wasn't just a trick of the light.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door. lock door with silver key" 		
	

Floyd | You close the letting office door.

Floyd |
Floyd | You lock the letting office door.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That 'It is now pitch dark in here!' (default, right?) was sort of jarring." 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			DavidW says, "Since it wasn't pitch dark originally." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to gladstone terrace" 		
	

Floyd | (Gladstone Terrace)
Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of Devon Road and Church Street
Floyd | This three-way road junction is well lit. Devon Road leads off to the
Floyd | north, Tilbury Road to the east, and Church Street to the southwest.
Floyd | Immediately to the south of the junction stands the High School you
Floyd | attended as a teenager.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I still have no idea what's going on." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have some ideas." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But hm... it's not as urgent-feeling as I expected it to be." 	
	

Floyd | (going southwest)
Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street Bus Stop
Floyd | The bus stop stands at the junction of Church Street, which runs
Floyd | northeast and southwest from here, and School Lane, which leads off to
Floyd | the south.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going southwest)
Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street

Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the
Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a
Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	crumple asks, "i came in late, what is this c command doing?" 		
	

Floyd | (going southwest)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street

Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		DavidW says (to crumple), "It means 'continue'. Continue going to our destination," 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the

Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)
Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a

Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says (to Crumple), "The game has this nifty 'Go To' command, and you can do anything you want to along your way in any location, including going out of the way to another location, and then when you're done you just tell it to continue and it goes back to where you were originally headed." 	
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge
Floyd | It's strange - almost unnatural - to see this bridge so deserted.
Floyd | You're more used to seeing it jammed with slow-moving rush-hour
Floyd | traffic, or at least a steady flow. But now there's nothing here apart

Floyd | from the bare tarmac, the street lights (one of which now has a large
Floyd | placard attached to it), the stone parapet, and the river sliding
Floyd | silently past below.
Floyd |
Floyd | You distinctly hear someone sneeze in a nearby street, just off to the
Floyd | east.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I hope we can ignore that sneeze." 	
	crumple says, "..jacqueline ah. cool." 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "Probably." 	
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | Embankment
Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York

Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | Sussex Street (north)
Floyd | A row of large Edwardian town houses lines the west side of the street,
Floyd | overlooking the river to the east. The houses are all in darkness, and
Floyd | the street deserted, making it all seem not quite real. Sussex Street
Floyd | continues north to the Embankment and south towards the junction with
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.

Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the
Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts
Floyd | company with the road.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace
Floyd | This short cul-de-sac is noticeably less well lit than the main road
Floyd | just to the east; although the bright moonlight compensates for this

Floyd | somewhat, parts of the street lie in mysterious shadow. At its western
Floyd | end, the street terminates at the railway line, along the side of which
Floyd | lie a large number of loose stones. Just short of the tracks the block
Floyd | of flats where she lives stands on the south side of the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | For some reason you feel you are being watched. You're not quite sure

Floyd | what it was, perhaps a movement half-glimpsed out of the corner of your
Floyd | eye, but whatever it was you see nothing when you turn round to look.
Floyd | You stop and listen, and half-hear a single footstep disappearing to
Floyd | the east, but then everything is quiet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with brass key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the street door.
Floyd |
Floyd | A distant clock chimes the half hour.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the street door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | This communal hallway serves all the flats in the building. To east,
Floyd | west and south are the doors to flats 18A, 18B and 18C respectively,
Floyd | while a staircase leads up to the floor above. The street door is to

Floyd | the north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | (the street door)
Floyd | You close the street door.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock it with brass key" 		
	

Floyd | You lock the street door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Landing
Floyd | This small landing provide access to all the flats on this floor. To
Floyd | north, east, west and south are respectively the doors to flats 18D,
Floyd | 18E, 18F and 18G. The staircase leads back down to the floor below and

Floyd | up to the floor above.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock 18g with brass key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the door to flat 18G.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open 18g" 		
	

Floyd | You open the door to flat 18G.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms
Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hardly notice any details at first; you are too struck by the
Floyd | potent mixture of excitement and guilt at having penetrated her private
Floyd | domain. For a moment or two you hold your breath, half-expecting her to
Floyd | burst out of one of the rooms to protest at your invasion, but the flat
Floyd | remains silent, and curiosity begins to overcome guilt.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the front door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock it" 		
	

Floyd | You lock the front door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms

Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "hmph. Still don't notice any details." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | You find yourself almost tip-toeing into the room, as if afraid to
Floyd | disturb her, or rather, as if afraid of being caught invading somewhere
Floyd | so private. The bedroom looks almost obsessively neat, with virtually
Floyd | nothing on view apart from the double bed that occupies about a third

Floyd | of the floor space, the bedside cabinet right next to it, and the doors
Floyd | to what is presumably a large built-in wardrobe in the north wall.
Floyd | You're not sure what you expected: probably something more exotic and
Floyd | more sensual, but this, while by no means utilitarian, is nonetheless
Floyd | somehow disappointing. Perhaps what's lacking is simply her.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the bedside cabinet is a black telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | It's very neatly made, as if its owner had been trained as a nurse in
Floyd | an old-fashioned hospital. But what's most interesting is that it's a

Floyd | double, given that she lives alone. You wonder whether anyone else has
Floyd | slept there, and if so who.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | As you suspected, the owner of this bed is far too tidy to leave any

Floyd | clutter underneath it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | (the bedside cabinet)
Floyd | It's a smart wooden cabinet with a single shallow drawer.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the bedside cabinet is a black telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You open the cabinet drawer, revealing a business card and a crumpled

Floyd | piece of paper.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Maybe pick up the phone to retrieve her voicemail? Though I suppose that would require a code." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from drawer" 		
	

Floyd | business card: You pick up the business card and examine it.

Floyd |
Floyd | It's one of her business cards. On the front is printed:
Floyd |
Floyd |  "The TAS Agency
Floyd |  Timely Accommodation for Students
Floyd |  12 Devon Road

Floyd |  01921 833758
Floyd |  tas@tas.co.uk"
Floyd |
Floyd | On the reverse side of the card another phone number has been written
Floyd | by hand: 01921 743589
Floyd |

Floyd | crumpled piece of paper: You pick up the crumpled piece of paper and
Floyd | examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's her degree certificate, showing that she graduated with an
Floyd | excellent first class degree. Despite your best efforts to straighten
Floyd | it out, the certificate remains a bit scrumpled.

Floyd |
Floyd | The phone starts ringing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. I would always have at least a double, even when single." 	
			crumple says, "i was just thinking that. i was completely single when i bought my current bed, and i have a queen." 	
			DavidW asks, "yikes. Do we answer *this* phone or not?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, gahtheregoesthephoneagain." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Save again." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		inky says, "it's either a statement about her psychological readiness to date, or it's that she has a small flat" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "answer phone" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the black telephone.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello," you say.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello," answers a brisk voice, which you immediately recognize as
Floyd | hers, "I assumed you'd find your way into my flat. Look, we have to

Floyd | talk - the Enemy - well, I'll explain when I see you. I'll meet you at
Floyd | the hospital, but if I'm not there when you ..."
Floyd |
Floyd | At that moment the phone goes dead, and she's cut off.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Crikey." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, brb ever so quickly. Making a snack." 	
			DavidW asks, "yeah. Brief break would be good. Need to, uh, I'll just do it quickly, eh?" 	
			crumple says, "take care of your needs, davidw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Back." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And will wait for Mr. David." 	
			DavidW says, "back" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, where were we?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Explore more here or go straight to the hospital?" 	
			DavidW says, "well, we barely started exploring the apartment for who knows what, we were followed here, and She of the Name Unknown is at the hospital." 	
			DavidW says, "Considering the layout of most hospitals, we'll never find her again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thank god she didn't go to Heathrow, then." 	
			DavidW says, "The problem with leaving right away is, what to do about our tail." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, let's look around a bit first." 	
			Taleslinger says, "You're in a maze of white corridors, all alike." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We've saved, afterall." 	
			DavidW says, "We might find a gun or something." 	
			crumple says, "i blamed the good people of malawi for a week for having lost my luggage, and it turned out it was just heathrow being heathrow." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open wardrobe" 		
	

Floyd | The wardrobe doors are locked, and you can't see where she's put the
Floyd | key.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms
Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the

Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen

Floyd | The kitchen could hardly be neater and cleaner if it had just been
Floyd | prepared for a health and safety inspection. It is also compact and
Floyd | modern, with some smart kitchen units along two walls, and a small pine
Floyd | table off to one side. The way out back to the hall is to the north.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to crumple), "Sigh. Yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | Presumably this is where she eats, but from the modest size of the
Floyd | table you reckon she must mostly eat alone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x units" 		
	

Floyd | Just the usual blend of cupboards and drawers to hold cooking and
Floyd | eating utensils. You're not really interested in pots and plates and
Floyd | pans right now, but of course you never know what you might find.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open units" 		
	

Floyd | The first few drawers you come to contain a collection of cooking
Floyd | utensils of no immediate use to you, but then you come to the cutlery
Floyd | drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | You open the cutlery drawer, revealing a sharp kitchen knife.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take knife" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the sharp kitchen knife and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a large, sturdy knife with a black handle and a long blade.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to crumple), "Though recently my luggage was misplaced on a fifteen mile flight in a ten passenger plane. Heathrow, by contrast, has some excuse." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms

Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), " se" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Bathroom
Floyd | The bathroom has all the usual fittings you'd expect. The way out is to
Floyd | the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A gold ribbon adorns one wall of the bathroom, opposite the bath.
Floyd |

		inky says, "#1 pooper" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ribbon" 		
	

Floyd | One side of the ribbon is printed in large purple letters "Beauty Queen
Floyd | 1999"; the other is marked "Apollo Theatre".
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks (of jacq), "What was their excuse? Our customs people get very lonely?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms

Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | So this is where she relaxes. The living room is a good size, and is
Floyd | smartly furnished, as you would expect. A comfortable modern settee has
Floyd | been strategically placed to face the large flat screen television
Floyd | sitting in the corner, while a large black and white poster adorns one
Floyd | wall. The way out is to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the mantelpiece are a menu, a familiar birthday card, a small gold
Floyd | trophy and a concert programme.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "It wasn't even cross-border. They tagged my bag wrong, it wasn't pulled off the plane, and the plane then flew eighty-five miles away and got stuck in a snow storm and couldn't return." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But we digree." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, digress." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "A birthday card from us?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x birthday card" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the familiar birthday card)

Floyd | You recognize it at once. It is the card you sent her for her birthday
Floyd | a few weeks ago, a safe, arty kind of card that showed you were
Floyd | thinking of her without suggesting anything soppy. You're surprised,
Floyd | but highly gratified, that she should have kept it this long.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x poster" 		
	

Floyd | It's a monochrome photograph of a painting depicting sunset over the
Floyd | city. You recognize it as the winning entry in a recent art
Floyd | competition; the original hangs in the Art Gallery Market Street. The
Floyd | black and white photo is not nearly so striking as the oil-colour
Floyd | original, but perhaps the original would be too overpowering for a

Floyd | living room - at least you always find it a bit disturbing to look at.
Floyd | The photograph differs from the original in another odd way: the
Floyd | signature in the bottom right-hand corner should be her name, but
Floyd | instead it looks like MASTEMA.
Floyd |

		inky says, "another MASTEMA" 	
			DavidW says, "So I see," 	
			inky says, "perhaps we are in AMSTERDAM" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x menu" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the menu)
Floyd | It's a menu from Lafayette's (in York Street). The selection of food

Floyd | looks as appetizing as ever, but it's of purely academic interest since
Floyd | they obviously won't be serving anything there tonight. In any case, a
Floyd | closer look at the menu reveals that it's several weeks old; the date
Floyd | at the top was her birthday.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x date" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Read menu?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read menu" 		
	

Floyd | It's a menu from Lafayette's (in York Street). The selection of food
Floyd | looks as appetizing as ever, but it's of purely academic interest since
Floyd | they obviously won't be serving anything there tonight. In any case, a
Floyd | closer look at the menu reveals that it's several weeks old; the date
Floyd | at the top was her birthday.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		olethros asks (of inky), "?" 	
	

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trophy" 		
	

Floyd | From the look of it, it's obviously a tennis trophy. This is in any
Floyd | case confirmed by the inscription on its base: "City Sports Ground
Floyd | Tennis Competition".
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x concert" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the concert programme)
Floyd | It's a programme for a performance of The Marriage of Figaro at the
Floyd | Fairfax Hall. On the inside cover someone has pencilled "Voi che
Floyd | sapete? You know what that means! Well done indeed!"

Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "Did I mention that the Object Use Thingie is pretty useful?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Ilac" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You know that." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Right?" 	
			DavidW says, "me? no. Looking up the cultural ref again." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where *is* ghira when we need someone to translate Italian?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, I meant that that's what it means." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Voi che sapete means 'you know that'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or you know it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I've seen Marriage of Figaro, and nothing jumps to mind, but you're probably right." 	
			DavidW says, "It's also the name of an aria" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. It's an opera." 	
	Firion has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		DavidW asks, "Shall we try to get to the hospital now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, sure." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms
Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | (first unlocking the front door)
Floyd | You open the front door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Landing
Floyd | This small landing provide access to all the flats on this floor. To
Floyd | north, east, west and south are respectively the doors to flats 18D,
Floyd | 18E, 18F and 18G. The staircase leads back down to the floor below and

Floyd | up to the floor above.
Floyd |
Floyd | It suddenly occurs to you that MASTEMA is an anagram of her name.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "OHO" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | (with the small brass key)
Floyd | (first closing the door to flat 18G)
Floyd | You lock the door to flat 18G.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I like the use of internal voice, fwiw." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | This communal hallway serves all the flats in the building. To east,

Floyd | west and south are the doors to flats 18A, 18B and 18C respectively,
Floyd | while a staircase leads up to the floor above. The street door is to
Floyd | the north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (first unlocking the street door with the small brass key, then opening
Floyd | the street door)
Floyd |
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace
Floyd | This short cul-de-sac is noticeably less well lit than the main road
Floyd | just to the east; although the bright moonlight compensates for this

Floyd | somewhat, parts of the street lie in mysterious shadow. At its western
Floyd | end, the street terminates at the railway line, along the side of which
Floyd | lie a large number of loose stones. Just short of the tracks the block
Floyd | of flats where she lives stands on the south side of the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You begin to feel you are being followed. You keep hearing footsteps

Floyd | behind you and seeing fleeting movements out of the corner of your eye

		olethros says, "it is pretty nice yes" 	
	

Floyd | when you look round. But every time you stop the footsteps stop, and
Floyd | you are left uncertain whether you're perceiving anything more than
Floyd | echoes and shadows.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take stone" 		
	

Floyd | You don't need any more stones.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | (with the small brass key)
Floyd | (first closing the street door)
Floyd | You lock the street door.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Ma Steam, good name." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to hospital" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Hospital Reception)
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the
Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts
Floyd | company with the road.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (south)

Floyd | Although so far as you know this part of the city never suffered any
Floyd | bomb damage, some group of town planners rapidly made up for the
Floyd | negligence of the Luftwaffe by tearing down whatever was here before
Floyd | and replacing it with a mass of soulless fifties architecture seemingly
Floyd | inspired by Soviet brutalism. The most striking eyesore is the City
Floyd | Hospital, which lies immediately to the east. Sussex Street continues

Floyd | to north and south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd | Hospital Reception

Floyd | Hospitals can be depressing places at the best of times, and
Floyd | considerable effort has been put into ensuring that this one is no
Floyd | exception. The flickering light from a couple of fluorescent tubes does
Floyd | nothing to help, but the drab seating in the waiting area is the
Floyd | clincher. Opposite this seating stands the reception desk, currently
Floyd | unstaffed. Corridors lead off in all directions to operating theatres,

Floyd | offices, and wards, but the only one that looks at all tempting is the
Floyd | one that leads back out to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the reception desk are a blue cassette and a brown telephone.
Floyd |
Floyd | You'll never forget waiting here, with her beside you, still wet from

Floyd | her misadventure and shaking from cold and shock. She made no objection
Floyd | when you put your arm round her, and even nestled her head on your
Floyd | shoulder, but there was nothing amorous about it, you were both worried
Floyd | sick about Kate and just looking for comfort. It didn't last all that
Floyd | long anyway, for it was only a few minutes until the doctor came out to
Floyd | confirm that Kate was dead.

Floyd |
Floyd | So then you spent the next few hours talking to the police.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	two-star took 30,500 buckets -- why? 		
	inky drinks a blue beverage, followed by an orange beverage. 		Jacqueline says, "Hm. Cassette." 	
			DavidW asks, "Any bets that this damn phone will ring as soon as we pick up the cassette?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cassette" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the blue cassette and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's just a standard tape cassette.
Floyd |

Floyd | You think you hear a helicopter over a distant quarter of the city, but
Floyd | before you can pinpoint the sound, it fades away.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x phone" 		
	

Floyd | It's a rather large model, with lots of extra buttons.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "call 01921743589" 		
	

Floyd | You see no reason to try doing that.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Hm. Emma Tas?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That might make sense, given her business card." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. yes." 	
			DavidW says, "I've seen no place to play this cassette." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The reception desk is a long, flat surface behind which there would
Floyd | normally be situated a receptionist busily engaged in keeping visitors
Floyd | from patients, patients from doctors, and useful information from
Floyd | absolutely everyone (with the possible exception of the police and
Floyd | security services). Right now, however, it is as deserted as everywhere
Floyd | else.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the reception desk is a brown telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | On the reception desk is a brown telephone.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind it" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to look behind anything.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read cassette" 		
	

Floyd | It's just a standard tape cassette.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		DavidW asks, "Is it a standard audio tape cassette or a standard video tape cassette?" 	
			DavidW says, "We didn't check the tv to see if there was a VCR attached." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			DavidW asks, "restore?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it doesn't say which." 	
			DavidW asks, "Are we supposed to go to the car park with this or what?" 	
	Taleslinger makes disgusting noises with a glob of Gak. 		Jacqueline says, "I'd suspect video cassette, as those were in use more recently than casette tapes, but who knows? Perhaps it's for an old answering machine. Also, I guess it could be one of those mini cassettes for a voice recorder. Or hell, a Digital Video Cassette." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Think again, I guess." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | That Russian-sounding voice you heard when you picked up the green
Floyd | phone in her office said something about delivering some merchandise to
Floyd | the central car park; perhaps that would be worth checking out.
Floyd |
Floyd | The signature MASTEMA on the poster in her flat makes you curious; if
Floyd | you happen to be passing the local art gallery in Market Street you'd

Floyd | like to check what's on the original.
Floyd |
Floyd | It would be interesting to know the significance of the phone number
Floyd | scribbled on the back of her business card.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "We heard that, too." 	
			Taleslinger whistles. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, there is a phone here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We could call and check that one out right now." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read card" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the familiar birthday card or the business card?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "business" 		
	

Floyd | It's one of her business cards. On the front is printed:
Floyd |

Floyd |  "The TAS Agency
Floyd |  Timely Accommodation for Students
Floyd |  12 Devon Road
Floyd |  01921 833758
Floyd |  tas@tas.co.uk"
Floyd |

Floyd | On the reverse side of the card another phone number has been written
Floyd | by hand: 01921 743589
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Then, I'm thinking the gallery, as it seems safe." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Then the car park, where we'll get our butt kicked." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "call 01921 743589" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the phone but there's nothing: no dialling tone, no static,
Floyd | just silence. You try to recover a dialling tone, but the phone remains
Floyd | obstinately dead, so you replace the handset.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh right. All the phones must be out now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bugger." 	
			DavidW says, "This phone is out. Others might be fine." 	
			DavidW says, "I'd like to restore back to the bedroom." 	
			DavidW asks, "or should we just walk there?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (south)
Floyd | Although so far as you know this part of the city never suffered any

Floyd | bomb damage, some group of town planners rapidly made up for the
Floyd | negligence of the Luftwaffe by tearing down whatever was here before
Floyd | and replacing it with a mass of soulless fifties architecture seemingly
Floyd | inspired by Soviet brutalism. The most striking eyesore is the City
Floyd | Hospital, which lies immediately to the east. Sussex Street continues
Floyd | to north and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | As you pause in your stride, you fancy you hear some distant footsteps
Floyd | receding to the north. Looking around, you notice a golden object lying
Floyd | on the ground under one of the streetlights.
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x golden object" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the gold brooch)
Floyd | It's a gold brooch, in the form of a scorpion. The design is quite
Floyd | distinctive, and you're sure she has a brooch like that. You've often
Floyd | wondered what kind of statement it's meant to make: not that she's

Floyd | poisonous, to be sure, but you suspect she'd not be averse to
Floyd | suggesting she's not to be messed with.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small piece of paper is attached to the brooch by its pin.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I was just thinking back to when the phone at her place went dead." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read paper" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small piece of paper, the crumpled piece of
Floyd | paper or the old newspaper?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "small" 		
	

Floyd | It's tightly folded and pinned to the brooch.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open brooch" 		
	

Floyd | You release the clasp of the brooch and pull the small piece of paper
Floyd | from the pin, unfolding it impatiently.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read small paper" 		
	

Floyd | The handwriting is as small as the piece of paper it's written on, but
Floyd | you still recognise it as hers. It reads, "Sorry, couldn't wait - just
Floyd | discovered I've lost something I must recover: a small, grey, flat

Floyd | metal key. I may have dropped it when I went for a run (in the usual
Floyd | place) or when I went to the knowledge factory. We must make sure they
Floyd | don't get it. It would be a big help if you could search those two
Floyd | places while I look elsewhere. See you later."
Floyd |
Floyd | No doubt she was deliberately trying to be cryptic in case the Enemy

Floyd | saw her note. She often used to go for a run in Mandlebury Park, so she
Floyd | might mean that - or she might mean the City Sports Ground. "Knowledge
Floyd | Factory" was her disparaging nickname for the University, so she could
Floyd | be referring to somewhere on campus, but she could equally well be
Floyd | talking about the Public Library.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, you could restore." 	
			Jacqueline says, "As the phones would then be guaranteed to work." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But, hm. No, you saved *after* she phoned." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hrm." 	
	Ellison arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Big Ell." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Played Nightfall, Ell?" 	
			Ellison says, "I have not! I'll most likely just watch a bit, though" 	
			DavidW says, "The number of places to check out is growing, alas." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Ellison), "This is a big ol' sprawling game. Let us know if you'd like us to bring you up to speed. I think we could do it fairly easily. Despite the fact that we're now an hour and a half in." 	
			Ellison asks, "was this a comp game?" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. The library and university are way to the northeast again." 	
			olethros asks, "who do you want to call?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Ellison), "Yeah. Second place entry." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close brooch" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can close.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, hm. Lots of places to look now." 	
			DavidW says, "Let's return to her apartment. See if we can call from there or play the cassette." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to gladstone terrace" 		
	

Floyd | (Gladstone Terrace)
Floyd | (going north)

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the
Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts

Floyd | company with the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again you feel sure you are being watched, but each time you turn
Floyd | round to check, the shadows mock you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Whatever it was you thought you heard a few moments ago, there's no

Floyd | sign of anyone here now.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)

Floyd |
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace
Floyd | This short cul-de-sac is noticeably less well lit than the main road
Floyd | just to the east; although the bright moonlight compensates for this

		olethros asks, "do you have a tape player?" 	
	

Floyd | somewhat, parts of the street lie in mysterious shadow. At its western
Floyd | end, the street terminates at the railway line, along the side of which
Floyd | lie a large number of loose stones. Just short of the tracks the block
Floyd | of flats where she lives stands on the south side of the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | (first unlocking the street door with the small brass key, then opening
Floyd | the street door)
Floyd |

Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | This communal hallway serves all the flats in the building. To east,
Floyd | west and south are the doors to flats 18A, 18B and 18C respectively,
Floyd | while a staircase leads up to the floor above. The street door is to
Floyd | the north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | (with the small brass key)
Floyd | (first closing the street door)
Floyd | You lock the street door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Landing
Floyd | This small landing provide access to all the flats on this floor. To
Floyd | north, east, west and south are respectively the doors to flats 18D,

Floyd | 18E, 18F and 18G. The staircase leads back down to the floor below and
Floyd | up to the floor above.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | (first unlocking the door to flat 18G with the small brass key, then

Floyd | opening the door to flat 18G)
Floyd |
Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms
Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | (first closing the front door)
Floyd | You lock the front door.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to olethros), "No." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | The living room is a good size, and is smartly furnished. A comfortable

Floyd | modern settee has been strategically placed to face the large flat
Floyd | screen television sitting in the corner, while a large black and white
Floyd | poster adorns one wall. The way out is to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the mantelpiece is a small gold trophy.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tv" 		
	

Floyd | The TV is a modern, flat screen model. The screen is blank, presumably
Floyd | because the TV is not switched on.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tape player" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms
Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Somewhere a clock strikes ten. As the final stroke dies away you listen

Floyd | for any other sound, such as might be made by an arriving Enemy, but
Floyd | all falls quiet.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | The bedroom looks almost obsessively neat, with virtually nothing on
Floyd | view apart from the double bed that occupies about a third of the floor
Floyd | space, the bedside cabinet right next to it, and the doors to what is
Floyd | presumably a large built-in wardrobe in the north wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the bedside cabinet is a black telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read business card" 		Jacqueline says, "There's the wardrobe" 	
	

Floyd | It's one of her business cards. On the front is printed:

Floyd |
Floyd |  "The TAS Agency
Floyd |  Timely Accommodation for Students
Floyd |  12 Devon Road
Floyd |  01921 833758
Floyd |  tas@tas.co.uk"

Floyd |
Floyd | On the reverse side of the card another phone number has been written
Floyd | by hand: 01921 743589
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "the wardrobe is locked" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And the phone, of course." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, so it is." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "call 01921 743589" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the phone but there's still absolutely nothing, making you
Floyd | wonder if the Enemy have cut communications; in any case you can't get

Floyd | a dialling tone so you replace the handset.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pry wardrobe with knife" 		
	

Floyd | You can't break anything with the sharp kitchen knife.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. Mandelbury Park?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Mmkay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to mandlebury park" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |

Floyd | Tiny Hall
Floyd | The hall is tiny, little more than an entrance lobby. There are rooms
Floyd | off to east, southeast, south and west, while her front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | (first unlocking the front door, then opening the front door)
Floyd |
Floyd | Landing
Floyd | This small landing provide access to all the flats on this floor. To

Floyd | north, east, west and south are respectively the doors to flats 18D,
Floyd | 18E, 18F and 18G. The staircase leads back down to the floor below and
Floyd | up to the floor above.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | (with the small brass key)
Floyd | (first closing the door to flat 18G)
Floyd | You lock the door to flat 18G.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | This communal hallway serves all the flats in the building. To east,
Floyd | west and south are the doors to flats 18A, 18B and 18C respectively,
Floyd | while a staircase leads up to the floor above. The street door is to
Floyd | the north.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (first unlocking the street door with the small brass key, then opening
Floyd | the street door)
Floyd |

Floyd | Gladstone Terrace
Floyd | This short cul-de-sac is noticeably less well lit than the main road
Floyd | just to the east; although the bright moonlight compensates for this
Floyd | somewhat, parts of the street lie in mysterious shadow. At its western
Floyd | end, the street terminates at the railway line, along the side of which
Floyd | lie a large number of loose stones. Just short of the tracks the block

Floyd | of flats where she lives stands on the south side of the street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lock door" 		
	

Floyd | (with the small brass key)
Floyd | (first closing the street door)

Floyd | You lock the street door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the
Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts
Floyd | company with the road.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (north)

Floyd | A row of large Edwardian town houses lines the west side of the street,
Floyd | overlooking the river to the east. The houses are all in darkness, and
Floyd | the street deserted, making it all seem not quite real. Sussex Street
Floyd | continues north to the Embankment and south towards the junction with
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a loud bang in the distance: a gunshot? A car backfiring? A
Floyd | muffled explosion? A large object falling over? You cannot tell.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)

Floyd |
Floyd | Embankment
Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York
Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge

Floyd | It's strange - almost unnatural - to see this bridge so deserted.
Floyd | You're more used to seeing it jammed with slow-moving rush-hour
Floyd | traffic, or at least a steady flow. But now there's nothing here apart
Floyd | from the bare tarmac, the street lights (one of which now has a large
Floyd | placard attached to it), the stone parapet, and the river sliding
Floyd | silently past below.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)

Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a
Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Park
Floyd | Although you've often been here in daylight, you've seldom visited the
Floyd | park by night before, and it looks quite different by moonlight. By day

Floyd | it's a pleasant, green open space overlooking the river to the west,
Floyd | but now it's shrouded in sinister black, cold and unwelcoming. The main
Floyd | exit onto Mandlebury Road lies to the south, but there's also a narrow
Floyd | lane off to the east leading to the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search park" 		
	

Floyd | You won't find anything here without a light.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I wondered if we needed light. darnit" 	
			Jacqueline says, "pah" 	
			DavidW asks, "I'm starting to fade. Where to next?" 	
			DavidW says, "Our office is close by." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to our office" 		
	

Floyd | You haven't come across any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to your office" 		Jacqueline asks, "My Office?" 	
	

Floyd | (going to Your Office)
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in
Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from

Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a
Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)

Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd | This is where you work, so you have no difficulty letting yourself in.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you walk into the office you automatically switch on the lights.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Office

Floyd | Your desk is just one among the many in this large open plan office;
Floyd | you have to be a partner to get an office to yourself here. On any
Floyd | normal working day most of the desks would be occupied by your fellow
Floyd | junior lawyers and the office clerks, and there'd be a constant
Floyd | low-level buzz of conversations punctuated by the irritating ringing of
Floyd | telephones. But now the office is as quiet and deserted as everywhere

Floyd | else in the city - too bad it takes the threat of the Enemy to create a
Floyd | more civilized working environment. Heading off in most directions
Floyd | would take you to private offices and sundry facilities, but the way
Floyd | back out to the High Street is to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | On your desk is a white telephone.

Floyd |
Floyd | A letter is lying on the floor under Jeremy's desk, as if it has
Floyd | accidentally dropped out of an over-stuffed drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read letter" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the letter)
Floyd | It's a handwritten letter from Jeremy, dated about two years ago,
Floyd | breaking off his relationship with her. You re-read it, your eye
Floyd | stopping on phrases like, "I'm sorry, but it's over. I still find you

Floyd | as charming and attractive as I always did, and you can be great
Floyd | company, but I'm worn out by your need to always be the best at
Floyd | everything, and I've had enough of playing second fiddle to your
Floyd | ambition" and "We've had good times together, but I realize now that
Floyd | you're just not the woman for me" and "Even now I don't really feel I
Floyd | know you. I'm sure you do have a heart, but I've never felt you've ever

Floyd | really opened it to me; for such a successful woman you seem strangely
Floyd | repressed." The letter must obviously have been returned to him, since
Floyd | across the bottom is written in another hand: "You should have thought
Floyd | twice before rejecting me!"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "If you fade entirely, since it seems it's primarily you and I playing, I say we just continue either tomorrow or next Sunday. I could continue tomorrow, fwiw." 	
			DavidW says, "perhaps continuing tomorrow" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'd be okay with that. I have a ton to do today, actually. Would give me a chance to break things up a bit." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I promise to do something other than crack jokes next time around." 	
			DavidW asks, "what save number are we up to now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Dunno, but save again." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I mean, I can scroll back and look." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. Okay. 7." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll keep the transcript." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What time tomorrow?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | (your desk)
Floyd | It's unusually clear, but then no one was doing much work here today.
Floyd | Your desk has a single drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | On your desk is a white telephone.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You open the desk drawer, revealing a load of junk, amongst which you
Floyd | spot a photograph and a torch.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I found a light!" 	
			Ellison says, "good job!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's look at the photo, too." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "You pick the time. I have the more flexible schedule, I'm sure." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x photo" 		
	

Floyd | It shows the climax of the graduation ceremony, with Kate shaking hands
Floyd | with the Vice-Chancellor as she receives the award for the best degree
Floyd | result of the year. A little way over to the left a group of graduands
Floyd | in academic robes stand looking on and applauding; among them are
Floyd | Jeremy, Nick, yourself - and her. It's her you look at, every bit as

Floyd | beautiful at twenty-one as she is today. She's applauding and smiling
Floyd | with the rest, but the smile looks a little forced - but perhaps that's
Floyd | just the photograph.
Floyd |
Floyd | A few weeks ago, Jeremy handed you this photograph saying, "I came
Floyd | across this the other day, and I thought you might like a copy."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Thanks!" you replied. You assume he gave it to you because it showed
Floyd | your graduation, but you were particularly pleased to have it because
Floyd | she was in it, and you didn't have any other pictures of her.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Well, how about an hour earlier than today?" 	
			DavidW says, "1pm? Okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "OMG She killed Kate because she beat her for valedictorian." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yeah. 1 your time." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm suddenly suspicious. Did ...yes." 	
			DavidW says, "I think Emma killed Kate." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "She did." 	
			Jacqueline says, "BUT WE LOVE HER ANYWAY" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, see you tomorrow." 	
			DavidW says, "okay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sleep, Prince." 	
			DavidW says, "I'll try." 	
			Jacqueline says, "'Night." 	
			
	**** SECOND SESSION **** 		
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, so I just left everything else as was and it looks as though no one has touched it, so we can proceed." 	
			DavidW says, "This is a continuation." 	
			Jacqueline says (to markm), "This is a continuation of yesterday." 	
			markm says, "ah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nightfall is not really a two-hour game, despite being entered in the competition." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | That Russian-sounding voice you heard when you picked up the green
Floyd | phone in her office said something about delivering some merchandise to

Floyd | the central car park; perhaps that would be worth checking out.
Floyd |
Floyd | The signature MASTEMA on the poster in her flat makes you curious; if
Floyd | you happen to be passing the local art gallery in Market Street you'd
Floyd | like to check what's on the original.
Floyd |

Floyd | It would be interesting to know the significance of the phone number
Floyd | scribbled on the back of her business card.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her

Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key either in the Public
Floyd | Library or somewhere on the University Campus.
Floyd | To have any chance of finding anything in the dark you'll need a torch
Floyd | - you're pretty sure you left one in your office.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "Well to be honest it's not a two-hour clubfloyd game." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from drawer" 		
	

Floyd | photograph: Taken.
Floyd | torch: You pick up the torch and examine it.
Floyd |

Floyd | It's a small plastic flashlight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The torch is currently switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | load of junk: You're pretty sure there's nothing else among that junk
Floyd | that's of any use to you right now.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "It's neither, I guess it's safe to say." 	
			Nitku says, "I played through it in just about 2 hours." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Did you? Huh." 	
			DavidW asks, "Go to Meddlesome Park?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
			DavidW asks, "oh, what's the url for the map again?" 	
			Nitku says, "Sure I didn't see all but still." 	
			Jacqueline | http://ifarchive.smallwhitehouse.org/if-archive/games/competition2008/glulx/nightfall/Nightfall%20Map.pdf 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to park" 		
	

Floyd | (going to Mandlebury Park)
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd | Although there's no one around, you turn out the lights and lock up the
Floyd | office as you leave from sheer force of habit.

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)
Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in

Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a

Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |

Floyd | Mandlebury Park
Floyd | Although you've often been here in daylight, you've seldom visited the
Floyd | park by night before, and it looks quite different by moonlight. By day
Floyd | it's a pleasant, green open space overlooking the river to the west,
Floyd | but now it's shrouded in sinister black, cold and unwelcoming. The main
Floyd | exit onto Mandlebury Road lies to the south, but there's also a narrow

Floyd | lane off to the east leading to the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search park" 		
	

Floyd | You hunt around Mandlebury Park but trying to find a small key armed
Floyd | only with a torch here is like hunting for the proverbial needle in a

Floyd | giant haystack.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "hrm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search bench" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the park bench.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under bench" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | When time permits you often come here to eat your lunch on the park
Floyd | bench. On one such occasion about four years ago you saw her jogging
Floyd | past on a circuit of the park. The second time round, she stopped to
Floyd | catch her breath and chat. You can't remember a great deal of the
Floyd | conversation , but you do remember she was enthusing about some book

Floyd | she'd just read.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you read any Stanilev?" she asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I've never heard of him," you admitted.
Floyd |

Floyd | "He's a great thinker, you should read him, you really should," she
Floyd | urged you, "Until I read him I never realized anyone else could feel
Floyd | that way. It was so liberating!"
Floyd |
Floyd | But though you promised her you'd look out for a copy of Stanilev's
Floyd | book, somehow you never got round to it.

		DavidW says, "hrm indeed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's swing past the gallery." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That task seems easy. Though of course I'll be wrong." 	
			DavidW asks, "Where's that on the map?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Market Street..." 	
			DavidW says, "ok, that's not too far." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, SE general corner of the map." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to gallery" 		Jacqueline says, "Hm. I guess we're on some sort of timer, but it doesn't really feel like it." 	
			DavidW says, "Having a timer on a huge map is kinda crazy." 	
	

Floyd | (going to the Art Gallery)
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in
Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from

Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a
Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "had to answer the door" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are

Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Does the game run this slowly when played normally?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "Dunno myself." 	
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		inky says, "you're not really on a timer" 	
			DavidW asks (of inky), "oh?" 	
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)
Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly
Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly

Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cloud temporarily passes in front of the moon. In the suddenly
Floyd | reduced light you hear someone or something moving about close by, but
Floyd | when the moon emerges from behind the cloud once more there is nothing

Floyd | but shadows.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Oh, good. Phew." 	
			inky says, "I mean, there might be some enormously long one but I haven't heard of anyone running into it" 	
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and Market Street
Floyd | The lighting is a bit better here, since it's a junction of two
Floyd | normally busy roads: the High Street continues to north and south,
Floyd | while Market Street heads off to the east.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		inky says, "at the very end there is a timer but it's not going to cause you an issue, I am guessing" 	
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |

Floyd | Market Street (west)
Floyd | Market Street runs east towards Cornwallis Avenue and west toward the
Floyd | High Street. It's the sort of intimate little street where crowds
Floyd | gather to go the pubs and wine bars and late-night boutiques, with the
Floyd | Grand Hotel attracting a fair amount of the custom. Tonight, though,
Floyd | the street is empty, and the Grand Hotel stands open but seemingly

Floyd | deserted to the north.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. The Grand Hotel is where the matchbook came from, n'est pas?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		inky says, "honh honh honh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah" 	
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Market Street (east)
Floyd | Market Street continues eastwards towards Cornwallis Avenue and west

Floyd | towards the High Street. The Hyperion Art Gallery lies open to the
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "we should peek in there as well" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd | You find your way into the gallery without difficulty, and then wander
Floyd | around inside for a bit before finding the exhibition that interests
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Art Gallery

Floyd | The proprietors of this gallery are clearly not greatly concerned about
Floyd | global warming, since the lights are all blazing brightly even though
Floyd | there's no one about to appreciate the paintings. The way out is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although art isn't really your thing, you came here about a year ago to

Floyd | see an exhibition of paintings entered into a competition for local
Floyd | amateurs. Or rather you came to see one painting in particular: her
Floyd | painting, the painting that won the competition.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x painting" 		
	

Floyd | Her painting, the winning entry, is still prominently on display. It
Floyd | portrays the city at sunset, with the buildings silhouetted in front of
Floyd | a blazing red glow. The painting is certainly striking, but you find it
Floyd | a little disturbing; it almost makes it look as if the whole city is on

Floyd | fire. The painting is called "Nightfall". You check the signature at
Floyd | the bottom right-hand corner, but it looks like her name, not the
Floyd | mysterious MASTEMA of the poster in her flat - curiouser and curiouser.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read signature" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, it's her name all right: an anagram of MASTEMA, but not the
Floyd | MASTEMA on the poster in her flat, which presumably must be some kind
Floyd | of obscure joke.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yes, probably." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, definitely." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x paintings" 		
	

Floyd | Many of them are nice enough, but they're a bit of a mixture, and even
Floyd | you can tell that there are few really great paintings here, just some
Floyd | portraits of local worthies, some pleasant but conventional landscapes,

Floyd | a few abstract pieces, and some second-rate kitsch. By far the most
Floyd | striking painting on show is hers.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind her painting" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to look behind anything.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "anything else to do here?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't guess so..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x city" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I was going to say look behind painting (required in IF), but you've done that, so..." 	
			inky says, "splash blood and feces on the painting to crate modern art" 	
			inky says, "er, create" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "rub signature" 		
	

Floyd | That won't help you find her.
Floyd |
Floyd | Somewhere a clock chimes the half hour.
Floyd |

		inky says, "though crate is good too" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		markm says, "ugh, dude." 	
	

Floyd | Art Gallery
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to grand hotel" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Hotel Lobby)
Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | You follow the exit signs and emerge back out in Market Street.
Floyd |

Floyd | Market Street (east)
Floyd | Market Street continues eastwards towards Cornwallis Avenue and west
Floyd | towards the High Street. The Hyperion Art Gallery lies open to the
Floyd | south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Somewhere a clock chimes the half hour.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | Market Street (west)

Floyd | Market Street runs east towards Cornwallis Avenue and west toward the
Floyd | High Street. It's the sort of intimate little street where crowds
Floyd | gather to go the pubs and wine bars and late-night boutiques, with the
Floyd | Grand Hotel attracting a fair amount of the custom. Tonight, though,
Floyd | the street is empty, and the Grand Hotel stands open but seemingly
Floyd | deserted to the north.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | You walk up to the main entrance of the hotel and step inside.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hotel Lobby
Floyd | Even in the dim light, the plushness of the lobby is unmistakeable,
Floyd | accentuated by the ubiquitous plush red furnishings. Indeed, this is a
Floyd | lobby in name only; in reality it's a lounge given the modest name
Floyd | "lobby" in order to impart a corresponding grandeur to the rest of the
Floyd | hotel. But the rest of the hotel seems to be in darkness right now, and

Floyd | the only viable exit is to the south, back out onto the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | Incongruously, a large trestle table has been set up in the middle of
Floyd | the Lobby.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the trestle table are a long rod and a khaki peaked cap.

Floyd |
Floyd | This place holds two poignant memories for you. The first is of Kate's
Floyd | 21st birthday party; she needed somewhere large for all her friends.
Floyd | She was really dazzling that night, with her whole life before her.
Floyd | Alas, she never lived to see her 22nd birthday. The recollection of
Floyd | that evening brings home to you just how much you miss her still.

Floyd |
Floyd | The second is more recent, from about three years ago. You took her out
Floyd | to dinner here, a week or so after that drink in the Kings Arms. She,
Floyd | too, seemed really dazzling that night, sparkling with wit and
Floyd | conversation, utterly charming throughout the entire meal. Even though
Floyd | in hindsight some of the things she said may have been just a little

Floyd | odd, at the time you were just happy to enjoy her company -- until,
Floyd | right at the end, she dropped her little bombshell.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thanks for a lovely evening, David," she told you, "but now there's
Floyd | something I really ought to tell you. I've just started seeing Jeremy."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Seeing Jeremy," you repeated dully, feeling the whole evening
Floyd | crumbling around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I mean I'm going out with him," she explained, as if you hadn't
Floyd | understood perfectly well what she meant.
Floyd |

Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rod" 		
	

Floyd | It looks a little like a baton, or perhaps a makeshift pointer.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | It's an army officer's cap, with a Royal Engineers cap badge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | It's made of wood, of course. A large map has been pinned to the top.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the trestle table are a long rod and a khaki peaked cap.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large-scale map of the city. Thick black lines drawn on the map
Floyd | divide the city into regions with names like C12 and T18, while a
Floyd | number of red circles have been drawn round certain places on the
Floyd | periphery. A yellow post-it note has been fixed to one corner of the
Floyd | map.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x note" 		
	

Floyd | On it someone has written, in small neat writing, "Informant suggests
Floyd | device delivered up to 7 days ago and perhaps concealed in suburbs."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "The memories work fairly well." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x red circles" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large-scale map of the city. Thick black lines drawn on the map
Floyd | divide the city into regions with names like C12 and T18, while a
Floyd | number of red circles have been drawn round certain places on the
Floyd | periphery. A yellow post-it note has been fixed to one corner of the

Floyd | map.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from table" 		
	

Floyd | long rod: Taken.
Floyd | khaki peaked cap: Taken.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake rod" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open rod" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Can we unpin and take the map?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wave rod" 		
	

Floyd | You look ridiculous waving the long rod.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unpin map" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take map" 		
	

Floyd | The map is firmly pinned to the table.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x badge" 		
	

Floyd | It's an army officer's cap, with a Royal Engineers cap badge.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Take pins?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in cap" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pins" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large-scale map of the city. Thick black lines drawn on the map
Floyd | divide the city into regions with names like C12 and T18, while a
Floyd | number of red circles have been drawn round certain places on the

Floyd | periphery. A yellow post-it note has been fixed to one corner of the
Floyd | map.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "We're probably just not meant to have it, of course." 	
			DavidW says, "of course" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Hotel Lobby
Floyd | Even in the dim light, the plushness of the lobby is unmistakeable,
Floyd | accentuated by the ubiquitous plush red furnishings. Indeed, this is a
Floyd | lobby in name only; in reality it's a lounge given the modest name

Floyd | "lobby" in order to impart a corresponding grandeur to the rest of the
Floyd | hotel. But the rest of the hotel seems to be in darkness right now, and
Floyd | the only viable exit is to the south, back out onto the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | Incongruously, a large trestle table has been set up in the middle of
Floyd | the Lobby.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x furnishings" 		
	

Floyd | The furnishings lend a general air of sumptuousness to the place.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "point rod at table" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | That Russian-sounding voice you heard when you picked up the green
Floyd | phone in her office said something about delivering some merchandise to
Floyd | the central car park; perhaps that would be worth checking out.

Floyd |
Floyd | It would be interesting to know the significance of the phone number
Floyd | scribbled on the back of her business card.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out

Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key either in the Public
Floyd | Library or somewhere on the University Campus.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I guess the car park is close by." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmhmm" 	
			DavidW asks, "Should we try for there?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is the rod a weapon, you reckon?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I'm scared, but Save is Our Friend." 	
			DavidW says, "I thought it might be hollow, with something inside." 	
			DavidW says, "But shaking and opening did nothing." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "point rod at map" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "point rod" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		DavidW says (to inky), "I tried pointing" 	
			inky says, "oh ok" 	
			inky says, "well then I dunno" 	
			DavidW says, "neither do I" 	
			DavidW says, "It's yet another mystery" 	
			inky says, "I guess it's just those army general dudes need a pointer to point at the map with when they talk about deploying troops" 	
			inky says, "and then they left the city but forgot their hat and pointer" 	
			DavidW says, "maybe" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to car park" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd | You walk back out into Market Street.

Floyd |
Floyd | Market Street (west)
Floyd | Market Street runs east towards Cornwallis Avenue and west toward the
Floyd | High Street. It's the sort of intimate little street where crowds
Floyd | gather to go the pubs and wine bars and late-night boutiques, with the
Floyd | Grand Hotel attracting a fair amount of the custom. Tonight, though,

Floyd | the street is empty, and the Grand Hotel stands open but seemingly
Floyd | deserted to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a loud clattering, as if someone had just accidentally knocked
Floyd | off a dustbin lid somewhere nearby to the east, but try as you might,
Floyd | you cannot see where the sound came from.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says (to inky), "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Now I have a vision of that old Men At Work video. It's a Mistake, was it?" 	
	

Floyd | (going west)

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and Market Street
Floyd | The lighting is a bit better here, since it's a junction of two
Floyd | normally busy roads: the High Street continues to north and south,
Floyd | while Market Street heads off to the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)
Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly

Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly
Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of a car, so you hastily retreat into the shadows
Floyd | once more as the headlights approach. A police patrol car drives past,
Floyd | apparently still looking for stragglers.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town

Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's
Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury
Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to
Floyd | the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.

Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lorry" 		
	

Floyd | It's a very large lorry, of the kind that permanently risks doing

Floyd | serious damage to narrow streets. It may be painted a dark maroon
Floyd | colour, but it's rather hard to tell by moonlight. What you can make
Floyd | out is the lettering on the side proclaiming "Myles Biggar Haulage -
Floyd | tel: 01921 743589 - Main Depot: 54 Hythe Bridge Street". At the rear of
Floyd | the lorry is a single tambour door which is currently securely shut. At
Floyd | the other end the driver's cab looms well off the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear some footsteps behind you and turn to see a man walking
Floyd | briskly towards you. As soon as he catches sight of you, however, he
Floyd | turns and hurries away down the narrow alley.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x business card" 		
	

Floyd | It's one of her business cards. On the front is printed:
Floyd |
Floyd |  "The TAS Agency
Floyd |  Timely Accommodation for Students
Floyd |  12 Devon Road

Floyd |  01921 833758
Floyd |  tas@tas.co.uk"
Floyd |
Floyd | On the reverse side of the card another phone number has been written
Floyd | by hand: 01921 743589
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Same phone number" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open tambour door" 		
	

Floyd | The tambour door is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cab" 		
	

Floyd | (the driver's cab)
Floyd | It's nothing special, just a large cab at the front of the lorry.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cab" 		
	

Floyd | (the driver's cab)
Floyd | The cab doors are locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, we don't have that same card in our possession, do we?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And accidentally examined it instead?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, I read wrong." 	
			DavidW asks, "Accidently?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Got it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nevermind." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lorry" 		
	

Floyd | It's a very large lorry, of the kind that permanently risks doing
Floyd | serious damage to narrow streets. It may be painted a dark maroon
Floyd | colour, but it's rather hard to tell by moonlight. What you can make
Floyd | out is the lettering on the side proclaiming "Myles Biggar Haulage -
Floyd | tel: 01921 743589 - Main Depot: 54 Hythe Bridge Street". At the rear of
Floyd | the lorry is a single tambour door which is currently securely shut. At

Floyd | the other end the driver's cab looms well off the ground.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shine torch on lorry" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search lorry" 		
	

Floyd | (first trying to open the tambour door)
Floyd | The tambour door is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search lorry" 		
	

Floyd | (first trying to open the tambour door)
Floyd | The tambour door is locked.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be made of metal slats, and is current quite firmly closed.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through door" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You've seen the phone number on the back of her business card
Floyd | elsewhere; there's probably a connection worth investigating there.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her

Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key either in the Public
Floyd | Library or somewhere on the University Campus.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I suppose we're meant to maybe check out that address next." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "There are so many little things to track down." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to haulage depot" 		Jacqueline says, "I wonder what we're supposed to do about that key in the dark." 	
			DavidW says, "It might not be in that dark place." 	
	

Floyd | (going to the Haulage Depot)
Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)

Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		DavidW says, "This'll take us into the north part of town." 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street

Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in

Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a

Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |

Floyd | High Street (by your office)
Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, that's sort of good in that we haven't explored it much." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where
Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the

Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | About two years ago you ran into her here as you were walking home, and
Floyd | she was doing the same, both of you rather later than normal. Your
Floyd | paths would normally have taken you in opposite directions, but instead
Floyd | of turning to walk down the High Street she took a detour up Hythe

Floyd | Bridge Street to walk along beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Today has not been a good day," she explained, "I could do with seeing
Floyd | a friendly face!"
Floyd |
Floyd | So you walked on up Hythe Bridge Street together, but she seemed

Floyd | unwilling to say what was wrong.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northwest)
Floyd |

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd | (first trying to open the large steel door)
Floyd | The large steel door is locked.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x depot" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large, ugly building with a large steel door, over which is a
Floyd | faded sign reading: "Myles Biggar Haulage Co. Tel: 01921 743589"
Floyd |

Floyd | A distant clock strikes eleven.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Short Alley

Floyd | This short alley comes to the end a few yards away from the street,
Floyd | which lies just to the northeast. A high wall runs along the east side
Floyd | of the alley, with a small window about seven feet off the ground at
Floyd | the end furthest from the street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | It's about seven feet off the ground, and about two foot square. It's
Floyd | currently closed.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "What's in our inventory right now, again?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a khaki peaked cap, a long rod, a torch, a gold
Floyd | brooch, a blue cassette, a sharp kitchen knife, a bar mat, a matchbook,
Floyd | a small brown envelope (open but empty), eleven documents (a
Floyd | photograph, a letter, a small piece of paper, a concert programme, a

Floyd | menu, a birthday card, a crumpled piece of paper, a business card, a
Floyd | printed email, some miscellaneous papers and an old newspaper) and two
Floyd | keys (a small brass key and an office key).
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open window with rod" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach the window unaided.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wow. That's a ton of stuff. I forgot about the knife. That's good that we have it, methinks." 	
			DavidW says, "We need a garbage can or something." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just a sec... need to rinse my plate from breakfast." 	
			DavidW says, "I never did have a proper lunch." 	
			DavidW says, "Although my last meal was lunchlike." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I am back, but do you need lunch?" 	
			DavidW says, "Let's continue a bit yet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			DavidW says, "We should either check out the public library and university -or- the sports ground next." 	
			Jacqueline looks at the map. 	
			inky says, "if you go to the public library you should also look at that book she mentioned" 	
			DavidW says, "So either east or west." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's go west." 	
			DavidW says, "I've forgotten the book ref." 	
			DavidW asks, "West to Sports Ground?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The book she told us about in the park that day on the bench,." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to sports ground" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Sports Ground)
Floyd | (going northeast)
Floyd |

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "think about park" 		inky says, "oops, I probably meant 'remember'" 	
	

Floyd | (going northwest)

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge street runs over an old stone bridge to the southeast and
Floyd | on to a junction with York Road to the northwest. A mixture of old
Floyd | buildings lines the street, representing every period from the Civil
Floyd | War to the Victorian; prominent among the latter is the Old Library,

Floyd | which stands just to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just use the command THINK, or for more specific hints THINK HARDER.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remember park" 		
	

Floyd | (Mandlebury Park)
Floyd | In Mandlebury Park you remembered:
Floyd | When time permits you often come here to eat your lunch on the park
Floyd | bench. On one such occasion about four years ago you saw her jogging
Floyd | past on a circuit of the park. The second time round, she stopped to
Floyd | catch her breath and chat. You can't remember a great deal of the

Floyd | conversation , but you do remember she was enthusing about some book
Floyd | she'd just read.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you read any Stanilev?" she asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I've never heard of him," you admitted.

Floyd |
Floyd | "He's a great thinker, you should read him, you really should," she
Floyd | urged you, "Until I read him I never realized anyone else could feel
Floyd | that way. It was so liberating!"
Floyd |
Floyd | But though you promised her you'd look out for a copy of Stanilev's

Floyd | book, somehow you never got round to it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northwest)
Floyd | Junction of York Street and Hythe Bridge Street

Floyd | Beyond the point where York Street meets Hythe Bridge Street, it runs
Floyd | on into a residential suburb. Hythe Bridge Street runs off to the
Floyd | southeast, while York Street runs south towards the railway station.
Floyd |
Floyd | About two years ago you had walked up from the other end of Hythe
Floyd | Bridge Street with her one evening, as she'd taken a slight detour from

Floyd | her normal route. You had stopped at this junction, since her way home
Floyd | lay south and yours lay north. It was just at this point on your walk
Floyd | that she came closest opening herself up to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Would you say I was a failure?" she asked.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Certainly not!" You declared, surprised by her question, "I've never
Floyd | known anyone succeed at so many things!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "But not everything," she sighed, "and maybe not at anything really
Floyd | important."
Floyd |

Floyd | On impulse you offered, "Shall I walk you home?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why not?" she replied.
Floyd |
Floyd | So you'd both headed south together, and you tried to get her to expand
Floyd | on what she had just said, but somehow the moment had been lost and she

Floyd | insisted on changing the subject.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we need to look at that, but I want to get the sports complex out of the way, as it seems a more likely place to find the key, somehow." 	
			DavidW says, "Sounds like our home is near here too," 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the
Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to
Floyd | frequent when you went out more.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)

Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life
Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "We could, after the sports complex, just try 'go to my home' and see what happens." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd | Sports Ground
Floyd | You can't see anything clearly here in this light, but you know there's
Floyd | a running track, a couple of football and rugby pitches, and some

Floyd | tennis courts, as well as a building containing changing rooms and the
Floyd | like. The street lamps in York Street indicate that the way out is to
Floyd | the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You don't come here much, sport really isn't your thing. But you did
Floyd | come a few times that summer, to watch the tennis tournament. She was

Floyd | in it. She reached the finals. You're no expert on tennis, but she
Floyd | seemed to be totally in control all the time; it was almost as if she
Floyd | were dancing round the court rather than exerting herself.
Floyd |
Floyd | She, won, of course: at least she won the women's singles, although she
Floyd | didn't do quite so well in the mixed doubles. When you spoke to her

Floyd | afterwards she seemed to be almost more preoccupied with that failure
Floyd | than with her success: "That idiot Nick!" she complained, "He was like
Floyd | an uncoordinated lobster on court! We should have won!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		inky says, "uncoordinated lobster" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh bah, it's all outdoors." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We'll have the same issue here we had at the park." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see lights just outside the entrance to the Ground and hear a car
Floyd | draw up. A few moments later you hear footsteps and voices just at the
Floyd | entrance to the ground. Nervously, you hide in the shadows by the
Floyd | entrance, carefully concealing the light of your torch, as you listen

Floyd | to the conversation between the two officers:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Can't see anyone here, sarge."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I thought I saw someone come this way. Could be here, or they could
Floyd | have gone to Lafayette's."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Why would anyone still be here?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Probably some lowlife looking for easy pickings now the city's
Floyd | deserted -- they've already done Morgans. Let's check the Sports Ground
Floyd | first."

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Yes, uncoordinated lobster is amusing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | The city sounds unnaturally quiet.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | Better not, you don't want to call attention to yourself.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "So, are they searching here for us?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Poop." 	
			DavidW says, "This is awkward." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, normally *I'm* the one looking *for* suspects. Not the suspect myself!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I guess we're already hiding." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW asks, "But now what? If we move, they catch us, yes?" 	
	crumple arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf9" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x building" 		
	

Floyd | The changing rooms are housed in a long, low concrete building.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x track" 		
	

Floyd | You can only just make it out in the dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | You freeze as the footsteps draw closer, but then they suddenly stop.
Floyd | You realize that one of the officers has just answered his mobile
Floyd | phone.

Floyd |
Floyd | "We'll have to leave it for now," he announces.  "Apparently someone
Floyd | was seen going into the cinema, and then control want us to check out
Floyd | something on the southern by-pass."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Right-oh, sarge. The sooner we're out of here the better!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "We can leave just as soon as we've taken a look at the cinema," the
Floyd | other voice promises, "They're packing up at the station now, so once
Floyd | we've dropped off the metal detector we may as push off too."
Floyd |
Floyd | The footsteps recede, and a few moments later the car drives off.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "METAL DETECTOR?" 	
			DavidW says, "ME WANT" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah. A metal detector'd be sweet." 	
	K-Y arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		DavidW says, "So, the detector will be at the police station, if I'm reading it right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I'm thinking it's very, very necessary." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Again, poop, I say." 	
			DavidW asks, "Do we still try to search here?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, probably not worth the time." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter building" 		
	

Floyd | You can't get in; the changing rooms are all locked up.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Trust me, I've searched for keys on the ground before. No fun." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You've seen the phone number on the back of her business card
Floyd | elsewhere; there's probably a connection worth investigating there.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's

Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key either in the Public
Floyd | Library or somewhere on the University Campus.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Our home?" 	
			DavidW says, "sure" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to my home" 		
	

Floyd | You live out in the suburbs, and it would take you too far out of the
Floyd | way to go there now.

Floyd |

		inky says, "heh" 	
			DavidW asks, "Library next?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to library" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the New Library or the Old Library?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Um." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to college street" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, Junction of High Street and College Street, College
Floyd | Street (south), College Street (mid), Junction of College Street and
Floyd | Devon Road or College Street (North)?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That'll work. Good." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "junction high" 		
	

Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)
Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life

Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the
Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to
Floyd | frequent when you went out more.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of York Street and Hythe Bridge Street

Floyd | Beyond the point where York Street meets Hythe Bridge Street, it runs
Floyd | on into a residential suburb. Hythe Bridge Street runs off to the
Floyd | southeast, while York Street runs south towards the railway station.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going southeast)
Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge street runs over an old stone bridge to the southeast and
Floyd | on to a junction with York Road to the northwest. A mixture of old
Floyd | buildings lines the street, representing every period from the Civil

Floyd | War to the Victorian; prominent among the latter is the Old Library,
Floyd | which stands just to the north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going southeast)

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage

Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "oops" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You walk briskly through the tiny entrance hall and straight onto the
Floyd | dance floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | Old Library Dance Floor
Floyd | Although this place is called the Old Library, no one's read a book
Floyd | here in living memory. Since before you were born this hall has been
Floyd | hired out for social events, possibly including whist drives and WI
Floyd | jam-making classes (not that you've ever been near either), but to the

Floyd | best of your knowledge mainly various types of dance. A stage for a
Floyd | small band or DJ plus sound equipment occupies one end of the hall; the
Floyd | main exit, to the south, lies at the other.
Floyd |
Floyd | For some reason, the hall has been largely stripped of furniture, but a
Floyd | solitary plain wooden chair remains on the stage.

Floyd |
Floyd | The last time you were here was a couple of years or so ago. You mainly
Floyd | recall music too loud for conversation and a floor too crowded to dance
Floyd | on without bumping into people at every turn; it really wasn't your
Floyd | scene at all. You only bought a ticket because you knew she'd be here.
Floyd | And so she was, effortlessly elegant in plain black, standing out from

Floyd | all the others in their colourful finery like a princess among apes.
Floyd | You kept stealing hopeful glances at her all evening. Surprisingly, for
Floyd | much of the time she seemed to be dancing with some nerdish-looking
Floyd | teenager (at the time you supposed either that she must have felt sorry
Floyd | for him and was just being nice, or else that he must be some cousin
Floyd | she'd been lumbered with for the evening). At last, when you'd given up

Floyd | all hope and had gone in search of a refill for your glass, she came up
Floyd | to you and asked you for a dance. You'd been secretly hoping for a slow
Floyd | romantic sway, of course, but your luck being what it was all you got
Floyd | was an energetic jive. At least, she was commendably energetic about it
Floyd | (but graceful with it, of course), which left you feeling a bit like a
Floyd | lumbering elephant with four left feet in comparison. But at the time

Floyd | you felt that one dance made the whole evening worthwhile.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Huh." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | You're not in the mood for it.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | Plain, but sturdy.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take chair" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the chair, telling yourself that no one will mind if you
Floyd | borrow it for a few minutes, so it's not really stealing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to narrow alley" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the narrow alley or the narrow alley?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You haven't come across any such thing.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You retrace your steps through the entrance hall and back out into the
Floyd | street.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge street runs over an old stone bridge to the southeast and
Floyd | on to a junction with York Road to the northwest. A mixture of old
Floyd | buildings lines the street, representing every period from the Civil
Floyd | War to the Victorian; prominent among the latter is the Old Library,
Floyd | which stands just to the north.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of

Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Short Alley
Floyd | This short alley comes to the end a few yards away from the street,
Floyd | which lies just to the northeast. A high wall runs along the east side
Floyd | of the alley, with a small window about seven feet off the ground at

Floyd | the end furthest from the street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put chair under window" 		
	

Floyd | You put the plain wooden chair by the small window.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on chair" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the plain wooden chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again you hear a clock strike the quarter-hour. Only forty-five
Floyd | minutes left till midnight.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I wish I'd played this during the comp." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see much through the window; it's too dark on the other side.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open window" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small window.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter window" 		
	

Floyd | This is embarrassing, the sort of petty burglary you sometimes find
Floyd | yourself defending legal aid clients for, people you've always
Floyd | privately looked down on as sad losers. Still, it seems there's nothing
Floyd | for it: you clamber through the window, landing on a desk on the other
Floyd | side, from which you jump onto the floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | This seems to be a large space, but you can see virtually nothing here
Floyd | apart from the faint outline of the window up to the west and of the
Floyd | desk just beneath it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Haulage Depot
Floyd | Presumably this cavernous space would normally be full of lorries, but
Floyd | there's not a single one in sight now; they must all have been pressed

Floyd | into service to assist with the evacuation. About the only thing that
Floyd | remains here now is the battered old desk in the corner, just under the
Floyd | window. The way out is through a large steel door to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the battered old desk is a grey telephone.
Floyd |

Floyd | A metal toolbox rests in another corner of the depot.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, doubt that telephone works, but..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toolbox" 		
	

Floyd | The green metal toolbox looks quite big and heavy.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | You open the green metal toolbox, revealing some tools.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tools" 		
	

Floyd | There's a hammer, some screwdrivers, and a selection of spanners.
Floyd |
Floyd | Among the tools you find a small screwdriver, which you take.
Floyd |

		inky says, "I didn't get in here either" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | It's about as plain and inelegant as a desk can be, a wooden top on a
Floyd | metal frame of brutally functional design. The desk also has a single
Floyd | wooden drawer.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the battered old desk is a grey telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | The wooden drawer is locked.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x telephone" 		
	

Floyd | It looks rather grubby and is cracked on one side.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "smash desk into tiny bits" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to smash the battered old desk.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x frame" 		
	

Floyd | It's about as plain and inelegant as a desk can be, a wooden top on a

Floyd | metal frame of brutally functional design. The desk also has a single
Floyd | wooden drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the battered old desk is a grey telephone.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pick lock" 		
	

Floyd | That's a great idea, if you can work out how to do it.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Does the telephone work, though?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess if we're not on a timer I could type stuff like inky is doing." 	
			DavidW asks (of Jacqueline), "Why do you care about the phone?" 	
			inky says, "well, it's written on the business card" 	
			inky asks, "isn't it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I guess we don't need to phone the number now that we know what it's to, but..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "Yes, the card's number phones RIGHT HERE." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait... I didn't see where you broke in. Ack." 	
			DavidW says, "That was established from the lorry and the sign out front." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "how clubfloyd led jacqueline into a degraded life of crime" 	
			Jacqueline scrolls back. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x card" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the familiar birthday card or the business card?
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "business" 		
	

Floyd | It's one of her business cards. On the front is printed:
Floyd |
Floyd |  "The TAS Agency
Floyd |  Timely Accommodation for Students

Floyd |  12 Devon Road
Floyd |  01921 833758
Floyd |  tas@tas.co.uk"
Floyd |
Floyd | On the reverse side of the card another phone number has been written
Floyd | by hand: 01921 743589

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "dial 01921 743589" 		
	

Floyd | There's no point trying to call the telephone you're using -- you'd
Floyd | just get an engaged signal.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read telephone" 		
	

Floyd | It looks rather grubby and is cracked on one side.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break phone" 		
	

Floyd | That won't help you find her.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move phone" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search toolbox" 		
	

Floyd | In the green metal toolbox are some tools.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Haulage Depot
Floyd | Presumably this cavernous space would normally be full of lorries, but
Floyd | there's not a single one in sight now; they must all have been pressed
Floyd | into service to assist with the evacuation. About the only thing that
Floyd | remains here now is the battered old desk in the corner, just under the
Floyd | window. The way out is through a large steel door to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the battered old desk is a grey telephone.
Floyd |
Floyd | A metal toolbox rests in another corner of the depot.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		Jacqueline says, "Okay, back. Sorry for the confusion." 	
	

Floyd | It's firmly closed. From the inside it looks as if its locked and
Floyd | unlocked with a sturdy metal bolt.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "It kills me that this drawer is locked." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | You pull back the bolt, unlocking the steel door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the large steel door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

Floyd | It is now pitch dark in here!
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pick lock" 		
	

Floyd | That's a great idea, if you can work out how to do it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge

Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | This seems to be a large space, but you can see virtually nothing here
Floyd | apart from the faint outline of the window up to the west and of the
Floyd | desk just beneath it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Haulage Depot

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Haulage Depot
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pick lock with brooch" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pick lock with screwdriver" 		inky says, "hmm, that's a good idea, though" 	
	

Floyd | You slide the blade of the screwdriver into the lock, feeling even more
Floyd | like some common burglar.
Floyd |
Floyd | By wiggling the screwdriver in the lock, you manage to force it open.

Floyd |

		inky says, "aw yeah" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | You open the wooden drawer, revealing a large car key.
Floyd |

		inky says, "lawyer to criminal in ten turns or less" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take car key" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the large car key, the small brass key or the office
Floyd | key?

Floyd |
Floyd | You pick up the large car key and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's the right kind of shape for a car key, but a bit chunkier than you
Floyd | would expect.
Floyd |

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "oh, I know" 	
			DavidW says, "the lorry" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to car park" 		Jacqueline says, "Joyride!" 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | (first opening the large steel door)

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the

Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the large steel door.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going southeast)
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street

Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where
Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)
Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Isn't midnight when all hell breaks loose? And isn't that really soon?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "time" 		inky says, "hmm" 	
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in
Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.

Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a
Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

Floyd | For a brief moment you think you see her standing before you, just a
Floyd | few yards down the street, but then a cloud passes over the moon and
Floyd | she's shrouded in shadow. When the moon comes out again, she is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		inky says, "I've had stuff happen past midnight" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		inky says, "maybe there is something that ticks off at midnight, though" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "what time is it" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station

Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		inky says, "the status bar has the time, not that this helps us any" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x watch" 		Jacqueline says, "ah" 	
	

Floyd | (going east)

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "blug." 	
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sad that there isn't a watch, too. That's pretty easy to implement." 	
			DavidW says, "I wish that there was a standard status command that echoed the status bar info." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town

Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's
Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury
Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to
Floyd | the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.

Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with car key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the tambour door.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "There's an extension for you to program!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the tambour door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in lorry" 		
	

Floyd | You clamber inside the back of the lorry.
Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lorry Interior

Floyd | It's a large lorry, and there'd be a fair amount of space in here if it
Floyd | weren't nearly all taken up by a large metal cylinder.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cylinder" 		Jacqueline says, "eep" 	
	

Floyd | The large metal cylinder is mostly silver in colour, and has various
Floyd | coloured wires attached to it. There's quite a bit of writing on it,
Floyd | but it's all in the Cyrillic alphabet.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "double eep" 	
			DavidW asks, "er, BOMB?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bomb" 		
	

Floyd | The large metal cylinder is mostly silver in colour, and has various
Floyd | coloured wires attached to it. There's quite a bit of writing on it,

Floyd | but it's all in the Cyrillic alphabet.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "ok, you have one minute -- WHICH WIRE DO YOU CUT?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | A red wire, an orange wire, a yellow wire, a green wire, a blue wire, a

Floyd | purple wire and a black wire are all attached to various parts of the
Floyd | cylinder.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "A whole minute? Just give us ten seconds." 	
			inky says, "ha ha, awesome" 	
			inky says, "unfortunately you are also trapped in slow motion such that every move takes you a minute" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am tempted to save and start cutting wires with the knife. Just to see." 	
			DavidW says, "We don't even have a wire cutter yet." 	
			DavidW says, "oh, the knife" 	
			inky says, "(actually, this being Eric Eve, I think he has developed a fancier time system where different actions take different amounts of time)" 	
			inky says, "oh yeah, the knife" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yeah, let's blow ourselves up!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf10" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I didn't see a timer on this thing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I don't think it's about to go off, I just want to see what happens. And if we sabotage it, awesome." 	
			DavidW says, "We could check the cab part too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we could." 	
			DavidW says, "I've seen nothing yet that hints at a colour sequence." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "If you're still driving, why don't you sit astride the bomb like Dr. Strangelove." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we don't have to tinker with the bomb. I was just feeling reckless." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut red wire with knife" 		Jacqueline says, "We can be sensible and explore more." 	
	

Floyd | You dare not cut the red wire without knowing what it's for.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "And there's our answer, anyway." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town
Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's
Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury
Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to
Floyd | the High Street.

Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock cab with car key" 		
	

Floyd | (the driver's cab with the large car key)

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cab" 		
	

Floyd | (the driver's cab)
Floyd | The cab doors are locked.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock cab door" 		
	

Floyd | You don't have the key to the cab.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
			DavidW says, "sigh." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the
Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.
Floyd |

Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key either in the Public
Floyd | Library or somewhere on the University Campus.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Also, just to be clear now that I've looked up the character name, it's Major T. J. "King" Kong that rides the nuclear bomb, not Dr. Strangelove." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Now that that's settled for the posterity of the transcript..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Police station?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Your nerd cred has been restored." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Thank you." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. I think police station is still too risky as yet." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Graham Nelson once said: "A tester with a new verb is like a child with a hammer."" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, I don't see it getting less risky, do you?" 	
			inky asks, "is there some place you can find out more about bombs?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Ilac" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "The new library?" 	
			inky says, "I wonder if the libr-- yeah" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, that book." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, new library." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to new library" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Public Library)
Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Can someone drive us to the library while I fix a quick sandwich?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "Sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, inky's got it." 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre

Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,

Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		inky says, "sorry, if you'd rather, go ahead" 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |

Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in
Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a

Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a
Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Nah, you're fine." 	
			inky says, "okey doke" 	
			inky says, "sorry, if you'd rather, go ahead" 	
			inky says, "er" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "heh. Now you're looking as confused as I did when we broke into that building back there, inky." 	
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)

Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |
Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where
Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going northeast)
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)

Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which

Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | (going south)
Floyd | The Public Library is meant to have long opening hours, and it seems no

Floyd | one saw fit to lock it up in the confusion of the evacuation. You hurry
Floyd | through the entrance lobby and go straight to the main reading room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except
Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,

Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |
Floyd | You remember coming here about four or five years ago to borrow a
Floyd | novel, and seeing her sitting off to one side, concentrating on some
Floyd | book. You exchanged smiles, but that was about as far as you got before
Floyd | a frown from a fierce librarian silenced your incipient greeting.

Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are already at your destination.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remember park" 		
	

Floyd | (Mandlebury Park)
Floyd | In Mandlebury Park you remembered:
Floyd | When time permits you often come here to eat your lunch on the park
Floyd | bench. On one such occasion about four years ago you saw her jogging
Floyd | past on a circuit of the park. The second time round, she stopped to

Floyd | catch her breath and chat. You can't remember a great deal of the
Floyd | conversation , but you do remember she was enthusing about some book
Floyd | she'd just read.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you read any Stanilev?" she asked.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I've never heard of him," you admitted.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He's a great thinker, you should read him, you really should," she
Floyd | urged you, "Until I read him I never realized anyone else could feel
Floyd | that way. It was so liberating!"
Floyd |

Floyd | But though you promised her you'd look out for a copy of Stanilev's
Floyd | book, somehow you never got round to it.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look up stanilev" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)

Floyd | The computer comes up with one entry:
Floyd |
Floyd | A.D. Stanilev Nightfall - D.143
Floyd |
Floyd | Looking round, you notice that aisle D is to the northeast.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Aisle D
Floyd | Like every other aisle in the library, this one is lined on both sides
Floyd | by bookshelves. The only way out is to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get nightfall" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x d.143" 		
	

Floyd | Aisle D
Floyd | Like every other aisle in the library, this one is lined on both sides
Floyd | by bookshelves. The only way out is to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | The shelves are full of books.
Floyd |
Floyd | By following the indexing you easily find D.143, where Stanilev's book

Floyd | is in place. You duly take it.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read book" 		
	

Floyd | The introduction states that the book will explain the one true
Floyd | philosophy: love is best expressed in destruction, since Entropy rules

Floyd | all and Decay is the natural order of things. The sole end of life is
Floyd | death and to love death is to be in tune with the universe. The one
Floyd | goal of existence is the heat death of the Universe, the ultimate
Floyd | Nightfall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Turning to the last page you find that the book ends with a bitter

Floyd | parody of St Paul: "Death, destruction and decay, these three things
Floyd | abide, but the greatest of these is death."
Floyd |
Floyd | This is about as much as you can bear to read.
Floyd |

		inky :C 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		Jacqueline says, "And yet we will continue to be in love with Her." 	
	

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the
Floyd | main reading room.
Floyd |

Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except
Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,
Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look up bomb" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You quickly discover that access to any potentially useful sites on
Floyd | this topic have been blocked; presumably whoever set up the library
Floyd | computer thought this type of information might be useful to
Floyd | terrorists.

Floyd |

		inky says, "WEAK" 	
			Jacqueline says, "HA" 	
			inky says, "but, I mean, hard to argue with" 	
			Jacqueline says, "WEAK BUT TRUE" 	
			DavidW asks, "Any sign of a key?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nope." 	
			inky says, "dunno" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "cyrillic" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the
Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.

Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key somewhere on the

Floyd | University Campus.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look up cyrillic" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | The computer tells you that Russian dictionaries are to be found in the

Floyd | reference section in Aisle R.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looking round, you notice that Aisle R is to the south.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Aisle R
Floyd | There are a large number of reference works on the shelves here. The
Floyd | way out is to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the reference shelves is a large Russian dictionary.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get dictionary" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the large Russian dictionary and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a large, well-presented dictionary that explains the Cyrillic

Floyd | alphabet and is helpful as it can be for the absolute beginner. It
Floyd | won't help you read War and Peace in the original with ease, but it
Floyd | should help you translate a few simple phrases.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Hey, good idea." 	
			inky says, "like "holy crap don't cut the red wire"" 	
			DavidW asks, "We can translate the cyrillic now?" 	
			inky says, "maybe, yeah" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Let's steal the book. We've already committed so many crimes this evening, what's one more in the name of World Peace?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Shall we check out the university campus while we're nearby?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, I suspect we need that metal detector first." 	
			DavidW says, "someone drive while I inhale sandwich" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "inky is a good driver." 	
			Jacqueline buckles her safety belt. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the

Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious

Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key somewhere on the
Floyd | University Campus.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "go to campus" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the
Floyd | main reading room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except
Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,

Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Aisle R
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get dictionary" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the
Floyd | main reading room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except

Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,
Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "go to campus" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)

Floyd | You walk briskly back through the deserted entrance lobby and out onto
Floyd | the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the

Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back

Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a movement in the distance off to the southwest, but you can't
Floyd | make out who or what it is, and it's gone before you can focus on it.

Floyd |

		inky says, "hmm, yeah, I think the deal is this is all generic campus" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You walk up to the front of the Apollo and find it unlocked, so you go
Floyd | inside.

Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Lobby
Floyd | The ticket office is closed, and there's no one about, but there seems
Floyd | to be nothing to stop you wandering into the auditorium, which lies
Floyd | just to the north. The main exit is to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | A poster advertising the next show is fixed to the wall, but it looks
Floyd | like someone has defaced it.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x poster" 		
	

Floyd | The poster advertises a new play called "Martian Mores" by an author so

Floyd | obscure that it would be surprising if even his own mother has heard of
Floyd | him. Across the poster someone has written, apparently in red lipstick,
Floyd | the words "Beware the Enemy within!", although you can't be sure it's
Floyd | not meant to be part of the poster.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Theatre Auditorium
Floyd | In the dim half-light you can just make out the outlines of the seating
Floyd | and the distant stage. An illuminated sign indicates that the exit is
Floyd | to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sole item of scenery on the stage is a canvas chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Not all the events held here were as representative of high culture as
Floyd | the builders of this theatre might have hoped. Three or four years ago
Floyd | the city held a contest here to choose a beauty queen for some local
Floyd | pageant. Of course she was one of the contestants, and of course she

Floyd | won; most of the other contestants were pretty enough but next to her
Floyd | beauty they struck you as fireflies competing with the sun. It wasn't
Floyd | just a matter of her looks, though she certainly looked drop-dead
Floyd | gorgeous that night; she also clearly had far more poise, far more
Floyd | intelligence, and far more personality than the rest of them put
Floyd | together.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | It's a canvas chair with a steel frame. It looks like there may be
Floyd | something on the chair, but from this distance you can't be sure.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way. The only obvious exit is south (to Theatre
Floyd | Lobby).
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand on stage" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the stage.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the stage you can see a canvas chair (on which is a portable
Floyd | cassette player (closed)).
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x player" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small, basic tape cassette player, black and silver in colour,
Floyd | with buttons marked PLAY, STOP, REWIND and EJECT.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get player" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push play" 		
	

Floyd | Some music begins to play, belting out in an insistent 5/4 rhythm. You

Floyd | recognize it as the first movement of Holst's Planets Suite -- Mars,
Floyd | the Bringer of War. The tape comes to an end and the cassette player
Floyd | stops with a click.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ooh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the stage.
Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Auditorium
Floyd | In the dim half-light you can just make out the outlines of the seating
Floyd | and the distant stage. An illuminated sign indicates that the exit is

Floyd | to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sole item of scenery on the stage is a canvas chair.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "do we have a tape to play?" 	
			DavidW says, "HEY" 	
			DavidW says, "YES" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cassette" 		
	

Floyd | (the blue cassette)

Floyd | It's just a standard tape cassette.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open player" 		
	

Floyd | You press the EJECT button and the cassette player pops open.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get cassette from player" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put cassette in player" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the grey tape cassette, the portable cassette player
Floyd | or the blue cassette?
Floyd |

		inky asks, "which one is it?" 	
			DavidW says, "BLUE" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put blue in player" 		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, blue." 	
	

Floyd | You put the blue cassette into the portable cassette player.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push play" 		
	

Floyd | (first closing the portable cassette player)
Floyd | You hear her voice speaking from the cassette player: "It's all a lie,
Floyd | you know, about the Enemy, I mean. Oh, there is an Enemy all right, but
Floyd | they're not telling us the truth about who or what the Enemy is. The
Floyd | government, the police, the army, the security services -- they're all
Floyd | in the know, but they're not telling. That's why I need to stay here,

Floyd | to deal with the Enemy, but I don't think I can do it alone. I can't
Floyd | say more right now - this tape might fall into the wrong hands - but
Floyd | I'll explain it all when I see you. In the meantime I'll try to get a
Floyd | message to you; and for goodness' sake watch out, stay clear of the
Floyd | police, and don't trust anyone. As for the Enemy -- well, just keep
Floyd | your wits about you and don't believe any of the official

Floyd | pronouncements. I'll be in touch again soon."
Floyd |
Floyd | Silence. The tape comes to an end and the cassette player stops with a
Floyd | click.
Floyd |

		inky says, "oh, right, the message she left for us at the whatsit" 	
			inky says, "the tape should close with a clip from fuck da police" 	
			DavidW says, "I've long forgotten where the blue cassette was found." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the
Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.

Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key somewhere on the

Floyd | University Campus.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "hospital, maybe?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it was at the hospital." 	
			DavidW says, "We've been to the hospital" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Lobby
Floyd | The ticket office is closed, and there's no one about, but there seems

Floyd | to be nothing to stop you wandering into the auditorium, which lies
Floyd | just to the north. The main exit is to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A poster advertising the next show is fixed to the wall, but it looks
Floyd | like someone has defaced it.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You walk back out into College Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently

Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, not sure we need to go back." 	
	

Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere

Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere across the city a bell solemnly tolls midnight. As the

Floyd | last stroke dies away you realize you were holding your breath.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Just saying that that's where the tape came from." 	
			inky says, "oops, there's midnight" 	
			DavidW says, "ah" 	
			DavidW says, "Now try for metal detector" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf11" 		Jacqueline, inky, and DavidW turn into pumpkins. 	
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |

		inky asks, "you don't want to do the bomb next?" 	
			inky says, "I guess I don't know where they are, geographically re us" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Nah, I'd rather get the key" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "go to police station" 		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "getting into the police hq probably won't be simple." 	
	

Floyd | (going to the Police Station Reception Area)
Floyd | (going southwest)
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where

Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says (to DW), "I'll just flash my badge." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I suspect it will be frought with peril." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | High Street (by your office)
Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in
Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from

Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a
Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are

Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)

Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |
Floyd | (going east)
Floyd | According to what you overheard, the police should now have abandoned

Floyd | the Police Station, so you decide you can now risk walking past it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (outside Police Station)
Floyd | Mandlebury Road continues to east and west, while the main city police
Floyd | station stands just to the south, and Church Road runs off to the
Floyd | north.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd | You walk to the front entrance of the Police Station and listen
Floyd | carefully for any signs of life inside. According to what you

Floyd | overheard, it should be abandoned now, but it's best to be sure. You
Floyd | listen for several moments but hear nothing, so you proceed cautiously
Floyd | inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Police Station Reception Area
Floyd | The reception area is deserted - it would seem that the police have

Floyd | indeed fled the city (or at least, this station). Access deeper inside
Floyd | the police station is firmly blocked by the front desk, but it all
Floyd | looks pretty dark beyond there in any case. Otherwise the area is
Floyd | largely bare apart from the exit to the north and the ventilation
Floyd | grille high up in one wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the front desk is a yellow document.
Floyd |
Floyd | A metal detector leans abandoned against the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The last time you were here was when the police called you in to go
Floyd | over your statement about Kate's drowning, just a couple of days before

Floyd | the Inquest at the Coroner's Court just round the corner. They seemed
Floyd | particularly interested in what you could tell them about Kate's state
Floyd | of mind, but you couldn't really add much to the statement you'd given
Floyd | them in the Hospital just after the event.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x document" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the evacuation order)
Floyd | It's printed on bright yellow paper and headed "EVACUATION ORDER". A
Floyd | quick perusal of the document reveals that the police first received a

Floyd | warning about the Enemy only last night. It was originally dismissed as
Floyd | a hoax, until a message came through from the security services saying
Floyd | that the Enemy were to be regarded as a Level 1 threat, and  the city
Floyd | was to be evacuated immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | The next few paragraphs detail the procedures for publishing a warning

Floyd | and getting everyone out of the city as quickly as possible. You skip
Floyd | over the dry officialese that already feels like ancient history.
Floyd |
Floyd | Right at the end, however, you find a striking conclusion: "To avoid
Floyd | unnecessary panic, on no account are the public to be informed about
Floyd | the true nature of the "Enemy". In reality what we're dealing with

Floyd | is..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Frustratingly, the bottom of the page has been torn off at just this
Floyd | point.
Floyd |

		inky says, "bah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get detector" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the metal detector and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's basically a long pole with a flat disk at one end.
Floyd |

Floyd | The metal detector is currently switched off.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x vent" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | It's roughly square, and set high in the wall. Below it on the same
Floyd | wall are a black switch and a thermostat.
Floyd |
Floyd | You notice a small scrap of yellow paper stuck in the grille.

Floyd |

		inky says, "man" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take yellow paper" 		inky says, "DavidW is such a good IF player" 	
	

Floyd | (the small scrap of yellow paper)

Floyd | You can't reach the scrap of paper; it's stuck up in the ventilation
Floyd | grille.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on desk" 		
	

Floyd | You get onto the front desk.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take yellow paper" 		
	

Floyd | (the small scrap of yellow paper)
Floyd | You can't reach the scrap of paper; it's stuck up in the ventilation
Floyd | grille.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read paper" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small scrap of yellow paper, the evacuation
Floyd | order, the small piece of paper, the crumpled piece of paper or the old
Floyd | newspaper?

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "small scrap" 		
	

Floyd | (first trying to take the small scrap of yellow paper)
Floyd | You can't reach the scrap of paper; it's stuck up in the ventilation
Floyd | grille.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x black switch" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small black switch, currently off.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unscrew grille with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x thermostat" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like it can be turned to any number between 0 and 30. It's

Floyd | currently set to 18.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yes, he is." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "I predict this will be funny" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. Quite possibly." 	
			DavidW asks, "Can we turn on the a/c to get the scrap?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or heat, yeah." 	
			inky says, "that's what I'm assuming" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn dial to 0" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn thermostat to 0" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the thermostat to 0.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x grille" 		
	

Floyd | It's roughly square, and set high in the wall. Below it on the same
Floyd | wall are a black switch and a thermostat.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the ventilation grille is a small scrap of yellow paper.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push black switch" 		
	

Floyd | The ventilator blows cold air into the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | The small scrap of paper is blown out of the ventilator and wafts down
Floyd | to the floor.

Floyd |

		inky says, "aha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "wee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | The rest of the police station is in darkness; you can't imagine she'd

Floyd | be anywhere in there. The way out is to the north.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get scrap" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the small scrap of yellow paper and examine it.
Floyd |

Floyd | It's clearly a fragment torn from a larger page, perhaps only a
Floyd | fragment of a fragment, for all you can make out is:
Floyd |
Floyd | ...mation came from the vicar of St Mich...
Floyd | ...ormant apparently found God and...
Floyd | ...fessed everything to the priest who...

Floyd | ...tiality of the confessional, thought...
Floyd | ...police. Despite the seeming abs...
Floyd | ...checks out with MI5.
Floyd |

		inky says, "hunh, not what I expected" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No. Interesting." 	
			Jacqueline says, "A different piece of paper." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm. Key now, or something else while we're here?" 	
			inky asks, "I forget, did you explore the whole church?" 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "We didn't get into the safe." 	
			inky says, "aha" 	
			DavidW says, "I relocked the vestry door and put the iron key back in the font, though." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we left the diary there also." 	
			inky says, "oh yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			inky asks, "didn't the diary mention some other place?" 	
			DavidW says, "'Meet DS at KA 2 pm'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The pub, which we visited." 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky asks, "but there wasn't anything there?" 	
			inky asks, "or did you just grab the bottle?" 	
			DavidW says, "The matchbook and the mat" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "that doesn't *seem* like a safe combo clue" 	
			inky says, "but maybe I'm wrong" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, the matchbook had her name on it... that weird crossword sketch." 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up mastema in dictionary" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the large Russian dictionary.
Floyd |

		inky says, "it seems like the crossword ought to be a clever thing of some kind" 	
			Jacqueline says, "yes" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the
Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's

Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. She thinks she may have dropped it out
Floyd | running, which could either be in Mandlebury Park (if she meant her
Floyd | lunch-time jog) or at the Sports Ground (if she was doing serious
Floyd | training). It's also possible she left the key somewhere on the
Floyd | University Campus.
Floyd |

		inky says, "ok, I'm going to go get some lunch myself" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		DavidW asks, "Look for the key? Translate the bomb?" 	
	

Floyd | Police Station Reception Area (on the front desk)
Floyd | The reception area is deserted. Access deeper inside the police station

Floyd | is firmly blocked by the front desk, but it all looks pretty dark
Floyd | beyond there in any case. Otherwise the area is largely bare apart from
Floyd | the exit to the north and the ventilation grille high up in one wall.
Floyd |

		inky says, "good luck not getting blown up" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh. Thanks, inky." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | Normally there'd be an officer on duty at the front desk every hour of
Floyd | the day, but now it is unstaffed.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Key or bomb?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Think that other scrap of paper is here?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, it's kinda weird how easy it was to get in here." 	
			DavidW says, "I think this was the scrap." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh. But... well, okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I vote for the key then." 	
			DavidW says, "They're both bright yellow." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want to drive now, or shall I?" 	
			DavidW says, "you drive a bit" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yeah, I realize, but it wasn't at all what I expected. The scrap, I mean." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, M Park is closest, right?" 	
			DavidW says, "well, it seems the priest is who raised the alarm in the first place." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Start there?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go to mandlebury park" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | (first leaving the front desk)
Floyd |

Floyd | Mandlebury Road (outside Police Station)
Floyd | Mandlebury Road continues to east and west, while the main city police
Floyd | station stands just to the south, and Church Road runs off to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east

Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "@mutec clubfloyd" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oops" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally

Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)

Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a
Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Park
Floyd | Although you've often been here in daylight, you've seldom visited the
Floyd | park by night before, and it looks quite different by moonlight. By day

Floyd | it's a pleasant, green open space overlooking the river to the west,
Floyd | but now it's shrouded in sinister black, cold and unwelcoming. The main
Floyd | exit onto Mandlebury Road lies to the south, but there's also a narrow
Floyd | lane off to the east leading to the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have arrived at your destination.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I wonder if the torch will let us see Kate's grave." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm, perhaps." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on metal detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector on.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search grass" 		
	

Floyd | You won't find anything here without a light.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I wish USE was a verb more often than it is." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use metal detector" 		
	

Floyd | You begin walking slowly walking round the park, sweeping the ground
Floyd | with the metal detector, but you fail to find anything interesting.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, hey, it worked." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off metal" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector off.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Sports complex?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "go to sports ground" 		
	Nitku was translated with Google. Sorry. 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Sports Ground)
Floyd | (going south)

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)
Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a
Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I've struggled with metal detectors in other IF games. 'Use' is the most obvious verb, but the anti-USE groupthink tends to prevent the obvious." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	

Floyd | (going west)

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge
Floyd | It's strange - almost unnatural - to see this bridge so deserted.
Floyd | You're more used to seeing it jammed with slow-moving rush-hour
Floyd | traffic, or at least a steady flow. But now there's nothing here apart
Floyd | from the bare tarmac, the street lights (one of which now has a large

Floyd | placard attached to it), the stone parapet, and the river sliding
Floyd | silently past below.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going west)

Floyd |
Floyd | Embankment
Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York
Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going north)
Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (South)

Floyd | This part of York Street has moved considerably up-market in recent
Floyd | years. The old Victorian terraces lining the west side of the street
Floyd | may be small, and were probably built for Victorian labourers, but the
Floyd | recent hike in property prices makes them the best that many young
Floyd | professionals can afford. They lack nearby parking spaces, but that
Floyd | wouldn't be a problem tonight; there isn't a single car in sight;

Floyd | everyone with a car has used it to get away. The eerily deserted street
Floyd | continues alongside the river to north and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | You think you hear a voice nearby, just off to the south but even when
Floyd | you turn round you can see no one there. Perhaps you just imagined it.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "It's like walking in real time, this is." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Enjoying the view?" 	
	

Floyd | (going north)

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of York Street and Station Road
Floyd | This is normally one of the busiest junctions in the city, mainly due
Floyd | to the traffic from the railway station, but now there isn't so much as
Floyd | a bicycle in sight, just the ever-present street lighting, the river
Floyd | running by to the east, and the sign pointing north towards the City

Floyd | Sports Ground, south towards Mandlebury Bridge and the Hospital, and
Floyd | west towards the Railway Station.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "You know, I could have just walked, I guess." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)
Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life
Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the

Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to
Floyd | frequent when you went out more.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)
Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life
Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Sports Ground
Floyd | You can't see anything clearly here in this light, but you know there's
Floyd | a running track, a couple of football and rugby pitches, and some
Floyd | tennis courts, as well as a building containing changing rooms and the

Floyd | like. The street lamps in York Street indicate that the way out is to
Floyd | the east.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Much quicker, except I missed our turnoff." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on metal" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector on.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You won't find anything here without a light.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That is actually not the case, but I guess." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You walk over to the running track and start sweeping it with the metal
Floyd | detector, but you fail to find anything interesting.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |
Floyd | Somewhere in the distance a clock chimes the half-hour.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector off.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)

Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life
Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "wait" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the
Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to

Floyd | frequent when you went out more.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Oh, yes?" 	
			DavidW asks, "what about the tennis court?" 	
			DavidW asks, "And the pitches?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, right." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Except... aren't those all in that same location?" 	
			DavidW asks, "are they?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's see if it does them sequentially in that locale." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, they're all one location on the map, but you have an excellent point." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)
Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life

Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "like, you checked out the track, but.." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sports Ground
Floyd | You can't see anything clearly here in this light, but you know there's
Floyd | a running track, a couple of football and rugby pitches, and some
Floyd | tennis courts, as well as a building containing changing rooms and the

Floyd | like. The street lamps in York Street indicate that the way out is to
Floyd | the east.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector on.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector on court" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You've already looked for the flat metal key here.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "oh. okay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector off.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (mid)
Floyd | This section of street feels eerily still, with no signs of life
Floyd | anywhere. The river runs silently by to the east, while the City Sports
Floyd | Ground stands mutely to the west. York Street continues to north and
Floyd | south.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the

Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to
Floyd | frequent when you went out more.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of York Street and Hythe Bridge Street
Floyd | Beyond the point where York Street meets Hythe Bridge Street, it runs
Floyd | on into a residential suburb. Hythe Bridge Street runs off to the
Floyd | southeast, while York Street runs south towards the railway station.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge street runs over an old stone bridge to the southeast and
Floyd | on to a junction with York Road to the northwest. A mixture of old
Floyd | buildings lines the street, representing every period from the Civil

Floyd | War to the Victorian; prominent among the latter is the Old Library,
Floyd | which stands just to the north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		DavidW says, "It's hard to be sure if one search is sufficient." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage

Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Where at the university, precisely?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the

Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.
Floyd |
Floyd | She wants you to help her find a small flat metal key she says she's
Floyd | lost - it seems to be important. It's possible she left the key
Floyd | somewhere on the University Campus.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "northeast-ish" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "YEah, you had a good point about checking to make sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I know where the university is, but it's multiple locations..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I guess I will search the ENTIRE CAMPUS." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		DavidW says, "So search all of them, yeah." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where
Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the

Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)

Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which

Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "It's not like it'll take all night." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector on.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "See, in reality, it would, but yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		DavidW says, "yes, I know." 	
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), " ne" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (mid)

Floyd | This is the point at which College Street enters the campus, marked by
Floyd | the Great University Hall standing just to the east. The street runs to
Floyd | northeast and southwest.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "er, not the street" 	
			Jacqueline says, "In the buildings, you think." 	
			DavidW says, "the street isn't the 'campus'" 	
			DavidW asks, "Have we been on campus yet?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we have." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's where we played the tape." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking I'll sweep the streets, too. I think of those as part of the campus." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I'll hit the buildings as we go as well." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the

Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You walk up to the front of the Apollo and go back inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Lobby
Floyd | The ticket office is closed, and there's no one about, but there seems

Floyd | to be nothing to stop you wandering into the auditorium, which lies
Floyd | just to the north. The main exit is to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A poster advertising the next show is fixed to the wall, but it looks
Floyd | like someone has defaced it.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Auditorium
Floyd | In the dim half-light you can just make out the outlines of the seating
Floyd | and the distant stage. An illuminated sign indicates that the exit is
Floyd | to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sole item of scenery on the stage is a canvas chair.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I don't think this is what I meant." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s. se. ne." 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Lobby
Floyd | The ticket office is closed, and there's no one about, but there seems

Floyd | to be nothing to stop you wandering into the auditorium, which lies
Floyd | just to the north. The main exit is to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A poster advertising the next show is fixed to the wall, but it looks
Floyd | like someone has defaced it.
Floyd |

Floyd | You walk back out into College Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was

Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (mid)
Floyd | This is the point at which College Street enters the campus, marked by
Floyd | the Great University Hall standing just to the east. The street runs to
Floyd | northeast and southwest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "It's part of the campus, too, I think. But I'm headed to what you were talking about now." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of College Street and Devon Road
Floyd | Mere outlines in the moonlight, various university buildings stand
Floyd | round and about, the most prominent being the large hall of residence
Floyd | just to the east. This rather ugly building, Mitchel Hall, stands on

Floyd | the corner of Devon Road, which runs off to the southeast, and College
Floyd | Street, which continues northeast and southwest across the campus.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You've never known this building to be locked, and it isn't now; you
Floyd | walk straight inside.
Floyd |

Floyd | Residence Hall Lobby
Floyd | This large entrance lobby has a depressingly institutional appearance
Floyd | at the best of times. Dimly lit, with the rest of the building in
Floyd | sullen darkness, it feels oppressively gloomy. There are two main
Floyd | exits, to Devon Road to the south or College Street to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | A prominent notice is affixed to the centre of the main notice board.
Floyd |
Floyd | You ran into her here in your first week as a student. You hesitated to
Floyd | approach her because, in all conscience, you hardly knew her, but while
Floyd | you were debating with yourself whether it was worth trying to renew
Floyd | your acquaintance, she flashed you a lovely smile and walked up to you.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello," she said, tossing her long dark hair over back her shoulder,
Floyd | "don't I know you? We were at primary school together, weren't we?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "That's right," you agreed, "though it seems a long time ago now. I'm
Floyd | flattered you remember!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "It's nice to see a familiar face!" she told you, "so what are you
Floyd | reading here?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Law," you told her,  "and you?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "English," she replied, adding with a laugh "much less practical!
Floyd | Talking of which, I'm in danger late of being late for my first Dickens
Floyd | lecture, and I'd hate to upset my prof on my first day, so I'd better
Floyd | dash before Great Expectations turn into Bleak House! We'll catch up
Floyd | later."
Floyd |

Floyd | And after a fashion, over the next three years you did, but nowhere
Floyd | near as much as you'd have liked.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You start carefully sweeping the ground with the metal detector, but

Floyd | you fail to find anything interesting.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x notice" 		
	

Floyd | It's headed ALL YOU'RE IT PROBLEM'S SOLVED, following which it
Floyd | proclaims "Hard disk crash? Essay wont print? Email wont work? Need a

Floyd | fancy website or help with your on-line searches'? Fed up with
Floyd | Micro$oft? Wan't to give your PC a boost? I can help with all you're IT
Floyd | problem's at very reasonable rate's. Just drop me an email me on
Floyd | daniel.saunders@itguru.dannynet."
Floyd |
Floyd | Underneath is a large picture of an archetypal geek with a nerdish

Floyd | grin. You hope he's more skilled with computers than he is with
Floyd | apostrophes. For some reason the name Daniel Saunders seems vaguely
Floyd | familiar; you can't place him, but you think you've seen his name
Floyd | somewhere else very recently.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "hahah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er ha" 	
			DavidW says, "That's DS" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I wonder if he's the geek she danced with." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take notice" 		
	

Floyd | You carefully remove it from the notice board.
Floyd |
Floyd | A clock tolls a single hour.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Keep searching?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn over notice" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x notice" 		
	

Floyd | It's headed ALL YOU'RE IT PROBLEM'S SOLVED, following which it
Floyd | proclaims "Hard disk crash? Essay wont print? Email wont work? Need a
Floyd | fancy website or help with your on-line searches'? Fed up with
Floyd | Micro$oft? Wan't to give your PC a boost? I can help with all you're IT
Floyd | problem's at very reasonable rate's. Just drop me an email me on
Floyd | daniel.saunders@itguru.dannynet."

Floyd |
Floyd | Underneath is a large picture of an archetypal geek with a nerdish
Floyd | grin. You hope he's more skilled with computers than he is with
Floyd | apostrophes. For some reason the name Daniel Saunders seems vaguely
Floyd | familiar; you can't place him, but you think you've seen his name
Floyd | somewhere else very recently.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "did we look in University Hill?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No. I thought that's where we were headed, but I was one step farther northwest than I thought. I was planning to hit there next." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Ready?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You walk back out onto the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of College Street and Devon Road
Floyd | Mere outlines in the moonlight, various university buildings stand

Floyd | round and about, the most prominent being the large hall of residence
Floyd | just to the east. This rather ugly building, Mitchel Hall, stands on
Floyd | the corner of Devon Road, which runs off to the southeast, and College
Floyd | Street, which continues northeast and southwest across the campus.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (mid)
Floyd | This is the point at which College Street enters the campus, marked by
Floyd | the Great University Hall standing just to the east. The street runs to
Floyd | northeast and southwest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | University Hall (in darkness)
Floyd | It's dark in here, so you can't see much. Indeed, you can scarcely see
Floyd | your hand in front of your face. The only way out you know of is to the

Floyd | west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You attended three or four quite unmemorable lectures here when you
Floyd | were a student, but you mainly remember this hall for the two
Floyd | University rites of passage: matriculation and graduation. You can't
Floyd | even recall seeing her at the former, but she was definitely at the

Floyd | latter, and quite out of sorts that day -- you could scarcely get a
Floyd | cold nod out of her, let alone a word.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, it's 'hall' not 'hill'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I read it that way on the map." 	
			DavidW says, "It's dark." 	
			DavidW says, "Turn on the torch" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

Floyd | University Hall
Floyd | The hall is too large to make out very satisfactorily by torchlight;
Floyd | you can't even locate the light-switches. You can see that there's a
Floyd | lot of seating here, and sweeping the torch round in the other
Floyd | direction reveals a raised dais, but you can't get much sense of the
Floyd | whole. But you remember that when you attended the university the hall

Floyd | was a piece of rather bland sixties architecture done out in acres of
Floyd | pale pine, and this memory helps fill out the patchy picture revealed
Floyd | by torchlight. The way out is to the west.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on detector" 		
	

Floyd | That's already on.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Thought so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I'd thought the torch was already on, too." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		DavidW says, "The torch gets auto- turned off when we travel" 	
	

Floyd | You start walking round the hall, sweeping the beam of your torch over
Floyd | the seats. You search comes to an abrupt halt when you spot something
Floyd | lying between two rows of seats. A closer inspection reveals it to be a
Floyd | body.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd | You're no doctor, but you can detect no signs of life, and from the
Floyd | awkward angle of the head you'd guess that the young man's neck has
Floyd | been broken. His face looks vaguely familiar: it looks as if it could

Floyd | be the geek you saw grinning out of the picture on the Residence Hall
Floyd | poster.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search daniel" 		
	

Floyd | (the prominent notice)

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search body" 		inky says, "heh also" 	
	

Floyd | Overcoming your queasy revulsion, you force yourself to search the

Floyd | body. You finally find a tiny cassette-recorder in one of its pockets.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You've already searched him once; you've no intention of putting
Floyd | yourself through that again.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wonder if he has a tape, too." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take recorder" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dias" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x recorder" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's scarcely bigger than a cassette. It also looks broken, as if

Floyd | smashed when its owner fell.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like it should open, but now that it's broken it won't open.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit it" 		
	

Floyd | Trying to force it open with your bare hands proves futile.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pry it with knife" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't work.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pry recorder with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, we don't still have that." 	
			DavidW asks, "we don't?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess not." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a tiny cassette-recorder, a prominent notice, a metal

Floyd | detector, a grey tape cassette, a portable cassette player (closed),
Floyd | inside which is a blue cassette, a khaki peaked cap, a long rod, a
Floyd | torch (providing light), a gold brooch, a sharp kitchen knife, a bar
Floyd | mat, a matchbook, a small brown envelope (open but empty), fifteen
Floyd | documents (a small scrap of yellow paper, an evacuation order, a large
Floyd | Russian dictionary, a black book, a photograph, a letter, a small piece

Floyd | of paper, a concert programme, a menu, a birthday card, a crumpled
Floyd | piece of paper, a business card, a printed email, some miscellaneous
Floyd | papers and an old newspaper) and three keys (a large car key, a small
Floyd | brass key and an office key).
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		inky says, "somehow we lost it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though I don't remember you dropping it." 	
			inky says, "I don't know where" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open recorder with brooch" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "The Haulage depot?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit recorder with rod" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't work.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dias" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dais" 		
	

Floyd | It's a platform used for university dignitaries during degree
Floyd | ceremonies and as a podium for prestigious public lectures.
Floyd |

		inky says, "buenos dias" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x recorder" 		
	

Floyd | It's scarcely bigger than a cassette. It also looks broken, as if
Floyd | smashed when its owner fell.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push it" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull it" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "let's go to new library" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like it should open, but now that it's broken it won't open.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "We've now metal detected every place, no? Reckon that she just wanted us to find this body?" 	
			DavidW says, "We haven't done the library" 	
			inky says, "no, there's an actual key you can find" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh right." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (mid)
Floyd | This is the point at which College Street enters the campus, marked by
Floyd | the Great University Hall standing just to the east. The street runs to
Floyd | northeast and southwest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently

Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is

Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the

Floyd | main reading room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except
Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,
Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.

Floyd |

		baf says, "Took me forever to find it too." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use metal detector" 		
	

Floyd | You start carefully sweeping the ground with the metal detector, but
Floyd | you fail to find anything interesting.

Floyd |

		inky says, "I guess you have to search all the aisles" 	
			baf says, "I ultimately had to rethink my approach tot he entire game." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up dickens in terminal" 		
	

Floyd | You google for "dickens", but it turns up nothing of immediate

Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		inky says, "ha!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up great expectations" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)

Floyd | You google for "great expectations", but it turns up nothing of
Floyd | immediate interest.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look up porn" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)

Floyd | You google for "porn", but it turns up nothing of immediate interest.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look up xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "xyzzy", but it turns up nothing of immediate interest.

Floyd |

		baf says, "But since you apparently already found the metal detector, I think you're past that point." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay, going to search the aisles." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google mastema" 		
	

Floyd | You don't have time to start wandering around the library at random.
Floyd |
Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for Mastema on the library computer and discover that
Floyd | Mastema is the Hebrew word for "enmity" or "hostility". In the book of
Floyd | Jubilees it appears to be used as a name for the prince of demons, or

Floyd | Satan.
Floyd |

		inky says, "oho, nice" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, guess I'm *not* searching the aisles." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google shedevil" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "shedevil", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "oh. she-devil, not shed-evil" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "yes" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google Daniel Saunders" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | The most relevant response is a web-page describing the services of one

Floyd | Daniel Saunders (daniel.saunders@itguru.dannynet), a student at the
Floyd | University offering help "with all your computer problem's". The whole
Floyd | site is afflicted with wayward apostrophes, as if its author possessed
Floyd | an unerring instinct for omitting them when they're required and
Floyd | inserting them when they're not.
Floyd |

		inky says, "unless you fail to clean it out and keep storing junk in there, and one spoooky night" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google borotino overture" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "borotino overture", but it turns up nothing of
Floyd | immediate interest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look up Cyrillic" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | The computer tells you that Russian dictionaries are to be found in the
Floyd | reference section in Aisle R.

Floyd |
Floyd | Looking round, you notice that Aisle R is to the south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Aisle R
Floyd | There are a large number of reference works on the shelves here. The
Floyd | way out is to the north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the
Floyd | main reading room.

Floyd |
Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except
Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,
Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "What other aisles can we go down? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What about searching Club Terrace?" 	
			inky says, "I am pretty sure there are other campus areas you haven't searched" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Is that part of the campus, since it's off College St." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think I wrote down the name of the alarm agency protecting the supermarket. Drat." 	
			DavidW says, "Club Terrace is probably worth a look." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Well, I have the transcript." 	
			inky says, "jacqueline could get it from the transcript" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want me to look up the name?" 	
			DavidW says, "if there's info here, yeah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "google Metro Alarms" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "Metro Alarms", but it turns up nothing of immediate

Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google voi che sapete" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "voi che sapete", but it turns up nothing of immediate

Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cap" 		
	

Floyd | It's an army officer's cap, with a Royal Engineers cap badge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google royal engineers" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "royal engineers", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "google me" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You don't seem to have much of a web presence. The only thing googling
Floyd | for yourself turns up is the staff page of your law firm's website, on
Floyd | which your name appears among a list of others.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "google her" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | This brings up the website of the TAS letting agency (Timely

Floyd | Accommodation for Students), located at 12 Devon Road (telephone: 01921
Floyd | 833758; email tas@tas.co.uk). The site explains that the agency
Floyd | specializes in students lets at reasonable rates, but welcomes
Floyd | enquiries about other forms of letting. At the bottom of the page is a
Floyd | brief resum? of the many local achievements of the proprietor
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google uzbekistan" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "uzbekistan", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "what's that other girl's name who's dead?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Kate" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "google kate" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You find the site for the local newspaper via the terminal and search

Floyd | it for articles about Kate. From what they tell you, it appears that no
Floyd | fully satisfactory explanation of Kate's death was ever really found.
Floyd | It was hard to see how she could have fallen off the bridge by
Floyd | accident, but nothing anyone who knew her said suggested any motive for
Floyd | suicide. The local press ended up attributing Kate's death to a "tragic
Floyd | accident" and hinting darkly about young people who drank too much -

Floyd | but you'd never known Kate to get drunk.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Binge drinking *is* quite a problem in the UK." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x photo" 		
	

Floyd | It shows the climax of the graduation ceremony, with Kate shaking hands

Floyd | with the Vice-Chancellor as she receives the award for the best degree
Floyd | result of the year. A little way over to the left a group of graduands
Floyd | in academic robes stand looking on and applauding; among them are
Floyd | Jeremy, Nick, yourself - and her. It's her you look at, every bit as
Floyd | beautiful at twenty-one as she is today. She's applauding and smiling
Floyd | with the rest, but the smile looks a little forced.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Or so their press would have you believe." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google jeremy" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | Your googling turns up the information that Jeremy is an aficionado of

Floyd | something called "Interactive Fiction". Apparently his game Blighted
Floyd | Hope of Elysium's Circle placed forty-fifth in last year's IF
Floyd | competition.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "HA" 	
			inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline cackles. 	
			Jacqueline says, "That is great." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, Terrace?" 	
			DavidW says, "sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You walk briskly back through the deserted entrance lobby and out onto
Floyd | the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)

Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which

Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "google nick" 		
	

Floyd | (in the large Russian dictionary)
Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the large Russian dictionary.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Who's nick?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Nick is cool." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want me to go back?" 	
			inky says, "I dunno, he was in the photo" 	
			inky says, "sure" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Alex), "Thank you, darling." 	
			Alex asks (of Jacqueline), "Awwwk! So where's my cork nut then?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the
Floyd | main reading room.
Floyd |

Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except
Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,
Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "google nick" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | Googling for Nick suggests that, at least so far as his on-line
Floyd | presence is concerned, he's more interested in Doctor Who than in
Floyd | tennis.
Floyd |

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "ok, I'm done" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh. Okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You walk briskly back through the deserted entrance lobby and out onto
Floyd | the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the

Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back

Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (mid)

Floyd | This is the point at which College Street enters the campus, marked by
Floyd | the Great University Hall standing just to the east. The street runs to
Floyd | northeast and southwest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of College Street and Devon Road
Floyd | Mere outlines in the moonlight, various university buildings stand
Floyd | round and about, the most prominent being the large hall of residence
Floyd | just to the east. This rather ugly building, Mitchel Hall, stands on
Floyd | the corner of Devon Road, which runs off to the southeast, and College

Floyd | Street, which continues northeast and southwest across the campus.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (North)

Floyd | Here College Street reaches the northeastern end of the campus, most of
Floyd | which lies back down the street to the southwest. To the northeast
Floyd | College Street runs on into a residential suburb that sprang up in the
Floyd | eighties and nineties to meet the growing need for housing. A little
Floyd | way off to the northwest is the Student Club, intended as a social
Floyd | centre for the university's students.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Club Terrace
Floyd | The terrace forms part of the student club premises, but has the merit
Floyd | of being in the open air, overlooking the river. The clubhouse stands

Floyd | immediately to the southwest, but it looks all dark and locked up.
Floyd |
Floyd | When you were a student, perhaps in your second year, you attended a
Floyd | particularly dire party in the club. All that smoke and beer and loud
Floyd | music wasn't really your scene, and the more everyone else around you
Floyd | seemed to be having "fun", the more fed up you felt, until eventually

Floyd | you wandered out here for some kind of relief from it all.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hadn't been out here that long when she came to join you,
Floyd | announcing her arrival by laying a friendly hand on your shoulder.
Floyd | "Hello," she said, "I hope you're not avoiding me!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Certainly not!" you replied, "You're the last person I'd want to
Floyd | avoid!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm glad to hear it," she smiled.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Shall we go somewhere else then?" you suggested hopefully, "How about

Floyd | a quiet drink at the KA?"
Floyd |
Floyd | For one moment you thought she was about to say yes, but instead she
Floyd | dashed your hope with an apologetic shake of the head. "Some other
Floyd | time," she replied, "I'd better go in; I'm with people." Then, with a
Floyd | parting pat on your arm, she turned away and went off to join the party

Floyd | in the club. It was several more years before you had that drink with
Floyd | her in the Kings Arms.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You won't find anything here without a light.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "no light, no detect" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You start carefully sweeping the ground with the metal detector; it
Floyd | suddenly starts to buzz and you spot a small flat metal key lying on
Floyd | the ground, so you pick it up.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ROCK ON" 	
			Jacqueline jumps up and down. 	
			inky says, "woot" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x small flat metal key" 		Jacqueline asks, "Now... we think this goes... where?" 	
	

Floyd | It's made of some dull grey metal.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're concerned about that big cylinder you found in the back of the
Floyd | lorry. You suspect it requires further investigation.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Lorry cab, conceivably." 	
			DavidW says, "My vote for the key is the vestry safe." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah. Probably a better possibility." 	
			inky asks, "oh, it's not a combo safe?" 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "I don't think so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, it would make sense, for one. And second, you have that weird IF Spidey Sense for these things, David." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And the Vestry is on the way to the lorry anyhow." 	
			DavidW asks, "did inky see the yellow scrap text?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | The river runs sluggishly by, softly reflecting the moonlight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The brooch - for some reason you think of her brooch - or rather the

Floyd | small piece of paper that was attached to it. Did you examine it
Floyd | carefully enough? You're not sure - you were in so much of a hurry
Floyd | before.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yeah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x brooch" 		
	

Floyd | It's a gold brooch, in the form of a scorpion. The design is quite
Floyd | distinctive, and you're sure she has a brooch like that. You've often
Floyd | wondered what kind of statement it's meant to make: not that she's
Floyd | poisonous, to be sure, but you suspect she'd not be averse to
Floyd | suggesting she's not to be messed with.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "You opened the brooch already, no?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x small paper" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small scrap of yellow paper or the small piece
Floyd | of paper?

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "piece" 		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd | The handwriting is as small as the piece of paper it's written on, but
Floyd | you still recognise it as hers. It reads, "Sorry, couldn't wait - just

Floyd | discovered I've lost something I must recover: a small, grey, flat
Floyd | metal key. I may have dropped it when I went for a run (in the usual
Floyd | place) or when I went to the knowledge factory. We must make sure they
Floyd | don't get it. It would be a big help if you could search those two
Floyd | places while I look elsewhere. See you later."
Floyd |

Floyd | Just below that you see a crease that you missed before - you must have
Floyd | been in too much of a hurry, or maybe the light was too bad. Anyway,
Floyd | you unfold the crease and see that she has written:
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'll meet you where I left the tape for you at five past two. Don't be
Floyd | late!"

Floyd |
Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		inky says, "this is actually a real timer, although I'm not sure how much in-game time you have" 	
			inky says, "I think it's like 45 minutes from "now"" 	
			DavidW says, "I have forgotten where we found the tape." 	
			inky asks, "hospital, didn't you say?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Front desk of the hospital, methinks.'" 	
			inky says, "anyway, you *might* want to undo and save before reading the paper" 	
			inky says, "since I think that is what officially starts the timer" 	
			DavidW says, "I hate these timer things." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hm, good idea." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Club Terrace
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Club Terrace

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Club Terrace
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "That enough?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Should be." 	
			inky says, "I think so" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small flat metal key, the large car key, the
Floyd | small brass key or the office key?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf12" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Okay. What now?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Go ahead and start the trigger again?" 	
			DavidW says, "I'd like to check out the church again." 	
			inky says, "I would do the vestry/lorry stuff if that's what you want to do" 	
			inky says, "and then look at the paper" 	
	crumple goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline heads off to the Vestry. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (North)
Floyd | Here College Street reaches the northeastern end of the campus, most of
Floyd | which lies back down the street to the southwest. To the northeast
Floyd | College Street runs on into a residential suburb that sprang up in the

Floyd | eighties and nineties to meet the growing need for housing. A little
Floyd | way off to the northwest is the Student Club, intended as a social
Floyd | centre for the university's students.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of College Street and Devon Road
Floyd | Mere outlines in the moonlight, various university buildings stand
Floyd | round and about, the most prominent being the large hall of residence
Floyd | just to the east. This rather ugly building, Mitchel Hall, stands on
Floyd | the corner of Devon Road, which runs off to the southeast, and College

Floyd | Street, which continues northeast and southwest across the campus.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Devon Road (north)

Floyd | At its northern end, Devon Road runs northwest into College Street and
Floyd | then bends towards the south. It is a broad, pleasant street which
Floyd | feels particularly peaceful by moonlight. At this end the buildings are
Floyd | not too closely crowded together, the largest of them being the hall of
Floyd | residence to the north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Devon Road (mid)
Floyd | Devon Road continues north and south between leafy gardens and the
Floyd | occasional small office. In the latter category is the student letting

Floyd | office where she works, which stands just to the east.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Devon Road and Church Street

Floyd | This three-way road junction is well lit. Devon Road leads off to the
Floyd | north, Tilbury Road to the east, and Church Street to the southwest.
Floyd | Immediately to the south of the junction stands the High School you
Floyd | attended as a teenager.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street Bus Stop
Floyd | The bus stop stands at the junction of Church Street, which runs
Floyd | northeast and southwest from here, and School Lane, which leads off to
Floyd | the south.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street
Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the

Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a
Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Churchyard
Floyd | A churchyard by moonlight is always a little spooky, but it is doubly
Floyd | so tonight, with the city so deserted. The gravestones are little more
Floyd | than looming shadows in the dark; the great bulk of St Michael's Church
Floyd | is just to the north, while the lych-gate to the south leads back out
Floyd | to Church Street.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x kate's grave" 		
	

Floyd | It's too dark to make any of them out except by shining your torch on
Floyd | them individually, but you know Kate's is among them somewhere, and
Floyd | you'd have no difficulty finding it in the light. But scanning each
Floyd | gravestone one by one with your torch would take far too long,
Floyd | especially as it would do nothing to help you find her.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "There's our answer on that, David." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nave

Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian
Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,
Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained
Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Churchyard
Floyd | A churchyard by moonlight is always a little spooky, but it is doubly
Floyd | so tonight, with the city so deserted. The gravestones are little more
Floyd | than looming shadows in the dark; the great bulk of St Michael's Church

Floyd | is just to the north, while the lych-gate to the south leads back out
Floyd | to Church Street.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "use detector" 		
	

Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "drat. too late" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I went back for you." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But nothing there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I may want to shut that thing off, come to think of it." 	
			DavidW says, "ok. Get iron key next" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn off detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector off.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nave
Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian
Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,
Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained

Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chancel
Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall
Floyd | on the north side of the altar.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "get the key" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nave
Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian

Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,
Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained
Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I thought it was in the Chancel, sorry." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open font" 		
	

Floyd | Removing the lid reveals a large iron key in the font.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take iron key" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the large iron key and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a big, chunky, old-fashioned thing, dark brown in colour.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | (first putting the lid back on the font)
Floyd |
Floyd | Chancel
Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall

Floyd | on the north side of the altar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door with iron key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the small wooden door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | (first opening the small wooden door)
Floyd |
Floyd | Vestry
Floyd | A plain wooden table runs under the window of this small, narrow room,

Floyd | with an old-fashioned safe set into the opposite wall. The only way out
Floyd | is via the door to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a large blue diary here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock safe with small key" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small flat metal key, the small brass key or the
Floyd | office key?
Floyd |

Floyd | All you can see of it is the green-painted metal door set into the
Floyd | wall. It's unlikely to contain anything of interest, just crosses,
Floyd | candlesticks and communion wafers.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "flat" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock safe with flat key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Interesting that that safe description about 'nothing interesting' didn't change once we'd seen that scrap of paper." 	
			DavidW says, "Maybe if we could open Daniel's recorder." 	
			inky says, "oh yeah, I don't know why you can't open that" 	
			DavidW says, "sigh. I guess the lorry is next." 	
			inky says, "I definitely managed to get it open" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or the haulage, to get the screwdriver?" 	
			inky says, "and not using the screwdriver, since I didn't find that (though maybe it'll work)" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That's most likely where we dropped it, isn't it?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pry recorder" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like it should open, but now that it's broken it won't open.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Oh, hm." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't understand how we lost the screwdriver" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit recorder" 		
	

Floyd | Trying to force it open with your bare hands proves futile.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Me neither." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit recorder with knife" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't work.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open recorder with knife" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push eject on recorder" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline | inky says (to Floyd), "open recorder with knife" 	
	

Jacqueline | Floyd | You slip, cut yourself horribly, and bleed out.  THE END.

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in recorder" 		
	

Floyd | It looks like it should open, but now that it's broken it won't open.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh darn, screwed that up!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We need a typo tally in here, too. heh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "You did get it open, though. Hm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x diary" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the large blue diary)
Floyd | You flick through the diary. It's mainly a record of services and

Floyd | parish meetings, but you find an entry from two days ago that catches
Floyd | your eye: "Meet DS at KA 2 pm". "KA" is likely to be the Kings Arms,
Floyd | the pub in the High Street.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "So Daniel told the vicar who told the police about the 'Enemy'?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Guess so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Interesting that they'd meet at the KA, not the church." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But hey, confessionals at the pub are always productive." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... hm. Lorry?" 	
			DavidW says, "I guess we try the lorry, yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I really want to listen to this damn tape, though." 	
			DavidW says, "me too" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x recorder" 		
	

Floyd | It's scarcely bigger than a cassette. It also looks broken, as if
Floyd | smashed when its owner fell.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fix recorder" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to fix the tiny cassette-recorder to?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			DavidW says, "oh! The bar mat. Definitely Daniel's writing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mat" 		
	

Floyd | The front of it bears a crude depiction of the Kings Arms, and a slogan
Floyd | advertising "Mottles Real Ale". On the back someone has scribbled:
Floyd | "2M -> Uzbekistan

Floyd |
Floyd | arm's deal?
Floyd |
Floyd | whats the plan?"
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "see the punctuation?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "good call" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice detail." 	
			DavidW asks, "is '2M' on the map in the hotel?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll bet it is." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wanna go check?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "See what 2M delineates?" 	
			DavidW says, "eventually. Do lorry first" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay. Guess I'll do that, despite my frustration with the tape." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "It's where, again, the car park?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Chancel

Floyd | Raised slightly above the Nave, which lies just to the west, much of
Floyd | the space in the Chancel is taken up by the choir stalls on either side
Floyd | and the altar at the east end. A small wooden door is set in the wall
Floyd | on the north side of the altar.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Nave
Floyd | St Michael's has a large nave, built at a time when Victorian
Floyd | congregations were booming. The original wooden pews are still here,
Floyd | facing the chancel to the east, as is the original Victorian stained

Floyd | glass, all but invisible in the poor light. The way out is to the
Floyd | south, next to the large stone font at the rear of the church.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "if you have a plan to open the recorder....?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Churchyard
Floyd | A churchyard by moonlight is always a little spooky, but it is doubly
Floyd | so tonight, with the city so deserted. The gravestones are little more
Floyd | than looming shadows in the dark; the great bulk of St Michael's Church
Floyd | is just to the north, while the lych-gate to the south leads back out

Floyd | to Church Street.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I unfortunately have no plan, as the game has ruled out stabbing the recorder repeatedly in a fit of violent, frustrated rage." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open recorder with brooch" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pry recorder with brooch" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't work.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "tried the brooch already" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street
Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the
Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a

Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)

Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town
Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's
Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury
Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to

Floyd | the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock cab" 		
	

Floyd | (the driver's cab)
Floyd | That is not something you can unlock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | You clamber inside the back of the lorry.

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock cab door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

Floyd | Lorry Interior
Floyd | It's a large lorry, and there'd be a fair amount of space in here if it
Floyd | weren't nearly all taken up by a large metal cylinder.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "translate cyrillic" 		
	

Floyd | It's a struggle, but with the aid of the dictionary you manage to
Floyd | figure out that the cylinder is some kind of nuclear device. Working
Floyd | out what most of the coloured wires do is beyond you, except that
Floyd | you're now fairly confident that the blue wire is connected to
Floyd | "radio-controlled detonator".
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Which is hopefully in the cab?" 	
			DavidW says, "could be damned near anywhere" 	
			DavidW says, "radio, y'know" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, let me try." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town
Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's

Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury
Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to
Floyd | the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock cab door" 		
	

Floyd | You don't have the key to the cab.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "The cab can't be opened" 	
			inky asks, "wait, you're not going to cut the wire?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "It can be, I think, but it turns out this isn't the key, either." 	
			DavidW says, "Try crawling inside the cheese next." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | You clamber inside the back of the lorry.

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lorry Interior
Floyd | It's a large lorry, and there'd be a fair amount of space in here if it
Floyd | weren't nearly all taken up by a large metal cylinder.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf13" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cut wires" 		
	

Floyd | (with the sharp kitchen knife)
Floyd | Cutting them all might be a might excessive; you have no idea what
Floyd | effect that might have.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | A red wire, an orange wire, a yellow wire, a green wire, a blue wire, a
Floyd | purple wire and a black wire are all attached to various parts of the
Floyd | cylinder.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cut blue wire" 		
	

Floyd | (with the sharp kitchen knife)
Floyd | With considerable trepidation, you cut the blue wire. You hold your
Floyd | breath for a few moments, but nothing explodes.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | There is no score in this story.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wow, it let me." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost
Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to

Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried the Concert Hall.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost
Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to
Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried Carlton Terrace.

Floyd |

		inky says, "oops" 	
			DavidW says, "heh. Two suggestions" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What was in the Playground?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Why is it green on the map?" 	
			DavidW says, "who knows. We've never been there" 	
			DavidW says, "maybe green = grassy area" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, perhaps." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And orange/melon = interior, grey = exterior." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Fair enough." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember playground" 		
	

Floyd | That's not somewhere you've been recently.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "bound to be a memory there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I could walk there, sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way. The only obvious exit is outside (to Car Park).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town
Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's

Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury
Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to
Floyd | the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east

Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (outside Police Station)

Floyd | Mandlebury Road continues to east and west, while the main city police
Floyd | station stands just to the south, and Church Road runs off to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Crossroads
Floyd | Well lit by the street lighting, this crossroads is formed by the
Floyd | intersection of Mandlebury Road running from east to west, School Lane
Floyd | running north, and Cornwallis Avenue running to the south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the
Floyd | junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly

Floyd | residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its
Floyd | playground is just to the east.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Playground

Floyd | Little more than a large concreted square partly walled off from the
Floyd | road, this area serves as playground (and occasionally overflow car
Floyd | park) to the primary school you attended twenty years ago. The school
Floyd | building is just to the east, set a little further back from the road,
Floyd | but it looks dark and all locked up. With no light from the building
Floyd | and little from the street, the playground feels a strange, dark place,

Floyd | bathed in eerie moonlight. The street is just off to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | This was a co-ed school, and this playground was where you first saw
Floyd | her, all those years ago. Perhaps your recollection of that first
Floyd | encounter has been coloured by events of the last two decades, but as
Floyd | you recall it, when your eyes met across the playground it was as if

Floyd | everything else around receded into two-dimensional monochrome, and she
Floyd | was the only three-dimensional technicolour object left in your field
Floyd | of view. Again, as you recall, she smiled shyly at you, and you went
Floyd | and introduced yourself in your earnest six-year-old fashion, but so
Floyd | much fantasy and wishful thinking has surrounded the frequent rehearsal
Floyd | of that memory that you can't really remember what either of you

Floyd | actually said.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "See, in real life, one would probably go to the police at this point." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch. turn on detector. use detector" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.

Floyd |
Floyd | You switch the metal detector on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your search turns up nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		inky says, "you did go to the police" 	
			inky says, "and stole their metal detector" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's not what I mean." 	
			vimes says, "yay" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off detector. turn off torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the metal detector off.
Floyd |
Floyd | You switch the torch off.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Cinema? The police mentioned something happening there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking we should restore to Save 13" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Before I cut the wire." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just in case that was bad." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Then proceed." 	
			DavidW asks, "you think having a live bomb is a good idea?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, certainly not." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I've no idea what cutting the blue wire did." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm hoping it means the bomb can't be triggered by remote radio signal." 	
			inky says, "cutting the wire kept the remote control from being able to trigger it" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			inky says, "(I mean, I don't know this for sure but it seems like a safe read)" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, just my random guess of color worked, or if we cut just one wire, any wire, it's okay?" 	
			inky says, "oh, no" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, that's fine, we can proceed without going back to that save." 	
			DavidW says, "It wasn't random" 	
			inky says, "DW translated the directions" 	
			inky says, "and it said the blue wire controlled the remote" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "See, I missed that." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah" 	
			inky says, "or was controlled by the remote or whatever" 	
			inky asks, "ha ha, you were just guessing?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I just cut the blue wire because blue is my favorite color, yeah." 	
			inky says, "just like a real action movie" 	
			Jacqueline laughs. 	
			DavidW says, "good grief" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I swear I read the translation and missed that." 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "And we let her drive" 	
			inky asks, "didn't they cover bomb disposal in your police training class?" 	
			inky says, "I'm pretty sure "don't cut the wire just because it's your favorite color" would be one of the rules" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Sorry, I'm still quite swimmy headed with this illness." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And here I am contemplating trying to go back to work tomorrow." 	
			Jacqueline says, "My attention to detail is blah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, went back and reread." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I totally had missed the word blue there somehow." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, so we don't restore, obviously." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Cinema?" 	
			
	**** IFMUD OFFLINE **** 		
			Jacqueline says, "Looks like Floyd is still at the playground. No one has touched him since we went offline." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So yes, we saved." 	
			Jacqueline says, "After a fashion." 	
			inky says, "oh yeah, I guess the mud didn't actually go down, just the connection" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, huh. I never heard why we had the second issue. I heard about the wires and the horrible laundry flood, but not what happened the second time." 	
			inky says, "hmm, I thought that *was* the second time" 	
			inky says, "but I guess I dunno" 	
			vimes says, "Haunted wiring. The spirit of the previous connection issues came back and bit through something, or something." 	
			DavidW asks, "well, I've had a few sips of coffee. Shall we see if we can proceed?" 	
			inky says, "anyway, gotta split" 	
	DavidW arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says, "Sure. Let me pull up my map." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, um, bye inky." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay. My map is locked and loaded." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want me to drive, or you?" 	
			DavidW asks, "odd that Floyd's still up. Is Perry awake and recording?" 	
			DavidW says, "You can drive first." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost
Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to
Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried the Supermarket.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "So, we have that tape that needs to be gotten out of the broken tapedeck." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And... she's meeting us back at the hospital eventually?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm trying to think of what else was happening at the close of the last session." 	
			DavidW says, "The supermarket was blocked by an alarm system. I forgot the name of the company." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I can get that from the transcript, one sec." 	
			DavidW says, "I would opt to check out the cinema, if only because the police said someone was spotted there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Metro Alarms.'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh yeah - right. Let's go there first." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. I wonder if Metro Alarms is on the map." 	
			Jacqueline searches for it on the map. 	
			DavidW says, "Cinema is east edge." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right. Off Cornwallis." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll head there - you see if the alarm place is on the map." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the
Floyd | junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly
Floyd | residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its

Floyd | playground is just to the east.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Crossroads

Floyd | Well lit by the street lighting, this crossroads is formed by the
Floyd | intersection of Mandlebury Road running from east to west, School Lane
Floyd | running north, and Cornwallis Avenue running to the south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue Nth
Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue runs straight down from the crossroads to the north
Floyd | and continues to the south. Amongst the buildings lining this part of
Floyd | the street is the Coroner's Court just to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You remember you had to attend the Coroner's Court after Kate drowned.

Floyd | It was a miserable business; the police doctor had confirmed that
Floyd | Kate's death was by drowning, but as you'd arrived on the scene so soon
Floyd | after she had fished Kate out of the river that you were an important
Floyd | witness. Although she (your friend, that is) said she'd seen Kate jump
Floyd | off the bridge, there was no suicide note and no evidence that Kate was
Floyd | feeling suicidal, so in the end the coroner's jury reached a verdict of

Floyd | death by misadventure. With the wisdom of hindsight you wish they'd
Floyd | been a bit more thorough and a lot more suspicious.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I guess we can check the concert hall out as well." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue (south)
Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue continues to north and south. The Odeon Cinema stands
Floyd | just to the east.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You walk into the foyer, take a quick look round, and then proceed into
Floyd | the main auditorium.
Floyd |

Floyd | Cinema Auditorium
Floyd | It's almost totally dark in here, so you can hardly see anything apart
Floyd | from the bare outlines of the seats and the screen, and, of course, the
Floyd | exit to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You came here once with her to see a film when you were both students,

Floyd | it was one of the few occasions you actually went out with her. If you
Floyd | remember rightly the film was Titanic, but at the time you were much
Floyd | more interested in her than the film. Typically, she seemed so much
Floyd | more interested in the film than you that she didn't even notice where
Floyd | your interest lay.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Another place we never looked at: The Bank." 	
			DavidW says, "Turn on the torch." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

Floyd | The beam of your torch picks out a box lying under one of the seats.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ooh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take box" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the chocolate box and examine it.

Floyd |
Floyd | It's a small box of chocolates.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small box of chocolates.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "count chocolates" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the chocolate box.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small box of chocolates.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read box" 		
	

Floyd | On it is written "The car-park delivery is fine. The contents will

Floyd | settle the final installment. Spasiba".
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Spasiba" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Concert hall?" 	
			DavidW says, "hm. yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You walk back through the foyer and out into the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue (south)
Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue continues to north and south. The Odeon Cinema stands
Floyd | just to the east.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Market Street and Cornwallis Avenue.
Floyd | Market Street (to the west) comes to an end at this junction with
Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue (running to north and south). Opposite Market street
Floyd | stands a small electronics store called The Radio Shop.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | London Road
Floyd | South of the junction with Market Street, Cornwallis Avenue becomes the
Floyd | London Road, and its character changes to match. The area looks

Floyd | grubbier and slightly more run-down. For the most part the road is
Floyd | lined with parades of uninviting-looking shops with blocks of flats
Floyd | built above them. Incongruously, the Fairfax Hall occupies one block on
Floyd | the east side of the road. The road itself runs north and south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The Concert Hall (in darkness)
Floyd | The auditorium is shrouded in semi-darkness, but you're quite familiar
Floyd | with it. It was designed to be multi-purpose, so, for example, that
Floyd | opera could be staged here as well as concerts.
Floyd |

Floyd | You've attended many concerts here over the years, many of them good,
Floyd | but the one you remember best is the amateur performance of The
Floyd | Marriage of Figaro in which she sang the part of Cherubino. You thought
Floyd | she sang like an angel, and in your mind's ear you can still hear her
Floyd | beautiful rendition of the aria "Voi che sapete" - "You who know what
Floyd | love is". You came back to hear her again several nights in succession;

Floyd | it's fortunate that you're so fond of Mozart.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |

Floyd | Concert Hall
Floyd | The auditorium is shrouded in semi-darkness, but you're quite familiar
Floyd | with it. It was designed to be multi-purpose, so, for example, that
Floyd | opera could be staged here as well as concerts. A quick sweep of the
Floyd | area with the beam of your torch indicates nothing untoward, and in
Floyd | particular reveals no sign of her or anyone else. But you do spot a

Floyd | lectern on the stage, suggesting that the hall may recently have been
Floyd | used for something other than music, as does some of the litter left on
Floyd | the seats. The way out is to the west.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ah. You know what love is." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I had that way wrong." 	
			DavidW says, "x lectern. x litter" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x litter" 		
	

Floyd | The beam of your torch picks out some half-eaten sandwiches, folded
Floyd | copies of today's newspaper, the odd folder or two, even a military

Floyd | beret -- all suggesting that the people most recently here probably
Floyd | wasn't a typical concert audience.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x lectern" 		
	

Floyd | (first climbing onto the stage)

Floyd | It's just an old wooden lectern, of plain utilitarian design. On closer
Floyd | inspection, it could almost be a conductor's music stand.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find a civil defence manual on the lectern.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take manual" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the civil defence manual and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It seems to be all about what to do in the event of a nuclear attack.
Floyd | It doesn't quite say "Dig a two-metre trench and lie in it", but at a
Floyd | quick glance the advice offered doesn't seem much more useful than

Floyd | that.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take beret" 		
	

Floyd | None of the stuff left on the seats looks worth bothering with.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unfold copies" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x folder" 		
	

Floyd | The beam of your torch picks out some half-eaten sandwiches, folded
Floyd | copies of today's newspaper, the odd folder or two, even a military
Floyd | beret -- all suggesting that the people most recently here probably
Floyd | wasn't a typical concert audience.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search litter" 		
	

Floyd | The beam of your torch picks out some half-eaten sandwiches, folded
Floyd | copies of today's newspaper, the odd folder or two, even a military
Floyd | beret -- all suggesting that the people most recently here probably
Floyd | wasn't a typical concert audience.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we're not on a timer yet, so let's just both play except when we're walking places." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read manual" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be all about what to do in the event of a nuclear attack.
Floyd | It doesn't quite say "Dig a two-metre trench and lie in it", but at a

Floyd | quick glance the advice offered doesn't seem much more useful than
Floyd | that.
Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "whoa, it's on Saturday today?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move lectern" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Hi. We're finishing up Nightfall. (Third session)" 	
			DavidW says (to Lucea), "This is still last week's game." 	
			Lucea says, "Ah" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, I forget, David... how was the bank mentioned as important, or do you just want to cover the bases?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, I am not immediately seeing the bank on the map..." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm thinking we might check out the supermarket and bank en route to the new library, then look up metro alarms and look up spasiba, or whatever it was." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good idea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I see the bank now." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, head?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "As in 'head on out,' I mean." 	
			DavidW says, "let's see the south edge of the map and go north up over Preston Bridge." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | (first leaving the concert platform)
Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | London Road
Floyd | South of the junction with Market Street, Cornwallis Avenue becomes the
Floyd | London Road, and its character changes to match. The area looks
Floyd | grubbier and slightly more run-down. For the most part the road is
Floyd | lined with parades of uninviting-looking shops with blocks of flats
Floyd | built above them. Incongruously, the Fairfax Hall occupies one block on

Floyd | the east side of the road. The road itself runs north and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you emerge from the Fairfax Hall you hear the distant clack of
Floyd | footsteps on the pavement, and turn to see a distant figure
Floyd | disappearing off to the south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Elmbridge Roundabout
Floyd | Elmbridge Roundabout is one of those huge roundabouts built on the edge
Floyd | of cities with the apparent intention of smoothing the traffic flow and
Floyd | the normal effect of snarling it up. Tonight, however, there is not a

Floyd | single vehicle in sight. The east and west exits lead to the ring road,
Floyd | the southern exit to the motorway, and the north exit back into the
Floyd | city.
Floyd |
Floyd | Whoever's footsteps it was that you heard just now, there's no one in
Floyd | sight here.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "darn" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice touch, though." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Elm Bridge

Floyd | You must have driven down this section of road a dozen times without

		DavidW says, "yes" 	
	

Floyd | being more than minimally aware that it crosses the river at this
Floyd | point, but on foot it's all too obvious; you can stop and stare at the
Floyd | moonlight reflecting off the water without a single car headlight to

Floyd | disturb you. The ring road continues to both east and west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You vividly recall one occasion when you were driving this way. It was
Floyd | shortly after graduation and you were driving a group of friends back
Floyd | from a celebratory party. The traffic suddenly slowed to a crawl and
Floyd | you became aware of flashing blue lights a short way up ahead.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Quick; change places with me," she said.
Floyd |
Floyd | "But..." you began to protest.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Don't argue, there isn't much time." she insisted.

Floyd |
Floyd | There was something about her tone of voice that silenced any further
Floyd | argument, so you surreptitiously changed places before the traffic
Floyd | started moving again. A few dozen yards further on the police stopped
Floyd | the car and asked her to blow into a breathalyzer (there weren't meant
Floyd | to be random breath tests in those days, but they found some pretext).

Floyd | She, of course, was clean. To this day you don't know whether you would
Floyd | have been, but you're profoundly grateful that it wasn't put to the
Floyd | test.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ring Road East
Floyd | Walking along the ring road feels positively eerie; after all, it was
Floyd | built for cars, not pedestrians, and normally it wouldn't even be
Floyd | possible to walk here. But now it's totally deserted, apart from a
Floyd | large advertising hoarding by the side of the road. The ring road

Floyd | continues westwards to Oak Tree Roundabout and eastwards over Elm
Floyd | Bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, the silence is rent by the roar of engines. You leap out of
Floyd | the way just in time as a sports car races past, hotly pursued by a
Floyd | police car with lights flashing and sirens blazing. Both cars vanish

Floyd | off to the west, and the road falls silent once more.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hoarding" 		
	

Floyd | The best-illuminated poster is one that declares:
Floyd |

Floyd | Myles Biggar Haulage, for all your transport needs. Miles better by
Floyd | far!
Floyd |
Floyd | 29 Hythe Bridge Street
Floyd | email: sales@mylesbiggar.co.uk
Floyd | phone 01921 743589.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wonder who was in the sports car." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Oak Tree Roundabout

Floyd | This large roundabout is normally busy and frequently congested; seeing
Floyd | it without a car in sight seems distinctly strange. There are four
Floyd | exits from the roundabout: to east and west is the ring road; to the
Floyd | north the road over Preston Bridge into the city centre, and to the
Floyd | south the dual carriageway heading out into the country.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "(Just for kicks...)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | That's one of the main routes out of the city. She can't have gone that
Floyd | way.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "John 'Atmospheric Message' Doe." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Preston Bridge

Floyd | This bridge is normally something of a bottleneck at rush hour, but now
Floyd | it's just as deserted as everywhere else in the city. It's a bit too
Floyd | narrow for the volume of traffic it normally has to take, but its old
Floyd | stone parapets overlooking the river make it too historic to widen.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and Market Street
Floyd | The lighting is a bit better here, since it's a junction of two
Floyd | normally busy roads: the High Street continues to north and south,
Floyd | while Market Street heads off to the east.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)
Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly

Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly
Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hairdressers" 		
	

Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)
Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly
Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly
Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and

Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "continie" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Scenery." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street

Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You walk cautiously towards the bank, wondering if there's anyone
Floyd | inside. You pause outside, just by the imposing classical pillars that
Floyd | surround the entrance, and listen for signs of life. Hearing nothing,
Floyd | you carry on inside.

Floyd |
Floyd | Morgans Bank
Floyd | The bank is deserted now, but it looks like someone was here not too
Floyd | long ago: the service counter is surrounded by broken glass. That
Floyd | presumably explains why the bank is unlocked and the lights left on;
Floyd | whoever has just robbed the bank didn't hang around to lock up and turn

Floyd | out the lights. The street exit is to the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy mallet left lying among the shards of glass indicates pretty
Floyd | clearly how the barrier was broken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You ran into her here about eighteen months ago; she was just ahead of

Floyd | you in the queue.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, hello!" she said, with one of her brighter smiles, "Are you here
Floyd | to take all your money out too? These people obviously can't be trusted
Floyd | with it!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Why not?" you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Didn't you hear about it on the news?" she replied, "Someone hacked
Floyd | into Morgans' mainframe and siphoned off a couple of million. Doesn't
Floyd | say much for their security, does it?"
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I guess we can take the mallet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take mallet" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the heavy mallet.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mallet" 		
	

Floyd | It has a long wooden handle and a massive metal head.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x counter" 		
	

Floyd | The service counter is deserted, of course, but it is also surrounded
Floyd | by broken glass, a hole having been smashed through the barrier that
Floyd | would normally protect it. It looks as if some crooks have taken
Floyd | advantage of the evacuation to commit a tempting felony.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Weapon!" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm thinking the mallet is how we get into the supermarket." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking this is not a great place to hang around, but perhaps it's no big deal." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "You criminal!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You brilliant criminal!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x camera" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf14" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sorry, momentarily forgot about our nifty button." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... grocery shopping?" 	
			DavidW asks, "did you save as 'save'?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf15" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Now it's 25" 	
			DavidW says, "but yes, go shopping" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, 15" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station

Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | The supermarket is all locked up; you can't get in.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x supermarket" 		Jacqueline asks, "Smashy smashy?" 	
	

Floyd | The supermarket occupies the entire corner on which it stands, and was

Floyd | seemingly designed by an architect desperate to win the International
Floyd | Bland Building of the Millennium contest. Through its plate glass
Floyd | window you can see the front part of the shop is partially lit, perhaps
Floyd | as a security measure. An unmistakeable security measure is the burglar
Floyd | alarm mounted just above the entrance.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x alarm" 		
	

Floyd | It's a square, red box with "Metro Alarms" printed on it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit alarm with mallet" 		
	

Floyd | The burglar alarm is too high up.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sound of a clock striking three mingles with the roar of a jet
Floyd | aircraft flying overhead.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit glass with mallet" 		
	

Floyd | You smash through the glass with the mallet, and then keep smashing
Floyd | until you've made a hole large enough to step through. Meanwhile the
Floyd | alarm starts to ring.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Should we hide for a bit, or go in?" 	
			DavidW says, "you saved. Go in." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Very carefully, so as not to cut yourself or tear your clothes, you
Floyd | step through the large jagged hole in the window and find yourself just

Floyd | inside the Supermarket.
Floyd |
Floyd | Supermarket
Floyd | There's no one here, and most of the aisles are in shadow; the only
Floyd | light is in the checkout area by the exit to the southwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | It was here that you last saw her, about ten days ago, when she came up
Floyd | behind you in the checkout queue. She seemed pleased to see you, and
Floyd | appeared to have made a deliberate choice to join your queue, but the
Floyd | conversation remained inconsequential until you were ready to leave.
Floyd | Just as you'd packed up your shopping and paid your bill, she became
Floyd | suddenly solemn.

Floyd |
Floyd | "If I ever needed you - I mean really needed you - you would be there
Floyd | for me, wouldn't you?" she asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course," you replied, without hesitation.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Good," she smiled, and then changed the subject to something
Floyd | inconsequential like the weather.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x aisles" 		
	

Floyd | The aisles are mostly in shadow, but you've no reason to suppose that
Floyd | anyone's lurking there.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost
Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to
Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried Lafayette's.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "That's our old restaurant, isn't it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah, I think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Way up northwest." 	
			DavidW says, "I'd still like to check the library first." 	
			DavidW asks, "Exactly what turns on our naughty timer again?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I originally thought with this huge map that some of it would just be scenery, meant to give us the impression of part of London, but perhaps we really do have to visit everyhwere." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, let's go do some research." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anything else here? Doesn't look like it." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Supermarket
Floyd | There's no one here, and most of the aisles are in shadow; the only
Floyd | light is in the checkout area by the exit to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x checkout area" 		
	

Floyd | The checkout area is still lit, but you can't see why; there's no one
Floyd | there.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | The checkout area is not your immediate concern.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "strange." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm?" 	
			DavidW says, "let's go" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | With great care, you step back out through the jagged hole and into the
Floyd | street.
Floyd |

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the

Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The burglar alarm is ringing.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in

Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a

Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)

Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "The game suggested we come here, and there was not a payoff." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, there was the memory, but yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where

Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was
Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere

Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You hurry through the entrance lobby once more and go straight to the
Floyd | main reading room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Public Library
Floyd | From the central hub aisles of books run off in every direction except

Floyd | north, which is the way out. The library desk is, of course, unstaffed,
Floyd | but there's a computer terminal on it which appears to be working.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up metro alarms" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)

Floyd | You google for "metro alarms", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look up spasiba" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)

Floyd | You google for "spasiba", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Thanks... I was scrolling back to see how that was spelled." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read chocolates" 		
	

Floyd | On it is written "The car-park delivery is fine. The contents will
Floyd | settle the final installment. Spasiba".
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | The box is empty, but there's something written on the inside lid.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "google abisaps" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "abisaps", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "It might be an anagram, yeah" 	
			Lucea says, "it's Russian" 	
			Lucea says, "according to Google" 	
			Lucea asks, ""Secondly, you should say puzhalsta after someone has said spasiba to you" - maybe that'd work?" 	
			Lucea says, "(disclaimer: if this does work, I haven't actually playd)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "google puzhalsta" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "puzhalsta", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google hacker" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "hacker", but it turns up nothing of immediate interest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Lafayette's?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "google spasibo" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "spasibo", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "google lafayette's" 		
	

Floyd | (on the computer)
Floyd | You google for "lafayette's", but it turns up nothing of immediate
Floyd | interest.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I guess. This trip yielded nothing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So far, yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You walk briskly back through the deserted entrance lobby and out onto

Floyd | the street.
Floyd |
Floyd | College Street (south)
Floyd | You're not old enough to remember, but this area was apparently
Floyd | farmland back in the sixties. In the seventies it was decreed that the
Floyd | city was to receive a new university, and so College Street was

Floyd | created. The main university campus lies further up the street to the
Floyd | northeast, but in order to create something of an academic atmosphere
Floyd | at its gateway, so to speak, a new Public Library was erected, which
Floyd | now stands to the south, along with a new theatre, the Apollo, which is
Floyd | just off to the northwest. To the southwest College Street runs back
Floyd | towards the High Street.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where

Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "or it could just be 'thank you'" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage

Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "(the word, not the command needed)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge street runs over an old stone bridge to the southeast and
Floyd | on to a junction with York Road to the northwest. A mixture of old
Floyd | buildings lines the street, representing every period from the Civil
Floyd | War to the Victorian; prominent among the latter is the Old Library,
Floyd | which stands just to the north.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of York Street and Hythe Bridge Street
Floyd | Beyond the point where York Street meets Hythe Bridge Street, it runs

Floyd | on into a residential suburb. Hythe Bridge Street runs off to the
Floyd | southeast, while York Street runs south towards the railway station.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the
Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to
Floyd | frequent when you went out more.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | (first opening the restaurant door)
Floyd | It turns out to be unlocked, so you have no trouble letting yourself in
Floyd | and strolling inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lafayette's (in the dark)

Floyd | It's too dark to see much in here, apart from the exit to the east.
Floyd | There's probably a light switch near the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | You once brought Kate here for a meal a few weeks after her
Floyd | twenty-first birthday. You weren't sure you wanted a relationship with
Floyd | Kate, but you weren't sure you didn't want one either. She was

Floyd | frighteningly clever, but she was also kind, warm-hearted and
Floyd | extraordinarily perceptive. Above all, she was someone you could really
Floyd | talk to, more than anyone else you knew at the time.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't remember much of what you talked about that evening, but you
Floyd | vividly recall one snippet of the conversation.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Do you wish it was her with you here tonight?" she asked quietly.
Floyd |
Floyd | It was obvious to both of you whom she meant, so you didn't bother to
Floyd | query it. Instead you replied, "She's an interesting enough woman, I
Floyd | suppose, but I'm very happy with the company I've got."

Floyd |
Floyd | "So am I," Kate smiled wistfully, "But I can see you fancy her all the
Floyd | same. You shouldn't go so much on externals."
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "These dark rooms will kill me." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on light" 		
	

Floyd | You fumble around by the door and manage to find the light switch,
Floyd | which you turn on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lafayette's
Floyd | The rather small tables and slightly gaudy red mock-leather chairs

Floyd | hardly make this the grandest restaurant in town, but in your opinion
Floyd | it offers the best value for money, as well as a relaxed friendly
Floyd | atmosphere. It's rather sad to see it so deserted tonight.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the serving counter are a steak knife and an old radio.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take knife" 		
	

Floyd | (the steak knife)
Floyd | You pick up the steak knife and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It looks pretty sharp.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x radio" 		
	

Floyd | It certainly looks like an old model, unless it's just a particularly
Floyd | convincing retro imitation. It has a large dial, and the cable running
Floyd | from it suggests that it's meant to run off mains power.

Floyd |
Floyd | The old radio is currently switched off.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on radio" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens; perhaps the radio is broken, or perhaps there's no

Floyd | power.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "A second knife. Just like there were two chairs." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "plug in radio" 		
	

Floyd | You plug the cord into the socket.

Floyd | The radio comes to life, with the broadcast of an overture by Elgar.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | From the radio comes the sound of a symphony by Beethoven.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dial" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large circular dial that can be turned to tune the radio.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read dial" 		
	

Floyd | It's a large circular dial that can be turned to tune the radio.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tune radio" 		
	

Floyd | Try turning the dial.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the dial, tuning into some kind of game show. One of the
Floyd | contestants has just been challenged to sing an impromptu song about
Floyd | Icelandic cod fishing to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the dial, tuning into a piece of rock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the dial, tuning into the news. Apparently, England has lost
Floyd | yet another test match.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the dial, tuning into the evening play. It appears to be a

Floyd | dramatization of War and Peace, but you can't quite place the actor
Floyd | playing General Kutuzov, even though his voice sounds vaguely familiar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to radio" 		
	

Floyd | From the radio comes the sound of the evening play. It appears to be a

Floyd | dramatization of War and Peace, but you can't quite place the actor
Floyd | playing Andrei, even though his voice sounds vaguely familiar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to radio" 		
	

Floyd | From the radio comes the sound of the evening play. It appears to be a

Floyd | dramatization of War and Peace, but you can't quite place the actor
Floyd | playing Napoleon, even though his voice sounds vaguely familiar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn dial" 		
	

Floyd | You turn the dial, tuning into some long Russian opera.

Floyd |
Floyd | A clock chimes half past the hour. It can't be much more than an hour
Floyd | to dawn; surely the Enemy will have arrived by then. Time really is
Floyd | running out.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open recorder with knife" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the steak knife or the sharp kitchen knife?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "steak" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hm. Time running out." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I want to listen to this damn tape." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But we could just head back to the hospital and save and then go in." 	
			DavidW asks, "What happened to the screwdriver?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I personally think it was dropped in the haulage." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Haulage depot." 	
			DavidW asks, "do you want to go there?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We're close. We could go check." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, let's." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You leave the restaurant and walk back out into York Street.
Floyd |

Floyd | York Street (north)
Floyd | York Street continues to north and south. On the west side of the
Floyd | street stands Lafayette's, an intimate little restaurant you used to
Floyd | frequent when you went out more.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of York Street and Hythe Bridge Street
Floyd | Beyond the point where York Street meets Hythe Bridge Street, it runs
Floyd | on into a residential suburb. Hythe Bridge Street runs off to the
Floyd | southeast, while York Street runs south towards the railway station.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (north)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge street runs over an old stone bridge to the southeast and

Floyd | on to a junction with York Road to the northwest. A mixture of old
Floyd | buildings lines the street, representing every period from the Civil
Floyd | War to the Victorian; prominent among the latter is the Old Library,
Floyd | which stands just to the north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the

Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | (first opening the large steel door)

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | This seems to be a large space, but you can see virtually nothing here
Floyd | apart from the faint outline of the window up to the west and of the
Floyd | desk just beneath it.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn on torch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the torch on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Haulage Depot
Floyd | Presumably this cavernous space would normally be full of lorries, but

Floyd | there's not a single one in sight now; they must all have been pressed
Floyd | into service to assist with the evacuation. About the only thing that
Floyd | remains here now is the battered old desk in the corner, just under the
Floyd | window. The way out is through a large steel door to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the battered old desk is a grey telephone.

Floyd |
Floyd | A metal toolbox rests in another corner of the depot.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x toolbox" 		
	

Floyd | The green metal toolbox looks quite big and heavy.

Floyd |
Floyd | In the green metal toolbox are some tools.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search tools" 		
	

Floyd | There's a hammer, some screwdrivers, and a selection of spanners.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You pick up the small screwdriver and examine it.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a small screwdriver with a narrow blade and a yellow plastic

Floyd | handle.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pry recorder with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You pry the tiny cassette-recorder open with the small screwdriver,
Floyd | revealing a black cassette within. You then throw away the now useless

Floyd | pieces of the broken cassette recorder.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "WOOOOOOOOOOO" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hooray." 	
			DavidW says, "hooray. I wonder if the screwdriver is set 'concealed' or something." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, so... Theatre auditorium?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a small screwdriver, a steak knife, a heavy mallet, a
Floyd | chocolate box (open but empty), a prominent notice, a metal detector, a
Floyd | portable cassette player (closed), inside which is a blue cassette, a

Floyd | khaki peaked cap, a long rod, a torch (providing light), a gold brooch,
Floyd | a sharp kitchen knife, a bar mat, a matchbook, a small brown envelope
Floyd | (open but empty), two cassettes (a black cassette and a grey tape
Floyd | cassette), seventeen documents (a civil defence manual, a large blue
Floyd | diary, a small scrap of yellow paper, an evacuation order, a large
Floyd | Russian dictionary, a black book, a photograph, a letter, a small piece

Floyd | of paper, a concert programme, a menu, a birthday card, a crumpled
Floyd | piece of paper, a business card, a printed email, some miscellaneous
Floyd | papers and an old newspaper) and five keys (a large iron key, a small
Floyd | flat metal key, a large car key, a small brass key and an office key).
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wow we have a metric you-know-what of shit." 	
			DavidW says, "Portable cassette player" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, huh. I didn't realize we'd taken it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cassette player" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small, basic tape cassette player, black and silver in colour,
Floyd | with buttons marked PLAY, STOP, REWIND and EJECT.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open cassette player" 		
	

Floyd | You press the EJECT button and the cassette player pops open.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put black cassette tape in cassette player" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the blue cassette)
Floyd | You put the black cassette into the portable cassette player.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I can't remember if this is from the theatre or not." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice code." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I think it is." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "close cassette player" 		
	

Floyd | You close the portable cassette player.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press play" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens, beyond the faintest of whirring sounds.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "rewind" 	
			Jacqueline says, "yeah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press rewind" 		
	

Floyd | There's a brief whirring while the tape rewinds, and then a click when
Floyd | it comes to a stop.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press play" 		
	

Floyd | The recording is tinny and a bit muffled. There are two voices, one
Floyd | male, one female.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello" says the male voice, "You came. But why here?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "This is where it all started to go wrong, all those years ago, so it
Floyd | seemed fitting -- but you wouldn't understand. You betrayed me," says
Floyd | the woman, "why?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Just doing my public duty," says the man.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You mean I woudn't pay your price for silence," the other replies.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It was hardly an unreasonable price, all things considered," says the
Floyd | man.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I didn't need to pay it. I already had an insurance policy," says the
Floyd | woman.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I can't imagine what," the man replies, with a slight chuckle.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I knew I couldn't trust you, so I lied," the woman answers,

Floyd | "Fortunately you've passed my disinformation on to the authorities.
Floyd | They're looking for it in the wrong place."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why tell me that now?" he asks.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I wanted to you to know how badly you'd failed," the woman replies,

Floyd | "before you die."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh no, I'm out of here." says the man.
Floyd |
Floyd | "On no you're not." The recording is too poor to be able to identify
Floyd | either voice with certainty. You don't want the female voice to be

Floyd | hers, and you fervently hope that it isn't. It may not be; but you're
Floyd | forced to admit that it could be.
Floyd |
Floyd | The conversation breaks off. There's a series of bangs and crashes,
Floyd | which could be the sounds of a scuffle, then silence. The tape comes to
Floyd | an end and the cassette player stops with a click.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "aha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "In case anyone in the audience was still wondering, our girlfriend = evil." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. Where was the body found? 'Cause that would be the 'here'." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It was in the... hm..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It was in an auditorium of some sort." 	
			DavidW asks, "University Hall?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "One sec, I'll just check the transcript, but yeah, I think that might be it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yep." 	
			DavidW asks, "And 'it all began' there?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I guess it all began during her university days." 	
			DavidW says, "remember university hall" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though personally I think she's been evil since she was a tiny pretty girl." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember university hall" 		
	

Floyd | In the University Hall you remembered:
Floyd | You attended three or four quite unmemorable lectures here when you
Floyd | were a student, but you mainly remember this hall for the two
Floyd | University rites of passage: matriculation and graduation. You can't
Floyd | even recall seeing her at the former, but she was definitely at the
Floyd | latter, and quite out of sorts that day -- you could scarcely get a

Floyd | cold nod out of her, let alone a word.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost

Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to
Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried Carlton Terrace.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. Something wrong happened during graduation?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "She wasn't top in her class, if I remember right." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Remember she crumpled up her diploma and tossed it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "She's just a bloody perfectionist." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I think she hated Kate for that." 	
			DavidW says, "No. I don't remember." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, when we were in her office, her diploma was missing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we found it later, crumpled up but we couldn't smooth it out." 	
			DavidW asks, "Did we find it elsewhere? Where?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x diploma" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Let me go look." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a small screwdriver, a steak knife, a heavy mallet, a
Floyd | chocolate box (open but empty), a prominent notice, a metal detector, a

Floyd | portable cassette player (closed), inside which is a black cassette, a
Floyd | khaki peaked cap, a long rod, a torch (providing light), a gold brooch,
Floyd | a sharp kitchen knife, a bar mat, a matchbook, a small brown envelope
Floyd | (open but empty), seventeen documents (a civil defence manual, a large
Floyd | blue diary, a small scrap of yellow paper, an evacuation order, a large
Floyd | Russian dictionary, a black book, a photograph, a letter, a small piece

Floyd | of paper, a concert programme, a menu, a birthday card, a crumpled
Floyd | piece of paper, a business card, a printed email, some miscellaneous
Floyd | papers and an old newspaper), five keys (a large iron key, a small flat
Floyd | metal key, a large car key, a small brass key and an office key) and
Floyd | two cassettes (a blue cassette and a grey tape cassette).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x crumpled piece of paper" 		
	

Floyd | It's her degree certificate, showing that she graduated with an
Floyd | excellent first class degree. Despite your best efforts to straighten
Floyd | it out, the certificate remains a bit scrumpled.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x photograph" 		
	

Floyd | It shows the climax of the graduation ceremony, with Kate shaking hands
Floyd | with the Vice-Chancellor as she receives the award for the best degree
Floyd | result of the year. A little way over to the left a group of graduands
Floyd | in academic robes stand looking on and applauding; among them are

Floyd | Jeremy, Nick, yourself - and her. It's her you look at, every bit as
Floyd | beautiful at twenty-one as she is today. She's applauding and smiling
Floyd | with the rest, but the smile looks a little forced.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That's why she killed Kate." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read crumpled" 		
	

Floyd | It's her degree certificate, showing that she graduated with an
Floyd | excellent first class degree. Despite your best efforts to straighten
Floyd | it out, the certificate remains a bit scrumpled.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Also, I need about sixty seconds or so. Back in a sec." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am returned." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. I wonder if that long rod would've been long enough to whack the supermarket alarm." 	
			DavidW says, "no matter" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, do we really need to exhaust the location options? Carlton Terrace?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost
Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to

Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried Carlton Terrace.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You're beginning to run out of ideas. You're fairly sure she's been
Floyd | moving round the city even while you've been trying to find her, almost

Floyd | as if she's deliberately been trying to avoid you. But it does occur to
Floyd | you that you haven't yet tried Carlton Terrace.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That may be the only one left." 	
			Jacqueline skims the map again. 	
			DavidW asks, "Isn't the Terrace where we found the key?" 	
			DavidW asks, "A key?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought we'd been there, but it claims not." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Also, we never did get into the vestry safe, did we?" 	
			DavidW says, "I've totally forgotten what we found there." 	
			DavidW says, "I hate that my notes are so crappy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I seem to remember inky said he'd never even been in the vestry, never found the diary or something, so perhaps that's not a big deal." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "I think the 'Club Terrace' was where we found the key, but I can go look." 	
			DavidW says, "There's obviously a lot of redundancy to allow for multiple solutions and pathways." 	
			Lucea says, "sorry I'm not much help; I'm mainly observing" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "No worries. It's hard to walk into a game late." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We've been playing for, dunno, five or six or seven hours." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I've lost track." 	
			DavidW says, "We found a key and something else and we did something that started a timer and we undid that but I can't remember the DETAILS." 	
			Lucea says, "I don't think I got this far, at any rate" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, yeah, we found a key at the Club Terrace." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So that's what you're thinking of, perhaps." 	
			DavidW asks, "Well. Do we have it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the large iron key, the small flat metal key, the
Floyd | large car key, the small brass key or the office key?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Let me look for that, too." 	
			DavidW asks, "It's the small flat metal key, yes?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			Jacqueline | "I'll meet you where I left the tape for you at five past two. Don't be late!" 	
			DavidW asks, "oh. So hospital?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was the timer we started." 	
			DavidW asks, "What started the timer?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't think we've triggered it yet, so perhaps we can get a new time." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm looking..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf16" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x small paper" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small scrap of yellow paper or the small piece
Floyd | of paper?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "piece" 		
	Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. 		Jacqueline says, "This took a long time last time, too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Weird." 	
	

Floyd | The handwriting is as small as the piece of paper it's written on, but

Floyd | you still recognise it as hers. It reads, "Sorry, couldn't wait - just
Floyd | discovered I've lost something I must recover: a small, grey, flat
Floyd | metal key. I may have dropped it when I went for a run (in the usual
Floyd | place) or when I went to the knowledge factory. We must make sure they
Floyd | don't get it. It would be a big help if you could search those two
Floyd | places while I look elsewhere. See you later."

Floyd |
Floyd | Just below that you see a crease that you missed before - you must have
Floyd | been in too much of a hurry, or maybe the light was too bad. Anyway,
Floyd | you unfold the crease and see that she has written:
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'll meet you where we first met at twenty to four. Don't be late!"

Floyd |
Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "There it went!" 	
			DavidW says, "uh, has he crashed... oh there he is" 	
			Jacqueline says, "See, the time changed." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I figured it was based on whenever we opened it. So... hospital?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes, please." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of David), "Also, I'm eating breakfast, so could you drive for a bit?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Please?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go to hospital" 		
	

Floyd | (going to the Hospital Reception)
Floyd | (going north)
Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage

Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going southeast)
Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street
Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where
Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)
Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office

Floyd | where you work.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | (going south)
Floyd |

Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in
Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a

Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a
Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station

Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The burglar alarm is ringing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)
Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a

Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge
Floyd | It's strange - almost unnatural - to see this bridge so deserted.
Floyd | You're more used to seeing it jammed with slow-moving rush-hour
Floyd | traffic, or at least a steady flow. But now there's nothing here apart
Floyd | from the bare tarmac, the street lights (one of which now has a large
Floyd | placard attached to it), the stone parapet, and the river sliding

Floyd | silently past below.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Embankment

Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York
Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (north)
Floyd | A row of large Edwardian town houses lines the west side of the street,
Floyd | overlooking the river to the east. The houses are all in darkness, and
Floyd | the street deserted, making it all seem not quite real. Sussex Street

Floyd | continues north to the Embankment and south towards the junction with
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the
Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts
Floyd | company with the road.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (south)
Floyd | Although so far as you know this part of the city never suffered any

Floyd | bomb damage, some group of town planners rapidly made up for the
Floyd | negligence of the Luftwaffe by tearing down whatever was here before
Floyd | and replacing it with a mass of soulless fifties architecture seemingly
Floyd | inspired by Soviet brutalism. The most striking eyesore is the City
Floyd | Hospital, which lies immediately to the east. Sussex Street continues
Floyd | to north and south.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hospital Reception
Floyd | Hospitals can be depressing places at the best of times, and

Floyd | considerable effort has been put into ensuring that this one is no
Floyd | exception. The flickering light from a couple of fluorescent tubes does
Floyd | nothing to help, but the drab seating in the waiting area is the
Floyd | clincher. Opposite this seating stands the reception desk, currently
Floyd | unstaffed. Corridors lead off in all directions to operating theatres,
Floyd | offices, and wards, but the only one that looks at all tempting is the

Floyd | one that leads back out to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the reception desk is a brown telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "time" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Unfortunately, we have no way to tell the time, though it would have been displayed int he status bar." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No pun intended." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Honest." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Guess perhaps we just wait it out?" 	
			DavidW asks, "hm. So do we vamp?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | The reception desk is a long, flat surface behind which there would
Floyd | normally be situated a receptionist busily engaged in keeping visitors
Floyd | from patients, patients from doctors, and useful information from
Floyd | absolutely everyone (with the possible exception of the police and
Floyd | security services). Right now, however, it is as deserted as everywhere
Floyd | else.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the reception desk is a brown telephone.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x phone" 		
	

Floyd | It's a rather large model, with lots of extra buttons.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure what you mean by 'vamp.'" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind desk" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to look behind anything.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "futz. twiddle. caper. bounce." 	
			DavidW says, "type in whatever." 	
			Jacqueline says, "snrk. Okay." 	
			DavidW says, "pray" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | You utter a quick prayer, but the Almighty makes no obvious response.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Jerusalem", but your performance impresses no

Floyd | one but yourself.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "operate" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | You sing a few bars of "What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?", but
Floyd | your performance impresses no one but yourself.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Early One Morning", but your performance
Floyd | impresses no one but yourself.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Rule, Britannia!", but your performance
Floyd | impresses no one but yourself.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Abide with me", but your performance impresses

Floyd | no one but yourself.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Lily the Pink", but your performance impresses
Floyd | no one but yourself.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Daisy, Daisy", but your performance impresses
Floyd | no one but yourself.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I see we found a winner." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Man, we know a lot of songs." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "The British Grenadiers", but your performance
Floyd | impresses no one but yourself.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You sing a few bars of "Abide with me", but your performance impresses
Floyd | no one but yourself.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | "Where we first met?" Does she mean when you were both very young?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I'd like a distant clock to chim now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oho" 	
			DavidW says, "uhoh" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Playground?" 	
			DavidW asks, "The schoolyard?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's head there, and if we're late we can restore." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or, wait." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want me to check and make sure that's where we first met?" 	
			DavidW says, "I got mislead. You misrepresented what the note said," 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember schoolyard" 		
	

Floyd | That noun did not make sense in this context.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember playground" 		
	

Floyd | In the Playground you remembered:

Floyd | This was a co-ed school, and this playground was where you first saw
Floyd | her, all those years ago. Perhaps your recollection of that first
Floyd | encounter has been coloured by events of the last two decades, but as
Floyd | you recall it, when your eyes met across the playground it was as if
Floyd | everything else around receded into two-dimensional monochrome, and she
Floyd | was the only three-dimensional technicolour object left in your field

Floyd | of view. Again, as you recall, she smiled shyly at you, and you went
Floyd | and introduced yourself in your earnest six-year-old fashion, but so
Floyd | much fantasy and wishful thinking has surrounded the frequent rehearsal
Floyd | of that memory that you can't really remember what either of you
Floyd | actually said.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yep" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, yeah, let's head there." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf16" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read piece" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small piece of paper or the crumpled piece of
Floyd | paper?

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I think we may still need to go to the hospital, though." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "But who knows?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "small" 		Jacqueline says, "Save again after it opens the paper so we don't have to wait like that again, methinks." 	
			DavidW says, "One wonders what all it's doing." 	
	

Floyd | The handwriting is as small as the piece of paper it's written on, but
Floyd | you still recognise it as hers. It reads, "Sorry, couldn't wait - just
Floyd | discovered I've lost something I must recover: a small, grey, flat
Floyd | metal key. I may have dropped it when I went for a run (in the usual

Floyd | place) or when I went to the knowledge factory. We must make sure they
Floyd | don't get it. It would be a big help if you could search those two
Floyd | places while I look elsewhere. See you later."
Floyd |
Floyd | Just below that you see a crease that you missed before - you must have
Floyd | been in too much of a hurry, or maybe the light was too bad. Anyway,

Floyd | you unfold the crease and see that she has written:
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'll meet you where we first met at twenty to four. Don't be late!"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah. Lots." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, you drive as we're on the timer, and please save." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf17" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Haulage Depot
Floyd | Presumably this cavernous space would normally be full of lorries, but
Floyd | there's not a single one in sight now; they must all have been pressed
Floyd | into service to assist with the evacuation. About the only thing that

Floyd | remains here now is the battered old desk in the corner, just under the
Floyd | window. The way out is through a large steel door to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the battered old desk is a grey telephone.
Floyd |
Floyd | A metal toolbox rests in another corner of the depot.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street (south)
Floyd | Hythe Bridge Street is quite narrow, being one of the oldest parts of
Floyd | the city. It narrows even further as it approaches an old stone bridge
Floyd | to the northwest; to the southeast it runs towards a junction with the
Floyd | High Street. On the south side of the street stands a large haulage
Floyd | depot, round the side of which a narrow alley runs to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		Jacqueline says, "...and it's just a guess..." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street

Floyd | The High Street (from the south) comes to an end at a fork where
Floyd | College Street runs off to the northeast and Hythe Bridge Street to the
Floyd | northwest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "But that we may have to go to the hospital anyway, just to make it direct our thought to the playground." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by your office)
Floyd | The High Street continues to north and south past rows of shops and
Floyd | small offices. One of the latter, directly to the west, is the office
Floyd | where you work.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (by Post Office)
Floyd | This part of the High Street contains some of the oldest buildings in

Floyd | the city, and the old shop fronts have been mercifully preserved from
Floyd | the depredations of three generations of philistine post-war planners.
Floyd | The main post office on the west side of the street is a particularly
Floyd | fine example of Victorian architecture, but all the shops retain a
Floyd | measure of charm here, even when they're only selling mortgages or
Floyd | computer games. The High Street continues to north and south, while a

Floyd | narrow lane runs off to the west just by the post office.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre

Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,

Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The burglar alarm is ringing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		Jacqueline says, "But you could just head straight to the playground if you'd like, too." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (outside Police Station)
Floyd | Mandlebury Road continues to east and west, while the main city police

Floyd | station stands just to the south, and Church Road runs off to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Crossroads
Floyd | Well lit by the street lighting, this crossroads is formed by the
Floyd | intersection of Mandlebury Road running from east to west, School Lane
Floyd | running north, and Cornwallis Avenue running to the south.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "sorry, what?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But that we may have to go to the hospital anyway, just to make it direct our thought to the playground." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But you could just head straight to the playground if you'd like, too." 	
			DavidW says, "I thought the plan was 1) SAVE. 2) GO TO PLAYGROUND, and that the hospital bit was a fantasy idea of yours." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's just a guess." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, that would work. heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go to the playground." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (east of the Crossroads)

Floyd | From the crossroads, Mandlebury Road runs on straight to east for half
Floyd | a mile or more between rows of neat suburban houses.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Mandlebury Road continues out of town into a residential suburb; you're

Floyd | pretty sure she won't be there.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way. The obvious exits are east and west (to
Floyd | Crossroads).

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "oh. I missed the turn." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Mandlebury Road (east of the Crossroads)
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Mandlebury Road (east of the Crossroads)
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Crossroads
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the
Floyd | junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly
Floyd | residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its

Floyd | playground is just to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a footfall slowly approaching down the street, and turn to see
Floyd | a figure walking towards you. As the figure passes under a street
Floyd | light, you see it's a slender young woman with long dark hair. You feel
Floyd | sure it must be her even before you can see her properly. You start

Floyd | walking towards her, eager yet apprehensive at finally meeting her. She
Floyd | walks on a few paces, then stops in a dark place between lamp posts,
Floyd | waiting for you to reach her.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is her; of course it is her. Even from a few yards away in the
Floyd | moonlight you're quite sure, and once you stop a couple of feet away no

Floyd | possible doubt remains: it's Emma.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good - you made it!" she declares, "I don't suppose you managed to
Floyd | find the key, did you?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Excellent." 	
			DavidW says, "And the game actually says 'Emma' for the first time." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. Nice." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Save?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf18" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes, miraculously enough, I did!" you reply triumphantly, handing her

Floyd | the key.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank heavens for that!" she replies, taking the key. She holds it up
Floyd | in the bright moonlight, then nods, "Yes, this looks like the one," she
Floyd | tells you. With a rapid motion she inserts the key into the small metal
Floyd | box she's holding and gives it a quick twist, "Oh yes," she declares,

Floyd | "That's definitely the one. Thank you!" Smiling her most alluring smile
Floyd | she adds, "Tell me David, do you trust me?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "NO" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But yes." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "To be honest, I'm not sure I do," you reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | Amazingly, she doesn't seem in the least offended. "Really?" she asks,
Floyd | "You're learning at last! But you should trust me now, David, you

Floyd | really should. I'm your only hope of defeating the Enemy. Here ... "
Floyd | she holds out the small grey box to you, "Just push the button on that.
Floyd | Show that you trust me now. Will you do that?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask why" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma why" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sure, why not, since we've disactivated it." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x emma" 		
	

Floyd | She is tall, slender, and to your eyes, utterly beautiful, but the
Floyd | moonlight makes her look a little ghostlike, exaggerating both the
Floyd | palor of her skin and the darkness of her hair. She's carrying a small

Floyd | flat metal key and a small grey box.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that
Floyd | button for me or aren't you?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close grey box" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can close.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "No, I won't do it," you reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | "No matter," she shrugs, "It's a missed opportunity, but I can just as
Floyd | easily do it myself."
Floyd |
Floyd | She pushes the button, but nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | Well, something obvious happens. She laughs out loud and punches the
Floyd | air in triumph, shouting, "Yes!" Beaming at you fondly she continues,
Floyd | "Dear David, I always knew you were my truest friend, the one person I
Floyd | could always rely on.  That's why I had to share this with you. Would
Floyd | you like to kiss me? Yes, I can see in your eyes you would. Go on -
Floyd | kiss me - I know you've always been dying to, and now you're about to

Floyd | die with me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | She smiles at your mild bemusement, then goes on, "I'm afraid someone
Floyd | tipped them all off -- I suppose it must have been Danny, he was the
Floyd | only one who knew enough -- so they all got away, and I really wanted
Floyd | to take them all with me. Still, David, you stayed behind for me, and

Floyd | that's good because you're the only one who never rejected me, so you
Floyd | mustn't reject me now -- me or my nightfall."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Emma, what are you talking about?" you ask sadly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We're about to reach Nightfall: final, ultimate, wonderful nightfall!

Floyd | This whole city is about to become a pile of radioactive ash!" she
Floyd | declares brightly, as if this were the best possible thing imaginable,
Floyd | "I have just detonated my bomb! At last I've achieved something that no
Floyd | one can ignore! This place never did value me properly, I've suffered
Floyd | far too many rejections! You do understand, don't you? I tried - I
Floyd | really tried - I always did my best, but other people kept stealing the

Floyd | prizes. That's why I had to kill Kate, of course - and why I have to
Floyd | destroy this city! Don't look so upset, David -- death is the most
Floyd | loving gift I have to give, and you of all people deserve my best! Just
Floyd | think what I'm sharing with you! I know you've always fancied me, and
Floyd | now I know I love you madly, so go on, take me: hug me, kiss me, make
Floyd | mad passionate love to me; I'm yours till death us do part!"

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about kate" 		
	

Floyd | "What really happened to Kate?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Kate?" she replies, a little too shortly, "Oh - Kate. She stole too

Floyd | many things that should have been mine, so - she drowned. She had to.
Floyd | Now, how about answering my question:  Will you kiss me while you can?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Death, destruction, decay, these three things abide," she says, "but
Floyd | the greatest of these... Hang on. It's late!" She frowns momentarily,
Floyd | then relaxes into a smile, "I should not be so impatient - any moment

Floyd | now! Just give me one last kiss while you still can!"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kiss emma" 		
	

Floyd | You kiss her on the lips and find yourself taken slightly aback at the
Floyd | enthusiasm of her response.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Something has definitely gone wrong," Emma frowns, "We should both be
Floyd | dead by now, and this city should be a radioactive crater. David, have
Floyd | you done something?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You'd quite like to, but you're not sure she'd welcome it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes, I know exactly what's going on," you sigh, "You're sick, Emma,

Floyd | and I had to stop you, or else chooses to ignore your affirmation. So I
Floyd | did what I had to.  I suppose you could say I've saved this city from
Floyd | your insanity. But you -"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You fool!" she cries, staring at you in disbelief, but then corrects
Floyd | herself, "No, a fool could not have worked out a way of stopping my

Floyd | bomb. It's just such a shock that you of all people..." She looks away
Floyd | for a moment, absently clenching her fists as her eyes stare into some
Floyd | distant abyss. "I failed, that's all; I failed," she announces
Floyd | suddenly, "Rejected on all sides - well, I can still reject back, yes I
Floyd | can!"
Floyd |

Floyd | Her last words becomes an angry, yet strangely triumphant, shout;
Floyd | before you can reply she turns and stalks away, breaking into a run as
Floyd | you try to follow her. She's fitter than you, so as hard as you try,
Floyd | you can't catch her up.
Floyd |
Floyd | But you do arrive just in time to see her throw herself into the river.

Floyd | You dive in after her, of course, but it's hopeless; the water is too
Floyd | cold and the night is too dark; eventually you have to abandon any
Floyd | attempt to rescue her.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's not until more than a week later, once the City has started to get
Floyd | back to normal, that her body is recovered. By some supreme irony, her

Floyd | final resting place is only a few yards from Kate's.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won, after a fashion ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some ADDITIONAL
Floyd | things to try, UNDO the last turn or QUIT?

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "additional" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |  > Review your memories
Floyd |    Other things to try

		
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Over the course of the game you should have visited a number of places

Floyd | that have triggered memories. Viewing these in sequence should help you
Floyd | form some idea of the back-story.
Floyd |
Floyd | Playground: This was a co-ed school, and this playground was where you
Floyd | first saw her, all those years ago. Perhaps your recollection of that
Floyd | first encounter has been coloured by events of the last two decades,

Floyd | but as you recall it, when your eyes met across the playground it was
Floyd | as if everything else around receded into two-dimensional monochrome,
Floyd | and she was the only three-dimensional technicolour object left in your
Floyd | field of view. Again, as you recall, she smiled shyly at you, and you
Floyd | went and introduced yourself in your earnest six-year-old fashion, but
Floyd | so much fantasy and wishful thinking has surrounded the frequent

Floyd | rehearsal of that memory that you can't really remember what either of
Floyd | you actually said.
Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street Bus Stop: There are many bus-stops in the city, but only
Floyd | this one holds special memories for you. As a teenager you often used
Floyd | to wait here for your bus home from school. It was on her route home,

Floyd | too, and though she took a different bus from yours, you'd sometimes
Floyd | spot her on her bus when it stopped here. Once or twice she spotted you
Floyd | too, and then she'd always smile and wave, as if you were some
Floyd | long-lost friend. And even as a teenager she was so pretty!
Floyd |
Floyd | Residence Hall Lobby: You ran into her here in your first week as a

Floyd | student. You hesitated to approach her because, in all conscience, you
Floyd | hardly knew her, but while you were debating with yourself whether it
Floyd | was worth trying to renew your acquaintance, she flashed you a lovely
Floyd | smile and walked up to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello," she said, tossing her long dark hair over back her shoulder,

Floyd | "don't I know you? We were at primary school together, weren't we?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "That's right," you agreed, "though it seems a long time ago now. I'm
Floyd | flattered you remember!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's nice to see a familiar face!" she told you, "so what are you

Floyd | reading here?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Law," you told her,  "and you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "English," she replied, adding with a laugh "much less practical!
Floyd | Talking of which, I'm in danger late of being late for my first Dickens

Floyd | lecture, and I'd hate to upset my prof on my first day, so I'd better
Floyd | dash before Great Expectations turn into Bleak House! We'll catch up
Floyd | later."
Floyd |
Floyd | And after a fashion, over the next three years you did, but nowhere
Floyd | near as much as you'd have liked.

Floyd |
Floyd | Club Terrace: When you were a student, perhaps in your second year, you
Floyd | attended a particularly dire party in the club. All that smoke and beer
Floyd | and loud music wasn't really your scene, and the more everyone else
Floyd | around you seemed to be having "fun", the more fed up you felt, until
Floyd | eventually you wandered out here for some kind of relief from it all.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hadn't been out here that long when she came to join you,
Floyd | announcing her arrival by laying a friendly hand on your shoulder.
Floyd | "Hello," she said, "I hope you're not avoiding me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Certainly not!" you replied, "You're the last person I'd want to

Floyd | avoid!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm glad to hear it," she smiled.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Shall we go somewhere else then?" you suggested hopefully, "How about
Floyd | a quiet drink at the KA?"

Floyd |
Floyd | For one moment you thought she was about to say yes, but instead she
Floyd | dashed your hope with an apologetic shake of the head. "Some other
Floyd | time," she replied, "I'd better go in; I'm with people." Then, with a
Floyd | parting pat on your arm, she turned away and went off to join the party
Floyd | in the club. It was several more years before you had that drink with

Floyd | her in the Kings Arms.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cinema Auditorium: You came here once with her to see a film when you
Floyd | were both students, it was one of the few occasions you actually went
Floyd | out with her. If you remember rightly the film was Titanic, but at the
Floyd | time you were much more interested in her than the film. Typically, she

Floyd | seemed so much more interested in the film than you that she didn't
Floyd | even notice where your interest lay.
Floyd |
Floyd | Elm Bridge: You vividly recall one occasion when you were driving this
Floyd | way. It was shortly after graduation and you were driving a group of
Floyd | friends back from a celebratory party. The traffic suddenly slowed to a

Floyd | crawl and you became aware of flashing blue lights a short way up
Floyd | ahead.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Quick; change places with me," she said.
Floyd |
Floyd | "But..." you began to protest.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Don't argue, there isn't much time." she insisted.
Floyd |
Floyd | There was something about her tone of voice that silenced any further
Floyd | argument, so you surreptitiously changed places before the traffic
Floyd | started moving again. A few dozen yards further on the police stopped

Floyd | the car and asked her to blow into a breathalyzer (there weren't meant
Floyd | to be random breath tests in those days, but they found some pretext).
Floyd | She, of course, was clean. To this day you don't know whether you would
Floyd | have been, but you're profoundly grateful that it wasn't put to the
Floyd | test.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hotel Lobby: This place holds two poignant memories for you. The first
Floyd | is of Kate's 21st birthday party; she needed somewhere large for all
Floyd | her friends. She was really dazzling that night, with her whole life
Floyd | before her. Alas, she never lived to see her 22nd birthday. The
Floyd | recollection of that evening brings home to you just how much you miss
Floyd | her still.

Floyd |
Floyd | The second is more recent, from about three years ago. You took her out
Floyd | to dinner here, a week or so after that drink in the Kings Arms. She,
Floyd | too, seemed really dazzling that night, sparkling with wit and
Floyd | conversation, utterly charming throughout the entire meal. Even though
Floyd | in hindsight some of the things she said may have been just a little

Floyd | odd, at the time you were just happy to enjoy her company -- until,
Floyd | right at the end, she dropped her little bombshell.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thanks for a lovely evening, David," she told you, "but now there's
Floyd | something I really ought to tell you. I've just started seeing Jeremy."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Seeing Jeremy," you repeated dully, feeling the whole evening
Floyd | crumbling around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I mean I'm going out with him," she explained patronisingly, as if you
Floyd | hadn't understood perfectly well what she meant.
Floyd |

Floyd | Lafayette's: You once brought Kate here for a meal a few weeks after
Floyd | her twenty-first birthday. You weren't sure you wanted a relationship
Floyd | with Kate, but you weren't sure you didn't want one either. She was
Floyd | frighteningly clever, but she was also kind, warm-hearted and
Floyd | extraordinarily perceptive. Above all, she was someone you could really
Floyd | talk to, more than anyone else you knew at the time.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can't remember much of what you talked about that evening, but you
Floyd | vividly recall one snippet of the conversation.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Do you wish it was her with you here tonight?" she asked quietly.
Floyd |

Floyd | It was obvious to both of you whom she meant, so you didn't bother to
Floyd | query it. Instead you replied, "She's an interesting enough woman, I
Floyd | suppose, but I'm very happy with the company I've got."
Floyd |
Floyd | "So am I," Kate smiled wistfully, "But I can see you fancy her all the
Floyd | same. You shouldn't go so much on externals."

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge: You have, just once before, seen the bridge that
Floyd | deserted - a night burned on your memory. You were walking home from a
Floyd | late party - if only you had left that party a few minutes earlier you
Floyd | might have arrived here just in time to prevent Kate's death.
Floyd |

Floyd | Embankment: This is where you found her that dreadful night, seven
Floyd | years ago. Her clothes were soaked of course, but it's the water
Floyd | streaming from her long dark hair that you remember most vividly now -
Floyd | that and the fact that she was kneeling by Kate's body.
Floyd |
Floyd | She looked up, obviously distressed, but then relieved to see a

Floyd | familiar face. "She fell - off the bridge" she gasped, swallowing hard
Floyd | as she wiped the damp hair out of her eyes, "I don't know how - just a
Floyd | few minutes ago - I tried to save her - but - well - I dived in and I
Floyd | managed to get her out - but she's not breathing!"
Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment you just stood there, overcome by shock as you stared at

Floyd | her, unwilling to take in what she had just said. Then she galvanised
Floyd | you into action: "For goodness' sake! Don't just stand there! Fetch
Floyd | help! Go and call an ambulance!"
Floyd |
Floyd | And so off you ran, south towards the city hospital.
Floyd |

Floyd | Hospital Reception: You'll never forget waiting here, with her beside
Floyd | you, still wet from her misadventure and shaking from cold and shock.
Floyd | She made no objection when you put your arm round her, and even nestled
Floyd | her head on your shoulder, but there was nothing amorous about it, you
Floyd | were worried sick about Kate and just looking for comfort. It didn't
Floyd | last all that long anyway, for it was only a few minutes until the

Floyd | doctor came out to confirm that Kate was dead.
Floyd |
Floyd | So then you spent the next few hours talking to the police.
Floyd |
Floyd | Police Station Reception Area: The last time you were here was when the
Floyd | police called you in to go over your statement about Kate's drowning,

Floyd | just a couple of days before the Inquest at the Coroner's Court just
Floyd | round the corner. They seemed particularly interested in what you could
Floyd | tell them about Kate's state of mind, but you couldn't really add much
Floyd | to the statement you'd given them in the Hospital just after the event.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cornwallis Avenue Nth: You remember you had to attend the Coroner's

Floyd | Court after Kate drowned. It was a miserable business; the police
Floyd | doctor had confirmed that Kate's death was by drowning, but as you'd
Floyd | arrived on the scene so soon after she had fished Kate out of the river
Floyd | that you were an important witness. Although she (your friend, that is)
Floyd | said she'd seen Kate jump off the bridge, there was no suicide note and
Floyd | no evidence that Kate was feeling suicidal, so in the end the coroner's

Floyd | jury reached a verdict of death by misadventure. With the wisdom of
Floyd | hindsight you wish they'd been a bit more thorough and a lot more
Floyd | suspicious.
Floyd |
Floyd | Churchyard: Kate's grave is somewhere here among the others; you used
Floyd | to visit it often. You'll never forget the shock you received when you

Floyd | came one day only a few weeks after Kate's funeral to find the grave
Floyd | desecrated. At least, someone had knocked over the headstone and
Floyd | smashed it, and the flowers were all torn up and strewn around. The
Floyd | police never did catch the culprits, and put it down to local
Floyd | hooligans, but that never seemed quite satisfactory somehow; why should
Floyd | it be Kate's grave that was attacked in this way?

Floyd |
Floyd | It's long since been put right, of course, but the memory of the broken
Floyd | gravestone still leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Kate deserved
Floyd | better than that - much better.
Floyd |
Floyd | Nave: You remember when you came here for Kate's funeral, just over six

Floyd | years ago. She was sitting up in one of the front pews, quite unaware
Floyd | of your presence, although your eyes kept wandering to the back of her
Floyd | head. At some appropriate point in the service she went up to the
Floyd | lectern and made some thoroughly fitting speech about the tragically
Floyd | early death of her dear friend Kate, who had had a wonderful life ahead
Floyd | of her. You can't remember precisely what she said; what you remember

Floyd | is how solemn and composed she was as she spoke, saying just the right
Floyd | things in just the right sombre tone, without ever giving way to
Floyd | emotion and tears.
Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub): You'll never forget the
Floyd | terrible shock you got when you happened to be passing this way not

Floyd | long after Kate's funeral (which had left you feeling pretty down in
Floyd | any case). She (not Kate - she) had stepped out of the Hairdressers,
Floyd | and for a moment you almost failed to recognize her, she'd had her hair
Floyd | cut so dreadfully short. You hated it at once; she'd had such a
Floyd | glorious mane of long dark hair, but this - well, it must have shown in
Floyd | your face, since she remarked, more than a little snippily. "I thought

Floyd | it was time for a change", and then stalked off up the street before
Floyd | you could reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the event she must have agreed with your judgement, though, since
Floyd | she never had her hair cut like that again; instead the way she let it
Floyd | grow longer year by year suggested she hardly had it cut again at all.

Floyd |
Floyd | photograph: It shows the climax of the graduation ceremony, with Kate
Floyd | shaking hands with the Vice-Chancellor as she receives the award for
Floyd | the best degree result of the year. A little way over to the left a
Floyd | group of graduands in academic robes stand looking on and applauding;
Floyd | among them are Jeremy, Nick, yourself - and her. It's her you look at,

Floyd | every bit as beautiful at twenty-one as she is today. She's applauding
Floyd | and smiling with the rest, but the smile looks a little forced.
Floyd |
Floyd | certificates: The certificates show a range of her achievements, but
Floyd | her degree certificate is conspicuous by its absence.
Floyd |

Floyd | University Hall: You attended three or four quite unmemorable lectures
Floyd | here when you were a student, but you mainly remember this hall for the
Floyd | two University rites of passage: matriculation and graduation. You
Floyd | can't even recall seeing her at the former, but she was definitely at
Floyd | the latter, and quite out of sorts that day -- you could scarcely get a
Floyd | cold nod out of her, let alone a word.

Floyd |
Floyd | Sports Ground: You don't come here much, sport really isn't your thing.
Floyd | But you did come a few times that summer, to watch the tennis
Floyd | tournament. She was in it. She reached the finals. You're no expert on
Floyd | tennis, but she seemed to be totally in control all the time; it was
Floyd | almost as if she were dancing round the court rather than exerting

Floyd | herself.
Floyd |
Floyd | She, won, of course: at least she won the women's singles, although she
Floyd | didn't do quite so well in the mixed doubles. When you spoke to her
Floyd | afterwards she seemed to be almost more preoccupied with that failure
Floyd | than with her success: "That idiot Nick!" she complained, "He was like

Floyd | an uncoordinated lobster on court! We should have won!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Concert Hall: You've attended many concerts here over the years, many
Floyd | of them good, but the one you remember best is the amateur performance
Floyd | of The Marriage of Figaro in which she sang the part of Cherubino. You
Floyd | thought she sang like an angel, and in your mind's ear you can still

Floyd | hear her beautiful rendition of the aria "Voi che sapete" - "You who
Floyd | know what love is". You came back to hear her again several nights in
Floyd | succession; it's fortunate that you're so fond of Mozart.
Floyd |
Floyd | Theatre Auditorium: Not all the events held here were as representative
Floyd | of high culture as the builders of this theatre might have hoped. Three

Floyd | or four years ago the city held a contest here to choose a beauty queen
Floyd | for some local pageant. Of course she was one of the contestants, and
Floyd | of course she won; most of the other contestants were pretty enough but
Floyd | next to her beauty they struck you as fireflies competing with the sun.
Floyd | It wasn't just a matter of her looks, though she certainly looked
Floyd | drop-dead gorgeous that night; at the time you imagined that she had

Floyd | far more poise, far more intelligence, and far more personality than
Floyd | the rest of them put together.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lounge Bar: You met her here about three years ago. You'd been giving
Floyd | her some routine legal advice on the phone, and you'd managed to drop
Floyd | the suggestion of a drink into the conversation. A little to your

Floyd | surprise she'd agreed, and that evening, you only had to wait for about
Floyd | five minutes before she walked in, spotted you from across the bar and
Floyd | came and joined you at your table.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Tell me," she said, once you'd bought her a drink and you'd both
Floyd | settled down for a chat, "What would you like to be remembered for?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm not sure I'd ever given it much thought," you replied, "I suppose
Floyd | I'd be pretty content to be remembered as a decent sort of bloke."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, I'm sure you'll be remembered for that, David!" she laughed, "But
Floyd | I've been thinking; how sad it must be to pass through life and never

Floyd | leave any kind of impression."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You seem to have made quite an impression round here already," you
Floyd | remarked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Maybe -- but is it enough?" she wondered, "There are times when I feel

Floyd | that whatever I do, it's never quite enough!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "It sounds like you're demanding too much of yourself," you suggested.
Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment she stared at you, as if pondering how best to respond to
Floyd | this idea. Then she suddenly brightened, briskly changing the subject,

Floyd | "Sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear about my existential angst all
Floyd | evening --  so, tell me about your day."
Floyd |
Floyd | So you did, and from there the conversation wandered on to other
Floyd | topics, till she quite suddenly announced that she had to leave.
Floyd |

Floyd | Mandlebury Park: When time permits you often come here to eat your
Floyd | lunch on the park bench. On one such occasion about four years ago you
Floyd | saw her jogging past on a circuit of the park. The second time round,
Floyd | she stopped to catch her breath and chat. You can't remember a great
Floyd | deal of the conversation , but you do remember she was enthusing about
Floyd | some book she'd just read.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you read any Stanilev?" she asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I've never heard of him," you admitted.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He's a great thinker, you should read him, you really should," she

Floyd | urged you, "Until I read him I never realized anyone else could feel
Floyd | that way. It was so liberating!"
Floyd |
Floyd | But though you promised her you'd look out for a copy of Stanilev's
Floyd | book, somehow you never got round to it until now.
Floyd |

Floyd | Public Library: You remember coming here about four or five years ago
Floyd | to borrow a novel, and seeing her sitting off to one side,
Floyd | concentrating on some book. You exchanged smiles, but that was about as
Floyd | far as you got before a frown from a fierce librarian silenced your
Floyd | incipient greeting.
Floyd |

Floyd | black book: The book has a plain black cover, on which is inscribed
Floyd | "Nightfall, by A.D. Stanilev".
Floyd |
Floyd | Art Gallery: Although art isn't really your thing, you came here about
Floyd | a year ago to see an exhibition of paintings entered into a competition
Floyd | for local amateurs. Or rather you came to see one painting in

Floyd | particular: her painting, the painting that won the competition.
Floyd |
Floyd | Her painting: Her painting, the winning entry, is still prominently on
Floyd | display. It portrays the city at sunset, with the buildings silhouetted
Floyd | in front of a blazing red glow. The painting is certainly striking, but
Floyd | you find it a little disturbing; it almost makes it look as if the

Floyd | whole city is on fire. The painting is called "Nightfall". You check
Floyd | the signature at the bottom right-hand corner, but it looks like her
Floyd | name, not the mysterious MASTEMA of the poster in her flat - curiouser
Floyd | and curiouser.
Floyd |
Floyd | Her Office: You've been here once or twice before; she's occasionally

Floyd | used your firm for legal advice. She set up in business here shortly
Floyd | after graduating, specializing in student lets. The business seems to
Floyd | have been moderately successful - at least, it's still going and she's
Floyd | not obviously poverty-stricken - but it's never grown, since she still
Floyd | works by herself after seven years at it.
Floyd |

Floyd | letter: It's a handwritten letter from Jeremy, dated about two years
Floyd | ago, breaking off his relationship with her. You re-read it, your eye
Floyd | stopping on phrases like, "I'm sorry, but it's over. I still find you
Floyd | as charming and attractive as I always did, and you can be great
Floyd | company, but I'm worn out by your need to always be the best at
Floyd | everything, and I've had enough of playing second fiddle to your

Floyd | ambition" and "We've had good times together, but I realize now that
Floyd | you're just not the woman for me" and "Even now I don't really feel I
Floyd | know you. I'm sure you do have a heart, but I've never felt you've ever
Floyd | really opened it to me; for such a successful woman you seem strangely
Floyd | repressed." The letter must obviously have been returned to him, since
Floyd | across the bottom is written in another hand: "You should have thought

Floyd | twice before rejecting me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | printed email: It's a printed copy of an email, addressed to her from
Floyd | one edward.dawlish@freegov.org. The main body of the email reads:
Floyd |
Floyd | > So I hope you will give very serious consideration to my

Floyd | > application to represent the party at the next general
Floyd | > election.
Floyd |
Floyd | We have given your CV and letter the most serious consideration but
Floyd | regret to inform you that we felt unable to add your name to our

Floyd | short-list of candidates. As I'm sure you will appreciate this has long
Floyd | been a safe seat, and we thus have an unusually strong field of
Floyd | potential candidates, many of whom already have considerable
Floyd | parliamentary experience.
Floyd |
Floyd | > I have been active in many aspects of local life,

Floyd | > and I believe this makes me uniquely well suited
Floyd | > to represent this community.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your participation and achievements in the life of this city have
Floyd | indeed been remarkable, and we recognize that. We accordingly feel you

Floyd | would make an *excellent* candidate for the city council, and very much
Floyd | hope you will consider offering yourself as a candidate for the
Floyd | forthcoming local elections (we could virtually guarantee to find you a
Floyd | winnable ward). Any experience gained as a local councillor would also
Floyd | stand you in very good stead should you wish to pursue parliamentary
Floyd | ambitions at some later date.

Floyd |
Floyd | The email is dated about two years ago. At the bottom of it is written
Floyd | in large red letters: "NO!".
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and College Street: About two years ago you ran
Floyd | into her here as you were walking home, and she was doing the same,

Floyd | both of you rather later than normal. Your paths would normally have
Floyd | taken you in opposite directions, but instead of turning to walk down
Floyd | the High Street she took a detour up Hythe Bridge Street to walk along
Floyd | beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Today has not been a good day," she explained, "I could do with seeing

Floyd | a friendly face!"
Floyd |
Floyd | So you walked on up Hythe Bridge Street together, but she seemed
Floyd | unwilling to say what was wrong.
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of York Street and Hythe Bridge Street: About two years ago

Floyd | you had walked up from the other end of Hythe Bridge Street with her
Floyd | one evening, as she'd taken a slight detour from her normal route. You
Floyd | had stopped at this junction, since her way home lay south and yours
Floyd | lay north. It was just at this point on your walk that she came closest
Floyd | opening herself up to you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Would you say I was a failure?" she asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Certainly not!" You declared, surprised by her question, "I've never
Floyd | known anyone succeed at so many things!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "But not everything," she sighed, "and maybe not at anything really

Floyd | important."
Floyd |
Floyd | On impulse you offered, "Shall I walk you home?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why not?" she replied.
Floyd |

Floyd | So you'd both headed south together, and you tried to get her to expand
Floyd | on what she had just said, but somehow the moment had been lost and she
Floyd | insisted on changing the subject.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gladstone Terrace: When you walked her home one night, about two years
Floyd | ago, this was as far as you got. You had hoped she would at least

Floyd | invite you in for a coffee. Indeed, for a moment you thought she seemed
Floyd | just on the point of doing so, but then all she said was, "Thank you -
Floyd | it was good to talk." Just before she turned away to let herself in,
Floyd | she added, "I'll see you around." Then she disappeared inside, leaving
Floyd | you standing in the street as if you could not possibly have expected
Floyd | anything else.

Floyd |
Floyd | Old Library Dance Floor: The last time you were here was a couple of
Floyd | years or so ago. You mainly recall music too loud for conversation and
Floyd | a floor too crowded to dance on without bumping into people at every
Floyd | turn; it really wasn't your scene at all. You only bought a ticket
Floyd | because you knew she'd be here. And so she was, effortlessly elegant in

Floyd | plain black, standing out from all the others in their colourful finery
Floyd | like a princess among apes. You kept stealing hopeful glances at her
Floyd | all evening. Surprisingly, for much of the time she seemed to be
Floyd | dancing with some nerdish-looking teenager (at the time you supposed
Floyd | either that she must have felt sorry for him and was just being nice,
Floyd | or else that he must be some cousin she'd been lumbered with for the

Floyd | evening). At last, when you'd given up all hope and had gone in search
Floyd | of a refill for your glass, she came up to you and asked you for a
Floyd | dance. You'd been secretly hoping for a slow romantic sway, of course,
Floyd | but your luck being what it was all you got was an energetic jive. At
Floyd | least, she was commendably energetic about it (but graceful with it, of
Floyd | course), which left you feeling a bit like a lumbering elephant with

Floyd | four left feet in comparison. But at the time you felt that one dance
Floyd | made the whole evening worthwhile.
Floyd |
Floyd | Morgans Bank: You ran into her here about eighteen months ago; she was
Floyd | just ahead of you in the queue.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Oh, hello!" she said, with one of her brighter smiles, "Are you here
Floyd | to take all your money out too? These people obviously can't be trusted
Floyd | with it!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why not?" you asked.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Didn't you hear about it on the news?" she replied, "Someone hacked
Floyd | into Morgans' mainframe and siphoned off a couple of million. Doesn't
Floyd | say much for their security, does it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | old newspaper: Most of it is missing, and the rest of it is at least
Floyd | several weeks old. Apart from the grease stains testifying to its use

Floyd | as a fish-and-chips wrapper, it is full of the usual bad news about
Floyd | undesirable things on the increase: inflation, unemployment, taxes,
Floyd | crime, global warming; according to one columnist, there's even a sharp
Floyd | rise in severe personality disorders among the under thirties. The sole
Floyd | surviving page of foreign news is no cheerier, since it bemoans
Floyd | increasing tension in the Middle East coupled with the danger of former

Floyd | Soviet republics selling nuclear weapons on the black market.
Floyd |
Floyd | large metal cylinder: The large metal cylinder is mostly silver in
Floyd | colour, and has various coloured wires attached to it. There's quite a
Floyd | bit of writing on it, but it's all in the Cyrillic alphabet. A quick
Floyd | glance at the civil defence manual does not prove reassuring -- the

Floyd | cylinder could well be a bomb.
Floyd |
Floyd | large poster: It's a monochrome photograph of a painting depicting
Floyd | sunset over the city. You recognize it as the winning entry in a recent
Floyd | art competition; the original hangs in the Art Gallery Market Street.
Floyd | The black and white photo is not nearly so striking as the oil-colour

Floyd | original, but perhaps the original would be too overpowering for a
Floyd | living room - at least you always find it a bit disturbing to look at.
Floyd | The photograph differs from the original in another odd way: the
Floyd | signature in the bottom right-hand corner should be her name, but
Floyd | instead it looks like MASTEMA.
Floyd |

Floyd | Supermarket: It was here that you last saw her, about ten days ago,
Floyd | when she came up behind you in the checkout queue. She seemed pleased
Floyd | to see you, and appeared to have made a deliberate choice to join your
Floyd | queue, but the conversation remained inconsequential until you were
Floyd | ready to leave. Just as you'd packed up your shopping and paid your
Floyd | bill, she became suddenly solemn.

Floyd |
Floyd | "If I ever needed you - I mean really needed you - you would be there
Floyd | for me, wouldn't you?" she asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course," you replied, without hesitation.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Good," she smiled, and then changed the subject to something
Floyd | inconsequential like the weather.
Floyd |
Floyd | familiar birthday card: You recognize it at once. It is the card you
Floyd | sent her for her birthday a few weeks ago, a safe, arty kind of card
Floyd | that showed you were thinking of her without suggesting anything soppy.

Floyd | You wonder why she kept it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ticket Office: While you were queuing for your ticket, Jeremy turned to
Floyd | you and said, "She's still in the city, you know. She's not leaving;
Floyd | apparently there's something frantically important she has to do here."
Floyd |

Floyd | "More important than getting away from the Enemy?" you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So she says," he replied, with a dismissive shrug, "Oh, and by the
Floyd | way, I nearly forgot. She asked me to give you this." He handed you a
Floyd | small brown envelope.
Floyd |

Floyd | You didn't need to ask who he meant. There were thousands of women in
Floyd | the city, but only one she - in Jeremy's case because of their
Floyd | relationship; in yours - well, it was then that your notion about
Floyd | staying behind for her finally started to harden into resolve.
Floyd |
Floyd | gold brooch: It's a gold brooch, in the form of a scorpion. The design

Floyd | is quite distinctive, and you're sure she has a brooch like that.
Floyd | You've often wondered what kind of statement it's meant to make: not
Floyd | that she's poisonous, to be sure, but you suspect she'd not be averse
Floyd | to suggesting she's not to be messed with.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

		DavidW says, "oops" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No worries." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'd like to go back and lie to her a bit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm also vaguely curious about the nuclear death, but that'd take forever to generate." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wish I'd played this during the comp. I'd have scored it right on par with Violet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "There were just so many not great games this year and I got sick of wading through them all, so I never got to this one." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I say 'on par' with Violet only because I rated Violet a 10, and there is no 11. I still stand by my 10 on Violet, but this game is every bit as good, and probably better." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's got the sweeping, loving detail of Anchorhead." 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |  > Review your memories

Floyd |    Other things to try
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |  > Review your memories
Floyd |    Other things to try

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    Review your memories
Floyd |  > Other things to try

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    Review your memories
Floyd |  > Other things to try

		Jacqueline says, "Other things to try." 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Various places in the city trigger important memories. You didn't visit
Floyd | them all this time. Next time try visiting Carlton Terrace as well.
Floyd | You might want to take a closer look at the small grey box and the

Floyd | television. There are also several important objects you haven't found
Floyd | yet.
Floyd | How many tape cassettes did you find? There are five in all.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

		DavidW says, "Five cassettes. Huh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |    Review your memories
Floyd |  > Other things to try
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    Review your memories

Floyd |  > Other things to try

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some ADDITIONAL
Floyd | things to try, UNDO the last turn or QUIT?

		Jacqueline asks, "'Several' important objects?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just the other tapes? Or other things, too, I wonder." 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps other things." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That safe in the Vestry!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Grr." 	
			DavidW says, "Carlton Terrace is way SW corner of the map. I was confusing it with SE corner." 	
			DavidW says, "erm NE corner" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Yeah, should we have gone there, you think?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We could restore to, say, CF15 and check it out." 	
			DavidW says, "sure" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Then I want to play the end game just a touch differently and see if it changes much." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf15" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Morgans Bank
Floyd | The bank is deserted now, but it looks like someone was here not too
Floyd | long ago: the service counter is surrounded by broken glass. That
Floyd | presumably explains why the bank is unlocked and the lights left on;
Floyd | whoever has just robbed the bank didn't hang around to lock up and turn
Floyd | out the lights. The street exit is to the northeast.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally

Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea is gonna get back baby bad balls to you, love, cretin. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (West)

Floyd | At this point Mandlebury Road is a broad, well-lit street, bordering
Floyd | the shadowy entrance to Mandlebury Park just to the north, and a
Floyd | traditional fish and chip shop to the south. The street continues east
Floyd | towards the city centre and west over Mandlebury Bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sound of a clock striking three mingles with the roar of a jet

Floyd | aircraft flying overhead.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge

Floyd | It's strange - almost unnatural - to see this bridge so deserted.
Floyd | You're more used to seeing it jammed with slow-moving rush-hour
Floyd | traffic, or at least a steady flow. But now there's nothing here apart
Floyd | from the bare tarmac, the street lights (one of which now has a large
Floyd | placard attached to it), the stone parapet, and the river sliding
Floyd | silently past below.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Embankment
Floyd | The Embankment is the name given to this short stretch of road by

Floyd | Mandlebury Bridge, which spans the river to the east. To the west the
Floyd | Embankment is lined by a row of shops; to the north it becomes York
Floyd | Street, while to the south it runs into Sussex Street.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (north)
Floyd | A row of large Edwardian town houses lines the west side of the street,
Floyd | overlooking the river to the east. The houses are all in darkness, and
Floyd | the street deserted, making it all seem not quite real. Sussex Street
Floyd | continues north to the Embankment and south towards the junction with

Floyd | Gladstone Terrace.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Gladstone Terrace.

Floyd | This junction would be well-lit even without the moonlight. Sussex
Floyd | Street continues to north and south while Gladstone Terrace leads off
Floyd | to the west. Further north the street runs along the west bank of the
Floyd | river, but just here the river bends towards the southeast and parts
Floyd | company with the road.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sussex Street (south)
Floyd | Although so far as you know this part of the city never suffered any
Floyd | bomb damage, some group of town planners rapidly made up for the

Floyd | negligence of the Luftwaffe by tearing down whatever was here before
Floyd | and replacing it with a mass of soulless fifties architecture seemingly
Floyd | inspired by Soviet brutalism. The most striking eyesore is the City
Floyd | Hospital, which lies immediately to the east. Sussex Street continues
Floyd | to north and south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Carlton Terrace
Floyd | Sussex Street runs on to north and south, while Carlton Terrace leads
Floyd | off to the west.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Carlton Terrace
Floyd | Carlton Terrace runs east into Sussex Street and continues westwards
Floyd | under a railway bridge.

Floyd |
Floyd | You once considered renting your first flat in this street, but
Floyd | eventually decided against it. The flat would have been relatively
Floyd | cheap, but it there were good reasons for that, among them being (a)
Floyd | that Carlton Terrace is not in a nice area and (b) that the trains
Floyd | rattling over the bridge would probably have kept you awake all night.

Floyd | In the end you settled for a flat out in the northern suburbs.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | The bridge is but a vague outline in the moonlight, but the dark tunnel
Floyd | running under it looks profoundly uninviting.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | That way leads to Fordbury, a run-down quarter with a high crime rate.
Floyd | It has presumably been evacuated along with the rest of the city, so
Floyd | the risk of getting mugged is no doubt lower than usual, but it's most

Floyd | unlikely she went that way, and you feel sure you'd do better to
Floyd | concentrate your search nearer the city centre.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "hm. Not much here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "not really, no." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Sussex Street and Carlton Terrace
Floyd | Sussex Street runs on to north and south, while Carlton Terrace leads
Floyd | off to the west.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Blackbird Roundabout
Floyd | This is yet another of the large roundabouts on the ring road, all of

Floyd | which look more or less alike, especially by moonlight. This one has
Floyd | four exits: north into the city, south to the industrial estate, and
Floyd | east and west to the ring road.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You're hardly likely to find her by walking on round the ring road.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | That way leads to the main industrial estate. You very much doubt she'd
Floyd | have gone there.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ring Road West
Floyd | Normally there'd be a lot of cars racing or queuing along this expanse

Floyd | of tarmac, depending on the time of day. Right now, however, there is
Floyd | not a single one in sight; just about every vehicle in the city has
Floyd | been used for the evacuation, and no one in their right mind would come
Floyd | here with the Enemy about to arrive. Walking along the tarmac by
Floyd | moonlight feels distinctly strange.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "The tunnel is a no go, right?" 	
			DavidW says, "correct" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Oak Tree Roundabout

Floyd | This large roundabout is normally busy and frequently congested; seeing
Floyd | it without a car in sight seems distinctly strange. There are four
Floyd | exits from the roundabout: to east and west is the ring road; to the
Floyd | north the road over Preston Bridge into the city centre, and to the
Floyd | south the dual carriageway heading out into the country.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sorry, maga'd asked me something and I was playing some quick reading catch-up." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | Oak Tree Roundabout
Floyd | This large roundabout is normally busy and frequently congested; seeing
Floyd | it without a car in sight seems distinctly strange. There are four

Floyd | exits from the roundabout: to east and west is the ring road; to the
Floyd | north the road over Preston Bridge into the city centre, and to the
Floyd | south the dual carriageway heading out into the country.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Any more curiosities on the map, or can we change our end game a bit?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "See if, when we deny any fiddling with the bomb, she doesn't kill herself. I'm thinking she still will, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "She's a failure either way, regardless of our involvement." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we've seen every location at one point except Tilbury Rd." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Enh, head there." 	
			DavidW says, "And I imagine Tilbury Rd is as exciting as Tepid Terrace." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Still." 	
			DavidW says, "you drive then." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just a sec... finding Tilbury Rd..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, got it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Preston Bridge

Floyd | This bridge is normally something of a bottleneck at rush hour, but now
Floyd | it's just as deserted as everywhere else in the city. It's a bit too
Floyd | narrow for the volume of traffic it normally has to take, but its old
Floyd | stone parapets overlooking the river make it too historic to widen.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of High Street and Market Street
Floyd | The lighting is a bit better here, since it's a junction of two
Floyd | normally busy roads: the High Street continues to north and south,
Floyd | while Market Street heads off to the east.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (Outside Hairdressers and Pub)
Floyd | Amongst the various buildings lining the street here you particularly

Floyd | notice two: the glass-fronted Ladies' Hairdresser to the east and the
Floyd | mock-Tudor olde worlde pub - the Kings Arms - which stands directly
Floyd | opposite it to the west. The High Street continues to both north and
Floyd | south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Street (South)
Floyd | The High Street runs north to the City Centre and continues to the
Floyd | south. A narrow alley runs off to the east, opposite a newsagent to the
Floyd | west.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre
Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally

Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,
Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street

Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east
Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Church Street
Floyd | Church Street runs up the hill to the northeast and down to the
Floyd | southwest past rows of prickly bushes, while directly to the north a
Floyd | lych-gate leads through to St Michael's church yard.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Church Street Bus Stop
Floyd | The bus stop stands at the junction of Church Street, which runs
Floyd | northeast and southwest from here, and School Lane, which leads off to
Floyd | the south.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction of Devon Road and Church Street
Floyd | This three-way road junction is well lit. Devon Road leads off to the

Floyd | north, Tilbury Road to the east, and Church Street to the southwest.
Floyd | Immediately to the south of the junction stands the High School you
Floyd | attended as a teenager.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tilbury Road
Floyd | Tilbury Road runs eastwards out of the city through the Tilbury Park
Floyd | Council Estate. It's obvious that it's leaving the city centre from the
Floyd | way the street lighting becomes less frequent. The junction with Church
Floyd | Street and Devon Road lies back to the west.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Why is it here?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x estate" 		
	

Floyd | It's too far out to be worth looking for her; it would take you weeks
Floyd | to search all the suburbs and housing estates and you haven't even got

Floyd | all night.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Because it's another evac route." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, I guess." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just scenery. Not a bad thing, in my book." 	
			DavidW says, "It's a way of making the edge of the map seem a little less artificial." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Mind if I replay the ending?" 	
			DavidW says, "not at all." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf18" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x her" 		
	

Floyd | She is tall, slender, and to your eyes, utterly beautiful, but the

Floyd | moonlight makes her look a little ghostlike, exaggerating both the
Floyd | palor of her skin and the darkness of her hair. She's carrying a small
Floyd | grey box.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her no" 		
	

Floyd | "No, I'm afraid not," you lie, "There really wasn't much hope of
Floyd | finding it in any of those places in the dark, was there?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, I suppose not," she sighs. "Damn! You may as well have this then,"

Floyd | she says, handing you the small grey box, "It's our only hope of
Floyd | defeating the Enemy, but it's no good without the key. So what are we
Floyd | going to do now? Do you have a plan for dealing with the Enemy?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask her about enemy" 		
	

Floyd | "What do you know about the Enemy? Who are they?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I wonder if you'd understand if I told you," she replies, "but you
Floyd | haven't answered my question.  What are we to do now? Do you have a
Floyd | plan for dealing with the Enemy?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her no" 		
	

Floyd | "No -- let's get out of here before the Enemy arrive," you suggest.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's much too late for that," she tells you, "The Enemy has been here
Floyd | all along. Wait a minute though..." she feels in her pockets and then

Floyd | gives a triumphant smile, "Ah, thank goodness for that! I think I've
Floyd | found the spare!" She grabs your palm as if pressing something into it,
Floyd | but when you look you just see the one flat metal key there. Meanwhile
Floyd | she watches you with a twisted smile, as if challenging you to
Floyd | acknoweldge that she saw through your lie.
Floyd |

Floyd | "We can defeat the Enemy after all," she tells you, "all you need to do
Floyd | is to put the key in the hole, give it a turn, and push the red button.
Floyd | Will you do that for me, David?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her no" 		
	

Floyd | "No, I won't do it," you reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | "No matter," she shrugs, "It's a missed opportunity, but I can just as
Floyd | easily do it myself."
Floyd | She takes the flat metal key, inserts it in the small grey box, and
Floyd | gives it a twist.

Floyd | She pushes the button, but nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, something obvious happens. She laughs out loud and punches the
Floyd | air in triumph, shouting, "Yes!" Beaming at you fondly she continues,
Floyd | "Dear David, I always knew you were my truest friend, the one person I
Floyd | could always rely on.  That's why I had to share this with you. Would

Floyd | you like to kiss me? Yes, I can see in your eyes you would. Go on -
Floyd | kiss me - I know you've always been dying to, and now you're about to
Floyd | die with me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | She smiles at your mild bemusement, then goes on, "I'm afraid someone
Floyd | tipped them all off -- I suppose it must have been Danny, he was the

Floyd | only one who knew enough -- so they all got away, and I really wanted
Floyd | to take them all with me. Still, David, you stayed behind for me, and
Floyd | that's good because you're the only one who never rejected me, so you
Floyd | mustn't reject me now -- me or my nightfall."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Emma, what are you talking about?" you ask sadly.

Floyd |
Floyd | "We're about to reach Nightfall: final, ultimate, wonderful nightfall!
Floyd | This whole city is about to become a pile of radioactive ash!" she
Floyd | declares brightly, as if this were the best possible thing imaginable,
Floyd | "I have just detonated my bomb! At last I've achieved something that no

Floyd | one can ignore! This place never did value me properly, I've suffered
Floyd | far too many rejections! You do understand, don't you? I tried - I
Floyd | really tried - I always did my best, but other people kept stealing the
Floyd | prizes. That's why I had to kill Kate, of course - and why I have to
Floyd | destroy this city! Don't look so upset, David -- death is the most
Floyd | loving gift I have to give, and you of all people deserve my best! Just

Floyd | think what I'm sharing with you! I know you've always fancied me, and
Floyd | now I know I love you madly, so go on, take me: hug me, kiss me, make
Floyd | mad passionate love to me; I'm yours till death us do part!"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask her about nightfall" 		
	

Floyd | "What's the connection between your painting and Stanilev's book?" you
Floyd | ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Beyond the name, you mean?" she replies, "I should have thought that
Floyd | was obvious: I was trying to express in paint what Stanilev said in
Floyd | words. Now, how about answering my question: Will you kiss me while you

Floyd | can?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Death, destruction, decay, these three things abide," she says, "but
Floyd | the greatest of these... Hang on. It's late!" She frowns momentarily,
Floyd | then relaxes into a smile, "I should not be so impatient - any moment
Floyd | now! Just give me one last kiss while you still can!"

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her no" 		
	

Floyd | She appears not to hear you, or else chooses to ignore your negation.
Floyd | "Something has definitely gone wrong," Emma frowns, "We should both be
Floyd | dead by now, and this city should be a radioactive crater. David, have

Floyd | you done something?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her no" 		
	

Floyd | "I don't know what you're talking about, Emma," you lie, knowing the
Floyd | lie to be justified now, "All this stuff about bombs and nightfall -

Floyd | whatever do you mean?"
Floyd |
Floyd | She looks momentarily puzzled, "We should be dead," she replies.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't see why!" you reply, "It's so much better to be alive! And
Floyd | somehow I don't think the Enemy will be troubling us any more."

Floyd |
Floyd | "You don't?" she asks suspiciously.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We've defeated them, Emma," you tell her.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We have?" she asks.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I see no Enemy here, Emma," you tell her, "Do you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | In reply, she merely stares at you, finally at a loss for words, so you
Floyd | decide to press your advantage.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I don't know what's been going on here tonight, Emma," you say, "but I
Floyd | do know that life is worth living, especially now I find myself alone
Floyd | in this city with the most beautiful and talented woman I shall ever
Floyd | set eyes on. And you know what? The Enemy that's been stalking me all
Floyd | my life is the fear of rejection, and that Enemy has just been routed.
Floyd | So - I'm going to walk you home now and I'm not taking no for an

Floyd | answer."
Floyd |
Floyd | For a moment she continues to stare at you, then finally nods. "Very
Floyd | well," she agrees, "Let's try it your way."
Floyd |
Floyd | She makes no protest at all as you take her hand and start walking back

Floyd | to her flat. That way you can keep her under your control while you
Floyd | plan the final reckoning.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some ADDITIONAL
Floyd | things to try, UNDO the last turn or QUIT?

		DavidW says, "ooh. You saved her!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh. I did." 	
			DavidW says, "Excellent." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't think it would pan out that way." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Later, of course, I turn her over to the authorities." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But she can't jump in the river if she's in prison." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I'll visit her every year on her birthday." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Happy ending!" 	
			Jacqueline laughs. 	
			Emily says, "ha ha / aw" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, anything else you're curious about? I'm curious about blowing us up, but..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, hell, why not? I'll take the time to blow us up." 	
			DavidW says, "I wish I understood the matchbook more." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let me go figure out the save before we cut the wire." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "Oh yeah, good point." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Emily), "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf13" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | A red wire, an orange wire, a yellow wire, a green wire, a blue wire, a
Floyd | purple wire and a black wire are all attached to various parts of the

Floyd | cylinder.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x small piece of paper" 		Jacqueline says, "I'd like to see the code that it's griding through when we unfold this paper." 	
			Jacqueline says, "grinding, even" 	
			DavidW says, "[insert muzak]" 	
	

Floyd | The handwriting is as small as the piece of paper it's written on, but
Floyd | you still recognise it as hers. It reads, "Sorry, couldn't wait - just
Floyd | discovered I've lost something I must recover: a small, grey, flat
Floyd | metal key. I may have dropped it when I went for a run (in the usual

Floyd | place) or when I went to the knowledge factory. We must make sure they
Floyd | don't get it. It would be a big help if you could search those two
Floyd | places while I look elsewhere. See you later."
Floyd |
Floyd | Just below that you see a crease that you missed before - you must have
Floyd | been in too much of a hurry, or maybe the light was too bad. Anyway,

Floyd | you unfold the crease and see that she has written:
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'll meet you where we first met at twenty past two. Don't be late!"
Floyd |

		Emily says, "you don't appreciate the physics simulation required to translate all the molecules of the paper sheet" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way. The only obvious exit is outside (to Car Park).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "outside" 		
	

Floyd | You turn off the torch to save its battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Car Park
Floyd | It's normally near impossible to find a parking space in this town
Floyd | centre car park at any time between 8 am and midnight, but now there's
Floyd | scarcely a vehicle in sight. The main car park exit into Mandlebury

Floyd | Street is to the north, but there's also a narrow alley leading west to
Floyd | the High Street.
Floyd |
Floyd | The only vehicle parked here is a large lorry.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way. The obvious exits are north (to Mandlebury Road
Floyd | (East)), west (to High Street (South)) and inside (to Lorry Interior).
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, I had the wrong park." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (East)
Floyd | A large car park lies immediately to the south, while Church Street
Floyd | forks off to the northeast. Mandlebury Road continues to both east

Floyd | (past the Police Station) and west (back to the City Centre).
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mandlebury Road (outside Police Station)

Floyd | Mandlebury Road continues to east and west, while the main city police
Floyd | station stands just to the south, and Church Road runs off to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Crossroads
Floyd | Well lit by the street lighting, this crossroads is formed by the
Floyd | intersection of Mandlebury Road running from east to west, School Lane
Floyd | running north, and Cornwallis Avenue running to the south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the
Floyd | junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly

Floyd | residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its
Floyd | playground is just to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a footfall slowly approaching down the street, and turn to see
Floyd | a figure walking towards you. As the figure passes under a street
Floyd | light, you see it's a slender young woman with long dark hair. You feel

Floyd | sure it must be her even before you can see her properly. You start
Floyd | walking towards her, eager yet apprehensive at finally meeting her. She
Floyd | walks on a few paces, then stops in a dark place between lamp posts,
Floyd | waiting for you to reach her.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is her; of course it is her. Even from a few yards away in the

Floyd | moonlight you're quite sure, and once you stop a couple of feet away no
Floyd | possible doubt remains: it's Emma.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello David," she says, "I'm glad you made it. I hope you had better
Floyd | luck than I did; did you find the key?"
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I'll have to play this again in ransack mode." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "heh... what, precisely, is that?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes, miraculously enough, I did!" you reply triumphantly, handing her
Floyd | the key.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank heavens for that!" she replies, taking the key. She holds it up
Floyd | in the bright moonlight, then nods, "Yes, this looks like the one," she
Floyd | tells you. With a rapid motion she inserts the key into the small metal
Floyd | box she's holding and gives it a quick twist, "Oh yes," she declares,
Floyd | "That's definitely the one. Thank you!" Smiling her most alluring smile

Floyd | she adds, "Tell me David, do you trust me?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "tell her yes" 		DavidW says, "Grab everything that isn't nailed down." 	
	

Floyd | (Emma that)

Floyd | "Yes, of course I trust you!" you declare.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Then help me defeat the Enemy once and for all, just push this
Floyd | button," she requests, holding out the small box to you, "Will you do
Floyd | that for me?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline nods. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | (the big red button)
Floyd | You push the button, but nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | Well, something obvious happens. She laughs out loud and punches the
Floyd | air in triumph, shouting, "Yes!" Beaming at you fondly she continues,
Floyd | "Dear David, I always knew you were my truest friend, the one person I
Floyd | could always rely on.  That's why I had to share this with you. Would
Floyd | you like to kiss me? Yes, I can see in your eyes you would. Go on -
Floyd | kiss me - I know you've always been dying to, and now you're about to

Floyd | die with me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | She smiles at your utter bafflement, then goes on, "I'm afraid someone
Floyd | tipped them all off -- I suppose it must have been Danny, he was the
Floyd | only one who knew enough -- so they all got away, and I really wanted
Floyd | to take them all with me. Still, David, you stayed behind for me, and

Floyd | that's good because you're the only one who never rejected me, so you
Floyd | mustn't reject me now -- me or my nightfall."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Emma, what are you talking about?" you ask, aghast.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We're about to reach Nightfall: final, ultimate, wonderful nightfall!

Floyd | This whole city is about to become a pile of radioactive ash!" she
Floyd | declares brightly, as if this were the best possible thing imaginable,
Floyd | "You have just detonated my bomb, bless you! So, you deserve to share
Floyd | in my triumph! At last I've achieved something that no one can ignore!
Floyd | This place never did value me properly, I've suffered far too many
Floyd | rejections! You do understand, don't you? I tried - I really tried - I

Floyd | always did my best, but other people kept stealing the prizes. That's
Floyd | why I had to kill Kate, of course - and why I have to destroy this
Floyd | city! Don't look so upset, David -- death is the most loving gift I
Floyd | have to give, and you of all people deserve my best! Just think what
Floyd | I'm sharing with you! I know you've always fancied me, and now I know I
Floyd | love you madly, so go on, take me: hug me, kiss me, make mad passionate

Floyd | love to me; I'm yours till death us do part!"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "make love to emma" 		
	

Floyd | You kiss her on the lips and find yourself taken slightly aback at the
Floyd | enthusiasm of her response.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Death, destruction, decay, these three things abide," she says, "but
Floyd | the greatest of these..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Then suddenly there's an ear-splitting roar that shatters your eardrums
Floyd | so you hear no more, a blinding flash that melts your eyeballs so you

Floyd | see no more, and a searing moment of intense pain as your skin blisters
Floyd | in intense heat and your body is buffeted by wind and debris. Then, at
Floyd | last, comes merciful oblivion.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some ADDITIONAL

Floyd | things to try, UNDO the last turn or QUIT?

		Jacqueline says, "That was quite a kiss." 	
			DavidW says, "I wonder how she got a bomb in the first place. Or the money to pay for it." 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps if some of our inventory was shown to Emma, we'd learn a few more tidbits." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go for it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing she's got good Russian connections." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf18" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show matchbook to emma" 		
	

Floyd | "What do you make of that, Emma?" you ask, showing her the matchbook.
Floyd |
Floyd | She looks at it for a couple of moments, then remarky dryly, "Very
Floyd | ingenious, I'm sure! But I asked you something: Have you found the

Floyd | key?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about mastema" 		
	

Floyd | "What's all this stuff about Mastema -- the signature on the poster in
Floyd | your living room?" you ask.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh that," she laughs, "Once I realized that A.D. Stanilev was an
Floyd | anagram of SATAN DEVIL I thought I'd make a similar anagram out of my
Floyd | own name, as a kind of homage to the great man. But I asked you
Floyd | something: Did you manage to find the key?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "You wouldn't probably need any money to pull this sort of thing off (though there is the chocolate box to think of). If you could promise this sort of delivery in London, there are people who have the means who'd be willing to give you a bomb, I suspect. The trick is just not getting caught. But she's uber smart, as we've seen." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about degree" 		
	

Floyd | "You got a very good degree, Emma," you remark, "Wasn't it good enough
Floyd | for you?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "It wasn't good enough, was it?" she snaps back, "Kate's was better, as
Floyd | you know. Now, how about answering my question: Have you found the
Floyd | key?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show cap to emma" 		
	

Floyd | She barely glances at the khaki peaked cap.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about map" 		
	

Floyd | She brushes your question aside: "No, David, I asked if you'd found the
Floyd | key - have you?" she asks.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about box of chocolates" 		
	

Floyd | She brushes your question aside: "No, David, I asked if you'd found the

Floyd | key - have you?" she asks.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show box to emma" 		
	

Floyd | (the chocolate box to Emma)
Floyd | Emma takes the box of chocolates off you and looks inside. "How kind,"

Floyd | she remarks, "Of course it would have been even kinder if the box
Floyd | hadn't been empty. It would be kinder still if you'd just answer my
Floyd | question: Did you manage to find the key?"
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee." 	
			Jacqueline says, "She's a touch upset, I guess." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Women." 	
			DavidW says, "Clever segue." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about brooch" 		
	

Floyd | "Here, you might want this back," you say, handing her the gold brooch.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank you, how -- quaint," she replies with a lopsided smile, "I'll
Floyd | treasure it all my life!" So saying, she pins it to her dress. "Now, do

Floyd | me another favour; try answering my question: Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I'm waiting for her to just strangle us and search our body for the key." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about nick" 		
	

Floyd | She brushes your question aside: "No, David, I asked if you'd found the

Floyd | key - have you?" she asks.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about bomb" 		
	

Floyd | You think it wiser not to raise that subject till you've heard what she
Floyd | has to say.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about spasiba" 		
	

Floyd | She brushes your question aside: "No, David, I asked if you'd found the
Floyd | key - have you?" she asks.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a small screwdriver, a steak knife, a heavy mallet, a
Floyd | prominent notice, a metal detector, a portable cassette player
Floyd | (closed), inside which is a black cassette, a khaki peaked cap, a long
Floyd | rod, a torch, a sharp kitchen knife, a bar mat, a matchbook, a small

Floyd | brown envelope (open but empty), seventeen documents (a civil defence
Floyd | manual, a large blue diary, a small scrap of yellow paper, an
Floyd | evacuation order, a large Russian dictionary, a black book, a
Floyd | photograph, a letter, a small piece of paper, a concert programme, a
Floyd | menu, a birthday card, a crumpled piece of paper, a business card, a
Floyd | printed email, some miscellaneous papers and an old newspaper), five

Floyd | keys (a large iron key, a small flat metal key, a large car key, a
Floyd | small brass key and an office key) and two cassettes (a blue cassette
Floyd | and a grey tape cassette).
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "The manual?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show manual to emma" 		
	

Floyd | She barely glances at the civil defence manual.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show birthday card to emma" 		
	

Floyd | "It's a bit late for my birthday," she remarks, after giving the card a
Floyd | quick glance, "Besides, I have something much more important to
Floyd | celebrate now. But first, please answer my question: Did you manage to

Floyd | find the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "show yellow paper to emma" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small scrap of yellow paper or the evacuation
Floyd | order?

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "small scrap" 		
	

Floyd | She barely glances at the small scrap of yellow paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about evacuation" 		
	

Floyd | She brushes your question aside: "No, David, I asked if you'd found the
Floyd | key - have you?" she asks.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask her about danny" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma about that)
Floyd | "Did you kill Daniel Saunders?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes," she replies, "He betrayed me -- he went to the authorities with

Floyd | what he knew, so nearly everyone got out in time. He deserved to die
Floyd | for that. Now tell me: Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask her about jeremy" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about danny" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma about that)
Floyd | "What exactly happened between you and Jeremy?" you inquire.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We went out for a bit, then he called it off," she shrugs, "he turned
Floyd | out to be yet another one of the people round here who rejected me. But
Floyd | never mind that; I asked you something: Did you manage to find the

Floyd | key?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Don't you have any compunction about killing Saunders?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Why should I?" she replies, "I planned far more deaths than that. Now
Floyd | tell me: Have you found the key?"

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emma about danny" 		
	

Floyd | "About Daniel Saunders," you begin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Never mind Danny," she interrupts you, "He really doesn't matter now.

Floyd | Now tell me: Did you manage to find the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask her about kate" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma about that)
Floyd | "What really happened to Kate?" you ask.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Kate?" she replies, a little too shortly, "Oh - Kate. She stole too
Floyd | many things that should have been mine, so - she drowned. She had to.
Floyd | Now, how about answering my question:  Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma about that)
Floyd | "What do you mean, Kate stole too many things that should have been
Floyd | yours?" you demand.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Never mind Kate," she replies, "What I want to know is this: Did you

Floyd | manage to find the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma about that)
Floyd | "Did you kill Kate?" you ask.

Floyd |
Floyd | "What do you think?" she shoots back, "But never mind that, just answer
Floyd | the question I asked you: Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma about that)
Floyd | "Did you kill Kate?" you ask.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What do you think?" she shoots back, "But never mind that, just answer
Floyd | the question I asked you: Did you manage to find the key?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the
Floyd | junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly
Floyd | residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its

Floyd | playground is just to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | She stands staring at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Emma blocks your path, saying "Oh no, David, you're not slipping away
Floyd | now I've finally caught up with you!"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks (of David), "Is it weird to you that your name is the name of the protagonist?" 	
			DavidW says, "a bit" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That always throws me off when it happens a bit, though my name's not as popular as yours is." 	
			DavidW says, "There's been other games with David PCs." 	
			crumple says, "especially because the PC's name was Jeremy when I played it." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of crumple), "Oh, yeah?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "It changes?" 	
			DavidW says, "I bet there's no way to throw away the key." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Test your theory." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | You're embarrassed to; her singing voice is so much better than yours.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "It's sort of fun seeing all the ways Eric's covered his bases." 	
			DavidW says, "I mean, before getting to this point." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I realize." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw flat key" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I asked you a question," she reminds you. "Have you found the key?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "You'll have to restore to test your theory." 	
			crumple says (to jacqueline), "sorry, kidding." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "say no" 		
	

Floyd | "No, I'm afraid not," you lie, "There really wasn't much hope of
Floyd | finding it in any of those places in the dark, was there?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "No, I suppose not," she sighs. "Damn! You may as well have this then,"
Floyd | she says, handing you the small grey box, "It's our only hope of
Floyd | defeating the Enemy, but it's no good without the key. So what are we
Floyd | going to do now? Do you have a plan for dealing with the Enemy?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes -- let's get out of here before the Enemy arrive," you suggest.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's much too late for that," she tells you, "The Enemy has been here
Floyd | all along. Wait a minute though..." she feels in her pockets and then

Floyd | gives a triumphant smile, "Ah, thank goodness for that! I think I've
Floyd | found the spare!" She grabs your palm and presses something into it.
Floyd | When you look you see a flat metal key there.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We can defeat the Enemy after all," she tells you, "all you need to do
Floyd | is to put the key in the hole, give it a turn, and push the red button.

Floyd | Will you do that for me, David?"
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "ah. The spare key gambit was made tangible instead." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So she has the spare no matter what." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop flat key" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that
Floyd | button for me or aren't you?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "You don't even have to find the key if you don't want to." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the
Floyd | junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly

Floyd | residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its
Floyd | playground is just to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | She stands staring at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a small flat metal key here.

Floyd |
Floyd | "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that
Floyd | button for me or aren't you?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grey box" 		
	

Floyd | It's rectangular in shape, with a big red button and a small keyhole.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that
Floyd | button for me or aren't you?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take grey box" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop it" 		
	

Floyd | Emma looks mildly vexed, but picks up the box and hands it back to you.
Floyd | "Careful!" she admonishes you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw it" 		
	

Floyd | Emma looks vaguely annoyed, but picks up the box and hands it back to

Floyd | you. "Clumsy!" she admonishes you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat it" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | You smash the box against the ground, bursting open its case. She
Floyd | watches bemused as you rip out its wires, and then stamp the remains of
Floyd | the thing underfoot.

Floyd |
Floyd | "No! No!" she cries, "What have you done? You've ruined everything! You
Floyd | - you of all people - you have betrayed me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | With a demented shriek, she runs off into the night, leaving you
Floyd | momentarily dazed and alone, until you collect yourself and hurry off

Floyd | after her.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

		DavidW says, "oh. This is new." 	
			Jacqueline says, "OOH" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well done." 	
			Jacqueline applauds. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Press the space!" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm scared." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee" 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | City Centre

Floyd | The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally
Floyd | reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street
Floyd | runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the
Floyd | ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station
Floyd | and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are
Floyd | closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit,

Floyd | and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The night is just turning to dawn and you hear the sound of distant
Floyd | birdsong. Soon the city will be bustling with life once more; the bomb
Floyd | disposal people are already at work and it should be safe for people to
Floyd | start returning this afternoon. You have saved the city.
Floyd |
Floyd | You couldn't save her. You caught up with her just in time to see her

Floyd | throw herself into the river. You tried looking for her; you jumped in
Floyd | where you thought you'd seen her go under, and swam around for as long
Floyd | as you could, but you never found her, so eventually you gave up.
Floyd |
Floyd | Perhaps it's better that way, for now at last she is at peace.
Floyd |

Floyd | And you? You feel quite strange, as if you'd suddenly woken up on an
Floyd | alien world that was both like and unlike home. Your idol has been
Floyd | shattered: she was not what you thought; for all her brilliance and
Floyd | beauty, she was not worthy of the pedestal you put her on. But then,
Floyd | perhaps no human being should be worshipped. In any case, now she's
Floyd | gone you can at last move on. It's time to start living your life

Floyd | without her. You look around you and decide that from now on your life
Floyd | is probably best lived elsewhere - this city holds too many memories
Floyd | for you. But before you go you know there is one last task you must
Floyd | perform.
Floyd |
Floyd | You must put some fresh flowers on Kate's grave.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some ADDITIONAL
Floyd | things to try, UNDO the last turn or QUIT?

		Jacqueline says, "That's a pretty good ending." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well found." 	
			DavidW says, "thanks" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm happy with our exploration of the end game now, methinks." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Anything else you want to do, or should I get on with posting all these old transcripts as a batch?" 	
			DavidW says, "Breaking the grey box means that we didn't /have/ to disarm the bomb." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Lots of alternatives." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which is good." 	
			DavidW says, "I think I'm done for now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks for sticking it out, David. I'm glad we kept pecking away at it." 	
			DavidW says, "I need more coffee and sugary food." 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
			DavidW says, "yeah. I'm glad we got back to it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Enjoy your coffee and snacks. I'll get on posting all these transcripts I've got on my drive." 	
			crumple says, "i'm looking forward to reading the transcript." 	
			Jacqueline says, "They're mostly processed, save for this one, and then I have to add the intro text to each one. I'll go ahead and work on this one first, since it's a long one, if you're interested." 	
			crumple says, "yes, i'm interested. it looked interesting, but i was only able to half pay attention as you played." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay, I'll get that one up and give you a link even if I'm still working on the others." 	
			inky asks, "wait, you're not still playing, are you?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's the intro text on each page that takes time." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Nah, just finished." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Very fun." 	
			inky says, "crazy" 	
			crumple says, "thanks. i appreciate it. (although of course there's no rush.)" 	
			inky asks, "so how long did you spend on this game?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to crumple), "Enh, I really need to get caught up on transcripts." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Hard to say... seven hours?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Eight?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "David might have a better idea." 	
			DavidW says, "I was gonna guess 9, but I think 8 is closer." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I could tell you if the transcript were all in one mud window, but with the breaks I no longer have all the time stamps." 	
			DavidW says, "I wonder where the other 2 cassettes are." 	
			inky asks, "did you get the recorder open?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			DavidW says, "We went back for the screwdriver." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Had to go back to the depot for a screwdriver." 	
			inky says, "hunh, I wonder what I did then" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking the knife alternate solution would have been nice." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or that we should have slipped with the knife, slit our wrists and died, which would have been funny. But that probably would have pissed players off." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "We could also have tried to attack Emma, but we didn't, I noticed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Want to?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That might be interesting." 	
			DavidW says, "It's still not nice to hit girls, even if they have atomic bombs." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go for it. I'll make an addendum to the transcript." 	
			DavidW says, "no, I'll get in trouble with the niceness police." 	
			Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Please?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "PLEASE hit the girl?" 	
			DavidW says, "If you must know, I hit a girl back in junior school. I forget the circumstances, but I think she hit me first." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Really?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I always thought you were a lover, not a fighter." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't even remember who it was at this point." 	
			crumple says, "whoa. davidw hits girls." 	
			DavidW says (to crumple), "You have to remember, this was back before society." 	
			Jacqueline says (to crumple), "David's, y'know, old." 	
			Jacqueline smiles at David. 	
			DavidW says, "In later years, I learned that helping girls is also bad. It makes you a patsy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I've never looked down on it when you help me!" 	
			DavidW says, "And letting girls help you? Also wrong. Makes you look like a weakling." 	
			crumple says, "true, but nobody hits girls on the flintstones, even though it was based on the honeymooners." 	
			DavidW says, "I got a lot of mixed messages growing up, I tell ya." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So are you going to hit her or not?" 	
			DavidW says, "I will not. Not in front of witnesses." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Fine. I'll hit her." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | School Lane

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | School Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x her" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma)
Floyd | She is tall, slender, and to your eyes, utterly beautiful, but the
Floyd | moonlight makes her look a little ghostlike, exaggerating both the

Floyd | palor of her skin and the darkness of her hair. She's carrying a
Floyd | chocolate box.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that
Floyd | button for me or aren't you?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill emma" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to harm her yet.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "YES I DO, THOUGH" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stab emma with knife" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the steak knife or the sharp kitchen knife?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			DavidW says, "I thought you meant to hit, not kill." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sharp kitchen knife" 		
	

Floyd | You're not feeling quite that murderous yet.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Nah, I want to kill her." 	
	inky arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Okay, fine, I'll just hit her." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit emma" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to harm her yet.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press button" 		
	

Floyd | (the big red button)
Floyd | You push the button, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It won't work without the key. Put the key in the keyhole and turn
Floyd | it," Emma tells you.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put key in box" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small flat metal key, the large iron key, the
Floyd | large car key, the small brass key or the office key?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "flat key" 		
	

Floyd | (the small grey box)
Floyd | (first taking the small flat metal key)
Floyd | "Good!" Emma declares, as you fit the key into its hole, "Now just turn
Floyd | it and push the button!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that
Floyd | button for me or aren't you?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "turn key" 		
	

Floyd | (the small flat metal key)

Floyd | You turn the key through 180 degrees.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good!" she declares, "Now press the button. Will you do that?"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press button" 		
	

Floyd | (the big red button)
Floyd | You push the button, but nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, something obvious happens. She laughs out loud and punches the
Floyd | air in triumph, shouting, "Yes!" Beaming at you fondly she continues,
Floyd | "Dear David, I always knew you were my truest friend, the one person I

Floyd | could always rely on.  That's why I had to share this with you. Would
Floyd | you like to kiss me? Yes, I can see in your eyes you would. Go on -
Floyd | kiss me - I know you've always been dying to, and now you're about to
Floyd | die with me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | She smiles at your mild bemusement, then goes on, "I'm afraid someone

Floyd | tipped them all off -- I suppose it must have been Danny, he was the
Floyd | only one who knew enough -- so they all got away, and I really wanted
Floyd | to take them all with me. Still, David, you stayed behind for me, and
Floyd | that's good because you're the only one who never rejected me, so you
Floyd | mustn't reject me now -- me or my nightfall."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Emma, what are you talking about?" you ask sadly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We're about to reach Nightfall: final, ultimate, wonderful nightfall!
Floyd | This whole city is about to become a pile of radioactive ash!" she
Floyd | declares brightly, as if this were the best possible thing imaginable,
Floyd | "You have just detonated my bomb, bless you! So, you deserve to share

Floyd | in my triumph! At last I've achieved something that no one can ignore!
Floyd | This place never did value me properly, I've suffered far too many
Floyd | rejections! You do understand, don't you? I tried - I really tried - I
Floyd | always did my best, but other people kept stealing the prizes. That's
Floyd | why I had to kill Kate, of course - and why I have to destroy this
Floyd | city! Don't look so upset, David -- death is the most loving gift I

Floyd | have to give, and you of all people deserve my best! Just think what
Floyd | I'm sharing with you! I know you've always fancied me, and now I know I
Floyd | love you madly, so go on, take me: hug me, kiss me, make mad passionate
Floyd | love to me; I'm yours till death us do part!"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill her" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma)
Floyd | In sudden fury, you lash out at her with your fists. She's momentarily
Floyd | taken off guard, so you land one punch on her jaw, but then she dodges
Floyd | out of your range, saying, "Really, David, that's no way for a

Floyd | gentleman to behave!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Death, destruction, decay, these three things abide," she says, "but
Floyd | the greatest of these... Hang on. It's late!" She frowns momentarily,
Floyd | then relaxes into a smile, "I should not be so impatient - any moment
Floyd | now! Just give me one last kiss while you still can!"

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stab her with kitchen knife" 		
	

Floyd | (Emma with the sharp kitchen knife)
Floyd | In sudden fury, you stab Emma through the heart, crying "You murderous
Floyd | bitch!"

Floyd |
Floyd | She stares at you in astonishment, then sinks slowly to the ground.
Floyd | You turn and walk away, leaving her to die alone. Whether you'll
Floyd | confess to killing her is something you can leave to tomorrow -- you
Floyd | suspect no one will blame you if you tell the story in the right way.
Floyd | Right now you just want to walk and walk, and ponder the salvation of a

Floyd | city and the death of a dream.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some ADDITIONAL
Floyd | things to try, UNDO the last turn or QUIT?

		DavidW says, "my my" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You murderous bitch? I didn't know we had it in us." 	
			Limax blinks 	
			DavidW says, "Neither did I." 	
			Limax asks, "Today is Saturday, isn't it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I probably shouldn't have cackled as I was reading that last bit of text." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "Believe it or not, we're finishing last week's game." 	
			Limax says, "Ah" 	
			Limax says, "Just making sure I didn't sleep in the hot tub for 24 hours" 	
			DavidW says, "I thought our last name was Milquetoast." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, I'm glad we explored that ending."	
	



[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]








ClubFloyd Transcript: Everybody Dies by Jim Munroe
As played on ifMUD on December 14, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Everybody Dies, written by Jim Munroe. Everybody Dies was originally released as part of the 2008 IF Competition, where it took third place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
			maga says, "I'm not entirely sure how a text-only Everybody Dies will work" 	
			Jota says, "I'm going to guess 'decently, but not as well as the proper version'." 	
			Jota asks, "I forget, does it rely on fonts/markup as well?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The author seems to think it'll go okay, though--what Jota said." 	
			maga says, "yeah, except that there'll be a few turns where you're just getting whitespace" 	
			maga says (to Jota), "I don't think so" 	
			DavidW says, "fwiw. I played an Adrift game that did font/markup tricks. 'A Witch Tale'." 	
			Fang asks, "When does the game start?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "Top of the hour." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, half an hour away." 	
	maga arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "I get a lot of errors playing everybody dies on cheapglulxe" 	
			inky says, "but I'm not sure if they'll show up on floyd or not" 	
	Jacqueline hollers, "Ten minutes until we play Everybody Dies! by Jim Munroe. Top of the hour in the Toyshop & Floyditorium!" 		
	DavidW arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	Nitku arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	inky arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Nitku says, "I haven't played this one." 	
			DavidW says, "oh good. It won't be just me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Me neither." 	
			Jacqueline has coffee and orange juice and breakfast as is ready to go. 	
	Whizzard arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "Hi, Whizz." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Two minutes..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Say, is this one on a timer or anything? Or can it be a free-for-all this week?" 	
	Lucea arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline asks (of maga), "You're watching, and you've played... what do you think?" 	
			maga says, "there's a timed section right at the end" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			maga says, "quite tight timing, too" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, we'll save often, then." 	
			Lucea says, "It isn't *too* bad" 	
			maga says, "but I *think* you can try it over again, so that may not be necessary" 	
			inky says, "yeah, you can" 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		Jacqueline says, "Also, it's time. Let's begin!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load everybodydies" 		Bert says, "Yeah, a free-for-all should be fine." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list e" 		Jacqueline says, "Huh. Floyd not responding." 	
			Jacqueline says, "He was ealier." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, earlier." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load everybodydies" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit? Please answer yes or no.> Please answer
Floyd | yes or no.> Please answer yes or no.> Welcome to the Cheap Glk
Floyd | Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Beats the fuck out of cleaning toilets.
Floyd |

Floyd | Shopping cart duty gets me outta the store for a while, which is cool
Floyd | even on a shit day like today. It's that gross, grey slush that gets me
Floyd | talking about just moving down to California this time every year --
Floyd | hey, they need groceries bagged down there too, don't they?
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom usually agrees with me, but this morning she said that the Mexicans

Floyd | got all those jobs down there. Way to piss on my dreams, Mom. But she's
Floyd | been bitchy ever since the fire in the basement. Whatev. These things
Floyd | happen.

		Bert says, "(You told him to quit before, but never confirmed it.)" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Bern), "Had I just not told him yes?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Bert asks, "Who hasn't played?" 	
			* ghira has left the channel. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Me" 	
			Nitku says, "me" 	
			DavidW says, "me" 	
			Bert says, "Cool." 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Everybody Dies
Floyd | An Interactive Fantasy by Jim Munroe, with illustrations by Michael
Floyd | Cho.

Floyd | Release 2 / Serial number 081116 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd | Type CREDITS for the full credits, HELP if you need it, and QUIT to
Floyd | exit the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bridge

Floyd | At least outside I can smoke. With all the cars puking exhaust behind
Floyd | me it's not like anyone can complain.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Rouge River's kind of awesome from the bridge, its strong and heavy
Floyd | current making it look like a sea snake. Brutal. I like how then when
Floyd | I'm looking at it I can't see Cost Cutters, even though it's directly

Floyd | west. Means I can forget about work for a while.
Floyd |
Floyd | East of here is the neighbourhood where most of our customers come
Floyd | from.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | What was that?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | What was that?

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | I'm Graham, your standard variety skid, rocker, or metalhead depending
Floyd | on which suburb you grew up in.
Floyd |

Floyd | The river's really raging today. The water level's so high I can barely
Floyd | see the shopping cart. Actually, is it even there? Did the Indian kid
Floyd | get that one too?
Floyd |
Floyd | Oh, wait, there it is. Thank fuck. Lisa'll have me cleaning toilets all
Floyd | month if I come back empty handed.

Floyd |
Floyd | I finish my smoke and flick the butt over the edge. I imagine it
Floyd | hitting the river below with a gnarly pssssshhhht.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | I am carrying:
Floyd |   a pair of jeans (being worn)
Floyd |   a sweatshirt (being worn)
Floyd |   a pack of Gauloise cigarettes
Floyd |   a matchbook
Floyd |   a lumberjack jacket (being worn)

Floyd |   a pair of Kodiaks (being worn)
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "haha 'barely see the shopping cart'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I do like the strong character voice... and such a different character than our last game." 	
			DavidW asks, "I guess Kodiaks are shoes?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I just thought it was a type of chewing tobacco." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x kodiaks" 		
	

Floyd | Got 'em the summer I was working planting trees. Worst job ever, but
Floyd | the boots are awesome.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "To say the least" 	
			DavidW says, "oh. boots" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sweatshirt" 		
	

Floyd | It's the one I got at the Hatesphere show.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x jeans" 		
	

Floyd | These guys have been getting looser every year, but I've been gettin'
Floyd | bigger so they're still as tight as they were when I got 'em at
Floyd | nineteen.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. So we need to get the cart? Perhaps a tree branch or something?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x matches" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x matchbox" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x matchbook" 		
	

Floyd | Purple, with OOOH LA LA printed on the side. It's out of matches.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | It winds through the ravine, kind of a charcoal grey with all the
Floyd | runoff. The cart's wheels are just visible as a far-away glint.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | It's waaaaay down there.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "well, east, maybe?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry. Done eating now... will be able to type more." 	
			DavidW says, "Like, unless we stretch like Mr Fantastic, we probably can't grab the cart from here." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get cart" 		
	

Floyd | I can barely see it, it's that far off.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Also, I was experiencing quite the lag there for a second." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I got the impression the river was immediate." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But sure." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Naw, the new Indian kid cleaned out the 'hood yesterday. Heard he came
Floyd | back with something like eighteen carts. I am gonna have to have a talk
Floyd | with him -- he's making the rest of us look bad.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | The visible exits are east and west.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | West Side of Bridge
Floyd | The bridge rail stops here and the brush takes over. It's pretty thick,
Floyd | but I know there's a path north that goes down to the river. I could
Floyd | find my way there shitfaced... who am I kidding, I always found my way

Floyd | there 'faced.
Floyd |
Floyd | Further west is Cost Cutters.
Floyd |
Floyd | Across the road the guy from the city is in his little go-cart clearing
Floyd | the snow off the sidewalk. He gives me a chin nod and I do the same.

Floyd | Don't know him but it's the Mustache Brotherhood.
Floyd |
Floyd | They motor on those things. Next time I look up he's gone.
Floyd |

		inky says, "well, you're on a bridge" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x brush" 		
	

Floyd | A brambly overgrown mess.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search brush" 		
	

Floyd | I find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Shit's so overgrown that for a second I'm like, maybe I have to be
Floyd | wasted to find the Pit, maybe it's got some kind of magical... But then
Floyd | I find it.

Floyd |
Floyd | Clearing in the Woods
Floyd | Everything's got a wet blanket of snow on it but I can make out the log
Floyd | we usually sat on, the little hole where we'd burn shit, and feel the
Floyd | crinkle of an empty under my Kodiak.
Floyd |

Floyd | It's been a couple years since I came out here -- fuck, must have been
Floyd | two years ago, 'cause Ricky left for school that fall. We were
Floyd | celebrating my first Cutters pay cheque with our friend Jack Daniels
Floyd | and we ran into the cart in the dark and we decided to push it over the
Floyd | bridge into the river.
Floyd |

Floyd | I was like, it'll be awesome, it'll be my get-out-of-jail free card.
Floyd | Like if it's a great day I can always say I saw one of our carts in the
Floyd | river. My ace in the hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ricky was like, your ass has a hole? Why you telling me that? Faaaaag.
Floyd |

Floyd | The river's louder than the cars down here, just to the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take empty" 		
	

Floyd | I came out here to AVOID cleaning, dude.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x empty" 		
	

Floyd | It's an Export. Dunno if I can go back to Ex after drinking Fin du
Floyd | Monde... but I probably can.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x log" 		
	

Floyd | It beat sitting on the ground, but not by much.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take log" 		
	

Floyd | Naw. It's basically log-shaped mud now.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of River
Floyd | Yeah. Wow. That is one serious fucking river. I'm getting wet just
Floyd | standing near it. The wheels of the cart are just visible a good piece
Floyd | to the east. The water would be nearly up to my waist if I was dumb

Floyd | enough to enter it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bottom of the bridge is high above, festooned with graffiti.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x graffiti" 		
	

Floyd | The graffiti is nothing special, though the taggers must have had to
Floyd | hang over the edge to do their thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | They're lucky they weren't doing it the night we threw the cart over
Floyd | the rail.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hooray for a Fin du Monde reference!" 	
			DavidW asks, "End of the World?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | The graffiti is nothing special, though the taggers must have had to
Floyd | hang over the edge to do their thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | They're lucky they weren't doing it the night we threw the cart over
Floyd | the rail.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it's a Belgian-esque Ale made in Qu?bec." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And one of my favorite beers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Comes in a big ol' bottle with a champagne-type cork." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x wheels" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I assume swimming is a stupid idea, but I'm not seeing many options." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | It's well out of reach, in the river to the east.
Floyd |

		inky says, "it is weird there is no inside joke in the graffiti" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read graffiti" 		
	

Floyd | The graffiti is nothing special, though the taggers must have had to
Floyd | hang over the edge to do their thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | They're lucky they weren't doing it the night we threw the cart over
Floyd | the rail.
Floyd |

		inky says, "like, I thought that was practically an IF obligation" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb bridge" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shore" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Let's swim for it. I've saved." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | I'm no expert, but... don't you need to be in a bunch of water for
Floyd | that?
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter water" 		
	

Floyd | Seriously? I'm no pussy, but... seems dangerous.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Alright, voice-in-my-head. If anything happens, it's your fault.
Floyd |
Floyd | I wade into the river.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Water
Floyd | Holy fuck is it cold. Goes from bad to worse. Boots: soaked. Jeans:

Floyd | soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shopping cart is submerged in the river here, a lot rustier and
Floyd | grottier than when I saw it last.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, so much for that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh hey" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Edge of River
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove jeans" 		
	

Floyd | Hey, I put together this ensemble for a reason, dude.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove boots" 		
	

Floyd | Hey, I put together this ensemble for a reason, dude.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "huh. We can't be stupid in a reasonable way." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | I'm no expert, but... don't you need to be in a bunch of water for
Floyd | that?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, let's be stupid in an unreasonable way, then." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter water" 		Nitku says, "I don't mind getting wet." 	
	

Floyd | Alright, voice-in-my-head. If anything happens, it's your fault.
Floyd |
Floyd | I wade into the river.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Water

Floyd | Holy fuck is it cold. Goes from bad to worse. Boots: soaked. Jeans:
Floyd | soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shopping cart is submerged in the river here, a lot rustier and
Floyd | grottier than when I saw it last.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cart" 		
	

Floyd | It's stuck there pretty good, but I manage to flip it over. A bunch of
Floyd | other crap that was trapped comes up too, and floats to the surface:
Floyd | six pack rings, something that looks like a clump of hair, and a fish.
Floyd |

Floyd | Pretty gross.
Floyd |
Floyd | I can't feel my nads any more, but I've got the stupid cart.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But I am not in anything at the moment.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | I start to pull the cart out of the river, but it pushes all the crap
Floyd | my way too. The fish kind of flips over and it's much worse on the

Floyd | other side -- it's got a huge hole eaten in it, and I can see into its
Floyd | stomach. And I'm pretty sure what's in the fish is another fish that
Floyd | it's eaten.
Floyd |
Floyd | I can't take my eyes away. I tell myself that it would make an
Floyd | amazingly brutal tat or even an album cover but I also feel like I'm

Floyd | gonna hurl. And then I see the little fish, the one inside, open its
Floyd | eye.
Floyd |
Floyd | I sort of stumble back away from the cart but at this point my legs are
Floyd | so numb that the cart is the only thing that's holding me up.
Floyd |

Floyd | So I fall.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a slow, fat-assed falling, and I'm kind of pissed at myself and
Floyd | finding it kind of hilarious at the same time, thinking about how I'll
Floyd | tell Mom about it when my head hits the rock.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | *** YOU HAVE DIED ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | And yet, somehow, the game continues.
Floyd |

Floyd | Void
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | There is no action here. Only waiting.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "This game keeps making me laugh. heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x void" 		
	

Floyd | There is no action here. Only waiting.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		inky says, "this is the bit where you would see some nice symbolic fish pictures" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The void is definitely taking on a porcelain texture.
Floyd |

Floyd | I am looking down on a toilet.
Floyd |
Floyd | I don't feel like myself. In fact, I'm sure my forearms weren't as...
Floyd | dark as that, last time I looked. Or as skinny.

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Northwest Bathroom Stall
Floyd | There's a toilet here. The exit's to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | I catch a glimpse of something moving in the toilet water.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | For a second, I see what looks like a tiny fish tail and then it

Floyd | disappears.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Uh, my name's Ranni. Sikh family. Almost old enough to drive.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "yeah, I was wondering what would go on with them" 	
			DavidW asks, "so... wait, we're the "Indian kid", now?" 	
			Lucea says, "Yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | I am carrying:
Floyd |   black work slacks (being worn)
Floyd |   an apron (being worn)
Floyd |   a kirpan (being worn)
Floyd |   a Cost Cutters golf shirt (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x kirpan" 		
	

Floyd | It's my ceremonial dagger. I'm a Sikh, OK? It's my religion.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x apron" 		
	

Floyd | It was clean at the beginning of the shift. Not so much now.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters Bathroom

Floyd | Fortunately for the shoppers, and unfortunately for us who have to
Floyd | clean up after them, Cost Cutters has a public washroom.
Floyd |
Floyd | I've managed to avoid cleaning duty up 'til now by going on cart duty
Floyd | -- which had the added bonus of getting me away from that psycho
Floyd | Patrick -- but today the slobby old guy (Graham, I think his name is)

Floyd | pulled one over on our manager Lisa and now here I am.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a pair of sinks, a long mirror above them and three battered
Floyd | stalls to the northwest, north and northeast. The exit's south of here.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x shirt" 		
	

Floyd | One of those ones with the logo embroidered on it. Lisa has her name
Floyd | embroidered on it too, but I don't know if she got that when she became
Floyd | manager or if she did it herself because she's really into her job.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But I am not in anything at the moment.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. Are we supposed to be cleaning the bathroom, then? Where's our supplies?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sinks" 		
	

Floyd | They're clean so I leave them alone -- I don't want to give myself any
Floyd | more work.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mirror" 		
	

Floyd | I check myself out in the chipped and scratched mirror. Even with the

Floyd | cheesy work shirt, my new haircut looks sharp: I got some lines buzzed
Floyd | on my sides. I thought the b-boys at my school might hassle me for
Floyd | biting their style but nothing yet.
Floyd |

		inky says, "I think this is the sort of game where you type "CLEAN TOILET"" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean mirror" 		
	

Floyd | I achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "I thought we have already finished this shift and they are clean." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "clean toilet" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "There's three stalls. NW, N, NE." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | North Bathroom Stall

Floyd | This toilet is dingy. The exit's to the south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | It looks cleaner -- oh god, there's a floater. I avert my eyes and
Floyd | flush.

Floyd |
Floyd | People are animals.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean toilet" 		
	

Floyd | I adjust my kirpan so that it doesn't poke me.

Floyd |
Floyd | Thinking about the car I'm gonna get the day I turn 16, I start
Floyd | scrubbing. My dad would hate to know I was doing this -- he just
Floyd | wouldn't say "untouchable" because we're all supposed to be equal, but
Floyd | he'd be thinking it. Then he'd probably start in on the turban thing
Floyd | again... he doesn't know how hard it is to get a job, any job.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | Thank god, it went down in one flush.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters Bathroom
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Northwest Bathroom Stall
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | A clean and empty bowl.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters Bathroom
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Northeast Bathroom Stall
Floyd | This toilet has a crack in it. The exit's to the southwest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | Oh wait, that's not a crack. It's a... streak.
Floyd |

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x streak" 		
	

Floyd | Oh wait, that's not a crack. It's a... streak.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean toilet" 		
	

Floyd | Picturing myself cleaning my car-to-be on a summer day -- specifically

Floyd | the one I saw for super cheap on Craigslist today -- I manage to wipe
Floyd | the streaks off.
Floyd |
Floyd | Done. Finally, I can get out of here.
Floyd |
Floyd | I get up, but before I can leave I hear someone come in.

Floyd |
Floyd | "So Lisa sent me to help you, brown noser..."
Floyd |
Floyd | That racist shithead Patrick must be right outside the stall from the
Floyd | sound of it.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I tol' her that you dirty pakis like scrubbing up shit, but she didn't
Floyd | care. Mmm-mmm. I think she's got a bit of sand nigger fever."
Floyd |
Floyd | I hear the adjoining stall door shut. "Better check out this toilet," I
Floyd | can hear Patrick heading into one of the stalls.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | I hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ohhhh man," Patrick crows from the stall, followed by a juicy
Floyd | braaaaap.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "well. That's ugly." 	
			Jacqueline says, "He's uncleaning our toilets." 	
			Lucea says, "indeed" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The only visible exit is southwest (to cost cutters bathroom).
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters Bathroom

Floyd | Patrick kicks the stall door open, buckling up. The bastard doesn't
Floyd | even flush.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Left ya a present, brown noser," he says. He imitates the intercom:
Floyd | "Clean up in stall 3."
Floyd |

Floyd | I'm not inclined to get mad. I've lost my temper twice, maybe three
Floyd | times in my life. But then the smell hits me like a slap. I look at his
Floyd | horrible, scarred face and his idiotic grin as he waits for me to
Floyd | react, and I'm amazed that I'm keeping it together.
Floyd |
Floyd | Something causes his eyes to flick down to my waist, and then his smile

Floyd | vanishes. I look down and realize that after I finished cleaning I
Floyd | hadn't returned my kirpan to its usual position, so it's making my
Floyd | apron poke out a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What's that," he says, not really asking. I've got to show him or hide
Floyd | it.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Luckily, we have that big knife." 	
			DavidW says, "I doubt this will be lucky, exactly." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah. I suspect it's us that dies." 	
			Nitku asks, "Show or hide?" 	
			DavidW asks, "show or hide?" 	
			Nitku says, "heh" 	
			DavidW says, "Let's try hide. I doubt it'll work,though." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hide kirpan" 		
	

Floyd | As I turn around to adjust it, I hear Patrick gagging in disgust.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Is that a boner?"
Floyd |
Floyd | I turn around to explain, but he's already at the doorway on his way
Floyd | out.

Floyd |
Floyd | "The sound of me shitting gave you a boner? You're--" And then he's
Floyd | gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's weird. It wasn't true, but just the fact that he thought that
Floyd | makes me ashamed in the pit of my stomach.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | North Bathroom Stall
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "oh man" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean toilet" 		
	

Floyd | It's already clean.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "should we undo and save?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | Thank god, it went down in one flush.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters Bathroom
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Northeast Bathroom Stall
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | The crack/streak is gone, and it's clean.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters Bathroom
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "anyone mind if I put this in verbose" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Northwest Bathroom Stall
Floyd | There's a toilet here. The exit's to the southeast. What a
Floyd | shitsplosion. God, Patrick is a diseased animal.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Not at all." 	
			inky says, "please do" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Everybody Dies is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long

Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if I've been there before).
Floyd |

		DavidW says (to Lucea), "go ahead" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | I can't stare at it without bile ensuing.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean it" 		
	

Floyd | Patrick has been downright artistic. He's managed to get shit on every
Floyd | part of the toilet except for the water.
Floyd |

Floyd | He's sharpied a swastika on the stall wall but he's gotten it
Floyd | backwards. Which, ironically, makes it a Hindu symbol.
Floyd |
Floyd | I imagine running him over in my new car again and again until the job
Floyd | is finished.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x toilet" 		
	

Floyd | A clean and empty bowl.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | I step out of the stall to see Patrick standing there silently.
Floyd |
Floyd | He has a look on his face like I've never seen before. He's not going
Floyd | to... apologize, is he?
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind him Lisa, the manager shows up. She looks reluctant to step into

Floyd | the washroom -- probably because it's the Men's.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ranni, is it true you made a lewd gesture towards Patrick?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Oh, crap.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I'll have to refer to the chapter on sexual harassment in the training
Floyd | manual--" She looks downright hurt by the situation.
Floyd |
Floyd | I notice Patrick move suddenly. There is a gun in his hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Fucking sick fuck," he says, right before he shoots me.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "gah" 	
			DavidW asks, "This isn't a rainbows and bunnies game, is it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Poor Ranni. Poor Lisa." 	
			inky says, "in the third act you come back as a rainbow bunny" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "Oh, I'm sure there are rabbits and bunnies. Just keep playing." 	
			DavidW asks, "Lisa might be next to go, eh?" 	
			Lucea says, "well, the title _is_ Everybody Dies" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Yes. The rainbow bunny must die." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x patrick" 		
	

Floyd | I try, but a coughed-up blood bubble is the best I can do.
Floyd |
Floyd | I can't move.
Floyd |
Floyd | I think I'm on the floor. I must have fallen. I can feel water pooling

Floyd | against my face from somewhere. Or is that water?
Floyd |
Floyd | Patrick leans over me, his face a wasteland of acne. "What, getting
Floyd | shot doesn't give you a hard-on too?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Lisa is screaming, screaming. Patrick's head whips her way. I hear a

Floyd | pop and the screaming stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | I close my eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | *** YOU HAVE DIED ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | And yet...
Floyd |
Floyd | Void
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Void
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | There is no action here. Only waiting.
Floyd |
Floyd | I open my eyes.
Floyd |

Floyd | I'm looking down on a river. I immediately think: Styx. I mean, I knew
Floyd | I was gonna miss out on the virgins not being Islam but how'd I end up
Floyd | in white-person hell? And where would I get money for the boatman? I
Floyd | remembered something about coins from my English class...
Floyd |
Floyd | They put 'em on your eyes, I hear a familiar voice say. But that's not

Floyd | the River Styx, as brutally awesome as that would be.
Floyd |
Floyd | But a few seconds later I hear the cars behind me, and I realize the
Floyd | voice is right. It's just the...
Floyd |
Floyd | Bridge

Floyd | I walk over this bridge every day to get to Cost Cutters, to the west,
Floyd | but I just recently noticed that it crossed a river. To the east is my
Floyd | neighbourhood.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a neat little train of shopping carts on the sidewalk here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Uh, my name's Ranni. Sikh family. Almost old enough to drive.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's something weird here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Then it occurs to me: no snow.
Floyd |
Floyd | It snowed last night.
Floyd |
Floyd | No, it snowed tomorrow night, another voice in my head says. A woman's
Floyd | voice, this time.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push carts west" 		
	

Floyd | Really, the only sensible thing to do to a cart train is to PUSH it.
Floyd |
Floyd | I'm collecting carts... but didn't I just do that yesterday?

Floyd |
Floyd | It is yesterday, the female voice says. This time, get them all.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lisa? I think, You didn't die?
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a silence inside my head. I start to think I'm beginning to

Floyd | crack up.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push carts" 		
	

Floyd | You need seven, Lisa insists.
Floyd |

Floyd | There're seven carts, Lisa says. Get them all and Graham won't be able
Floyd | to --
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham, right. That rocker greaseball.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greaseball? Graham says. Lisa, do we have to help him?

Floyd |
Floyd | What part of fates intertwined do you not understand? Lisa says, in her
Floyd | "tough manager" voice that always turns me on a bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | At my thought, Graham gives a dirty laugh and Lisa makes an embarrassed
Floyd | sound.

Floyd |
Floyd | You're my kind of greaseball, Graham chortles. Need my help, just ask.
Floyd | Like GRAHAM, EXAMINE CARS or whatever.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x carts" 		
	

Floyd | The shopping carts are pushed into the backs of each other to form a
Floyd | train 3 carts long.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | It's funny I've passed over this a million times going to school and

Floyd | work without stopping to look at it, but I guess I usually have my
Floyd | music on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham makes an impatient noise but Lisa shushes him.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in river" 		
	

Floyd | I find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x graham" 		
	

Floyd | He's got a mustache, and always seems to be going out for a smoke

Floyd | instead of working.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x graham" 		
	

Floyd | He's got a mustache, and always seems to be going out for a smoke
Floyd | instead of working.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lisa" 		
	

Floyd | She's pretty, but she's way older than me. Seventeen at least.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask lisa about carts" 		
	

Floyd | We're prohibited from giving you advice, Lisa says as if she's reading
Floyd | from a Cost Cutters manual.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask lisa about fates" 		
	

Floyd | We're prohibited from giving you advice, Lisa says as if she's reading
Floyd | from a Cost Cutters manual.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | I wander around the neighbourhood laneways and find a cart wedged
Floyd | between two houses.
Floyd |
Floyd | I return to the bridge with it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | I run into a friend's mom and ask her if she's seen any carts, and she
Floyd | sheepishly gives up one from her garage. "Otherwise I always get one
Floyd | with a stuck wheel," she explains.
Floyd |

Floyd | I trundle it over to the other carts on the bridge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Some kids are using one on its side as a street hockey net. They claim
Floyd | it's theirs until I point to the Cost Cutters logo.

Floyd |
Floyd | I add it to the cart train on the bridge.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | I've cleared out the neighbourhood. Maybe that's all there is?

Floyd |
Floyd | One more, Lisa's voice echoes in my head. Just not in the
Floyd | neighbourhood.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | West Side of Bridge
Floyd | Once I saw a pretty bad accident here. It put me off cycling forever.
Floyd |
Floyd | Further west is the Cost Cutters building, the bridge is back east. The
Floyd | way north is barred by pretty dense brush.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "The one in the river?" 	
			DavidW says, "It might not be in the river yet." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Call me weird, but I'm not anxious to go back to the place I died.

Floyd | Might as well get the job done first.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I thought it was pushed in years ago," 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | I'd need to be really motivated to walk through prickleys like that.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bridge
Floyd | I walk over this bridge every day to get to Cost Cutters, to the west,

Floyd | but I just recently noticed that it crossed a river. To the east is my
Floyd | neighbourhood.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a neat little train of shopping carts on the sidewalk here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | It's funny I've passed over this a million times going to school and
Floyd | work without stopping to look at it, but I guess I usually have my
Floyd | music on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham makes an impatient noise but Lisa shushes him.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, x river" 		
	

Floyd | I feel my eyes focus on a section of river -- is that a glint of steel?
Floyd |
Floyd | There's a cart down there! How the heck did it...?

Floyd |
Floyd | Doesn't matter how, interrupts Graham. That's our ace in the hole. We
Floyd | just have to play it earlier in the game.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "By Graham and Ricky." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lisa, x river" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd | It's just a grey blur to me. I can't really see that far -- my eyes
Floyd | aren't the best.
Floyd |

Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "weird" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | Which do I mean, the faroff shopping cart or the shopping cart train?

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x faroff" 		
	

Floyd | It's waaaaay down there.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | West Side of Bridge
Floyd | Once I saw a pretty bad accident here. It put me off cycling forever.
Floyd |

Floyd | Further west is the Cost Cutters building, the bridge is back east. The
Floyd | way north is barred by pretty dense brush.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | I gotta get down to the river if I'm going to get that cart, so I push

Floyd | through the brush. Pretty quickly I find a trail that leads to...
Floyd |
Floyd | Clearing in the Woods
Floyd | The trail continues east to the river, and I can return back to
Floyd | civilization to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | There's a bunch of empty beer cans and a pit for a fire.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cans" 		
	

Floyd | Maybe some hoboes might have lived here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Nerd! Graham hisses for some reason. I ignore him.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "graham, x river" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x log" 		
	

Floyd | By the look of how they're arranged people may have actually sat on
Floyd | them.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take log" 		
	

Floyd | Naw. It's basically log-shaped mud now.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pit" 		
	

Floyd | Looks like it was kicked in the ground by people with big boots and not

Floyd | much to do.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, x pit" 		
	

Floyd | Graham peers through my eyes...
Floyd |

Floyd | Ah, the firepit that gave the Pit its name. Some McDonald's bags,
Floyd | newspapers, a lighter and a can of hairspray and, foomp! You had
Floyd | yerself some instant ambiance.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "so we can tap into Graham's viewpoint for extra info? Or Lisa's?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lisa, x pit" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		inky says, "whoops" 	
			Bert says, "The markup I was thinking of before was the voices: I think they were originally in italics. But it seems reasonably clear enough without them." 	
			DavidW says, "[insert graphic here], I'm guessing" 	
			inky says, "yeah, maybe" 	
			inky says, "or maybe just a bug" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lisa, x log" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lisa, x empty" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd | A bunch of trash. People have no respect for nature.
Floyd |

Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take trash" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take empty" 		
	

Floyd | It smells rank, even from here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, x empty" 		
	

Floyd | Graham peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd | It's an Export. Dunno if I can go back to Ex after drinking Fin du
Floyd | Monde... but I probably can.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, x log" 		
	

Floyd | Graham peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd | It beat sitting on the ground, but not by much.

Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sit on log" 		
	

Floyd | Naw. It's basically log-shaped mud now.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge of River
Floyd | It's more impressive up close, just to the east, but it ain't no

Floyd | Ganges.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham chimes in: Dude, it's reeeeally cold --
Floyd |
Floyd | Colder than being dead forever, Graham? Lisa snaps.
Floyd |

Floyd | Just brace yourself.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, x river" 		
	

Floyd | Graham peers through my eyes...
Floyd |

Floyd | It winds through the ravine, kind of a charcoal grey with all the
Floyd | runoff.
Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lisa, x river" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd | It's just a grey blur to me. I can't really see that far -- my eyes
Floyd | aren't the best.
Floyd |

Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x river" 		
	

Floyd | It's funny I've passed over this a million times going to school and
Floyd | work without stopping to look at it, but I guess I usually have my

Floyd | music on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham makes an impatient noise but Lisa shushes him.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | It's well out of reach, in the river to the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | The graffiti on the bridge is just tags, pretty boring compared to some
Floyd | of the burners I've seen in Scarborough.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Water
Floyd | Graham was not lying. It's painfully cold.

Floyd |
Floyd | Land awaits to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a rusty shopping cart here.
Floyd |

		
	crumple arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cart" 		
	

Floyd | I yank it up from the river bed and manage to flip it over. A dead fish
Floyd | and some other debris floats up.
Floyd |

Floyd | OK, I almost forgot, the fish --
Floyd |
Floyd | The fish flips over, and it's rotted through. There's a smaller fish
Floyd | inside, partially digested.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham makes a retching sound. Did he just vomit inside my head?

Floyd |
Floyd | He wouldn't last long in my mom's kitchen.
Floyd |

		
	crumple asks, "i just woke up. how long have you been playing?" 		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push fish" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to crumple), "Since the top of the hour." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x debris" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x fish" 		
	

Floyd | Just a dead fish, the only weird part being that I can see the other
Floyd | fish inside it. Newsflash: fish eat fish.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | I drag the cart to the side of the river, taking care to leave the
Floyd | debris behind.
Floyd |

Floyd | Edge of River
Floyd | It's more impressive up close, just to the east, but it ain't no
Floyd | Ganges. The path winds west from here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | I trundle the cart up to...
Floyd |
Floyd | Clearing in the Woods
Floyd | The trail continues east to the river, and I can return back to
Floyd | civilization to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | There's a bunch of empty beer cans and a pit for a fire.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | It takes about ten minutes to wrestle the cart to the road.
Floyd |

Floyd | West Side of Bridge
Floyd | Once I saw a pretty bad accident here. It put me off cycling forever.
Floyd |
Floyd | Further west is the Cost Cutters building, the bridge is back east. The
Floyd | way north is barred by pretty dense brush.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Ca-chunk! With some effort, I add the rusty cart for a total of 7.
Floyd |
Floyd | Whoohoo! Lisa says. That's the lot.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push carts" 		
	

Floyd | It's smooth sailing to Cost Cutters.
Floyd |
Floyd | I'm so desperate to change out of my wet clothes that I don't do it in
Floyd | a stall. So of course Patrick comes into the staffroom when my kirpan

Floyd | is exposed. His eyes widen and he slowly turns to his locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fuuuuuuuuck, says Graham.
Floyd |
Floyd | Patrick turns around with a gun in his hand and this time doesn't
Floyd | attempt any smart-assed comments before he shoots me dead.

Floyd |
Floyd | It's like a very tiny and very fast hammer between my eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | *** YOU HAVE DIED ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Well... in a manner of speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | Void
Floyd |
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "so we strip next time?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | There is no action here. Only waiting.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The void starts to glow with a familiar unrelenting light -- a

Floyd | fluorescent light -- and I realize I'm in...
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Cost Cutters
Floyd | I'm at work. There are people shopping around me.
Floyd |
Floyd | Alive! I'm alive! In my own body It was all a --
Floyd |

Floyd | Dream? interrupts Ranni from somewhere in the back part of my head. No.
Floyd |
Floyd | Oh, crumbs.
Floyd |
Floyd | My office is to the south, and the exit is to the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa. I'm the manager. I'm pretty normal-looking, but a boy at
Floyd | leadership camp said I was cute without my glasses.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | I am carrying:
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   dark green work slacks (being worn)
Floyd |   a Cost Cutters blouse (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x people" 		
	

Floyd | The usual mix: every type of human being except the cute teenaged boy
Floyd | type. Which is good. I need to focus on my job.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | I start out but immediately am accosted by a customer.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Excuse me miss," the old man asks. "Is this coupon good here?"
Floyd |
Floyd | He presses a coupon into my hand.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coupon" 		
	

Floyd | The coupon died on Tuesday. "Sorry sir, but this coupon expired
Floyd | yesterday."
Floyd |
Floyd | He grabs it back. "What?" He stares at it through his thick glasses.
Floyd | "But it's Monday, isn't it?"

Floyd |
Floyd | I give him a little smile that lets him know: he's old.
Floyd |
Floyd | He wanders off, confused.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham chuckles. Way to mess with the old coot's head, Lise.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | I get a few aisles closer this time before a mom and daughter stop me.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Do both of these have peanuts? My daughter has an allergy."

Floyd |
Floyd | She hands me a package of Savoury Snax and a package of Peanut Puffs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Seriously! This is so not my job.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "say yes" 		
	

Floyd | (to the mother)

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x snax" 		
	

Floyd | A hideously coloured package with, unfortunately, one word in English,
Floyd | two if you count "Snax". I can't read the ingredients. It looks like

Floyd | birdfood... gross.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's pretty tasty, actually, says Ranni.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x peanut" 		
	

Floyd | Ingredients: Whole peanuts, peanut paste, vaporized peanuts, peanut
Floyd | dust... I skip to the end where it says. Warning, may contain --
Floyd |
Floyd | Traces of peanuts? Ranni suggests.
Floyd |
Floyd | No. Traces of heavy metals.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bruuuuuuuutal! moans Graham.
Floyd |
Floyd | I put the Peanut Puffs back on the shelf, far out of the little girl's
Floyd | reach. It quickly disappears into the blur of colourful products.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "give snax to mom" 		
	

Floyd | I can't. I can't help imagining the little girl choking to death. She
Floyd | looks a bit bratty, but still.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, x snax" 		
	

Floyd | Graham peers through my eyes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Seriously, what is wrong with this store? You can barely find ketchup
Floyd | and dill pickle potato chips and now they're stocking these, these...
Floyd |

Floyd | Paki foods? says Ranni.
Floyd |
Floyd | I was gonna say "weird foods."
Floyd |
Floyd | ...my eyes are my own again.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ranni, x snax" 		
	

Floyd | That is so cool! The ingredients go from squiggly letters to real
Floyd | letters.
Floyd |
Floyd | I read them through. Lots of weird stuff and tongue twisters, but no

Floyd | peanuts. I hand it to the mom and she leaves without even thanking me.
Floyd |
Floyd | People are so rude. That's why I got into being a manager. I hate being
Floyd | on the frontlines.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "Clever" 	
			DavidW says, "strange game" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Finally I make it unaccosted to...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Staffroom

Floyd | Well, OK, it's not just my office. But I've got my nook, a desk in the
Floyd | corner of the staffroom.
Floyd |
Floyd | The staffroom has lockers along one wall, a soda machine, and a bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a calendar.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x calendar" 		
	

Floyd | IMPENDING is the word for Monday. Monday? But...
Floyd |
Floyd | It's two days before the shooting, Ranni says impatiently. You gotta

Floyd | get rid of that psycho, Lisa.
Floyd |
Floyd | Also on the calendar for today is a 4pm locker inspection from central
Floyd | office.
Floyd |
Floyd | And it is, of course, 4pm.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lockers" 		
	

Floyd | They're the kind that have the combo locks built into the doors, so
Floyd | central office can access them at any time.
Floyd |

Floyd | Most of them have clearly printed labels stuck on to indicate their
Floyd | owners: JILL, PATRICK, PAUL, RANNY (this was before I knew it was spelt
Floyd | RANNI, so sue me). GRAHAM, JASON, and my own were all written in the
Floyd | sloppy handwriting of my predecessor.
Floyd |
Floyd | All of a sudden Tim from main office rushes in.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm soooo late," he says. He unlocks the soda machine and takes a can
Floyd | out, then slams it shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jerkwad. Just 'cause he used to work here he acts like he owns the
Floyd | place. "Um, why do you still have a key for--" I start.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Gotta check the meat room temp," he says, pulling out a thermometer
Floyd | from his windbreaker. "Back in a jiff. Then I'll do the locker check."
Floyd |
Floyd | Awww, crapsicles! blurts Graham.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Won't have time for them all, just the new hires -- Patrick, Ranni and
Floyd | Paul," Tim says on his way out the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Thank you, Satan! Graham crows.
Floyd |
Floyd | What are you so happy about? says Ranni. He said he'd be back in a

Floyd | jiff, and we've got to make sure Patrick gets canned today before he
Floyd | gets back!
Floyd |

		inky says, ""thank you satan" is hilarious" 	
			DavidW asks, "So how do we get Patrick canned?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x labels" 		
	

Floyd | I can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | It's a big clunky beast left by my predecessor. Other than a nasty
Floyd | paint stain, the only thing on it is the word-a-day calendar.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x stain" 		
	

Floyd | From Tim's time. He has no respect for Cost Cutters property.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open patrick's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the combo, and they're not in today so I can't ask them.
Floyd | Of course, main office has all the combinations.
Floyd |

		Bert says, "If this were a Looney Toons cartoon, it would probably involve a sardine factory." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ranni, open ranni's locker" 		
	

Floyd | My hands move of their own (well, I guess, of Ranni's) accord and flick
Floyd | through the combination.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ranni's locker has his work slacks, a balled up apron and the WHMIS
Floyd | safety regulations taped to his door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham snorts at this. Mr. Worky-work.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's my work locker! Ranni retorts. What, I'm supposed to have a, a,

Floyd | six pack of beers in there or something?
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham is silent. (Shocker!)
Floyd |
Floyd | I shut the locker.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, open graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | Nope, Graham says.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just open it! Ranni says, as exasperated as I feel.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sorry, kids, ain't gonna happen.
Floyd |
Floyd | I shake the locked door, noticing as I do that there's some kind of
Floyd | smell coming from the door vents.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "smell it" 		
	

Floyd | That's weird. It smells like my brother's room in the basement. He
Floyd | always keeps it locked, too.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "hee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, smell vents" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ranni, smell vents" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "smells like .. porn?" 	
			DavidW says, "pot, I'm guessing" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "graham, smell graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I can't be that hands-on, Graham says. But two pairs of eyes are better
Floyd | than one.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "pot or sex" 	
			crumple says, "teen spirit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			DavidW says, "If Graham has pot, we might find a way to get it into Patrick's locker." 	
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open jason's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the combo, and they're not in today so I can't ask them.
Floyd | Of course, main office has all the combinations.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "open lisa's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I unlock it. Inside are my school bag and my normal clothes including

Floyd | --
Floyd |
Floyd | Mmm, black lacy bra, Graham says, I never would have figured you--
Floyd |
Floyd | I slam the locker shut and ignore Graham's creepy laugh.
Floyd |

Floyd | Tim bustles in and counts the lockers and looks up the combos.
Floyd | "Paul..." he starts twirling the combos. "It's not Paul Sorenson, is
Floyd | it? Come back for another hitch?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, it's Chin. Paul Chin."
Floyd |

Floyd | "It wouldn't be, it wouldn't be. Be in his twenties now. But that guy
Floyd | was hilarious -- he would just crack -- us -- up!"
Floyd |
Floyd | He yanks the door open. It's empty except for an apron with a nametag
Floyd | and a book called World War Z. He flips through it, staring at it
Floyd | intently, before throwing it back and shutting the locker.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "tim, open patrick's locker" 		
	

Floyd | Believe me, if I start talking to him he'll start talking about the
Floyd | good ol' days when "managment was of a different quality." He actually
Floyd | said that. Best to just wait the old windbag out.

Floyd |
Floyd | "OK, Ranni, let's see what you got hiding... yeah, the neighbourhood,
Floyd | the neighbourhood's really changed," Tim laments, opening Ranni's
Floyd | locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yeah. Everything was sooo much better when he worked here, for one.

Floyd |
Floyd | I don't think that's what he means, says Ranni.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim checks the pockets of Ranni's work clothes and looks approvingly at
Floyd | the WHMIS regs taped to the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | He finishes his inspection and shuts the locker.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I think we've missed our chance." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Possibly." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tim" 		
	

Floyd | He's a gawky guy with a bright orange Cost Cutters windbreaker.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim opens Patrick's locker. I look over his shoulder to see if I can
Floyd | spot the gun, but the only thing in it is a magazine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim picks it up -- it's an issue of Glocks and Grenades -- and flips

Floyd | through it. For a second he seems to be disturbed, and I have a flicker
Floyd | of hope that he's gonna fire Patrick.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Don't know... if I have this issue..." he says, looking at the front.
Floyd | "Maybe my subscription's run out."
Floyd |

Floyd | He tosses it back in and shuts the locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | I guess he doesn't bring the gun in til tomorrow, says Ranni.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, there goes the only chance to change what happened, says Graham.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | *** WE DIED FOR GOOD ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | This time there's no visit to the Void. Tim disappears, I feel a
Floyd | nauseating flip in my stomach and I find myself moved a few feet away

Floyd | but still in...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | Well, OK, it's not just my office. But I've got my nook, a desk in the
Floyd | corner of the staffroom.
Floyd |

Floyd | The staffroom has lockers along one wall, a soda machine, and a bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a calendar.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | Lisa. I'm the manager. I'm pretty normal-looking, but a boy at
Floyd | leadership camp said I was cute without my glasses.
Floyd |
Floyd | All of a sudden Tim from main office rushes in.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm soooo late," he says. He unlocks the soda machine and takes a can

Floyd | out, then slams it shut. Soooo predictable.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gotta check the meat room temp," he says, pulling out a thermometer
Floyd | from his windbreaker. "Back in a jiff. Then I'll do the locker check.
Floyd | Just the new hires -- Patrick, Ranni and Paul," he says on his way out
Floyd | the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | OK, don't fuck it up this time, Lisa. We don't know if we've got
Floyd | unlimited lives, or what, says Graham.
Floyd |
Floyd | And we've got like, nine-tenths of a jiff left, says Ranni.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hm so I guess we did miss it." 	
			DavidW asks, "Can we do something with the soda machine?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we didn't save a ton." 	
			DavidW says, "We can replay from the start if we have to." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I suppose. Not that long, really." 	
			DavidW asks, "any ideas how to get Graham to open his locker?" 	
			Nitku asks, "Do we have to restart in order to solve this?" 	
			DavidW says (to Nitku), "I doubt it." 	
			Bert says, "If you couldn't still win, it wouldn't have automatically rolled you back after that death." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I played it and I never had to restart." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open soda machine" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something I can open.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ranni, open graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | Ranni has better things to do.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "yeah, you don't need to restart" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "graham, open graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | Nope, Graham says.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just open it! Ranni says, as exasperated as I feel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sorry, kids, ain't gonna happen.
Floyd |

Floyd | I shake the locked door, noticing as I do that there's some kind of
Floyd | smell coming from the door vents.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "Then I don't see the point in restarting really." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask graham about pot" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry man, I can't just tell you what to do, Graham says. There're
Floyd | these stupid rules.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, seems we don't have to." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ranni, read regs" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "hit graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ranni, open ranni's locker" 		
	

Floyd | My hands move of their own (well, I guess, of Ranni's) accord and flick
Floyd | through the combination.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ranni's locker has his work slacks, a balled up apron and the WHMIS

Floyd | safety regulations taped to his door.
Floyd |
Floyd | Graham snorts at this. Mr. Worky-work.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's my work locker! Ranni retorts. What, I'm supposed to have a, a,
Floyd | six pack of beers in there or something?

Floyd |
Floyd | Graham is silent. (Shocker!)
Floyd |
Floyd | I shut the locker.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open ranni's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know his combo.
Floyd |
Floyd | I don't really know the numbers, either, says Ranni. My hands just do
Floyd | it automatically now.

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x lockers" 		
	

Floyd | They're the kind that have the combo locks built into the doors, so
Floyd | central office can access them at any time.
Floyd |
Floyd | Most of them have clearly printed labels stuck on to indicate their
Floyd | owners: JILL, PATRICK, PAUL, RANNY (this was before I knew it was spelt

Floyd | RANNI, so sue me). GRAHAM, JASON, and my own were all written in the
Floyd | sloppy handwriting of my predecessor.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Maybe one of the other lockers isn't locked?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We don't have access as the manager?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, I know we're not *presently* the manager." 	
			DavidW says, "We're not Tim. We're Lisa." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But one would think we'd know where a central master key is or something." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right, Lisa becomes a manager later on." 	
			DavidW says, "OH! Switch labels!" 	
			Bert says, "Central office has access to all of them, but the manager (Lisa) doesn't." 	
			Jacqueline says, "OOOH" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take Graham's label" 		
	

Floyd | The label's been there for a few years, so some of the glue's dried up.

Floyd | I manage to get it off without ripping it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take patrick's label" 		
	

Floyd | It was applied so recently it peels off smoothly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim bustles in and counts the lockers and looks up the combos.
Floyd | "Paul..." he starts twirling the combos. "It's not Paul Sorenson, is

Floyd | it? Come back for another hitch?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, it's Chin. Paul Chin."
Floyd |
Floyd | "It wouldn't be, it wouldn't be. Be in his twenties now. But that guy
Floyd | was hilarious -- he would just crack -- us -- up!"

Floyd |
Floyd | He yanks the door open. It's empty except for an apron with a nametag
Floyd | and a book called World War Z. He flips through it, staring at it
Floyd | intently, before throwing it back and shutting the locker.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline nods at Bert. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put patrick's label on graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | But Tim would totally see me!
Floyd |
Floyd | "OK, Ranni, let's see what you got hiding... yeah, the neighbourhood,
Floyd | the neighbourhood's really changed," Tim laments, opening Ranni's

Floyd | locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yeah. Everything was sooo much better when he worked here, for one.
Floyd |
Floyd | I don't think that's what he means, says Ranni.
Floyd |

Floyd | Tim checks the pockets of Ranni's work clothes and looks approvingly at
Floyd | the WHMIS regs taped to the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | He finishes his inspection and shuts the locker.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "Aww, I thought of that way back but it didn't recognize "labels" so I thought it wouldn't work." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put patrick's label on graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | But Tim would totally see me!
Floyd |
Floyd | "Can't see a locker for this Patrick McGuire here," Tim says. "Oh well,
Floyd | I'm sure it's fine."

Floyd |
Floyd | I am shocked speechless by his lack of professionalism as he sails out
Floyd | the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | I guess he doesn't bring the gun in til tomorrow, says Ranni.
Floyd |

Floyd | Well, there goes the only chance to change what happened, says Graham.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | *** WE DIED FOR GOOD ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | This time there's no visit to the Void. Tim disappears, I feel a
Floyd | nauseating flip in my stomach and I find myself moved a few feet away
Floyd | but still in...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | Well, OK, it's not just my office. But I've got my nook, a desk in the

Floyd | corner of the staffroom.
Floyd |
Floyd | The staffroom has lockers along one wall, a soda machine, and a bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the desk is a calendar.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "drat. Thought of it too late." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take patrick's label" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | All of a sudden Tim from main office rushes in.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm soooo late," he says. He unlocks the soda machine and takes a can
Floyd | out, then slams it shut. Soooo predictable.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Gotta check the meat room temp," he says, pulling out a thermometer
Floyd | from his windbreaker. "Back in a jiff. Then I'll do the locker check.

Floyd | Just the new hires -- Patrick, Ranni and Paul," he says on his way out
Floyd | the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | OK, don't fuck it up this time, Lisa. We don't know if we've got
Floyd | unlimited lives, or what, says Graham.
Floyd |

Floyd | And we've got like, nine-tenths of a jiff left, says Ranni.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take graham's label" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put patrick's label on graham's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I put Patrick's label on Graham's locker.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put graham's label on patrick's locker" 		
	

Floyd | I put Graham's label on Patrick's locker.
Floyd |

		inky says, "ha ha unlimited lives" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | Tim bustles in and counts the lockers and looks up the combos.
Floyd | "Paul..." he starts twirling the combos. "It's not Paul Sorenson, is
Floyd | it? Come back for another hitch?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, it's Chin. Paul Chin."

Floyd |
Floyd | "It wouldn't be, it wouldn't be. Be in his twenties now. But that guy
Floyd | was hilarious -- he would just crack -- us -- up!"
Floyd |
Floyd | He yanks the door open. It's empty except for an apron with a nametag
Floyd | and a book called World War Z. He flips through it, staring at it

Floyd | intently, before throwing it back and shutting the locker.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "OK, Ranni, let's see what you got hiding... yeah, the neighbourhood,
Floyd | the neighbourhood's really changed," Tim laments, opening Ranni's
Floyd | locker.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yeah. Everything was sooo much better when you worked here, Tim.
Floyd |

Floyd | I don't think that's what he means, says Ranni.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim checks the pockets of Ranni's work clothes and looks approvingly at
Floyd | the WHMIS regs taped to the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | He finishes his inspection and shuts the locker.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim opens "Patrick's" locker and immediately grabs a big garbage bag.

Floyd | "What the heck...?"
Floyd |
Floyd | He opens the bag and the smell fills the room. "I do believe we have
Floyd | ourselves some Wacky Tobacccy, Lisa."
Floyd |
Floyd | The grin on his face is positively wolfish. Within seconds he's talking

Floyd | to the police on the phone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Patrick is sooooo fired.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fired? Graham says. For a bale like that he's going to juvie.
Floyd |

Floyd | What the hell do you need that much weed for, anyway? Ranni says.
Floyd |
Floyd | The grow-op in my mom's basement caught fire, one of the lamps, Graham
Floyd | says, I needed to store the stuff I salvaged somewhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | An unbelievable ending to an unbelievable day. The cops show up and

Floyd | then Patrick shows up and then Patrick's scary uncle shows up -- a big
Floyd | nightmare, needless to say.
Floyd |
Floyd | But you know what I thought when I was locking up for the night? Could
Floyd | have been worse. Nobody died.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** WE DIDN'T DIE ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

		DavidW says, "whee!" 	
			Nitku says, "hmm" 	
			Bert exclaims, "Congrats!" 	
			DavidW says, "thanks" 	
			Lucea says, "Yay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh. Cool." 	
			Bert asks, "Was this a Release 2?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Short and sweet... or maybe it's just that we played Nightfall last week." 	
			DavidW says, "A bit unusual to get to the win so soon." 	
			Bert says, "Well, it was only an hour. And comp games are allowed to be up to two hours." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, you can totally tell this is the same author that did Punk Points. heh" 	
			maga says, "it's pretty linear" 	
			Bert says, "(Although apparently some voters don't penalize games for being longer than that. I'm looking at you, Nightfall.)" 	
			Bert says (to Jacq), "Hmm, I hadn't noticed." 	
			Nitku says, "It certainly has similarities." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Heh. Well, I guess we played Nightfall in a really complete way that wasn't necessary, and according to Eve people did finish it in two hours." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Yeah, I'm talking in terms of character voice." 	
			Lucea says, "I didn't finish Nightfall in the 2 hours, but I'm notorious for sucking at game" 	
			Lucea says, "+s" 	
			maga says, "also, anyone who didn't play it before should totally do it again in a graphics-capable terp, because the art adds a great deal" 	
			DavidW says, "I wonder if all the labels are switchable. It'd be weird if "Patrick" had Lisa's stuff." 	
			inky says, "ok, if you want to see images: [LINK]" 	
			Lucea says, "yeah, I was about to say" 	
			Jacqueline says (to maga), "Good to know." 	
			Lucea says, "the images are important" 	
			inky says, "though it's not really as good as seeing them in the browser" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, I'll want to see the artwork." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Guess I'll just cue up the game." 	
			Bert says, "Mmm, now I'm curious about swapping Patrick and Lisa." 	
			Bert says, "Or Patrick and anyone else whose locker we couldn't look into." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "version" 		
	

Floyd | Everybody Dies
Floyd | An Interactive Fantasy by Jim Munroe, with illustrations by Michael
Floyd | Cho.

Floyd | Release 2 / Serial number 081116 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd | Type CREDITS for the full credits, HELP if you need it, and QUIT to
Floyd | exit the game.
Floyd | Identification number: //EF7CFE1C-7529-11DD-B6E6-0016EC35A9FA//
Floyd | Interpreter version 0.4.2 / VM 3.1.0 / Library serial number 080126

Floyd | Standard Rules version 2/080430 by Graham Nelson
Floyd | Custom Library Messages version 25/080420 by David Fisher
Floyd | Shipboard Directions version 2/080508 by Mikael Segercrantz
Floyd |

		Bert says, "Ah, this is Release 2." 	
			Bert says, "The labels worked slightly differently in the comp release." 	
			Bert says, "And were more fiddly to interact with." 	
			inky says, "I remember having -- yeah" 	
			DavidW asks, "The verbs weren't 'take' and 'put'?" 	
			Bert says, "(The puzzle was the same; they were just cards that you had to slide in and out of metal brackets explicitly instead of stickers.)" 	
			Bert says, "So you had to >PUT PATRICK'S TAG INTO GRAHAM'S BRACKET or something like that" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			inky says, "and >PUT PATRICK'S LABEL ON GRAHAM'S LOCKER didn't work" 	
			Lucea says, "Aha, I *thought* something had changed" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			DavidW says, "er, ilac" 	
			Taleslinger asks (of lucea), "Did you die in the meantime?" 	
			Lucea says, "Yes." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss tim" 		
	

Floyd | I should keep my mind on the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tim opens "Patrick's" locker and immediately grabs a big garbage bag.
Floyd | "What the heck...?"
Floyd |

Floyd | He opens the bag and the smell fills the room. "I do believe we have
Floyd | ourselves some Wacky Tobacccy, Lisa."
Floyd |
Floyd | The grin on his face is positively wolfish. Within seconds he's talking
Floyd | to the police on the phone.
Floyd |

Floyd | Patrick is sooooo fired.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fired? Graham says. For a bale like that he's going to juvie.
Floyd |
Floyd | What the hell do you need that much weed for, anyway? Ranni says.
Floyd |

Floyd | The grow-op in my mom's basement caught fire, one of the lamps, Graham
Floyd | says, I needed to store the stuff I salvaged somewhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | An unbelievable ending to an unbelievable day. The cops show up and
Floyd | then Patrick shows up and then Patrick's scary uncle shows up -- a big
Floyd | nightmare, needless to say.

Floyd |
Floyd | But you know what I thought when I was locking up for the night? Could
Floyd | have been worse. Nobody died.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** WE DIDN'T DIE ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "From the images, it looks like the fish are symbolic of the symbiosis." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | I am carrying:

Floyd |   Graham's label
Floyd |   a pair of glasses (being worn)
Floyd |   dark green work slacks (being worn)
Floyd |   a Cost Cutters blouse (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | The Staffroom
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get lisa's label. get patrick's label." 		
	

Floyd | No, I stuck it on good. Can't get it off without ripping it.
Floyd |

Floyd | I already have that.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "lockers" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x lockers" 		
	

Floyd | They're the kind that have the combo locks built into the doors, so
Floyd | central office can access them at any time.
Floyd |
Floyd | Most of them have clearly printed labels stuck on to indicate their

Floyd | owners: JILL, PATRICK, PAUL, RANNY (this was before I knew it was spelt
Floyd | RANNI, so sue me). GRAHAM, JASON, and my own were all written in the
Floyd | sloppy handwriting of my predecessor.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get jill's label" 		
	

Floyd | It's like part of the metal now. Can't get it off without ripping it.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get jason's label" 		
	

Floyd | It's like part of the metal now. Can't get it off without ripping it.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get paul's label" 		
	

Floyd | It's like part of the metal now. Can't get it off without ripping it.
Floyd |

		
	maga disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		DavidW says, "oh well. If was worth a try." 	
			Bert says, "Yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "Try removing Lisa's blouse. Maybe she can distract Tim." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was going to download the game, but I'm lost without the wiki or Baf's!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So I am looking at the images inky posted." 	
			Nitku says, "Try IFDB" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, true." 	
			DavidW says, "This art with the fish is really clever." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove blouse" 		
	

Floyd | You know, if you want to see scantily clad girls you shouldn't be
Floyd | playing a text game.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "play I-0" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			DavidW says, "well, I shoulda guessed. The game wouldn't let me undress the guys either." 	
	Taleslinger has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says, "Well, sounds like folks are done... transcript posting time!"	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
What Happens in Vagueness
by The IF Whispers Team
As played on ifMUD on December 21, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of What Happens in Vagueness, written by The IF Whispers Team. What Happens in Vagueness is the fourth creation from an IF Whispers collaboration, which is a sort of interactive fiction coded in the spirit of exquisite corpse, where multiple authors create a single piece of interactive fiction, but each author only has access to the code directly preceding theirs. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load vagueness" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Just your luck. You were on your way to your Aunt Mabel's 100th

Floyd | birthday party when your car finally gave up the ghost. Not like it
Floyd | hasn't been trying to do that for weeks, but on a student budget a
Floyd | newer car was out of reach. Nothing to do but walk to the nearest town
Floyd | and see about other transportation.
Floyd |
Floyd | What Happens In Vagueness

Floyd | An Interactive Collaboration by The IFW4 Team
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 080825 / Inform 7 build 5T18 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd | Type "about" for more information.
Floyd |
Floyd | By Your Car

Floyd | You're standing on a stretch of road by your car. On the sides of the
Floyd | road is nothing but flat, dry ground and nothing to see at all to the
Floyd | horizon. The sign you passed a few miles back said it was about 10
Floyd | miles to the nearest town, the name of which you've already forgotten.
Floyd | Seeing as it's even farther back to the previous town, the only way to
Floyd | go is forward to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see your car and a road sign here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're tall and thirsty. Too old to be drifting loose, too young to
Floyd | have done anything much to deserve confirmation - your tattoos show
Floyd | that much.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
			Limax says, "Thanks maga" 	
	Jacqueline says, "This one is a free for all, anyone can type commands to Floyd." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x tattoos" 		
	

Floyd | Your right arm, left hand and the left side of your face are partially
Floyd | covered with blocky, rounded glyphs precisely specifying your age,
Floyd | blood type, status (social, economic, marital) and affiliations
Floyd | (birth-clan, adopted clan, moiety, college). None of which are going to
Floyd | impress anybody, except for the adopted-clan part, perhaps; Aunt
Floyd | Mabel's reputation extends across the known world. But even so, the

Floyd | conspicuous hollow circles on the backs of both hands mark you as
Floyd | unconfirmed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of Limax), "Thanks maga for what?" 	
			Limax says, "THe description" 	
			Limax says, "I left the person generic" 	
	DavidW arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x curb" 		
	

Floyd | Now this here is a pedigree Chattanooga brindled mooch-hound. This
Floyd | noble breed, of which Curb forms paradigm and pinnacle, is eight kinds
Floyd | of crazy, twelve kinds of stupid and every kind of mean.
Floyd |

Floyd | You didn't exactly plan for a hound. A friend's bitch whelped, you were
Floyd | trying to act cute around a girl, and you were not at that time
Floyd | familiar with the quirks of the breed. The puppy got a home, you got a
Floyd | lifelong companion, the girl got eight stitches and the hell out of
Floyd | Dodge.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Now I make coffee and I'll be back shortly" 	
			DavidW says, "I ... need ... coffee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x car" 		
	

Floyd | This piece of junk has seen you through three years of school. You just
Floyd | needed it to last a little longer. Too bad it didn't. Other than that,
Floyd | it's got the usual things you'd find on a car... steering wheel, those
Floyd | little pedals that's supposed to make it go "zoom," oh, and there's

Floyd | also a trunk in back.
Floyd |
Floyd | Thrown across the back seat you can see the guitar.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at Treasure Huntery Lesson 1.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take guitar" 		
	

Floyd | The car isn't open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb gnaws hungrily on his own forepaw.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "What's the premise?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open car" 		
	

Floyd | You open the car.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Roger arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   your car keys
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb sniffs at the road sign like the horrible little pervert he is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We're on a deserted road ten miles from the nearest town, nothing visible in any direction, and our car has broken down." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | At some juncture of the distant past it may, you surmise, have
Floyd | displayed information of some kind; the original content has been
Floyd | effaced, but it still tells you something; to wit, folks here have ammo
Floyd | to waste and don't mind shooting at trash.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the car keys.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take guitar" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "what? Again?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	

Floyd | You play a few notes of "Puff, the Magic Dragon". Contrary to IF
Floyd | convention, you actually play quite well.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "heh" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I remember looking up Panga." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open trunk" 		
	

Floyd | Twenty hours on the road are starting to take its toll on your motor
Floyd | skills: on the first try, you fumble the keys and drop them onto the
Floyd | blacktop. With a yelp of joy, Curb snaps them up and dodges out of
Floyd | reach. Well, fuck.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb starts at nothing, and half falls over in a desperate attempt to

Floyd | escape it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	jwalrus arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		olethros asks, "hey, guitar, no banjo?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take keys" 		
	

Floyd | That dog has a laudable attitude towards the defence of private
Floyd | property, and you have no desire to add a ragged, septic hand wound to
Floyd | your troubles.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Damn that mut." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, mutt" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "hit dog" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet dog" 		
	

Floyd |   your guitar

Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You vigorously pat Curb's head until he closes his eyes and nearly
Floyd | falls asleep. The second you stop, though, he returns to his same old
Floyd | self.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to howl, but it devolves into a whimper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read lesson" 		
	

Floyd | "Treasure Huntery Lesson 1: Maps" is a slim pamphlet that gives just

Floyd | the basics. You've read it a thousand times, but it never hurts to have
Floyd | it on hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snaps at flies.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "stetson?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm assuming we do want to see what's in the trunk before we hike east." 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "A cowboy hat." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "push car eas" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "push car east" 		
	

Floyd | The car cannot be pushed from place to place.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chases his tail, squealing frustration.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "The car was my description" 	
			olethros says, "the hell it can't!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read pamphlet" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "cut off curb's tail" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read treasure huntery" 		
	

Floyd | "The first thing any treasure hunter needs is a map. It's no good to
Floyd | just go looking for treasure with no idea of where to look! You may be
Floyd | skeptical about the existence of actual treasure maps, but in fact the
Floyd | people who hid treasure generally wanted to be able to find it again,

Floyd | or even to let their heirs or accomplices find it in the event that
Floyd | they could not. This doesn't mean they made it easy!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "It was shadowy imps that took our keys the last time, wasn't it?" 	
			Limax says (to olethros), "You set the parking brake and broke it so that it can never be moved, so there. nyah" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It might be a good idea to close the car first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "close car.e." 		
	

Floyd | You close the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | You silently trudge down the road toward the town, wherever it may be.
Floyd |

Floyd | Paved Highway
Floyd | This lonely stretch of road seems to continue east toward the horizon.
Floyd | The sides of the road haven't changed much either. It's still flat, dry
Floyd | ground. You can see your car in the distance to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A ways down the road you can make out a solitary billboard.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Wait." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros asks, "cant you open the trunk with a lever from inside the car?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Did anyone check the glove compartment?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Don't we want to try to solve this trunk thing before going east?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You trudge back toward your car.
Floyd |

Floyd | By Your Car
Floyd | You're standing on a stretch of road by your car. On the sides of the
Floyd | road is nothing but flat, dry ground and nothing to see at all to the
Floyd | horizon. The sign you passed a few miles back said it was about 10
Floyd | miles to the nearest town, the name of which you've already forgotten.
Floyd | Seeing as it's even farther back to the previous town, the only way to

Floyd | go is forward to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see your car and a road sign here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open car" 		
	

Floyd | You open the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back

Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x trunk" 		
	

Floyd | Yep. It's a trunk, and it's at the back of the car. You can't remember

Floyd | if you put anything useful in there before you left your house or not.
Floyd |
Floyd | Naturally, a protective geesoofus is prominently displayed. You
Floyd | wouldn't cross the badlands without one.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back

Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "l in car" 		
	

Floyd | The car is empty.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get in car" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the car.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open trunk" 		
	

Floyd | You lack a key that fits the trunk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x glove compartment" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "search car" 		
	

Floyd | The car is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "curb, open trunk" 		
	

Floyd | Curb has better things to do.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit dog over head with guitar" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hit Curb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x wheel" 		
	

Floyd | That's what you would use to steer the car, if it actually worked.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit dog with guitar" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb fixes you with a look of abject guilt and keens softly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tickle curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "kick curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Have we any food?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "curb, sit" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   your guitar

Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chases his tail, squealing frustration.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | (on the car keys)
Floyd | Curb has better things to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "perhaps if we gave him something else" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "give hat to dog" 		
	

Floyd | Like hell! That good-for-nothing hound destroys everything you own, but

Floyd | you've got to keep some things sacred.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "give panga to dog" 		
	

Floyd | Curb watches the panga with a sceptical eye, considers its merits
Floyd | relative to the car keys, decides that you're trying to manipulate him
Floyd | and scampers to a safe distance.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x panga" 		
	

Floyd | Two feet of heavy, sharp iron with a single blade. Machete, some call
Floyd | it. It's not much, but you're stuck with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | When you was born, your folks were in a bad way; they'd just gotten run

Floyd | out of the Dakotas, were getting just whatever work they could find
Floyd | till a House turned up that was accepting indentured, and didn't have
Floyd | the money to get anything better. So you got bound to this overgrown
Floyd | sheath-knife.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a good tool and all, and your folks did all they could to get it,

Floyd | but - any road, you're bound to it now, so make the best of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "What's a panga? A knife?" 	
			maga says, "machete" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "attack curb with panga" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | At some juncture of the distant past it may, you surmise, have
Floyd | displayed information of some kind; the original content has been

Floyd | effaced, but it still tells you something; to wit, folks here have ammo
Floyd | to waste and don't mind shooting at trash.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "dice curgb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "get sign" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snaps viciously at you, then backs away with his tail between his
Floyd | legs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kiss curb" 		
	

Floyd | Keep your mind on the game.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "give treasure huntery to curb" 		
	

Floyd | Curb watches Treasure Huntery Lesson 1 with a sceptical eye, considers
Floyd | its merits relative to the car keys, decides that you're trying to
Floyd | manipulate him and scampers to a safe distance.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I'm going to let other people drive" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "topple car" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "kick trunk" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "hit trunk" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Perhaps there's food/stick/bone elsewhere for Curb to play with." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, hm. Yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "Or a frisbee" 	
			Jacqueline nods. 	
			DavidW says, "Or a cat" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I will quit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "If the cat is a solution." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's explore, I guess." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It might be a good idea to close the car first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "close car. e." 		
	

Floyd | You close the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your car is done for. It's not going to go anywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out. close car. e." 		
	

Floyd | You can't get out of the closed car.
Floyd |

Floyd | That's already closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb tries to gnaw at your heels, but you kick him away.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your car is done for. It's not going to go anywhere.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Gar." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open car. out. close car. e." 		
	

Floyd | You open the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snaps viciously at you, then backs away with his tail between his
Floyd | legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | You get out of the car.

Floyd |
Floyd | By Your Car
Floyd | You're standing on a stretch of road by your car. On the sides of the
Floyd | road is nothing but flat, dry ground and nothing to see at all to the
Floyd | horizon. The sign you passed a few miles back said it was about 10
Floyd | miles to the nearest town, the name of which you've already forgotten.

Floyd | Seeing as it's even farther back to the previous town, the only way to
Floyd | go is forward to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see your car and a road sign here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |
Floyd | You close the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | You silently trudge down the road toward the town, wherever it may be.

Floyd |
Floyd | Paved Highway
Floyd | This lonely stretch of road seems to continue east toward the horizon.
Floyd | The sides of the road haven't changed much either. It's still flat, dry
Floyd | ground. You can see your car in the distance to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | A ways down the road you can make out a solitary billboard.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "heh. Sorry we trapped you in the car." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x billboard" 		
	

Floyd | FIFTYMILE
Floyd | Critter Museum & General Store
Floyd | * Water - Tobbaco - Erotica - Local Crafts *

Floyd |
Floyd | The paint's faded and worn away in patches, and you can see no evidence
Floyd | of life; but that needn't mean anything, out here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "'Tobbaco'?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Typo." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But probably intentional, I suspect." 	
			DavidW says, "Let's get some erotica water." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I sense this description is a product of road trips across America on which maga has been a passenger with me." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "lick billboard" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You continue to trudge down the road, you car falling away from sight
Floyd | behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction
Floyd | As the highway continues to the east, you can see a rutted dirt path

Floyd | heading off to the north toward what looks like a small farmhouse.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x farmhouse" 		
	

Floyd | It's seen better days.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "This sure sounds familiar." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Does it?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I am thinking of the Texas Chainsaw massacre." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I say we visit the farmhouse" 	
			Limax says, "Since it was maga, it probably is intentional" 	
			DavidW asks, "Maybe I have played this before?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You head toward the small farmhouse.
Floyd |

Floyd | Trading Post Porch
Floyd | A wide porch of wood slats, with the obligatory animal skulls nailed up
Floyd | against the wall. South leads back to the road; north takes you inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just outside the shadowed doorway, a parched corpse slumps in a
Floyd | rocking-chair, a long gun across his knees.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says (to DavidW), "I don't think you have, unless you played it when it came out" 	
			Jacqueline says, "WOO! I SCORED TEN!" 	
			DavidW says, "Maybe I did and forgot." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't even TRY, and I SCORED." 	
			Limax exclaims, "Jacq's a 10!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x corpse" 		
	

Floyd | Tall guy. Thin, but that's most likely just how you get when you dry
Floyd | out. Old clothes; someone already took his hat and been through his
Floyd | pockets. Buzzards been at him, so you can't tell much else. Had a red

Floyd | beard. Gun still lying across his lap.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to swallow your car keys, chokes, and brings them back
Floyd | up. He doesn't drop them, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x gun" 		
	

Floyd | Long enough barrel, but it's just a home-made matchlock. Badly made,
Floyd | too - the lock's blown wide open. Likely that's what got him. Certainly
Floyd | didn't help him any.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take gun" 		
	

Floyd | With a sharp tug, you pull the gun from the corpse's stiff hands. As
Floyd | you do, the blasted lock falls apart entirely, leaving you with just
Floyd | the long musket-barrel.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "take that, backwater Heston" 	
			DavidW says, "If there's a trapdoor inside and a dirt cellar, ..." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x barrel" 		
	

Floyd | A musket barrel about five and a half feet long. More suited to a
Floyd | drainpipe than a gun, but you're in no place to judge.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snaps at flies.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "There is" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Huh. You've already played?" 	
			DavidW says, "ah. Then I must've played it and forgot." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Trading Post Main Room
Floyd | Light spills through dust-caked windows and cracks in the log walls. It
Floyd | doesn't show up much. Some shelves, an old counter that may once have
Floyd | held a till, an uneven plank floor; must have been looted a dozen times
Floyd | over. Over in one corner there's a trapdoor.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the shelves are a Twinkie, a strip of bison jerky, and a Son of Toil
Floyd | bar.
Floyd |
Floyd | No phone, of course. Not that you were expecting one, at this point.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Shows how memorable it is" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			DavidW says, "I play lots of games." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Despite being an author, I've only seen two sections." 	
			Limax says, "IF Whispers - Games to go to sleep by" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "Well, if people would speak up instead of whispering maybe I'd be able to keep my eyes open." 	
			Limax says, "Ha ha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I played a few sections, but only dimly remember them." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | Twinkie: Taken.
Floyd | strip of bison jerky: Taken.
Floyd | Son of Toil bar: Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I'l just sit here and play my banjo and let my troubles go away" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "give jerky to curb" 		
	

Floyd | You wave the strip of bison jerky at Curb. His ears prick up, and he

Floyd | abandons the car keys immediately, almost taking your fingers off as he
Floyd | snatches the delicious treat away from you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb attempts to howl, but it devolves into a whimper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take keys" 		
	

Floyd | You steel your courage. Dog slobber is no picnic.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to howl, but it devolves into a whimper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "eat jerkie" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, back to the car!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Trading Post Porch
Floyd | A wide porch of wood slats, with the obligatory animal skulls nailed up
Floyd | against the wall. South leads back to the road; north takes you inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just outside the shadowed doorway, a parched corpse slumps in a
Floyd | rocking-chair.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction
Floyd | As the highway continues to the east, you can see a rutted dirt path
Floyd | heading off to the north toward what looks like a small farmhouse.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You silently head back in the direction of your car.
Floyd |

Floyd | You silently trudge down the road toward the town, wherever it may be.
Floyd |
Floyd | Paved Highway
Floyd | This lonely stretch of road seems to continue east toward the horizon.
Floyd | The sides of the road haven't changed much either. It's still flat, dry
Floyd | ground. You can see your car in the distance to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | A ways down the road you can make out a solitary billboard.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You trudge back toward your car.
Floyd |
Floyd | By Your Car
Floyd | You're standing on a stretch of road by your car. On the sides of the

Floyd | road is nothing but flat, dry ground and nothing to see at all to the
Floyd | horizon. The sign you passed a few miles back said it was about 10
Floyd | miles to the nearest town, the name of which you've already forgotten.
Floyd | Seeing as it's even farther back to the previous town, the only way to
Floyd | go is forward to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see your car and a road sign here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | At some juncture of the distant past it may, you surmise, have
Floyd | displayed information of some kind; the original content has been
Floyd | effaced, but it still tells you something; to wit, folks here have ammo
Floyd | to waste and don't mind shooting at trash.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock trunk" 		
	

Floyd | You insert your key in the trunk and it pops open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in trunk" 		
	

Floyd | In the trunk are a glow-jar and an offering.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take all from trunk" 		
	

Floyd | glow-jar: Taken.
Floyd | offering: Not much you can do with these until you have some form of
Floyd | transport; you sure as hell ain't smoking them.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x offering" 		
	

Floyd | One thousand packs of filterless Camels, your birthday gift to Aunt

Floyd | Mabel. Hopefully it'll be a sufficient offering for her to confirm you,
Floyd | but that's no sure thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snatches up the offering in his mouth and gnaws noisily at it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "PLay guitar" 		
	

Floyd | You play a few notes of some Rick Astley song you can't remember the
Floyd | name of. Contrary to IF convention, you actually play quite well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	

Floyd | You play a few notes of some Rick Astley song you can't remember the
Floyd | name of. Contrary to IF convention, you actually play quite well.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb starts at nothing, and half falls over in a desperate attempt to

Floyd | escape it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x jar" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	

Floyd | Some of the crazier hill-tribes sell this glowy liquid stuff. It's
Floyd | nasty stuff - you wouldn't want to get it on your skin - but you figure
Floyd | that if it's sealed in a Ball jar you should be just fine. Anyhow, it
Floyd | gives off a decent light that never goes out, which is why you paid
Floyd | fifty smokes for it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | You play a few notes of "Chobits ending theme 2". Contrary to IF
Floyd | convention, you actually play quite well.
Floyd |
Floyd | Eyes rolling nervously, Curb hunches over and humps thin air.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Korodzik arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Limax says, "I love random stuff" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So... where to now?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That trapdoor?" 	
			Taleslinger nods. 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It might be a good idea to close the trunk first.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "close trunk. e. e. n. n." 		
	

Floyd | You slam down the trunk and it clicks shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chews contentedly on the offering

Floyd | You silently trudge down the road toward the town, wherever it may be.
Floyd |
Floyd | Paved Highway
Floyd | This lonely stretch of road seems to continue east toward the horizon.
Floyd | The sides of the road haven't changed much either. It's still flat, dry
Floyd | ground. You can see your car in the distance to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | A ways down the road you can make out a solitary billboard.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You continue to trudge down the road, you car falling away from sight

Floyd | behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Junction
Floyd | As the highway continues to the east, you can see a rutted dirt path
Floyd | heading off to the north toward what looks like a small farmhouse.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you. Whether you like it or not.
Floyd |
Floyd | You head toward the small farmhouse.
Floyd |
Floyd | Trading Post Porch
Floyd | A wide porch of wood slats, with the obligatory animal skulls nailed up

Floyd | against the wall. South leads back to the road; north takes you inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just outside the shadowed doorway, a parched corpse slumps in a
Floyd | rocking-chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Trading Post Main Room
Floyd | Light spills through dust-caked windows and cracks in the log walls. It
Floyd | doesn't show up much. Some shelves, an old counter that may once have
Floyd | held a till, an uneven plank floor; must have been looted a dozen times
Floyd | over. Over in one corner there's a trapdoor.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline is eating breakfast and will let T drive... 	
			DavidW says, "...and fall into my trap" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I thought we'd all drive." 	
			Limax says, "Bwa ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we will, but I'm eating." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So I'm watching and will jump in if I want to." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Don't type with your mouth full!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open trapdoor" 		
	

Floyd | You open the trapdoor.
Floyd |

Floyd | A pale moth flutters out of the cellar. You reflexively make a warding
Floyd | sign - though they don't help much with Curb, so their potency against
Floyd | curses and doom seems to be limited.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Holding the glow-jar before you, panga at the ready, you cautiously
Floyd | descend into the cellar.
Floyd |

Floyd | Root Cellar
Floyd | Plenty of sweat went into digging this cellar out, and it smells like
Floyd | it. Wooden shelves are hammered into the dirt walls, covered in grime.
Floyd | Dirt steps are cut into one wall, leading up to a trap door.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear an eager whine, and Curb barrels into the trap-door from

Floyd | above, which just misses your head as it slams shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "And I'm drinking coffee and playing my banjo... and I really should be finishing up this handbell piece that I promised people a few weeks ago" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I am about to make a late dinner and get some ironing done." 	
	Korodzik goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "I would like to kill the dog now." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Can we kill the dog now?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "curse" 		
	

Floyd | Blasphemy!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "No" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "No" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kill curb with panga" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Bad Jacqueline." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x trapdoor" 		
	

Floyd | A crude wooden trapdoor bolted into the floor with rustic iron hinges.
Floyd |
Floyd | A heavy sound suggests Curb might have been walking around, but just

Floyd | sat down again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "maga never implemented it... and he's needed later on" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Root Cellar
Floyd | Plenty of sweat went into digging this cellar out, and it smells like
Floyd | it. Wooden shelves are hammered into the dirt walls, covered in grime.
Floyd | Dirt steps are cut into one wall, leading up to a trap door.
Floyd |
Floyd | It sounds like Curb is gnawing on something above the trapdoor.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait... is Curb - ah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "He's lucky I can't get to him." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | Ain't much to one of these shelves. A couple of two-by-fours sunk into
Floyd | the wall, and some one-by-fours set across, and some dirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scuffles at the trapdoor, as though trying to dig through it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "search shelves" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing on the cellar shelves.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "You can blame your husband" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search dirt" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the packed dirt, the dirt corner, or the dirt steps?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "hey, I left the possibility open for other people to implement killing it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am shocked at this. Maga seemed like such a cat person." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "corner" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		maga says (to Jacq), "that is why the dog is so very horrible" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search packed dirt" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jota says, "Whoops. I guess I missed the start." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dig packed dirt" 		Jota says, "Maybe next week." 	
	

Floyd | With what, your panga?

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb howls mournfully. Thank goodness the trapdoor muffles some sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | Well, if you must, you must. It's a tool before all else, it's true.
Floyd | You start hacking away at the dirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a really crummy tool for this job, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | After a while, you hear a "thunk", and realize you've hit wood. A

Floyd | little more work, and you realize there's a sort of a cubby down there
Floyd | - a place to stash things where they won't be disturbed. Except by
Floyd | jerks with pangas, of course.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "kill dragon / With your bare hands? / yes" 	
			DavidW says, "love it" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wood" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Ah yes... one of the classic moments" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cubby" 		
	

Floyd | A rough hole has been hacked into the ground here, down to a little
Floyd | cubby made of wood. Tucked into the cubby are a diary, an old bolt, and

Floyd | a piece of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | diary: Taken.

Floyd | old bolt: Taken.
Floyd | piece of paper: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read paper" 		
	

Floyd | An old, brittle, yellowing piece of paper, maybe once a shopping list,
Floyd | written in big, painful capital letters. Some of it has succumbed to
Floyd | time, but what you can read says:
Floyd |
Floyd | (smudge) RTS CREAM
Floyd | 2 DOSEN EGG

Floyd | 6 HINDGE BOLTS
Floyd | 50# LEAD FOR SHOOTING
Floyd | HALF DOSEN LEMONS
Floyd | MEDECENE FO(smudge)MPA
Floyd |
Floyd | The rest is all a blur.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the familiar sounds of Curb eating his own vomit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros has disconnected. 		
	olethros was too old and infirm for your purpose. 		DavidW says, "ah yes. I remember the old bolt now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "GAH RANDOM CURB MESSAGES" 	
			DavidW says, "I've definitely played this before." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Curb), "I'm *EATING* *BREAKFAST*, thank you very much." 	
			Jacqueline reswallows a bit of her breakfast burrito that tried to escape when she read the bit about Curb eating his own vomit. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x diary" 		
	

Floyd | A worn-out leather diary, written in a crabbed hand. Your letters were
Floyd | never all so good as that, and you wouldn't want to try reading this
Floyd | mess in anything but good light.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Root Cellar
Floyd | Plenty of sweat went into digging this cellar out, and it smells like

Floyd | it. Wooden shelves are hammered into the dirt walls, covered in grime.
Floyd | Dirt steps are cut into one wall, leading up to a trap door. A rough
Floyd | hole has been dug - or cut, really - into the corner.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb howls mournfully. Thank goodness the trapdoor muffles some sound.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "smell cellar" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | Ain't much to one of these shelves. A couple of two-by-fours sunk into
Floyd | the wall, and some one-by-fours set across, and some dirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take shelves" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bolt" 		
	

Floyd | You try to open the trapdoor, but it seems to be stuck. Or Curb has set
Floyd | his mangy behind down on it, which seems just about as likely.
Floyd |

Floyd | It sounds like Curb is gnawing on something above the trapdoor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | (the old bolt)
Floyd | Actually, it's only part of an old bolt. It's rusty, stained, and the
Floyd | end is broken off, so it's only about an inch long.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hmm. Bolts needing changed, and this one's broken and rusty. Might be
Floyd | too much to hope for...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | A crude wooden trapdoor bolted into the floor with rustic iron hinges.
Floyd | Now that you look closely, those bolts do look somewhat old and shabby.
Floyd | Certainly no match for, say, your panga.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | You bruise your knuckles on the bolts. Maybe you should find something
Floyd | else to use.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the familiar sounds of Curb eating his own vomit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hit bolts with panga" 		
	

Floyd | Armed with your newfound knowledge - and your trusty panga - you lay

Floyd | into the trapdoor's bolts. They shatter with a few sharp blows each.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you are attacking the last bolt, there's a dangerous creaking sound,
Floyd | and suddenly the trapdoor collapses, spilling dust, rust, and your
Floyd | ever-faithful friend, Curb, down onto your head. But at least the
Floyd | trapdoor is open again!

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Trading Post Main Room
Floyd | Light spills through dust-caked windows and cracks in the log walls. It
Floyd | doesn't show up much. Some shelves, an old counter that may once have

Floyd | held a till, an uneven plank floor; must have been looted a dozen times
Floyd | over. Over in one corner there's a trapdoor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read diary" 		
	

Floyd | A worn-out leather diary, written in a crabbed hand. Your letters were
Floyd | never all so good as that, and it's hard to make out exactly what the
Floyd | owner was writing about, but it looks like he spent some time in
Floyd | Afterbliss.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think the rifle barrel would've been a better tool there." 	
			Limax says, "Let's see..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Well, I didn't hurt the panga, did I?" 	
			DavidW says, "Fortunately not" 	
			Limax says, "That would have been vimes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I just sort of went with the game's suggestion." 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 4, "Ghosts", was written by Marius Mueller.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Ah. We're in section 4 now" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, I forgot about the >AUTHOR verb." 	
			Taleslinger says, "But it just started." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read diary" 		
	

Floyd | A worn-out leather diary, written in a crabbed hand. Your letters were
Floyd | never all so good as that, and it's hard to make out exactly what the
Floyd | owner was writing about, but it looks like he spent some time in Under

Floyd | a Tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb vomits from excitement, his ribcage convulsing. He laps up the
Floyd | result hurriedly, before you steal his prize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "'Author' is based on who built the current room, I imagine. Probably not everything in the room, however." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nor the horrible things Curb is doing." 	
			maga says, "muahahaha" 	
			Taleslinger says (to davidW), "No, it's built so a new scene starts after certain things have happened." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Trading Post Main Room
Floyd | Light spills through dust-caked windows and cracks in the log walls. It
Floyd | doesn't show up much. Some shelves, an old counter that may once have

Floyd | held a till, an uneven plank floor; must have been looted a dozen times
Floyd | over. Over in one corner there's a trapdoor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   an old bolt
Floyd |   a diary

Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar

Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bar" 		
	

Floyd | Son of Toil bars contain protein and suchlike for the man with work on
Floyd | his mind. You never had so much work on your mind that you could stand
Floyd | the taste. The packaging is attractively decorated with an image of
Floyd | some Bible feller in a generic act of honest labour.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "eat bar" 		
	

Floyd | You feel a strong personal disinclination against such a venture. Say
Floyd | what you will. Maybe it's on account of your weak non-toiling

Floyd | constitution or some such.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb has apparently grown bored with the offering. If you want it,
Floyd | you'll have to brave a great deal of slobber.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take offering" 		
	

Floyd | Not much you can do with these until you have some form of transport;
Floyd | you sure as hell ain't smoking them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x offering" 		
	

Floyd | One thousand packs of filterless Camels, your birthday gift to Aunt
Floyd | Mabel. Hopefully it'll be a sufficient offering for her to confirm you,
Floyd | but that's no sure thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | It's covered in dog slobber and chew marks.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And yet Curb could carry it." 	
			maga says, "Curb shouldn't really be able to take those; that's a bug" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Limax says, "Hm" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x twinkie" 		
	

Floyd | One of the foulest creations of the Former Age, but they contain
Floyd | calories of some kind and they never rot. You don't blame the looters
Floyd | for leaving it, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tattoo" 		
	

Floyd | Your right arm, left hand and the left side of your face are partially
Floyd | covered with blocky, rounded glyphs precisely specifying your age,
Floyd | blood type, status (social, economic, marital) and affiliations
Floyd | (birth-clan, adopted clan, moiety, college). None of which are going to

Floyd | impress anybody, except for the adopted-clan part, perhaps; Aunt
Floyd | Mabel's reputation extends across the known world. But even so, the
Floyd | conspicuous hollow circles on the backs of both hands mark you as
Floyd | unconfirmed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb gnaws hungrily on his own forepaw.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So, um. Out and then on up the road?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "confirm myself" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "go ahead" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I can't drive right now." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Trading Post Porch
Floyd | A wide porch of wood slats, with the obligatory animal skulls nailed up
Floyd | against the wall. South leads back to the road; north takes you inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just outside the shadowed doorway, a parched corpse slumps in a

Floyd | rocking-chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Junction
Floyd | As the highway continues to the east, you can see a rutted dirt path
Floyd | heading off to the north toward what looks like a small farmhouse.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You walk for a few sandy miles, out into the desert, and night begins
Floyd | to fall, slowly, like a dead parachutist. In the distance, the
Floyd | whispering wind takes on a howl - looks like a sandstorm is on its way.
Floyd | By the time you realize this, however, you've gone to far to go back to
Floyd | your car.
Floyd |

Floyd | And so, in the depths of nights, with the sandstorm building up its
Floyd | inhuman, demonic power around you, you find yourself on...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Saloon porch
Floyd | The building is in the state you've expected from a ghost town. Its
Floyd | upper floor is completely gone, but the front is still standing, and

Floyd | you can barely make out the words Kissing Bandit Saloon in sun-bleached
Floyd | red paint. One half of a swinging door leads north, inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "If anyone uses this to go back and fix bugs/errors, 'you've gone TOO far'" 	
	inky arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Taleslinger whistles. 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Worry not, we all make typos. :) Just noting it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, hooray Kissing Bandit Saloon." 	
			DavidW says, "y'know, if Curb were a cat, it'd be hacking up hairballs." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "True enough." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You enter through the swing door, Curb on your heels.
Floyd |

Floyd | In the saloon
Floyd | This room is much smaller than what the movies tell you. A stairway
Floyd | leads up to a gallery, though most of the roof and the upper floor is
Floyd | missing. A few chairs and tables gather dust, accompanied by a lone
Floyd | piano in a corner.
Floyd | A counter is near the back wall.

Floyd | An impressive chandelier dangles from the remains of the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter is an empty pewter mug.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the counter is a shelf lined with a row of casks.
Floyd |

Floyd | An empty lemon juice bottle lies abandoned by the counter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "play piano" 		
	

Floyd | You play some notes from "The Late Goodybe" by Poets of the Fall, but

Floyd | then realize that the piano is one of those automatons. It even
Floyd | features some screechy lyrics. You can make something about a guy
Floyd | called Tom, who was a slinger, but not slinging "a gun". Something
Floyd | about a more lyrical meaning. Thankfully, the record ends soon.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the Son of Toil bar and makes a famished whine.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, ""famished"?" 	
	Gunther hollers (to inky), "HELLO TO YOU TOO" 		Jacqueline says, "Hungry." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 4, "Ghosts", was written by Marius Mueller.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | shelf: That's fixed in place.
Floyd | empty glass bottle: Taken.
Floyd | empty pewter mug: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "slinger .... tale" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mug" 		
	

Floyd | It's empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | It's a clear glass bottle with a jaunty picture of an anthropomorphized
Floyd | lemon on the label. However, it is bone dry inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb savagely gnaws at his genitals with slurpy snarls of contentment.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky hollers, "I am watching clubfloyd gunther" 		Taleslinger says, "Yeah, it" 	
			Jacqueline says (to maga), "You are a horrible person." 	
			DavidW says, "oh, Curb, you beast" 	
			Taleslinger says, "'s a stupid joke. But also a hint!" 	
			DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "oh I know" 	
			maga cackles 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take mug, bottle" 		
	

Floyd | empty pewter mug: You already have that.
Floyd | empty glass bottle: You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb stares at the rum cask with paranoid fascination.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cask" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the beer cask, the wine cask, the moonshine cask,
Floyd | the rum cask, the sarsaparilla cask, or the lemonade cask?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x moonshine" 		
	

Floyd | It has "XXXXX" stencilled on the front. Wow, five X's? That must be
Floyd | strong stuff!

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the musket barrel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x sarsaparilla" 		maga says, "I would like to point out that I am in no way responsible for this" 	
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the sarsaparilla cask.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Take note that two scenes are mixed together here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought it was 'sasparilla' for some reason." 	
			DavidW says, "The townfolk have their own way of spelling things." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I see." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x wine" 		
	

Floyd | It's labelled "House White". There doesn't seem to be a house red.
Floyd | Maybe the patrons of this saloon preferred delicate, subtle flavors.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x beer" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the beer cask.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chases his tail, squealing frustration.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x lemonade" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the lemonade cask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x rum" 		
	

Floyd | It has the words "RED RUM" scratched crudely into the wood. Funny, the
Floyd | R's are backward. Maybe it's cyrillic and it really says YAED YAUM.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb sniffs at the rum cask like the horrible little pervert he is.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fill mug with moonshine" 		
	

Floyd | The pewter mug is now full of moonshine.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. My dictionary has it as 'sarsaparilla'." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I've probably just been pronouncing it wrong my entire life. Fortunately, this has not come up too often." 	
			DavidW says, "no, it lists both pronounciations" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh. So, I just saved. I guess I'll drink up." 	
			DavidW says, "The r is optionally said" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Ah, good." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink shine" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "drink moonshine" 		
	

Floyd | (the pewter mug of moonshine)
Floyd | You slam it back. Ahh, refreshing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | In the saloon
Floyd | This room is much smaller than what the movies tell you. A stairway

Floyd | leads up to a gallery, though most of the roof and the upper floor is
Floyd | missing. A few chairs and tables gather dust, accompanied by a lone
Floyd | piano in a corner.
Floyd | A counter is near the back wall.
Floyd | An impressive chandelier dangles from the remains of the ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the counter is a shelf lined with a row of casks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Aw. I was hoping the world'd go all wobbly." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x chandelier" 		
	

Floyd | An old, cobwebbed chandelier. Looks like some sort of map is stuck in
Floyd | the chandelier.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to howl, but it devolves into a whimper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "maybe you should try swinging from the chandelier" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take map\" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take map" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach it up there.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "push table" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get on table" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get on chair" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get on counter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get on piano" 		DavidW says, "In a bar without furniture..." 	
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb tries to gnaw on the shelf. You shoo him off before he does too
Floyd | much damage.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get map with barrel" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to get the treasure map.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw barrel at map" 		
	

Floyd | (the musket barrel at the treasure map)
Floyd | Futile.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw barrel at chandelier" 		
	

Floyd | (the musket barrel at the chandelier)
Floyd | You can't quite throw that high.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the Son of Toil bar and makes a famished whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. I think I had something at this point that we haven't found yet, somehow." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand on curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can stand on.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand on curb's head and jump up and down vigorously." 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "Another approach, perhaps. Other than standing on things." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh. Oh, I wasn't try to solve the puzzle there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was just trying to kill Curb again." 	
	GDorn arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the car keys.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says, ".. floyd curb stomp curb" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "curb stomp curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "curbstomp curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "yay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except that I would never curb stomp anyone, not even Curb." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take curb" 		
	

Floyd | He's too heavy to carry about, and you'd get fleas.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Curbstump? I'm dumpstruck." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Please ask someone else to explain it by whispering so I don't have to hear the details. It's gruesome." 	
			DavidW says, "Not me. I don't know." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   an empty glass bottle
Floyd |   a piece of paper

Floyd |   an old bolt
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie

Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay. Um, so. I'm guessing throwing other stuff is not the answer." 	
			DavidW says, "I think I know two ways of getting the map, but one way involves stuff we don't have." 	
			Limax asks, "Where are we?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "OH URBAN DICTIONARY NO" 	
			Limax says, "Oh... a treasure hunt" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs
Floyd | You've climbed half-way up the stairs. To go any further would be
Floyd | foolishly risking your life.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old piece of cloth sticks to the floorboards here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cloth" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cloth" 		
	

Floyd | An old piece of blue cloth. Could be ripped out from a pair of jeans or
Floyd | something.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snaps at flies.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb eyes the piece of cloth with more than curiosity, something akin

Floyd | to keen interest. He sniffs it expectantly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show cloth to curb" 		
	

Floyd | Curb sniffs the shred of cloth. He then holds up his head, and just for

Floyd | a moment, you can see, even in this big, repulsive heap of fat meat and
Floyd | dirty fur, the wolf, scenting the deer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "go curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb goes down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In the saloon
Floyd | This room is much smaller than what the movies tell you. A stairway
Floyd | leads up to a gallery, though most of the roof and the upper floor is

Floyd | missing. A few chairs and tables gather dust, accompanied by a lone
Floyd | piano in a corner.
Floyd | A counter is near the back wall.
Floyd | An impressive chandelier dangles from the remains of the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the counter is a shelf lined with a row of casks.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb frantically digs a hole in a corner.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb tries to gnaw on the beer cask. You shoo him off before he does
Floyd | too much damage.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hole" 		
	

Floyd | A hole, not as artfully dug as what you did in the cellar, but what can
Floyd | you expect from Curb?

Floyd | In it you can see a skull.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take skull" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb tries to gnaw on the piano. You shoo him off before he does too
Floyd | much damage.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | A human skull. It's wearing an eyepatch that's in surprisingly good
Floyd | condition.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the empty pewter mug.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take eyepatch" 		
	

Floyd | You slide the eyepatch off the skull.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in skull" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the shred of cloth.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake it" 		
	

Floyd | Violence is not the answer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put bolt in eyepatch" 		
	olethros arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	

Floyd | The eyepatch won't keep anything in it for long. If you want to sling
Floyd | the old bolt at something, you should just sling the old bolt at it
Floyd | directly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sling bolt at map" 		
	

Floyd | Taking good aim, and a few practice swings, you haul your missile at
Floyd | the treasure map- up and up it goes-

Floyd |  Hit!
Floyd | The treasure map tumbles down. But so does a part of the chandelier,
Floyd | knocking you out. The last thing you hear is Curbs anxious growling.
Floyd | The last thing you feel, unfortunately, is Curbs wet tongue, licking
Floyd | your cheek. Then, thankfully, you pass out.
Floyd |

Floyd |  *** You have knocked yourself out.***
Floyd |
Floyd |  You wake up with a bad headache. Outside, the sun is shining again,
Floyd | the sandstorm is gone. Curb has rolled up at your side, and for all his
Floyd | faults, you love him for that.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | In the saloon
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "awwww curbbb" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put bolt in barrel" 		
	

Floyd | (the musket barrel)
Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "blow barrel" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit chandelier with barrel" 		
	

Floyd | (the musket barrel)
Floyd | It's high up on the ceiling, out of reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb sniffs at the counter like the horrible little pervert he is.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I thought the barrel might be used as a blowgun" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Belatedly, very cool. Well done." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sling bolt at map" 		
	

Floyd | Taking good aim, and a few practice swings, you haul your missile at
Floyd | the treasure map- up and up it goes-
Floyd |  Hit!
Floyd | The treasure map tumbles down. But so does a part of the chandelier,
Floyd | knocking you out. The last thing you hear is Curbs anxious growling.
Floyd | The last thing you feel, unfortunately, is Curbs wet tongue, licking

Floyd | your cheek. Then, thankfully, you pass out.
Floyd |
Floyd |  *** You have knocked yourself out.***
Floyd |
Floyd |  You wake up with a bad headache. Outside, the sun is shining again,
Floyd | the sandstorm is gone. Curb has rolled up at your side, and for all his

Floyd | faults, you love him for that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb stares at the lemonade cask with paranoid fascination.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take map" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb sniffs at the chairs. like the horrible little pervert he is.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | Well, it's obviously a treasure map, because it has a big X on it to
Floyd | mark the spot. But it's a pretty strange map: it's completely blank,

Floyd | and has a light iridescent sheen to it, like a photographic plate.
Floyd | Also, it's strangely warm to the touch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "rub map" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read map" 		
	

Floyd | Well, it's obviously a treasure map, because it has a big X on it to
Floyd | mark the spot. But it's a pretty strange map: it's completely blank,
Floyd | and has a light iridescent sheen to it, like a photographic plate.
Floyd | Also, it's strangely warm to the touch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch map" 		
	

Floyd | It's definitely hotter in some spots than others.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb vomits from excitement, his ribcage convulsing. He laps up the
Floyd | result hurriedly, before you steal his prize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Do we have a heat source somewhere?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   an empty glass bottle

Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie

Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb snaps at flies.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Don't think so. Unless the glow jar is warm." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch jar" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb fixes you with a look of abject guilt and keens softly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I think there's something behind the bar you can use" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 5, "Invisiclues", was written by Carl Muckenhoupt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "But I don't recall" 	
			inky says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read treasure huntery" 		
	

Floyd | "For one thing, the maps are often nearly as well-hidden as the
Floyd | treasures themselves. However, that doesn't mean you're left to search

Floyd | aimlessly. The purpose of the map is defeated if no one has access to
Floyd | it, so treasure maps can usually be found among the effects of the
Floyd | treasure-hiders, or in places they frequented. Look in residences,
Floyd | gathering-places, and vehicles."
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at Treasure Huntery Lesson 1.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | "Once you've found your map, the next step is deciphering it. Treasure
Floyd | maps are usually encrypted or obfuscated in some way. Edgar Allan Poe's

Floyd | short story The Gold Bug tells about a map that has instructions
Floyd | written in code... and also in invisible ink!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | "Invisible ink is actually surprisingly common in authentic treasure
Floyd | maps -- and one of the main reasons that there are still treasure maps
Floyd | that have gone undetected. The most popular form of invisible ink is
Floyd | ordinary lemon juice, although any weak acid works just as well. When
Floyd | heat is applied to the paper, the parts weakened by the lemon juice
Floyd | discolor more quickly. There are recorded attempts at developing an ink

Floyd | that would work the other way around, but to our knowledge this has
Floyd | never been done successfully."
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "aHA" 	
			DavidW says, "ah. So add lemon to the heat ink" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lemonade" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the lemonade cask.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb attempts to howl, but it devolves into a whimper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fill mug with lemonade" 		Jacqueline says, "Yeah. There's some in the bar." 	
	

Floyd | The lemonade cask seems to be empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "NOOO" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lemon" 		
	

Floyd | It's a clear glass bottle with a jaunty picture of an anthropomorphized
Floyd | lemon on the label. However, it is bone dry inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Perhaps another acid, then." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull

Floyd |   a shred of cloth
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   an empty glass bottle
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)

Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)

Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the diary.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open jar" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "like, um, vinegar. Which would be old wine." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cask" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the beer cask, the wine cask, the moonshine cask,
Floyd | the rum cask, the sarsaparilla cask, or the lemonade cask?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fill mug with wine" 		
	

Floyd | The pewter mug is now full of vinegar.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah. Perhaps." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pour vinegar on map" 		
	

Floyd | (the pewter mug of vinegar on the treasure map)

Floyd | Little wisps of vinegar-scented smoke curl upward as an image appears
Floyd | on the map.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | The map shows an incomprehensible noisy pattern of red and blue pixels
Floyd | with a big black X in the middle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pixels" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x map" 		
	

Floyd | The map shows an incomprehensible noisy pattern of red and blue pixels
Floyd | with a big black X in the middle.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb fixes you with a look of abject guilt and keens softly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read map" 		
	

Floyd | The map shows an incomprehensible noisy pattern of red and blue pixels
Floyd | with a big black X in the middle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "we need a filter. Either red or blue, but most likely red." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fill bottle with rum" 		
	

Floyd | The glass bottle is now full of rum.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rum" 		
	

Floyd | (the glass bottle of rum)
Floyd | The rum is a brilliant red color, but it smells like rum all the same.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look at map through bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Aha! When you look through the red rum, you the pattern becomes clear.

Floyd | Instead of a map, all you see is the word "LUXOR".
Floyd |
Floyd | What the heck? The treasure is in Egypt?
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, there's nothing for it. If you're going to get that treasure,
Floyd | you'll have to get to Egypt. One plane flight later, some checking with

Floyd | the remainder of the map, and you find your way to a worn-down souk by
Floyd | the Necropolis.
Floyd |
Floyd | Shisha Souk
Floyd | You've followed your treasure map to this dingy little tobacco house on
Floyd | the eastern bank of the Nile. Sleepy old men gather around the hookahs

Floyd | and trade smoke. A cabinet full of curiosities lines the back wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "booyah" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Are you remembering all this?" 	
			Limax says, "Woo" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Since you've played before, however long ago?" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 6, "The One-Armed Time Bandit", was written by Michael Martin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Or was that a legit non-remembered guess?" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "yeah, I'm slowly remembering as I play" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not that I care, honestly, as I'm not into puzzles myself and am mostly just enjoying watching the game progress." 	
			DavidW says, "I remembered the eyepatch, but not where." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 6, "The One-Armed Time Bandit", was written by Michael Martin.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 6, "The One-Armed Time Bandit", was written by Michael Martin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x men" 		
	

Floyd | The clientele here doesn't seem to be paying attention to much. Even
Floyd | the nicotine isn't keeping them alert.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | In the cabinet are some artifacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb tries to gnaw on the tables. You shoo him off before he does too

Floyd | much damage.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x artifacts" 		
	

Floyd | These are relics and gewgaws from all over the world. One in particular

Floyd | catches your eye - a softwood box with your family crest imprinted on
Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the alligator stetson.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | This fine sandalwood box must be some lost heirloom of your family
Floyd | line; it's got your crest on the lid.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the diary.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x crest" 		
	

Floyd | It's the same symbol and motto that has been passed down through your
Floyd | family for generations: An extinguished lantern under the phrase SIC

Floyd | SEMPER RIMORIS.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb savagely gnaws at his genitals with slurpy snarls of contentment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take box" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the piece of paper.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the heirloom box, revealing a decoder ring and a slip of
Floyd | paper.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read slip" 		
	

Floyd | This old slip of paper has the mysterious message DSAJX YPFC, XUJPER on

Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the Twinkie and makes a famished whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Ha. Beat to the punch" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ring" 		
	

Floyd | This decoder ring has a wheel that matches letters to other letters.
Floyd | Surely, with this, the darkest secrets of the cosmos are yours.
Floyd |

Floyd | [To use the decoder ring, type the command DECODE (text), where (text)
Floyd | is the text you wish to decode.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear ring" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the decoder ring)
Floyd | You put on the decoder ring.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb stares at the tables with paranoid fascination.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tables" 		
	

Floyd | The tables here are stained with years of smoking.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb snaps at flies.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "decode dsajx ypfc, xujper" 		
	

Floyd | Using your mighty ancestral decoder ring, you decode DSAJX YPFC, XUJPER
Floyd | to WRONG CITY, GENIUS.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "decode luxor" 		
	

Floyd | You ponder the map. "LUXOR" alone really isn't much of a clue to
Floyd | finding the treasure on its own. Perhaps if you put your ancestral
Floyd | decoder ring to work, it will produce a new clue. Let's see. "L" maps
Floyd | to "V", "U" to "E"...
Floyd |
Floyd | You feel a certain sinking feeling as you guess the rest. Yep. "LUXOR"

Floyd | decodes to "VEGAS". You've been searching on the wrong continent all
Floyd | this time. At least you did get that it was in a desert, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | Time to book another flight.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gambling Pit at the Luxor

Floyd | It's dry as a bone out there, but at least in here the drinks flow
Floyd | freely. The map, suitably reinterpreted to this locale, lead you to
Floyd | this slot machine, right on the X in LUXOR. All around you, blinking,
Floyd | screaming electronics want to take your money, but your steely resolve
Floyd | remains undeterred.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "man, texas?" 	
			inky says, "oh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | This slot machine looks much like the others here; video screens
Floyd | showing results, lots and lots of flashing lights and exciting sounds,

Floyd | and a slot with which you may insert all your money.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This whole game has been oddly coherent thus far." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "play machine" 		
	

Floyd | You stick a token in the machine and pull the lever. Lemon, Lemon,
Floyd | and... your family crest? This is no ordinary slot machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's no ordinary payout mechanism, either. A chute opens up beneath
Floyd | you, and you slide into darkness.
Floyd |

Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is more like it! The chute took you into this awesome command
Floyd | center. An important-looking door leads off to the north, while more
Floyd | unassuming ones lead in all other cardinal directions. Surely some hint
Floyd | to the treasure must be in this secret complex.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a ladder here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the alligator stetson.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "GAH" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 6, "The One-Armed Time Bandit", was written by Michael Martin.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "which way, gentlefolk?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Yeah, I was thinking it went downhill from Luxor." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Should we have looked around in the gambling pit more first?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "#belated. Thank you." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Should we undo?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or just carry on?" 	
			DavidW says, "I think we're where we're meant to be." 	
			DavidW says, "But Aunt Mabel's gonna have to do without her smokes." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Taleslinger), "Thanks for what? For whispering to you what curb stomping is, despite it being painful to think about, let alone type in detail?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ladder" 		
	

Floyd | This ladder leads back up to the casino floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb ladder" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Gambling Pit at the Luxor
Floyd | You're here in front of a slot machine situated right on top of the X
Floyd | in the Luxor's logo. All around you, blinking, screaming electronics
Floyd | want to take your money, but your steely resolve remains undeterred. A
Floyd | dark passage in front of the slot machine leads down.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We can climb back up, it seems" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x x" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x electronics" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I guess there really isn't much to do here aside from what we did already." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x slot" 		
	

Floyd | This slot machine looks much like the others here; video screens
Floyd | showing results, lots and lots of flashing lights and exciting sounds,
Floyd | and a slot with which you may insert all your money.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the decoder ring.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door

Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other
Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a ladder here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you. Whether you like it or not.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "For the kind words for my horrendeously underimplemented part." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Meme Broadcast Chamber
Floyd | The acoustics in this room look carefully shaped, which is odd, because
Floyd | the centerpiece of this room is in fact a huge brass cannon.
Floyd |

Floyd | As you enter, a booming voice intones, "STAND BY FOR MIND CONTROL."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to T), "heh. Oh. You're welcome." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		Jacqueline says, "Um." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		maga exclaims, "weresnake!" 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		Limax says, "Ha" 	
			DavidW says, "I think this part might be forced keyboarding" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		Jacqueline asks, "Or is Floyd down?" 	
			Limax asks, "Did Floyd lose it?" 	
			DavidW says, "and we can't see the response. Dunno if Floyd can't handle it or not." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ssssssssssss" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ssssssssssssss" 		Jacqueline asks, "Oh, is something weird going on?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
	

DavidW  | Floyd | As you enter, a booming voice intones, "STAND BY FOR MIND CONTROL."

	
			Jacqueline says, "IDGI" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		Limax says, "I can't remember what happens in this part of the game" 	
			inky says, "well, the trace is like" 	
			inky | read(0, "l\n", 4096) = 2 	
			inky | write(1, " ", 1) = 1 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Hello" 		DavidW says, "I'm thinking it's forced keyboarding." 	
			inky says, "so I think floyd is seeing your stuff and still writing out stuff" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I personally think it looks like Floyd is b0rked." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "test" 		
	Taleslinger pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	DavidW presses the yellow enter button. 		DavidW says, "oopsie" 	
			inky says, "yeah, I think the written-out thing is just really long" 	
	

Floyd | >stand by for mind control
Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The booming voice continues, "GO SOUTH."
Floyd |

		Limax says, "Ugh" 	
			inky says, "oh, man, this is going to take forever" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh man." 	
	

Floyd | >go south
Floyd |
Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door

Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other
Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a ladder here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Mime Broadcast Chamber
Floyd | This room is decorated in the severest of blacks and whites. Everything
Floyd | is dead silent. A passageway leads quietly back up to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | An invisible box squats against the south wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a phantom wind machine here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, I guess we're back in normal" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 6, "The One-Armed Time Bandit", was written by Michael Martin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Boy, the next time I see McMartin...." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x invisible box" 		
	

Floyd | You can't make much out about it, seeing as how it is invisible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wind machine" 		
	

Floyd | This is a small switch, painted in severe black and white. It is
Floyd | labeled "PHANTOM WIND MACHINE". Beneath that, in much smaller letters,
Floyd | is inscribed KUKURQPUVW.
Floyd |

Floyd | The phantom wind machine is currently switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "decode kukurqpuvw" 		
	

Floyd | Using your mighty ancestral decoder ring, you decode KUKURQPUVW to
Floyd | MEMESHIELD.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb gnaws hungrily on his own forepaw.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on machine" 		
	

Floyd | You switch on the device, and suddenly a powerful wind assaults your
Floyd | face. Oddly, your hair and possessions seem totally unaffected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | It's slow going fighting through the imaginary wind that's whipping
Floyd | your face.

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door
Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other
Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a ladder here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you. Whether you like it or not.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | It's slow going fighting through the imaginary wind that's whipping
Floyd | your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | MAME Broadcast Chamber

Floyd | This room appears to be some sort of shrine to old arcade games. A
Floyd | passage leads back east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shrine" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shrine" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion exclaims, "MAME Chamber? Now I've seen everything!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I haven't played this." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x games" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x arcade" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to play?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play arcade" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Doesn't seem to be anything in the MAME right now" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | It's slow going fighting through the imaginary wind that's whipping
Floyd | your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door
Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other

Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a ladder here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.

Floyd |
Floyd | The wind abruptly stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read map" 		
	

Floyd | The map shows an incomprehensible noisy pattern of red and blue pixels
Floyd | with a big black X in the middle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mome Broadcast Chamber
Floyd | This room looks set to receive important religious pronouncements. A
Floyd | passage leads back west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tall statue of a benevolent-looking mother figure dominates the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the Mome statue is a Mome hat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hat" 		
	

Floyd | (the alligator stetson)
Floyd | You never seen an alligator, but it's certain they make a fine hat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take hat" 		
	

Floyd | (the alligator stetson)
Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb savagely gnaws at his genitals with slurpy snarls of contentment.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "mome hat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take mome hat" 		
	

Floyd | Though you realize that you risk the dreaded Mome Wrath for your
Floyd | defilement, you collect the Mome hat.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb sniffs at the Mome statue like the horrible little pervert he is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mome hat" 		
	

Floyd | This enormous hat signifies that one is the Mome.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "IDGI" 	
			DavidW says, "And mimsy where the borograves and the mome rath outgrabe." 	
			DavidW says, "er were" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take mome hat, wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The Jabberwocky from Alice in the Looking- Glass" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the Mome hat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "borogoves" 	
			DavidW says, "er, through" 	
			DavidW says (to Nitku), "and yes, thanks" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)

Floyd |   some gambling tokens
Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open)
Floyd |     a slip of paper
Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch

Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary

Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar

Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | You mumble a prayer from your childhood:
Floyd |
Floyd | I see the moon, and the moon sees me.

Floyd | God bless the moon and God bless me.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a pretty selfish prayer, when you think about it. I mean, the moon
Floyd | is covered, but I guess you really don't care about anything or anyone
Floyd | else, do you?
Floyd |

Floyd | I swear... you belong in Vegas.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the piece of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "we are wearing two hats!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha... that's my prayer." 	
			DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "a common IF malady" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And it's one I used to say all the time when I was a kid." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Mome Broadcast Chamber
Floyd | This room looks set to receive important religious pronouncements. A
Floyd | passage leads back west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |

Floyd | A tall statue of a benevolent-looking mother figure dominates the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb sniffs at the Mome statue like the horrible little pervert he is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x statue" 		
	

Floyd | The Mome's hat has been stolen.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at Treasure Huntery Lesson 1.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "this is bloody good for an ifwhispers" 	
			Taleslinger says, "But the moon *is* blessed too." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're tall and thirsty. Too old to be drifting loose, too young to
Floyd | have done anything much to deserve confirmation - your tattoos show
Floyd | that much.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chases his tail, squealing frustration.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kiss statue" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Yeah, the moon, and me, and nothing else." 	
			Taleslinger says, "ah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask mome about treasure" 		
	

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "This statue doesn't live up to the standards set by Galatea." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "mome" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Though admittedly one could reword the prayer to something like:" 	
			Jacqueline | I see Curb and Curb sees me, 	
			Jacqueline | God bless Curb and God bless me. 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tattoos" 		Limax says, "Hee hee" 	
	

Floyd | Your right arm, left hand and the left side of your face are partially
Floyd | covered with blocky, rounded glyphs precisely specifying your age,
Floyd | blood type, status (social, economic, marital) and affiliations
Floyd | (birth-clan, adopted clan, moiety, college). None of which are going to

Floyd | impress anybody, except for the adopted-clan part, perhaps; Aunt
Floyd | Mabel's reputation extends across the known world. But even so, the
Floyd | conspicuous hollow circles on the backs of both hands mark you as
Floyd | unconfirmed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb starts at nothing, and half falls over in a desperate attempt to

Floyd | escape it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "So we had MAME to the west, Mome to the east, and 'mime' to the south." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "N?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that N is part of 'no'. So which part of 'no' don't you understand." 	
			inky asks (of Alex), "o?" 	
			Alex says (to inky), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that O is part of 'no'. So which part of 'no' don't you understand. Also, would you like to buy an O. Furthermore, ascii 79 is O. Also, ascii 111 is O." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Alex), "Oh dear." 	
			Alex exclaims (at Jacqueline), "Awwwk! No parse found!" 	
			Limax says, "Haa haa" 	
			DavidW says, "Well, north is probably Meme, and we turned on the Memeshield." 	
			Taleslinger says (to alex), "No dear!" 	
			Alex exclaims (at Taleslinger), "Awwwk! No parse found!" 	
			DavidW says, "So we probably can go north now." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door

Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other
Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a ladder here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "mime" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Mime Broadcast Chamber

Floyd | This room is decorated in the severest of blacks and whites. Everything
Floyd | is dead silent. A passageway leads quietly back up to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | An invisible box squats against the south wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a phantom wind machine here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | This is a small switch, painted in severe black and white. It is
Floyd | labeled "PHANTOM WIND MACHINE". Beneath that, in much smaller letters,
Floyd | is inscribed KUKURQPUVW.
Floyd |
Floyd | The phantom wind machine is currently switched off.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb fixes you with a look of abject guilt and keens softly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on machine" 		
	

Floyd | You switch on the device, and suddenly a powerful wind assaults your

Floyd | face. Oddly, your hair and possessions seem totally unaffected.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb vomits from excitement, his ribcage convulsing. He laps up the
Floyd | result hurriedly, before you steal his prize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | It's slow going fighting through the imaginary wind that's whipping
Floyd | your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Central Broadcasting

Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door
Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other
Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a ladder here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | It's slow going fighting through the imaginary wind that's whipping
Floyd | your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Meme Broadcast Chamber
Floyd | The acoustics in this room look carefully shaped, which is odd, because
Floyd | the centerpiece of this room is in fact a huge brass cannon.

Floyd |
Floyd | A booming voice intones a command at you. The winds surrounding you
Floyd | distort the voice. You think it said "STAND BY FOR MIME CONTRAIL."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, are you doing that on purpose?" 	
	olethros says, "someone reboot DW" 		DavidW asks, "You have another suggestion?" 	
			Taleslinger hits DW on the back of the head. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh. I guess I just don't get what you're ... nevermind." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "mime contrail" 		inky says, "he's making it type out the forced text again" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cannon" 		
	

Floyd | >stand by for mime contrail
Floyd | You enter the cannon.
Floyd |
Floyd | The booming voice continues with what sounds like "NOW SHOOT."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	

Floyd | >fire cannon

Floyd | The cannon fires, rocketing you through the plate glass window and into
Floyd | the room beyond.
Floyd |
Floyd | Back Office
Floyd | It's not as tidy as it was before you made your grand entrance through
Floyd | the window to the south, but this is still a perfectly functional

Floyd | office. An official-looking door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shoot cannon" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "oh there is hackery" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah. Now I see. I misunderstood what happened to get us out of it last time." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the plate glass window, except for the

Floyd | fact that it's been smashed into a hojillion pieces, thus allowing you
Floyd | access to the room beyond.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb sniffs at your tattoos like the horrible little pervert he is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Me too." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | It's slow going fighting through the imaginary wind that's whipping
Floyd | your face.
Floyd |
Floyd | Giving Lounge

Floyd | You are in a brightly-lit pillared underground chamber, with purple
Floyd | shag carpeting and a group of very generous people. A back office lies
Floyd | to the east, while the west end of the lounge gives off a gentle glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see Bruce K, Corinne Q, Sammy Z-E, a Cubist shape, a red
Floyd | square, a gray square, a brown square, and a black square here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The wind abruptly stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 7, "TBA", was written by N.B. Horvath.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | Cubist shape: Taken.
Floyd | red square: Taken.
Floyd | gray square: Taken.
Floyd | brown square: Taken.

Floyd | black square: Taken.
Floyd | slip of paper: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bruce K gifts a small wooden fish to Corinne Q. Corinne Q hands a small
Floyd | wooden woodchuck to Bruce K.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sammy Z-E transfers a plastic card to Bruce K. Bruce K passes a bolt of
Floyd | cloth to Sammy Z-E.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ooh, I disliked this one" 	
			Limax says, "Yeah. It's fairly random" 	
			Taleslinger says, "me too. It's purely random evil from hell." 	
			DavidW says, "Does someone want to drive for this? I'd like to fast forward this scene." 	
	Fang arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read slip" 		
	

Floyd | This old slip of paper has the mysterious message DSAJX YPFC, XUJPER on
Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bruce K gives a bolt of inspiration to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E presents a
Floyd | small wooden house to Bruce K.

Floyd |
Floyd | Sammy Z-E forks over a bolt of cloth to Bruce K. Bruce K gives a bolt
Floyd | of cloth to Sammy Z-E.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "And I'm out of coffee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, this I remember, since it's the section before mine." 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a slip of paper

Floyd |   a black square
Floyd |   a brown square
Floyd |   a gray square

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x paper" 		
	

Floyd |   a red square

Floyd |   a Cubist shape
Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)
Floyd |   some gambling tokens
Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open but empty)
Floyd |   a treasure map

Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum
Floyd |   a piece of paper

Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel

Floyd |   your guitar
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "But it was fiddly getting through it." 	
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the slip of paper, or the piece of paper?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give square to sammy" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the black square, the brown square, the gray square,
Floyd | or the red square?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x piece" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the shred of cloth, or the piece of paper?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x piece of paper" 		
	

Floyd | An old, brittle, yellowing piece of paper, maybe once a shopping list,
Floyd | written in big, painful capital letters. Some of it has succumbed to
Floyd | time, but what you can read says:
Floyd |

Floyd | (smudge) RTS CREAM
Floyd | 2 DOSEN EGG
Floyd | 6 HINDGE BOLTS
Floyd | 50# LEAD FOR SHOOTING
Floyd | HALF DOSEN LEMONS
Floyd | MEDECENE FO(smudge)MPA

Floyd |
Floyd | The rest is all a blur.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Gateway
Floyd | This end of the Giving Lounge is bathed in gentle light. A set of
Floyd | (literally) pearly gates stands to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pause to reflect on this for a moment. The fact that the pearly

Floyd | gates are underground adds that extra touch of Vegas oddness to the
Floyd | scene.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a set of pearly gates and a guardian angel here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x angel" 		
	

Floyd | Actually he's dressed as a Roman centurion, but you can tell that he's
Floyd | a guardian angel from the "HELLO MY NAME IS" name tag.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read tag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The angel gently blocks your way. "Sorry my child. You are not
Floyd | enlightened. You do not match. Not yet."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask angel about enlightenment" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask angel about match" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the treasure map.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "think deeply" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Giving Lounge

Floyd | You are in a brightly-lit pillared underground chamber, with purple
Floyd | shag carpeting and a group of very generous people. A back office lies
Floyd | to the east, while the west end of the lounge gives off a gentle glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see Bruce K, Corinne Q, and Sammy Z-E here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bruce K gifts a small wooden fish to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E transfers a
Floyd | souvenir clock to Bruce K.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sammy Z-E gifts a small wooden fish to Corinne Q. Corinne Q gifts a

Floyd | bolt of lightning to Sammy Z-E.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		Taleslinger says, "We need to get a set of three." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, since I remember this bit I guess I'll stay out of it and hush. This and the next section." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give cubist shape to sammy" 		
	

Floyd | You give the Cubist shape to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E donates a bolt of
Floyd | cloth to you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Corinne Q passes a souvenir anchor to Bruce K. Bruce K gives a souvenir
Floyd | clock to Corinne Q.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give bolt of cloth to corinne" 		
	

Floyd | You give the bolt of cloth to Corinne Q. Corinne Q gives a plastic
Floyd | sword to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bruce K gifts a plastic shield to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E hands a plastic
Floyd | card to Bruce K.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sammy Z-E gifts a plastic shield to Bruce K. Bruce K forks over a
Floyd | plastic card to Sammy Z-E.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "What set are we going for?" 	
			DavidW says, "Squares, I suppose" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bruce" 		
	

Floyd | Bruce K is identified by an extremely generic "HELLO MY NAME IS" name
Floyd | tag. He looks to be in his fifties. He stands a little over 6 feet
Floyd | tall, but he is stooped over slightly. He is wearing golf clothes and

Floyd | out-of-fashion glasses.  Bruce K is carrying a plastic shield, a
Floyd | souvenir anchor, a souvenir basketball, and a bolt of inspiration.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corinne Q passes a souvenir clock to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E forks over a
Floyd | souvenir clock to Corinne Q.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I rememeber NB telling me he didn't like it too well either, but had trouble coming up with an idea" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sammy" 		
	

Floyd | Sammy Z-E is identified by an extremely generic "HELLO MY NAME IS" name
Floyd | tag. He is probably in his early twenties but looks ten years younger

Floyd | than that.  Sammy Z-E is carrying a plastic card, a Cubist shape, a
Floyd | bolt of lightning, and a small wooden woodchuck.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bruce K transfers a souvenir basketball to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E gives a
Floyd | small wooden woodchuck to Bruce K.
Floyd |

Floyd | Corinne Q gives a small wooden house to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E presents a
Floyd | souvenir basketball to Corinne Q.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We could collect souvenirs, or plastics, or woodens, I guess" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit corinne" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corinne Q gives a bolt of cloth to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E transfers a
Floyd | plastic card to Corinne Q.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "or bolts" 	
			Taleslinger says, "It'd say bolts." 	
			DavidW asks, "What would?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "But it really doesn't matter." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Err, I'd." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x corinne" 		
	

Floyd | Corinne Q is identified by an extremely generic "HELLO MY NAME IS" name
Floyd | tag. She is thirtysomething, stylish and attractive but a little

Floyd | nervous-looking.  Corinne Q is carrying a plastic card, a souvenir
Floyd | basketball, a souvenir clock, and a small wooden fish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x square" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the black square, the brown square, the gray square,
Floyd | or the red square?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bolt" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the bolt of inspiration, the bolt of cloth, or the
Floyd | bolt of lightning?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wooden" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small wooden woodchuck, the small wooden fish,
Floyd | or the small wooden house?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x souvenir" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the souvenir anchor, the souvenir basketball, or the
Floyd | souvenir clock?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess it can't be squares, for some reason" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x black square" 		
	

Floyd | This looks like another MOMA projectile.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corinne Q gives a souvenir clock to Bruce K. Bruce K gifts a souvenir
Floyd | anchor to Corinne Q.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x brown square" 		
	

Floyd | This looks like another MOMA projectile.
Floyd |

Floyd | Corinne Q hands a small wooden fish to Bruce K. Bruce K gives a small
Floyd | wooden fish to Corinne Q.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give black square to bruce" 		
	

Floyd | You give the black square to Bruce K. Bruce K gives a plastic shield to
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plastic" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the plastic card, the plastic shield, or the plastic
Floyd | sword?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "How close are we?" 	
			DavidW says, "not at all" 	
			Limax says, "Hm" 	
			DavidW says, "It's not obvious what the goal is" 	
			Limax says, "Let me drive for a moment" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a plastic shield
Floyd |   a plastic sword

Floyd |   a slip of paper
Floyd |   a brown square
Floyd |   a gray square
Floyd |   a red square
Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)
Floyd |   some gambling tokens

Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open but empty)
Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth

Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)

Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga

Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | Corinne Q passes a souvenir basketball to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E presents
Floyd | a bolt of lightning to Corinne Q.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "PLEASE" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "x corinne" 		
	

Floyd | Corinne Q is identified by an extremely generic "HELLO MY NAME IS" name
Floyd | tag. She is thirtysomething, stylish and attractive but a little
Floyd | nervous-looking.  Corinne Q is carrying a bolt of lightning, a small

Floyd | wooden fish, a souvenir anchor, and a plastic card.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bruce K forks over a souvenir clock to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E donates a
Floyd | Cubist shape to Bruce K.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "(I asked that ages ago)" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Give brown square to corinne" 		
	

Floyd | You give the brown square to Corinne Q. Corinne Q gives a brown square
Floyd | to you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Bruce K hands a bolt of inspiration to Corinne Q. Corinne Q gives a
Floyd | small wooden fish to Bruce K.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Give brown square to corinne" 		
	

Floyd | You give the brown square to Corinne Q. Corinne Q forks over a plastic
Floyd | card to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glow with enlightenment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "THere we go" 	
			DavidW says, "ooh" 	
			Limax says, "We have all the plastic" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Now let's get out of here" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Gateway
Floyd | This end of the Giving Lounge is bathed in gentle light. A set of
Floyd | (literally) pearly gates stands to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | You pause to reflect on this for a moment. The fact that the pearly
Floyd | gates are underground adds that extra touch of Vegas oddness to the
Floyd | scene.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a set of pearly gates and a guardian angel here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glow with enlightenment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "awright" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The angel opens the gates with a smile, and you pass beyond. Could the
Floyd | treasure you seek lie beyond?
Floyd |

Floyd | Vegas Heaven
Floyd | The underground Las Vegas version of Heaven is as big as a major city
Floyd | railway terminal and brilliantly lit, with a high vault ceiling painted
Floyd | sky blue. Vapory, cottoney off-white structures flit about the room,
Floyd | blown by a pleasant breeze from discreetly placed and deeply muffled
Floyd | fans. It's all spectacularly fake, of course, but with superb

Floyd | production values.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a set of pearly gates and a heart-shaped bed here.
Floyd |
Floyd | And, more to the point, there's someone on the bed.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 8, "Heaven is Heart-Shaped Bed", was written by Jacqueline A
Floyd | Lott.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "Hm. Do I know who that is?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x someone" 		
	

Floyd | The woman on the bed is nothing short of a goddess. And it's not just
Floyd | the tacky Vegas version of Heaven that's making you think that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | The, um, goddess is lying down on a heart-shaped bed. Maybe it's more
Floyd | of a couch. It doesn't seem to have any sheets or anything... it seems
Floyd | to be upholstered in white fur. Looks soft, though.

Floyd |
Floyd | The couch, I mean.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, the goddess too.
Floyd |
Floyd | I mean, she's not fat or anything. Just soft. You know, her skin.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the empty pewter mug.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion asks, "Question: Is it good to expand my knowledge of various IF games before I start playing in ClubFloyd?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "goddess, hi" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb vomits from excitement, his ribcage convulsing. He laps up the
Floyd | result hurriedly, before you steal his prize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask goddess about goddess" 		
	

Floyd | She just smiles at you seductively.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask goddess about treasure" 		
	

Floyd | She giggles a little, but doesn't say a word.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the red square.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask goddess about vegas" 		
	

Floyd | She raises an eyebrow, but remains silent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the musket barrel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask goddess about curb" 		
	

Floyd | She giggles a little, but doesn't say a word.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches his ear.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I don't know how to answer that" 	
			inky says, "no" 	
			Limax says, "IF Whispers is always quite fiddly" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give tokens to goddess" 		
	

Floyd | The Goddess doesn't seem interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give twinkie to goddess" 		
	

Floyd | The Goddess doesn't seem interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter bed" 		
	

Floyd | You advance toward her, but she shakes her head. "I don't think so,
Floyd | lover. I'm not quite that easy... I'm a goddess, after all."
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I had stepped away. I see you are now in my section. Oh my." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kiss goddess" 		
	

Floyd | You walk toward her, but she raises a hand to stop you. "Sorry, my
Floyd | darling. I'm not quite that easy... I'm a goddess, after all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | You prostrate yourself before the goddess.
Floyd |
Floyd | She lowers her gaze. "Welcome to Heaven, you fiendish thing. Come here,
Floyd | lover."
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chases his tail, squealing frustration.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter bed" 		
	

Floyd | You walk toward her, and she welcomes you with open arms. She smiles as
Floyd | you climb up into the big, white, furry couch.

Floyd |
Floyd | Just one kiss, and the world seems to dissolve around you...
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterbliss

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kiss her" 		
	

Floyd | Oh, now you've done it. Or at least, you presume that you've done it,
Floyd | since you don't really remember anything after that first kiss. You're
Floyd | all alone on your conjugal couch.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You can't see "her" (the Goddess) at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | Oh, now you've done it. Or at least, you presume that you've done it,
Floyd | since you don't really remember anything after that first kiss. You're
Floyd | all alone on your conjugal couch.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb writhes about on his back, kicking his hind legs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Best apropos Curb line." 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 9, "Hell Hath No Fury", was written by Brian Rapp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | The floor opens up beneath you, and you fall for an exceedingly great
Floyd | distance...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hell

Floyd | Cut off from everything good in the universe, your sensations are
Floyd | limited to pain, frustration, and ennui. You are immersed in an endless
Floyd | sea of fire, which certainly doesn't help matters.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a devil, a helicopter, and a red gear here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x gear" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the red gear.

Floyd |
Floyd | Goodness gracious me. What sort of thing just appeared in your hands?
Floyd | Some sort of box?

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x devil" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | The banality of evil is personified by this loathsome fellow, who
Floyd | doesn't project fear so much as an intense longing to be anywhere other
Floyd | than in his presence.
Floyd |
Floyd | The devil looks in your direction and says "Cerberus! Where have you

Floyd | been?"  He then seizes Curb by the neck and drags him away, continuing

		Jacqueline says, "Also, there were a couple of options back there. Possibly should have saved." 	
	

Floyd | to abuse the animal for abandoning his duty. You are unable to care
Floyd | about this turn of events, but notice that the devil has lost his
Floyd | helmet during the struggle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I have no idea if the two roads come back together or not. I reckon they must." 	
			Limax says, "DavidW saved right after we glowed with enlightenment" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take helmet, gear" 		
	

Floyd | helmet: The imp on your left shoulder warns you: "Thou shalt not
Floyd | steal."  On your right shoulder, G. K. Chesterton replies: "Thieves
Floyd | respect property. They merely wish the property to become their
Floyd | property that they may more perfectly respect it."  You hadn't noticed
Floyd | either of these apparitions before this moment, but find yourself
Floyd | leaning in the direction of the latter. You pick up the horned helmet.

Floyd | red gear: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "So that's pretty close" 	
			Limax says, "They do" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Well done." 	
			Limax says, "Ferret 'cheated' there. :)" 	
			Limax says, "If you go to heaven, you fall to hell" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x helicopter" 		
	

Floyd | This helicopter is a magical shade of black that casts neither
Floyd | reflections nor shadows. It is almost entirely featureless, inside and
Floyd | out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gear" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the red gear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" 		
	

Floyd | It suddenly becomes difficult to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle
Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove helmet" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the helmet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Third hat, btw" 	
			Limax exclaims, "Woo!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Hell
Floyd | Cut off from everything good in the universe, your sensations are
Floyd | limited to pain, frustration, and ennui. You are immersed in an endless
Floyd | sea of fire, which certainly doesn't help matters.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a helicopter here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fire" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter helicopter" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the helicopter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | You mumble a prayer from your childhood:

Floyd |
Floyd | I see the moon, and the moon sees me.
Floyd | God bless the moon and God bless me.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a pretty selfish prayer, when you think about it. I mean, the moon
Floyd | is covered, but I guess you really don't care about anything or anyone

Floyd | else, do you?
Floyd |
Floyd | I swear... you belong in Vegas.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x helicopter" 		
	

Floyd | You search in vain for any kind of control mechanism.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" 		
	

Floyd | It suddenly becomes difficult to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter has no obvious controls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter hovers amidst the flames and describes a very slow
Floyd | spiral in the air, as if it were searching for something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter hovers amidst the flames and describes a very slow
Floyd | spiral in the air, as if it were searching for something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter has no obvious controls.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think u" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think up" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think look" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter hovers amidst the flames and describes a very slow
Floyd | spiral in the air, as if it were searching for something.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "find curb" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about curb" 		
	

Floyd | That won't do. You want to be thinking of something smaller, something
Floyd | you can take with you wherever you may go.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about hope" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about life" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about loss" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, loss... You've lost something of value, and you need to think on
Floyd | it more fully.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about treasure" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about love" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about mother" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about home" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about goddess" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about map" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "any ideas?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a red gear
Floyd |   a G. K. Chesterton on your right shoulder

Floyd |   an imp on your left shoulder
Floyd |   a helmet (being worn)
Floyd |   a Nox box (closed)
Floyd |   an accordion
Floyd |   a plastic card
Floyd |   a plastic shield

Floyd |   a plastic sword
Floyd |   a slip of paper
Floyd |   a gray square
Floyd |   a red square
Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)
Floyd |   some gambling tokens

Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open but empty)
Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth

Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)

Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x imp" 		
	

Floyd | As if suddenly embarrassed by your attention, both figments disappear
Floyd | without a sound. You straighten your shoulders with a certain sense of

Floyd | relief, and appreciate the opportunity to do so.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter hovers amidst the flames and describes a very slow

Floyd | spiral in the air, as if it were searching for something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about gear" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss

Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gear" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the red gear.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about imp" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x imp" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Hell (in the helicopter)
Floyd | Cut off from everything good in the universe, your sensations are
Floyd | limited to pain, frustration, and ennui. You are immersed in an endless

Floyd | sea of fire, which certainly doesn't help matters.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x nox box" 		
	

Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that

Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a slight humming noise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Put gear in box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | The Nox box is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open nox box" 		
	

Floyd | You open the Nox box, revealing a gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put gear in it" 		
	

Floyd | (the red gear in the Nox box)
Floyd | You put the red gear into the gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 9, "Hell Hath No Fury", was written by Brian Rapp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter hovers amidst the flames and describes a very slow
Floyd | spiral in the air, as if it were searching for something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x nox" 		
	

Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a slight humming noise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "THink about home" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | An alarming rattling sound comes from within the gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a helmet (being worn)
Floyd |   a Nox box (open)
Floyd |     a gear slot
Floyd |       a red gear
Floyd |   an accordion

Floyd |   a plastic card
Floyd |   a plastic shield
Floyd |   a plastic sword
Floyd |   a slip of paper
Floyd |   a gray square
Floyd |   a red square

Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)
Floyd |   some gambling tokens
Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open but empty)
Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch

Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary

Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)

Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You close the Nox box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Nox Box makes a slight humming noise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "shake box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about house" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss

Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "Think about house" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss

Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pattern" 		
	

Floyd | The pattern, although still confusingly complex, gives you the vague

Floyd | impression of a house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about home" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss

Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Darn" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about key" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think about vegas" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think about bed" 		
	

Floyd | Your thoughts instead turn to feelings of loss... Poignant loss... Loss
Floyd | of something tangible and true.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a helmet (being worn)
Floyd |   a Nox box (closed)
Floyd |   an accordion
Floyd |   a plastic card
Floyd |   a plastic shield

Floyd |   a plastic sword
Floyd |   a slip of paper
Floyd |   a gray square
Floyd |   a red square
Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)
Floyd |   some gambling tokens

Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open but empty)
Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth

Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum
Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)

Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie
Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think about dog" 		
	

Floyd | That won't do. You want to be thinking of something smaller, something
Floyd | you can take with you wherever you may go.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x accordion" 		
	

Floyd | Black as night, black as coal. You wouldn't mind at all the prospect of
Floyd | seeing it blotted out.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "play it" 		
	

Floyd | Your rendition of "Chariots of Fire" is far more depressing than it has
Floyd | any right to be.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about guitar" 		
	

Floyd | The helicopter whirs with newfound energy, and whisks you away at what
Floyd | can only be described as the speed of thought. Flames and darkness and

Floyd | loss all evaporate in a hurricane of recovered emotion...
Floyd |
Floyd | Blinding White Background
Floyd | A nothingness full of whiteness surrounds you. The only way out is not
Floyd | to leave. Disconcertingly, one of your possessions is making a faint
Floyd | buzzing sound.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see your guitar here.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ya!" 	
			Limax says, "That was hard" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the guitar)
Floyd | You play a few notes of "Greensleeves." Contrary to IF convention, you

Floyd | actually play quite well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x nox" 		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Scene 10, "Endgame", was written by Mark J Musante.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Excellent. We're almost done" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pattern" 		
	

Floyd | The pattern, although still confusingly complex, gives you the vague
Floyd | impression of a house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to nox" 		
	

Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Blinding White Background
Floyd | A nothingness full of whiteness surrounds you. The only way out is not
Floyd | to leave. Disconcertingly, one of your possessions is making a faint
Floyd | buzzing sound.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remove helmet" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the helmet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "touch box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as

Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "don't leave" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You open the Nox box, revealing a gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in slot" 		
	

Floyd | In the gear slot is a red gear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You close the Nox box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "roll box" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x helicopter" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "lick box" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x guitar" 		
	

Floyd | Your faithful rosewood six-string.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Blinding White Background
Floyd | A nothingness full of whiteness surrounds you. The only way out is not
Floyd | to leave. Disconcertingly, one of your possessions is making a faint
Floyd | buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stay" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's
Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "don't go" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "push box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)

Floyd | As it moves, it makes a faint hum through the air, but the humming
Floyd | subsides once you stop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "maybe make the box stop buzzing?" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Blinding White Background
Floyd | A nothingness full of whiteness surrounds you. The only way out is not
Floyd | to leave. Disconcertingly, one of your possessions is making a faint
Floyd | buzzing sound.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You open the Nox box, revealing a gear slot.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "No, the buzzing means it works" 	
			DavidW says, "I think we need to wear the helmet again" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "close box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You close the Nox box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "push pattern" 		
	

Floyd | It's firmly embedded in the box's surface.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" 		
	

Floyd | It suddenly becomes difficult to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about guitar" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle

Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think about house" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle

Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle

Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "think about music" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle

Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about home" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle

Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about aunt mabel" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle

Floyd | mightily to think about something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	

Floyd | You play a few notes of "Chobits ending theme 2". Contrary to IF

Floyd | convention, you actually play quite well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search guitar" 		
	

Floyd | The guitar is empty.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "x pattern" 		
	

Floyd | The pattern, although still confusingly complex, gives you the vague
Floyd | impression of a house.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about house" 		
	

Floyd | Unbearably hellish music overwhelms your thoughts. You struggle
Floyd | mightily to think about something else.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "touch house" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world
Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |

Floyd | Basement
Floyd | This would be pitch-black if it weren't for your glow-jar and a bit of
Floyd | light coming in via the window. A rickety staircase leads upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cupboard (closed) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Nox Box seems to have vanished from your possessions.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "There we go" 	
			DavidW says, "oh!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open cupboard" 		
	

Floyd | You open the cupboard, revealing a yellow gear and a blue gear.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gears" 		
	

Floyd | yellow gear: Taken.
Floyd | blue gear: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Let's see... we dont' have the box at the moment" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more
Floyd | familiar...
Floyd |

Floyd | Gambling Pit at the Luxor
Floyd | You're here in front of a slot machine situated right on top of the X
Floyd | in the Luxor's logo. All around you, blinking, screaming electronics
Floyd | want to take your money, but your steely resolve remains undeterred. A
Floyd | dark passage in front of the slot machine leads down.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "get box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open nox" 		
	

Floyd | You open the Nox box, revealing a gear slot.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put yellow gear in nox" 		
	

Floyd | You put the yellow gear into the gear slot.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put blue gear in nox" 		
	

Floyd | You put the blue gear into the gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close nox" 		
	

Floyd | You close the Nox box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a field.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world
Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |
Floyd | Grassy Field
Floyd | A wide open field with a blue sky above. Far off in the distance,

Floyd | towards the setting sun, you can see a large, lone tree. Closer by,
Floyd | like nearly on top of you, is an enormous trebuchet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see an orange gear here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take orange gear" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | Far off in the distance, you can just make out a tree poking up over
Floyd | the tall grass.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trebuchet" 		
	

Floyd | The enormity of this enormous trebuchet is enor... is staggering. The
Floyd | wheels themselves are easily forty feet in diameter, if not more. The
Floyd | top reaches too high to even estimate. The rope is thicker than a tree

Floyd | trunk. A really thick tree trunk. The sling is currently empty, and an
Floyd | amusingly small lever built into the side looks like it'll set it off.
Floyd |
Floyd | Far overhead, you hear the buzzing of a plane.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plane" 		
	

Floyd | You can definitely hear it, but you can't quite see it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The buzzing becomes louder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plane is almost directly overhead.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The plane continues on its way across the sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rope" 		
	

Floyd | The enormity of this enormous trebuchet is enor... is staggering. The

Floyd | wheels themselves are easily forty feet in diameter, if not more. The
Floyd | top reaches too high to even estimate. The rope is thicker than a tree
Floyd | trunk. A really thick tree trunk. The sling is currently empty, and an
Floyd | amusingly small lever built into the side looks like it'll set it off.
Floyd |
Floyd | The buzzing becomes very faint as the plane flies out of view.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more
Floyd | familiar...

Floyd |
Floyd | Trading Post Porch
Floyd | A wide porch of wood slats, with the obligatory animal skulls nailed up
Floyd | against the wall. South leads back to the road; north takes you inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just outside the shadowed doorway, a parched corpse slumps in a

Floyd | rocking-chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open nox" 		
	

Floyd | You open the Nox box, revealing a gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put orange gear in slot" 		
	

Floyd | You put the orange gear into the gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close box" 		
	

Floyd | (the Nox box)
Floyd | You close the Nox box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world
Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |
Floyd | Under a Tree
Floyd | A tree stands majestically in the middle of a great open field. The
Floyd | sun, just rising over the horizon, makes the tree's shadow stretch off

Floyd | over the grass into the distance. The field continues in all
Floyd | directions.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | You're not exactly sure what kind of tree this is as you're not a
Floyd | botanist. However, it is tall and sturdy and makes a nice amount of
Floyd | shade, and high up in the branches you can just make out a gear of some
Floyd | hue or other.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb tree" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more
Floyd | familiar...

Floyd |
Floyd | Stairs
Floyd | You've climbed half-way up the stairs. To go any further would be
Floyd | foolishly risking your life.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x nox" 		
	

Floyd | The box is square, solid black, and inlaid with strands of silver that
Floyd | makes an unusual and almost hypnotic pattern on all six sides. It's

Floyd | just about the size of the old Christmas presents you used to shake as
Floyd | a kid to guess their contents.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box makes a noticable buzzing sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pattern" 		
	

Floyd | The pattern, although still confusingly complex, gives you the vague
Floyd | impression of a tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of an enclosed space.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch nox" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world
Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |
Floyd | Plane Cabin
Floyd | Hunched over in a cramped, lurching, noisy cabin makes your back hurt

Floyd | and endangers your hearing. Wires and cables are strung neatly nearly
Floyd | everywhere, and pipes prove useful when you need to grab onto
Floyd | something. A hatch in the ceiling leads to the deck above you, and a
Floyd | door is set into the hull of the plane.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a hull door, a hatch, and a giant silver sphere here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sphere" 		
	

Floyd | Although the sphere appears to be silver, you can't be certain exactly
Floyd | what metal it's made of. The surface of it dances and swirls before
Floyd | your eyes, and when you lean close to it, your reflection distorts
Floyd | amusingly. At least, you assume your nose isn't that big.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "author" 		
	

Floyd | Scene 10, "Endgame", was written by Mark J Musante.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Alreayd did that. :)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, sorry. I'm sort of half here and couldn't find it in scrollback." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | You open the hatch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more
Floyd | familiar...
Floyd |

Floyd | Central Broadcasting
Floyd | This is clearly some kind of command center. An important-looking door
Floyd | leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other
Floyd | cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this
Floyd | secret complex.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a ladder here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "No problem. I just like teasing" 	
			Taleslinger says, "this reminds me of Jigsaw, but on drugs" 	
			DavidW says, "I keep forgetting." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world

Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |
Floyd | Plane Cabin
Floyd | Hunched over in a cramped, lurching, noisy cabin makes your back hurt
Floyd | and endangers your hearing. Wires and cables are strung neatly nearly
Floyd | everywhere, and pipes prove useful when you need to grab onto

Floyd | something. A hatch in the ceiling leads to the deck above you, and a
Floyd | door is set into the hull of the plane.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a hull door, a hatch, and a giant silver sphere here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "You mean Graham wasn't?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open hull door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the hull door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I don't think so." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push sphere" 		
	

Floyd | You roll the sphere out the door!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter hull door" 		
	

Floyd | You leap to your death. And your death takes a while to hit you, mostly
Floyd | because it comes in the form of the ground, which was far far below the
Floyd | plane.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 90 out of a possible 100, in 413 turns.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Plane Cabin
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open hatch door" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more

Floyd | familiar...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Saloon porch
Floyd | The building is in the state you've expected from a ghost town. Its
Floyd | upper floor is completely gone, but the front is still standing, and
Floyd | you can barely make out the words Kissing Bandit Saloon in sun-bleached

Floyd | red paint. One half of a swinging door leads north, inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Why did you push the sphere out?" 	
			DavidW says, "You'll see." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a house.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a field.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger gets it. "aha 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world
Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |

Floyd | Grassy Field
Floyd | A wide open field with a blue sky above. Far off in the distance,
Floyd | towards the setting sun, you can see a large, lone tree. Closer by,
Floyd | like nearly on top of you, is an enormous trebuchet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trebuchet" 		
	

Floyd | The enormity of this enormous trebuchet is enor... is staggering. The
Floyd | wheels themselves are easily forty feet in diameter, if not more. The

Floyd | top reaches too high to even estimate. The rope is thicker than a tree
Floyd | trunk. A really thick tree trunk. The sling is currently empty, and an
Floyd | amusingly small lever built into the side looks like it'll set it off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Far overhead, you hear the buzzing of a plane.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The buzzing becomes louder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plane is almost directly overhead.

Floyd | A glint of light shines briefly below the plane. You squint but can't
Floyd | make it out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plane continues on its way across the sky.
Floyd | The glint of light becomes brighter, and a rushing, crackly, whooshing
Floyd | sound is coming from it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The buzzing becomes very faint as the plane flies out of view.

Floyd | The glint of light rushes towards the ground at a fantastic rate. It
Floyd | thuds into the earth, throwing up rocks and dirt in an amazing display.
Floyd | Still more amazingly, it bounces up into the air and with a neat
Floyd | "plop", lands gently onto the trebuchet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | Slowly at first, and then with increasing speed, the trebuchet pulls
Floyd | the loaded sling underneath and then the sling swings free. It flies
Floyd | far out into the distance and curves upwards in an arc that seems slow
Floyd | only because of the distance involved. At the top of the swing, almost

Floyd | up into the clouds, you see a flash of light as the sphere is thrown
Floyd | clear of the sling. It flies high into the air and you wait and wait as
Floyd | it comes down almost at the horizon. And right into the large lone tree
Floyd | in the distance. The tree shudders once and is still.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Yay trebuchet" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more
Floyd | familiar...
Floyd |

Floyd | In the saloon
Floyd | This room is much smaller than what the movies tell you. A stairway
Floyd | leads up to a gallery, though most of the roof and the upper floor is
Floyd | missing. A few chairs and tables gather dust, accompanied by a lone
Floyd | piano in a corner.
Floyd | A counter is near the back wall.

Floyd | An impressive chandelier dangles from the remains of the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb has dug a hole into the ground here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the counter is a shelf lined with a row of casks.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a tree.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world
Floyd | collapses around you!

Floyd |
Floyd | Under a Tree
Floyd | A tree stands majestically in the middle of a great open field. The
Floyd | sun, just rising over the horizon, makes the tree's shadow stretch off
Floyd | over the grass into the distance. The field continues in all
Floyd | directions.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a giant silver sphere and an indigo gear here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take indigo" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sphere" 		
	

Floyd | Although the sphere appears to be silver, you can't be certain exactly
Floyd | what metal it's made of. The surface of it dances and swirls before
Floyd | your eyes, and when you lean close to it, your reflection distorts
Floyd | amusingly. At least, you assume your nose isn't that big. Despite the

Floyd | fact that it took quite a journey since you saw it last, it appears
Floyd | completely unharmed, with not a scratch to be seen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tree" 		
	

Floyd | You're not exactly sure what kind of tree this is as you're not a
Floyd | botanist. However, it is tall and sturdy and makes a nice amount of
Floyd | shade, although many of the branches are splintered and broken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | With a blink and a flash, you're suddenly somewhere a bit more
Floyd | familiar...
Floyd |
Floyd | Gateway

Floyd | This end of the Giving Lounge is bathed in gentle light. A set of
Floyd | (literally) pearly gates stands to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pause to reflect on this for a moment. The fact that the pearly
Floyd | gates are underground adds that extra touch of Vegas oddness to the
Floyd | scene.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a set of pearly gates and a guardian angel here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your possessions shift slightly. The Nox Box seems to have returned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open nox" 		
	

Floyd | You open the Nox box, revealing a gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put indigo in nox" 		
	

Floyd | You put the indigo gear into the gear slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close nox" 		
	

Floyd | You close the Nox box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake nox" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of an enclosed space.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | As the box shakes, you get a vague impression of a beach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch pattern" 		
	

Floyd | A snap of static jumps from the pattern to your fingers, and the world

Floyd | collapses around you!
Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | A picturesque beach at sunset. Clich?, but extremely pleasant. The sun
Floyd | glints over the waters as the waves crash gently on the shore. The
Floyd | beach is secluded, with cliffs all around you. At last, you can relax.

Floyd | It seems like forever ago when you started in By Your Car and your odd
Floyd | and surreal journey began. But now it's over, and you've found a place
Floyd | to rest. All it needs is a bit of music to be complete.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Nox Box has vanished again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "play guitar" 		
	

Floyd | You sit down in a comfortable spot, expertly tune your guitar, and play

Floyd | music to match the peaceful beauty of your surroundings. Your fingers
Floyd | fly over the guitar strings with the effortless ease of one who has
Floyd | mastered the instrument, and you close your eyes, breathing a sigh of
Floyd | completion.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 100 out of a possible 100, in 439 turns.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?
Floyd | >
Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ta da!" 	
			DavidW says, "That nox box is swellrific." 	
			Taleslinger says (to dw), "Wow, man." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was sorta crazy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well done." 	
			Limax says, "YEah... I liked the nox box" 	
			DavidW says, "Spellbreaker has a vaguely similar box that changes pattern based on what's in it." 	
			Taleslinger says, "the plane puzzle is great" 	
			Limax says, "But there you have to cast a spell thast doesn't always work" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Restore failed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Giving Lounge
Floyd | You are in a brightly-lit pillared underground chamber, with purple
Floyd | shag carpeting and a group of very generous people. A back office lies
Floyd | to the east, while the west end of the lounge gives off a gentle glow.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Bruce K, Corinne Q, and Sammy Z-E here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corinne Q passes a brown square to Sammy Z-E. Sammy Z-E gifts a small

Floyd | wooden house to Corinne Q.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glow with enlightenment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "You want to revisit the goddess?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Gateway
Floyd | This end of the Giving Lounge is bathed in gentle light. A set of
Floyd | (literally) pearly gates stands to the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | You pause to reflect on this for a moment. The fact that the pearly
Floyd | gates are underground adds that extra touch of Vegas oddness to the
Floyd | scene.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a set of pearly gates and a guardian angel here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You glow with enlightenment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | The angel opens the gates with a smile, and you pass beyond. Could the
Floyd | treasure you seek lie beyond?
Floyd |
Floyd | Vegas Heaven

Floyd | The underground Las Vegas version of Heaven is as big as a major city
Floyd | railway terminal and brilliantly lit, with a high vault ceiling painted
Floyd | sky blue. Vapory, cottoney off-white structures flit about the room,
Floyd | blown by a pleasant breeze from discreetly placed and deeply muffled
Floyd | fans. It's all spectacularly fake, of course, but with superb
Floyd | production values.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a set of pearly gates and a heart-shaped bed here.
Floyd |
Floyd | And, more to the point, there's someone on the bed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb scampers after you.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blaspheme" 		
	

Floyd | "What do you think you are?" you ask. "Some kind of hot and holy little
Floyd | sex muffin? I'll have you know that I possess strong moral fiber, and
Floyd | will not succumb to your feminine wiles!"
Floyd |

Floyd | Her eyes open wide and fill with rage. "Oh, you won't, will you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch a brief glimpse of her cleavage. "Um..."  Must. Look. In.
Floyd | Her.  Eyes... "No. No, I won't!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're perfectly sure?"  She crawls toward you a little bit more.

Floyd | "Absolutely certain?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Gosh, I dunno. Are you sure?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | You give it some thought. Real thought, this time, not just impulse...
Floyd |
Floyd | And you realize that maybe the Vegas lifestyle isn't so bad. Not

Floyd | really.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looks like it might be fun, actually, to climb up onto the fuzzy white
Floyd | bed and...
Floyd |
Floyd | ...and what? Gosh. You're not sure. You think about that, too...

Floyd |
Floyd | And you decide that you'll do pretty much whatever she wants you to do.
Floyd | "What the hell?" you say. "Why not?"  She smiles as you climb up into
Floyd | the big, white, furry couch and snuggle up beside her.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just one kiss, and the world seems to dissolve around you...

Floyd |
Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | Oh, now you've done it. Or at least, you presume that you've done it,
Floyd | since you don't really remember anything after that first kiss. You're
Floyd | all alone on your conjugal couch.
Floyd |

Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the Twinkie and makes a famished whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Limax says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		Limax says, "Yeah, I thought I forgot to include that" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Vegas Heaven
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blaspheme" 		
	

Floyd | "What do you think you are?" you ask. "Some kind of hot and holy little
Floyd | sex muffin? I'll have you know that I possess strong moral fiber, and
Floyd | will not succumb to your feminine wiles!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Her eyes open wide and fill with rage. "Oh, you won't, will you?"
Floyd |

Floyd | You catch a brief glimpse of her cleavage. "Um..."  Must. Look. In.
Floyd | Her.  Eyes... "No. No, I won't!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're perfectly sure?"  She crawls toward you a little bit more.
Floyd | "Absolutely certain?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Gosh, I dunno. Are you sure?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | You gather all of your strength and cry out, "YES!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hm. Very well, then. Goodbye!"  And with that, the floor opens up
Floyd | beneath you, and you faaaallll...
Floyd |
Floyd | Hell

Floyd | Cut off from everything good in the universe, your sensations are
Floyd | limited to pain, frustration, and ennui. You are immersed in an endless
Floyd | sea of fire, which certainly doesn't help matters.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see a devil, a helicopter, and a red gear here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb chases his tail, squealing frustration.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Just wanted to share." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Carry on." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I'd never guess 'blaspheme' in a hundred years. That's so nonstandard a verb." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You have to undo twice." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Vegas Heaven

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet goddess" 		
	

Floyd | You stride toward her, but she shakes her head. "I'm afraid not, my

Floyd | darling. I'm not quite that easy... I'm a goddess, after all."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I can't remember what else works. Cursing might, maybe." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "curse" 		
	

Floyd | "What do you think you are?" you ask. "Some kind of hot and holy little
Floyd | sex muffin? I'll have you know that I possess strong moral fiber, and
Floyd | will not succumb to your feminine wiles!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Her eyes open wide and fill with rage. "Oh, you won't, will you?"
Floyd |

Floyd | You catch a brief glimpse of her cleavage. "Um..."  Must. Look. In.
Floyd | Her.  Eyes... "No. No, I won't!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're perfectly sure?"  She crawls toward you a little bit more.
Floyd | "Absolutely certain?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Gosh, I dunno. Are you sure?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "no" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | You give it some thought. Real thought, this time, not just impulse...
Floyd |
Floyd | And you realize that maybe the Vegas lifestyle isn't so bad. Not
Floyd | really.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looks like it might be fun, actually, to climb up onto the fuzzy white

Floyd | bed and...
Floyd |
Floyd | ...and what? Gosh. You're not sure. You think about that, too...
Floyd |
Floyd | And you decide that you'll do pretty much whatever she wants you to do.
Floyd | "What the hell?" you say. "Why not?"  She smiles as you climb up into

Floyd | the big, white, furry couch and snuggle up beside her.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just one kiss, and the world seems to dissolve around you...
Floyd |
Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | Oh, now you've done it. Or at least, you presume that you've done it,

Floyd | since you don't really remember anything after that first kiss. You're
Floyd | all alone on your conjugal couch.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb peers curiously at the panga.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I think it's hinted at, but can't recall. Been so long since I wrote it." 	
			Taleslinger says, "panga is such a strange word" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give hat to goddess" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the Mome hat, or the alligator stetson?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stetson" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give mome hat to goddess" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a plastic card
Floyd |   a plastic shield
Floyd |   a plastic sword
Floyd |   a slip of paper

Floyd |   a gray square
Floyd |   a red square
Floyd |   a Mome hat (being worn)
Floyd |   some gambling tokens
Floyd |   a decoder ring (being worn)
Floyd |   a heirloom box (open but empty)

Floyd |   a treasure map
Floyd |   an eyepatch
Floyd |   a skull
Floyd |   a shred of cloth
Floyd |   an empty pewter mug
Floyd |   a glass bottle of rum

Floyd |   a piece of paper
Floyd |   a diary
Floyd |   a glow-jar (providing light)
Floyd |   your car keys (disgusting)
Floyd |   a Son of Toil bar
Floyd |   a Twinkie

Floyd |   a musket barrel
Floyd |   your guitar
Floyd |   an alligator stetson (being worn)
Floyd |   your panga
Floyd |   Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x goddess" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | Oh, now you've done it. Or at least, you presume that you've done it,
Floyd | since you don't really remember anything after that first kiss. You're
Floyd | all alone on your conjugal couch.

Floyd |
Floyd | Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
Floyd |
Floyd | Curb skitters about.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Afterbliss
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "hm, anything important we missed?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So... timing. Was just going to ask if we were done or going back for other things." 	
			Limax says, "I don't know if we did" 	
			DavidW says, "I can't think of anything significant that was missed. Maybe some songs on the guitar." 	
			Limax says, "That might be about it" 	
			Limax says, "But that could take forever to make sure we played all the songs" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh. Ture." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, true." 	
			Limax says, "I didn't see the typo" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Mmkay. I'll process the transcript, then."	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
New New Year's Speed(s)
by Rick Dague, Sarah Morayati, and Marius Müller
As played on ifMUD on December 28, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of three games written for the New New Year's Speed, by Rick Dague, Sarah Morayati, and Marius Müller, respectively.

These games were written based on the following premise: Hi! Last year, we had a Speed IF with New Year themed games written especially for the purpose of being played on Clubfloyd. We'd like to do that again. [...] the rules are as follows: None, but a New Year, or maybe even just a "new beginning" theme would be cool.

You can learn more about these games, including how to download them, by visiting the ifWiki.

If you'd like to skip to a particular game in the transcript, you can click on the individual title:
The Escapist
by Rick Dague

Leap Time
by Sarah Morayati

The Day I Mauled Mao!
by Marius Müller

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing these games, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played these games, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Lucea arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	Jacqueline says, "Hi, Lucea." 		
	Jacqueline hollers, "Five minutes to ClubFloydTime." 		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Rob arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Nitku arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	DavidW arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	DavidW says, "Coffee made, sandwiches eaten." 		
	Firion arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Jacqueline says (to David), "Wow. Breakfast both made AND consumed by CF time. Well done." 		
	DavidW says, "Lunch, I suppose it was. I didn't have breakfast." 		
	Taleslinger is still full of cookies. 		
	Jacqueline says, "Okay, we'll start here in a second. Please move all conversation to the #ClubFloyd channel." 		Jacqueline asks, "I guess we'll just play 'em in alphabetical order by file name. That okay?" 	
			DavidW says, "Fine by me." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load escapist" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Escapist
Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Rick Dague
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 081227 / Inform 7 build 5U92 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have
Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nice, traditional IF opening." 	
	inky arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Taleslinger says, "Sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | As good-looking as ever.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion says, "Heh" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a post-it note
Floyd |   an empty bottle
Floyd |   a brown shirt (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x note" 		
	

Floyd | The note is in your handwriting, reading, "The key is on the top of the
Floyd | door; you'll need to stand on something to reach it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x shirt" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the brown shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The label on the empty bottle says VODKA. I guess this is why you wake
Floyd | up in strange places not knowing how to escape them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the front door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "This was trikiw, by the way." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Man, are we wearing more than a shirt?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink vodka" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink ottle" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "drink bottle" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Does it matter?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Yep, Rick." 	
			inky says, "maybe we're a cartoon character" 	
			Firion says, "It is empty after all." 	
	Firion says (to floyd), "east" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (closed) (in which is a small sheep) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cage" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cage" 		
	

Floyd | In the wire cage is a small sheep.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x sheep" 		
	

Floyd | A small sheep seems innocent and cuddly. Its ear is tagged with a
Floyd | paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yay sheeps." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open cage" 		
	

Floyd | You open the wire cage.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x paper" 		
	

Floyd | The paper tag has a barcode and reads "EXP #4197"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "GAH" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We can not let them esperiment on the sheep!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "hug sheep" 		
	

Floyd | Keep your mind on the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take sheep" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "aw" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "eat sheep" 		
	

Floyd | He's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "You don't even know what the experiment is." 	
			Firion slaps Nitku. 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill sheep" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to David), "Point. It might be 'happiness-inducing esperiments.'" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet sheeo" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet sheep" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "ask sheep about experiments" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "milk sheep" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get paper" 		
	

Floyd | That seems to be a part of the small sheep.

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "milk sheep" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "East?" 	
			DavidW says, "sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.

Floyd |
Floyd | A hungry dog noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a snacks bag (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x puddke" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x puddle" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the muddy puddle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to Floyd), "x dog" 		
	

Floyd | It looks at you forlornly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "IRTA a muddy poodle" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "paddle muddly puddle with poodle" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | The snacks bag is a discarded potato chip container. You notice that
Floyd | "LOT 3366" is printed at the bottom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "Hooray forlornly" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bag" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "give sheep to dog" 		
	

Floyd | As you put the sheep on the floor, the hungry dog pounces on it,
Floyd | devouring the poor lamb!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "oops" 	
	Firion says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "GAH" 	
	Firion says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a snacks bag

Floyd |   a small sheep
Floyd |   a post-it note
Floyd |   an empty bottle
Floyd |   a brown shirt (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nitku!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take dog" 		
	

Floyd | I don't suppose the hungry dog would care for that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "I thought they could be friends." 	
			Firion has just given Nitku a demerit for animal cruelty. 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "put sheep in bag" 		
	

Floyd | You put the small sheep into the snacks bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "throw bottle at dog" 		
	

Floyd | You lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Lucea), "ha" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Firion), "I think he needs two." 	
			Firion adds a second one. 	
			Lucea says, "Maybe now the dog won't eat it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good deal." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Those scandanavian often seem...cold." 	
			DavidW asks, "Sheep chips?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have always wanted a small sheep in a snack bag." 	
			Nitku exclaims, "But the sheep is evil! Evil I tell you!" 	
			Nitku says, "And tasty." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Maybe more exploring, less cruelty?" 	
			DavidW asks, "we can proceed east, maybe?" 	
			DavidW asks, "or is hungry dog a blockade?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the old door is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "kick door" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "damn" 		
	

Floyd | Real adventurers do not use such language.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |

Floyd | A hungry dog noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the old door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion says, "Sure they do." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search puddle" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x puddle" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the muddy puddle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drink puddle" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "maybe the sheep ate the key" 	
			DavidW says, "let's move on" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Weren't there more rooms to the west?" 	
	Firion says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |

Floyd | A hungry dog noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We can go north from Lab." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | The Escapist is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long
Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Down that path of thought lies madness." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have

Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the front door is in the way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Although I did once write a speed IF where a marmot swallowed a key and you had to get it back." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh heh" 	
			Firion asks, "What's a marmot?" 	
			DavidW says, "A thing" 	
			Taleslinger thinks of Saw and shudders. 	
			Jacqueline says (to Firion), "It's kinda like a groundhog." 	
			Firion says, "As long as it's not a snake." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "Yay!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have
Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "It drops clovers sometimes." 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get cage" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office

Floyd | You can go south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hanging on a wall is an expensive painting.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a leather leash here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take leash" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "x painting" 		
	

Floyd | The expensive painting is signed on the bottom by Micheldoofusgelo
Floyd | dated 1207. Like you care.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l behind painting" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x painting" 		
	

Floyd | The expensive painting is signed on the bottom by Micheldoofusgelo
Floyd | dated 1207. Like you care.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "move painting" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get painting" 		
	

Floyd | The painting is attached to the wall by a nylon string.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "x string" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the nylon string.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wear leash" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	trikiw materializes. 		Lucea says, "aw, but there's always something behind the painting" 	
	trikiw says, "hey" 		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Rowr" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x leash" 		
	

Floyd | The leather leash is about five feet long and can be tied to animals.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "What, as long as all involved consent..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "untie string" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to untie the nylon string from?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "pull string" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "untie string from painting" 		
	

Floyd | They don't seem to be tied together.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take string" 		
	

Floyd | That seems to be a part of the expensive painting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Hey Trikiw." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind painting" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, ""Micheldoofusgelo" is funny" 	
	Firion says (to floyd), "cut string" 		
	

Floyd | Cutting that up would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a leather leash
Floyd |   a snacks bag
Floyd |     a small sheep
Floyd |   a post-it note
Floyd |   an empty bottle

Floyd |   a brown shirt (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "bullshit" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push painting" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lift painting" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "move painting" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remove painting" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the expensive painting)
Floyd | The painting is attached to the wall by a nylon string.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "turn painting" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "break bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You smash the bottle against the floor. It is now broken!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cut string with bottle" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to cut the nylon string.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cut string" 		
	

Floyd | The expensive painting drops to the floor as you cut through the
Floyd | string. You find something!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. >BULLSHIT is not defaultly recognized by Inform as bad language." 	
			DavidW says, "We've seen three four-digit numbers so far." 	
			Jacqueline submits a bug report. 	
			Lucea says, "This is a game with sheep in it." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Office
Floyd | You can go south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A formidable safe with a four-digit display built into the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an expensive painting here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "It may include actual bullshit. Who knows?" 	
			Firion asks (of Jacqueline), "You're not gonna penalize me for my language, though, are you?" 	
			(from Taleslinger) Jacqueline says, "Fuck no!" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a broken bottle
Floyd |   a leather leash
Floyd |   a snacks bag

Floyd |     a small sheep
Floyd |   a post-it note
Floyd |   a brown shirt (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x painting" 		
	

Floyd | The expensive painting is signed on the bottom by Micheldoofusgelo
Floyd | dated 1207. Like you care.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Firion), "If I did that sort of thing, nearly all of you would have been banned at some time or another." 	
			DavidW asks, "er, what did we cut the string with?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see inside, since the formidable safe is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Magic." 	
			Taleslinger says, "The broken bottle." 	
			Jacqueline says, "The power of our MINDS." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, or the broken bottle." 	
			Taleslinger says, "TALESLINGER SMASH!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dial" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set dial to 1207" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open safe" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set safe to 1207" 		
	

Floyd | No, you can't set that to anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "turn safe to 1207" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to turn the formidable safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x display" 		
	

Floyd | The display can be set to a number, if you think that will open the
Floyd | safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter 1207" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "type 1207 on safe" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 1207" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... no that doesn't work.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 4197" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... Nada. Ha Ha you actually tried that?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "You should play Minotaur in a China Shop, obviously." 	
			Firion asks, "Maybe 1 number at a time?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 3366" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... Nowt! Boy aren't we grasping at straws.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "set display to 1" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... nothing happens.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 1234" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... nothing happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Firion), "Nah,I sort of doubt that." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 1111" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... nothing happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 1231" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Perhaps we just haven't found the right code yet." 	
			Nitku says, "We need to find more numbers." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "set display to 2009" 		
	

Floyd | Click-click... nothing happens.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x leash" 		
	

Floyd | The leather leash is about five feet long and can be tied to animals.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "maybe we need to add all numbers?" 	
			DavidW says, "unlikely" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a broken bottle

Floyd |   a leather leash
Floyd |   a snacks bag
Floyd |     a small sheep
Floyd |   a post-it note
Floyd |   a brown shirt (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x note" 		
	

Floyd | The note is in your handwriting, reading, "The key is on the top of the
Floyd | door; you'll need to stand on something to reach it."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "That would add up to more than four digits, eh?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Maybe we need to climb the cage first?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Have we seen anything to stand on yet?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The sheep." 	
			Firion asks, "The safe?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take painting" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "I think it's a recessed wall safe, isn't it?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | The expensive painting is signed on the bottom by Micheldoofusgelo
Floyd | dated 1207. Like you care.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn over painting" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn painting over" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to turn the expensive painting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look behind painting" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "flip painting" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "You tried 1207, right?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yep" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | As good-looking as ever.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The broken bottle is satisfyingly sharp-edged.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "get on cage" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "climb cage" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "oh, we cut the string with the bottle?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get cage" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Tie the leash to the dog?" 	
			DavidW asks, "Was there a number on the bottle beforehand?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was wondering about that, T, though I'm not sure of the point." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Let's try." 	
			Taleslinger says (to dw), "No." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh wait, are we trying to collect all the animals?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A hungry dog noses around the room.
Floyd |

Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get dog" 		
	

Floyd | I don't suppose the hungry dog would care for that.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put leash on dog" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the hungry dog would achieve nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tie leash to dog" 		
	

Floyd | The dog lets you put it on a leash.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull leash" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "No, there wasn't a number." 	
			Jacqueline | The label on the empty bottle says VODKA. I guess this is why you wake up in strange places not knowing how to escape them. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask sheep about safe" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask dog about dog" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get puddle" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Maybe we need to feed the sheep to the doog" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, maybe" 	
			Jacqueline says, "bah" 	
			DavidW says, "I've seen no other food for it." 	
			Jacqueline sighs. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Whatever you sadists want to do, I guess." 	
			Taleslinger says, "safe first" 	
			Taleslinger says, "erm, save" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear safe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stand on dog" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can stand on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion gives the sheep its last rites. 	
			Taleslinger says, "poor sheep, we hardly knew ye" 	
	Rob heads right on out. 		DavidW says, "The cage might be pushable." 	
			Taleslinger says, "let's try that first" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory

Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |
Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x collar" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |

Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an expensive painting
Floyd |   a broken bottle
Floyd |   a leather leash
Floyd |   a snacks bag

Floyd |     a small sheep
Floyd |   a post-it note
Floyd |   a brown shirt (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |

Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drop sheep" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the small sheep)
Floyd | As you put the sheep on the floor, the hungry dog pounces on it,
Floyd | devouring the poor lamb!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I thought the leash prevented it" 	
			DavidW asks, "er, what?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Maybe dropping the sheep here will do something" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Given that it's not eaten" 	
			Nitku says, "Just feed the sheep to it and see what happens. If it goes boom we can restore." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x painting" 		
	

Floyd | The expensive painting is signed on the bottom by Micheldoofusgelo
Floyd | dated 1207. Like you care.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "There has been a long pause. Are we lagged, or is no one willing to kill the sheep?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "give painting to dog" 		
	

Floyd | The hungry dog doesn't seem interested.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "drop sheep" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the small sheep)
Floyd | As you put the sheep on the floor, the hungry dog pounces on it,

Floyd | devouring the poor lamb!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x dog" 		
	

Floyd | It looks at you forlornly.

Floyd |
Floyd | The dog is swaying on its feet. It looks like it ate something bad, and
Floyd | belches loudly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm waiting for others to try their plan." 	
			Firion gives the sheep a moment of silence. 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | Suddenly the dog's eyes bulge out wildly! It explodes, killing you
Floyd | instantly!
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 0 out of a possible 0, in 109 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "heh it *did* go boom" 	
			DavidW asks, "hm, what room was that in? Can we be in another room?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "HOLY..." 	
			inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "Uh." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Who said it would go boom?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Maybe if we drop the bag with the sheep..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What inside information did they have?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hehehe, "inside"" 	
			Nitku says, "I was speaking figuratively but..." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "I'd like to try something. May I?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put sheep in bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Oh, sure." 	
			Nitku says, "Please do" 	
			DavidW says, "It's complicated and takes several turns." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Drive on, David." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.
Floyd |

Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |

Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put sheep in cage" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the small sheep before you can put him into
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take sheep" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put sheep in cage" 		
	

Floyd | You put the small sheep into the wire cage.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "release dog" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put dog in cage" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the hungry dog before you can put him into
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take dog" 		
	

Floyd | I don't suppose the hungry dog would care for that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "untie leash" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to untie the leather leash from?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dog" 		
	

Floyd | You take the dog off the leash.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I thought the dog might enter the cage." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "HEY" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get dog" 		
	

Floyd | I don't suppose the hungry dog would care for that.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Fine. I'll wait and try again later." 	
			Lucea asks, "?" 	
			DavidW says, "Go ahead." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Sorry, did I interrupt something=" 	
			Lucea says, "Nah, that was just a one-off" 	
			DavidW says, "I will wait. Continute." 	
			Nitku says, "We could take the dog to the safe room and blow it up there. Or blow up a locked door." 	
			Lucea says, "I'm done. Sorry." 	
			DavidW says (to Nitku), "yes, try that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Seems like there's a timer on the dog, so yeah, we should take it somewhere and use it as a bomb." 	
			Jacqueline says, "As horrible as that is." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "tie leash to dog" 		
	

Floyd | The dog lets you put it on a leash.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion asks, "Well that's where Marvin the Martian's Earth-shattering kaboom comes from?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get sheep" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a wire cage (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office

Floyd | You can go south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A hungry dog (on a leash) noses around the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | A formidable safe with a four-digit display built into the wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get leash" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "untie leash" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to untie the leather leash from?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "The next time I see a forlorn dog I'm going to think of explosive ovines." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "dog" 		
	

Floyd | You take the dog off the leash.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "give sheep to dog" 		
	

Floyd | As you put the sheep on the floor, the hungry dog pounces on it,
Floyd | devouring the poor lamb!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have
Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a loud thumping sound, possibly an explosion.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e.n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Office
Floyd | You can go south.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bloody mess covers the floor, like an animal exploded. The surface is
Floyd | very slippery and you walk carefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | A blasted safe is in the wall, open and no longer formidable.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a paper tag here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Ew" 	
			Nitku says, "whee" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | In the blasted safe are a skeleton key and the tred-rite boots.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x tag" 		
	

Floyd | The paper tag has a barcode and reads "EXP #4197"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get all from safe" 		
	

Floyd | skeleton key: Taken.

Floyd | tred-rite boots: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x boots" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the tred-rite boots.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wear boots" 		
	

Floyd | You put on the tred-rite boots.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the skeleton key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "l" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Office
Floyd | You can go south.
Floyd |

Floyd | A bloody mess covers the floor, like an animal exploded. The surface is
Floyd | very slippery and you walk carefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | A blasted safe is in the wall, open and no longer formidable.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a paper tag here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get tag" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You start to slip walking on the blood, but manage to keep your
Floyd | footing.
Floyd |

Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear boots" 		
	

Floyd | You're already wearing that!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have
Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the front door with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "key" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Office

Floyd | You can go south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bloody mess covers the floor, like an animal exploded. The surface is
Floyd | very slippery and you walk carefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | A blasted safe is in the wall, open and no longer formidable.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You start to slip walking on the blood, but manage to keep your
Floyd | footing.

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory
Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.

Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "unlock door with key" 		
	

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "ack" 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the old door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "It was just missing the description." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What's with the puddle?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Shed
Floyd | The exit is west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wheeled cart (on which is a wooden crate) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push cart w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside Laboratory
Floyd | You can go west, and a door is east.

Floyd |
Floyd | A muddy puddle has formed on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We seem to be almost done." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push cart w" 		
	

Floyd | The wheels of the cart sink in the mud and you can't push it further.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "THAT is what is up with the muddy puddle." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Damn." 	
			Taleslinger says, "This meddling muddy puddle!" 	
	Firion says (to floyd), "climb on cart" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put painting on puddle" 		
	

Floyd | The painting lands on the muddy puddle with a SPLOOT covering it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "Clever." 	
			DavidW says, "Continue." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push cart w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Laboratory

Floyd | Exits are west, east and north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wire cage (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "wait, so did all these numbers not mean anything?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push cart w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have

Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "climb cart" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to inky), "Red herrings, apparently." 	
			inky says, "man" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | The wheeled cart is rickety but servicable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x crate" 		
	

Floyd | The wooden crate is huge and locked up tight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock crate with key" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take crate" 		
	

Floyd | It is too big to lift.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on crate" 		
	

Floyd | (getting onto the wheeled cart)
Floyd |
Floyd | Upon climbing on the wooden crate, you spy a steel key!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push crate" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "climb crate" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "get on crate" 		
	

Floyd | But you're already on the wooden crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the wooden crate.

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Room (on the wheeled cart)
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have
Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the wheeled cart you can see a wooden crate.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You get off the wheeled cart.
Floyd |

Floyd | Front Room
Floyd | The chief feature of this area is that you don't recognize it and have
Floyd | no idea where you are. A door is west, and you can go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a wheeled cart (on which is a wooden crate) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock the front door with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "steel key" 		
	

Floyd | You unlock the front door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "go for it" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the front door is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the front door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open front door" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Street
Floyd | Congratulations! You have escaped the whereever that area was!
Floyd |
Floyd | Now you only have to solve the next puzzle: what happened to your
Floyd | pants?
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 0 out of a possible 0, in 160 turns.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yay!" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yay!" 	
			DavidW asks, "So, what did that have to do with New Years or new beginnings? Anything?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Getting wasted?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, you escape into a new world, albeit without pants." 	
			Lucea says, "Clearly this is January 1" 	
			Lucea says, "The protagonist has woken up in a strange place he doesn't recognize, without pants" 	
			trikiw says, "yay, i was worried that people'd get stuck opening the safe" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Quite true." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So... next up." 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load leaptime" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		DavidW asks, "5 minute break pls?" 	
			Lucea says, "Oh dear." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load leaptime" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Nobody told you stardom would be this boring. You thought the five-year
Floyd | wait just to get into the sky was bad, but at least you had an earth to
Floyd | occupy yourself with, humans doddering around like dust - rather
Floyd | amusing dust. You haven't seen humans on the moon in forever. You've
Floyd | seen nothing, in fact, but the same dull rocks in the same musty
Floyd | craters, and the stars who made it to the sky saying don't worry, it'll

Floyd | be your turn soon, everyone gets their chance, stay pretty, you should
Floyd | really shine more.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have to admit, though, he was right. Your turn came. A leap second,
Floyd | your time to plunge off this rock into their sky, stop clocks, fulfill
Floyd | a few wishes if you have to, and dazzle everyone who watches - that, or

Floyd | miss the landing and live the rest of your life swaddled by a cold
Floyd | ocean. Your debut: all the stars do it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sky is cold. Midnight is soon. Leap time.
Floyd |
Floyd | Leap Time

Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Sarah Morayati
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 081226 / Inform 7 build 5U92 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Moon Crater
Floyd | Well, it's private, at least. They assured you of this. It's a crumbly

Floyd | gray hole dug into a gray field, yes, and the air's choked with dust.
Floyd | You can't move without kicking up a new cloud and blinding yourself for
Floyd | a few seconds, not that there'd be much to miss. But at least people
Floyd | can't see you here. Even if someone down below were to look at the sky
Floyd | when you were out of your trench, they'd merely see a shiny speck.
Floyd | Windows get them all the time. Nothing to dwell upon.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay, five minutes? Sure." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		DavidW says, "thank you" 	
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "time" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		Jacqueline says, "Let's restart at ten 'til." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Good idea, David)" 	
			Lucea says, "No problem" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yay, i can make tea" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, it's ten 'til. But I'll wait until people are back." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I am back." 	
			DavidW says, "I am back." 	
			DavidW says, "Tale said he's making tea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We can hang a sec." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Here I am." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Lucea?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Lucea is LucentTrans." 	
			Lucea says, "I'm here" 	
			Lucea says, "nervous as all hell, but nevertheless, here." 	
			Taleslinger asks (of alex), "LucentTrans?" 	
			Alex says (to Taleslinger), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that LucentTrans is the conversation killer. Also, anything and everything that has to do with crystals. Furthermore, Lucea is LucentTrans. Also, LT is LucentTrans." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry. My drink exploded." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I'm back now." 	
			Lucea says, "old username" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "Aw... be not nervous. :)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load leaptime" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Nobody told you stardom would be this boring. You thought the five-year
Floyd | wait just to get into the sky was bad, but at least you had an earth to
Floyd | occupy yourself with, humans doddering around like dust - rather

Floyd | amusing dust. You haven't seen humans on the moon in forever. You've
Floyd | seen nothing, in fact, but the same dull rocks in the same musty
Floyd | craters, and the stars who made it to the sky saying don't worry, it'll
Floyd | be your turn soon, everyone gets their chance, stay pretty, you should
Floyd | really shine more.
Floyd |

Floyd | You have to admit, though, he was right. Your turn came. A leap second,
Floyd | your time to plunge off this rock into their sky, stop clocks, fulfill
Floyd | a few wishes if you have to, and dazzle everyone who watches - that, or
Floyd | miss the landing and live the rest of your life swaddled by a cold
Floyd | ocean. Your debut: all the stars do it.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sky is cold. Midnight is soon. Leap time.
Floyd |
Floyd | Leap Time
Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Sarah Morayati
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 081226 / Inform 7 build 5U92 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)

Floyd |
Floyd | Moon Crater
Floyd | Well, it's private, at least. They assured you of this. It's a crumbly
Floyd | gray hole dug into a gray field, yes, and the air's choked with dust.
Floyd | You can't move without kicking up a new cloud and blinding yourself for
Floyd | a few seconds, not that there'd be much to miss. But at least people

Floyd | can't see you here. Even if someone down below were to look at the sky
Floyd | when you were out of your trench, they'd merely see a shiny speck.
Floyd | Windows get them all the time. Nothing to dwell upon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku asks (of Jacqueline), "Did you add too much sheep?" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't recognize the author name." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Evidently." 	
			Lucea says, "I'm the author" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is Lucea - timing." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x myself" 		
	

Floyd | They could have given you more time to prepare. The fringe in your hair
Floyd | is all knotted and doesn't resemble clouds or gossamer so much as lint
Floyd | strings.
Floyd | Your wings are all wrong; against even the slightest breeze they'd
Floyd | split like tissue. Your face is clouded over with that miserable moon

Floyd | dust. It still shows, no matter how much iridescent paint you use.
Floyd | Fortunately, humans aren't star connoisseurs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Really lovely beginning, Lucea." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "clean hair" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea is gonna get back baby bad balls to you, love, cretin. 		
	Lucea arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says, "I am now unshakably envisioning us as the star from Stardust." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "time" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dust" 		
	

Floyd | You live in this: gray filth which gets into everything and makes it
Floyd | dull.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x earth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x moon" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wings" 		
	

Floyd | They give every star a pair of wings - ornaments, yes, but the useful
Floyd | kind. They glisten when you flap them; from below, it looks like
Floyd | twinkling. A neat trick, that. Unfortunately, your time came before you
Floyd | could grow them out enough. You can only glow a little bit.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "glow" 		
	

Floyd | You flutter your wings a bit, working up a pretty glow, then
Floyd | immediately worry. What if someone saw you? The moon isn't supposed to
Floyd | shine like this, not even on New Year's.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unglow" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stop glowing" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "dim" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hide" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rock" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take dust" 		
	

Floyd | There are few things you need less.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Hm... do we just wait and wait until our second comes?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | You lift your wings and, with painstaking effort, flap into the air.
Floyd | You're horribly out of practice, though, and without any real reason to
Floyd | hang around in the sky, are forced to touch down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Except we can't tell what time it is." 	
			Lucea says, "you're in a crater" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x crater" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "leave crater" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | If a star fell asleep, she'd quickly burn holes through her skin. So
Floyd | they don't.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | Stars sing beautifully in movies, but Hollywood didn't take into
Floyd | account that vocal muscles atrophy just like everything else. You sound
Floyd | more like a dying yak than an angel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "aw" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "fly out of crater" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to fly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | You whisper the magic word, eliciting not even so much as a shudder
Floyd | from your wings. But then, you expected that. You're the magical thing;
Floyd | you don't get to use it yourself.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "flit" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "yay flit" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | You waddle back and forth, waving your wings in a parody of dancing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "write memoirs" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	trikiw goes flopbot 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think about year" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | Visions of planetary collisionsswim through your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "daydream" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dream" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "comb hair" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wait" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stars" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Moon Crater
Floyd | Well, it's private, at least. They assured you of this. It's a crumbly
Floyd | gray hole dug into a gray field, yes, and the air's choked with dust.

Floyd | You can't move without kicking up a new cloud and blinding yourself for
Floyd | a few seconds, not that there'd be much to miss. But at least people
Floyd | can't see you here. Even if someone down below were to look at the sky
Floyd | when you were out of your trench, they'd merely see a shiny speck.
Floyd | Windows get them all the time.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You flutter out of the crater, mussying your streamers a bit on the
Floyd | dust walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fieldlands

Floyd | They name everything up here like they would down below. So this area,
Floyd | silent and blank in all directions, they call a field, despite the lack
Floyd | of vegetation. There's nothing around under the horizon but gray dirt,
Floyd | and flat sky, and you. The only thing breaking the monotony is
Floyd | something raised to the west, and your crater, a few steps away. Above
Floyd | you, stars stand in their places, too far away to recognize; looming in

Floyd | front of them all is the earth, almost close enough to touch. There's
Floyd | no coverage from it; anyone could see you from there, a shiny speck
Floyd | tossed into the dust like something misplaced.. Perhaps people won't
Floyd | mind. The moon is shining awfully bright tonight, they'll say, resuming
Floyd | their affairs, your light as sanction. It's the night for it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "AH" 	
			DavidW says, "ah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x earth" 		
	

Floyd | You expected it to be more spherical, but it's not; more like the
Floyd | cross-section of an egg. A lot smaller than you thought, too, and less
Floyd | blue. It doesn't give you much hope for your landing, that's for sure.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x raised" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Let's just walk over and see it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x stars" 		
	

Floyd | The lucky ones who succeeded in their leap and earned their place in
Floyd | the sky, to shine forever for all to see. You fight back a pang of
Floyd | jealousy.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		DavidW says, "wish on a star" 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Leap Pad

Floyd | The field parts here, unexpectedly, to accommodate a small platform.
Floyd | They call it a mesa, the geographical term, but there's nothing natural
Floyd | about it. The slope leading up is too carved, too precise, and the
Floyd | edges are cut too well against the night sky. It seems to repel
Floyd | everything; the dust is gathered in a moat around it, the craters leave
Floyd | a perimeter, and even the stars duck away from it. It's a clear jump,

Floyd | from there, up to the earth. Or so the others say. Your site continues
Floyd | a ways to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wish on a star" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline smiles. 	
			Firion snickers. "I was just reminded of a funny bit on Three's Company." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb platform" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, I tried that." 	
			DavidW says, "try 'leap'" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "enter platform" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I was gonna do that from there, but..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "leap" 		
	

Floyd | You arch your back, just like they taught you, lift your arms, face,
Floyd | chest, and leap, but you can't get enough height. Maybe if there was
Floyd | something to stand on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I forgot 'platform'" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stand on mesa" 		
	

Floyd | You flutter up onto the center of the pad. The sky looks so much...
Floyd | bigger from up here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, ""Your site continues" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "leap" 		
	

Floyd | They told you the first leap would be the hardest; you'd get used to

Floyd | it, it'd be easy. Small comfort; the more you look at the earth, the
Floyd | more it seems to scoot away, taunting you. Now or never, you guess. You
Floyd | arch your back, just like they taught you; lift your arms, face, chest;
Floyd | bend your knees, throw back your head, breath held and hands upon air;
Floyd | close your eyes, and leap.
Floyd |

Floyd | The fringe on your head flares, catches the air, and you expand,
Floyd | lurching over the back of gravity and plummeting up, past the
Floyd | atmosphere, past gray and black and down into blue, clouds, tumbling,
Floyd | every part of you doused with glitter. It must look pretty from down
Floyd | there.
Floyd |

Floyd | But they never mentioned this much tumbling, actually. They never told
Floyd | you what clouds could do. You didn't know they could bruise, or rattle
Floyd | you, or do anything, really, but hang static in the sky. It isn't
Floyd | working, you think, you're out of formation, you can't correct yourself
Floyd | or slow the descent. You don't have a star's chance in a black hole of
Floyd | surviving and there are buildings on your eyes.

		Jacqueline says (to N), "I think that just means we can see a long ways in that direction." 	
			Nitku says, "ah." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "scream" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | You look around. Desolate. Nothing but a building and the sky you came
Floyd | from.  You landed, but there's something itching at your back. Getting
Floyd | to your feet, you realize its source. You lost a wing coming down. You
Floyd | can't fly back without it. Wishes are out of the question, too - if
Floyd | anyone sees you like this, tattered and sore, it's over. Something else
Floyd | is strange, too. You feel it under your feet, something too supple

Floyd | below the ground. The earth isn't spinning like it should, and it's
Floyd | probably your fault. You've got to get back into the sky before they
Floyd | decide to kick you out of orbit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind A Building
Floyd | Earth looked so much more... verdant from above. You'd forgotten that

Floyd | beneath the pearl blue and clouds, it looks more like this: square
Floyd | buildings stacked on concrete like boxes in a garage. The ground is
Floyd | cracked, as are the bricks of the building. Puddles have collected by
Floyd | the cracks, grayer than water should be. A sign by a metal door reads
Floyd | ~TRUCKS ONLY~, but it's far too late for any to be around; the door's
Floyd | closed anyway. Power lines stretch across the air, parceling off the

Floyd | stars lucky enough not to be here. In the distance, you see some
Floyd | dumpsters to the west. All in all, you'd prefer the bottom of the
Floyd | ocean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "oops." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I really like some of your descriptions." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wings" 		
	

Floyd | They give every star a pair of wings - ornaments, yes, but the useful
Floyd | kind. They glisten when you flap them; from below, it looks like

Floyd | twinkling. A neat trick, that. You've lost one of yours, though, and
Floyd | the other one isn't looking so great. Twinkling is out of the question.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "The phrase 'square buildings stacked on concrete like boxes in a garage' is just great." 	
			Lucea says, "Thanks" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | One of those industrial doors that roll up and down, made of metal
Floyd | plates.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter door" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter building" 		
	

Floyd | There's no way in except the door, and it's firmly shut.
Floyd |
Floyd | Everything's too still. The trees, the buildings, even the air. How
Floyd | much time was supposed to have passed by now?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x puddles" 		
	

Floyd | It must have rained earlier. It'd explain all these puddles, still on
Floyd | the ground and leaving no crack empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wash" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "clean me" 		
	

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Some powdery stardust spills from your fringe as you walk.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near Dumpsters
Floyd | Nothing accentuates dingy concrete and abandoned buildings quite like
Floyd | dumpsters. There are three of them, and their odor hangs ripe in the

Floyd | air. The lot is empty of anything else but cement. A thatch of trees
Floyd | encroaches upon the ground to the west, and the lot continues to the
Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in dumpsters" 		
	

Floyd | You root around in one of the dumpsters, steeling yourself against the
Floyd | stench. After a few miserable minutes, you come up with a battered
Floyd | snowglobe. Must've been damaged merchandise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take stardust" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in dumpsters" 		
	

Floyd | You root around some more in the dumpster, but find a lot of nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to Floyd), "x snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | You've heard there's an art to snowglobe-making: finding or making
Floyd | beautiful baubles to nestle in a sweet winter scene. This snowglobe is
Floyd | a dented plastic ball. A bloated toy soldier squats among what looks
Floyd | suspiciously like crumpled paper. Lovely.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "shake it" 		
	

Floyd | You shake the snowglobe for a bit, producing a pathetic flurry of
Floyd | "snow."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x paper" 		
	

Floyd | You've heard there's an art to snowglobe-making: finding or making
Floyd | beautiful baubles to nestle in a sweet winter scene. This snowglobe is

Floyd | a dented plastic ball. A bloated toy soldier squats among what looks
Floyd | suspiciously like crumpled paper. Lovely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "break snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | There's no damage you could do to it that hasn't already been done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake dust on snowglobe" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dust" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind A Building
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take stardust" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take dust" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Near Dumpsters
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | Leap Time is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long
Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. I can't help but think there's a way to bring this snowglobe to 'life', more or less." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind dumpsters" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a snowglobe
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Edge Of Woods
Floyd | Maybe "woods" is the wrong word. Even at this hour, you can tell that
Floyd | the trees are too sparse to deserve the label. Standing firewood,

Floyd | really, gray under a dark gray sky. There's not much else around but a
Floyd | barren parking lot to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | By a tree, a girl plays with something shiny.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "x girl" 		
	

Floyd | A small girl - it's hard to tell age when you measure your life by the
Floyd | century. She has stiff -- almost sculpted -- brown curls and is dressed
Floyd | in what resembles a ruffly pink lampshade.
Floyd |

Floyd | The girl looks up and sees you, fringe, paint, wing and all. "Hi," she
Floyd | says. "Are you an angel?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x girl" 		
	

Floyd | A small girl - it's hard to tell age when you measure your life by the
Floyd | century. She has stiff -- almost sculpted -- brown curls and is dressed
Floyd | in what resembles a ruffly pink lampshade.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "girl, yes" 		
	

Floyd | "Yes," you lie, sheepishly. Your squawky voice seems to startle her,
Floyd | but the lie works.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh. I'm Sylvia."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion says (to floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | You've already had your greetings.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shiny" 		
	

Floyd | It's shiny, with iridescent dust scattered across its surface. Kind of
Floyd | like your wing - wait. It is your wing. And she's got it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "give sheep to girl" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask girl for wing" 		
	

Floyd | "Hey. That toy you're playing with? I really need that back. Like,
Floyd | now."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I thought angels were supposed to be nice."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "girl, no" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell girl about seraphim" 		
	

Floyd | This provokes no reaction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "curbstomp girl" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask girl about wing" 		
	

Floyd | "Please. That's mine. It fell off when I... landed here. I can't fly
Floyd | without it."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You can have it but can you grant me a wish?."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask girl about wish" 		
	

Floyd | "I can grant you a wish. You have a wish, right?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Sylvia closes her eyes. "Snow," she intones. Damn. You were hoping it
Floyd | was something easy, like a pony. Something less noticeable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give globe to girl" 		
	

Floyd | "Here," you say. "You can have this."
Floyd |
Floyd | Sylvia takes the snowglobe from your hands, dropping your wing. She
Floyd | peers at it, tapping the plastic a few times and flipping it over
Floyd | slowly. "I guess this is kind of like snow," she starts. "Thanks."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take wing" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear wing" 		
	

Floyd | You press the wing to your back; instantly, it affixes itself to your
Floyd | skin, with small bursts of pain as it breaks the surface. Sylvia looks
Floyd | away, peeking every few seconds -- fortunately, there never was much

Floyd | blood in the process.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Once it's finished, you test the wings. Not as sturdy as before,
Floyd | certainly not pretty, but they should last for a flight or two.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wish for snow" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Leap?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Worth a try." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe we have to go stand on something agani." 	
			DavidW asks, "in front of her?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, again." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Well, we *are* an angel." 	
			DavidW says, "well, try" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Wasn't there something about the earth not moving?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "leap" 		
	

Floyd | You jump, like they taught you: every part of you poised, just like
Floyd | before. Without your wing, though, you don't get far.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "eeeagh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "oops" 	
			inky says, "oopsies" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Lucea), "Is that a bug?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | They could have given you more time to prepare. The fringe in your hair
Floyd | is all knotted and doesn't resemble clouds or gossamer so much as lint
Floyd | strings.
Floyd | Your wings are all wrong; against even the slightest breeze they'd
Floyd | split like tissue. Your face is clouded over with that miserable moon

Floyd | dust. It still shows, no matter how much iridescent paint you use.
Floyd | Fortunately, humans aren't star connoisseurs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yeah" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Ouch." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh no, will we be able to finish?" 	
			Lucea says, "wrong verb, though" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | You crouch low, spread your arms, then your wings, and leap into the
Floyd | air. Sylvia waves at your retreating form, silently.
Floyd |
Floyd | The ascent is easy; you land on the moon's surface without a hitch.
Floyd | After that, it's another story. You heard judgment was tough. Every
Floyd | hour until the rulers arrive, you tug at your fringe and ruffle your

Floyd | wings anew, preening yourself until it doesn't look like you took a
Floyd | fall. Maybe they weren't watching that time.
Floyd |
Floyd | Whatever you did, it worked. When they arrive, it's with nothing but
Floyd | praise. You're gorgeous, they said; leap time has never been better.
Floyd | And when they cast you into the sky, wingless and sparkling, it's all

Floyd | you can think of for millennia.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You are a grown star ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "PHEW" 	
			Lucea says, "I forgot I had included that, which is pretty bad, since it's in the title and everything" 	
			inky says, "you're a star, baby" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "But what was that about the Earth not moving?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was really lovely. Almost a shame that it's merely a SpeedIF." 	
			Lucea says, "I had mentioned the physics going past kind of wonky and into "physics? what physics?"" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Such a beautifully written, cute little game." 	
			Lucea says, "Thanks" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Unfortunately, the scientists or chronologists or whoever it is that said we need a leap second didn't give you enough time to program your game into a full blown thing of loveliness for a general release to the IF community by New Years." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes, really great little game." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, another break, or press on?" 	
			Lucea says, "OK, back, sorry, got some tea too" 	
			Lucea says, "(general release to the IF community? Hm. I guess I can hole up for the next few days and bugfix)" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm ready to continue, but a break would be okay if others want one." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I can continue, too." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Just a sec." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Okay, there we go." 	
			Taleslinger covers his eyes in preparation. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load mao" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |  Dear Blogreaders,
Floyd |  yesterday was even stranger than last year's New Year's Eve! Paul
Floyd | invited me again, even though the police have been bothering him about

Floyd | this disappeared German and his parents were quite angry about the golf
Floyd | cart in his pool. I hadn't seem him in some weeks, so I was quite
Floyd | nervous when I knocked. He rushed towards me, smiled and hugged me.
Floyd | Little did I know that this would turn into...
Floyd |
Floyd | The Day I mauled Mao!

Floyd | An interactive Party by Taleslinger
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 081224 / Inform 7 build 5U92 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Paul, his brown hair in cute little Rastas, lets go of you and looks
Floyd | you up and down. "You look great. You know, we should dance. But I need

Floyd | a little help first." You sigh. He shakes his head quite seriously.
Floyd | "No, nothing like last year - please. I have a table with champagne
Floyd | outside. Well, you heard of the Thompson's Gazelles which have escaped
Floyd | the zoo a few days ago? One of them is out there now, sipping all the
Floyd | Crystal! You need to get the foul beast away from my beverages." He
Floyd | looks down. "But please don't hurt the graceful creature." He pats you

Floyd | on the back and is gone."
Floyd |
Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by

Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (closed) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x drawers" 		
	

Floyd | A chest of drawers, some cheap, flashy IKEA thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | You open the chest of drawers, revealing a sticker.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x sticker" 		
	

Floyd | A small, rectangular sticker, reading: "HAUL-ALL AIR MAIL. Just slap
Floyd | this sticker on anything in the Outdoors you want to have delivered,
Floyd | and we will use our perfectly legal and ethical GPS locator and grab it
Floyd | before you know it." Looks like Paul postponed sending the Christmas
Floyd | present for his hated Uncle Wally again, because his address is already
Floyd | on the sticker.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I see we're in sequel territory" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "hm. Slap that sticker on the gazelle, and Wally gets a new pet, eh?" 	
			Lucea says, "I didn't want to take up too much time" 	
			Lucea says, "ilaw" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | As good-looking as ever.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a sticker
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to David), "Sounds like a plan." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open small door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small door and cram yourself into the Potter room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sugar glider nuclear shelter

Floyd | Shelves are nailed to the leaning wall. On them, some useless tools
Floyd | gather dust.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a Sugar glider nuclear shelter here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A big box of fire works for later.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "Slap That Gazelle" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oops, wrong room name." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x shelter" 		
	

Floyd | A nuclear shelter for Pauls mum's pet sugar glider. You might call her
Floyd | overprotective and stupid. She was, towards Paul, including that
Floyd | classic line: "Have you tried not being gay?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea cringes 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | Hm, most of this stuff is potentially dangerous, made in Latin America
Floyd | and not approved by any security standards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tools" 		
	

Floyd | Every shelf carries its own heap of rusty, quite useless tools.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search tools" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search box" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in shelter" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see inside, since the Nuclear shelter is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open shelter" 		
	

Floyd | You open the Nuclear shelter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | The Nuclear shelter is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | hallway
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.

Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about the greatly anticipated "Bedtime story."
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | The Day I mauled Mao! is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives
Floyd | long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search purses" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh, bedtime story" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x people" 		
	

Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about how some singers suck, even though their songs are great.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x purses" 		
	

Floyd | Most people arrived directly from last-minute College courses and
Floyd | brought their stuff with them.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask people about tom waits" 		
	

Floyd | You have to save this party before you can participate in the idle
Floyd | chat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "These people have been here for a whole year, haven't they?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tv" 		
	

Floyd | It's one of those big, plasma things. Pauls parents bought it in Paris,
Floyd | and they had some trouble getting it connected. It's currently switched

Floyd | off, because some joker hid the remote.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "No, they talk about *different* stuff." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "turn tv on" 		
	

Floyd | Not possible without the remote.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh sure, but same people." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.

Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged in,
Floyd | but also has the battery in it. That's just wasteful on the batteries

Floyd | life span.  Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th".
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get battery" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x food" 		
	

Floyd | Might look tasty, if you weren't so full from dinner at your parents
Floyd | house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,

Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in

Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |
Floyd | A Thomson's gazelle is standing here, swaying a bit, gently licking
Floyd | Champagne from the long glasses.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.They shot occasional glances at the gazelle, but weirder
Floyd | things happen at parties in this part of town.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "slap sticker on gazelle" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "lick gazelle" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put sticker on gazelle" 		
	

Floyd | Carefully approaching the gazelle, you gently slap the sticker on its
Floyd | black stripe.
Floyd | You take a step back, hit "z" a few times, and soon hear the sound of a
Floyd | helicopter approaching. It hovers over the party, blowing drinks off
Floyd | the table and leaves into the pool. It then lowers a metallic claw and

Floyd | gently grasps the gazelle, who is to drunk to be scared. She shakes her
Floyd | heard and lookes down at you with those dull eyes, then she is heaved
Floyd | away and out of sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hee" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Nitku says, "Ha ha "hit z a few times"" 	
	Limax arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		DavidW says, "I bet Paul has a second problem for us. Let's go find him." 	
			Limax says, "Wow... people" 	
			DavidW says, "Or maybe he wants to *thank* us." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hooray" 	
			Limax asks, "Did I miss all?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,

Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in

Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the

Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pool" 		
	

Floyd | A small, pool, lacking a ladder of similiar equipment. It's just a huge

Floyd | body of water, trapped by greenish, ugly tiles.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shoulder-bag is   drifting around in the swimming pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Paul appears by your side. "Hey, thanks for the help! Now we can enjoy
Floyd | the party. I think I can even tolerate Mihanda."

Floyd | You free yourself from his hug.
Floyd | "Who?"
Floyd | "He is a Sri Lankan exchange student. I've met him some days ago and
Floyd | thought it would be funny to invite him. And tell him it's Halloween."
Floyd | He shrugs and smiles that cute little smile, and you find yourself
Floyd | unable to be angry with him.

Floyd | "So, he's come as Mao and walks around the living room and shouts about
Floyd | the revolution. He even claims he has a bomb! Would you...?"
Floyd | You sigh.
Floyd | Paul says, "Thanks. See you later." And he's off.
Floyd | You start to wonder where he's hiding all the time.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown

Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been

Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |

Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh, where he's hiding all the time" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take shoulder-bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from pool" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | No, you need both hands to swim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a battery
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop battery" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | You test the water and it's friggin" far too hot to swim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bushes" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by

Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |

Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a battery here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get champagne" 		
	

Floyd | No! As a daring adventure person, you know you have to keep your wits
Floyd | about you for the fiendish puzzles that lie ahead. (And the champagne

Floyd | is not a vital item in one of them.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Aw." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take battery" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x battery" 		
	

Floyd | It's a fully powered laptop battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I bet we still need to swim." 	
			DavidW says, "I forget where the pool controls are." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | Thick undergrowth. You think you glimpse something, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | There is a switch in there somewhere. You fight your way through the

Floyd | underbrush, but all you discovered is an old chainsaw.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get saw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It's not the cool kind of big and loud and smoky chainsaw, but a safer,
Floyd | small one, for gardening purposes. Powered with electricity. It has an
Floyd | unusual plug, one you've never seen before. European, perhaps.Of

Floyd | course, the little "CHARGE" light is completly dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plug" 		
	

Floyd | It's an unusal plug, which won't fit any sockets. (So, it wouldn't make

Floyd | sense to painfully have them implemented in every room.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | Quite high. But climbable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "should we find mao?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. 'European, perhaps.'" 	
			DavidW says, "he's probably in the living room." 	
			Limax asks, "Wow... should we climbe the wall?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Every time I see 'Mao' I think LMAO. That is so, so wrong." 	
			DavidW says (to Limax), "soon" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm thinking we should find Mao, find out what his gimmick is, then climb the wall." 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by

Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |

Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are

Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged

Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"On the edge of a cliff" by The Streets.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through

Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about Textfyre.
Floyd |

Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Mao here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mao" 		
	

Floyd | This guy makes an unconvincing Mao. And an unconvincing threat, for
Floyd | that matter. He is wearing something that vaguely resembles an
Floyd | Anime-junkies idea of a Mao suit. He is waving an obviously fake bomb
Floyd | around.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bomb" 		
	

Floyd | Oh wait. That's isn't a dud. It's the real thing! A bomb!! You're all
Floyd | doomed!!! You have to do something !!1! Quick !!1!!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask mao for bomb" 		
	

Floyd | "Hey, how come nobody is the least bit worried about the bomb?"
Floyd | "People don't see what they can't believe is there."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Oh my" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			Limax says, "Eat bomb" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Feed bomb to dog." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask mao about bomb" 		
	

Floyd | "Uhm, can't we all just get along?"
Floyd | "No, I will bomb you capitalists to hell!"
Floyd |

Floyd | (Actually, don't sweat it. You can't die in this game.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "It tastes like da bomb" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bomb" 		
	

Floyd | You don't dare go for the bomb. What if he activates it? You're changes
Floyd | of getting laid will decrease radically once you're blown to bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | (Well, you can, but it's an easter egg.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take bomb" 		
	

Floyd | You don't dare go for the bomb. What if he activates it? You're changes
Floyd | of getting laid will decrease radically once you're blown to bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get laid" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kiss mao" 		
	

Floyd | Keep your mind on the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "maul mao" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get mao laid" 		
	

Floyd | (lacerating would be more appropriate)
Floyd | The chainsaw isn't running.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to get Mao.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "ha ha, lacerating would be more appropriate" 	
			Limax says, "decaiptate mao" 	
			DavidW asks, "I guess we find the pool controls or climb the fence now? Or go upstairs?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x socket" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to lucea), "hahah, okay, 2009's version will "get [someone] laid" as a verb" 	
			Nitku says, "We need to find the socket." 	
			Lucea says, "I thought there weren't any sockets" 	
			DavidW says, "The golf course probably has the socket." 	
			Limax says, "karate chop mao" 	
			DavidW says, "That's why I think we should climb the wall at the pool." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway

Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Paul has forbidden any entrance for either you or anyone else to the

Floyd | rest of the House for the night. Aside from a a seductive "Maybe later,
Floyd | when we're alone", that is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hubba hubba" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through

Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about how some singers suck, even though their songs are great.
Floyd |

Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Mao here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with

Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:""Sober" by P!nk.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown

Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been

Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |

Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You need both hands to climb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | chainsaw: Dropped.
Floyd | battery: Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You manage to scramble over the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You

Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku asks, "Is the laptop plugged in a suitable socket?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | Quite high. But climbable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "no" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "at least, I doubt it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | The golf cart is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Entrance Gate
Floyd | A metal gate bares the way out to a lovely country lane.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a plank here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plank" 		
	

Floyd | A wooden plank.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take plank" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I love these spelling errors." 	
			DavidW says, "bares the way" 	
			Limax says, "You dirty mind" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open gate" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I must say I'm impressed that T wrote this." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't, since the gate is in the way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "The French folks invited me to do a speed for New Years." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Entrance Gate
Floyd | A metal gate bares the way out to a lovely country lane.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And I ran away." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop

Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get in cart" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the golf cart.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I should probably do stuff like that more to improve my French, of course." 	
			DavidW says (to Lucea), "er" 	
	jwalrus arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cart" 		
	

Floyd | The golf cart is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	jwalrus says, "hello folks" 		Jacqueline says, "Though admittedly I have been sort of busy and haven't time for a speed, because if I did I would have done one for this." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search cart" 		
	

Floyd | The golf cart is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "er?" 	
			Lucea asks, "I can't drive the golf cart?" 	
			DavidW asks (of Lucea), "If you're planning on driving the cart into the pool, shouldn't we make a ramp with the plank /first/?" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You get out of the golf cart.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The

Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Make a plank, walk it, and then have sex with mao" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You

Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put plank on wall" 		
	

Floyd | Putting things on the wall would achieve nothing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lean plank" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "make ramp" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lie plank" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drop plank" 		
	

Floyd | Prodding up the plank, you build a make-shift ramp...again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "argh" 	
			DavidW says, "go for it" 	
			Taleslinger says, "ugh, sorry" 	
			DavidW says (to Lucea), "drive that bad boy into the pool" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Golf course

Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You
Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plank is prodded against the wall, a make-shift ramp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the

Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter cart" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the golf cart.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You could jump the golf cart into the pool, and it would be fun, but
Floyd | no. No. Paul would not be amused."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You could jump the golf cart into the pool, and it would be fun, but
Floyd | no. No. Paul would not be amused."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Aw." 	
			DavidW says, "aw" 	
			Jacqueline says, "aw" 	
			Nitku says, "aw" 	
			DavidW says, "okay. New plan: throw the plank over the wall. Put the plank on the pool." 	
			Limax says, "Nice try" 	
			Lucea says, "I tried to make him jump the golf cart but the game said no, no, no" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Hilltop (in the golf cart)

Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Entrance Gate (in the golf cart)
Floyd | A metal gate bares the way out to a lovely country lane.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open gate" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drive through gat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think the cart now is only here because it was here last time." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You get out of the golf cart.

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Entrance Gate

Floyd | A metal gate bares the way out to a lovely country lane.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The

Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You
Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plank is prodded against the wall, a make-shift ramp.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take plank" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw plank over wall" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to throw the plank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw plank" 		
	

Floyd | Prodding up the plank, you build a make-shift ramp...again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You
Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "maybe Nitku was right about the socket in the kitchen." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | Quite high. But climbable.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb it" 		
	

Floyd | You need both hands to climb.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a plank
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drop plank" 		
	

Floyd | Prodding up the plank, you build a make-shift ramp...again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You manage to scramble over the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by

Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |

Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a battery and a chainsaw here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "I think it's worth checking out." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take battery" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads

Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"All the she wants" by Ace of Base.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x socket" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug in chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "ok" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | It's not the cool kind of big and loud and smoky chainsaw, but a safer,
Floyd | small one, for gardening purposes. Powered with electricity. It has an
Floyd | unusual plug, one you've never seen before. European, perhaps.Of
Floyd | course, the little "CHARGE" light is completly dark.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x laptop" 		
	

Floyd | The screensaver is on, and the password protection has popped up.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "enter password" 		
	

Floyd | You don't know Paul's password.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put battery in chainsaw" 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x wires" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plug" 		
	

Floyd | It's an unusal plug, which won't fit any sockets. (So, it wouldn't make

Floyd | sense to painfully have them implemented in every room.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x counter" 		
	

Floyd | They are weighted down with the buffet.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads

Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"Cheeseshop" by David Welbourn".
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search benches" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x speakers" 		
	

Floyd | Small...speakers. Connected ...to the ... laptop.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "O... kay" 	
			Lucea says, "..." 	
			DavidW says, "also, yay me in game" 	
			Taleslinger smirks. 	
			Lucea says, "I'm picturing bouzouki music now" 	
			Nitku says, "I fill the ...s with swear words in my mind." 	
			Lucea says, "well, imagining" 	
	Firion goes home. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat food" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking Food)
Floyd | NOM! NOM! NOM! (There is still much food left.).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a battery
Floyd |   a chainsaw
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x freezer" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fridge" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | Partygoers: I don't suppose Partygoers would care for that.
Floyd | laptop: Removing the music won't improve the party.
Floyd | benches: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | Food: NOM! NOM! NOM! (There is still much food left.).

Floyd | speakers: And neither will removing just the speakers, thank you very
Floyd | much.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x benches" 		
	

Floyd | They are weighted down with the buffet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under benches" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the

Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x deck-chairs" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | You get prickled a lot, but discover nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cloth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take tablecloth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Any way we can cool down this pool?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search pool" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pool" 		
	

Floyd | A small, pool, lacking a ladder of similiar equipment. It's just a huge
Floyd | body of water, trapped by greenish, ugly tiles.
Floyd |
Floyd | The shoulder-bag is   drifting around in the swimming pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tiles" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get shoulder-bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x shoulderbag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't think the bag truly exists until we swim." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have a feeling the electric chainsaw and the pool won't work well together." 	
			DavidW says, "we need both hands free regardless" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "save" 		Jacqueline says, "Oops" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kdjfd" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Forgot the save button." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get bag with chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get shoulderbag with chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're... right." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | No, you need both hands to swim.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sorry, I was distracted and not paying 100% attention." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drop al" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "How did we cool the pool before? Giant snowball?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put chainsaw in pool" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, I'm done trying to electrocute us." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tap" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x knob" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wheel" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | table: That's fixed in place.
Floyd | The lazy people: I don't suppose The lazy people would care for that.
Floyd | champagne: No! As a daring adventure person, you know you have to keep
Floyd | your wits about you for the fiendish puzzles that lie ahead. (And the
Floyd | champagne is not a vital item in one of them.)
Floyd | undergrowth: That's hardly portable.

Floyd | wall: That's hardly portable.
Floyd | pool.: That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search table" 		
	

Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x champagne" 		
	

Floyd | Some glasses of Champagne.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | Thick undergrowth. You think you glimpse something, though.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | You get prickled a lot, but discover nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | Quite high. But climbable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x people" 		
	

Floyd | They're just people.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask people about pool" 		
	

Floyd | You can't think of anything to say (honestly).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask people about paul" 		
	

Floyd | You can't think of anything to say (honestly).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.

Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.

Floyd | Right now, it's playing:""Sober" by P!nk.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.

Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about how you really shouldn't code late at night, because
Floyd | there comes a point where you can't think of anything funny anymore.
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Mao here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push mao south" 		
	

Floyd | Mao cannot be pushed from place to place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask mao about revolution" 		
	

Floyd | "Can we talk about this?"
Floyd | "Nope."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search couches" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search backpacks" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x backpacks" 		
	

Floyd | Most people arrived directly from last-minute College courses and

Floyd | brought their stuff with them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "For some reason "You can also see Mao here" cracks me up." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x couches" 		
	

Floyd | The fake leather couches look quite comfortable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind couches" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tv" 		
	

Floyd | It's one of those big, plasma things. Pauls parents bought it in Paris,

Floyd | and they had some trouble getting it connected. It's currently switched
Floyd | off, because some joker hid the remote.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |

Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about the upcoming Citizen Kane prequels.
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Mao here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search couches" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x mao" 		
	

Floyd | This guy makes an unconvincing Mao. And an unconvincing threat, for
Floyd | that matter. He is wearing something that vaguely resembles an
Floyd | Anime-junkies idea of a Mao suit. He is waving an obviously fake bomb

Floyd | around.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x suit" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bomb" 		
	

Floyd | Oh wait. That's isn't a dud. It's the real thing! A bomb!! You're all
Floyd | doomed!!! You have to do something !!1! Quick !!1!!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "mao, follow me" 		
	

Floyd | "All these people are innocent!"
Floyd | "What, I have to kill a bunch of virgins?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I'm picturing the bomb from Batman." 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell mao about pool" 		
	

Floyd | "Hey, Mao was Chinese!"
Floyd | "Whatever, there are cats that look like Hitler!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask mao about bomb" 		
	

Floyd | "Can we talk about this?"
Floyd | "Nope."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "move purses" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask mao about pool" 		
	

Floyd | "Hey, Mao was Chinese!"

Floyd | "Whatever, there are cats that look like Hitler!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get purse" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get purses" 		
	

Floyd | That's fixed in place.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. We have done nothing with the box of fire works or the nuke shelter yet." 	
			Nitku says, "I bet the shelter is for disarming the bomb at the end." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tickle mao" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "push mao" 		
	

Floyd | That would be less than courteous.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn on chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "turn mao on" 		
	

Floyd | He's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | Your singing is abominable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |

Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about the greatly anticipated "Bedtime story."
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Mao here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden

Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "Have we been up?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lights" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x carpet" 		
	

Floyd | It's thick and red.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l under carpet" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "we can't go up" 	
			DavidW says, "It's a no-party zone." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Paul has forbidden any entrance for either you or anyone else to the
Floyd | rest of the House for the night. Aside from a a seductive "Maybe later,
Floyd | when we're alone", that is.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get carpet" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "touch it" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the small door or the front door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "front" 		
	

Floyd | You see nothing special about the front door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x small door" 		
	

Floyd | A small door. Somewhat non-descript.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "stand on drawers" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can stand on.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open small door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small door and cram yourself into the Potter room.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sugar glider nuclear shelter
Floyd | Shelves are nailed to the leaning wall. On them, some useless tools
Floyd | gather dust.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a Sugar glider nuclear shelter here.
Floyd |

Floyd | A big box of fire works for later.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | Nuclear shelter: Oof! It's too heavy.

Floyd | box of fireworks: No, it's,as I think was already mentioned,  for
Floyd | later.
Floyd | Tools: That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter shelter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search shelter" 		
	

Floyd | The Nuclear shelter is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | A nuclear shelter for Pauls mum's pet sugar glider. You might call her
Floyd | overprotective and stupid. She was, towards Paul, including that
Floyd | classic line: "Have you tried not being gay?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Sugar glider nuclear shelter
Floyd | Shelves are nailed to the leaning wall. On them, some useless tools
Floyd | gather dust.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is a Sugar glider nuclear shelter here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A big box of fire works for later.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search tools" 		
	

Floyd | There is nothing more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shelves" 		
	

Floyd | Every shelf carries its own heap of rusty, quite useless tools.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "climb shelves" 		
	

Floyd | I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "enter shelter" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push shelter out" 		
	

Floyd | The Nuclear shelter cannot be pushed from place to place.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The shelter is probably where the bomb needs to go." 	
			DavidW says, "I really think we need that shoulder-bag from the pool." 	
			Lucea says, "Yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "And I think we need to swim. And first the pool needs to be cooled." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And we can't take the champagne." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which might be cold." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway

Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open front door" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate. What if there is nothing outside? What if your world is

Floyd | in reality small and underimplented? Is that really worth finding out?
Floyd | You pull back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate. What if there is nothing outside? What if your world is
Floyd | in reality small and underimplented? Is that really worth finding out?
Floyd | You pull back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate. What if there is nothing outside? What if your world is
Floyd | in reality small and underimplented? Is that really worth finding out?
Floyd | You pull back.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hmph." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden

Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Thought there might be handy mailbox." 	
			Lucea says, "I think the carpet is importatnt" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "look under chest" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Cause of the red?" 	
			Lucea says, "It gets its own paragraph" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search carpet" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Might just be ambiance." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x carpet" 		
	

Floyd | It's thick and red.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull it" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under it" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "taste carpet" 		
	

Floyd | You taste nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut it" 		
	

Floyd | (lacerating would be more appropriate)

Floyd | You've learned from experience that destroying the household isn't
Floyd | considered rebelious these days, and therefore doesn't increase your
Floyd | chance of getting laid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "lacerate carpet" 		
	

Floyd | (lacerating would be more appropriate)
Floyd | You've learned from experience that destroying the household isn't
Floyd | considered rebelious these days, and therefore doesn't increase your
Floyd | chance of getting laid.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "It doesn't? Damn..." 	
			DavidW says, "So much for 'cutting a rug' at parties." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter small" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "GROAN" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x compartment" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull plug" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | It's not the cool kind of big and loud and smoky chainsaw, but a safer,
Floyd | small one, for gardening purposes. Powered with electricity. It has an
Floyd | unusual plug, one you've never seen before. European, perhaps.Of
Floyd | course, the little "CHARGE" light is completly dark.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x light" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push charge" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "charge chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen

Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about why Doom III is the greatest game ever and people who
Floyd | don't like it just have no idea of gaming.
Floyd |

Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Mao here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with

Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"All the she wants" by Ace of Base.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown

Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been

Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in
Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |

Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the
Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut overgrowth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x tablecloth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | (lacerating would be more appropriate)
Floyd | You've learned from experience that destroying the household isn't
Floyd | considered rebelious these days, and therefore doesn't increase your
Floyd | chance of getting laid.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x table-cloth" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,

Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | A long paste table is standing here. A white table-cloth has been
Floyd | draped over it, to give it some glamour. The result, contrary to IF
Floyd | conventions, is quite good. Champagne glasses are arranged on it in

Floyd | neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a glass of champagne.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small flock of people is lying around in the deck-chairs, most of
Floyd | them still dressed, waving drinks and mumbling to each other in the

Floyd | afternoon glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "trim undergrowth" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x garden" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x people" 		
	

Floyd | They're just people.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "strip" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku asks, "We might need a little hint at this point?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push table" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x house" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a battery
Floyd |   a chainsaw
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x battery" 		
	

Floyd | It's a fully powered laptop battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break it" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "Oh right, the TV was European" 	
			DavidW says, "oh" 	
			Lucea says, "maybe there was battery fluid of some sort. I don't know." 	
			DavidW asks, "So there's a CONVERTER back there?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.

Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.

Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"On the edge of a cliff" by The Streets.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.

Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about the upcoming Citizen Kane prequels.
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see Mao here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind tv" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search tv" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "move tv" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l under tv" 		
	

Floyd | The TV is connected via an UPC (Universal Power converter) to the
Floyd | socket. You pocket the UPC, it might be handy. Just as you pull out the
Floyd | cable, someone seems to have found the remote, because the TV switches
Floyd | on for a few seconds, proclaiming: "UFO's attack major cities!" Now

Floyd | you're glad you pulled it. Nobody needs that 50s sci-fi geek crap.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Aha!" 	
			DavidW says, "gah!" 	
			DavidW says, "LOOK UNDER, my secret nemesis!" 	
			Taleslinger says (to dw), "Sorry again." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach converter to chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "plug chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says (to DavidW), "Your first rule from now on is to try that first" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach converter to plug" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put plug in converter" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an UPC
Floyd |   a battery
Floyd |   a chainsaw

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "attach upc to chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the UPC to the chainsaw. All it needs now is a power source.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put plug in upc" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the plug before you can put it into something
Floyd | else.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x upx" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x upc" 		
	

Floyd | The UPC not only sound like something out of Star Wars, but also has
Floyd | that cheap yet charming proplike-quality to it. You know, it could've
Floyd | been in the movie for 3 second, not even properly named, but whole book
Floyd | cycles in the EU would be spend concerning it's usefulness and history,

Floyd | only to be squashed by a throw-away line in the prequels. Kinda sad,
Floyd | come to think of it. That sad, french quality. Like kissing a lost love
Floyd | in the rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "Maybe put the battery in the upc?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put battery in upc" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Ugh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach battery in upc" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "connect chainsaw to upc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "attach chainsaw to upc" 		
	

Floyd | You can only attach the UPC to other things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "attach upc to chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the UPC to the chainsaw. All it needs now is a power source.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x battery" 		
	

Floyd | It's a fully powered laptop battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x upc" 		
	

Floyd | The UPC not only sound like something out of Star Wars, but also has

Floyd | that cheap yet charming proplike-quality to it. You know, it could've
Floyd | been in the movie for 3 second, not even properly named, but whole book
Floyd | cycles in the EU would be spend concerning it's usefulness and history,
Floyd | only to be squashed by a throw-away line in the prequels. Kinda sad,
Floyd | come to think of it. That sad, french quality. Like kissing a lost love
Floyd | in the rain.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "attach battery to upc" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't need an UPC attached.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Okay, this is guess the verb. May I?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach upc to battery" 		
	

Floyd | That doesn't need an UPC attached.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "I'm not opposed, others?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "insert battery" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "insert battery in upc" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open upc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "plug battery to upc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "power chainsaw with battery" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "connect" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "join" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "charge" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "attach battery to chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | The battery fit snugly onto the UPC. Grinning like the Doomguy, you
Floyd | give the start button a short squeeze. The low hum is a bit
Floyd | disappointing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "gaymarry battery to upc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "heh" 	
			DavidW asks, "ack ack ack. 'attach battery to /chainsaw/'?!?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's an electric chainsaw..." 	
			Lucea says, "Let's go find Mao" 	
			DavidW says, "but the battery goes into the UPC!" 	
			DavidW says, "It even says so!" 	
			Taleslinger says (to dw), "All I can say in my defense is... uhm..." 	
			DavidW says (to Lucea), "he's right here. Go for it." 	
			Nitku says, "Halt's maul! 'Tis mauling time." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "save" 		Jacqueline says, "Wait." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So are we mauling Mao, or is David mauling Taleslinger?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm confused." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "maul" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill mao with chainsaw" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to kill Mao.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Lucea is mauling Mao." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Evidently." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "kill mao" 		
	

Floyd | You don't dare go for the bomb. What if he activates it? You're changes
Floyd | of getting laid will decrease radically once you're blown to bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "maul mao" 		
	

Floyd | (lacerating would be more appropriate)
Floyd | You casually walk into the living room, then suddenly run towards Mao,
Floyd | swinging the chainsaw and shouting: "AAAAAAAAH!" Somehow on the couch
Floyd | says: "Hey, that idiot's come as Leatherface!" Rethinking your choice
Floyd | of facial lotion, you cut the baffled Mao in half and quickly shove him
Floyd | and the chainsaw under one of the couches.  You learned after last time

Floyd | that hiding the evidence is important. (Well, hiding it at the Crime
Floyd | Scene might not be a good idea.) You can't help but murmur: "Looks like
Floyd | heeee was a real red" and wish you had sunglasses." Then you notice a
Floyd | ticking and pick up the still wet bomb.
Floyd | Some people seem worried, but after some pothead shouts: "Hey, nice
Floyd | performance art!" everything returns to normal.

Floyd |
Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "man" 	
			Lucea says, "some days you just can't get rid of a bomb" 	
	Firion arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Lucea asks, "Let's throw it in the pool?" 	
			DavidW says, "okay, put the bomb in the shelter. And close the shelter." 	
			Nitku says, "First we should run around holding the bomb above our heads." 	
			DavidW says, "The pool will have six baby ducks and a nun. Jacqueline will be miffed." 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha performance art" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "HA" 	
			Lucea says, "Don't forget a couple" 	
			DavidW says, "Newlywebs" 	
			Limax exclaims, "Duck! It's a nun!" 	
			DavidW says, "er weds" 	
			DavidW asks, "Who's steering?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not me." 	
			Lucea says, "You can" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm a concientious objector." 	
			DavidW says, "me? I'm boring. I want to put the bomb in the shelter." 	
			Limax says, "Ha ha" 	
			Limax says, "Eat da bomb, be da bomb" 	
			Limax says, "Kiss da bomb" 	
			Limax says, "Date da bomb" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "save" 		
	Lucea pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Save failed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "save cf3" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to save.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "If I try putting the bomb in the pool, I'll be told the pool can't contain things." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "save" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get bomb" 		
	

Floyd | You already have that.

Floyd |
Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)

Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb" 	
			Lucea says, "crap, which way was the shelter" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open small door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small door and cram yourself into the Potter room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sugar glider nuclear shelter
Floyd | Shelves are nailed to the leaning wall. On them, some useless tools
Floyd | gather dust.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is a Sugar glider nuclear shelter here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A big box of fire works for later.
Floyd |
Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "light fireworks" 		
	

Floyd | This dangerous act would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put bomb in box" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |

Floyd | TIC! TOC! TIC!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put bomb in shelter" 		
	

Floyd | You put the bomb into the Nuclear shelter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "close shelter" 		
	

Floyd | Imagine 9746 z's. Imagine 9746 presses of enter. Finally, there is a
Floyd | muffled "Boom!".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open shelter" 		
	

Floyd | You open the Nuclear shelter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "It's easy if you try" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | The Nuclear shelter is empty.
Floyd |

Floyd | Suddenly, Paul appears.
Floyd |  "What happened to Mihanda?"
Floyd | "He split." "Anyway, you're not gonna believe this! There is an UFO IN
Floyd | THE GARDEN! They are EVERYWHERE! They're attacking Cities ALL OVER THE
Floyd | WORLD! Even in Europe!!! Humanity is doomed!!! Nobody cares about my
Floyd | party anymore! "

Floyd | "I'll look into it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Not if you have ducks and nuns about" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
			Limax says, "Not to mention a marching band" 	
			Lucea says, "I thought that was the Salvation Army" 	
			Limax says, "They had instrucments" 	
			Limax says, "ANd they were playing" 	
			Limax says, "and marching" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A

Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,

Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about THE FRIGGIN" UFO IN THE GARDEN!"

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "So, a UFO and aliens, eh?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with

Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"It's the end of the world as we know it",
Floyd | "Purple People Eater" and "Also sprach Zarathustra" on endless repeat."
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by

Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |

Floyd | A friggin" 50s sci-fi geek crap silver UFO is hovering above the pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | Scorched corpses lie around here, splattered on the chairs, some just
Floyd | ashy remains. You feel bad, but it sure does smell like barbeque.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x corpses" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax exclaims, "Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh BATMAN!" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x ufo" 		
	

Floyd | It's made of some seamless metal, and apart from its existence and the
Floyd | implications, it's rather boring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut ufo" 		
	

Floyd | (lacerating would be more appropriate)
Floyd | Unfortunately, your wit isn't that sharp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "throw ufo in pool" 		
	

Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an UFO
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with

Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"It's the end of the world as we know it",
Floyd | "Purple People Eater" and "Also sprach Zarathustra" on endless repeat."
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,

Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about THE FRIGGIN" UFO IN THE GARDEN!"

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "open ufo" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "oh, we got rid of the chainsaw?" 	
	Taleslinger cover his eyes. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "show ufo to people" 		
	

Floyd | The crowd of people is unimpressed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "eat ufo" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "That's a bug!" 	
			Lucea asks, "What is?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "identify ufo" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "portable ufo" 	
			Taleslinger says, "You're not supposed to be ... timing." 	
			Lucea says, "Oh." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are

Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged

Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"It's the end of the world as we know it",
Floyd | "Purple People Eater" and "Also sprach Zarathustra" on endless repeat."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown

Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Scorched corpses lie around here, splattered on the chairs, some just

Floyd | ashy remains. You feel bad, but it sure does smell like barbeque.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drop ufo" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger cries a little. 	
			DavidW says, "Like the potato chip bag that holds a sheep." 	
			Lucea says, "Like your magical re-breaking wings." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Maybe now we can use the fire works?" 	
			Nitku says, "Good idea." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pool" 		
	

Floyd | A small, pool, lacking a ladder of similiar equipment. It's just a huge
Floyd | body of water, trapped by greenish, ugly tiles.
Floyd |

Floyd | The shoulder-bag is   drifting around in the swimming pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | In the Swimming Pool (swimming)
Floyd | You are surrounded by clear, cold water.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a shoulder-bag (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take shoulder-bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | It's a water-proof shoulder-bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear bag" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the shoulder-bag)
Floyd | You can't reach it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dive" 		
	

Floyd | You try to dive down but don't have enough air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hold breath" 		
	

Floyd | You hold your breath.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dive" 		
	

Floyd | You dive down and grab the shoulder bag.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area

Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)

Floyd |
Floyd | Scorched corpses lie around here, splattered on the chairs, some just
Floyd | ashy remains. You feel bad, but it sure does smell like barbeque.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an UFO here.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can't hold your breath any longer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Yay!" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "release breath" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "breathe" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | It's a water-proof shoulder-bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "DIE" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open bag" 		
	

Floyd | That's already open.

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear bag" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You put on the shoulder-bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "now we can carry stuff over the wall." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You manage to scramble over the wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You
Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plank is prodded against the wall, a make-shift ramp.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You

Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Entrance Gate
Floyd | A metal gate bares the way out to a lovely country lane.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x gate" 		
	

Floyd | It's a lovely gate, the club's motto "Nos es superbus nostri balls!"

Floyd | engraved above it. (Yes, it has a stone arc, but that's unimportant.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter cart" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the golf cart.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop (in the golf cart)

Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, you'd go up the ramp and ram the UFO, but you don't think it'd do
Floyd | any damage to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "drat" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You get out of the golf cart.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop

Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The
Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "load it with fireworks" 	
			DavidW says, "YES" 	
			Lucea says, "haha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Entrance Gate
Floyd | A metal gate bares the way out to a lovely country lane.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The

Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You
Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The plank is prodded against the wall, a make-shift ramp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You manage to scramble over the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by
Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss

Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Scorched corpses lie around here, splattered on the chairs, some just
Floyd | ashy remains. You feel bad, but it sure does smell like barbeque.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an UFO here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with
Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.

Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.

Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"It's the end of the world as we know it",
Floyd | "Purple People Eater" and "Also sprach Zarathustra" on endless repeat."
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through

Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and
Floyd | talking about THE FRIGGIN" UFO IN THE GARDEN!"
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden
Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)

Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open small" 		
	

Floyd | You open the small door and cram yourself into the Potter room.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sugar glider nuclear shelter
Floyd | Shelves are nailed to the leaning wall. On them, some useless tools

Floyd | gather dust.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a Sugar glider nuclear shelter here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A big box of fire works for now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take box" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, these might come in handy now.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put box in bag" 		
	

Floyd | You put the box of fireworks into the shoulder-bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | hallway
Floyd | A small hallway, brightly lit by a row of neon lights. Dark wooden

Floyd | stairs lead upwards, and a doorframe opens west into the Living Room. A
Floyd | small door under the stairs lead into a storage closet. (Referred to by
Floyd | Paul only as "The Potter Room".)
Floyd | Your steps don't make any sound on the the thick, red carpet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a chest of drawers (empty) here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room

Floyd | Before the party people invaded it, this was a spacious, cozy room,
Floyd | which one of those big, expensive TV's. Now, you have to wade through
Floyd | thick smoke to escape either eastwards to the hallway or to the Kitchen
Floyd | and the Pool beyond to the South.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some people sit on the two comfortable couches, sharing joints and

Floyd | talking about THE FRIGGIN" UFO IN THE GARDEN!"
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Between the two couches is a huge heap of purses and backpacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | The main feature of this room is the impressive glass door, which leads
Floyd | south, to the pool. All benches and counters are weighted down with

Floyd | random food stuff, brought by the party goers. Of course, there are
Floyd | more people here than in the living room.
Floyd |
Floyd | People stand around, glasses or plates in hand, happily munching and
Floyd | talking.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the counter next to the sink sits Paul's laptop. It's plugged
Floyd | in.Wires connect it to some small speakers, providing music.
Floyd | Right now, it's playing:"It's the end of the world as we know it",
Floyd | "Purple People Eater" and "Also sprach Zarathustra" on endless repeat."
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Garden Area
Floyd | Pauls Parents are rather fond of this small pool. It's surrounded by

Floyd | some deck-chairs. The eastern and western garden walls are overgrown
Floyd | with undergrowth, so as to hide the family members going for a seamelss
Floyd | tan. This wasn't necessary for the southern wall, wich is quite high,
Floyd | because it borders on a Golf course (Pauls told you they find the
Floyd | occasional golf ball in the pool nonetheless.)
Floyd |

Floyd | Scorched corpses lie around here, splattered on the chairs, some just
Floyd | ashy remains. You feel bad, but it sure does smell like barbeque.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an UFO here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | You manage to scramble over the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Golf course
Floyd | You are at the foot of a small, sloping hill, the lawn neatly cut. You

Floyd | can go eastwards, uphill. The wall of Pauls garden is here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The plank is prodded against the wall, a make-shift ramp.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Hilltop
Floyd | You are on top of one of the innumberable hills of the golf course. You
Floyd | can see the whole golf course around you, which is boring as hell. The

Floyd | only interesting part seems to be one of the entrance gates to the
Floyd | North-East.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a golf cart (empty) here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter cart" 		
	

Floyd | You get into the golf cart.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put box in cart" 		
	

Floyd | You haven't got that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take cart" 		
	

Floyd | You'd have to get out of the golf cart first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take box" 		
	

Floyd | Yes, these might come in handy now.
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put box in cart" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | In the Air (in the golf cart)
Floyd | The golf cart gains top speed as you rush down the hill! (About 13
Floyd | mph). Tongue between your lips, you manage to steer it onto the plank,
Floyd | and woosh- you're flying high into the sky, straight towards the UFO!

Floyd |
Floyd | In the golf cart you can see a box of fireworks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You jump out of the cart and into the poolabove you, the UFO explodes
Floyd | in a huge, colorful fireball, as if cast by an epic mage on drugs.
Floyd | Debris rain down around you. Luckily, everyone in the pool area was
Floyd | already dead. A few moments of that eerie underwater silence pass, then
Floyd | Paul pulls you out of the water. He has to scream, because some houses
Floyd | in the neighborhood are burning. There are fire engines in the

Floyd | distance. Then the real fireworks start.
Floyd | Paul wipes the wet hair from your forehead, his warm hand scorching on
Floyd | your cold skin, his eyes dark with worry.
Floyd |  "Some idiot flew a golf cart into the UFO. I wonder how he knew
Floyd | someone destroyed all their force field with country music only 10
Floyd | minutes ago."

Floyd |  You shrug. It feels good, resting on Pauls lap.
Floyd |  He strokes your face absent- mindedly.
Floyd |  "You know, with all this alien-tech lying around, it's gonna be an
Floyd | interesting year, 2009."
Floyd |  You smile and close your eyes. "But first things first. Let's get you
Floyd | out of those wet clothes. Hey, are those bloodstains?"

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Happy New Year 2009! You have won! ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "haha, epic mage on drugs" 	
			Lucea says, "yay!" 	
			Nitku says, "heh 'luckily everyone was already dead'" 	
			DavidW says, "I shoulda thought of country music." 	
			DavidW says, "That was fun" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Yeah, I figured it" 	
			Taleslinger says, "would be more easy to find the UPC, and sorry about all the guess-the-verb stuff" 	
			Lucea says, "No problem" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Not that the basis for this is to write a game about gay people that isn't about them being gay. I still don't know if potraying them as sex-crazy sociopaths is any better." 	
			Taleslinger says, "not = note" 	
			Taleslinger shrugs. 	
			Lucea says, "To be fair, at least half of all characters in American media are portrayed as sex-crazy sociopaths" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			DavidW says, "It works for me." 	
			Limax asks, "And what's the other half?" 	
			Alex says (to Limax), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Oh is Other Half." 	
			inky says, "oh, I assumed the PC was female" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Victims." 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "oh no" 	
			inky says, "I wasn't reading the whole thing, though" 	
			Taleslinger says (to inky), "It's just not pointed out." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "You are gender-centric like that, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline smiles at inky. 	
			inky says, "I am afraid so" 	
			Jacqueline pats inky on the back. 	
			DavidW says, "I'm looking forward to seeing these uploaded to the archive." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, three games, three hours. Not bad." 	
			inky says (to Jacqueline), "but I think what you mean is "heteronormative"" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DW), "So that you can add them to the wiki and write pages for them?" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "yuppers" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "I knew there was a word for it!" 	
			DavidW says, "wiki, Baf's, IFDB, and of course, Key & Compass." 	
			jwalrus says, ">INKY, HETERONORMATIVITY OFF" 	
			DavidW says, "hee" 	
			Taleslinger says, "An updated version of my first game is somewhere on the archive, bte." 	
			Limax asks, "Key & Compass?" 	
			DavidW says (to Limax), "My own li'l IF site." 	
			DavidW says, "I need to update it." 	
			Lucea says, "I need to fix some bugs" 	
			Limax says, "Ah. I didn't realize" 	
			DavidW says (to Limax), "I felt it needed a brand name and not just 'David Welbourn's website'." 	
			Limax says, "Heh" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			jwalrus asks, "this is your website with a walkthrough for every speedif game ever written and so forth, right?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
	Firion has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		DavidW says, "I even have a small logo now, but I haven't put it on all the pages yet." 	
			Lucea says, "Incidentally, I wasn't going to bring this up, but there are multiple endings to mine" 	
			DavidW says, "I want to look into some way of uploading on a regular basis via batch files, if that's possible." 	
			Limax exclaims, "*NOW* you tell us!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I'll submit the .zip then." 	
			inky says, "multiple endings, eh" 	
			inky says, "in one you take professional voice lessons" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Thanks for letting us play this." 	
			Taleslinger says, "err, these." 	
			Lucea says, "Thank you!" 	
	Taleslinger has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Nitku says, "Yes, it was fun." 	
			(from Limax) Taleslinger says, "I don't care about the other two games, only mine!" 	
	Nitku has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Limax has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Lucea disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		Taleslinger says (to limax), "Heh" 	
	DavidW has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Hey, thank you for coordinating the speed!" 	
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Limax says, "Love the speed, man..." 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "No prob." 	
	jwalrus disappears. 		Jacqueline says (to Limax), "heh"	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
The Cove by Kathleen M. Fischer
As played on ifMUD on January 4, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of The Cove, written by Kathleen M. Fischer. The Cove was originally released as part of the 2000 IF Art Show, where it took Best of Landscape. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Dave asks, "isn't this a huge game?" 		
	Dave says, "(as I recall)" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Dave), "Not really. It was an art show entry." 		
	Dave says, "I must be mis-remembering then" 		
	Jacqueline says, "It's, um... Victorian era, methinks. Lots of environmental exploration, one main puzzle." 		
	vimes arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Jacqueline asks (of Dave), "Have you ever joined us for CF before?" 		
	Dave says, "no" 		
	D says, "I'm new too." 		
	Jacqueline says, "Well, welcome both of you!" 		
	D says, "Thanks." 		
	Jacqueline asks (of D), "And welcome to ifMUD. Thanks for figuring it out to be with us for CF. I take it you came because of the rgif post about the new RSS feed?" 		
	D says, "Nope, no idea what that is." 		
	inky says, "ha ha" 		
	Nitku arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Jacqueline says, "Oh, huh." 		Limax says, "Have a good time today, everyone" 	
	Jacqueline says, "Well, now I'm even more impressed that you're here. :)" 		Jacqueline says, "Thanks, Limax." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "list c" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "cabal candy cask castles ccr centipede chalupa cheater childsplay chineseroom chkn-at chkn-dc chkn-gs chkn-jd chkn-jg chkn-lc chkn-ld chkn-ls chkn-mm chkn-mt chkn-ng chkn-oo chkn-rn chkn-rs chkn-sb chkn-wsb chkn-wso cia claw clock coast coffins cokeisit colossal colours coloursR2 coma comp00tr congrats cosmos courier cove crobe cruise crusade cube curses cycles" 		
	Jacqueline says, "(Just checking to see if the file name was 'cove' or 'thecove')" 		
	Dave exclaims, "chkn-dc!" 		
	Jacqueline says, "Five minutes yet." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Dave), "Yeah, there are a ton of chicken games on here. I've been scared to play them." 		D asks, "What's with all the chicken?" 	
	Dave says, "I still love mine" 		
	crumple arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline says (to D), "Well, they taste like chick... oh, um, I guess there was a chicken comp or something back in the day." 	
	Dave says, "sometimes you write something that no one else "gets" but tickles your own psyche well enough" 		D says, "Ha, there's so many." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Dave), "heh. Yeah, I have a couple of speed IFs like that." 		
	DavidW arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	Firion arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		DavidW says, "I'll probably not be participating today. I've played this one before, and I've got XYZZY titles to research." 	
	crumple goes home. 		Firion asks, "Which game?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The Cove." 	
			D says, "The Cove" 	
	Jacqueline says, "Okay, so the way this works, we'll play the game here in the room. This is sort of a timed game, but I think we can still all enter commands (ie rather than all of us directing one person to type commands) if we save occasionally during the main puzzle." 		
	Jacqueline says, "You tell Floyd what you want to do by prefacing the command with 'f'. As in >F LOOK or >F X ME." 		
	Jacqueline says, "If you want to discuss the game, make comments, whatever, then you do that on the #ClubFloyd channel. If you're new and don't know about channels, just ask." 		
	Jacqueline says, "And on that note, I'll load up the game..." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load cove" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | [ For information about this game, type ABOUT. ]

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "That'll be twenty five cents, Miss," says the driver as he helps you
Floyd | down from the carriage. You hand him a quarter and two nickels.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Mighty lonely out here this time of year," he continues, slipping the

Floyd | coins into his coat pocket. "Are you sure you won't be wanting me to
Floyd | stick around? I'd hate to see such a fine young lady get herself
Floyd | stranded, especially with that storm blowin' in."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Thank you, but I'll be fine," you assure him. "My fiance...," you
Floyd | start, then look away, unable to finish the lie.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, I see," he chuckles. "Well, then I wish you a pleasant afternoon.
Floyd | Just keep your eye on those clouds, ya hear?" Grinning broadly, he
Floyd | jumps up into the driver's box and releases the brake. Then with a

Floyd | flick of the reins he sends the carriage lurching forward, back down
Floyd | the rutted road between the cypress trees.

Floyd |
Floyd | Finally, you're alone.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The Cove

Floyd | An Interactive Seascape
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2000 by Kathleen M. Fischer
Floyd | Release 3 / Serial number 000525 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |

Floyd | Rocky Point
Floyd | High above the surf, Rocky Point offers a sweeping view of the western

Floyd | sea. From this lofty vantage point, looking south across a narrow
Floyd | strip of sand, you can clearly see the fractured granite cliffs that
Floyd | back the small cove below. To the north, the rugged coastline is
Floyd | dotted with offshore rocks and barren beaches, swept clear of sand by

Floyd | winter storms.
Floyd |

Floyd | Turning toward the sea, you take a moment to soak up the last few rays
Floyd | of sunlight before the clouds roll in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x me" 		Jacqueline asks, "Hi, olethros. We just started. Want me to restart?" 	
	

Floyd | You didn't mean to come here. You had packed your bags and donned your
Floyd | best dress, fully intending to uphold your end of the bargain. When

Floyd | the coach arrived and you stepped on board, you were actually looking

Floyd | forward to the journey. A chance to see new things, new people, a new
Floyd | land.
Floyd |
Floyd | So how did you end up here, high on this cliff, miles from the train
Floyd | station, at a place you hadn't thought about in years? You shake your

Floyd | head in amazement, the answer still eluding you.

Floyd |
Floyd | You find your mind drifting back over old memories of this place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Or are you good?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | When was the last time you where here? It must be going on six years
Floyd | now. You remember everything about that day; how lovely it was in the
Floyd | morning, how clear the skies and sea were, how much you had been

Floyd | looking foward to it. A tear forms in the corner of your eye only to

Floyd | be whisked away by a sudden gust of wind. If only memories could be as
Floyd | easily removed.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach
Floyd | below.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says, "hey, D" 		D says, "Hello" 	
			olethros asks, "I think we are playing... Nightfall?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "The Cove." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x gulls" 		
	

Floyd | Masters of the air, these snowy white and gray birds seem to float
Floyd | effortlessly near the cliff walls, sometimes coming within inches of
Floyd | each other, without moving a feather.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "ah, birds" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x cliff" 		
	

Floyd | Rising sixty feet above the sea, the cliffs are formed from heavily


Floyd | fractured granite. Though nearly vertical is most places, a small
Floyd | portion to the south has crumbled away, creating a narrow but walkable
Floyd | route down to the beach.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach
Floyd | below.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | There are exits to the south, to the east, to the southeast, and down.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This was an art show entry, so it's pretty deeply coded... explore!" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x sand" 		
	

Floyd | Smooth and pale, it starts at the base of the cliffs and descends
Floyd | gradually into the sea. A darker shading marks the water line, which


Floyd | is quite low right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then
Floyd | head out to sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Actually, who hasn't played this? (I have... but am keen to watch and always love reading through this game.)" 	
			Nitku says, "I haven't." 	
			D says, "The extent of my knowledge about this game is that it uses the verb 'remember' but I've never played it" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x sea" 		
	

Floyd | In deeper waters, outside the cove, the sea is a deep, rich blue that
Floyd | sparkles in the sunlight. But in the shallows, as the waves curl
Floyd | toward the shore, it abruptly changes to a pale translucent green and
Floyd | is covered in a fine netting of foam.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x foam" 		
	

Floyd | The foam varies from tracings as fine as spiders web, to heavy patches
Floyd | completely obscuring the water underneath.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x shallows" 		
	

Floyd | In deeper waters, outside the cove, the sea is a deep, rich blue that

Floyd | sparkles in the sunlight. But in the shallows, as the waves curl
Floyd | toward the shore, it abruptly changes to a pale translucent green and
Floyd | is covered in a fine netting of foam.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x cove" 		
	

Floyd | Tucked between two granite headlands, the cove sports a gently sloping
Floyd | beach and crystal clear water. Small shore birds follow the surf up

Floyd | and down the sand. Further out, in deeper water, you can just make out
Floyd | a sea otter bobbing in a raft of kelp.

Floyd |
Floyd | Though a favorite spot for small fishing boats that come here seeking
Floyd | abalone, the cove is completely deserted now. Perhaps the oncoming
Floyd | storm has sent the fishermen back to the safety of their docks.

Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach

Floyd | below.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x otter" 		
	

Floyd | It is too far away to see clearly.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then
Floyd | head out to sea.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I tried finding Kathleen to tell her we were playing, but one of her old e-mails addresses bounced and she never replied from the other one." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x otter" 		
	

Floyd | It is too far away to see clearly.

Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the

Floyd | clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse. You are wearing an engagement ring, a silk
Floyd | dress, a pair of shoes and a pair of stockings.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then

Floyd | head out to sea.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate, as it seems a shame to come all this way and not enjoy

Floyd | the view.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "enjoy view" 		
	

Floyd | The view is always breathtaking here, but with the heavy clouds of the

Floyd | approaching storm providing a dark backdrop to the sun-drenched
Floyd | cliffs, you find it even more striking. Then again, perhaps you simply

Floyd | need it to be at its best this day.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you continue to gaze out at the sea, you find yourself wondering if
Floyd | England can lay claim to any place quite like this, then quickly chase

Floyd | the thought from your mind. All too soon you will find out, and there
Floyd | is little point wasting this day worrying about another.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Lifting your skirt, you start down the cliffs, but find the soles of

Floyd | your shoes too slippery to make a safe descent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take off shoes" 		
	

Floyd | You take off your shoes and stockings, setting them aside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "ha ha what? That >ENJOY VIEW worked?" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
			D says, "You said it was deeply coded" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's pretty cool that she did that, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Indeed I did." 	
			DavidW says, "I think 'ENJOY' as a verb was first introduced by HHGG." 	
			D says, "I like that, if the game tells you to do something, their terminology better work too" 	
			inky says, ">SHARE AND ENJOY" 	
	crumple arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline says (to D), "Agreed." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Lifting your skirt, you carefully pick your way down to the beach
Floyd | below.

Floyd |

Floyd | Stepping out onto the sand, you are immediately hit with a rush of
Floyd | memories; memories of time spent clambering over these rocks, of
Floyd | splashing in the water, and of being here with Jason. You shut your
Floyd | eyes and for an instant you can almost touch the past, hold it close,
Floyd | be part of it again, and then it's gone.

Floyd |

Floyd | Opening your eyes, you wrap your arms around yourself and squint out
Floyd | toward the sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by granite cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand

Floyd | curves from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With

Floyd | the tide this low, a marine terrace to the southwest lies exposed and
Floyd | accessible, though currently occupied by a large sea lion. To the
Floyd | north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge

Floyd | of the surf at a quarter of the way up the beach. Additional clumps,

Floyd | dried and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of
Floyd | the cliffs -- a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | A long, slender piece of driftwood lies half buried in the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | A plover hurries by, ignoring you completely.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of Crumple), "Played this one?" 	
			crumple says (to jacq), "no." 	
			olethros says, "very elaborate, yet not overbearing, descriptions" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x plover" 		
	

Floyd | The small white birds with their crisp brown markings follow the water
Floyd | up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side. A

Floyd | sea otter pops up amongst the kelp, and sets to work grooming its fur.
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then
Floyd | head out to sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x lion" 		
	

Floyd | The male sea lion is basking in the sun on the exposed marine terrace.
Floyd | Resting on his front flippers with hind ones dangling over the edge of
Floyd | the rock, he points his nose skyward as if to show off his impressive
Floyd | mane of fur. Fully seven feet long and well over 600 pounds, he is


Floyd | definitly not an animal to trifle with.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Jacqueline says (to Crumple), "So far all you need to know is that we were dropped off by a carriage taxi, there's a storm coming in, we mentioned some vague lie about our fiance, and we're exploring a seascape." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "wave at lion" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "twirl moustache" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x wood" 		
	

Floyd | Six feet long and weathered to a pale gray, the piece of driftwood
Floyd | probably started life as a cypress branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side.


Floyd | The sea otter pops up amongst the kelp with a spiny sea urchin held
Floyd | tight between its paws. Using its stomach as a table, it quickly
Floyd | consumes its bristly meal then rolls over once to clear away the
Floyd | remains.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take wood" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the driftwood out of the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a piece of driftwood and a purse. You are wearing an
Floyd | engagement ring and a silk dress.
Floyd |
Floyd | As a wave passes by, the sea lion raises his rear flippers just high


Floyd | enough to keep them dry, then lowers them again. The sea otter rolls
Floyd | over once, and goes back to work grooming its fur. Sea gulls float by
Floyd | on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of each other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Holy crap she's strong" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "weigh wood" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x ring" 		
	

Floyd | A shining band of gold. It bears the inscription "EL & AK - 1876". You
Floyd | spin it nervously about your finger, unaccustomed to its weight and
Floyd | feel.

Floyd |

Floyd | The sea otter swipes a thick, furry paw over its stubby furry face.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, drift wood, um, dries out in the salty air... or... yeah, I got nothin'" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "give ring to otter" 		
	

Floyd | The sea otter doesn't seem interested.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion swings his head around to gaze at you with large brown
Floyd | eyes. Unimpressed, he soon returns to his nap. A flock of sea gulls

Floyd | rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then head out to sea. A
Floyd | few small plovers scurry up the beach, just in front of the the next

Floyd | wave.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "nobody told us that it is a big heavy piece of driftwood" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x wod" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x wood" 		
	

Floyd | Six feet long and weathered to a pale gray, the piece of driftwood
Floyd | probably started life as a cypress branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side.

Floyd | Plovers follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, it's six feet long, but I guess it could be quite thin." 	
			olethros says, "oh 6 feet long, but how wide?? :)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "RIght" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, right." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "swing wood" 		
	

Floyd | You look around, but can find nothing worth swinging.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter ruffles through the fur on its tummy. A few small

Floyd | plovers scurry up the beach, just in front of the the next wave.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Probably narrower than your average treebranch." 	
			olethros says, "probably as wide as a floor plank" 	
			D says, "I thought of a floor plank too, still seems like a cumbersome thing to me" 	
			Bert says, "If it started out as a branch, then got weathered down, I doubt it's that wide." 	
			D asks, "Big enough to club an otter with?" 	
			Bert says, "Can't hurt to try! Unless you're an otter." 	
			olethros asks, "big enough to make a balance game thing that children play with from?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit otter with wood" 		
	

Floyd | After a moments thought you realize the sea otter is too far away.

Floyd |
Floyd | Plovers follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	crumple goes home. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw wood at otter" 		
	

Floyd | After a moments thought you realize the sea otter is too far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea.
Floyd |

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "approach otter" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "follow otter" 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "drift on driftwoo" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	crumple arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		olethros says, "ok, let's just enter the cave shallw e" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "enter cave" 		
	

Floyd | You mumble something incomprehensible...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | There are exits to the north, to the east, to the west, to the
Floyd | southwest, and up.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x cave" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "I thought there should be a cave by a seaside cliff!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | As you start toward the terrace, the sea lion lumbers to the edge of
Floyd | the rock and dives into the water. Surfacing again some distance from
Floyd | his former roost he barks his disapproval, then disappears into the

Floyd | sea. You stand there on the beach for several moments, staring out
Floyd | across the cove, but he does not resurface.
Floyd |

Floyd | Turning your attention back to the terrace, you walk out across the
Floyd | sand bar, exposed by the low tide, and clamber up onto the rock.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of
Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous

Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
Floyd |

Floyd | The leading edge of the storm clouds reaches the cove, blotting out
Floyd | the sun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros says, "it's what cliffs are for, damn it" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x pools" 		
	

Floyd | You crouch down and peer into the closest one. Though its opening is
Floyd | no larger than a dinner plate, it is surprisingly deep, with many

Floyd | nooks and crannies for small creatures to hide in. Near the bottom are
Floyd | several sea anemones clustered together like undersea flowers, and a

Floyd | spiney sea urchin. Closer to the surface of the pool is a small clump
Floyd | of mussels and an assortment of limpets. Clinging to the side of the
Floyd | rock is an orange sea star.
Floyd |

Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach
Floyd | below.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x star" 		
	

Floyd | It has five fat legs and a central core nearly as wide as your palm.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of
Floyd | each other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x limpets" 		
	

Floyd | Clustered together on the rocks, they look like tiny volcanoes about
Floyd | ready to blow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick limpet" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess this is The Cove, not The Cave." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			olethros says, "hehehe" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get star" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the sea star off the rocks and hold it gently in your hand.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		olethros | to the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through the headland. 	
			olethros says, "that was before" 	
			olethros asks, "I guess tunnel != cave?" 	
			D says, "Yup" 	
			olethros asks, "how would she know it is twisting?" 	
			olethros asks, "*unless it's without a roof?" 	
			olethros asks, "can there be a roofless tunnel?" 	
			inky says, "I assumed it was roofless, yeah, but I dunno" 	
			inky says, "I guess technically not" 	
			inky says, "it'd be a channel or a canal or something" 	
			DavidW says, "It is roofless, iirc" 	
			D says, "She's been here before anyway" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Really, I always thought it was a real tunnel with a roof." 	
			Jacqueline shrugs. 	
			Nitku says, "She has x-ray vision." 	
	Qfwfq has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	D says (to Floyd), "x" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to examine?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "sorry for being nitpicky, I'll get on with what I was doing before" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of


Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous
Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.


Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach
Floyd | below.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | This was always one of your favorite spots, especially on a hot day
Floyd | when the spray was always quite refreshing.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "feel spray" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | A sea gull's strident call echos off the cliffs.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D asks, "Go back to the beach?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hello, Qfwfq." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | You sigh wistfully, wishing you knew how.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Qfwfq says, ""Hi Jacqueline." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sigh" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You find it impossible to safely climb down the rocks while cradling
Floyd | the sea star in your hands.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter pops up amongst the kelp with a spiny sea urchin held

Floyd | tight between its paws. Using its stomach as a table, it quickly

Floyd | consumes its bristly meal then rolls over once to clear away the
Floyd | remains. A sea gull's strident call echos off the cliffs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "give star to otter" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the sea star.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "drop star" 		
	

Floyd | You toss the sea star into the sea, where it quickly sinks below the
Floyd | surface.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter swipes a thick, furry paw over its stubby furry face. A

Floyd | sea gull's strident call echos off the cliffs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Qfwfq says, "Sorry, I'm late." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You climb over the edge and scramble across the sandbar to the beach,
Floyd | apparently just in time as a particularly large wave crashes into the

Floyd | terrace sending a foot of water shooting all the way across its
Floyd | surface.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves

Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through
Floyd | the headland.

Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge

Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |

Floyd | The clouds close ranks overhead, blotting out the sun completely and
Floyd | turning the sea from blue to gray. Outside the cove the wind is

Floyd | beginning to kick up whitecaps and push the swells up even further up
Floyd | the shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take seaweed" 		
	

Floyd | You can't actually bring yourself to touch the rotting seaweed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter ruffles through the fur on its tummy.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "greet otter" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "otter, hi" 		
	

Floyd | The sea otter ignores you completely.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear, more than feel, the first few hesitant drops of rain as they
Floyd | strike against the stones and create tiny craters in the sand. Moments

Floyd | later the storm catches its stride and it begins to rain in earnest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sea otters are like that." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet otter." 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pet otter" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, sometimes. Sometimes they watch you, worried what you're going to do." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | After a moments thought, you realize that you can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a piece of driftwood and a purse. You are wearing an

Floyd | engagement ring and a silk dress.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pass your hands over your face to clear the rain away.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remove dress" 		
	

Floyd | As you go to remove the silk dress, a chilling wind causes you to
Floyd | think better of it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rain runs down your neck in rivulets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "hold purse over head" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to hold the purse.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Keep your mind on the game. :)" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "throw ring in sea" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking it off)
Floyd |

Floyd | You stare at the ring, suprised to find yourself reluctant to remove
Floyd | it. It's not like it means anything to you, not really. In fact, you
Floyd | hardly know the gentleman to whom it holds you bound. Still, as it is
Floyd | a costly thing, far more than you can afford to replace at the moment,

Floyd | and as you have little doubt that its true owner would expect every
Floyd | last penny of it reimbursed, you decide to leave it where it is.

Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "open purse" 		
	

Floyd | You loosen the shimmering gold cord, opening the purse. Inside the
Floyd | open purse you see a faded white rose bud.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I thought of making an umbrellla out of it." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x bud" 		
	

Floyd | It was as white as snow when you slipped it from the bouquet six years

Floyd | ago, though it soon dried to a dingy yellow brown and became so
Floyd | brittle that you had to tuck it away in a cigar box for safe keeping.

Floyd | There it laid, alone and forgotten, until today when you pulled it out
Floyd | and placed it in your purse, unwilling to leave it behind, no room
Floyd | remaining to put it anywhere else.
Floyd |

Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Have we come from the tunnel in the north?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach

Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves
Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through

Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |

Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge
Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rain runs down your neck in rivulets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Gathering up your skirt, you walk down the beach and gingerly step
Floyd | into the sea. Unfortunately it's quite cold and your ankles

Floyd | immediately start to ache. So after giving a few kicks in the water
Floyd | for old time's sake, you find you are forced to retreat back up to dry
Floyd | sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You glance at the tunnel's entrance, narrow and twisting with a low

Floyd | ceiling, and conclude the piece of driftwood is simply too big to fit
Floyd | through it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rain runs down your neck in rivulets.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "drop wood" 		
	

Floyd | You drop the driftwood on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You eye the still dry tunnel nervously. Carved by wind and waves, the
Floyd | sea tunnel burrows through the headland about half the way up the
Floyd | beach. It is unreachable when the tide is high, both to those wanting

Floyd | in... and out. And in your childhood dreams you often found yourself

Floyd | trapped inside as the waves grew ever higher, your screams for help
Floyd | being carried out to sea. Moments later the water would come rushing
Floyd | through the tunnel and do the same to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You  glance up at the clouds. Though it's pouring rain now, it seems

Floyd | the clouds are thinning to the west. Perhaps this will all blow over

Floyd | soon, but until it does there is nowhere else dry to go. So summoning
Floyd | your courage, you dash between the waves, scramble up the rocks, and
Floyd | enter the tunnel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's Entrance

Floyd | The narrow opening of the sea tunnel looks southward across the beach

Floyd | and to the granite cliffs beyond. From here, by craning your head
Floyd | around the rocks to the east, you are just able to make out the tips
Floyd | of the cypress trees, looking like ghostly shadows as the clouds pass
Floyd | by.
Floyd |

Floyd | Waves rolling in from the west tumble over the rocks below, sending up

Floyd | a heavy shower of spray and then move on.
Floyd |
Floyd | After a few moments it becomes clear that this spot offers little in
Floyd | the way of protection from the driving rain, and the cold sea spray is
Floyd | actually making things worse. As fears of the past are swept away by

Floyd | the realities of the present, you make your way further into the

Floyd | tunnel, squeezing past its narrowest point, then hurrying on to the
Floyd | northern end.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to

Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough

Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening, half covered in algae, is a flattened stone standing

Floyd | somewhat apart from the rest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Somehow, this puts me in a disturbing lovecraftian mood." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x stone" 		
	

Floyd | You scrap off the algae from the flattened stone, revealing a heavily

Floyd | eroded outline of a heart cut into the rock. Inside the heart, carved
Floyd | in a childish hand, is the faded inscription "JS & AK". A lump forms
Floyd | in your throat and you swallow hard, trying in vain to shut your mind
Floyd | on old memories, still painful to recall.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D asks, "Did we just go straight from the entrance to the end of the tunnel?" 	
	Firion says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse (which is open), inside which is a faded
Floyd | white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement ring and a silk dress.

Floyd |

Floyd | The skies open up and it begins to pour, sending water streaming down
Floyd | the sides of the tunnel and splattering against you no matter where
Floyd | you stand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I think so." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You remember back to the last time you were here, six long years ago.
Floyd | It seems like yesterday. You almost expect to see Jason come running
Floyd | through the tunnel, hair tossled by the wind. "Hey Amy," he would say,


Floyd | "look what I found!" Then he'd open his hand and show you some small
Floyd | treasure from the sea. They were worthless, they were beautiful, and
Floyd | they always made you smile. He always made you smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "climb" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to climb?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "climb rocks" 		
	

Floyd | You curl your fingers around the pitted stone and start a slow ascent
Floyd | of the rock wall. But after just a foot or two you find yourself out
Floyd | of hand holds, with the rock curving ever more over your head. You
Floyd | hang there for a moment, fingers aching, then drop back down to the


Floyd | tunnel floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "touch barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You find the larger scales near the end of the barnacle to be smooth
Floyd | to the touch, but the stalk is covered in tiny spines.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Taleslinger asks, "Aren't barancles those ceiling things from half-life?" 	
	Otto says, "hello"" 		
	Otto says, "sorry for being late"" 		D says, "Dunno what they're called" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to

Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough

Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the

Floyd | rest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Bonjour!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x algae" 		
	

Floyd | Mostly deep green, though some patches are nearly black while others

Floyd | are a deep shade of red.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "And don't worry about being late... have you played The Cove before?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sit on stone" 		
	

Floyd | After a moment's thought, you decide the flattened stone isn't

Floyd | something you can sit on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says, "no"" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You examine the ground closely, finding it perfectly solid and quite

Floyd | impenetrable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "To speak on the channel, type >#CLUBFLOYD NO and then, after you've set your default channel, type ;NO." 	
			D says, "Okay, so we're in a tunnel, which was called the only 'safe' spot from the rain" 	
			D says, "But there's no way out" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except not in capital letters, of course. :)" 	
			Otto says, "NO" 	
			Jacqueline says, "There you go." 	
	Otto says, "oops sorry"" 		
	D says (to Floyd), "take flat rock" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to take the
Floyd | flattened stone.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Don't worry. It takes some practice." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "take flat" 		
	

Floyd | You find the flattened stone to be one with the tunnel.

Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Holding your breath, you turn sideways and squeeze past the tunnel's
Floyd | narrowest point to check on the tide. Finding the way to the beach
Floyd | still free, but not anxious to go back out into the rain, you
Floyd | reluctantly return to the northern end of the tunnel where you can

Floyd | stay somewhat drier.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Firion goes home. 		
	Otto says (to jacqueline), "I meant I haven't played the Cove before" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "get pneumonia" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | There are exits to the south and up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You curl your fingers around the pitted stone and start a slow ascent

Floyd | of the rock wall. But after just a foot or two you find yourself out
Floyd | of hand holds, with the rock curving ever more over your head. You
Floyd | hang there for a moment, fingers aching, then drop back down to the
Floyd | tunnel floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "f x up" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "mutter" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "x up" 		
	

Floyd | Though probably solid at one point, it has collapsed near the end and
Floyd | allows in a fair amount of light.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remember up" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | You pause for a moment of silent reflection.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "dig" 		
	

Floyd | You glance at the ground but it seems much to solid to dig through.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its

Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wait till rain ends" 		
	

Floyd | A bizarre number floats through your mind, and then is gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "I am not a fan of the conceit that the PC is saying the commands the user types in" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | You close your eyes, but find yourself much to restless to sleep.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "push wall" 		
	

Floyd | You try, but find it to be immovable.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You remember back to the last time you were here, six long years ago.

Floyd | It seems like yesterday. You almost expect to see Jason come running
Floyd | through the tunnel, hair tossled by the wind. "Hey Amy," he would say,

Floyd | "look what I found!" Then he'd open his hand and show you some small
Floyd | treasure from the sea. They were worthless, they were beautiful, and
Floyd | they always made you smile. He always made you smile.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its

Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remember jason" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "search tunnel" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "find treasure" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Can't so south, can't go up" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Ah, I can't remember specific things?" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "think about jason" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "think" 		
	

Floyd | You murmer "Xyzzy," but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You remember back to the last time you were here, six long years ago.
Floyd | It seems like yesterday. You almost expect to see Jason come running
Floyd | through the tunnel, hair tossled by the wind. "Hey Amy," he would say,
Floyd | "look what I found!" Then he'd open his hand and show you some small
Floyd | treasure from the sea. They were worthless, they were beautiful, and
Floyd | they always made you smile. He always made you smile.


Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | You shout loudly, but the wind just whips the words away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse (which is open), inside which is a faded
Floyd | white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement ring and a silk dress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x ring" 		
	

Floyd | A shining band of gold. It bears the inscription "EL & AK - 1876". You
Floyd | spin it nervously about your finger, unaccustomed to its weight and
Floyd | feel.

Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I think remembering specific things was some other game we played." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "look under flat" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "lie down" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "taste rocks" 		
	

Floyd | You wrinkle your nose at the thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough

Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that

Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the
Floyd | rest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | The relentless pounding of the sea echos through the tunnel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | You close your eyes and inhale deeply, savoring the briney scent of
Floyd | the sea.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "feel" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to feel?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "feel algae" 		
	

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x flat" 		
	

Floyd | Inside the rough cut outline of a heart, carved in a childish hand, is

Floyd | the inscription "JS & AK".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "x gaps" 		
	

Floyd | The gaps vary from a few inches to a few feet in diameter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Maybe the goal is to commit suicide because of the love we lost." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "climb through gap" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd | You blush when you realize that you aren't actually in anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I'm in a tunnel" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "move flat" 		
	

Floyd | You try, but find it to be immovable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, true." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look behind flat" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "She should perhaps have made that equal >S" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is your main puzzle, and I do remember being a bit frustrated, but you'll figure it out." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump into the ocean below, realizing too late that the water here

Floyd | is well over your head. Arms flailing, you struggle to find something
Floyd | to grab onto but find only sea. Moments later you find yourself

Floyd | dragged down to the bottom by the current and the weight of your
Floyd | lovely silk dress.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** The End ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 13 out of a possible 28, in 92 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the CREDITS, give

Floyd | the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, awww. RIP." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I don't think that was it. She can't swim" 	
			D says, "So whoops" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It would appear not." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "remove dress" 		
	

Floyd | As you go to remove the silk dress, a chilling wind causes you to

Floyd | think better of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline smiles. 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "skinny dip" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search dress" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "climb down" 		
	

Floyd | After deep consideration, you ultimately decide it's not worth the
Floyd | effort.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Nothing of interest to you, maybe..." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | There are none at all available!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "x fissures" 		
	

Floyd | The fissures criss-cross the rocks and provide a foothold for the
Floyd | clusters of barnacles.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "smell bud" 		
	

Floyd | It smells of tobacco, not surprising considering it spent the last six
Floyd | years tucked away in a cigar box.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "smell purse" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "climb fissures" 		
	

Floyd | After deep consideration, you ultimately decide it's not worth the

Floyd | effort.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "x barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | The gray scaled barnacles are grouped together in large clumps

Floyd | containing hundreds, maybe thousands, of individual members.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "feel spray" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x wave" 		
	

Floyd | The waves are four to five feet high as they curl over then break upon
Floyd | the shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "climb barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the barnacles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x shore" 		
	

Floyd | Swept clear of sand by earlier winter storms, the rocky shores seem
Floyd | barren, inhospitable places, that even the birds pass by.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up


Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x sea" 		
	

Floyd | Overshaddowed by the clouds, the sea is an unrelieved blue gray.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pester barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "search sea" 		
	

Floyd | The sea is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "rub ring on flat" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to rub the
Floyd | engagement ring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x flat" 		
	

Floyd | Inside the rough cut outline of a heart, carved in a childish hand, is
Floyd | the inscription "JS & AK".
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x ring" 		
	

Floyd | A shining band of gold. It bears the inscription "EL & AK - 1876". You
Floyd | spin it nervously about your finger, unaccustomed to its weight and
Floyd | feel.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "scratch inscription" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x inscription" 		
	

Floyd | Inside the rough cut outline of a heart, carved in a childish hand, is
Floyd | the inscription "JS & AK".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "search barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the barnacles.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its

Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "search tunnel" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Qfwfq says (to Floyd), "take barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You find them to be firmly attached to the rocks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "sorry if I try some commands already tested previously..." 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "rub barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the barnacles.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Qfwfq says, "Me too." 	
			D says, "It's okay, I think I just repeated MYSELF a few times" 	
			inky says, "ok, so are we going to ditch this EL guy and run off with JS or what" 	
			D says, "Well he's not here" 	
			inky says, "details details" 	
			inky says, "perhaps he's an otter" 	
			Otto says, "the poor woman is lost, so she's acting confused (repeating things and such...)" 	
			D asks, "Can anyone think of a way to scratch out the ring's engraving?" 	
			inky says, "we could throw the ring into the ocean" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "bite ring" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "that is the traditional way" 	
			Otto asks, "on the rock ?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to otto), "heehee" 	
			D says, "She won't do that, the hubby will make her pay for it" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			D says, "No seriously" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "throw ring into sea" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking it off)
Floyd |
Floyd | You stare at the ring, suprised to find yourself reluctant to remove

Floyd | it. It's not like it means anything to you, not really. In fact, you
Floyd | hardly know the gentleman to whom it holds you bound. Still, as it is
Floyd | a costly thing, far more than you can afford to replace at the moment,

Floyd | and as you have little doubt that its true owner would expect every
Floyd | last penny of it reimbursed, you decide to leave it where it is.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "what a jerk" 	
			inky says, "he sounds like no gentleman to me" 	
			D says, "It's 1800-whatever though, so you know how arranged marriages and such were" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "I" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse (which is open), inside which is a faded
Floyd | white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement ring and a silk dress.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat ring" 		
	

Floyd | You contemplating eating, but find you aren't hungry for an engagement

Floyd | ring.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "He's probably like 30 years older" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "think about ring" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember ring" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember engagement" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Dave has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	D says (to Floyd), "put ring in purse" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking it off)

Floyd |
Floyd | You stare at the ring, suprised to find yourself reluctant to remove
Floyd | it. It's not like it means anything to you, not really. In fact, you

Floyd | hardly know the gentleman to whom it holds you bound. Still, as it is
Floyd | a costly thing, far more than you can afford to replace at the moment,
Floyd | and as you have little doubt that its true owner would expect every

Floyd | last penny of it reimbursed, you decide to leave it where it is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x dress" 		
	

Floyd | While not at all appropriate for visiting the beach, the emerald green

Floyd | and white stripped silk dress with its solid green overshirt,
Floyd | tastefully bustled, is just the thing for going visiting - or going
Floyd | away - which is exactly what you should be doing right now. The silk

Floyd | dress is soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "shake" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "What's our goal I wonder..." 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "remove dress" 		
	

Floyd | As you go to remove the silk dress, a chilling wind causes you to
Floyd | think better of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from

Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "is it possible to go somewhere from here?" 	
			D says, "She refuses to go south into the rain, but she allows us to go up by climbing, but she gets tired" 	
			D asks, "So do we have anything that can be used to assist climbing?" 	
			inky says, "maybe we should do some pushups until we're stronger" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End

Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough
Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that

Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the
Floyd | rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "throw bud into sea" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the faded white rose bud before you can put it
Floyd | into something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | There are exits to the south and up.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its

Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from

Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You blush when you realize that you aren't actually in anything.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Holding your breath, you turn sideways and squeeze past the tunnel's

Floyd | narrowest point to check on the tide. Finding the way to the beach
Floyd | still free, but not anxious to go back out into the rain, you
Floyd | reluctantly return to the northern end of the tunnel where you can
Floyd | stay somewhat drier.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You curl your fingers around the pitted stone and start a slow ascent
Floyd | of the rock wall. But after just a foot or two you find yourself out
Floyd | of hand holds, with the rock curving ever more over your head. You

Floyd | hang there for a moment, fingers aching, then drop back down to the

Floyd | tunnel floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "get bud" 		
	

Floyd | You take the faded white rose bud out of the purse.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "throw bud into sea" 		
	

Floyd | You gently kiss the faded blossom then toss it out onto the sea. "Rest
Floyd | in peace, Jason," you whisper as you watch it bob upon the water.
Floyd | Moments later it's caught up in the churning waves and pulled beneath
Floyd | the surface.

Floyd |

Floyd | "Amelia!" comes a cry from far above, barely audible over a sudden
Floyd | rush of water to the south. How long have you been in here? Looking up
Floyd | toward the cliffs you are surprised to see a familiar coach and four
Floyd | standing precariously close to the edge.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Ethan, get the horses back," you yell, cupping your hands around your

Floyd | mouth in a futile attempt to be heard. How did he know where to find
Floyd | you?
Floyd |
Floyd | "Amelia!" comes the cry again, this time more frantic.
Floyd |

Floyd | Tunnel's End

Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough
Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.

Floyd |

Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the
Floyd | rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Good job" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's Entrance
Floyd | The narrow opening of the sea tunnel looks out upon the beach, or what

Floyd | is left of it, for the tide has come in so far that some of the larger

Floyd | waves are spilling over the small rocks at the base of the cliffs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it would be funny if this game was just composed of puzzles that were solved by throwing things into the ocean" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember jason" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	crumple goes home. 		
	D says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Standing at the edge of the tunnel, peering down at the sea as it
Floyd | surges past, you quickly realize the only way out this direction is to
Floyd | jump.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Holding your breath, you turn sideways and squeeze past the tunnel's
Floyd | narrowest point, then hurry on to its northern end with the sea
Floyd | lapping at your heels.
Floyd |


Floyd | "Ethan, I'm here!" you scream as a wave enters the southern end of the
Floyd | tunnel, sweeping over your feet and pour out the northern end.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough


Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the
Floyd | rest.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "stand on stone" 		
	

Floyd | After a moment's thought, you decide the flattened stone isn't
Floyd | something you can stand on.


Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Just as you did six years before, you curl your finger around the
Floyd | pitted stone and attempt to haul yourself up the rocks. But this time
Floyd | Jason isn't there to push you the rest of the way up, and you slide


Floyd | back down.
Floyd |
Floyd | While you are preparing to try again, your hand is hit by a sturdy
Floyd | strap of leather tossed down from above.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Amelia, grab the rein," calls Ethan, his voice barely audible over


Floyd | the sound of the waves.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wrapping the rein around your hand, you once again scramble up the
Floyd | rocks. A moment later you find yourself standing on the rim of the
Floyd | tunnel, caught up in Ethans arms as he wraps his thick black cloak
Floyd | around you. Another wave sweeps through the tunnel at your feet,


Floyd | sending a shower of spray up high above your head. But the sea has no
Floyd | power over you now. This time there is no one left behind for it to
Floyd | claim.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** The End ***


Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 16 out of a possible 28, in 130 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the CREDITS, give
Floyd | the FULL score for that game or QUIT?


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm, that was a weird ending" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Woo" 	
			D asks, "Oh wow, that means jason drowned right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			inky says, "I guess so" 	
			inky says, "leaving only a single rose behind" 	
			Otto says, "there is more to discover it seems" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So now we're going to marry Ethan. Poo." 	
			inky says, "no doubt clenched in your teeth" 	
			inky says, "I dunno, he saved our lives" 	
			D asks, "Was she married to jason at one point?" 	
			inky says, "that seems like a stand-up kind of guy to me" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Possibly, yeah... you guys could go back to a restore and keep exploring if you want to." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "That doesn't mean he's a hottie or good in the sack." 	
	Bert has disconnected. 		
	Bert goes home. 		Jacqueline asks, "Oh wait, there's more to relationships than that, isn't there?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "full" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 16 out of a possible 28, in 130 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | The score was made up as follows:


Floyd |
Floyd |      1 the beach
Floyd |      1 the terrace
Floyd |      1 the tide pool
Floyd |      1 the tunnel
Floyd |      1 the stone


Floyd |      1 the rose
Floyd |      6  of 13 creatures examined
Floyd |      3  of 8 memories recalled
Floyd |      1 the end
Floyd |
Floyd |     16 total (out of 28)


Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the CREDITS, give
Floyd | the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "score with ethan" 		
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "so it's finished now? I think I'll try this game again then" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wow - yeah. You guys only got 16 out of 28." 	
			D says, "There's our missing 12 pts." 	
			(from inky) Jacqueline says "You SUCK" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "haha" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Otto), "You and the others can either start over or just go back to a restore point, but since it's so short, why don't you guys start over and try to find all the points?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Want me to restart it?" 	
			Otto asks, "why not?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay!" 	
			D says, "There's probably a 'remember' for each room" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | [ For information about this game, type ABOUT. ]

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | "That'll be twenty five cents, Miss," says the driver as he helps you
Floyd | down from the carriage. You hand him a quarter and two nickels.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mighty lonely out here this time of year," he continues, slipping the

Floyd | coins into his coat pocket. "Are you sure you won't be wanting me to

Floyd | stick around? I'd hate to see such a fine young lady get herself
Floyd | stranded, especially with that storm blowin' in."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thank you, but I'll be fine," you assure him. "My fiance...," you
Floyd | start, then look away, unable to finish the lie.

Floyd |

Floyd | "Ah, I see," he chuckles. "Well, then I wish you a pleasant afternoon.
Floyd | Just keep your eye on those clouds, ya hear?" Grinning broadly, he
Floyd | jumps up into the driver's box and releases the brake. Then with a
Floyd | flick of the reins he sends the carriage lurching forward, back down
Floyd | the rutted road between the cypress trees.

Floyd |

Floyd | Finally, you're alone.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The Cove

Floyd | An Interactive Seascape

Floyd | Copyright (c) 2000 by Kathleen M. Fischer
Floyd | Release 3 / Serial number 000525 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Rocky Point
Floyd | High above the surf, Rocky Point offers a sweeping view of the western

Floyd | sea. From this lofty vantage point, looking south across a narrow

Floyd | strip of sand, you can clearly see the fractured granite cliffs that
Floyd | back the small cove below. To the north, the rugged coastline is
Floyd | dotted with offshore rocks and barren beaches, swept clear of sand by
Floyd | winter storms.
Floyd |

Floyd | Turning toward the sea, you take a moment to soak up the last few rays

Floyd | of sunlight before the clouds roll in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | When was the last time you where here? It must be going on six years

Floyd | now. You remember everything about that day; how lovely it was in the
Floyd | morning, how clear the skies and sea were, how much you had been
Floyd | looking foward to it. A tear forms in the corner of your eye only to
Floyd | be whisked away by a sudden gust of wind. If only memories could be as
Floyd | easily removed.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sea" 		
	

Floyd | In deeper waters, outside the cove, the sea is a deep, rich blue that

Floyd | sparkles in the sunlight. But in the shallows, as the waves curl
Floyd | toward the shore, it abruptly changes to a pale translucent green and
Floyd | is covered in a fine netting of foam.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | There are exits to the south, to the east, to the southeast, and down.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the
Floyd | clouds.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x gulls" 		
	

Floyd | Masters of the air, these snowy white and gray birds seem to float
Floyd | effortlessly near the cliff walls, sometimes coming within inches of


Floyd | each other, without moving a feather.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 2 out of a possible 28, in 5 turns.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "this animals thing is like jigsaw" 	
			D says, "We never went south or southeast from the start, I think" 	
			inky says, "I bet we run into an enormous mosquito" 	
			D says, "Don't go east" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have never played jigsaw. But I always loved the animals in this game. I guess I should maybe get around to playing jigsaw." 	
			inky says, "well, it's called The Cove, not The Bit Inland From The Cove" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You turn your back on the sea, beginning the long dusty walk back to
Floyd | the city.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** The End ***
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 2 out of a possible 28, in 5 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the CREDITS, give
Floyd | the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Rocky Point
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		D asks, "se does it too?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You hesitate, as it seems a shame to come all this way and not enjoy
Floyd | the view.


Floyd |
Floyd | A sea gull's strident call echos off the cliffs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You turn your back on the sea, beginning the long dusty walk back to
Floyd | the city.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** The End ***
Floyd |


Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 2 out of a possible 28, in 6 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the CREDITS, give
Floyd | the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Rocky Point
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "enjoy view" 		
	

Floyd | The view is always breathtaking here, but with the heavy clouds of the
Floyd | approaching storm providing a dark backdrop to the sun-drenched

Floyd | cliffs, you find it even more striking. Then again, perhaps you simply

Floyd | need it to be at its best this day.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you continue to gaze out at the sea, you find yourself wondering if
Floyd | England can lay claim to any place quite like this, then quickly chase
Floyd | the thought from your mind. All too soon you will find out, and there

Floyd | is little point wasting this day worrying about another.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "call gulls" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to call.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "whistle" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Lifting your skirt, you start down the cliffs, but find the soles of
Floyd | your shoes too slippery to make a safe descent.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "attack gulls" 		
	

Floyd | The sea gulls stay far out of reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D asks, "is down=south?" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "I" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse. You are wearing an engagement ring, a silk
Floyd | dress, a pair of shoes and a pair of stockings.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "this must be the only recorded incident of someone wondering if England is as scenic as America" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "remove stockings" 		
	

Floyd | You take off your shoes and stockings, setting them aside.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Lifting your skirt, you carefully pick your way down to the beach
Floyd | below.
Floyd |

Floyd | Stepping out onto the sand, you are immediately hit with a rush of

Floyd | memories; memories of time spent clambering over these rocks, of
Floyd | splashing in the water, and of being here with Jason. You shut your
Floyd | eyes and for an instant you can almost touch the past, hold it close,
Floyd | be part of it again, and then it's gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | Opening your eyes, you wrap your arms around yourself and squint out

Floyd | toward the sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by granite cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand
Floyd | curves from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With

Floyd | the tide this low, a marine terrace to the southwest lies exposed and

Floyd | accessible, though currently occupied by a large sea lion. To the
Floyd | north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge
Floyd | of the surf at a quarter of the way up the beach. Additional clumps,

Floyd | dried and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of

Floyd | the cliffs -- a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | A long, slender piece of driftwood lies half buried in the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x driftwood" 		
	

Floyd | Six feet long and weathered to a pale gray, the piece of driftwood
Floyd | probably started life as a cypress branch.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion swings his head around to gaze at you with large brown


Floyd | eyes. Unimpressed, he soon returns to his nap. A sea otter pops up
Floyd | amongst the kelp, and sets to work grooming its fur. Sea gulls float
Floyd | by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of each other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | Your memories are of happy times, of playing in the sea and on the
Floyd | sand. All happy times, save one. You swallow hard and push those
Floyd | thoughts away. Your time here is too short, too precious, to spend it
Floyd | on things you can not change, whether they be in the past or in the


Floyd | future.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side.
Floyd | The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea. A sea gull's
Floyd | strident call echos off the cliffs.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Aw... England has lots of gorgeous spots." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x lion" 		
	

Floyd | The male sea lion is basking in the sun on the exposed marine terrace.
Floyd | Resting on his front flippers with hind ones dangling over the edge of


Floyd | the rock, he points his nose skyward as if to show off his impressive
Floyd | mane of fur. Fully seven feet long and well over 600 pounds, he is
Floyd | definitly not an animal to trifle with.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x otter" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, I mean, most people seem to take it on faith that of course it is" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | Your memories are of happy times, of playing in the sea and on the
Floyd | sand. All happy times, save one. You swallow hard and push those
Floyd | thoughts away. Your time here is too short, too precious, to spend it

Floyd | on things you can not change, whether they be in the past or in the

Floyd | future.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion swings his head around to gaze at you with large brown
Floyd | eyes. Unimpressed, he soon returns to his nap. A few small plovers
Floyd | scurry up the beach, just in front of the the next wave.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I don't think people had flickr accounts in 1876, so maybe she hasn't seen those great B&W/sepia landscape photos." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x plover" 		
	

Floyd | The small white birds with their crisp brown markings follow the water

Floyd | up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side.
Floyd | The sea otter pops up amongst the kelp with a spiny sea urchin held
Floyd | tight between its paws. Using its stomach as a table, it quickly

Floyd | consumes its bristly meal then rolls over once to clear away the

Floyd | remains.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x urchin" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x sea urchin" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to examine the
Floyd | sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x otter" 		
	

Floyd | Bobbing amidst a raft of kelp, the sea otter busily grooms its fur
Floyd | with thick stubby paws. After every few swipes it rolls completely
Floyd | over, then begins to groom again.
Floyd |

Floyd | As a wave passes by, the sea lion raises his rear flippers just high
Floyd | enough to keep them dry, then lowers them again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x kelp" 		
	

Floyd | Ripped from their holdfasts during heavy seas, the long strands of
Floyd | seaweed are pushed along by wind and tides until they are at last

Floyd | flung up upon the shore. There they form tangled mophead heaps, a
Floyd | haven for the small flies, crabs, and the like who feed upon the
Floyd | decaying fronds.
Floyd |

Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the
Floyd | clouds. A long legged plover chases after the waves, pecking at the

Floyd | sand as it goes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "search driftwood" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter swipes a thick, furry paw over its stubby furry face.
Floyd | Plovers follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x flies" 		
	

Floyd | The annoying little flies buzz continually amongst the piles of
Floyd | beached kelp and within inches of the sand.

Floyd |
Floyd | A small group of plovers pokes about the sea weed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x crabs" 		
	

Floyd | About two inches long and nearly as round, the purple crab has a
Floyd | lovely deep purple shell and a pair of pale lavender pinchers covered

Floyd | in small purple spots.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small group of plovers pokes about the sea weed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat crab" 		
	

Floyd | Just looking at the crabs is enough to make your mouth water, though
Floyd | these little fellows are too small to make much of a meal.

Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter rolls over once, and goes back to work grooming its fur.

Floyd | Plovers follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat plover" 		
	

Floyd | You idly wonder if plovers taste anything like chicken, but realize

Floyd | you have little chance of catching one to find out.
Floyd |
Floyd | As a wave passes by, the sea lion raises his rear flippers just high

Floyd | enough to keep them dry, then lowers them again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat otter" 		
	

Floyd | You grimace at the thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat lion" 		
	

Floyd | You grimace at the thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "hit lion with wood" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the driftwood)
Floyd | You pull the driftwood out of the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter rolls over once, and goes back to work grooming its fur.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, totally off topic, a friend of mine through work who lives in France sent me an awesome Bonne Annee e-mail with a photo he'd taken in Etretat last year. I'd never even heard of the place, but this game is reminding me a lot of that photo." 	
			inky says, "I guess we don't like to eat things that are too furry" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "hit lion" 		
	

Floyd | With surprising speed, the sea lion lumbers to the edge of the rock
Floyd | and dives into the water. Surfacing again some distance from his
Floyd | former roost he barks his disapproval, then disappears into the sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And I've made an executive decision that I'll be going to Etretat on a trip now. Must. See. It. Myself!" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 9 out of a possible 28, in 28 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha plover tastes like chicken" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by granite cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand


Floyd | curves from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With
Floyd | the tide this low, a marine terrace to the southwest lies exposed and
Floyd | accessible. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel
Floyd | through the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge


Floyd | of the surf at a quarter of the way up the beach. Additional clumps,
Floyd | dried and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of
Floyd | the cliffs -- a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That's great." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x seaweed" 		
	

Floyd | Ripped from their holdfasts during heavy seas, the long strands of
Floyd | seaweed are pushed along by wind and tides until they are at last
Floyd | flung up upon the shore. There they form tangled mophead heaps, a


Floyd | haven for the small flies, crabs, and the like who feed upon the
Floyd | decaying fronds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks (of jacqueline), "Etretat is quite known in here. Have you read the novel "L'aiguille creuse" (Arsene Lupin)?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 9 out of a possible 28, in 30 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of Otto), "No, should I read it before I go?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | With the tide low, you are able to walk out across the narrow sand bar
Floyd | and clamber up onto the rock.
Floyd |


Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of
Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous
Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
Floyd |


Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
Floyd |
Floyd | The leading edge of the storm clouds reaches the cove, blotting out
Floyd | the sun.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I am thinking of going this September/October." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "look up" 		
	

Floyd | You first look up, then all about...
Floyd |


Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of
Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous
Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
Floyd |


Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the
Floyd | clouds.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x tide pools" 		
	

Floyd | You crouch down and peer into the closest one. Though its opening is
Floyd | no larger than a dinner plate, it is surprisingly deep, with many
Floyd | nooks and crannies for small creatures to hide in. Near the bottom are


Floyd | several sea anemones clustered together like undersea flowers, and a
Floyd | spiney sea urchin. Closer to the surface of the pool is a small clump
Floyd | of mussels and an assortment of limpets. Clinging to the side of the
Floyd | rock is an orange sea star.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I should maybe stop in Paris and all the French IFers there could get together for a dinner with me!" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x anenome" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Though my time will be really limited." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll probably only be in France for, like, four days or something total." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x anemone" 		
	

Floyd | Looking like an exotic flower, the anemone's numerous inch long

Floyd | tenticles move almost imperceptably beneath the still water of the

Floyd | tide pool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(Primarily visiting family in England...)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We should discuss that later after you all are done with the game. :)" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x mussels" 		
	

Floyd | Gray near the base, turning black at the tips, the mussles are
Floyd | actually quite pretty... as well as being very tasty.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x urchin" 		
	

Floyd | You find it hard to believe that something so spiny can actually be
Floyd | alive.

Floyd |
Floyd | Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of

Floyd | each other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "touch urchin" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the sea urchin.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says (to jacqueline), "Yes, this novel is related to this place. And it's be nice to meet you in Paris :) (We'll wear our French costumes like in the Monty Python's comedy)" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x limpets" 		
	

Floyd | Clustered together on the rocks, they look like tiny volcanoes about

Floyd | ready to blow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hahaha" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x star" 		
	

Floyd | It has five fat legs and a central core nearly as wide as your palm.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the

Floyd | clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "poke star" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 16 out of a possible 28, in 39 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "A honh honh honh zat would be formeedable!" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "search clump" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "search clumps" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(I am never going to live down that SpeedIF I wrote that was set in Paris with you fellows, am I?)" 	
			D asks, "What's the significance of our driftwood?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Yeah, it is curious that it can be picked up." 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "search mussel" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the mussels.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of

Floyd | each other.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

			
			D says, "Maybe we need it to catch that red herring over there :o" 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "heehee" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "say xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | Whom do you want to say that to?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "exits" 		
	

Floyd | The only obvious exit is to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "open purse" 		
	

Floyd | You loosen the shimmering gold cord, opening the purse. Inside the


Floyd | open purse you see a faded white rose bud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x bud" 		
	

Floyd | It was as white as snow when you slipped it from the bouquet six years


Floyd | ago, though it soon dried to a dingy yellow brown and became so
Floyd | brittle that you had to tuck it away in a cigar box for safe keeping.
Floyd | There it laid, alone and forgotten, until today when you pulled it out
Floyd | and placed it in your purse, unwilling to leave it behind, no room
Floyd | remaining to put it anywhere else.
Floyd |


Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach
Floyd | below.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take star" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the sea star off the rocks and hold it gently in your hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "put star in purse" 		
	

Floyd | You find you haven't the heart to pester the sea star.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "throw star" 		
	

Floyd | You toss the sea star into the sea, where it quickly sinks below the

Floyd | surface.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | There are none at all available!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to remember), "sea" 		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember sea" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You climb over the edge and scramble across the sandbar to the beach,
Floyd | apparently just in time as a particularly large wave crashes into the

Floyd | terrace sending a foot of water shooting all the way across its
Floyd | surface.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves

Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through
Floyd | the headland.

Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge

Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |

Floyd | The clouds close ranks overhead, blotting out the sun completely and
Floyd | turning the sea from blue to gray. Outside the cove the wind is

Floyd | beginning to kick up whitecaps and push the swells up even further up
Floyd | the shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | Your memories are of happy times, of playing in the sea and on the
Floyd | sand. All happy times, save one. You swallow hard and push those
Floyd | thoughts away. Your time here is too short, too precious, to spend it
Floyd | on things you can not change, whether they be in the past or in the

Floyd | future.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Raising your skirt to your knees, you wade through the shallow water

Floyd | that now covering the sand bar and gingerly step up onto the terrace.
Floyd | Moments later a large wave crashes over its northern end, sending you

Floyd | scurrying back up on the beach as the entire rock briefly disappears
Floyd | under a thick layer of foam and water.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear, more than feel, the first few hesitant drops of rain as they

Floyd | strike against the stones and create tiny craters in the sand. Moments
Floyd | later the storm catches its stride and it begins to rain in earnest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I seem to remember doing something very mean to one of the sea creatures. Can't remember what, though. And I doubt I *earned* points for it. Maybe lost one. I'm not sure." 	
			D says, "Crap, I think we can't get that point now" 	
			D says, "We didn't >remember on the terrace" 	
			Otto asks, "could we undo then?" 	
			D says, "Yeah" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "We need more undos" 	
	Nitku has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Jacqueline says, "You can type >PRESS SAVE (not to floyd, just in the room) to save and it will tell Floyd to save and keep track of your save number." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, hm. Well, I guess you have to start over if you need more than one and you didn't save. Oops." 	
			D says, "darn" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry, last game I was randomly saving as you went, but this time I haven't been." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Think you missed some points?" 	
			D says, "I blame the rain" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait!" 	
			D says, "One" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Inky knows how to override that, I think." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "aHA. I remembered." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	D says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves
Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through

Floyd | the headland.

Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge
Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.

Floyd |

Floyd | You hear, more than feel, the first few hesitant drops of rain as they
Floyd | strike against the stones and create tiny craters in the sand. Moments
Floyd | later the storm catches its stride and it begins to rain in earnest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves
Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through


Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge
Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.


Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Did that get you far enough back?" 	
			Otto exclaims, "great!" 	
			D says, "Don't think so... lemme see" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember urchin" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves


Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through
Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge


Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Anyway, that's how you over-ride the games one-turn-undo thing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "There may still be a limit, though." 	
			D asks, "We need the terrace, or was it called something else otto?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Remember to use the >PUSH SAVE thing." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Raising your skirt to your knees, you wade through the shallow water
Floyd | that now covering the sand bar and gingerly step up onto the terrace.
Floyd | Moments later a large wave crashes over its northern end, sending you


Floyd | scurrying back up on the beach as the entire rock briefly disappears
Floyd | under a thick layer of foam and water.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pass your hands over your face to clear the rain away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach


Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "sorry I don't know. I'm a bit confused, too many English words for ze poor French man..." 	
	Lucea arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves
Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide


Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through
Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge
Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried


Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear, more than feel, the first few hesitant drops of rain as they
Floyd | strike against the stones and create tiny craters in the sand. Moments
Floyd | later the storm catches its stride and it begins to rain in earnest.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Raising your skirt to your knees, you wade through the shallow water
Floyd | that now covering the sand bar and gingerly step up onto the terrace.


Floyd | Moments later a large wave crashes over its northern end, sending you
Floyd | scurrying back up on the beach as the entire rock briefly disappears
Floyd | under a thick layer of foam and water.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "I don't know how you're keeping up. It took me SO LONG to play this year's French minicomp games." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Beach


Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Marine Terrace


Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |


Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of
Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous
Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
Floyd |


Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "There we go" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 16 out of a possible 28, in 47 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | There are none at all available!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a piece of driftwood and a purse (which is open),
Floyd | inside which is a faded white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement
Floyd | ring and a silk dress.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | This was always one of your favorite spots, especially on a hot day
Floyd | when the spray was always quite refreshing.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 17 out of a possible 28, in 49 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Aha" 	
			D asks, "Any more business here?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "search terrace" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Otto says (to jacqueline), "Thank you for having doing so. I'm especially enjoying the mood of this game, even though it can be bit difficult for me to read. Funny enough, I remember when we played "nevermore", it was a very similar mood" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You examined the tide pools." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "x tide pools" 		
	

Floyd | You crouch down and peer into the closest one. Though its opening is
Floyd | no larger than a dinner plate, it is surprisingly deep, with many
Floyd | nooks and crannies for small creatures to hide in. Near the bottom are
Floyd | several sea anemones clustered together like undersea flowers, and a
Floyd | spiney sea urchin. Closer to the surface of the pool is a small clump

Floyd | of mussels and an assortment of limpets.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x limpets" 		
	

Floyd | Clustered together on the rocks, they look like tiny volcanoes about

Floyd | ready to blow.

Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then
Floyd | head out to sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember limpets" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | This was always one of your favorite spots, especially on a hot day
Floyd | when the spray was always quite refreshing.
Floyd |
Floyd | A sea gull's strident call echos off the cliffs.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "listen seagull" 		
	

Floyd | The sea gulls strident calls echo off the cliffs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "call seagull" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to call.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of
Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous

Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a piece of driftwood and a purse (which is open),
Floyd | inside which is a faded white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement
Floyd | ring and a silk dress.

Floyd |
Floyd | A sea gull's strident call echos off the cliffs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Hm, phone call." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Hm, true. They are similar, because they are from a similar time period. (Et de rien, c'etait un plaisir)" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "rub ring on driftwood" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to rub the
Floyd | engagement ring.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "break ring" 		
	

Floyd | You contemplate venting your frustrations on the engagement ring, but
Floyd | resist the temptation.
Floyd |

Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the
Floyd | clouds.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember ring" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I wonder what happens if we get caught in the rain and stay there" 	
			Otto asks, "we can't remember on objects?" 	
			inky says, "perhaps we die of the vapors" 	
			inky says (to Otto), "no, just in rooms" 	
			Taleslinger says, "IRTA as raptors" 	
			D says, "No, just generically remember" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "search ring" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D says, "I think remember gives us one point each zone" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "The CONSUMPTION" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "x ring" 		
	

Floyd | A shining band of gold. It bears the inscription "EL & AK - 1876". You

Floyd | spin it nervously about your finger, unaccustomed to its weight and

Floyd | feel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "It will be sexy and tragic." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But Sam tells me that is not how one gets the consumtion." 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "read ring" 		
	

Floyd | A shining band of gold. It bears the inscription "EL & AK - 1876". You
Floyd | spin it nervously about your finger, unaccustomed to its weight and
Floyd | feel.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remove ring" 		
	

Floyd | You stare at the ring, suprised to find yourself reluctant to remove
Floyd | it. It's not like it means anything to you, not really. In fact, you

Floyd | hardly know the gentleman to whom it holds you bound. Still, as it is

Floyd | a costly thing, far more than you can afford to replace at the moment,
Floyd | and as you have little doubt that its true owner would expect every
Floyd | last penny of it reimbursed, you decide to leave it where it is.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "you get the consumption from lying on couches" 	
			D asks, "Seriously?" 	
			inky says, "well, perhaps if you had some kind of couch-related allergy" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "remove dress" 		
	

Floyd | As you go to remove the silk dress, a chilling wind causes you to


Floyd | think better of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "destroy bud" 		
	

Floyd | You marvel at how easy it would be to destroy it, yet how impossible


Floyd | it is to make yourself do it.
Floyd |
Floyd | A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then
Floyd | head out to sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to otto), "Keep your mind on the game." 	
	GDorn arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat bud" 		
	

Floyd | You grimace at the thought.

Floyd |

Floyd | A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach
Floyd | below.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Maybe the stick is for poking Jason's corpse when we find it" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "smoke bud" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Jason died? Man, I missed a lot." 	
			Otto says, "but I do keep my mind on this game :) Besides, it's not a graphical adventure..." 	
	GDorn says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a piece of driftwood and a purse (which is open),
Floyd | inside which is a faded white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement

Floyd | ring and a silk dress.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "x sea" 		
	

Floyd | The sea is a flat, deep blue.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D says, "Yeah, when we beat it the first time the PC remarks that the sea claimed him" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "search sea with wood" 		
	

Floyd | Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to search the sea.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "search sea" 		
	

Floyd | The sea is empty.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to Floyd), "remove dress" 		
	

Floyd | As you go to remove the silk dress, a chilling wind causes you to
Floyd | think better of it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to gdorn), "Keep your mind on the game." 	
			Otto asks, "strange it was meant to be a container?" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "enter sea" 		
	

Floyd | You glance around, but can find no good spots for wading.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to D), "hahaha but I think Jason drowned a long time ago (unfortunately... that would be funny; I've never seen a game where >POKE CORPSE WITH STICK got you points!)." 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "put wood in sea" 		
	

Floyd | You heave the driftwood into the sea, where it bobs steadily toward
Floyd | the shore until a one final wave flings it up upon the sand.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Wow, it won't let us get rid of the stick" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "get wood" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to Floyd), "get driftwood" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse (which is open), inside which is a faded
Floyd | white rose bud. You are wearing an engagement ring and a silk dress.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Marine Terrace
Floyd | Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of

Floyd | pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous

Floyd | tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to
Floyd | the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock
Floyd | with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D says, "I bet that stick is on the beach to the east now" 	
	Lucea disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		Otto asks, "should we go east now?" 	
			D says, "We can leave the terrace since we have all of its points" 	
			Otto says, "ok" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You climb over the edge and scramble across the sandbar to the beach,

Floyd | apparently just in time as a particularly large wave crashes into the

Floyd | terrace sending a foot of water shooting all the way across its
Floyd | surface.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Beach

Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves

Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through
Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |

Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge

Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | The clouds close ranks overhead, blotting out the sun completely and

Floyd | turning the sea from blue to gray. Outside the cove the wind is

Floyd | beginning to kick up whitecaps and push the swells up even further up
Floyd | the shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | Your memories are of happy times, of playing in the sea and on the
Floyd | sand. All happy times, save one. You swallow hard and push those
Floyd | thoughts away. Your time here is too short, too precious, to spend it
Floyd | on things you can not change, whether they be in the past or in the

Floyd | future.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | There are none at all available!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to Floyd), "take seaweed" 		
	

Floyd | You can't actually bring yourself to touch the rotting seaweed.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear, more than feel, the first few hesitant drops of rain as they
Floyd | strike against the stones and create tiny craters in the sand. Moments

Floyd | later the storm catches its stride and it begins to rain in earnest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "get wood" 		
	

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I remember it saying that the wood washed back up on the beach" 	
			Otto asks, "what now?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 17 out of a possible 28, in 75 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D asks, "To the tunnel?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just make sure you save before you move to a new location, I guess." 	
			inky says, "I think we then walked away from the room with the wood" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "The terrace we walked away from never had the wood come back to it" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves
Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on

Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through

Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge
Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the

Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.

Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your face aside in a futile attempt to avoid the rain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "do you think we really need this wood?" 	
			D says, "Dunno" 	
			D says, "If we're going for all points maybe, but I doubt it" 	
			D says, "We can't even bring the stick in the tunnel" 	
			Otto asks, "may we move now?" 	
			D says, "Yeah" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "How do we now we got all points?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We don't. OMG PARANOIA" 	
			D says, "The only points we missed in the first run were 'remember' and x creature points" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we just saved, so it's not a huge deal." 	
			DavidW says, "Most of the points are via x creature, if I recall correctly." 	
			Otto asks, "I think we could get a better ending even without those little points?" 	
			Otto asks, "ah?" 	
			D asks, "There are multiple endings?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Hm. I don't remember." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Beach
Floyd | Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves


Floyd | from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide
Floyd | half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on
Floyd | water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through
Floyd | the headland.
Floyd |
Floyd | Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge


Floyd | of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried
Floyd | and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the
Floyd | cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pass your hands over your face to clear the rain away.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 17 out of a possible 28, in 77 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You eye the still dry tunnel nervously. Carved by wind and waves, the
Floyd | sea tunnel burrows through the headland about half the way up the
Floyd | beach. It is unreachable when the tide is high, both to those wanting
Floyd | in... and out. And in your childhood dreams you often found yourself


Floyd | trapped inside as the waves grew ever higher, your screams for help
Floyd | being carried out to sea. Moments later the water would come rushing
Floyd | through the tunnel and do the same to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You  glance up at the clouds. Though it's pouring rain now, it seems
Floyd | the clouds are thinning to the west. Perhaps this will all blow over


Floyd | soon, but until it does there is nowhere else dry to go. So summoning
Floyd | your courage, you dash between the waves, scramble up the rocks, and
Floyd | enter the tunnel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's Entrance
Floyd | The narrow opening of the sea tunnel looks southward across the beach


Floyd | and to the granite cliffs beyond. From here, by craning your head
Floyd | around the rocks to the east, you are just able to make out the tips
Floyd | of the cypress trees, looking like ghostly shadows as the clouds pass
Floyd | by.
Floyd |
Floyd | Waves rolling in from the west tumble over the rocks below, sending up


Floyd | a heavy shower of spray and then move on.
Floyd |
Floyd | After a few moments it becomes clear that this spot offers little in
Floyd | the way of protection from the driving rain, and the cold sea spray is
Floyd | actually making things worse. As fears of the past are swept away by
Floyd | the realities of the present, you make your way further into the


Floyd | tunnel, squeezing past its narrowest point, then hurrying on to the
Floyd | northern end.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough


Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening, half covered in algae, is a flattened stone standing
Floyd | somewhat apart from the rest.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 18 out of a possible 28, in 78 turns.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "full" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 18 out of a possible 28, in 78 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | The score is made up as follows:


Floyd |
Floyd |      1 the beach
Floyd |      1 the terrace
Floyd |      1 the tide pool
Floyd |      1 the tunnel
Floyd |     11  of 13 creatures examined


Floyd |      3  of 8 memories recalled
Floyd |
Floyd |     18 total (out of 28)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You remember back to the last time you were here, six long years ago.
Floyd | It seems like yesterday. You almost expect to see Jason come running
Floyd | through the tunnel, hair tossled by the wind. "Hey Amy," he would say,
Floyd | "look what I found!" Then he'd open his hand and show you some small


Floyd | treasure from the sea. They were worthless, they were beautiful, and
Floyd | they always made you smile. He always made you smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from


Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x algae" 		
	

Floyd | Mostly deep green, though some patches are nearly black while others


Floyd | are a deep shade of red.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skies open up and it begins to pour, sending water streaming down
Floyd | the sides of the tunnel and splattering against you no matter where
Floyd | you stand.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | The gray scaled barnacles are grouped together in large clumps
Floyd | containing hundreds, maybe thousands, of individual members.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "full" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 20 out of a possible 28, in 81 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | The score is made up as follows:


Floyd |
Floyd |      1 the beach
Floyd |      1 the terrace
Floyd |      1 the tide pool
Floyd |      1 the tunnel
Floyd |     12  of 13 creatures examined


Floyd |      4  of 8 memories recalled
Floyd |
Floyd |     20 total (out of 28)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough


Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening, half covered in algae, is a flattened stone standing
Floyd | somewhat apart from the rest.


Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Holding your breath, you turn sideways and squeeze past the tunnel's
Floyd | narrowest point to check on the tide. Finding the way to the beach
Floyd | still free, but not anxious to go back out into the rain, you


Floyd | reluctantly return to the northern end of the tunnel where you can
Floyd | stay somewhat drier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Standing at the edge of the tunnel, peering down at the sea as it
Floyd | surges past, you quickly realize the only way out this direction is to
Floyd | jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "are there some hidden rooms?" 	
			Otto asks, "in which we could remember more things about this Jason?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "If there are, I never found them." 	
			D says, "The number of rooms this tunnel contains is ambiguous as well, I'm not sure if there could be more than one here" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where is that last pesky sea critter?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat barnacles" 		
	

Floyd | You wonder if they taste more like mussels or abalone, but as you are
Floyd | unable to get them off the rock, you will probably never know.
Floyd |


Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x sea" 		
	

Floyd | Overshaddowed by the clouds, the sea is an unrelieved blue gray.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "curse it all, there must be some we are allowed to eat" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "heehee" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "help" 		
	

Floyd | You ponder your situation, but nothing comes to mind.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "hints" 		
	

Floyd | You mutter something incomprehensible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "about" 		
	

Floyd | This game was written as a Landscape/Scenery entry for the Interactive
Floyd | Fiction Art Show. Almost all nouns in the text should be fair game for
Floyd | examining, with the other senses (listen, touch, taste, smell)
Floyd | supplied when I thought it was appropriate. Although the number of


Floyd | takeable objects has been kept to a minimum as per the rules of the
Floyd | show, there are a few so feel free to try it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Note: Players might find it useful to REMEMBER from time to time,
Floyd | especially at changes in scenery or situation.
Floyd |


Floyd | Though I set out to make it plotless, I quickly realized I couldn't
Floyd | write that way. We all approach a scene with our own set of memories,
Floyd | likes, dislikes, etc., and the PC (player character - you) is no
Floyd | different. As soon as I created a particular PC to be viewing these
Floyd | things, a plot crept in, and with a plot came a puzzle or two. They
Floyd | aren't meant to be confusing, and I hope you don't find them to be so.


Floyd |
Floyd | I want to acknowledge all those who have given help to me in the past;
Floyd | Andrew Plotkin, Gareth Rees, Marnie Parker, Magnus Olsen, Adam Cadre
Floyd | (for flags.h), Graham Nelson (for Inform, the language this is written
Floyd | in)... I wish I had kept better records so I could list you all. And
Floyd | to my husband, who gracefully accepted being a computer widower most


Floyd | of the time, and wisely dragged me away from the keyboard the rest of
Floyd | the time.
Floyd |
Floyd | A very special thank you to Irene Callaci, who, for the past year and
Floyd | half has been the reason I have kept writing every day, both recently
Floyd | on this little game, and on my REAL game (still in progress). Her


Floyd | daily question of: "So, what did you do last night?" and her limitless
Floyd | patience analyzing the answer, has kept me going though dreadful bugs
Floyd | and writers block, bad plots and worse writing. She has been as free
Floyd | with her wonderful ideas as with her code, and she is entirely to
Floyd | blame for the fact that I finally finished a game.
Floyd |


Floyd | Along with Irene, Jim Aikin and David Glasser and David Myers agreed
Floyd | to subject themselves to a beta version of this game, and all
Floyd | dutifully (gleefully?) reported my grammatical blunders, persistant
Floyd | failure to correctly use Mr. Apostrophe, repetitious code, plot holes,
Floyd | RAM errors (Read-Authors-Mind) and the like. Many thanks!
Floyd |


Floyd | Finally, I should note that as this is my first (released) game, I
Floyd | would dearly love to hear any thoughts/questions/opinions/suggestions
Floyd | you might have. I can be reached at mfischer5@aol.com or you can post
Floyd | to rec.arts.int-fiction or rec.games.int-fiction (the former for
Floyd | programming issues, the later for game play).
Floyd |


Floyd | Kathleen M. Fischer, March 2000
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.


Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "search wave" 		
	

Floyd | After a moments thought you realize the surf is too far away.
Floyd |


Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "How did we get out of the tunnel the last time?" 	
			Otto says, "throwing the bud in the sea" 	
			D says, "Throw rose bud into the ocean" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Ah, okay." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dive" 		
	

Floyd | You sigh wistfully, wishing you knew how.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "there is a walkthrough on ifwiki, may I have a look at it to see if it worth finding more in this game?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			D says, "I already have, go ahead :)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That... ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well then, I guess so." 	
			D says, "The author of that walkthrough is missing what we are in terms of creatures" 	
			D says, "and one memory" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of DavidW), "Do you have a walkthrough?" 	
			inky asks, "if there's a walkthrough on ifwiki, isn't it probably DW's?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(DavidW has tons of walkthroughs.)" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think I wrote one, no." 	
			Jacqueline says, "hrm." 	
			DavidW says, "I might have made a map, but I'm not sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And it's been *forever* since I last played this." 	
			crumple says, "btw, the cove has no reviews on ifdb yet." 	
			D asks, "David Welbourne?" 	
			DavidW says, "I can check my binder of notes." 	
			Otto says, "yes it seems so" 	
			inky asks, "*the* David Welbourne?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "That's DavidW. :)" 	
			DavidW says, "David Welbourn. No 'e' at the end." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "There was a critter in the tidepool, right? Is that where you got the starfish?" 	
			D says, "minus the e, my bad" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Oh, quite true!" 	
			D says, "There are mussels, limpets, sea urchins, the star" 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "cut that out. :)" 	
			D says, "and an anemone iirc" 	
			Otto says, "it seems we can still remember just after dropping bud..." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Otto says, "probably we get the whole story at this point" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "x rain" 		
	

Floyd | The rain is quite heavy now, composed of large drops falling hard and

Floyd | fast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. My handwritten notes list 12 of the 13 creatures, +1 beach, +1 terrace, +1 tide pool, +1 tunnel, +1 stone, +1 rose, +1 THE END." 	
			D says, "I believe ploves and shore birds are the same thing, so yes, DW checked everything we did in his walkthrough" 	
			Otto asks, "may we throw the bud now?" 	
			DavidW asks (of D), "wait, I did do a walkthrough?" 	
			D says, "Yeah, it's on IFwiki" 	
			Otto says, "the link is from ifwiki" 	
			DavidW says, "oh. neat." 	
			D says, "That's what me and otto have been reading" 	
			Otto says, "http://www.plover.net/~davidw/sol/iffyart00.html#cove" 	
			DavidW says, "I play so many IF games, I'm actually forgetting stuff." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "That's not a bad thing, David." 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 20 out of a possible 28, in 91 turns.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "x algae" 		
	

Floyd | Mostly deep green, though some patches are nearly black while others
Floyd | are a deep shade of red.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 20 out of a possible 28, in 92 turns.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "x stone" 		
	

Floyd | You scrap off the algae from the flattened stone, revealing a heavily
Floyd | eroded outline of a heart cut into the rock. Inside the heart, carved
Floyd | in a childish hand, is the faded inscription "JS & AK". A lump forms

Floyd | in your throat and you swallow hard, trying in vain to shut your mind
Floyd | on old memories, still painful to recall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You remember back to the last time you were here, six long years ago.
Floyd | It seems like yesterday. You almost expect to see Jason come running

Floyd | through the tunnel, hair tossled by the wind. "Hey Amy," he would say,
Floyd | "look what I found!" Then he'd open his hand and show you some small
Floyd | treasure from the sea. They were worthless, they were beautiful, and
Floyd | they always made you smile. He always made you smile.

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "we already got this" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 21 out of a possible 28, in 94 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "x shore" 		
	

Floyd | Swept clear of sand by earlier winter storms, the rocky shores seem

Floyd | barren, inhospitable places, that even the birds pass by.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Standing at the edge of the tunnel, peering down at the sea as it

Floyd | surges past, you quickly realize the only way out this direction is to
Floyd | jump.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | You shout loudly, but the wind just whips the words away.

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x birds" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Did you guys smell stuff?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | The relentless pounding of the sea echos through the tunnel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "smell bud" 		
	

Floyd | It smells of tobacco, not surprising considering it spent the last six
Floyd | years tucked away in a cigar box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "(what I said on #wtf)" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "smell dress" 		
	

Floyd | It is so new that it still smells like the dressmakers shop.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smell me" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess it wouldn't be" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "get bud" 		
	

Floyd | You take the faded white rose bud out of the purse.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "throw bud in the shore" 		
	

Floyd | After a moments thought you realize the shore is too far away.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "throw bud in the sea" 		
	

Floyd | You gently kiss the faded blossom then toss it out onto the sea. "Rest
Floyd | in peace, Jason," you whisper as you watch it bob upon the water.

Floyd | Moments later it's caught up in the churning waves and pulled beneath
Floyd | the surface.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Amelia!" comes a cry from far above, barely audible over a sudden

Floyd | rush of water to the south. How long have you been in here? Looking up
Floyd | toward the cliffs you are surprised to see a familiar coach and four

Floyd | standing precariously close to the edge.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ethan, get the horses back," you yell, cupping your hands around your
Floyd | mouth in a futile attempt to be heard. How did he know where to find

Floyd | you?
Floyd |

Floyd | "Amelia!" comes the cry again, this time more frantic.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to

Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough
Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures

Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |
Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the

Floyd | rest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | The rushing sound from the southern end of the tunnel... it seems so

Floyd | familiar.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's Entrance

Floyd | The narrow opening of the sea tunnel looks out upon the beach, or what
Floyd | is left of it, for the tide has come in so far that some of the larger

Floyd | waves are spilling over the small rocks at the base of the cliffs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You find yourself trembling as you look out at the wild sea. Six years

Floyd | ago you stood on this very spot and looked out at this same sea... but
Floyd | this time, you're alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up

Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the shore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "now we can stop at the entrance" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You freeze, just as you had six years ago. "Jump Amy, jump!" Jason had

Floyd | screamed in your ear as the waves slammed into the rocks, pouring
Floyd | water into the tunnel. How many times had you heard that scream in
Floyd | your dreams? How many times had you wished you had listened?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | You find yourself trembling as you look out at the wild sea. Six years
Floyd | ago you stood on this very spot and looked out at this same sea... but
Floyd | this time, you're alone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Holding your breath, you turn sideways and squeeze past the tunnel's
Floyd | narrowest point, then hurry on to its northern end with the sea

Floyd | lapping at your heels.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Ethan, I'm here!" you scream as a wave enters the southern end of the
Floyd | tunnel, sweeping over your feet and pour out the northern end.
Floyd |
Floyd | Tunnel's End

Floyd | The tunnel ends abruptly here, its rocky floor falling sharply away to
Floyd | the pounding sea. Wide gaps in the stones above allow in just enough

Floyd | light to clearly see the masses of barnacles clustered around fissures
Floyd | in the stones and the slippery green algae on the tunnel floor that
Floyd | makes the footing treacherous.
Floyd |

Floyd | Near the opening is a flattened stone standing somewhat apart from the
Floyd | rest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "remember" 		
	

Floyd | It's happening all over again, just like before, only this time Jason
Floyd | isn't here to help. What was he trying to tell you that day? You never

Floyd | could figure it out. The wind had been so strong, ripping the words
Floyd | out of his mouth and blowing them away. He finally grabbed your hand
Floyd | and gave it a squeeze, pointing up toward the narrow gap in the
Floyd | ceiling. You look up at the ceiling now, the gap seeming as

Floyd | unreachable as ever.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air. You watch as the rest of the wave continues its
Floyd | course toward the coast, past jagged offshore rocks jutting up from
Floyd | the sea, only to die upon the barren shore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I think that jump command at the Tunnel Entrance may have gotten us that elusive last memory point" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "search gap" 		
	

Floyd | The gaps are out of reach.

Floyd |
Floyd | A thick, swirling mass of water rushes in from the southern end of the

Floyd | tunnel and pours out the tunnel into the sea, nearly taking you with
Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "In terms of ones that aren't covered in DW's walkthrough" 	
	Otto says (to floyd), "x gap" 		
	

Floyd | The gaps vary from a few inches to a few feet in diameter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is soaked.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wave crashes against the rocks below sending a shower of spray up
Floyd | high into the air.

Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 25 out of a possible 28, in 114 turns.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You blush when you realize that you aren't actually in anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | A thick, swirling mass of water rushes in from the southern end of the

Floyd | tunnel and pours out the tunnel into the sea, nearly taking you with

Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Just as you did six years before, you curl your finger around the

Floyd | pitted stone and attempt to haul yourself up the rocks. But this time
Floyd | Jason isn't there to push you the rest of the way up, and you slide
Floyd | back down.
Floyd |
Floyd | While you are preparing to try again, your hand is hit by a sturdy

Floyd | strap of leather tossed down from above.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Amelia, grab the rein," calls Ethan, his voice barely audible over
Floyd | the sound of the waves.
Floyd |
Floyd | Wrapping the rein around your hand, you once again scramble up the

Floyd | rocks. A moment later you find yourself standing on the rim of the

Floyd | tunnel, caught up in Ethans arms as he wraps his thick black cloak
Floyd | around you. Another wave sweeps through the tunnel at your feet,
Floyd | sending a shower of spray up high above your head. But the sea has no
Floyd | power over you now. This time there is no one left behind for it to
Floyd | claim.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** The End ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 26 out of a possible 28, in 115 turns.

Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see the CREDITS, give
Floyd | the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Tunnel's End
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "so it's probably the only ending." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ohhh so close." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do you still have the stick?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or can you have the stick in the tunnel?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying a purse. You are wearing an engagement ring and a
Floyd | silk dress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "no. Do you think there could really be more in this game?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "You can't take it into the tunnel, iirc, right?" 	
			Otto exclaims, "nice game anyway!" 	
			D says, "No, unless it can be broken" 	
			D says, "it says it won't fit in there" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "I think this is it. I was just wondering if you could make him pull you out of the tunnel using the driftwood stick." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, if you broke it in half that would negate my idea about using it to get out of the cave." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I suspect that is a complicated solution to the puzzle that she didn't code." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think there is just the one ending, but I don't always replay games to find new endings unless I hear other people rave about the replay value." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Before anyone heads off, help me pick a game for next week..." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Stiffy Markane. Okay, bye!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			D says, "I wouldn't know what's already been done" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You can >X CFS here in the room to get a list of games suggested that are already uploaded to Floyd." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I need to update the list to remove The Cove, but everything else on there is fair game." 	
			D says, "I'll see if something I can recommend isn't on the list on the site" 	
			Otto says, "what about Ekphrasis? ;)" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "What's The Salesman Triumphant?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Just >X CFS and you'll see a list of stuff we haven't played that's already on Floyd." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Heehee." 	
			D says, "I hope I don't mess up the command, heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'd love to, but it would be difficult given that many MUD clients don't display accents and, um, like, three of us speak decent French." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Wait, a serious idea: Ad Verbum" 	
			DavidW says, "We wouldn't be able to see the graphics." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Ad Verbum is on the list, I believe" 	
			DavidW says, "(re Ekphrasis)" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Yes, I know." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Oh right - it has graphics, too." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I'd really like to play that with some natives." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Taleslinger's suggestion is a good one (though hard for non-English speakers, since it relies a lot on wordplay)." 	
			D asks, "Glowgrass hasn't been done yet?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Erm, native speakers." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, timing. Good point." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Okay, Ad Verbum next week, then maybe Glowgrass?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Nope." 	
			DavidW asks, "I think we have done Glowgrass, surely?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Did we? Why is it on there, then." 	
			Jacqueline goes to check her list. 	
			D says, "I can definitely recommend that if its position on the list isn't a mistake" 	
			DavidW says, "well, lemme check" 	
			Taleslinger says, "last updated sep. 14 '08." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't think we've played Glowgrass, David." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We played two other games by Nate, but not this one." 	
			DavidW says, "huh" 	
			Taleslinger says, "It's not on the transcript list," 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "Yeah, since then we've played IF Competition games, the Whispers game, and the Speed IFs." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we took a break during the IF Comp." 	
			DavidW says, "I guess it's so strong in the memory, I thought for sure we'd played it." 	
			Otto exclaims, "I'll go now. Good bye and thank you for the nice moment in this ClubFloyd!" 	
			inky says, "bye Otto!" 	
			D says, "Bye" 	
			Jacqueline says, "A bientot, Otto!" 	
	Otto goes home. 		D says, "Ad verbum then glowgrass sounds good anyway" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "We've played Frobozz Magic Support and Nevermore." 	
			DavidW says, "yes, I think Nevermore was our first game, too." 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Cool. I'll update the RSS and add this transcipt. Thank you, everyone!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yes, Nevermore was our first game." 	
			Qfwfq says, "Thank you all" 	
			Qfwfq says, "See you next sunday" 	
			Qfwfq says, "Bye" 	
			DavidW says, "bye Qfwfq" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Qfwfq), "Bye!" 	
			D says, "Bye everybody :)" 	
	Qfwfq goes home. 		D says, "This was a good first CF" 	
			DavidW asks (of D), "you leavin' too?" 	
			D says, "Yeah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bye, D. Glad you enjoyed it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "See you next week, perhaps." 	
			D says, "Most likely :)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "yay" 	
			DavidW says, "yes, come back." 	
	D goes home.		



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Ad Verbum by Nick Montfort, followed by
Things by Jacqueline A. Lott and Sam Kabo Ashwell
As played on ifMUD on January 11, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Ad Verbum, written by Nick Montfort. Ad Verbum was originally released as part of the 2000 IF Competition, where it took fourth place. It went on to garner Xyzzy nominations for Best Individual Puzzle, Best Use of Medium, and Best Puzzles, ultimately taking the Xyzzy for Best Puzzles. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

After we were finished playing Ad Verbum, we did a quick playthrough of another wordplay game, Things, a speed IF written by Jacqueline A. Lott and Sam Kabo Ashwell. Things was part of Speed-IF >= 20, and was mostly notable for using as few nouns as possible. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki. To jump straight to the part of the transcipt for Things, click here.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline hollers, "ClubFloyd will be playing Ad Verbum by our very own Nick Montfort in about five minutes. Type 'toyshop' to join us." 		
	vimes arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	olethros arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		olethros says, "ah a classic" 	
			D asks, "I've never played this, what type of game is it?" 	
			olethros says, "a classic" 	
			Otto says, "neither have I" 	
			Jacqueline says (to olethros), "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, it's a game that plays with words." 	
			olethros says, "it is a game with a very nice gimmick, you'll see" 	
			Otto says, "probably a game where foreigners like me won't understand anything..." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Possibly. I know I'd have a very difficult time with a game like this in French." 	
			Qfwfq exclaims, "Hello!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I think I solved two rooms, at max." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But some locations I think you'll do fine in." 	
			D asks, "It must be harder to write and play IF games in French, though, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And probably learn some things about the language, so in that respect it'll be good... especially playing along side native speakers who can explain things. I'm sort of envious of Otto and Taleslinger today in that regard." 	
			Otto says (to D), "hmm, possible, but it's rather ok generally" 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Well, there are lots of French games, actually. It's been a little tricky porting the parsers to French, but it's been done." 	
			Otto asks, ".. Taleslinger Where are your from?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, and I missed it earlier, Qfwfq... hello!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "He's in Germany." 	
			Qfwfq :-) 	
	Jacqueline says, "Okay, so we'll begin here in a second. All game discussion should be on the #ClubFloyd channel, and only game commands said aloud in the room." 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load adverbum" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | With the cantankerous Wizard of Wordplay evicted from his mansion, the
Floyd | worthless plot can now be redeveloped. The city regulations declare,
Floyd | however, that the rip-down job can't proceed until all the items
Floyd | within have been removed.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | That's what the demolition contractor explains to you, anyway, as you

Floyd | stand eagerly on the adventurer's day labor corner. Once he learns of
Floyd | your penchant for puzzle-solving and your kleptomaniacal tendencies,
Floyd | he hires you for the job. You hop into the bed of his truck, type a
Floyd | few Zs, and arrive at the site, eager ...
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | AD VERBUM
Floyd | By & (C) 2000 Nick Montfort <nickm@nickm.com>

Floyd | Please type the words and read the PREFACE, WARNING, and LICENSE.
Floyd | Release 11 / Serial number 060905 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and

Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the west must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is east. On the
Floyd | south side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The contractor clears his throat and points at the big Dumpster.

Floyd | "Forget the fixtures, but pick up everything that's not bolted down,
Floyd | including the stuff out back. Then, drop off all the debris - er, I
Floyd | mean, um, treasures - right here ..." He scrawls something on the
Floyd | Dumpster with a marker. "Good luck!" The contractor hurries out the
Floyd | front door, which slams closed, leaving you alone.
Floyd |

Floyd | You spot a door to the north, leading out back. It is shut quite
Floyd | tight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the difficult difficult difficult door or the
Floyd | southern door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x dumpster" 		Taleslinger says (to otto), "Sorry, I was afw." 	
	

Floyd | It's made of steel, and almost entirely open on one end for easy
Floyd | deposition of debris. Scrawled across it is the phrase "ATROPHY CASE."
Floyd | Perhaps the contractor left out a space when labelling it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Man, I haven't played this in years. I think I'll be fine to play along, as I don't think I'll recall anything." 	
	maga arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're the adventurer, in this scenario.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Hey, I get atrophy case. hehe." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "South?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that the South is the greatest region in the whole world." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The southern door leads out of the house. It is immediately
Floyd | recognizable as one of those doors through which one can pass only
Floyd | upon completing the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open south door" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee. Okay, not south." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the difficult difficult difficult door or the
Floyd | southern door?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "difficult difficult difficult" 		
	

Floyd | Your difficult labor pays off. You open the difficult difficult
Floyd | difficult door.
Floyd |

Floyd | [+2.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x difficult difficult difficult door" 		
	

Floyd | This difficult difficult difficult door looks like the kind that is

Floyd | always getting stuck stuck stuck. It now stands open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Wordplayground
Floyd | Here's a sort of small, enclosed backyard, closed in with a high
Floyd | wooden fence and completely covered with asphalt.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the s, leading inside, is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | A little boy stands here smugly. 'Georgie' is embroidered on his knit
Floyd | shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's one of those robotic puppies - the latest fad - here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... toy dinosaur.

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |

		olethros says, "I dont think I played through this" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take dinosaur" 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x dinosaur" 		
	

Floyd | The toy dinosaur looks like a triceratops. It is made of
Floyd | injection-molded plastic, and colored the same pale, milky green all
Floyd | over.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma was playing Zork on my computer, and
Floyd | she's so ugly, she broke the Mirror Room!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "jump shark" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x boy" 		
	

Floyd | The boy looks about the size for second grade, but his serious,
Floyd | bespectacled gaze suggests that he may be slightly older.

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's face looks like an 'at' sign."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "boy, hello" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie waves at you tentatively.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "take boy" 		
	

Floyd | You move in to hoist Georgie away from the prize, but he eludes your
Floyd | grasp. He manages to stay near the toy dinosaur, too.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "You got an elvish momma of great antiquity."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "take puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The robotic puppy is endowed with locomotive abilities that are as
Floyd | quick and random as its prepackaged wit. It scuttles away from you

Floyd | quickly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, she tried to give hypertext
Floyd | Ritalin."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "quip at puppy" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I don't understand any of this bizarre stuff" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Wow. How many 'your momma' jokes will there be?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask georgie about dinosaur" 		
	

Floyd | "Miiiiiiiiine!" Georgie screeches, whisking the toy dinosaur away and
Floyd | setting it down elsewhere on the asphalt. "You can't have that. Not

Floyd | unless you know more dinosaur names than me, and nobody knows more
Floyd | dinosaur names than me. So there!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, when you were born she
Floyd | thought the umbilical cord meant that you were a peripheral."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D asks, "Is this backyard part of what we need to remove from the premises?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "triceratops" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D asks, "Like do we take the kid?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say triceratops" 		
	

Floyd | Whom do you want to say that to?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say triceratops to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie reddens. He clenches his fists, twists back and forth while
Floyd | straining forward on his toes, and emits a trumpeting whine. "I was
Floyd | gonna say that one next!" he says. His concentration seems unbroken,

Floyd | despite this outburst.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Tyrannosaurus!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so ugly, the computer took one look at
Floyd | her and said 'Illegal operation.'"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I think any location we encounter we have to take everything (though I'm not sure about the kid; he may just be part of the puzzle)." 	
			inky says, "I think you have to get rid of the kid, yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "say stegasaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,
Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Psittacosaurus!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "say raptor to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie reddens. He clenches his fists, twists back and forth while

Floyd | straining forward on his toes, and emits a trumpeting whine. "I was
Floyd | gonna say that one next!" he says. His concentration seems unbroken,
Floyd | despite this outburst.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Stegosaurus!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say onatops to georgie" 		inky says, "cheater!" 	
	

Floyd | "Is that supposed to be a dinosaur name?" Georgie says. "Nuh-uh!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's extra-wide, and SCSI."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say pteradon to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | "Is that supposed to be a dinosaur name?" Georgie says. "Nuh-uh!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, she thinks she can make a
Floyd | floppy disk into a hard disk by pulling on it."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say brontosaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie reddens. He clenches his fists, twists back and forth while
Floyd | straining forward on his toes, and emits a trumpeting whine. "I was

Floyd | gonna say that one next!" he says. His concentration seems unbroken,
Floyd | despite this outburst.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Theropod!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say apatasaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,

Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Hadrosaur!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say hydropsaur to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,
Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Supersaurus!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so fat she'd barely fit on five
Floyd | CD-ROMs."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Are you pulling from a list or do you just know this many dinosaur names?" 	
			inky asks (of Jacqueline), "what, don't you?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say godzilla to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | "Is that supposed to be a dinosaur name?" Georgie says. "Nuh-uh!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so poor, she's got a C-64."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to floyd), "say azerty to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | "Is that supposed to be a dinosaur name?" Georgie says. "Nuh-uh!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma goes down more often than Windows 98."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "say puppy to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | "Is that supposed to be a dinosaur name?" Georgie says. "Nuh-uh!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, when she got hungry she

Floyd | asked people to forward spam to her."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I think the "puzzled" response means it looks like a dinosaur name but he doesn't actually know it" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "kick georgie" 		inky says, "since Taleslinger made a typo and it still got accepted" 	
	

Floyd | Georgie is deft at eluding playground bullies, and dodges your attack.
Floyd | "You don't know-ow dinosaur names," Georgie sings. "You're just a
Floyd | stupid me-e-nie!" He manages to remain quite near the toy dinosaur,
Floyd | though.

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "say dino to georgie" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, she thought USENET was
Floyd | previously owned."
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | "Miiiiiiiiine!" Georgie screeches, whisking the toy dinosaur away and
Floyd | setting it down elsewhere on the asphalt. "You can't have that. Not
Floyd | unless you know more dinosaur names than me, and nobody knows more
Floyd | dinosaur names than me. So there!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, the spam joke was pretty funny." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "say abcsaur to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | "Is that supposed to be a dinosaur name?" Georgie says. "Nuh-uh!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, when tech support told her
Floyd | to reboot she started putting her shoes back on."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say abcsaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,
Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Oh yeah? Prosauropod!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so fat, they're trying to break her up
Floyd | like Microsoft."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say xyzsaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,
Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Oh yeah? Apatoosaur!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say yomommasaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,
Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say stegosaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh yeah? Pterosaurus!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie lets out a high-pitched laugh. "That one's already been
Floyd | sa-aid!" he sings, taunting you. "You don't know any mo-ore dinosaur
Floyd | names!"

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so butch, she shops at Amazon."
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | A distracted figure with a huge bushy beard blunders in just as you
Floyd | speak the word of ancient magic. The man wears loose clothing, and an

Floyd | expression of intense concentration. He is clutching his frizzy hair
Floyd | with one hand; his other hand grips an intricate grid - the object of
Floyd | his attention.
Floyd |
Floyd | His eyes brighten as the word you've spoken reaches his ears. "Yes!
Floyd | Yes! That's it!" he exclaims as he draws out a pen and fills in a row

Floyd | of squares. "Now my hyperconstrained, double-acrostic, cryptic
Floyd | crossword is complete, and ready to puzzle others. That was all I
Floyd | needed - just a simple five-letter word, composed only of the letters
Floyd | 'X' 'Y' and 'Z,' that would fit here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | He grips your hand and shakes it fervently. "Thank you! Now that I've

Floyd | finished with that, I can get on to those other things I've been
Floyd | meaning to do, such as monkey-wrenching the demolition and saving
Floyd | recreational linguistics for future generations." He turns away and
Floyd | mutters, just before he departs, "I hope none of that will involve
Floyd | lying in front of a bulldozer..."
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+1.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Evidently, yeah." 	
			inky says, "whoah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "say thing1saurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,

Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh yeah? Mosasaurus!" Georgie says, with pride.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's faster than 1GHz."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. Easter egg." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "say thing2saurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled - for a moment. "Hey, you just said something
Floyd | like that," he says. "That doesn't count."

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "I checked out www.uglydog.com the other day - and
Floyd | guess who I saw?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "say applesaurus to georgie" 		
	

Floyd | Georgie looks puzzled, as if he hasn't heard that dinosaur name
Floyd | before. He sputters for a moment, perhaps confused by the novel name,
Floyd | apparently finding it difficult to think.
Floyd |

Floyd | Georgie sniffs. His eyes become large, resembling the eyes of an
Floyd | affrighted waif-child in a Margaret Keene painting. A big shiny tear
Floyd | gleams beneath his glasses, dripping from his right eye. Then the
Floyd | boy's face reddens as a bead of snot begins to droop from his left
Floyd | nostril. "That's ... I don't ... that's all the dinosaur names I know.
Floyd | Uh, well ... Waaaaaaaaah!"

Floyd |
Floyd | He gives the toy dinosaur a little kick, tipping it over. "Well, it's
Floyd | just a stupid toy. You can have it, anyway. So what!" Georgie runs
Floyd | through the difficult difficult difficult door, then runs across the
Floyd | foyer and out the front door of the house, disappearing.
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so ugly, she broke the QuickCam."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Well done." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take dinosaur" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "I saw your momma selling herself on eBay yesterday."
Floyd |

Floyd | [+10.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			olethros says, "awesome awesome" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kick puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The robotic puppy is endowed with locomotive abilities that are as
Floyd | quick and random as its prepackaged wit. It scuttles away from you
Floyd | quickly.
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Let's just hang here and hear all the yo momma jokes. (Kidding.)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The robotic puppy is endowed with locomotive abilities that are as
Floyd | quick and random as its prepackaged wit. It scuttles away from you
Floyd | quickly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma provides service on every port."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "say your momma to puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The puppy doesn't seem to notice you speaking to it. Perhaps this
Floyd | cut-rate model doesn't accept voice commands or queries.
Floyd |

Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so ugly I need a screen saver to look
Floyd | at her."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "throw dinosaur at puppy" 		
	

Floyd | You lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's so stupid, when I told her I was
Floyd | backing up my computer she said I should eat more fiber."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "these are not just yomomma jokes, they are computer geek yomomma jokes" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heehee, yeah." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   ... toy dinosaur

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma's plug-and-play."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh dear." 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "turn puppy off" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "The Wizard of Frobozz took one look at your momma
Floyd | and said, 'Fugly!'"

		Taleslinger says, "some of these are quite funny" 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "ok, that was pretty good" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "ask boy about puppy" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "cry" 		
	

Floyd | Waaaah!
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wordplayground

Floyd | Here's a sort of small, enclosed backyard, closed in with a high
Floyd | wooden fence and completely covered with asphalt.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the s, leading inside, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's one of those robotic puppies - the latest fad - here.

Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy lets out a derisive little puppy laugh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "tell joke" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "The boy left through the difficult difficult difficult door." 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x backyard" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Wordplayground
Floyd | Here's a sort of small, enclosed backyard, closed in with a high
Floyd | wooden fence and completely covered with asphalt.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the s, leading inside, is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | There's one of those robotic puppies - the latest fad - here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "I hear everybody's got random access to your momma."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and

Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | It's made of steel, and almost entirely open on one end for easy
Floyd | deposition of debris. Scrawled across it is the phrase "ATROPHY CASE."

Floyd | Perhaps the contractor left out a space when labelling it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x asphalt" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, we moved. Oops." 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "search dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | The Dumpster is empty.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Put the dino in the dumpster?" 	
			inky says, "sorry, if you want to go back, feel free" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put dinosaur in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the toy dinosaur into the Dumpster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | That area used to a be a separate room, but it's all part of the foyer
Floyd | now. There's no part of the house further to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "maybe we can drop the dino on the floor to attract the dog?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | This huge, bare living room occupies about half the mansion's ground
Floyd | floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nah, it's cool, I was actually thinking of exploring a bit and coming back later." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x verbosifier" 		
	

Floyd | This device is about the size of a Walkman, with a long antenna
Floyd | extending from it and a rectangular button labeled "VERBOSIFY."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		Jacqueline asks (of Otto), "Hm, wasn't the dino already on the floor?" 	
	

Floyd | You press the button, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says (to jacqueline), "hmm, yes probably. Maybe show dino to dog but we'll try this later.." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | This huge, bare living room occupies about half the mansion's ground

Floyd | floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | A bearded figure wanders in, oblivious to you and, it seems, somewhat

Floyd | uncertain of where he is going. His loose clothing billows as he steps
Floyd | about.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Walk east..." he mutters. He stops short after a few steps. "Walk not
Floyd | east!" he exclaims, and starts going in the opposite direction. He
Floyd | stops again, wanders around a bit, and finally leaves. By the time

Floyd | you've recovered from the shock, you realize that he has completely
Floyd | disappeared.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I think the solution to the puppy will be wordplay-y." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and

Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | The southern door leads out of the house. It is immediately
Floyd | recognizable as one of those doors through which one can pass only

Floyd | upon completing the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the

Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained
Floyd | passages to the north, east, west, and south look as if they might
Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "We should save." 	
	inky clears the save counter. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You'll never get through that constrained passage carrying that
Floyd | verbosifier.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "maybe we can insult the puppy in return..." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drop verbosifier" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I find it hard to believe the parser will accept a joke" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | A pillow-like force keeps you from moving that way. A sonorous voice

Floyd | booms out, in attempted hollowness, "You may be very, very frustrated
Floyd | if you walk in there without reading the WARNING. Sure, maybe you read
Floyd | the WARNING three years ago in some other game session and you
Floyd | remember it perfectly, but how do I know that? I'm not supposed to let
Floyd | you in unless I know you've read it. It's like airline flight
Floyd | attendants have to keep showing you how to use the seatbelt even if

Floyd | you've been on a plane for a third of your life."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a hollow sigh.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So just go on and read the WARNING, by typing WARNING. And then I'll
Floyd | let you in."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Or perhaps they simply spell NEWS. I knew I would be groaning a lot today." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "warning" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | While interacting with Ad Verbum, it is possible to enter areas that
Floyd | seem impossible to leave by normal means. These areas are not actually
Floyd | impossible to leave, but departure can be very difficult. The
Floyd | challenge of Ad Verbum lies, in part, in figuring out how to exit from
Floyd | these areas. Because of the nature of interaction in these areas they
Floyd | do not, in general, allow one to employ the HINT, SAVE, RESTART,

Floyd | RESTORE or QUIT commands. A somewhat hollow voice will reveal a magic
Floyd | word when you enter each of these rooms, allowing you to escape them.
Floyd | If you ignore this text, you might get stuck in these rooms and have
Floyd | to quit your interpreter. Read carefully.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,
Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without
Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have

Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: NEW!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Neat Nursery
Floyd | Nice, nondescript nursery, noticeably neat. Normally, nurslings nestle
Floyd | noisily. Now, none. No needful, naive newborns.
Floyd |

Floyd | Nearby: ... nifty nappy.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "nap" 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "nick nappy" 		
	

Floyd | Nabbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+3.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "notice nappy" 		
	

Floyd | Nifty, new, niveous nappy. Notably, nylon.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "n" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Northward? No, necessarily not. Not north. No noticeable notch, no
Floyd | navigable nook.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	UndefinedEntity says, "nose north" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "not north" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on

Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.

Floyd |
Floyd | [+5.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "yay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wow, that was... quick." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Wow." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "East next?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oh, save first." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I can see I'm going to have to think quickly with you lot if I want to get a command in edgewise." 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "Sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You'll never get through that constrained passage carrying that nifty
Floyd | nappy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, gotta dump the nappy." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Just drop it here, or in the dumpster?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper

Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |

Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put nappy in dumpter" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put nappy in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the nifty nappy into the Dumpster.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground

Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps

Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,
Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without
Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have

Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: EMBARK!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Ebony Eatery
Floyd | Eating enclave. Entire environment ebon. Each edge embossed elegantly,
Floyd | every entity essentially effaced. Effect: eerie.
Floyd |

Floyd | Empty, except: ... evil effigy... earthen ewer.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "engulf ewer" 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "examine effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Enemy effigy. Extreme enormity evident. Execrable evildoer!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	UndefinedEntity says, "evolve east" 		Taleslinger asks, "what's an effigy?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is sort of reminding me of Things." 	
			D asks, "A statue?" 	
			inky says, "in this case it's an idol" 	
			Taleslinger says, "aha" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "excise effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Eh? Edict enciphered, evidently ...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "excorcise effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Eh? Edict enciphered, evidently ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "hmm, did engulf really not work?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "engulf effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Eh? Edict enciphered, evidently ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "extract effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Expropriated.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "engulf effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Eh? Edict enciphered, evidently ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Got it" 	
			inky says, "ah, nice" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "extract ewer" 		
	

Floyd | Expropriated.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+4.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "examine ewer" 		
	

Floyd | Estimable ewer, even, edgeless. Ewer's empty.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I think excise should have worked though" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "exit" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer

Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |

Floyd | [+1.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s

Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dump all" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put everything in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | earthen ewer: Done.
Floyd | evil effigy: Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some

Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Choose a direction..." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Save first!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Oh right. Anyone can save. Just type >PRESS SAVE" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I wonder why some rooms have 2 objects, when the challenge still basically is finding one word that works." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,
Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without
Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have
Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: WIND!"
Floyd |

Floyd | White Wardrobe
Floyd | Wee warehouse warily warded wearable wares - when wares were within.
Floyd | Wan, whitewashed walls wait without woolens. Wooden, weathered
Floyd | wainscoting wobbles weakly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Within: ... wooden weapon.

Floyd |

		inky says, "maybe it makes the scoring total work out better" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wield weapon" 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "whisk weapon" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "withraw weapon" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wield weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Won.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+5.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
			inky says, "I think it's expecting you to hit space when you enter the room or something" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, yeah." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hey, I tried t- timing" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess it is." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "walk" 		
	

Floyd | Which way?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "dang" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "waltz" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "withdraw" 		
	

Floyd | While withdrawing, wainscot wiggles weirdly, wavering.
Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby

Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to

Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+3.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "wander without" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "oho" 	
			inky asks, "there are two items in there, actually, right?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew

Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Were there?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "The sign said two." 	
			inky says, "well, it said there were" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put weapon in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the wooden weapon into the Dumpster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I only saw the weapon" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		Jacqueline says, "Okay, we'll go back." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:

Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | White Wardrobe
Floyd | Wee warehouse warily warded wearable wares - when wares were within.
Floyd | Wan, whitewashed walls wait without woolens. Wooden, weathered
Floyd | wainscoting wobbles weakly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "watch wainscoting" 		
	

Floyd | Wobbly wooden wainscoting, weathered with weary weeks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | Wha? Wha? Withhold wrong words. Write wholesomely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Wha? Wha? Wasted, worthless writ. Write well.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "wallop wainscotting" 		
	

Floyd | Whack! Wall wiggles.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "waste walls" 		
	

Floyd | Words won't weld with world.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "win wainscoting" 		
	

Floyd | While wobbly, wainscot's wed with wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to maga), "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wiggle wainscoting" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wretched words!" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "wallop wainscotting with weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Words won't weld with world.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "whack wainscoting" 		
	

Floyd | Whack! Wall wiggles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wiggle wall" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "wall wainscoting" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wanton words were worked with welcome words.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we don't actually have the weapon any more; I'm not sure if we need it or not" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "wham wall" 		
	

Floyd | (wainscot)
Floyd | Whack! Wall wiggles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, we (well, I) got rid of the weapon." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "wrench wainscotting" 		
	

Floyd | What? Wild, whirling words ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Why don't we go back to a save and see?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Yeah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | Wha? Wha? Withhold wrong words. Write wholesomely.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "we can go out and get the weapon back" 	
			D asks, "What's a wainscoting?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "walk" 		
	

Floyd | Which way?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "withdraw" 		
	

Floyd | While withdrawing, wainscot wiggles weirdly, wavering.
Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby

Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to

Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says (to D), "furnitures for the wall" 	
			Nitku asks, "Does the dumpster destroy the objects?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's a type of wall covering." 	
			inky says, "it's paneling on the wall" 	
			D asks, "Like a wall-mounted bureau?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,
Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without

Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have
Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: WIND!"
Floyd |
Floyd | White Wardrobe
Floyd | Wee warehouse warily warded wearable wares - when wares were within.
Floyd | Wan, whitewashed walls wait without woolens. Wooden, weathered

Floyd | wainscoting wobbles weakly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Within: ... wooden weapon.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wield weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Won.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+5.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wallop wainscotting with weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Whack! Wall wavers. Wall wobbles wildly. Wall warps. Wall was
Floyd | withholding ... weird widget!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wield widget" 		
	

Floyd | Won.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+9.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Bing!" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Now down?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "withdraw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on

Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.

Floyd |
Floyd | [+3.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew

Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "look in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | In the Dumpster are ... evil effigy, ... earthen ewer, ... nifty nappy
Floyd | and ... toy dinosaur.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put all in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | weird widget: Done.
Floyd | wooden weapon: Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some

Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,
Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without
Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have
Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: START!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Sloppy Salon
Floyd | Simple social space, sadly spoiled. Some skewed situation's sequel,
Floyd | surely. Seemingly, slovenly students sojourned -- scraping,
Floyd | scratching, scuffing surfaces.
Floyd |

Floyd | Stuff: ... stainless steel stapler... sizable sofa.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Worked well!" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "steal stapler" 		
	

Floyd | Seized.
Floyd |

Floyd | [+2.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "snatch stapler" 		
	

Floyd | Seizing superfluous.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "screen stapler" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "seize sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Sizable sofa sits solidly, stubborn.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "search sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Searching sofa seams ... some sou stuck? Sadly, sofa surface's slick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "spy sou" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "staple sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Stapler's sans staples. Stapling's senseless.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "see sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sizable sofa's stuffed - softly satiated.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "see sou" 		
	

Floyd | Some sight seems suppressed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "slice sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Snicker-snack! Slicing, slashing ... something sharp should serve

Floyd | superiorly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "sit sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Some superfluous sayings succeeded solid start.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "see stapler" 		
	

Floyd | Strong stainless steel surface seems smoothly solid. "Swingline,"
Floyd | stapler says. Serviceable, slick, sure. Sadly, stapler seems sans

Floyd | staples.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | Sit? Sure. Sofa seems suitable. Sitting ... seated.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Is there a synonym for push?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "slide sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Shoving sofa, seated, seems some severe struggle. Shoving stymied.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "shove" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | ... sweet, simple sofa sojourn. So ... standing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "slide sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Shoving ... shoving ... sofa slides ... sofa shifts ... sofa
Floyd | successfully shoved! Salon seems sans sofa.

Floyd |
Floyd | [+3.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "shove sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Some sight seems suppressed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "sleep" 		
	

Floyd | Sun shines still! Sweet sunlit sphere, sincere situational striving,
Floyd | solemn story session. Shirk sleep! Stir! Straighten salon! Sort seedy
Floyd | structure! Succeed!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "see" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Sloppy Salon
Floyd | Simple social space, sadly spoiled. Some skewed situation's sequel,
Floyd | surely. Seemingly, slovenly students sojourned -- scraping,

Floyd | scratching, scuffing surfaces.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ah - slide" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Wow, we're quick." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "sigh" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "save" 		Taleslinger says, "i remember back when I played this I didn't understand half of these parser responses." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ddd" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Save seemed successful.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "savior" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Can't save or restore in these rooms." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "slide" 		
	

Floyd | (subject selection subsumed)
Floyd | Shifting ... slid. So?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "well, you can save in this room" 	
			inky asks, "ok, how do we exit?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh, can you?" 	
			Otto says, "I tried the verb because it began with S" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I guess. heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "saunter" 		
	

Floyd | Sure. Simply say such, specifically.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "slip" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "salivate" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I know we can't go this way, but..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "saunter south" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry. Structural surroundings stop southern striding.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Southwest, salon's stone shell sits solidly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "sans south" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stop sheningans" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry? Semantics shrouded ...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sally" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:

Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... sizable sofa... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+3.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wow." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was a guess that I didn't expect it to recognize." 	
			inky says, "excellent" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hooray" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew

Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put all in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | stainless steel stapler: Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Weighty. Whittled walnut. Warrior's worthy weapon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "I don't understand half of the puns..." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground

Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the
Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained
Floyd | passages to the north, east, west, and south look as if they might

Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... sizable sofa... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cut sofa with weapon" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "slice sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Cutting that up would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh well" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push sofa d" 		
	

Floyd | Is that the best you can think of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion says, "Wait a minute, did that say 'a door to the n?'" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sizable sofa's stuffed - softly satiated.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Actually, sally is just a really obscure word, not a pun." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "search sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Searching sofa seams ... some sou stuck? Sadly, sofa surface's slick.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push sofa" 		
	

Floyd | The sofa isn't going through any of those constrained passages, except
Floyd | perhaps the one to the south. Since you worked so hard to get it out
Floyd | of there, you're hardly inclined to shove it back.
Floyd |

Floyd | It can't be shoved down the stairs, either. Perhaps there's some way
Floyd | of working it down the stairs, in its current condition. Alas, even if
Floyd | there is, there's no way you can get it down there by yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "slide sofa" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "sit on sofa" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "sleep in sofa" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "disassemble sofa" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Seems solvabe." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | You sit down on the sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "remove cushions" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "snore" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby (on the sizable sofa)
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:

Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the
Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained
Floyd | passages to the south, east, west, and north look as if they might
Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Obviously, we need help in getting it down. Maybe this only works later?" 	
			inky says, "yeah, or we have to transform it or something" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Georgie?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get verbosifier" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to get off the sizable sofa first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You are now standing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three

Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the north and east) are normal passages, but
Floyd | one, to the south, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above
Floyd | it. The main stairway leads down, while another staircase, straight
Floyd | and narrow, allows passage up to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "probably that bearded guy" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sign" 		
	

Floyd | This ominous sign is tortured into the shape of an 'S.' It further
Floyd | warns: "Abandon all fifth orthographic glyphs, you who walk within!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That word has worked its magic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of inky), "maga?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that maga is maga_dogg, which is "Mr Prime Minister! What is happenin in de country is not right! People are suffering!"." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "read ominous" 		
	

Floyd | This ominous sign is tortured into the shape of an 'S.' It further
Floyd | warns: "Abandon all fifth orthographic glyphs, you who walk within!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | Even the light fixture has been removed from this squarish bedroom,
Floyd | which is in much better repair than most of the rest of the house. It
Floyd | seems to have been freshly painted, in puce. The exit is south.
Floyd |

Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x pig" 		
	

Floyd | The pig seems extremely well-behaved, even a bit stately. He is

Floyd | wearing a distinctive toga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Okay, so... four letter words or less?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or maybe also six letters, just not five?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take pig" 		
	

Floyd | The pig saunters to the side to avoid your indelicate approach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "no, probably it's no e" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drat" 		
	

Floyd | Quite.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get pig" 		
	

Floyd | The pig saunters to the side to avoid your indelicate approach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "oh, um." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask pig about toga" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | A distracted, bearded figure, garbed in loose clothing, blunders in.

Floyd | He is looking at a newspaper article about President Clinton,
Floyd | muttering, "Man of Hope, sole hope of man."
Floyd |
Floyd | He blunders out, using motions that seem to be exactly the reverse of
Floyd | the ones he made when entering. By the time you've recovered from the
Floyd | shock, you realize that he has completely disappeared.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, get has an e, too. Man, can't believe I typed that." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Looks like we need to word that mmo politely." 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "get pg" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Err, more." 	
			Nitku says, "This is not the no-e room I think." 	
			inky says, "we're -- right" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "gt pig" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "force floyd :)" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "tak pig" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x toga" 		
	

Floyd | Nice toga. At first glance, you might guess the pig was headed to a
Floyd | fraternity party. But this is a senatorial toga, with a purple stripe.
Floyd | Was it Nero or Caligula who appointed a pig to a high Roman office? At
Floyd | any rate, the idea of a pig senator certainly gives a new meaning to
Floyd | the phrase "pork-barreling."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show weapon to pig" 		
	

Floyd | The pig is unimpressed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "take toga" 		
	

Floyd | Human decency, and porcine decency, dictates that the pig's garment is
Floyd | not suitable for anything but examination.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, it's either no e or a limit on the number of letters in a word." 	
			D asks, "Doesn't the room usually follow its own rule? Like, if this were no-e, it wouldn't be using e's , would it?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "What D said." 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Yeah, true." 	
			Nitku says, "Yes but the sign didn't point to this room. This is some other rule." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "acquire pig" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "punish pig" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, and there are five-letter words, too." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Nitku), "Oh, was it pointing to another room?" 	
			Jacqueline goes back to look. 	
			Taleslinger asks, "As you are so fixated on that, maybe we should try the s room first?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "outz" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I dunno, maybe we need to find some kind of latin thing for the pig" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,

Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | A distracted figure blunders in, scratching at his huge beard. The man
Floyd | wears loose clothing. He's reading intently from a Jean Genet novel.

Floyd | He mutters, "Punk pretty soon becomes criminal. Jailed, criminal
Floyd | becomes, soon, pretty punk."
Floyd |
Floyd | He blunders out, using motions that seem to be exactly the reverse of
Floyd | the ones he made when entering. By the time you've recovered from the
Floyd | shock, you realize that he has completely disappeared.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You'll never get through that constrained passage carrying that
Floyd | verbosifier.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | verbosifier: Dropped.
Floyd | wooden weapon: Dropped.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,

Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without
Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have
Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: START!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Study
Floyd | Small, shadowy, stifling study. Softwood slats (stain: sandy)

Floyd | surround.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stuff: ... stylus.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "snatch stylus" 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "snatch stylus" 		
	

Floyd | Snagging satisfaction!
Floyd |
Floyd | [+3.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sally" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,

Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... wooden weapon... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+2.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "pshaw" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hmmm." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "What was the purpose of that room?" 	
			Nitku says, "No e's." 	
	Lucea arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,

Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... wooden weapon... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | Even the light fixture has been removed from this squarish bedroom,
Floyd | which is in much better repair than most of the rest of the house. It
Floyd | seems to have been freshly painted, in puce. The exit is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "The nature of the puzzle doesn't seem obvious here" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Perfectly puzzling." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x pig" 		
	

Floyd | The pig seems extremely well-behaved, even a bit stately. He is
Floyd | wearing a distinctive toga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take toga" 		
	

Floyd | Human decency, and porcine decency, dictates that the pig's garment is
Floyd | not suitable for anything but examination.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "ask pig about toga" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "oink" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "pig, lend me your ears" 		
	

Floyd | The pig glances to you as you speak, but quickly looks away, as if not

Floyd | understanding your language.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "ha" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "x paint" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "pray pig" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "grunt at pig" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pray" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing practical results from your prayer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	UndefinedEntity says, "oink" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   ... stylus
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Grunk pig too smart for Grunk" 	
			olethros asks, "there is nothing in the room apart from the pig and his toga?" 	
			Nitku says, "Maybe the pig understands only Latin." 	
			olethros says, "hehe pig latin" 	
			olethros says, "ok let's do it" 	
			inky says (to olethros), "oh, right" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), " agot ekat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros says (to Floyd), "agot ekat" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, telephone." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pig, outhsay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig glances to you as you speak, but quickly looks away, as if not
Floyd | understanding your language.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "etak igpay" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, outhsay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although the pig lends an ear to you, he doesn't seem able, or

Floyd | inclined, to carry out your request.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+8.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take ig-pay" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "oh I thought pig latin was everything backwards" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay outhsay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "just the first letter" 	
			olethros asks, "and a +ay at the end?" 	
			vimes says, "onay, ustjay ehtay irstfay illablesay" 	
			D asks, "So he's out of the room?" 	
			inky says, "yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three

Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... wooden weapon...
Floyd | verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pig, d" 		
	

Floyd | The pig shrugs. Perhaps you need to address him in a language he
Floyd | understands.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay ownday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on

Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... sizable sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | A distracted figure with frizzy hair blunders in. The man is clad in
Floyd | loose clothing and peers at a fashion magazine he is holding open
Floyd | before him. On one page are some nicely-dressed women; the facing page

Floyd | has an image of some textile machine. The man mutters, partly to
Floyd | himself and partly as if he were addressing the magazine, "Girls,
Floyd | attractive dresses that loom here this second certainly second this
Floyd | here loom that dresses attractive girls."
Floyd |
Floyd | He blunders out, using motions that seem to be exactly the reverse of

Floyd | the ones he made when entering. By the time you've recovered from the
Floyd | shock, you realize he has completely disappeared.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "lemme try" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "p" 		
	

Floyd | [p -> open]
Floyd | What do you want to open?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pig, retneay retsumpay" 		
	

Floyd | [p -> open]
Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ntereay umpsterday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |

Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "the dumpster's on the next floor down" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "igpig, retnay retsumay" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew

Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "ah, sorry" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ntereay umpsterday" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some

Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the
Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained
Floyd | passages to the north, east, west, and south look as if they might
Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'NEWS.'

Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... sizable sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay ownday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay ownday" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew

Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ntereay umpsterday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "I guess the pig could also help with the sofa, maybe" 	
			Otto says, "maybe I ispelledmay it" 	
			Taleslinger says, "terrific thinking" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay upway" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby

Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the
Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained

Floyd | passages to the north, east, west, and south look as if they might
Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... sizable sofa.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Pig latin for words that start with a vowel are tricky" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, aketay ofasay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language

Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although the pig lends an ear to you, he doesn't seem able, or
Floyd | inclined, to carry out your request.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I don't know what enter would be" 	
			inky says, "try 'enterway'" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sizable sofa's stuffed - softly satiated.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "take sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sizable sofa sits solidly, stubborn.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nate arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push sofa down" 		
	

Floyd | Is that the best you can think of?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push sofa" 		
	

Floyd | The sofa isn't going through any of those constrained passages, except
Floyd | perhaps the one to the south. Since you worked so hard to get it out
Floyd | of there, you're hardly inclined to shove it back.
Floyd |

Floyd | It can't be shoved down the stairs, either. Perhaps there's some way
Floyd | of working it down the stairs, in its current condition. Alas, even if
Floyd | there is, there's no way you can get it down there by yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "igpay, hsupay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "igpay, ushpay ofasay ownday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ateay ofasay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x stairs" 		
	

Floyd | The stairway stands undemolished, ready to convey you in a vertical
Floyd | direction. You can just type that direction, as is traditional.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push sofa" 		
	

Floyd | The sofa isn't going through any of those constrained passages, except
Floyd | perhaps the one to the south. Since you worked so hard to get it out
Floyd | of there, you're hardly inclined to shove it back.

Floyd |
Floyd | It can't be shoved down the stairs, either. Perhaps there's some way
Floyd | of working it down the stairs, in its current condition. Alas, even if
Floyd | there is, there's no way you can get it down there by yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, off phone." 	
			Jacqueline tries to figure out where we are. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put sofa on stairs" 		
	

Floyd | You need to be holding the sizable sofa before you can put it on top
Floyd | of something else.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "take sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sizable sofa sits solidly, stubborn.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lift sofa" 		
	

Floyd | Sizable sofa sits solidly, stubborn.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "gipay, shupay" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "igpay, shupay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Hmm." 	
	UndefinedEntity says (to Floyd), "shoulder sofa" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ushpay ofasay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, attackay ofasay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "igpay, itsay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, attackway ofasay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "what now ?" 	
			D says, "I don't think the pig can help maneuver the sofa down the stairs" 	
			inky asks, "I dunno, explore some more rooms?" 	
			Otto asks, "are you sure this igpay could help with the sofa?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "igpay, inthay" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we could probably just walk the pig out of the building" 	
			Otto says, "besides, I think I mispelled the order for him to enter the dumpster" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, ownday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.

Floyd |
Floyd | Although the pig lends an ear to you, he doesn't seem able, or
Floyd | inclined, to carry out your request.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "yeah, let's try the dumpster again" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay ownday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |

Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "If it refuses to work we'll save him for more puzzle attempts" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper

Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, enterway umpsterday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, limbcay umpsterday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "igpay, etgay inway umpsterday" 		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "igpay, umpjay intoway umpsterday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although the pig lends an ear to you, he doesn't seem able, or

Floyd | inclined, to carry out your request.
Floyd |
Floyd | A distracted figure with wide, glistening eyes blunders in. The
Floyd | bearded man wears loose clothing and is looking at a tiny, hand-held
Floyd | television set. He tunes it, then shakes his head in disgust. "Again?
Floyd | 'Never Say Never Again'?"

Floyd |
Floyd | He blunders out, using motions that seem to be exactly the reverse of
Floyd | the ones he made when entering. By the time you've recovered from the
Floyd | shock, you realize he has completely disappeared.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "maybe it's enough the pig is out isn't it?" 	
			Nitku says, "Yeah, let's try that." 	
			Jacqueline says, ";We did get points." 	
			D says, "I guess, we'll exhaust the possibilities once we have everything else" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "igpay, ieday" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig didn't seem to understand your request, however.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground

Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps

Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... sizable sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,

Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... wooden weapon... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Library
Floyd | Built-in shelves, now bare, line this room. All are of pitted wood,
Floyd | fixed in place, with subtle grain running horizontally. The bare
Floyd | shelves still sag a bit, a reminder that they long bore a heavy load
Floyd | of books. There seem to be a few things left on the shelves.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... copybook... abecedarian book...
Floyd | dust casing... wee writ.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Aw. Do not kill the piggie." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x copybook" 		
	

Floyd | This little notebook has something originally published by Town Glow
Floyd | Books copied out in it. The title is "Footwords to Howl, for Solomon."
Floyd | The author is Onon Gonsborg.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I asked him to kill himselfd" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get copybook" 		
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. "Rules must
Floyd | be observed in the library," says a full, sonorous voice, clearly

Floyd | attempting to sound hollow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Allen Ginsberg, eh" 	
			Taleslinger says, "occupy copybook" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "occupy copybook" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "rob book" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "burn books" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "f toko book" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D asks, "Wait, what's the catch in this room?" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "burn book" 		
	

Floyd | This dangerous act would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I'm not sure" 	
			Taleslinger says, "All o." 	
			D asks, "Letters replaced by other letters?" 	
			inky says, "oh ah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "toko book" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "With this book, it's all o's." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "toko copybook" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "got copybook" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "rob copybook" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "jolt book" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x copybook" 		
	

Floyd | This little notebook has something originally published by Town Glow
Floyd | Books copied out in it. The title is "Footwords to Howl, for Solomon."
Floyd | The author is Onon Gonsborg.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "f x abecedarian book" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Darn" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x abecedarian book" 		
	

Floyd | This book is tiny, with a total of 32 pages. It is entitled "ABC." The
Floyd | author is Robert Pinsky. It seems to have been published by a

Floyd | different three letters of the alphabet, FSG.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "get abc" 		
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. "Rules must

Floyd | be observed in the library," says a full, sonorous voice, clearly
Floyd | attempting to sound hollow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "read page 1" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to read in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "abc" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the abecedarian book.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "consult abc about abc" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the abecedarian book.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get abc" 		
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. "Rules must
Floyd | be observed in the library," says a full, sonorous voice, clearly

Floyd | attempting to sound hollow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "consult abc about library" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the abecedarian book.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "consult abc about rules" 		
	

Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the abecedarian book.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "abscond with abc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Library
Floyd | Built-in shelves, now bare, line this room. All are of pitted wood,
Floyd | fixed in place, with subtle grain running horizontally. The bare

Floyd | shelves still sag a bit, a reminder that they long bore a heavy load
Floyd | of books.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... copybook... abecedarian book...
Floyd | dust casing... wee writ.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x dust casing" 		
	

Floyd | This dust jacket's most obvious feature is a large lowercase "e" with
Floyd | a red "no" slash-in-a-circle around it. It came off of the novel "A
Floyd | Void," which is Gilbert Adair's Translation of "La Disparition." The

Floyd | original French novel is apparently by George Perec, and was written
Floyd | entirely without recourse to a certain frequently-used letter. The
Floyd | English translation is similarly constrained. From the way the dust
Floyd | jacket is folded, it seems like "A Void" - wherever that absent book
Floyd | may be - is a sizable volume.
Floyd |

Floyd | From the looks of the dust casing, these used to be a large bug
Floyd | sitting upon it, which has been completely smashed. Completely. Don't
Floyd | even bother referring to the bug at this point. It's not there. It's
Floyd | gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "heh: [LINK]" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pick up dust casing" 		
	

Floyd | Success! Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | A distracted figure with a huge bushy beard blunders in. The man wears
Floyd | loose clothing and has a cell phone up against his head. He takes the
Floyd | cell phone from his ear and stares at it, muttering, "Hold on? Me old
Floyd | silly put silly old me on hold!"
Floyd |
Floyd | He blunders out, using motions that seem to be exactly the reverse of

Floyd | the ones he made when entering. By the time you've recovered from the
Floyd | shock, you realize he has completely disappeared.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x writ" 		
	

Floyd | This is a wee piece of paper, with the title "Top Row Retort." The
Floyd | author's name doesn't seem to be completely printed beneath that
Floyd | title, but something that looks like "-i-- -o-t-ort" does appear
Floyd | there. A busted U.S. keyboard appears on the cover. Most of the
Floyd | letters have been removed from this, leaving only 'QWERTYUIOP.'
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tip writ" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "try writ" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pry writ" 		
	

Floyd | Success! Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Nice" 	
			D asks, "So that's 2 of 4 books?" 	
			inky says, "I don't get what the deal is for the other two books, though" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Library

Floyd | Built-in shelves, now bare, line this room. All are of pitted wood,
Floyd | fixed in place, with subtle grain running horizontally. The bare
Floyd | shelves still sag a bit, a reminder that they long bore a heavy load
Floyd | of books.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... copybook... abecedarian book.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I thought it was 3 letter books for the abc thing." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "examine copybook" 		
	

Floyd | This little notebook has something originally published by Town Glow

Floyd | Books copied out in it. The title is "Footwords to Howl, for Solomon."
Floyd | The author is Onon Gonsborg.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "cop copybook" 		
	

Floyd | Success! Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oho" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x abc" 		
	

Floyd | This book is tiny, with a total of 32 pages. It is entitled "ABC." The
Floyd | author is Robert Pinsky. It seems to have been published by a
Floyd | different three letters of the alphabet, FSG.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get abc" 		
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. "Look,"
Floyd | says a somewhat frustrated sonorous voice that has given up trying to
Floyd | sound hollow, "I should make you read the hints to find out about
Floyd | this, but I'm getting fed up. You have to use a command that obeys the

Floyd | constraint of the text you're trying to take. Understand? Look, check
Floyd | the hint file if you still don't get it. I don't really care about
Floyd | that stuff myself. But I'm just the warning voice, you know. I'm not
Floyd | able to let you have the damn thing, you see. If it were my choice..."
Floyd | The voice trails off.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "bag abc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "I dunno, so what's the constraint?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x abc" 		
	

Floyd | This book is tiny, with a total of 32 pages. It is entitled "ABC." The
Floyd | author is Robert Pinsky. It seems to have been published by a
Floyd | different three letters of the alphabet, FSG.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "does it have to be alphabetical somehow?" 	
			Otto asks, "32 pages?" 	
			inky asks, "or not repeat any letters, maybe?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. You hear a
Floyd | somewhat hollow-sounding sigh.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "yeah, I'm not sure why it's 32 and not 26" 	
			D says, "Pinksy is some sort of poet" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pry abc" 		Jacqueline asks, "I dunno, are there 32 viable 3-letter words?" 	
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. You hear a
Floyd | somewhat hollow-sounding sigh.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I thought maybe 3 .3" 	
			Jota asks, "What game is being played?" 	
			Lucea says, "Ad Verbum" 	
			Jota says, "Ah, cool." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Err 3 letter word, then two" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "pry abc" 		
	

Floyd | A mysterious force holds the book to the built-in shelves. You hear a
Floyd | somewhat hollow-sounding sigh.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Ooh, good try." 	
	Bert arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "read abc" 		
	

Floyd | The text is very short. In fact, there are only 26 words, each printed
Floyd | on a page of its own. One page is occupied by a lone typographical
Floyd | symbol, and a simply-presented half-title page and title page round
Floyd | out the slim volume. The copyright page indicates the poem is
Floyd | copyright 2000 by Robert Pinsky and appears in this virtual
Floyd | environment with his permission.

Floyd |
Floyd | ABC
Floyd | By Robert Pinsky
Floyd |
Floyd | Any body can die, evidently. Few
Floyd | go happily, irradiating joy,

Floyd |
Floyd | knowledge, love. Many
Floyd | need oblivion, painkillers,
Floyd | quickest respite.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sweet time unafflicted,

Floyd | various world:
Floyd |
Floyd | X = your zenith.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "get ab" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hum" 	
			Otto says, "hehe, in alphabetical order" 	
			inky says, "I can't tell what we should do though" 	
			D says, "I think we form a command that contains words that a sequential alphabetically" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I have an idea." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Should we also type words in alphabetical order?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "abscond book" 		Jacqueline says, "Gah, lag." 	
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "abc abc" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "But get it should've word." 	
			inky says (to Jacqueline), "ok, that was a good try" 	
			Taleslinger says, "worked" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Is the word length important?" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "acquire book" 		
	

Floyd | Success! Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+10.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, not if the poem is a clue." 	
			D says, "there we go" 	
			inky says, "woo" 	
			Bert asks, "What is the actual puzzle you are trying to solve?" 	
			Otto says, ";)" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Otto), "Hooray!" 	
			D says, "Good job otto" 	
			Bert says, "Aha. How to pick it up." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,

Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... wooden weapon... verbosifier.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to d), "Heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "scores" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 74 out of a possible 100, in 229 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | That word has worked its magic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get verbosifier" 		D says, "Now let's throw this crap in the dumpster and hope we don't need rules to throw them away" 	
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		Taleslinger says, "I still think "get it" should've worked." 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground

Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps

Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... sizable sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and

Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   ... verbosifier
Floyd |   ... wooden weapon
Floyd |   ... abecedarian book
Floyd |   ... copybook
Floyd |   ... wee writ

Floyd |   ... dust casing
Floyd |   ... stylus
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put book in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the abecedarian book into the Dumpster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put copybook in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the copybook into the Dumpster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put writ in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the wee writ into the Dumpster.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put casing in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the dust casing into the Dumpster.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "But 'get it' would have been G-I, not G-H-I." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put stylus in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the stylus into the Dumpster.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   ... verbosifier
Floyd |   ... wooden weapon

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Maybe 'heist it' would have also worked." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put weapon in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | You put the wooden weapon into the Dumpster.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby

Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the
Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained

Floyd | passages to the north, east, west, and south look as if they might
Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... sizable sofa.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | As you press the button, the sofa is transformed into a couch.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well, it might have been a divan, but the transformation is still
Floyd | pretty impressive.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nate disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x divan" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x couch" 		
	

Floyd | The couch is about the size that the sofa was. It looks about as
Floyd | comfy, too.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | As you press the button, the couch grows slightly in size - to your
Floyd | consternation - and is transformed into a daybed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x daybed" 		
	

Floyd | The daybed is actually larger than the sofa and couch were, although
Floyd | it looks a bit more comfortable. That's slight consolation, since it's
Floyd | going to be even harder to get it down the stairs now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | As you press the button, the daybed shifts slightly, becoming a
Floyd | sofabed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Damn. You were hoping for an ottoman.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | As you press the button, the sofabed shrinks into a loveseat, which
Floyd | you welcome with a smile.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x loveseat" 		
	

Floyd | Wonderfully, this loveseat is fairly small, although it looks pretty
Floyd | tacky - it's a sort of pale green with white flowers. But so what? You

Floyd | might manage to pick it up and get it down the stairs and into the
Floyd | Dumpster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get loveseat" 		
	

Floyd | It's not going to be easy to lift this, even though it's much smaller
Floyd | now. Here's what we can try: lifting the loveseat, quickly proceeding
Floyd | down the stairs with it, and setting it down directly into the
Floyd | Dumpster. Sound good?

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | All right, here we go...
Floyd |
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer

Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the west must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is east. On the
Floyd | south side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.

Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the north, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd | You put the lovely loveseat into the Dumpster.
Floyd |

Floyd | Whew!
Floyd |
Floyd | [+5.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   ... verbosifier
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | In the Dumpster are ... lovely loveseat, ... wooden weapon, ...
Floyd | stylus, ... dust casing, ... wee writ, ... copybook, ... abecedarian
Floyd | book, ... stainless steel stapler, ... weird widget, ... evil effigy,
Floyd | ... earthen ewer, ... nifty nappy and ... toy dinosaur.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "sweet" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x verbosifier" 		
	

Floyd | This device is about the size of a Walkman, with a long antenna

Floyd | extending from it and a rectangular button labeled "VERBOSIFY."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D asks, "What just happened with that sofa?" 	
			inky says, "the verbosifier apparently turns things into similar objects" 	
			Bert says, "They pushed some buttons and it grew and shrank until it became a loveseat." 	
			Bert says, "WHich was small enough to carry downstairs." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We changed it into a loveseat and got it down the stairs to the dumpster." 	
			D asks, "How'd that get figured out? There was a button on the sofa?" 	
			Bert asks, "What was the stated goal of the game?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "press button" 		
	

Floyd | You press the button, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "on the verbosifier" 	
			D says, "Oh, using that gadget, I get it now." 	
			D asks, "Has anyone considered the significance of the old guy who ACTS in a palindrome when he shows up?" 	
			inky says, "get rid of everything in the house not nailed down" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Take everything not nailed down and put it all in the dumpster." 	
			Taleslinger says, "No transforming the pig." 	
			Jacqueline says (to D), "Well, Nick loves palindromes. But yeah, there is probably something more." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer

Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,

Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the

Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,
Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the w. One thin, unpainted
Floyd | stairway leads u into darkness from here. Another one, almost as
Floyd | narrow, leads d.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You'll never get through those constrained double doors carrying that
Floyd | verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | (verbosifier)
Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | "LISTEN WELL!" a sonorous voice booms out, in attempted hollowness.
Floyd | "Know ye that passage back through here is difficult for some,
Floyd | impossible for others! Should you wish to transport yourself - without
Floyd | your cherished possessions - out of these constrained confines, have

Floyd | your controlling consciouness type the magic command: APPROACH THE
Floyd | APPROACH!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Twin Bedroom
Floyd | This is a reasonably-sized bedroom, laid out symmetrically. On the
Floyd | room's centerline is a scan of two photographs, framed and affixed to

Floyd | the wall. A double doorway, now bereft of doors but clearly marked
Floyd | "EXIT," leads out, to the e.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fortunately, someone's already cleared out the twin beds.
Floyd |
Floyd | (The mansion, incidentally, like many adventure game houses, seems

Floyd | rather inadequately supplied with bathrooms. Perhaps there are certain
Floyd | adventurer functions that are better elided, though.)
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... pile of feed.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x pile" 		
	

Floyd | [ ... ]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "x pile" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "WHat's the [ ... ] mean? Presumably not that it's lavatorial." 	
			inky says, "the feed is presumbly oats or grass or something" 	
			inky says, "the [ ... ] seems to happen after the first thing you type in one of these rooms, regardless of what it is" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "pile feed pile" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x pile x" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says (to bert), "probably because we have to push space" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure if it represents hitting space or what" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pile pile" 		
	

Floyd | Further heaping cannot be done. The pile is as piled as it's going to
Floyd | get.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Oh! Right, yeah." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "examine pile" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "feed feed" 		
	

Floyd | (to yourself)
Floyd | You're not going to eat that feed yourself! You're not getting paid

Floyd | enough to do to that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "I think the trick is using a word as a noun and a verb in this room" 	
			Bert says, "Floyd probably queues up [ ... ], and then doesn't display it until he gets a newline." 	
			Bert says, "And he doesn't get a newline until after you hit a key." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(But you don't know you need to hit a key because you haven't seen the [ ... ] because it's still sitting in his buffer.)" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "photo photo" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "look look" 		
	

Floyd | You assume the most debonair adventurer stance possible, glancing
Floyd | around at the room as you do so, much as an assiduous adventurer
Floyd | would.

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "elip pile" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Twin Bedroom
Floyd | This is a reasonably-sized bedroom, laid out symmetrically. On the
Floyd | room's centerline is a scan of two photographs, framed and affixed to
Floyd | the wall. A double doorway, now bereft of doors but clearly marked
Floyd | "EXIT," leads out, to the e.

Floyd |
Floyd | Fortunately, someone's already cleared out the twin beds.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... pile of feed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "pile pile" 		
	

Floyd | Further heaping cannot be done. The pile is as piled as it's going to

Floyd | get.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "bed bed" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "bed on bed" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "you're not attracted to the bed in that way" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "pile pil" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "heh" 	
			Otto says, "oops sorry" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "pile the pile" 		
	

Floyd | Further heaping cannot be done. The pile is as piled as it's going to
Floyd | get.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "type the type" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "walk the walk" 		
	

Floyd | You strut around the room, walking the walk. But you haven't said
Floyd | where you wish to go.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	UndefinedEntity says, "scan scan" 		Bert has a guess at what needs to be done, but he's played before, so he won't say. 	
	D says (to Floyd), "talk the talk" 		
	

Floyd | "SE. NE. OPEN WINDOW. W." you say enthusiastically, talking the talk
Floyd | of an adventurer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "sit the sit" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "dance dance" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	UndefinedEntity says (to Floyd), ""scan scan" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "feed the pile" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "photograph photograph" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "photograph photograpg" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "pile the feed" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "picture the picture" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "pile the pile onto me" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I wonder if we need to get the photos somehow" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "pile the pile into my pockets" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a

Floyd | different object.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "scan scan" 		
	

Floyd | The scan of the two photographs is set in a frame that is actually

Floyd | nailed to the wall. This is too bad, because of course you would like
Floyd | to take this object. But since it is fixed to the structure, it means
Floyd | the job of getting it downstairs falls to someone else.
Floyd |
Floyd | The photo on the left side of the scan is of a famous cello player: Yo
Floyd | Yo Ma. The photo on the right depicts a man standing behind a United

Floyd | Nations podium. It's Boutros Boutros Ghali.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "nice" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "take the take" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tote oat" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "grain" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "double double" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D says, "Maybe we need the pig to eat the feed" 	
			inky says (to D), "oho" 	
	olethros says (to Floyd), "feed on feed" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hm, maybe, yeah" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "frame frame" 		
	

Floyd | You try to make it look as if the frame has actually committed the
Floyd | murder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "frame frame" 		
	

Floyd | You make a little square out of your hands and look through it at the
Floyd | frame and enclosed scan, imagining how it would look as a photograph.
Floyd | It would be pretty boring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "how do we get out of the room again?" 	
			Bert says, "Huh, weird." 	
			Bert asks (of inky), "The cheat-y way or the right way?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "exit through exit" 		
	

Floyd | Type the type of thing that is permitted here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "inky, the right way hasn't bee uncovered" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "door door" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "exit exit" 		
	D says (to Floyd), "walk the walk west" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the
Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,
Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the w. One thin, unpainted

Floyd | stairway leads u into darkness from here. Another one, almost as
Floyd | narrow, leads d.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(The guy said that it might be tricky to get out, but that you could cheat and escape without your inventory with 'approach the approach'.)" 	
			inky says, "aha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby
Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,

Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,
Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground

Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps

Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s

Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D says, "Walk the walk worked before but it told me to pick a direction" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ipgay, ogay upway" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay upway" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |

Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some

Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the north, while toward the other three exits
Floyd | on this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs down to the
Floyd | foyer turns and continues up, to the next floor. The constrained
Floyd | passages to the south, east, west, and north look as if they might
Floyd | spell trouble. Or perhaps they simply spell 'SEWN.'

Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay upway" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby

Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,

Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay upway" 		
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.

Floyd |
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the
Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,
Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the west. One thin, unpainted
Floyd | stairway leads up into darkness from here. Another one, almost as

Floyd | narrow, leads down.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpway, ogay estway" 		
	

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x pig" 		
	

Floyd | The pig seems extremely well-behaved, even a bit stately. He is
Floyd | wearing a distinctive toga.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "igpay, ogay estway" 		Bert says, "Yay." 	
	

Floyd | The pig looks up at you with a smile, understanding the language
Floyd | you're speaking.
Floyd |

Floyd | The pig glances in the direction indicated.
Floyd |
Floyd | The pig does not seem troubled by the constrained double doors west.
Floyd | The pig proceeds at a moderate gait, moving along as you asked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Twin Bedroom
Floyd | This is a reasonably-sized bedroom, laid out symmetrically. On the
Floyd | room's centerline is a scan of two photographs, framed and affixed to

Floyd | the wall. A double doorway, now bereft of doors but clearly marked
Floyd | "EXIT," leads out, to the e.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fortunately, someone's already cleared out the twin beds.
Floyd |
Floyd | A pig sits here calmly. He is quiet and oddly attired.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes also notice: ... pile of feed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			Otto says (to D), "I don't know if it was exit exit or walk the walk which worked..." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "feed feed" 		
	

Floyd | (to pig)
Floyd | The pig smiles at your polite offer of the feed and delicately (but
Floyd | quickly) nibbles away at the pile, consuming all of it. Sated, the pig

Floyd | departs. You hear the stately animal clopping down flight after flight
Floyd | of stairs. Then the front door swings open and shut, and the sounds
Floyd | are no more.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+6.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "yay" 	
			Bert exclaims, "But it's not in the dumpster!" 	
			Taleslinger says (to inky), "ITYM Yay yay" 	
			Otto says, "well done" 	
			inky says, "I'm not sure what the exact instructions were" 	
			D says, "Woo, there we go" 	
			Otto asks, "nothing more to do here ?" 	
			D says, "That's how we do business, two birds with one stone" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Yadda yadda.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess not" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "exit exit" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the
Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,

Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the w. One thin, unpainted
Floyd | stairway leads u into darkness from here. Another one, almost as
Floyd | narrow, leads d.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "feel" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to feel?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x feel wall" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "I am surprised no one is trying the command that would have worked in the previous room." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "light light" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Darkness
Floyd | It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, heh" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "it's a long time we haven't save isn't it?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "see a thing" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Was something we picked up a lightsource?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf9" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "see thing" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess we could go look at the stuff in the dumpster" 	
			Bert asks, "The combination loveseat-and-nightlight unit?" 	
			D says, "The robotic dog could be a lightsource" 	
			inky says, "oh yeah, I haven't really seen anything to get rid of the dog" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the

Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,
Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the w. One thin, unpainted
Floyd | stairway leads u into darkness from here. Another one, almost as
Floyd | narrow, leads d.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby

Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,

Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer

Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and

Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "look in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | In the Dumpster are ... lovely loveseat, ... wooden weapon, ...
Floyd | stylus, ... dust casing, ... wee writ, ... copybook, ... abecedarian

Floyd | book, ... stainless steel stapler, ... weird widget, ... evil effigy,
Floyd | ... earthen ewer, ... nifty nappy and ... toy dinosaur.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x widget" 		
	

Floyd | Wow! Wacky, wireless widget, worked whimsically with whorls. Widget's
Floyd | workings? Well ... widget wants worth. Warrantless widget!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x weapon" 		
	

Floyd | Weighty. Whittled walnut. Warrior's worthy weapon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x effigy" 		
	

Floyd | Enemy effigy. Extreme enormity evident. Execrable evildoer!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x dinosaur" 		
	

Floyd | The toy dinosaur looks like a triceratops. It is made of

Floyd | injection-molded plastic, and colored the same pale, milky green all
Floyd | over.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x stylus" 		
	

Floyd | Small stylus, straight, short. Stylus shan't suit staff, studiously
Floyd | scribbling symbols. Styptic stylus! Shaving scratch? Smooth stylus,
Floyd | soothing sorrowful slit - salvation.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D asks, "Anything we can do about the dog?" 	
			D says, "Maybe the stylus pokes the toy dog..." 	
			D says, "Like a DS" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Bert asks, "A Dog Stylus?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "frotz me" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "WHAT NOW?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hrm" 	
			UndefinedEntity shrugs 	
			Otto says, "f help" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "help" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                Ad Verbum Hints
Floyd |  N = next subject                                                  P =
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                          Q = re

Floyd | sume game
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    > Help on the Ad Verbum concept
Floyd |      General cluefulness

Floyd |      Ground floor
Floyd |      Initial floor
Floyd |      Antepenultimate floor
Floyd |      Penultimate floor and above
Floyd |

		
	ReikoYukawa arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		D says, "Assuming we do have every available room solved right now, we need a light source and a way to solve the dog" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm, do we actually want a hint yet?" 	
			inky says, "one of the items in the dumpster does provide light" 	
			D says, "Which one" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper

Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |

Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "it isn't the dog" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "look in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | In the Dumpster are ... lovely loveseat, ... wooden weapon, ...
Floyd | stylus, ... dust casing, ... wee writ, ... copybook, ... abecedarian
Floyd | book, ... stainless steel stapler, ... weird widget, ... evil effigy,
Floyd | ... earthen ewer, ... nifty nappy and ... toy dinosaur.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D is a newbie. 		
	UndefinedEntity says (to Floyd), "light weapon" 		
	

Floyd | This dangerous act would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x widget" 		
	

Floyd | Wow! Wacky, wireless widget, worked whimsically with whorls. Widget's
Floyd | workings? Well ... widget wants worth. Warrantless widget!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x widget" 		
	

Floyd | Wow! Wacky, wireless widget, worked whimsically with whorls. Widget's
Floyd | workings? Well ... widget wants worth. Warrantless widget!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take all from dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | lovely loveseat: This furniture isn't going anywhere like that.
Floyd | wooden weapon: Removed.
Floyd | stylus: Removed.
Floyd | dust casing: Removed.

Floyd | wee writ: Removed.
Floyd | copybook: Removed.
Floyd | abecedarian book: Removed.
Floyd | stainless steel stapler: Removed.
Floyd | weird widget: Removed.
Floyd | evil effigy: Removed.

Floyd | earthen ewer: Removed.
Floyd | nifty nappy: Removed.
Floyd | toy dinosaur: Removed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some

Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer
Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the n, e, w, and s look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'NEWS.'

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby

Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,

Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the
Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,
Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the w. One thin, unpainted
Floyd | stairway leads u into darkness from here. Another one, almost as
Floyd | narrow, leads d.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Ultimate Level
Floyd | This is the mansion's top floor. The whole level, barely illuminated
Floyd | in the pale, milky glow of the toy dinosaur, is one large room. It
Floyd | seems partially finished, like an attic. Fiberglass insulation bulges
Floyd | between bare boards. There are no windows. A stairway leads d.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... manual.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+5.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "sure I guess why not" 	
			Jacqueline says, "aha" 	
			UndefinedEntity asks, "?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oh, the dinosaur." 	
			inky says, "(it's glow-in-the-dark, right)" 	
			Jacqueline says (to UE), "The dinosaur glows in the dark." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x insulation" 		
	

Floyd | The insulation is pink, sort of fuzzy, and with a strange sort of

Floyd | medical or metallic glitter. An outfit made of this material might
Floyd | serve as fetishwear for a Sesame Street character.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		UndefinedEntity giggles 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get insulation" 		
	

Floyd | You lose your grip on the insulation as you attempt to pull out a bit.
Floyd | It doesn't look like it can be taken, in this case.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get manual" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x manual" 		
	

Floyd | This slim pamphlet is a manual for the "Model 220 Verbosifier."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read manual" 		
	

Floyd | Alongside some diagrams of the very simple verbosifier device, which
Floyd | seem rather unnecessary, there is this text: "The Model 220
Floyd | Verbosifier is calibrated to work on a wide variety of furniture.
Floyd | Standing in the same room with the furniture that requires
Floyd | verbosification should suffice, as the fixed antenna provides a range

Floyd | of about twenty feet to either side. To verbosify nearby furniture,
Floyd | simply press the button.
Floyd |
Floyd | Only the usual sort of maintenance for consumer electronic devices
Floyd | should be required, if the device does not have a large enough store
Floyd | of energy to continue functioning. Instructions for such maintenance

Floyd | are completely transcribed below, albeit with different punctuation."
Floyd |
Floyd | There is indeed a short line of text below, but it looks rather odd:
Floyd | "Not tub'll up. A: All economy, U. B: ..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "maybe we could use the verbosifier on the dog?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh gosh, yeah." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Tub as in bathtub?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "oh, wait, it" 	
			Taleslinger says, "'s backwards." 	
			inky says, "buymonocellaapullbutton" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm, but there's no bathroom, right?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Buy mono cell. A a pull button" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "A apull button?" 	
			Otto says, "ah, no it's only for furniture" 	
			* ReikoYukawa has joined the channel. 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is it in code?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 90 out of a possible 100, in 333 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to Reiko), "Hello!" 	
			D asks, "I guess we insult the dog?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Penultimate Lobby
Floyd | At this level the house is neither as broad or as long as it is on the
Floyd | ground floor. There seems to only be one other room on this floor,

Floyd | through a constrained double doorway to the w. One thin, unpainted
Floyd | stairway leads u into darkness from here. Another one, almost as
Floyd | narrow, leads d.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your object-sensitive eyes notice: ... verbosifier.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get verbosifier" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull botton" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull button" 		D says, "We had to one-up disosaur kid, so why not the dog" 	
	

Floyd | The button slides out with some effort on your part  - a spring seems
Floyd | to be holding it in. The cylinder revealed by this operation is the
Floyd | verbosifier's battery compartment. The single AA cell inside falls out

Floyd | onto the floor. You release the button, letting the compartment close
Floyd | again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ReikoYukawa asks, "hi?" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get aa" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x aa" 		
	

Floyd | It's a shiny PowerTreat-brand AA cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "maybe the dog will eat it" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Give that to the dog, and it explodes!" 	
			D asks, "Oh, we feed the dog the battery then?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Antepenultimate Lobby

Floyd | This lobby, allowing access to the rooms of the next-to-next-to-top
Floyd | floor, is in good shape. It is very similar to the lobby below,
Floyd | although the ceiling may be a bit lower. Here there are only three
Floyd | passages. Two of them (to the n and e) are normal passages, but one,
Floyd | to the s, is oddly constrained. It has an ominous sign above it. The
Floyd | main stairway leads d, while another staircase, straight and narrow,

Floyd | allows passage u to the next floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Initial Lobby
Floyd | The lobby of the mansion's initial floor - the one above the ground
Floyd | floor - is an ordinary and fairly well-maintained room. There are some
Floyd | things scrawled on the ground here, in the contractor's handwriting:
Floyd | '1 object' is written to the n, while toward the other three exits on
Floyd | this floor '2' is scrawled. The stairway that runs d to the foyer

Floyd | turns and continues u, to the next floor. The constrained passages to
Floyd | the s, e, w, and n look as if they might spell trouble. Or perhaps
Floyd | they simply spell 'SEWN.'
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "good idea" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer
Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper

Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.
Floyd |

Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Wordplayground
Floyd | Here's a sort of small, enclosed backyard, closed in with a high
Floyd | wooden fence and completely covered with asphalt.
Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the s, leading inside, is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | There's one of those robotic puppies - the latest fad - here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy quips: "Your momma got interested in Infocom games 'cause
Floyd | she thought there was one called 'Witless.'"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give battery to dog" 		
	

Floyd | Yips of pleasure sound as the robot puppy take the AA cell and chews
Floyd | on it playfully.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy rolls about happily, chewing on the AA cell.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The robotic puppy is endowed with locomotive abilities that are as
Floyd | quick and random as its prepackaged wit. It scuttles away from you

Floyd | quickly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy rolls about happily, chewing on the AA cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "puppy, s" 		
	

Floyd | The puppy doesn't seem to notice you speaking to it. Perhaps this
Floyd | cut-rate model doesn't accept voice commands or queries.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy rolls about happily, chewing on the AA cell.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kick puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The robotic puppy is endowed with locomotive abilities that are as
Floyd | quick and random as its prepackaged wit. It scuttles away from you

Floyd | quickly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy rolls about happily, chewing on the AA cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   ... verbosifier
Floyd |   ... manual
Floyd |   ... toy dinosaur

Floyd |   ... nifty nappy
Floyd |   ... earthen ewer
Floyd |   ... evil effigy
Floyd |   ... weird widget
Floyd |   ... stainless steel stapler
Floyd |   ... abecedarian book

Floyd |   ... copybook
Floyd |   ... wee writ
Floyd |   ... dust casing
Floyd |   ... stylus
Floyd |   ... wooden weapon
Floyd |

Floyd | The robot puppy rolls about happily, chewing on the AA cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		UndefinedEntity asks, "something like a remote control?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | After a bit of effort, you wrest the AA cell from the puppy's robotic
Floyd | mouth. The puppy yips at you playfully.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy yips and bounds about near you without taunting you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "show cell to puppy" 		
	

Floyd | The robot puppy yips gleefully and bounds in your direction at the
Floyd | sight of the shiny AA cell you are holding out.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy yips and bounds about near you without taunting you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "throe cell s" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "throw cell s" 		
	

Floyd | I only caught that first part. Try truncating that command or using a
Floyd | different object.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "aha, nice" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Foyer

Floyd | This is the mansion's spacious ground-floor antechamber. The wallpaper
Floyd | is peeling and bits of plaster have fallen from the ceiling here and
Floyd | there. There is a stairway, stable enough to ascend. The big area to
Floyd | the w must have once been a separate room, but the demolition crew
Floyd | seems to have already taken out a wall. A living room is e. On the s
Floyd | side is the front door. A Dumpster has been dumped here.

Floyd |
Floyd | A door to the n, leading out back, is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's one of those robotic puppies - the latest fad - here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The robot puppy yips and bounds about near you without taunting you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put aa cell in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | The puppy hops into the Dumpster, chasing the AA cell. Robot jaws
Floyd | clamp upon the shiny treat happily. The puppy settles down in the

Floyd | Dumpster to play with the AA cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | The puppy is now busy chewing on the AA cell in the Dumpster.
Floyd |
Floyd | [+10.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		UndefinedEntity says, "ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You have so far scored 100 out of a possible 100, in 351 turns.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D says, "The end" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "put all in dumpster" 		
	

Floyd | verbosifier: Done.
Floyd | manual: Done.

Floyd | toy dinosaur: Done.
Floyd | nifty nappy: Done.
Floyd | earthen ewer: Done.
Floyd | evil effigy: Done.
Floyd | weird widget: Done.
Floyd | stainless steel stapler: Done.

Floyd | abecedarian book: Done.
Floyd | copybook: Done.
Floyd | wee writ: Done.
Floyd | dust casing: Done.
Floyd | stylus: Done.
Floyd | wooden weapon:

Floyd | You place the last loose object into the Dumpster and feel a rush of
Floyd | triumph. In a while, no doubt, the contractor will show up and pay you
Floyd | for your labor. Meanwhile, since you've helped to demolish the
Floyd | Wizard's domicile, you think that at the very least you can craft some
Floyd | constrained compositions and help propagate the playfulness of
Floyd | language. You scratch your chin and start putting some words together

Floyd | in your mind ...
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | In that game you scored 100 out of a possible 100, in 351 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score
Floyd | for that game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "yay" 	
			D says, "Awesome" 	
			inky says, "nice" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "full" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | In that game you scored 100 out of a possible 100, in 351 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | The score was made up as follows:
Floyd |
Floyd |      2 Opening up up up a door.
Floyd |     10 Winning a toy dinosaur.

Floyd |     10 Getting the robot puppy into the Dumpster.
Floyd |      1 Eatery exit.
Floyd |      4 Ewer & effigy expropriation.
Floyd |      3 Salon skedaddling.
Floyd |      2 Stapler seizing.
Floyd |      3 Sofa shoving.

Floyd |      5 Disposing of the verbosified sofa.
Floyd |      3 Wardrobe withdrawing.
Floyd |      5 Weapon winning.
Floyd |      9 Wainscoting whacking & widget winning.
Floyd |      5 Nursery navigation.
Floyd |      3 Nappy nabbing.

Floyd |     10 Taking the books, according to the rules.
Floyd |      3 Studiously snagging stylus.
Floyd |      2 Study splitting.
Floyd |      8 Correctly addressing a pig.
Floyd |      6 Managing to feed feed to the pig.
Floyd |      5 Illuminating the attic with a glowing dinosaur.

Floyd |      1 Helping the Wizard with a well-chosen magic word.
Floyd |
Floyd |    100 total (out of 100)
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score
Floyd | for that game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "hooray" 	
	ReikoYukawa says, "guess I missed most of it then" 		Otto says, "it was a funny game :)" 	
			D says, "A nice puzzlefest" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Are we up for a quick silly game along these same lines?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is reminding me of a speed IF game maga and I wrote." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Extremely entertaining. Playfully puzzling. Awesome Art. etc." 	
			Firion asks, "What game?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But inky or Bert would have to upload it, as I don't think Floyd has it." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Firion), "Things." 	
			inky asks, "sure, what is it?" 	
			inky says, "or where is it, I guess" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Things... need a link?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "One sec." 	
			Jacqueline | [LINK ] 	
			Taleslinger says, "i never would've been able to solve the pig latin thing on me own." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "list t" 		Jacqueline says, "The premise for this speed was to limit the number of nouns used." 	
	

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | >

		D says, "That pig latin thing was a good idea, whoever noticed that" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "list t" 		
	Floyd says (to inky), "tangle tapestry tatctae tdragon tempest temple tenuous the_one theatre thedayishothitler thief timeout tk1 toonesia tortoise tow11 towerofbeef transfer trip triune troll tryst205 ttl tube" 		Jacqueline says, "Speed Premise: Someone (or an animal) has swallowed something important! Bonus points for limiting the number of nouns used! Super-bonus points for using five nouns or less!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "load thing" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd | tadsr - A text-only TADS 2.5.10 Interpreter.

Floyd | Copyright (c) 1993, 2006 by Michael J. Roberts.
Floyd |
Floyd | THINGS
Floyd | a SpeedIF >= 20 entry (as few nouns as possible)
Floyd | by Sam Kabo Ashwell and Jacqueline Lott
Floyd |

Floyd | Mountainous Pretty Encompassing Thing
Floyd |    All around you, mountainous unimplemented things rise up into the
Floyd | lofty heavenly unimplemented thing.  Beneath your pedal things, the
Floyd | well-worn linear pedestrian unimplemented thing descends into the
Floyd | lower geographically interstitial unimplemented thing.  Nestled among
Floyd | the rocky unimplemented things, a notably implemented rustic wooden

Floyd | structural sheltering thing awaits. It looks promisingly warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "implement things" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "implement".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "sky".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger has a swimming head. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x unimplemented thing" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "unimplemented".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | But the damn thing's locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x pedal" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "pedal".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open thing" 		
	

Floyd | Which thing do you mean, the locking / unlocking thing, the manual
Floyd | insulating things, the short vegetable thing, or yourself?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "locking" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to open the locking / unlocking thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x structural thing" 		
	

Floyd | Within this wooden structural sheltering thing you know there to be
Floyd | essential things, including soft horizontal things to sleep upon,
Floyd | warming things and (most importantly) potable alcoholic things.  Yet
Floyd | it is locked against you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Around its lower structural thing, interesting short vegetable things
Floyd | grow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "turn verbose off ! ;)" 		
	

Floyd | I don't understand the punctuation ")".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a locking / unlocking thing and manual insulating things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock thing with locking thing" 		
	

Floyd | Which thing do you mean, the locking / unlocking thing, the manual
Floyd | insulating things, the rustic wooden structural sheltering thing, the
Floyd | short vegetable thing, or yourself?

		
	UndefinedEntity says (to Floyd), "vegetable" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | I don't know how to unlock the short vegetable thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ReikoYukawa says, "this reminds me a bit of Legion" 		
	D says (to Floyd), "wear manual insulating things" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "things".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a locking / unlocking thing and manual insulating things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "wear manual insulating thing" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now wearing the manual insulating things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Gloves I assume" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes." 	
	D says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Mountainous Pretty Encompassing Thing
Floyd |    All around you, mountainous unimplemented things rise up into the
Floyd | lofty heavenly unimplemented thing.  Beneath your pedal things, the
Floyd | well-worn linear pedestrian unimplemented thing descends into the

Floyd | lower geographically interstitial unimplemented thing.  Nestled among
Floyd | the rocky unimplemented things, a notably implemented rustic wooden
Floyd | structural sheltering thing awaits. It looks promisingly warm.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock sheltering thing with unlocking thing" 		
	

Floyd | Your manual things are so cold from the mountainous atmospheric thing
Floyd | that on attempting to unlock the wooden structural thing, you fumble
Floyd | the locking / unlocking thing and it falls to the flat underfoot
Floyd | things.

Floyd |
Floyd | A triumphant trilling auditory thing breaks the pristine absence of
Floyd | other auditory things, and a hoary sciuromorphic thing appears!  With
Floyd | shiny optical things of evil, it pounces upon your locking / unlocking
Floyd | thing and ingests it forthwith!
Floyd |

Floyd | Oh no!  Socially inappropriate verbal thing!  How ever will you, the
Floyd | bold adventurous protagonistic thing, retrieve your locking /
Floyd | unlocking thing?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "man, sciuromorphic" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. Yeah. A marmot." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I love marmots." 	
			Taleslinger says, "hahahahaha, socially inappropriate verbal thing!" 	
			D says, "Unfair, I was wearing the gloves" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit sciuromorphic thing with vegetable thing" 		
	

Floyd | Attacking the hoary sciuromorphic thing doesn't appear productive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw vegetable thing at sciuromorphic thing" 		
	

Floyd | You can't throw the short vegetable thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take vegetable thing" 		
	

Floyd | You pluck a relatively small thing of the vegetable things.  You now
Floyd | have a plucked herbal thing!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "That's a good way to curse" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "examine hoary" 		
	

Floyd | A furry, cute yet dastardly sciuromorphic thing, which has lately
Floyd | swallowed your prized thing by which locked things are rendered
Floyd | unlocked (and vice versa).  It is notably hoary.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "give vegatable thing to hoary thing" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "vegatable".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "What was the error message, or did it just print it in the room?" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "give vegetable thing to hoary thing" 		
	

Floyd | You're not carrying the short vegetable thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "OOps, Ilaw" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have manual insulating things (being worn) and a plucked herbal
Floyd | thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give herbal thing to hoary thing" 		
	

Floyd | You seize the hoary sciuromorphic thing and force the herbal things
Floyd | into its oral thing!  You hold its struggling furry corporeal thing
Floyd | against your corporeal thing and stroke its tubular peristaltic thing

Floyd | until it swallows.  As you release it, it viciously bites your manual
Floyd | thing!  Ow!
Floyd |
Floyd | The hoary sciuromorphic thing trills nauseously.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you're referring to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "x hoary thing" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x hoary thing" 		
	

Floyd | A furry, cute yet dastardly sciuromorphic thing, which has lately
Floyd | swallowed your prized thing by which locked things are rendered
Floyd | unlocked (and vice versa).  It is notably hoary.

Floyd |
Floyd | The hoary sciuromorphic thing looks a little queasy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Eww!  The hoary sciuromorphic thing violently defecates!  Your locking
Floyd | / unlocking thing is returned, albeit somewhat icky!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "ha ha ha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "ewww" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "take unlocking thing" 		
	

Floyd | You carefully retrieve the locking / unlocking thing, and thoughtfully
Floyd | wipe your manual insulating things on the hoary sciumorphic thing

Floyd | afterwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "How did you guys produce 500 lines of scrollback during a fifteen minute phone call? (skim skim skim...)" 	
	D says (to Floyd), "unlock shelter thing with unlocking thing" 		
	

Floyd | Once again you insert the locking / unlocking thing into the thing
Floyd | which was made to accept it, and carefully unlock it.  The flat wooden
Floyd | thing sealing the thing by which you may enter swings aside, its
Floyd | articulated metal things creaking!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger looks up hoary. 	
			inky says, "we went up and down a lot of stairs" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | An emotionally satisfying thing swells in your metaphysical personal
Floyd | thing as you stride through the thing for entering or exiting the

Floyd | rustic structural thing.  You light and stoke the heating thing, crack
Floyd | open a glass thing containing alcholic things, kick off your pedal
Floyd | insulating things, collapse onto the horizontal soft thing and rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | After a relaxing slumbrous thing, you awake refreshed and warm, and
Floyd | continue merrily on your ambulatory thing through the mountainous

Floyd | things.  Hooray, you win the interactive thing!
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                        *** The End ***
Floyd |
Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current

Floyd | command.
Floyd |
Floyd | enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		inky says (to Taleslinger), "it's like loose" 	
			Jacqueline says, "There were two endings, fwiw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But you guys got the good ending." 	
			inky says, "man" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "man?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that The Man is opressive." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Alex), "heh" 	
			Alex exclaims (at Jacqueline), "Awwwk! You're a great crowd! I'll be here all night -- try the tarte au chocolat aux cork nuts!" 	
			inky says, "oh, just, like, man, multi-ending speedif" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Okay, find the bad ending thing!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd | THINGS
Floyd | a SpeedIF >= 20 entry (as few nouns as possible)
Floyd | by Sam Kabo Ashwell and Jacqueline Lott
Floyd |
Floyd | Mountainous Pretty Encompassing Thing

Floyd |    All around you, mountainous unimplemented things rise up into the
Floyd | lofty heavenly unimplemented thing.  Beneath your pedal things, the
Floyd | well-worn linear pedestrian unimplemented thing descends into the
Floyd | lower geographically interstitial unimplemented thing.  Nestled among
Floyd | the rocky unimplemented things, a notably implemented rustic wooden
Floyd | structural sheltering thing awaits. It looks promisingly warm.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Want to find it, or want me to show it?" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "How hard is it?" 	
			D says, "It should have said "The ending thing" instead of The End XD" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not hard, really." 	
			Taleslinger says, "You may restore a saved thing" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a locking / unlocking thing and manual insulating things.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	D says (to Floyd), "put unlocking thing in manual thing" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything into the manual insulating things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		D says, "Lies" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock sheltering thing with unlocking thing" 		
	

Floyd | Your manual things are so cold from the mountainous atmospheric thing
Floyd | that on attempting to unlock the wooden structural thing, you fumble
Floyd | the locking / unlocking thing and it falls to the flat underfoot

Floyd | things.
Floyd |
Floyd | A triumphant trilling auditory thing breaks the pristine absence of
Floyd | other auditory things, and a hoary sciuromorphic thing appears!  With
Floyd | shiny optical things of evil, it pounces upon your locking / unlocking
Floyd | thing and ingests it forthwith!

Floyd |
Floyd | Oh no!  Socially inappropriate verbal thing!  How ever will you, the
Floyd | bold adventurous protagonistic thing, retrieve your locking /
Floyd | unlocking thing?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "There is no way to prevent the marmot from stealing the key, by the way, that was a required constraint of the Speed IF." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take herbal thing" 		
	

Floyd | You pluck a relatively small thing of the vegetable things.  You now
Floyd | have a plucked herbal thing!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		D asks, "We can't swallow and defecate the key ourselves?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "give herbal thing to hoary thing" 		
	

Floyd | You seize the hoary sciuromorphic thing and force the herbal things
Floyd | into its oral thing!  You hold its struggling furry corporeal thing

Floyd | against your corporeal thing and stroke its tubular peristaltic thing
Floyd | until it swallows.  As you release it, it viciously bites your manual
Floyd | thing!  Ow!
Floyd |
Floyd | The hoary sciuromorphic thing trills nauseously.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to D), "Um, no. Heh. I don't think we thought of that." 	
			Bert says, "(Ah, by winning, that's how...)" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat hoary thing" 		
	

Floyd | The hoary sciuromorphic thing doesn't appear appetizing.

Floyd |
Floyd | The hoary sciuromorphic thing looks a little queasy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Eww!  The hoary sciuromorphic thing violently defecates!  Your locking
Floyd | / unlocking thing is returned, albeit somewhat icky!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take unlocking thing" 		
	

Floyd | Blech!  You got hoary sciuromorphic thing exretatory thing all over
Floyd | your manual things!  But at least you got your locking / unlocking
Floyd | thing back.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock sheltering thing" 		
	

Floyd | Once again you insert the locking / unlocking thing into the thing
Floyd | which was made to accept it, and carefully unlock it.  The flat wooden
Floyd | thing sealing the thing by which you may enter swings aside, its

Floyd | articulated metal things creaking!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | An emotionally satisfying thing swells in your metaphysical personal

Floyd | thing as you stride through the thing for entering or exiting the
Floyd | rustic structural thing.  You light and stoke the heating thing, crack
Floyd | open a glass thing containing alcholic things, kick off your pedal
Floyd | insulating things, collapse onto the horizontal soft thing and rest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your osseous, somewhat stinky organic things are discovered many

Floyd | chronological things later.  Infected sciuromorphic dentally piercing
Floyd | things work fast.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                        *** The End ***
Floyd |

Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current
Floyd | command.
Floyd |
Floyd | enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x exretatory thing" 		
	

Floyd | enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Jacqueline says, "There you go." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wearing the gloves in the first playthrough prevented the infected marmot bite." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I knew that my extensive knowledge of marmot shit would come in handy one day." 	
			inky says, "we died because it bit our finger? or because we didn't -- aha" 	
	DavidW arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Taleslinger says, ""Happy Birthday, DW." 	
			DavidW says, "thanks" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, fun diurnal thing of wordy IF things." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Happy birthday to both DavidW and maga." 	
			DavidW says, "thank you" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, didn't mean to say that just to DW. heh" 	
			DavidW asks, "Did you guys win Ad Verbum?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "We did, yeah." 	
			DavidW says, "yay" 	
			Otto says, "yes we did. And we won Things as well :)" 	
			Jacqueline gets to work on the transcript... 	
			Taleslinger says (to maga), "Yes, Happy birthday to you too." 	
			DavidW says, "ooh" 	
			D says, "The Absolute Conclusive Definitive Thing" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, next week we're doing Glowgrass, right?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That was what we decided last week?" 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "Accurate assumption." 	
			inky says, "sure, that'd be good"	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Glowgrass by Nate Cull
As played on ifMUD on January 18, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Glowgrass, written by Nate Cull. Glowgrass was originally released as part of the 1997 IF Competition, where it took third place. It was also a Xyzzy finalist for Best Game and Best Story. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load glow" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd | tadsr - A text-only TADS 2.5.10 Interpreter.

Floyd | Copyright (c) 1993, 2006 by Michael J. Roberts.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The dropship sways dangerously as the pilot trys to correct for
Floyd | slipstream effects.  Clutching the thin monofilament line doesn't do a

Floyd | lot for your stability, but at least it helps you concentrate.  You
Floyd | risk a glance below - stupid thing to do, really, at this height, even
Floyd | after taking the anti-vertigo treatment - and you're rewarded with a
Floyd | glimpse of the ruins.  Tantalisingly close, almost totally preserved.
Floyd | After all these years, to finally reach an intact Ancient site -
Floyd |

Floyd | The line shears in your fingers, and in sudden slow-motion horror you
Floyd | watch the buckle, the support harness, your entire equipment pack come
Floyd | wrenching up and over your arms.  The debris dangles gracefully in
Floyd | midair for the longest moment, then slides away out of reach as
Floyd | gravity takes over.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your involuntary scream, drowned in the wind, turns to a jerking gasp
Floyd | as you fall through the jungle tree cover, rolling, sliding, and
Floyd | finally landing with a thud on solid ground -
Floyd |
Floyd | The ground of the Ancients!
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | GLOWGRASS
Floyd | An Interactive Short Story
Floyd | Copyright (C) 1997 by Nate Cull
Floyd | Release 1 (3rd Annual IF Contest release)
Floyd |

Floyd | Courtyard
Floyd | This appears to be some kind of courtyard in the centre of an Ancient
Floyd | dwelling. The building itself swings around to the north and west,
Floyd | terminating in a crumbling retaining wall due south.  A smaller domed
Floyd | construction opens to the northeast, through a wide metal door
Floyd | (closed).  To the east is a flat space that could bear further

Floyd | exploring.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a high-pitched decelerating whine -- a dropship turbine in
Floyd | trouble -- from the northeast, followed by a dull roaring crash.  Just
Floyd | in time, you duck and cover your eyes.  Blue-white light etches across
Floyd | the landscape, then the gravity blast wave hits.  Every molecule in

Floyd | your private universe shudders.
Floyd |
Floyd | A minute later, you get to your feet, pain gnawing your body.  Scratch
Floyd | one dropship; nobody could have survived that crash.  Scratch your
Floyd | equipment.  Now it's just you, your wits - and the Ancients.  Hope
Floyd | you're as good a xenohistorian as you claimed at the Institute.

Floyd | Because unless you find some kind of way out of here, it could be
Floyd | months before a recovery team locates you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x myself" 		
	

Floyd | You're a world-renowned xenohistorian and student of Ancient
Floyd | artifacts.  And you're in reasonably good shape, given the mess this
Floyd | field trip has turned into.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are empty-handed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "Do we need a driver?" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have no idea." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah. DW would know." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Lawn
Floyd | You're standing in a square area of neatly trimmed green lawn,
Floyd | shimmering faintly in the afternoon light.  To the west, the lawn
Floyd | gives way to courtyard, and beyond it to the west and north are
Floyd | buildings.  An odd, paved rectangular depression in the ground leads
Floyd | down to the southeast; the encroaching jungle vegetation further back

Floyd | is kept at bay by a barrier of translucent sheeting.
Floyd |
Floyd | Something about the scene gives you a sudden tingle of recognition, a
Floyd | surge of awe.  As if you're walking into a legend.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Great intro." 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x ship" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any ship here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Nate is such a damn good writer." 	
	olethros arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "I can't believe it took ClubFloyd for me to get around to a lot of his stuff." 	
			DavidW says, "There might be some finicky stuff later, but even then, I don't think it'd be much of a problem." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Pool
Floyd | You're standing in a concrete rectangle set into the ground, paved
Floyd | with a grey substance, probably stressed concrete.  It's recognisable
Floyd | as a swimming pool, a popular Ancient recreation fixture.  Whatever
Floyd | water was once here has long since drained away, probably through the
Floyd | outlet grate set centrally in the pool's floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a bright orange object here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x object" 		
	

Floyd | It's a bright orange polymer casting, moulded in the shape of a spiral
Floyd | disk.  A tiny legend on the now faded material reads, in the Ancient
Floyd | language, FRISBEE (tm) HELIPTA.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I agree. There's some great writing in this." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Yes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nate knows we're playing this this week but (as many of you know) he's en route or on the ground vacationing in Brazil just now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Or about to head there, or something. Unavailable, anyway." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a Frisbee Helipta.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "throw frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | The Frisbee Helipta spins furiously as it leaves your hand, hovers
Floyd | briefly before shooting straight up into the air, then glides in a
Floyd | graceful spiral back into your hand.  Reminds you of a a modern
Floyd | dropship in flight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I hope we are a good frisbee thrower for the puzzle later where we have to hit a remote lever that we can't otherwise reach with the frisbee." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I think that's a given." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hm, maybe we can use it as a weapon." 	
	jwalrus arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "Also, it's like a boomerang frisbee, I guess." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x grate" 		
	

Floyd | In the outlet grate you see a set of cards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang says, "man, frisbees." 	
			DavidW says, "Or a few practice throws will improve our aim, if not." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Ooh - or that." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take cards" 		
	

Floyd | With some difficulty, you fish the set of cards out of the outlet
Floyd | grate.  Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "obviously this game isn't cruel, then" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x cards" 		
	

Floyd | It's a set of card-sized holographic images, in full colour, printed
Floyd | on some kind of synthetic backing material which has survived
Floyd | immersion in a pool of water for years.  Flicking through the holos,

Floyd | you see images of an Ancient family seated in an aerial vehicle; a
Floyd | young girl, holding what looks like a fabric toy; the same girl, a
Floyd | little older, throwing an orange disklike object; the family again,
Floyd | together, around the pool; the girl, older yet, examining a blade of
Floyd | grass with an optical instrument.  Definitely, this is an important
Floyd | xenohistorical artifact.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "See, in real life, I am a crappy, crappy frisbee thrower." 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I find that hard to believe." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I, for one, suck at surviving dropship crashes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ha. You have never seen me throw a frisbee, DavidW." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull grate" 		
	

Floyd | Pulling the outlet grate doesn't have any effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Fortunately, I've never tried that." 	
			DavidW says, "I know I haven't, but I've seen *me* throw one." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can only go up to the northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Lawn
Floyd | You're standing in a square area of neatly trimmed green lawn,
Floyd | shimmering faintly in the afternoon light.  To the west, the lawn

Floyd | gives way to courtyard, and beyond it to the west and north are
Floyd | buildings.  An odd, paved rectangular depression in the ground leads
Floyd | down to the southeast; the encroaching jungle vegetation further back
Floyd | is kept at bay by a barrier of translucent sheeting.
Floyd |
Floyd | Something about the scene gives you a sudden tingle of recognition, a

Floyd | surge of awe.  As if you're walking into a legend.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x barrier" 		
	

Floyd | The barrier is a thin, translucent film, resembling modern polycarbon

Floyd | alloys.  Possibly an early form of monomolecular diamond; if so, it
Floyd | confirms some of your theories about the development of Ancient
Floyd | materials handling.  It stands nearly three metres high, forming a
Floyd | protective wall across the entire south and east edges of the lawn
Floyd | area.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "remember" 		Jacqueline asks, "Neatly trimmed?" 	
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "remember".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "climb barrier" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to climb the translucent barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "touch it" 		
	

Floyd | Touching the translucent barrier doesn't seem to have any effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Considering the game's title, there might be something relevant to look at." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x lawn" 		
	

Floyd | The lawn grass radiates a pale green glow.
Floyd |
Floyd | You suddenly realise what it is that struck you about the lawn.  It's

Floyd | glowing!  And it's _completely untouched._ The chill works deep into
Floyd | your spine.  This is a find so staggering, you'd never thought it
Floyd | possible.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glowgrass.  One of the earliest successes of Ancient genetic
Floyd | engineering.  A simple enough idea; graft firefly genes into the DNA

Floyd | of common lawn grass.  Primitive tests on tobacco plants had proved
Floyd | the concept worked; the rest was only a matter of commerce.  (Ancient
Floyd | economic theory was strange in many ways, but you're as well informed
Floyd | as any modern scholar can be).
Floyd |
Floyd | And by the end of the Ancient era, almost every family home had its

Floyd | glowgrass lawn.  You picture children playing on the soft shining
Floyd | green mat, imagine the laughter and music of a vanished age.  An age
Floyd | of ghosts, legends, heroes.
Floyd |
Floyd | One small clump of grass, growing alone by the concrete edge, attracts
Floyd | your attention; it would make a perfect scientific specimen for the

Floyd | Institute.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take clump" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | You're here.  And you're alive.  That's enough, for now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Nice," 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x clump" 		
	

Floyd | It's a clump of glowgrass, unchanged since the Ancient era.  The tiny
Floyd | green blades glow with a pale green light.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Light source!" 	
			DavidW says, "heh. Perhaps." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have no idea why I am thinking so old skool today." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "smell clump" 		
	

Floyd | It smells just like a clump of glowgrass.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "Grue-repellent!" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "grue-repellent".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Courtyard
Floyd | This appears to be some kind of courtyard in the centre of an Ancient
Floyd | dwelling. The building itself swings around to the north and west,
Floyd | terminating in a crumbling retaining wall due south.  A smaller domed
Floyd | construction opens to the northeast, through a wide metal door
Floyd | (closed).  To the east is a flat space that could bear further

Floyd | exploring.
Floyd |
Floyd | You briefly catch a metallic glimmer from the top of the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "taste clump" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "taste".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf asks, "Ever play Tass Times in Tonetown?" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x glimmer" 		
	

Floyd | The object looks metallic, and out of place in the vegetation above
Floyd | the wall.  It could - you hardly dare to hope - could be a piece of
Floyd | equipment from your pack, but you can't tell which one from this
Floyd | distance.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x ship" 		
	

Floyd | The dropship is gone, crashed somewhere nearby in the jungle.  Another
Floyd | casualty of these local slipstream winds.  The critics at the

Floyd | Institute were right; you were lucky to get this far alive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "climb wall" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to climb the southern wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get glimmer" 		
	

Floyd | The metallic object is too high to reach with your hands alone.
Floyd | Perhaps you could find something to help you get it down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw frisbee at glimmer" 		
	

Floyd | The metallic object is too high to reach with your hands alone.
Floyd | Perhaps you could find something to help you get it down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "throw frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | The Frisbee Helipta spins furiously as it leaves your hand, hovers
Floyd | briefly before shooting straight up into the air, knocking into the

Floyd | vegatation at the top of the retaining wall, and dislodging a metallic
Floyd | object, which falls back to the ground with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf says, "I'm just thinking of the 'glow burger' in that." 	
			Fang exclaims, "the critics at the institute are never right!" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x object" 		
	

Floyd | It's a bright orange polymer casting, moulded in the shape of a spiral
Floyd | disk.  A tiny legend on the now faded material reads, in the Ancient
Floyd | language, FRISBEE (tm) HELIPTA.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take glimmer" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "see? You can throw just fine." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x glimmer" 		
	

Floyd | This is definitely a piece of your equipment.  It's a magprobe, a
Floyd | silvery rod about ten centimetres long and half a centimetre wide.

Floyd | The ceramic inductors inside are crude, useless for interfacing with
Floyd | any modern technology, but sufficient to manipulate small
Floyd | ferromagnetic devices.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, huh. I wouldn't have tried 'throw frisbee' by itself." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yeah, I can throw, I just don't know the right command for it, evidently." 	
	inky arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says, "A magprobe? Good grief, given who I'm married to, tsd." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Magprobe? Ferromagnetic? Is this just made up?" 	
			DavidW says, "Magnetic probe. Ferro- means iron." 	
			Taleslinger says, "aha!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "I suspect it's made up futuristic stuff, yeah. That's not a standard English word, but what DavidW said." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the northeast door first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open northeast door" 		
	

Floyd | The door appears to be locked, using a simple ferromagnetic latch from

Floyd | the middle Ancient period.  Perhaps the magprobe might prove useful
Floyd | here, after all.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "probe door" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "use probe" 		
	

Floyd | Try unlocking something with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unlock door with probe" 		
	

Floyd | After a few minutes of careful manipulation with the magprobe, you

Floyd | feel the door's magnetic contacts click open.  You breath a sigh of
Floyd | relief; those hours of studying Ancient artifacts at the Institute
Floyd | training finally paid off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf says, "'Ferromagnetic' is not a made-up word." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oh, it's a sonic screwdriver." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, but magprobe is." 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the northeast door first.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | The wide metallic door slides upward, creaking a little, and clangs
Floyd | jerkily to a halt.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building

Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently closed, leads west to to
Floyd | whatever mysteries lie within the main building.
Floyd |

Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | Glancing around the dome, your spirits rise a little.  Your initial
Floyd | orbital scan of the site has proved accurate; the building is intact.
Floyd | And if the living quarters are as well-preserved as this...  then who
Floyd | knows what treasures you might find?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Or, at least, I've never seen a magprobe. Cue more jokes about my personal life." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x vehicle" 		
	

Floyd | You recognise the Ancient vehicle from Institute file fragments.  If

Floyd | this one is anything like the reconstructions you examined, it uses a
Floyd | solid-state power cell to jumpstart deuterium-hydrogen fusion,
Floyd | ejecting its clean-burning fuel directly as accelerated reaction mass.
Floyd | A clumsy system, compared to today's gravitic drives, but possibly
Floyd | more reliable in the short term.  The skycar's sleek angular lines are
Floyd | marred by ugly thermal scars, as if the vehicle was caught in some

Floyd | kind of blast before being landed here.  An entrance hatch in the
Floyd | vehicle's side is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looking at the skycar, you feel a surge of hope.  Despite the
Floyd | vehicle's age, it seems intact.  Maybe, if you could somehow get it to
Floyd | work...

Floyd |
Floyd | The thought dies as quickly as it came.  Stupid idea.  You have no
Floyd | idea how to fly the thing, and who knows what parts are missing?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open hatch" 		
	

Floyd | At a touch from your hand, the skycar's entrance hatch swings open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "look in" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to look in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "enter car" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the vehicle.
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The

Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "look in skycar" 		
	

Floyd | You're in the skycar; it's all around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the access panel reveals a power cell, a corroded metal coil,
Floyd | and a triangular hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x hole" 		
	

Floyd | It's a triangular hole, with what looks like some kind of one-way
Floyd | filter or valve beneath it.  It's inscribed with a teardrop symbol.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Ohh, car puzzle." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x coil" 		
	

Floyd | It's a thin coil of some heavily corroded metal, about ten centimetres
Floyd | long and three across.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x symbol" 		
	

Floyd | Which symbol do you mean, the green button, or the triangular hole?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "triangular" 		
	

Floyd | It's a triangular hole, with what looks like some kind of one-way
Floyd | filter or valve beneath it.  It's inscribed with a teardrop symbol.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Water goes in the hole?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | You smell nothing unusual.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I'd say liquid. Maybe water. Maybe something else." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heavy water, I'm thinking." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which is a lot trickier to find than water." 	
			Fang exclaims, "gasoline!" 	
			Taleslinger says (to fang), "Don't be ridiculous!" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Fang), "But didn't our PC say deuterium-hydrogen fusion?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You step out into the vehicle dome.
Floyd |

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently closed, leads west to to

Floyd | whatever mysteries lie within the main building.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the western door first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Who knows, though?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open western door. w." 		
	

Floyd | After a few minutes of careful probing, you locate the door's catch
Floyd | mechanism -- some Ancient artifacts require care, because of the
Floyd | paranoid security devices which were a feature of the age -- but this
Floyd | one yields easily at a touch.  The door slides upwards, revealing a

Floyd | room to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered

Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and an intriguing floor sculpture
Floyd | poised opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east
Floyd | (open), and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dust.  That's your first impression.  And...  emptiness.  Somehow
Floyd | you'd expected an intact Ancient dwelling to be bright, exotic,

Floyd | bulging with secrets and arcane lore.  But maybe that was only ever a
Floyd | myth; maybe the Ancients just didn't build everything to last.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "how long ago are these ancients supposed to be?" 	
			Fang says, "everything seems very well preserved" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x dust" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any dust here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Somehow, I am thinking of Fallout. This looks like a 50ish version of the future." 	
			Fang says, "ooops" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x cube" 		
	

Floyd | The cube is black and nearly featureless, apart from a blue button
Floyd | marked with a lightning bolt symbol, a hexagonal socket, and a

Floyd | ten-centimetre disk slot.  There's a yellow disk in the slot.  Black
Floyd | words embossed on the cube's polymer face spell out the legend
Floyd | "Sonjitsu 2100 Immersive Entertainment System", whatever that means.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "press blue button" 		
	

Floyd | The button clicks, but nothing happens.  The device doesn't seem
Floyd | damaged; perhaps it requires an external power supply.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x hexagonal" 		
	

Floyd | The socket is hexagonal, about two centimetres across.  It's probably
Floyd | designed to take some kind of cable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x textile" 		
	

Floyd | The textile floor-coverings are valuable xenohistorical artifacts, but
Floyd | they're useless to you right now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "look under textile" 		
	

Floyd | The textile floor-coverings are valuable xenohistorical artifacts, but
Floyd | they're useless to you right now.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "For ease, you can just type >PUSH SAVE (not to Floyd, just in the room) and it'll save automatically with the right save game name." 	
			Jacqueline says, "inky made a special tool for that. Very neat." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | The floor sculpture seems to be formed from some transparent
Floyd | semi-plastic polymer, poured into a web of interlocking fractal loops
Floyd | and twists.  It stands about half a metre high and two metres around,
Floyd | and gives softly when you touch it.  As a sculpture it's quaintly
Floyd | beautiful, in an abstract kind of way; but you sense there's some

Floyd | further purpose to it.  Perhaps the fact that it's in a direct line of
Floyd | sight to the black cube might mean something.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Do you need to reset the autosaver tool thing first?" 	
			Otto says (to JAcqueline), "ok i'll try to remember" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "I already did." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Before we began." 	
			Bert asks, "So if you pushed the button now, would it overwrite Otto's save?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, just to be safe on the numbering - right" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, now it'll be sequential." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "enter sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to enter the floor sculpture.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unravel sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "unravel".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "move it" 		
	

Floyd | You can't move the floor sculpture.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | The floor sculpture moves softly at your touch and springs back when
Floyd | you remove your hand.  It feels as if it could support some weight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh nice" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take cube" 		
	

Floyd | You can't have the black cube.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "climb sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to climb the floor sculpture.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "jump on sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "sit on sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | Of course!  That's what it is - a seating device!  Okay, you're now
Floyd | sitting on the sculptured chair.  The polymer loops sway beneath you,
Floyd | distributing your mass until you feel nearly weightless.  The black
Floyd | cube is now directly centred in your field of vision.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x cube" 		
	

Floyd | The cube is black and nearly featureless, apart from a blue button
Floyd | marked with a lightning bolt symbol, a hexagonal socket, and a
Floyd | ten-centimetre disk slot.  There's a yellow disk in the slot.  Black

Floyd | words embossed on the cube's polymer face spell out the legend
Floyd | "Sonjitsu 2100 Immersive Entertainment System", whatever that means.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x cube" 		
	

Floyd | The cube is black and nearly featureless, apart from a blue button
Floyd | marked with a lightning bolt symbol, a hexagonal socket, and a
Floyd | ten-centimetre disk slot.  There's a yellow disk in the slot.  Black
Floyd | words embossed on the cube's polymer face spell out the legend
Floyd | "Sonjitsu 2100 Immersive Entertainment System", whatever that means.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Nice" 	
			Otto says, "oh it's a t.v." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, and a magprobe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the sculptured chair.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide

Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang says, "dang, we need a remove" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We still need a power source, though, right?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "search couch cushions" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "couch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "*remote" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "xyzzy".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Service Area
Floyd | Judging from the stark utility of this room, compared to the airy
Floyd | spaciousness of the living area, it's a service or preparation area.
Floyd | Possibly a kitchen for food, though from its role in Ancient legends
Floyd | you'd pictured a more warming aura than this.  Metal alloy surfaces,
Floyd | their function unknown, line the walls; the only exits are east and

Floyd | southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a printout here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "read printout" 		
	

Floyd | San Francisco, USNA.  North American President Jarvies Erlmann today
Floyd | denied rumours that tactical nuclear devices could be used to fight
Floyd | the viral mutagen popularly known as the Green Plague.
Floyd |

Floyd | "The idea was floated at a strategy briefing," Erlmann's online avatar
Floyd | announced during his live press conference at vr.whitehouse.gov, "but
Floyd | I can definitely state that it is an unfeasible option and will not be
Floyd | applied.  The North American government will continue to provide
Floyd | financial and scientific assistance to the state of Europe in dealing
Floyd | with this threat, but detonating nuclear weapons on foreign soil would

Floyd | constitute a breach of the 2012 Geneva Treaty.  For God's sake,
Floyd | people, we're talking about vaporising whole cities!  Let's get a
Floyd | perspective!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Erlmann's position, while predictable from his stance on human rights,
Floyd | seems precarious given the overwhelming support in the United Nations

Floyd | for drastic measures against the Plague.  The spread of the mutagen,
Floyd | which has already claimed twelve major cities worldwide including
Floyd | London, Athens, Cairo and Geneva, continues to accelerate, according
Floyd | to the World Health Organisation Special Incident Committee
Floyd | (vr.theplague.med/whosic/hourlystats).
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "get printout" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "How can you tell an American wrote this? Europe is gone, America takes a last stance. If he were European, it'd be the other way around." 	
			Jacqueline | Firefox can't find the server at vr.theplague.med. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aw" 	
			Fang says, "heh" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Hygiene Area
Floyd | This is a soothing, white-walled chamber with soft rounded surfaces,
Floyd | much like being inside an egg.  From your knowledge of Ancient social
Floyd | mores, it's likely to be a personal cleansing area.  There is a blue
Floyd | lens embedded in the western wall, with a placard above it, and a

Floyd | white vat standing opposite it.  Round curtained apartures lead
Floyd | northeast and southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says (to Jacq), "Better domain squat it" 	
			Bert says (to Slinger), "I'm sure Nate would be amused." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Bert says (to Slinger), "Considering that he's from New Zealand." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Nate - right." 	
			Taleslinger says, "That doesn't speak against my theory AT ALL!" 	
			baf says, "(Notable exception to Taleslinger's comment: Girl Genius)" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "read placard" 		
	

Floyd | EnviroMaster UV showerhead.  For a guaranteed sterile environment.
Floyd | WHOSIC Green certified.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "WHOSIC Green?" 	
			baf says, "(which is written by an American and takes place entirely in Europe, America being unreachable for unknown reasons.)" 	
			Bert says (to baf), "I don't think that's quite applicable." 	
			Fang says, "wonder if it has something to do with the green plague" 	
			baf says, "(following some mad-science-oriented mishap)" 	
			Bert asks (of baf), "Since that's set *before* America has become relevant, not after it's been destroyed, no?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x lens" 		
	

Floyd | The blue lens is embedded into the wall of the chamber.  It looks like
Floyd | some kind of light based cleansing device, now non-functional.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Fang), "WHOSIC = World Health Organisation Special Incident Committee" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x vat" 		
	

Floyd | The vat is white, about fifty ventimetres high, and sealed, although
Floyd | it seems to be filled with liquid.  You could probably lift it with
Floyd | both hands.  There is a label on one side and a small tap near the
Floyd | bottom.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks (of Jacq), "oh, really?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x label" 		
	

Floyd | HydroSource Sterile Water Supplies.  Europe's Number One for quality

Floyd | and protection.  WHOSIC Green certified.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf says (to Bert), "No. America is explicitly mentioned. There's at least one known Spark from America." 	
			Fang says, "it seems doubtful that a showerhead can defeat something that took out a city though" 	
			Bert says, "Ah, huh." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Sorry to interrupt you with the game we're playing - could this be for the car?" 	
			Bert says, "I don't remember that." 	
			DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "yes. It could be." 	
			maga says, "there's the whole Race to the West Pole thing" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "get all" 		
	

Floyd | You'll need to take that one thing at a time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Heh." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take vate" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "vate".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take vat" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tap" 		
	

Floyd | It's a mechanical device for controlling the flow of liquid out of the
Floyd | vat, with a triangular mouth.  You would probably have to put the tap
Floyd | into some receptacle, then open it, to get the liquid, otherwise it
Floyd | would be wasted.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I somehow doubt it, though." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x aperture" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "aperture".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'd say the triangular tap makes it even more likely." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Service Area

Floyd | Judging from the stark utility of this room, compared to the airy
Floyd | spaciousness of the living area, it's a service or preparation area.
Floyd | Possibly a kitchen for food, though from its role in Ancient legends
Floyd | you'd pictured a more warming aura than this.  Metal alloy surfaces,
Floyd | their function unknown, line the walls; the only exits are east and
Floyd | southwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "there is still the triangular device" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Hygiene Area

Floyd | This is a soothing, white-walled chamber with soft rounded surfaces,
Floyd | much like being inside an egg.  From your knowledge of Ancient social
Floyd | mores, it's likely to be a personal cleansing area.  There is a blue
Floyd | lens embedded in the western wall, with a placard above it.  Round
Floyd | curtained apartures lead northeast and southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x placard" 		
	

Floyd | EnviroMaster UV showerhead.  For a guaranteed sterile environment.
Floyd | WHOSIC Green certified.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Maybe we should take a shower to see if it kills us." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Just for fun." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take shower" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "shower".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can only go northeast or southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x west" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any west here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang says, "not sure how" 	
			Taleslinger says, "It did say nonfunctional in the lens description." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x lens" 		
	

Floyd | The blue lens is embedded into the wall of the chamber.  It looks like
Floyd | some kind of light based cleansing device, now non-functional.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, did it? Sorry." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Darn." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "use magprobe on lens" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We shall have to find another way to lose the game." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push lens" 		
	

Floyd | Pushing the blue lens doesn't do anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "repair lens" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "repair".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "wave" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "wave".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "get lens" 		
	

Floyd | You can't have the blue lens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "You could try bring the Green Plague to the Institute. That might count as losing." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Sleep Area
Floyd | Some things never change over the ages.  This looks like a room for
Floyd | rest and sleeping - there's a polymer mattress on the floor, moulded
Floyd | as a single unit and still intact.  The walls are covered with

Floyd | colourful images, presumably icons from Ancient culture; there's years
Floyd | of work here for a psycholinguistic team alone.  Doorways lead
Floyd | northeast and northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | But the immediate sight that catches your eye - and your breath - is
Floyd | what's sprawled on the mattress.  A young Ancient skeleton, complete

Floyd | and fully preserved.  You can barely keep from trembling.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "what is the green plague, though?" 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x images" 		
	

Floyd | Which images do you mean, the set of holograms, or the wall glyphs?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x skeleton" 		
	

Floyd | With icy stabs of excitement coursing down your spine, you bend over
Floyd | the sad remains to examine them more closely.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skeleton is moderately sized, but smaller than recent digs and
Floyd | salvaged files indicate was normal for an Ancient adult; this was
Floyd | almost certainly a young female.  She lies on the bed crouched in a

Floyd | fetal position, her arms twisted as if shielding her face from intense
Floyd | pain.  There is no obvious evidence of external injury, but the odd
Floyd | displacement of joints in the upper and lower limbs, along with deep
Floyd | cracking of the bone structure, suggests violent muscular spasms as
Floyd | she died.  In her right hand, the woman clutches a small object;
Floyd | possibly some kind of electronic device, with leads running from the

Floyd | box in her hand to a headset draped across her skull.
Floyd |
Floyd | A gasp wells in your throat, as vividly you relive how it must have
Floyd | been; to suffer such agony, so young.  For the first time you regret
Floyd | the empathic talent which led you to xenohistory.  A moment later, the
Floyd | mood passes, leaving you still somehow chilled.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "glyphs" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | The device is possibly a recording or playback instrument of some
Floyd | kind; it has a slot for a ten-centimetre disk, a common Ancient data
Floyd | storage format.  Words embossed into its polymer surface read "Kodak

Floyd | Synapsit (tm) Neural Transfer System."  Judging by the corrosion
Floyd | stains seeping from inside the device, it's completely non-functional.
Floyd | There's a green disk in the slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "neural transfer, hmm" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | The device is possibly a recording or playback instrument of some
Floyd | kind; it has a slot for a ten-centimetre disk, a common Ancient data
Floyd | storage format.  Words embossed into its polymer surface read "Kodak

Floyd | Synapsit (tm) Neural Transfer System."  Judging by the corrosion
Floyd | stains seeping from inside the device, it's completely non-functional.
Floyd | There's a green disk in the slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x glyphs" 		
	

Floyd | The wall glyphs may well be important artifacts, but they tell you
Floyd | nothing of use right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x disk" 		
	

Floyd | It appears to be a thin metallic polymer disk around ten centimetres
Floyd | in diameter, with a green tint.  You recognise the object from
Floyd | Institute files as an Ancient data storage device.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x headset" 		
	

Floyd | The device is possibly a recording or playback instrument of some
Floyd | kind; it has a slot for a ten-centimetre disk, a common Ancient data
Floyd | storage format.  Words embossed into its polymer surface read "Kodak

Floyd | Synapsit (tm) Neural Transfer System."  Judging by the corrosion
Floyd | stains seeping from inside the device, it's completely non-functional.
Floyd | The disk slot is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x holograms" 		
	

Floyd | It's a set of card-sized holographic images, in full colour, printed
Floyd | on some kind of synthetic backing material which has survived
Floyd | immersion in a pool of water for years.  Flicking through the holos,
Floyd | you see images of an Ancient family seated in an aerial vehicle; a

Floyd | young girl, holding what looks like a fabric toy; the same girl, a
Floyd | little older, throwing an orange disklike object; the family again,
Floyd | together, around the pool; the girl, older yet, examining a blade of
Floyd | grass with an optical instrument.  Definitely, this is an important
Floyd | xenohistorical artifact.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "advancements in CD technology led to the green magic marker being pre-included" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take headset" 		
	

Floyd | The skeleton is clutching the device so tightly, it would be
Floyd | impossible to remove without risking severe damage.  You'll have to

Floyd | find another way of learning more about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "touch skeleton" 		
	

Floyd | Not likely.  This is your most outstanding find yet, and every detail

Floyd | of the body's position is vital data.  It would take a complete
Floyd | archeological forensics team at least a week to study and capture the
Floyd | remains before they felt at all comfortable with moving it, and even
Floyd | then it would be an emergency operation; you've got no equipment, not
Floyd | even a basic quantum chromodynamagraph.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "lie on mattress" 		
	

Floyd | It would be impossible to sit on the mattress without disturbing the
Floyd | position of the skeleton.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under mattress" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the mattress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Sleep Area
Floyd | Some things never change over the ages.  This looks like a room for
Floyd | rest and sleeping - there's a polymer mattress on the floor, moulded
Floyd | as a single unit and still intact.  The walls are covered with

Floyd | colourful images, presumably icons from Ancient culture; there's years
Floyd | of work here for a psycholinguistic team alone.  Doorways lead
Floyd | northeast and northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sprawled out on the mattress is a lone Ancient skeleton.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "push skeleton" 		
	

Floyd | Not likely.  This is your most outstanding find yet, and every detail
Floyd | of the body's position is vital data.  It would take a complete
Floyd | archeological forensics team at least a week to study and capture the

Floyd | remains before they felt at all comfortable with moving it, and even
Floyd | then it would be an emergency operation; you've got no equipment, not
Floyd | even a basic quantum chromodynamagraph.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Quantum Chromodynamagraph would make a good superhero name." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Fang says (to Taleslinger), "heh, the post 9:05 youth" 	
			baf says, "No it wouldn't." 	
			DavidW says (to baf), "heh" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Sleep Area
Floyd | Some things never change over the ages.  This looks like a room for
Floyd | rest and sleeping - there's a polymer mattress on the floor, moulded
Floyd | as a single unit and still intact.  The walls are covered with

Floyd | colourful images, presumably icons from Ancient culture; there's years
Floyd | of work here for a psycholinguistic team alone.  Doorways lead
Floyd | northeast and northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sprawled out on the mattress is a lone Ancient skeleton.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to fang), "Heh, so much for old-skool." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x skeleton" 		
	

Floyd | The skeleton is moderately sized, but smaller than recent digs and
Floyd | salvaged files indicate was normal for an Ancient adult; this was

Floyd | almost certainly a young female.  She lies on the bed crouched in a
Floyd | fetal position, her arms twisted as if shielding her face from intense
Floyd | pain.  There is no obvious evidence of external injury, but the odd
Floyd | displacement of joints in the upper and lower limbs, along with deep
Floyd | cracking of the bone structure, suggests violent muscular spasms as
Floyd | she died.  In her right hand, the woman clutches a small object;

Floyd | possibly some kind of electronic device, with leads running from the
Floyd | box in her hand to a headset draped across her skull.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x colourful" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "colourful".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x walls" 		
	

Floyd | The wall glyphs may well be important artifacts, but they tell you
Floyd | nothing of use right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "'By the power of my quantum chromodynama-- OOOF!!'" 	
			Taleslinger says, "This disk goes into the black cube, which we still need to get powered." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It would indeed be a mouthful for the small child on the street corner. 'It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Quantum Chromohoweveryousayit Man!'" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Geek Bond: A quantum of Chromodynamagraph" 	
			Fang says, "Guess we need to keep exploring" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised

Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "And his sidekick Ferromagnetic Magprobe." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number

Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient

Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "er, I'm lost" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Is that a ferromagnetic magprobe in your pocket or are you just attracted to metal objects?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Service Area
Floyd | Judging from the stark utility of this room, compared to the airy

Floyd | spaciousness of the living area, it's a service or preparation area.
Floyd | Possibly a kitchen for food, though from its role in Ancient legends
Floyd | you'd pictured a more warming aura than this.  Metal alloy surfaces,
Floyd | their function unknown, line the walls; the only exits are east and
Floyd | southwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Taleslinger heh" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | You can only go east or southwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Hygiene Area
Floyd | This is a soothing, white-walled chamber with soft rounded surfaces,
Floyd | much like being inside an egg.  From your knowledge of Ancient social

Floyd | mores, it's likely to be a personal cleansing area.  There is a blue
Floyd | lens embedded in the western wall, with a placard above it.  Round
Floyd | curtained apartures lead northeast and southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Sleep Area
Floyd | Some things never change over the ages.  This looks like a room for
Floyd | rest and sleeping - there's a polymer mattress on the floor, moulded
Floyd | as a single unit and still intact.  The walls are covered with

Floyd | colourful images, presumably icons from Ancient culture; there's years
Floyd | of work here for a psycholinguistic team alone.  Doorways lead
Floyd | northeast and northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sprawled out on the mattress is a lone Ancient skeleton.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Think we seen everything here." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide

Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building

Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |

Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a

Floyd | printout, a white vat, and a green disk.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | You step into the vehicle.

Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access

Floyd | panel (currently open).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | The access panel is open.  In the access panel you see a power cell, a

Floyd | corroded metal coil, and a triangular hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x coil" 		
	

Floyd | It's a thin coil of some heavily corroded metal, about ten centimetres
Floyd | long and three across.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "fill hole with vat" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put tap in hole" 		
	

Floyd | You hold the vat over the access panel and rest the tap inside the
Floyd | triangular hole.  It fits neatly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x power cell" 		
	

Floyd | The solid state power cell, easily the most distinctive Ancient
Floyd | artifact of all, is a rectangular solid block around thirty
Floyd | centimetres tall and half as wide and deep.  It's silver in colour,
Floyd | completely featureless apart from the logo "Energiser (tm)" and a

Floyd | hexagonal socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "open tap" 		
	

Floyd | You open the tap, sending liquid trickling into the triangular hole.

Floyd | After a few minutes, the vat is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x socket" 		
	

Floyd | The socket is hexagonal, about two centimetres across.  It's probably

Floyd | designed to take some kind of cable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "fang Oh." 	
			Nitku says, "Now we just need an extension cord." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Why can't we just take it?" 	
			Fang asks, "have we checked the service area carefully?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Or you could take the battery from the radio and put it in the flashlight." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a green disk, and a power cell.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Unless you can fly this thing, you can only go out through the exit
Floyd | hatch.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the white vat's tap out of the triangular hole)
Floyd | You step out into the vehicle dome.

Floyd |
Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle

Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered

Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cell in socket" 		
	

Floyd | Which socket do you mean, the power cell's socket, or the cube's
Floyd | socket?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cube'S" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "cube's".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put cell in cube's socket" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "cube's".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cell in cube's socket" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "cube's".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cell in cubes socket" 		
	

Floyd | The power cell doesn't fit into the cube's socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "attach cell to cube" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | [TADS-1026: wrong number of arguments to user function "<NO SYMBOL
Floyd | TABLE>.<NO SYMBOL TABLE>"]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "whooops" 	
			inky says, "hardcore" 	
			Jacqueline says, "eep" 	
			Fang asks, "the cube runs on tads?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x socket" 		
	

Floyd | Which socket do you mean, the power cell's socket, or the cube's
Floyd | socket?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Otto asks, "is this tads they're talking about a remain from ancient technology?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You guys are in this deep." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Also, can we have a very brief intermission?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I need to switch internet codes for the purposes of our transcript." 	
			(from Taleslinger) *INTERMISSION* 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hold on a sec." 	
			Fang says, "I think we still need a cable" 	
			Nitku says, "Everyone is required to play this during the intermission: [LINK]" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, we're good to go." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Service Area

Floyd | Judging from the stark utility of this room, compared to the airy
Floyd | spaciousness of the living area, it's a service or preparation area.
Floyd | Possibly a kitchen for food, though from its role in Ancient legends
Floyd | you'd pictured a more warming aura than this.  Metal alloy surfaces,
Floyd | their function unknown, line the walls; the only exits are east and
Floyd | southwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Continue to play." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "rummage" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "rummage".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x surfaces" 		
	

Floyd | The metal surfaces could have been used for storage, or perhaps
Floyd | manipulation, of food products.  Most of them are open and empty,

Floyd | their contents gone.  But one small vertical panel seems worth more
Floyd | investigation.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto exclaims, "the Monthy Python's intermission is not finished!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to open the vertical panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "What was it, the intermission from Holy Grail?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't go look." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "push panel" 		
	

Floyd | At a touch from your hand, the panel slides out from the wall,
Floyd | revealing a storage cupboard.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "It was." 	
			Jacqueline says, "With the llamas or whatever? Excellent." 	
			Taleslinger says, "No just the music." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "look in" 		
	

Floyd | (the storage cupboard)
Floyd | In the storage cupboard you see a black cable and a white box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Aha!" 	
			Jacqueline goes to get yet more coffee. 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x cable" 		
	

Floyd | The cable is about two metres long, with hexagonal connectors at each
Floyd | ends.  From your knowledge of Ancient technology, it seems likely to

Floyd | be some kind of data or energy transfer device.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "I don't want to be you when it comes to sleeping tonight." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small box made from some decay-resistant pressed fibre,
Floyd | possibly spun carbon or silicon.  A label reads "Surefire palladium
Floyd | ignitor coils, contents 6".  The white box is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "jackpot" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take box" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take cable" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a green disk, a power cell, a white box, and a
Floyd | black cable.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "let's watch some movies?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Go ahead." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),

Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "attach cell to cube" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | [TADS-1026: wrong number of arguments to user function "<NO SYMBOL
Floyd | TABLE>.<NO SYMBOL TABLE>"]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "attach cell to cable" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | [TADS-1026: wrong number of arguments to user function "<NO SYMBOL
Floyd | TABLE>.<NO SYMBOL TABLE>"]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Try connect" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "connect cell to cable" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | [TADS-1026: wrong number of arguments to user function "<NO SYMBOL
Floyd | TABLE>.<NO SYMBOL TABLE>"]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "connect cable to cell" 		
	

Floyd | The black cable plugs neatly into the power cell's socket.  The other
Floyd | end of the cable remains free.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Huh." 	
			Fang says, "ah ha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "That's worse than my last game!" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So this is just a bug, but not a terminal bug?" 	
			Fang says, "looks like it" 	
			DavidW says, "yes. It's just a bug." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "This game is 12 years old, so." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "connect cable to cube" 		
	

Floyd | (first dropping the cable)

Floyd | (also dropping the power cell)
Floyd | The black cable plugs neatly into the cube's socket, linking the black
Floyd | cube to the power cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "And fairly standard for TADS games back then." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x cube" 		
	

Floyd | The cube is black and nearly featureless, apart from a blue button
Floyd | marked with a lightning bolt symbol, a hexagonal socket, and a

Floyd | ten-centimetre disk slot.  There's a yellow disk in the slot.  Black
Floyd | words embossed on the cube's polymer face spell out the legend
Floyd | "Sonjitsu 2100 Immersive Entertainment System", whatever that means.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "push blue" 		
	

Floyd | The black cube hums.  A tiny flicker of light, barely visible in your
Floyd | peripheral vision, appears in the room, along with a suggestion of
Floyd | muted sound.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "sit on sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now sitting on the sculptured chair.  The polymer loops
Floyd | sway beneath you, distributing your mass until you feel nearly
Floyd | weightless.  The black cube is now directly centred in your field of

Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | The flicker of light and sound suddenly takes form, merging into an
Floyd | experience that swells through your mind.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rainforest, in the sculptured chair

Floyd | Towering forest giants climb towards the green canopy that shades most
Floyd | of the sky.  A soft trickle of mist falls on your face, as birds
Floyd | whistle and laughing monkeys scramble through the branches.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x forest" 		
	

Floyd | The rainforest scene makes you feel calm and tranquil.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x monkeys" 		
	

Floyd | The rainforest scene makes you feel calm and tranquil.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Martian Sunset, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | On the lip of a giant crater, you watch as an ochre sun shimmers over
Floyd | a red dust horizon.  Below, in a diamond-walled biodome, trees and
Floyd | small scrub bushes grow amid atmosphere towers and lidar dishes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I totally need a floaty rainforest chair." 	
	Otto says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "#belated If the bug happens when trying to connect the end of a cable to a device, then surely that is a 'terminal' bug." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x lidar" 		
	

Floyd | The Martian scene makes you feel both proud and insignificant.

Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Coral Reef, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | You're gliding through an underwater sanctuary, as shoals of brightly
Floyd | coloured fish dart away through the wrecks of Spanish galleons.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x fish" 		
	

Floyd | The reef scene makes you feel peaceful and adventurous.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "x galleons" 		
	

Floyd | The reef scene makes you feel peaceful and adventurous.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Antarctic Sunrise, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | Mountains of ice crumble with a booming crack as bright sunlight
Floyd | shines over blue and purple glaciers.  A cold wind sends shivers

Floyd | through your padded survival suit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Otto says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Antarctic Sunrise, in the sculptured chair

Floyd | Mountains of ice crumble with a booming crack as bright sunlight
Floyd | shines over blue and purple glaciers.  A cold wind sends shivers
Floyd | through your padded survival suit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "this looks like a screensaver" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "throw snowball" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "snowball".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ice" 		
	

Floyd | The Antarctic scene makes you feel awed and intrigued.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Office Tower, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | You're alone in an expensive office suite, looking out over a city

Floyd | skyline.  White letters hovering in mid-air say, "TransDex Immersive
Floyd | Studios presents The Relaxation Trip Volume III.  For our full
Floyd | executive stress management series, link to
Floyd | vr.transdex.immersive.com.eu."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "haha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "neat." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Which disk is this?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x skyline" 		
	

Floyd | The office scene makes you feel tense and stressful.

Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "The one that was in it, or the girl's?" 	
			DavidW says, "The yellow disk." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Wheatfield, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | Golden waves of grain ripple into the distance across an endless
Floyd | prairie.  An airship glides overhead, softly, casting a tiny black

Floyd | shadow over the ripened wheat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "(I was away getting coffee.)" 	
			DavidW says, "The one it started with." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x airship" 		
	

Floyd | The airship glides majestically over the field.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline nods. 	
			DavidW says, "I don'" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x grain" 		
	

Floyd | The field of grain stretches for miles in all directions.
Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I'm sort of scared of the other disk. You know how kids were in 2012." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think I went past the office." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Beach, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | A beach of sparkling white sand stretches across the horizon, lapped
Floyd | by crystal blue water.  Coconut palm fronds sway lazily in the soft
Floyd | warm breeze.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "hmm, that one didn't make us feel foo and bar" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x palm" 		
	

Floyd | The beach scene makes you feel warm and relaxed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dive" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "dive".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "So there's additional scenes on this disk? Interesting." 	
			inky says, "deleted scenes" 	
			inky says, "hang around long enough and you get the porn" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "heh" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "how we get out it? stand?" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "how".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "double heh" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "how we get out it? stand?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Beach, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | A beach of sparkling white sand stretches across the horizon, lapped
Floyd | by crystal blue water.  Coconut palm fronds sway lazily in the soft
Floyd | warm breeze.

Floyd |
Floyd | The scene suddenly changes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "f l" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Rainforest, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | Towering forest giants climb towards the green canopy that shades most
Floyd | of the sky.  A soft trickle of mist falls on your face, as birds
Floyd | whistle and laughing monkeys scramble through the branches.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "(the porn might help with that *nudge*)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "See, this would annoy me with the changing scenes all the time. I'd want to just rest in one setting for awhile." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand" 		Fang says, "ok, I guess that's it" 	
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the sculptured chair.  The image evaporates
Floyd | from your mind, leaving you slightly dizzy.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide

Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell) and a
Floyd | power cell here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You're already standing!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says, "tsd" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take yellow disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a green disk, a white box, and a yellow disk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put green disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | (the sculptured chair)
Floyd | Okay, you're now sitting on the sculptured chair.  The polymer loops
Floyd | sway beneath you, distributing your mass until you feel nearly

Floyd | weightless.  The black cube is now directly centred in your field of
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | The flicker of light and sound suddenly takes form, merging into an
Floyd | experience that swells through your mind.
Floyd |

Floyd | Twilight Lawn, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | The neat square of grass shines with a pale green glow, almost as
Floyd | bright now as the last ray of sunset afterglow.  Dark shapes of
Floyd | buildings loom comfortably all around, while evening stars, mere
Floyd | pinpoints of light, appear in the deep blue sky.
Floyd |

Floyd | A young Ancient girl stands in the middle of the lawn, shivering.
Floyd |
Floyd | You take a sharp breath.  The girl - she must be the same age as you
Floyd | judged the skeleton to be.  So this is some kind of recording; perhaps
Floyd | the first ever complete personal diary of an Ancient!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x girl" 		
	

Floyd | The girl is young, probably in her late teenage years taking into
Floyd | account the difference in aging rates between Ancient and modern
Floyd | biochemistries.  She has deep blue eyes and reddish-brown hair; you're

Floyd | struck by such an unusual colour, which is only accentuated by the
Floyd | black jumpsuit she wears.  Perhaps it was once the colour of mourning,
Floyd | which would be appropriate given her manner.  She looks up at the
Floyd | evening stars, unaware of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The girl winces as if controlling a surge of pain, looks up at the

Floyd | stars, and starts speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Tuesday.  This'll be...  ahh...  my last entry.  Six weeks since
Floyd | Quarantine.  I think everyone...  uhh...  else must be dead.
Floyd | Infection's so...  nngh...  fast."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | "Took the 'car up this afternoon.  Last chance to make...  uuuhh..  a

Floyd | run for it.  No sky patrols.  Didn't realise, too late.  They'd
Floyd | evac'ed the area.  Sky went white, two suns.  Never thought I'd see
Floyd | that and live.  Dived to miss the firestorm but got...  nnnng...
Floyd | heaps of rads in the, whatever, flash.  Landed back home.  No use
Floyd | running, I'm dead either way, nuke or plague.  Lucky the house
Floyd | survived.  Valley must've shielded it."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x lawn" 		
	

Floyd | The lawn scene is strangely haunting.
Floyd |

Floyd | The girl tenses, her whole body shuddering, and paces around the lawn.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Anyway...  no time left...  getting the shakes real bad...  hope this
Floyd | is recording okay.  Pulled some 'stricted files off the net...
Floyd | crosswired neural inputs.  Hyper illegal but that's hardly
Floyd | important...  if it works maybe...  someone will find it and...  wish

Floyd | Mum and Dad had tried this...  couldn't even find the other memory
Floyd | pack..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The girl's image fluctuates, breaking up.  Even the background wavers.
Floyd | "Losing...  it...  pulse...  overlo...  no...  don't want to die
Floyd | like..."
Floyd |

Floyd | The image suddenly clears.  The girl freezes in mid-frame, jerks,
Floyd | collapses to the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "How does she end up on the bed, then?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Twilight Lawn, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | The neat square of grass shines with a pale green glow, almost as
Floyd | bright now as the last ray of sunset afterglow.  Dark shapes of
Floyd | buildings loom comfortably all around, while evening stars, mere
Floyd | pinpoints of light, appear in the deep blue sky.

Floyd |
Floyd | The body of a young Ancient girl lies sprawled on the lawn.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd | The paperlike substance appears to be a digital data service printout
Floyd | in the standard Ancient language, Ingles-2.  Loosely translated, the
Floyd | headline reads:  UNITED EUROPE NEWSWEB 2068.261.08.35 (the numbers
Floyd | could be either a date or location code).  NUKES WON'T HALT GREEN
Floyd | PLAGUE - ERLMANN.  An article, in closely printed body text, follows.
Floyd |

Floyd | Slowly, as if in a dream, the girl gets to her feet.  Her image seems
Floyd | more chunky, less detailed than before.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What..." she manages.  "How..."  Then she sees you.  "Oh God!"  she
Floyd | whispers.  "It... I did it.  I'm... Oh, God, no!  I can't have been
Floyd | that stupid!"

Floyd |
Floyd | The girl turns to you, shivering for real now.  She speaks the Ancient
Floyd | syllables so fast you can barely translate.  "Who are you?  Where am
Floyd | I?  What have you done to my mind?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to girl" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to talk to it about?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "oh shit" 	
			DavidW says, "And now you have an NPC." 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hello" 		
	

Floyd | Nice weather we've been having.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Who are you?"  repeats the girl, plainly terrified.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "girl, hello" 		
	

Floyd | The girl listens wide-eyed while you try to explain who you are; an
Floyd | explorer from her future.  It sounds strange, even to you.  Her eyes
Floyd | lose some of their terror, but remains taut and wary.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Marie", she says.  "Marie Hyde.  The lost."
Floyd |

Floyd | A tingling chill seeps deep into your bones, and you dimly realise
Floyd | that you're sweating.  Neural transfer.  A technology only crudely
Floyd | developed by the Ancients, but the potential would have been in place.
Floyd | Is it possible this girl was desperate enough to risk a full-mind
Floyd | simulation?  To copy her entire soul to a machine?
Floyd |

Floyd | If that's true, you've made the most stunning discovery of the
Floyd | millenium.  This simulation you've awoken could be not just a
Floyd | recording - but an Ancient's living replica!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask girl about plaque" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "plaque".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask girl about plague" 		
	

Floyd | "The Green Plague was the worst bio-disaster in history," says Marie,
Floyd | shivering.  "Worse than XIT or the Carbon Flu.  It wiped out whole
Floyd | cities.  Probably the world, for all I know.  I don't know how it
Floyd | started.  Maybe a geneering accident.  Or a weapon that got loose.  It
Floyd | usually caused death within days."  She looks over her shoulder, and

Floyd | crosses her arms over her chest.  "That's how I died.  Funny, I always
Floyd | used to pity the survivors."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, this is really cool." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask marie about marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie's eyes flash.  "I'm a figment of a computer's imagination, and
Floyd | I'm trapped here in a vee-ar sim forever.  My parents are dead and my
Floyd | world is probably extinct.  Otherwise, I'm just fine.  Why should you
Floyd | care?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something," she
Floyd | says.  "Something from home.  To prove it's not just a dream."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "show marie the glowgrass" 		
	

Floyd | Marie looks at the clump of glowgrass, wonder in her eyes.  "The
Floyd | grass," she says.  "You found some.  It's still there."  Her eyes turn
Floyd | pixelised, beyond the capacity of the simulation to render them.  "I
Floyd | used to dream of this as a child.  They were always good dreams."

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie seems to relax a little, but still remains cautious.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "show her the holograms" 		
	

Floyd | Marie looks at each of the holograms in turn, tears forming in her
Floyd | simulated eyes.  "Yes," she says.  "That was me.  That was my life."
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie seems to relax a little, but still remains cautious.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "show holograms to marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie looks puzzled.  "You've already shown me that."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a white box, and a yellow disk.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "show printout to her" 		
	

Floyd | "That's old news," says Marie.  "Everything's changed a lot since
Floyd | then."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "show printout to marie" 		
	

Floyd | "That's old news," says Marie.  "Everything's changed a lot since
Floyd | then."

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask marie about nukes" 		
	

Floyd | Marie is silent for a moment.  "Yeah, they nuked us," she says.  "It
Floyd | was the only thing they knew that would stop the Plague."  She looks
Floyd | around the room, and shivers.  "I guess it must have worked, in the
Floyd | end.  But I'm not one of the lucky survivors."

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ask marie about news" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "news".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask marie about europe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "europe".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "show vat to marie" 		
	

Floyd | "It's just a vat of sterile water," says Marie.  "Might be useful."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show disk to marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie shrugs, indicating either ignorance or unwillingness to answer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask marie about car" 		
	

Floyd | Marie's eyes cloud with suspicion.  "And why would you be interested

Floyd | in our family skycar?  I'll tell you this much.  It won't start
Floyd | without a password.  But I'd have to trust someone a lot before I let
Floyd | them know the code."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask marie about skycar" 		
	

Floyd | Marie's eyes cloud with suspicion.  "And why would you be interested
Floyd | in our family skycar?  I'll tell you this much.  It won't start
Floyd | without a password.  But I'd have to trust someone a lot before I let
Floyd | them know the code."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask marie about erlmann" 		
	

Floyd | "President Erlmann?  He's the American president who authorised the

Floyd | use of nukes against the Plague," says Marie.  "I don't blame him.  I
Floyd | guess he had no choice."
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Aha. She's our ticket home." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask marie about frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | "Sounds like a Frisbee Helipta (tm) to me," says Marie.  "I'd like to
Floyd | see that."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show box to marie" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a white box, and a yellow disk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Marie shrugs, indicating either ignorance or unwillingness to answer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Where's our frisbee?" 	
			inky says, "she probably wants a doll or something" 	
			inky says, "chyx dig that stuff" 	
			Taleslinger says, "It got us the magprobe." 	
			DavidW says, "There's also another object to find." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That fabric doll?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show probe to marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie shrugs, indicating either ignorance or unwillingness to answer.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about simulation" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "simulation".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Twilight Lawn, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | The neat square of grass shines with a pale green glow, almost as
Floyd | bright now as the last ray of sunset afterglow.  Dark shapes of

Floyd | buildings loom comfortably all around, while evening stars, mere
Floyd | pinpoints of light, appear in the deep blue sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | The young Ancient, Marie, stands facing you, her eyes wary.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about parents" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "parents".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask her about holodeck" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "holodeck".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of DW), "It got us the probe but then fell on the other side of the wall, and we can't retrieve it?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kiss her" 		
	

Floyd | Marie slaps you.  "I didn't kiss strangers when I was alive," she
Floyd | says.  "Why should I start now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about sculpture" 		
	

Floyd | Marie smiles.  "It's a nice chair."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I don't think so." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about me" 		
	

Floyd | Marie listens as you explain again who you are and how you came to be
Floyd | here.
Floyd | "I believe you," she says, but her eyes are troubled.  "Just leave me

Floyd | alone.  I need to grieve."
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask her about cube" 		
	

Floyd | [But you don't know anything worth mentioning about any cube yet.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Man, some xenohistorian you are. Show a little professionalism!" 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "hug her" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "hug".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "That's how I learned it!" 	
			inky says, "he got into xenohistory to make it with dead chyx" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the sculptured chair.  The image evaporates
Floyd | from your mind, leaving you slightly dizzy.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient

Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your

Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell) and a
Floyd | power cell here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nate arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline says, "NATE!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "... therefore this game totally sucks!" 	
			Fang says, "ah, now we can moan to him about all the bugs" 	
			Nate says, "me!" 	
			Otto says, "we didn't show her the frisbee it seems..." 	
			Bert asks, "Which direction is where you lost the frisbee?" 	
			Nate says, "mudding from Internet kiosk in Auckland airport" 	
			Bert asks, "East?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Sweet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is a great game, Nate." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building

Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |

Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Yes, I love it. I was just teasing earlier." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can only go west into the building or out to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Courtyard
Floyd | This appears to be some kind of courtyard in the centre of an Ancient
Floyd | dwelling. The building itself swings around to the north and west,
Floyd | terminating in a crumbling retaining wall due south.  A smaller domed
Floyd | construction opens to the northeast, through a wide metal door (open).
Floyd | To the east is a flat space that could bear further exploring.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm sure the frisbee can be found again." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under car" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any car here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of Nate), "How long 'til you leave for Brasil?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Glowgrass Lawn
Floyd | You're standing in a square area of neatly trimmed green lawn,
Floyd | shimmering faintly in the afternoon light.  To the west, the lawn
Floyd | gives way to courtyard, and beyond it to the west and north are

Floyd | buildings.  An odd, paved rectangular depression in the ground leads
Floyd | down to the southeast; the encroaching jungle vegetation further back
Floyd | is kept at bay by a barrier of translucent sheeting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Courtyard
Floyd | This appears to be some kind of courtyard in the centre of an Ancient
Floyd | dwelling. The building itself swings around to the north and west,
Floyd | terminating in a crumbling retaining wall due south.  A smaller domed

Floyd | construction opens to the northeast, through a wide metal door (open).
Floyd | To the east is a flat space that could bear further exploring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "lots of ours" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number

Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look under car" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the skycar.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "er, hours" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient

Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your

Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell) and a
Floyd | power cell here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Yours and yours." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | (the sculptured chair)
Floyd | Okay, you're now sitting on the sculptured chair.  The polymer loops
Floyd | sway beneath you, distributing your mass until you feel nearly

Floyd | weightless.  The black cube is now directly centred in your field of
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | The flicker of light and sound suddenly takes form, merging into an
Floyd | experience that swells through your mind.
Floyd |

Floyd | Twilight Lawn, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | The neat square of grass shines with a pale green glow, almost as
Floyd | bright now as the last ray of sunset afterglow.  Dark shapes of
Floyd | buildings loom comfortably all around, while evening stars, mere
Floyd | pinpoints of light, appear in the deep blue sky.
Floyd |

Floyd | The young Ancient, Marie, stands facing you, her eyes wary.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show frisbee to marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie looks at the Helipta.  "I remember this," she says with a trace
Floyd | of a smile.  "Throwing it on the lawn.  I remember being young and
Floyd | alive."
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie seems to relax a little, but still remains cautious.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie is young, probably in her late teenage years taking into account

Floyd | the difference in aging rates between Ancient and modern
Floyd | biochemistries.  She has deep blue eyes and reddish-brown hair; you're
Floyd | struck by such an unusual colour, which is only accentuated by the
Floyd | black jumpsuit she wears.  The girl's image is chunky and pixellated,
Floyd | as if stretching the computational power of the projector system to
Floyd | its limit.  She looks at you, taut and wary, an arm's reach away.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "throw frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | The Frisbee Helipta spins furiously as it leaves your hand, hovers
Floyd | briefly before shooting straight up into the air, then hits the

Floyd | ceiling and tumbles awkwardly to the floor.  Guess it wasn't designed
Floyd | for use indoors.  Dropped.  The Frisbee Helipta vanishes from the
Floyd | illusion.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks around, cautiously.  "I wish I could see something else,"
Floyd | she says. "Something else from home."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "silly past-me booked the 7am domestic flight, I can't remember why" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a

Floyd | printout, a white vat, a white box, and a yellow disk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "We need to explore more." 	
			Bert asks, "So you're here for sixteen hours?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the sculptured chair.  The image evaporates
Floyd | from your mind, leaving you slightly dizzy.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Area

Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell), a
Floyd | power cell, and a Frisbee Helipta here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Yes. Didn't she have a fabric toy in one of the holograms?" 	
			DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "check the bedroom again" 	
			Bert says, "Er, sorry, you don't mean Brazil time." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Sleep Area
Floyd | Some things never change over the ages.  This looks like a room for
Floyd | rest and sleeping - there's a polymer mattress on the floor, moulded
Floyd | as a single unit and still intact.  The walls are covered with

Floyd | colourful images, presumably icons from Ancient culture; there's years
Floyd | of work here for a psycholinguistic team alone.  Doorways lead
Floyd | northeast and northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sprawled out on the mattress is a lone Ancient skeleton.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says (to Jacq), "Yeah." 	
			Nate says, "hmm... nine I think" 	
			Bert says, "There was also stuff with the skeleton." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take images" 		
	

Floyd | Which images do you mean, the set of holograms, or the wall glyphs?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x mattress" 		
	

Floyd | Aside from the Ancient skeleton, there's a fabric animal on the
Floyd | mattress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Let's show her one of her own metacarpals!" 	
			Bert says (to Nate), "Travelling west will be like going back in time." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take wall images" 		
	

Floyd | The wall glyphs may well be important artifacts, but they tell you
Floyd | nothing of use right now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert exclaims (at Nate), "Just like Glowgrass!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, sorry. I know the game won't let us disturb the skeleton." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x fabric animal" 		
	

Floyd | It appears to be a colourful replica of a koala bear, one of the
Floyd | animal species from the Ancient era, extinct until very recently.  The
Floyd | fabric has remained almost intact, probably made from the same
Floyd | resilient material as the mattress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "I wish now I hadn't used real tradenames like Frisbee. I'd been reading too much Gibson." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x headset" 		
	

Floyd | The device is possibly a recording or playback instrument of some
Floyd | kind; it has a slot for a ten-centimetre disk, a common Ancient data
Floyd | storage format.  Words embossed into its polymer surface read "Kodak

Floyd | Synapsit (tm) Neural Transfer System."  Judging by the corrosion
Floyd | stains seeping from inside the device, it's completely non-functional.
Floyd | The disk slot is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get headset" 		
	

Floyd | The skeleton is clutching the device so tightly, it would be
Floyd | impossible to remove without risking severe damage.  You'll have to
Floyd | find another way of learning more about it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get animal" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang asks, "hmm, extinct until very recently?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Brought back through the wonders of genetics!" 	
			Bert says, "Probably genetic cloning." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like the dinos in Jurassic Park!" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Maybe space koalas attacked." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to be more specific; there's more than one direction to
Floyd | leave this area.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Sleep Area
Floyd | Some things never change over the ages.  This looks like a room for
Floyd | rest and sleeping - there's a polymer mattress on the floor, moulded

Floyd | as a single unit and still intact.  The walls are covered with
Floyd | colourful images, presumably icons from Ancient culture; there's years
Floyd | of work here for a psycholinguistic team alone.  Doorways lead
Floyd | northeast and northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sprawled out on the mattress is a lone Ancient skeleton.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "terrifying" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That means there'll be a drop bear that will soon kill us." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the mattress.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),

Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell), a

Floyd | power cell, and a Frisbee Helipta here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "yay" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sit" 		
	

Floyd | (the sculptured chair)
Floyd | Okay, you're now sitting on the sculptured chair.  The polymer loops
Floyd | sway beneath you, distributing your mass until you feel nearly
Floyd | weightless.  The black cube is now directly centred in your field of
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |

Floyd | The flicker of light and sound suddenly takes form, merging into an
Floyd | experience that swells through your mind.
Floyd |
Floyd | Twilight Lawn, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | The neat square of grass shines with a pale green glow, almost as
Floyd | bright now as the last ray of sunset afterglow.  Dark shapes of

Floyd | buildings loom comfortably all around, while evening stars, mere
Floyd | pinpoints of light, appear in the deep blue sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | The young Ancient, Marie, stands facing you, her eyes wary.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "show animal to marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie looks at the fabric bear, and a shiver runs down her body.
Floyd | "Miss Kelli," she says.  "I had her with me.  The last thing I saw..."
Floyd | She turns away, unable to continue.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie pauses, as if she's finally coming to some internal decision.
Floyd | Then she steps forward and places one arm on your shoulder.  Her touch
Floyd | is warm; apparently the simulation includes tactile response.  Ancient
Floyd | technology must have been more advanced than even the Institute had
Floyd | realised.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I believe you," she says, struggling to keep a tear from appearing
Floyd | again.  "You're really here.  Walking through my home."
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks into your eyes, pain and hope colliding.
Floyd |
Floyd | "But there's nothing left for me now.  Everything I knew is gone."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "hug marie" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "hug".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Nate says, "ooh, well done" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about ancients" 		
	

Floyd | "Ancients?"  says Marie sadly.  "Yes, I suppose we are to you.  I'd
Floyd | love to tell you everything I know about my world, but I don't think

Floyd | we have the time right now."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "touch marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie leans against your arms.  "Mmmm," she says softly.  "But we

Floyd | don't have time to waste like this."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask her about car" 		
	

Floyd | Marie gasps.  "The skycar!  Of course!  I don't know if it could still

Floyd | work, but it's probably our best chance of getting out of here.
Floyd | You'll need a password to start the electrical system - just 'say
Floyd | dolphin' when the voice asks you.  And there's an onboard VR
Floyd | projector, too - you can keep me live."
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie grips your hand.  "Please.  Take me with you."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "marie, yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "okay" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "okay".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie kisses you briefly on the lips.  "Mmmm," she says, "But I don't
Floyd | have the processor power for this right now.  And besides, you don't
Floyd | want me.  You want a girl who's alive."
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie grips your hand.  "Please.  Take me with you."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "take marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie leans against your arms.  "Mmmm," she says softly.  "But we
Floyd | don't have time to waste like this."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "har, har." 	
			Bert exclaims, "That's not what I meant!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ha" 	
			Jacqueline giggles. 	
			Fang says, "so unprofessional" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, let's go." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Fang), "heh" 	
			Nate says, "I think this was most directly influenced by Philip K Dick's short story "Planet for Transients"." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the sculptured chair.  The image evaporates
Floyd | from your mind, leaving you slightly dizzy.
Floyd |

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),

Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your
Floyd | vision.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell), a

Floyd | power cell, and a Frisbee Helipta here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | You'll need to take that one thing at a time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x cube" 		
	

Floyd | The cube is black and nearly featureless, apart from a blue button
Floyd | marked with a lightning bolt symbol, a hexagonal socket, and a
Floyd | ten-centimetre disk slot.  There's a green disk in the slot.  Black
Floyd | words embossed on the cube's polymer face spell out the legend
Floyd | "Sonjitsu 2100 Immersive Entertainment System", whatever that means.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Nate says, "also that line I think was a rip from AMFV" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "push blue" 		
	

Floyd | The black cube abruptly stops humming, and the flicker of light and
Floyd | sound vanishes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get frisbee and disk" 		
	

Floyd | Which disk do you mean, the Frisbee Helipta, or the green disk?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take disk" 		
	

Floyd | Which disk do you mean, the Frisbee Helipta, or the green disk?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "noth" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "noth".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "green" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	K-Y arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take green disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take discs" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "discs".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get green disk and frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | You'll need to take that one thing at a time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | You'll need to unplug the black cable from the black cube first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "wonder if there's a bad ending if we leave her" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unplug cable" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unplug it from?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take green disk" 		
	

Floyd | You already have the green disk!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unplug cable" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unplug it from?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to Nate), "We've saved and can find out." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we've saved, so we can find out." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cube" 		
	

Floyd | The black cable unplugs easily from the cube's socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "unplug cable from cell" 		
	

Floyd | The black cable unplugs easily from the power cell's socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't think you can leave her." 	
			Bert says (to Nate), "You must be flagellated for disabling TAKE X AND Y, though." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | You've already got your hands full.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "trying to deal with objects which you don't recognise until you pick them up, which means they have different names, was and still is a pain." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a white box, a yellow disk, a fabric bear, a
Floyd | green disk, and a Frisbee Helipta.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "You guys didn't check out the car all that much." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to be more specific; there's more than one direction to
Floyd | leave this area.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building

Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |

Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "look under car" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the skycar.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x car" 		
	

Floyd | You recognise the Ancient vehicle from Institute file fragments.  If
Floyd | this one is anything like the reconstructions you examined, it uses a

Floyd | solid-state power cell to jumpstart deuterium-hydrogen fusion,
Floyd | ejecting its clean-burning fuel directly as accelerated reaction mass.
Floyd | A clumsy system, compared to today's gravitic drives, but possibly
Floyd | more reliable in the short term.  The skycar's sleek angular lines are
Floyd | marred by ugly thermal scars, as if the vehicle was caught in some
Floyd | kind of blast before being landed here.  An entrance hatch in the

Floyd | vehicle's side is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "wait" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open car" 		
	

Floyd | The skycar's entrance hatch is already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of Bert), "Was that just twentieth century TADS, or did Nate disable it?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "we've left the cell" 	
			Nate says (to bert), "Yes. Mea culpa. I think I did it because I discovered there was a trivial solution to a puzzle using TAKE ALL" 	
			Bert says (to Jacq), "I believe the latter." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a white box, a yellow disk, a fabric bear, a

Floyd | green disk, and a Frisbee Helipta.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "so the easiest thing was to flip the TADS 'no multitake' bit" 	
			Jacqueline says, "IJLTS '20th century TADS'" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "drop yellow" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised

Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable and a power cell here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks (of Nate), "Hmm. And no way to disable TAKE ALL without disabling explicit multiple object lists too?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly

Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a yellow disk here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the vehicle.
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The

Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(Or at least, no easy way?)" 	
			Taleslinger says, "let's save again" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "insert cell" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "insert".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put green disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | There's already a red disk in the disk slot.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "So we can restart and try and find the bad ending from here." 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "oh wait" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "oh".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "oh wait" 	
			Bert asks, "What was the red disk?" 	
			Fang says, "red disk" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x red disk" 		
	

Floyd | The red disk is in the disk slot; you'd have to take it out to examine
Floyd | it further.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Fang says, "we should read that" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | You've already got your hands full.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "You guys never looked at the controls." 	
			Bert says (to Nate), "Oh dear." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cell in slot" 		
	

Floyd | The power cell won't fit into the disk slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "controls".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "drop frisbee" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks (of Nate), "Inventory limits too?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cell in socket" 		
	

Floyd | The power cell doesn't fit into the power cell's socket.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take red disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | You're already standing!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Unless you can fly this thing, you can only go out through the exit
Floyd | hatch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You step out into the vehicle dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building

Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |

Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a yellow disk here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | Courtyard
Floyd | This appears to be some kind of courtyard in the centre of an Ancient
Floyd | dwelling. The building itself swings around to the north and west,
Floyd | terminating in a crumbling retaining wall due south.  A smaller domed

Floyd | construction opens to the northeast, through a wide metal door (open).
Floyd | To the east is a flat space that could bear further exploring.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "oh, meh. Did I do that? Oops." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number

Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |

Floyd | You see a yellow disk here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area

Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Which disk do you mean, the green disk, or the red disk?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "it probably seemed Realistic at the time" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "red" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "connect cable to cell" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the cable)
Floyd | The black cable plugs neatly into the power cell's socket.  The other
Floyd | end of the cable remains free.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "How was the power cell attached?" 	
			Bert says, "There we go" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "push blue" 		
	

Floyd | The button clicks, but nothing happens.  The device doesn't seem
Floyd | damaged; perhaps it requires an external power supply.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "connect cable to cube" 		
	

Floyd | (first dropping the cable)
Floyd | (also dropping the power cell)

Floyd | The black cable plugs neatly into the cube's socket, linking the black
Floyd | cube to the power cell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push blue" 		
	

Floyd | The black cube hums.  A tiny flicker of light, barely visible in your
Floyd | peripheral vision, appears in the room, along with a suggestion of
Floyd | muted sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sit on chair" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now sitting on the sculptured chair.  The polymer loops
Floyd | sway beneath you, distributing your mass until you feel nearly
Floyd | weightless.  The black cube is now directly centred in your field of
Floyd | vision.

Floyd |
Floyd | The flicker of light and sound suddenly takes form, merging into an
Floyd | experience that swells through your mind.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stadium, in the sculptured chair
Floyd | Crowds of screaming fans stand all around you, reaching out toward the

Floyd | rock group playing on the centre stage.
Floyd |
Floyd | Harsh white spotlights converge on the lead singer, while smoke and
Floyd | lasers spell out the band's name: "Fleischman Tokamak."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ah." 	
			Bert asks, "Someone was listening to music while driving?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | The lead singer steps up to the hovering cam-bot, taps his implant
Floyd | mike, and begins.  "This one goes out to everyone who has ever logged
Floyd | into the cube in the morning, seen their own reflection... and wept.
Floyd | Biofeedback."  The crowd falls silent.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "sing along" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "sing".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "notice that they still use disks in the future. There I was in 199x reading Neuromancer and going 'no way will we EVER have ROM-based storage, optical disk will always be cheaper'." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x reflection" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "reflection".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The band kicks up, a grating metallic beat that devours the singer's
Floyd | voice.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Bright annihilation
Floyd |  Chaos is my nation
Floyd |  In too far too deep too high
Floyd |  to ever fly away"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Nate says, "hello Mr 4GB SD card.Sigh." 	
			Bert asks, "Heh. Does it *say* they're optical?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Ha" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x yellow" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any yellow here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a set of holograms, a clump of glowgrass, a magprobe, a
Floyd | printout, a white vat, a white box, a fabric bear, and a green disk.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Biofeedback
Floyd |  Biofeedback
Floyd |  Take my dreams back

Floyd |  Give me something new and strange"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x green" 		
	

Floyd | It appears to be a thin metallic polymer disk around ten centimetres

Floyd | in diameter, with a green tint.  You recognise the object from
Floyd | Institute files as an Ancient data storage device.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Global destination
Floyd |  A silicon creation
Floyd |  Who am I are you are we

Floyd |  are what am I today"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "oh man bad song lyrics. I guess I'd also just read The Stars My Destination" 	
			Bert says, "It's just thin metallic polymer. Could be anything." 	
			Nitku exclaims (at Nate), "But you did predict the .eu TLD!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was wondering about that earlier, actually. . o O (Aren't disks a step back from what we use now?)" 	
			Fang says, "at least you didn't record a mp3" 	
			baf says, "These things tend to go in cycles, though. I can imagine discs coming back." 	
			Nate says, "is there really one of those? Wow." 	
			Bert asks (of Jacq), "You don't use discs now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah. Possibly. I mean, we have smartmedia." 	
			Fang says, "well, the green plague is an obvious result of the success of Sony Minidisc" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Not if I can help it." 	
			Bert asks (of Jacq), "Huh. No DVD player?" 	
	Spinster arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "I don't watch too many movies, actually, no." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Stadium, in the sculptured chair

Floyd | Crowds of screaming fans stand all around you, reaching out toward the
Floyd | rock group playing on the centre stage.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Biofeedback
Floyd |  Biofeedback
Floyd |  Take my dreams back

Floyd |  Give me something new and strange"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "And am trying to buy all my media online through download to reduce my wastestream." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x stadium" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any stadium here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x crowd" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any crowd here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unusual.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lead musician, playing a stringless virtual electric with chrome
Floyd | pickups on his fingertips, launches into an instrumental riff on the
Floyd | first two stanzas.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "d'oh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's a concious environmental decision I made a year or so ago. If I do buy, I buy used, usually." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unusual.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Biofeedback
Floyd |  Biofeedback
Floyd |  Take my dreams back
Floyd |  Give me something new and strange"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		K-Y asks, "You sure you weren't listening to Rush?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though, sigh, I guess I did buy a disc recently when I couldn't get it online." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unusual.
Floyd |

Floyd | The music blurs into a warped analog acid mix, from a style nearly a
Floyd | hundred years old.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Simplicity conformity
Floyd |  Reality compelling me
Floyd |  Illusion me transfusion me

Floyd |  Electricity my complicity"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "mea culpa" 	
			Bert says, "Ah. So by 'we' you mean you and maga." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Me specifically, actually." 	
			Nate says, "also my music knowledge was crap in 1997, so my idea of Future!Rock was PERPETUAL 80s PARTY YAY!!!" 	
			Fang asks, "hmm, so the ancients were a hundred years ago?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nate), "heehee" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | You hear nothing unusual.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Biofeedback
Floyd | Biofeedback...
Floyd | Something new and strange...

Floyd | Something new and strange...
Floyd | Something new and strange..."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The musician does another lead break, roaming up and down the scale in
Floyd | five different tonal keys.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The singer steps forward, drops his voice to a whisper and speaks
Floyd | softly as if reading a nursery rhyme.

Floyd |
Floyd | "And we will walk on glowgrass lawns
Floyd |  And we will sing electric storms
Floyd |  And the mothers and the fathers
Floyd |  of all our futures will be there
Floyd |  And we will live without a care..."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf says, "Just like how we went from 'Computers are expensive, what we want is dumb terminals connected to a server' to 'Computers are cheap, let's all have our own computers and run apps on it directly' to 'Who needs everything as local apps when there's a whole web full of server-based software?'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. True." 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The band kicks into a screaming frenzy and ends on a crescendo cry.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Biofeedback!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The crowd goes wild, and the sound slowly fades out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline applauds. 	
			inky says, "the reason why we get to the last thing there is that maintenance is expensive" 	
			Taleslinger says (to nate), "We will sing electric storms is an awesome line." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | A soft female voice says "End of licensed tracks on this release.
Floyd | Please reset your projector to replay, or link to vvr.audioclub.com.eu
Floyd | to decrypt another single.  Thank you for purchasing from The Audio
Floyd | Club."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "and I'm not sure that is going to get cheaper without strong AI stuff" 	
			inky says, "I guess if you set everything to auto-download and -update" 	
	Fang says, "god damned DRM" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | A soft female voice says "End of licensed tracks on this release.
Floyd | Please reset your projector to replay, or link to vvr.audioclub.com.eu
Floyd | to decrypt another single.  Thank you for purchasing from The Audio

Floyd | Club."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the sculptured chair.  The image evaporates

Floyd | from your mind, leaving you slightly dizzy.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered

Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised
Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tiny flicker of light and sound dances frustratingly around your
Floyd | vision.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a black cable (linking the black cube to the power cell) and a
Floyd | power cell here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | You'll need to unplug the black cable from the black cube first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Spinster has had Spinster's fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Nate says, "in the newsin 1997 was the first story about splicing tobacco plants with that jellyfish gene" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unpluck cable" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "unpluck".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unplug cable" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unplug it from?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Spinster arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "unplug cable from cube" 		
	

Floyd | The black cable unplugs easily from the cube's socket.  The black cube
Floyd | abruptly stops humming, and the flicker of light and sound vanishes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take cell" 		
	

Floyd | (also taking the connected cable)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take red disk" 		
	

Floyd | You've already got your hands full.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number

Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |

Floyd | You see a yellow disk here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the vehicle.

Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access

Floyd | panel (currently open).
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Shh! I want to think you made all this up in your own head with no outside influences." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "drop vat" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "drop magprobe" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Unless you can fly this thing, you can only go out through the exit
Floyd | hatch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | You step out into the vehicle dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building

Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the
Floyd | living area.
Floyd |

Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a yellow disk here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take yellow" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Living Area
Floyd | You're in what seems to be the central space of the dwelling, a wide
Floyd | living area that still retains the awe and innocence of the Ancient
Floyd | age.  The room is now mainly bare, apart from shreds of mouldered
Floyd | textile on the decayed timber floor, and a sculptured chair poised

Floyd | opposite a two-metre black cube.  There is a door to the east (open),
Floyd | and hallways leading west and southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take red disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Vehicle Dome
Floyd | This domed construction is fairly small compared to the building
Floyd | proper, and open to the air at the southwest.  Given today's scholarly
Floyd | confusion about many Ancient living habits, it could serve any number
Floyd | of functions.  But the giveaway is the vehicle stationed in the middle
Floyd | of the floor.  An interior door, currently open, leads west to to the

Floyd | living area.
Floyd |
Floyd | The vehicle, a primitive skycar, rests under the centre of the dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | You step into the vehicle.
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern

Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "ok, sorry, satisfying pack rat instincts" 	
			Bert says (to inky), "#belated Well, if we'd quite doing so much obnoxious 'maintenance'. Most software doesn't *need* to be upgraded on a weekly basis..." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cell in socket" 		
	

Floyd | The black cable is already plugged into the power cell's socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put cable in socket" 		
	

Floyd | The black cable is already plugged into the power cell's socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put green disk in slot" 		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | The access panel is open.  In the access panel you see a corroded
Floyd | metal coil, a triangular hole, and a rectangular hole.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x console" 		
	

Floyd | Despite your research, the controls on this model of skycar are quite
Floyd | unfamiliar to you.  The only ones you can make out at all are a green

Floyd | button marked with a sunburst symbol, a mechanical lever (currently
Floyd | pushed all the way forward), and a slot to fit a ten-centimetre disk.
Floyd | There's a green disk in the slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "hee. Actually I'm fairly frustrated at how conventional the whole universe is. And how basic the puzzles are." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push sunburst" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens.  Perhaps replacing the power cell might help.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "connect cell to coil" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | [TADS-1026: wrong number of arguments to user function "<NO SYMBOL
Floyd | TABLE>.<NO SYMBOL TABLE>"]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "unplug cable from cell" 		inky says (to Bert), "hmm, I'd actually guess we're moving towards more frequent updates, not less" 	
	

Floyd | The black cable unplugs easily from the power cell's socket.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "connect cable to coil" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to attach anything to the corroded metal coil.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x cell" 		
	

Floyd | The solid state power cell, easily the most distinctive Ancient
Floyd | artifact of all, is a rectangular solid block around thirty
Floyd | centimetres tall and half as wide and deep.  It's silver in colour,

Floyd | completely featureless apart from the logo "Energiser (tm)" and a
Floyd | hexagonal socket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put cell in rectangle" 		
	

Floyd | The power cell slots neatly into the rectangular hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "remoce coil" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "remoce".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push sunburst" 		
	

Floyd | There's a brief hum from the console, and the green button starts

Floyd | glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | An electronic voice says (in the Ancient language), "For your added
Floyd | peace of mind, the drive system of this car is password protected.
Floyd | Please say the password now."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "say dolphin" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "say dolphin" 		
	

Floyd | An electronic voice replies, "Thank you.  Your password is accepted."

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image appears on the seat beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie flicks in and out of view for a few moments, then settles into a
Floyd | sitting posture beside you.  She glances around the vehicle's interior
Floyd | - presumably, the skycar has concealed visual pickups to give

Floyd | projected images the power of sight - and then nods.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay.  You've got the electrics running.  Now you need to give the
Floyd | drive some power.  That lever there is the main throttle - pull it to
Floyd | increase power and push to slacken off.  Steering could be a problem -
Floyd | I'll try to cut past the overrides and do it myself."

Floyd |
Floyd | Seeing your expression, Marie grins.  "Why the surprise?  I'm a
Floyd | natural with cars.  You should have seen me fly this before...  when I
Floyd | was...  whatever.  Well, I'm okay now.  I'll be fine."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The car does not respond.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, let's go!" says Marie.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "wait" 	
			Fang asks, "save?" 	
			Nate says, "oooooops bad event checking there" 	
			Bert says, "Hmm. If she appears seated..." 	
			Bert asks, "How would the concert appear?" 	
			Bert asks, "Or that other disk?" 	
			inky says, "you've got a concert in your seat" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "ANd everybody's invited?" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "DO NOT QUESTION THE CREATOR WITH SCIENCE FACTS" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "yay" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take disk" 		
	

Floyd | Which disk do you mean, the Frisbee Helipta, or the green disk?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Heehee" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take green disk" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "green" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Please say the password," repeats the electronic voice.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put red disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Please say the password," repeats the electronic voice.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "say dolphin" 		
	

Floyd | An electronic voice replies, "Thank you.  Your password is accepted."
Floyd |

Floyd | A projected image of an Ancient rock concert appears on the seat
Floyd | beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Harsh white spotlights converge on the lead singer, while smoke and
Floyd | lasers spell out the band's name: "Fleischman Tokamak."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "say dolphin" 		
	

Floyd | The car does not respond.
Floyd |
Floyd | Harsh white spotlights converge on the lead singer, while smoke and

Floyd | lasers spell out the band's name: "Fleischman Tokamak."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "she's.... an exceptionally creative hacker who can override the laws of her VR's reality? Yes I bet that's it." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x seat" 		
	

Floyd | The passenger seat isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | Harsh white spotlights converge on the lead singer, while smoke and
Floyd | lasers spell out the band's name: "Fleischman Tokamak."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take red disk" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Works for me." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take red disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | The projected image vanishes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to Nate), "I wouldn't have realized this was supposed to be inconsistent if you hadn't mentioned it." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "put green disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image appears on the seat beside you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie flicks in and out of view for a few moments, then settles into a
Floyd | sitting posture beside you.  She glances around the vehicle's interior
Floyd | - presumably, the skycar has concealed visual pickups to give
Floyd | projected images the power of sight - and then nods.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay.  You've got the electrics running.  Now you need to give the

Floyd | drive some power.  That lever there is the main throttle - pull it to
Floyd | increase power and push to slacken off.  Steering could be a problem -
Floyd | I'll try to cut past the overrides and do it myself."
Floyd |
Floyd | Seeing your expression, Marie grins.  "Why the surprise?  I'm a
Floyd | natural with cars.  You should have seen me fly this before...  when I

Floyd | was...  whatever.  Well, I'm okay now.  I'll be fine."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take green" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie's image vanishes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)

Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access

Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(It's mean to yank her out!)" 	
			Fang says, "man, we are dicks to marie" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put yellow disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | A projected image of a rainforest appears on the seat beside you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x rainforest" 		
	

Floyd | It's only a projection.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Bert says, "(Undoing someone is fair. Yanking them out isn't.)" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Some girls like it rough!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome

Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |

Floyd | A projected rainforest floats beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern

Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)

Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome

		Taleslinger says, "(I've heard)" 	
	

Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of

Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | A projected rock concert floats beside you.
Floyd |

Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		baf exclaims, "Quick, put some dinosaur figurines in the rainforest!" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The

Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | A projected rock concert floats beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | A projected rock concert floats beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern

Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | A projected rock concert floats beside you.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The

Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take red" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You did not say the password," says the electronic voice.  "For your
Floyd | protection, this vehicle is now powering down."

Floyd |
Floyd | There's a quiet click from the console.  The green button stops
Floyd | glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "hee. Yes, it would have been fun to have her be a bit aware of her surroundings and complain if you do that" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put marie in slot" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any marie here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline | It's only a projection. 	
			Jacqueline | I have a mental image of that guy from The Holy Grail saying, "[Camelot?] It's only a model.' 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put green disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "say dolphin" 		
	

Floyd | An electronic voice replies, "Thank you.  Your password is accepted."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The

Floyd | exit hatch to your side is open; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently open).
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Except pretend I actually said that second sentence." 	
			Bert asks, "Huh?" 	
			Nitku exclaims (at Jacqueline), "Shh!" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "push sunburst" 		
	

Floyd | There's a brief hum from the console, and the green button starts
Floyd | glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image appears on the seat beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie flicks in and out of view for a few moments, then settles into a

Floyd | sitting posture beside you.  She glances around the vehicle's interior
Floyd | - presumably, the skycar has concealed visual pickups to give
Floyd | projected images the power of sight - and then nods.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay.  You've got the electrics running.  Now you need to give the
Floyd | drive some power.  That lever there is the main throttle - pull it to

Floyd | increase power and push to slacken off.  Steering could be a problem -
Floyd | I'll try to cut past the overrides and do it myself."
Floyd |
Floyd | Seeing your expression, Marie grins.  "Why the surprise?  I'm a
Floyd | natural with cars.  You should have seen me fly this before...  when I
Floyd | was...  whatever.  Well, I'm okay now.  I'll be fine."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ah." 	
			Fang says, "Surely we should replace the coil" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "un out of gas somewhere far from home" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "gas".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "What's the coil for?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x coil" 		
	

Floyd | It's a thin coil of some heavily corroded metal, about ten centimetres
Floyd | long and three across.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small box made from some decay-resistant pressed fibre,
Floyd | possibly spun carbon or silicon.  A label reads "Surefire palladium
Floyd | ignitor coils, contents 6".  The white box is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Fang), "oh, I wondered how long someone would think of that." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask marie about coil" 		
	

Floyd | Marie shrugs, indicating either ignorance or unwillingness to answer.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, let's go!" says Marie.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the white box reveals a transparent bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Well, let's go!" says Marie.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x baf" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "baf".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x bafg" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "bafg".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x bag" 		
	

Floyd | It's a small bag made from transparent polymer sheeting, about the
Floyd | size of your hand.  In the transparent bag you see a shiny metal coil.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open bag" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get bad coil" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "bad".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get old coil" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put new coil in panel" 		
	

Floyd | You'll need to be more specific; there are several places to put
Floyd | things in the access panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, let's go!" says Marie.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | The access panel is open.  In the access panel you see a triangular
Floyd | hole, a power cell, and a round hole.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "put new coil in round hole" 		
	

Floyd | The shiny metal coil screws neatly into the round hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Marie is pretty impatient." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, we can smell the cheese." 	
			baf exclaims, "Well, let's go!" 	
			Fang says, "we should swap her for the relaxing disk" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  An electronic voice says "Please
Floyd | close the hatch before ignition."  The lever clicks forward again.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Duh," grins Marie.  "Better get that."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to baf), "God, not you, too." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "clsoe door" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "clsoe".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  An electronic voice says "Please
Floyd | close the hatch before ignition."  The lever clicks forward again.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Duh," grins Marie.  "Better get that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | The exit hatch swings closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Ready to go yet?"  asks Marie.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  An electronic voice says "Please
Floyd | close the access panel before ignition."  The lever clicks forward
Floyd | again.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Duh," grins Marie.  "Better get that."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "close panel" 		
	

Floyd | Closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "save" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >

		Jacqueline giggles. 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "release parking break" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "release".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The skycar's engine ignites with a

Floyd | deep vibrating hum.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar begins to lift into the air.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie grins.  "Nice liftoff.  Now comes the tricky part.  Open up the
Floyd | throttle some more, and take us out of here - but be ready to hit it

Floyd | when I tell you.  I can't handle both steering and power at the same
Floyd | time.  I'm having enough trouble just computing myself as it is."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says (to Fang), "Use the autosaver, not the save command." 	
			Bert says, "Or you'll mess stuff up." 	
			Fang says, "doh" 	
			Nate asks, "ooh, autosaver?" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Here, we need a driver." 	
			Bert says, "E.g., I think Fang just overwrote our last save." 	
			DavidW says, "if I recall" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Like, figuratively or literalyy." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The engine's hum increases to a
Floyd | whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar accelerates up and out to the southwest, grazing the edge
Floyd | of the vehicle dome's ceiling in a shower of sparks.

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's image flickers.  "Sorry about that.  Okay, I've got it now.
Floyd | Watch out for the turn, I'm going to need full throttle in a moment."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "er, literally." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar skims through the courtyard, heading directly for the

Floyd | southern wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is it!" shouts Marie, her hands flicking across the console.
Floyd | "Full throttle, now!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "full throttle" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "full".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "(That is, the save we'd saved so we could see what the ending would be like without Marie/the coil.)" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The engine's whine increases to a
Floyd | shriek.
Floyd |

Floyd | The skycar banks sharply to the south and east, pulling hard into a
Floyd | near-vertical turn across the glowgrass lawn.  Through the viewshield,
Floyd | you see the pool and vehicle dome, tilted at a freakish angle.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Excellent!" shouts Marie.  "I didn't think we were going to make that
Floyd | one.  Okay, slacken back a bit and I'll try to staighten us up."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Yeah, inky set up an autosaver that keeps track of your saves numerically so you don't have to think about what your last save name was." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the lever forward one notch.  The engine's shriek decreases

Floyd | to a whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar levels out into a gentle climbing arc, rising out of the
Floyd | small valley that shelters the ruins of Marie's house.  The vehicle
Floyd | sways uneasily in the slipstream winds.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Better slacken up," says Marie, concentrating on the console.  "I
Floyd | can't get through these crosswinds any faster."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the lever forward one notch.  The engine's whine decreases to
Floyd | a hum.
Floyd |
Floyd | "That's fine," says Marie.  "Hold it like that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "I guess we can't go anywhere without Marie giving instructions." 	
			Fang says (to Bert), "I think we have one called take red or something" 	
			Bert says, "Well, we've never driven oen of these." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | An electronic voice says, "For your comfort and safety, the hatch will
Floyd | not open while the vehicle is in motion."
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar continues to follow the valley's curve, gradually heading
Floyd | towards a forested ridge.  Below, you get a clear view of the jungle:
Floyd | tall green palms with leafy fronds, clustering thornbushes, strange

Floyd | contorted ferns.  All of them glowing, a soft pale green.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks down at the jungle, wonderingly.  "This was a city," she
Floyd | breathes.  "All this was city.  Suburbs, housing estates, skycars,
Floyd | towers...  all gone.  I don't believe it."  She turns away, as if
Floyd | unwilling to reveal any more emotion.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says, "perhaps we can try yanking her now" 	
			Bert says, "Comfort and safety? A feature like that would never be legal today." 	
			baf says, "You guys are mean." 	
			Nate says, "haha" 	
			Nate says, "I don't know if I coded for that" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push save" 		Bert says, "I'm not mean! Just Fang." 	
	

Floyd | I don't understand that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take yellow" 		
	

Floyd | You already have the yellow disk!
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar reaches the end of the valley, approaching the ridge.  To
Floyd | the west, the sun is sinking behind the mountains; golden light gives
Floyd | everything a dreamlike aura, like one single fading moment of
Floyd | innocence.

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie takes one last look back at the valley, as if fixing it in her
Floyd | mind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Otto says, "Seems this vehicle is equiped with Microsoft Windows..." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "ask her about city" 		
	

Floyd | [But you don't know anything worth mentioning about any city yet.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "take green" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's image vanishes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The skycar falters, losing height.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to Otto), "heh" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Oops." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in the air
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern

Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the jungle below.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, ";hey maybe I did" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "make out" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "make".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "You must have." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "kiss marie" 		
	

Floyd | Marie kisses you briefly on the lips.  "Mmmm," she says, "But I don't
Floyd | have the processor power for this right now.  And besides, you don't
Floyd | want me.  You want a girl who's alive."

Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar tops the ridge and breaks through into a scene of
Floyd | devastation.  A smouldering crater, carved out of the jungle by the
Floyd | doomed dropship's crash.  There's no wreckage; a turbine implosion
Floyd | never leaves more than scattered plasma.  You watch silently as the
Floyd | crater passes by beneath.  If your team were lucky, they had a few

Floyd | seconds to activate the escape wormhole, and make their own way home.
Floyd | If not...
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie looks over at you, her face gentle.  "So, it was true.  You had
Floyd | friends too."  She looks back at the console for a moment, then at
Floyd | you.  "Lost?  Or...  no.  There's still hope, isn't there?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | That was a rhetorical question.
Floyd |

Floyd | The skycar leaves the crater, passing over a sheer cliff - recently
Floyd | fractured by the dropship's blast wave - into a river valley that
Floyd | winds its way out towards more familiar territory.  The setting sun
Floyd | slowly drops out of sight, leaving a trail of soft green light as the
Floyd | glowgrass jungle switches on its full bioluminescence.  Bright moving
Floyd | dots mark the passage of birds and predators.  You hope Marie doesn't

Floyd | ask about the taller ones; or notice the drop of greenish, sparkling,
Floyd | blood oozing from the tiny cut on your arm.  Tommorow will be time
Floyd | enough for everything.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hope," continues Marie, quietly, watching the jungle swallow the
Floyd | night.  "Yes. I guess that's all any of us has."

Floyd |
Floyd | You nod, silently.  There doesn't seem anything else to say.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** The end...  for now ***
Floyd |
Floyd | You may RESTORE a saved game, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO the previous

Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Nate says, "DUM DUM DUM" 	
			Nate says, "congratulations" 	
			Taleslinger says, "sequel!" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in the air
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern

Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the jungle below.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're a world-renowned xenohistorian and student of Ancient
Floyd | artifacts.  And you're in reasonably good shape, given the mess this
Floyd | field trip has turned into.
Floyd |

Floyd | The skycar leaves the crater, passing over a sheer cliff - recently
Floyd | fractured by the dropship's blast wave - into a river valley that
Floyd | winds its way out towards more familiar territory.  The setting sun
Floyd | slowly drops out of sight, leaving a trail of soft green light as the
Floyd | glowgrass jungle switches on its full bioluminescence.  Bright moving
Floyd | dots mark the passage of birds and predators.  You hope Marie doesn't

Floyd | ask about the taller ones; or notice the drop of greenish, sparkling,
Floyd | blood oozing from the tiny cut on your arm.  Tommorow will be time
Floyd | enough for everything.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hope," continues Marie, quietly, watching the jungle swallow the
Floyd | night.  "Yes. I guess that's all any of us has."

Floyd |
Floyd | You nod, silently.  There doesn't seem anything else to say.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** The end...  for now ***
Floyd |
Floyd | You may RESTORE a saved game, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO the previous

Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Skycar, in the air
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the jungle below.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "pull green" 		
	

Floyd | Which green do you mean, the green button, or the green disk?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "I never did really figure out whether the glowgrass was the cause of the plague or what saved humanity from it" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take green disk" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's image vanishes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar falters, losing height.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Fang says (to Nate), "yeah, I always wondered that" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "What the line about taller predators? Did we miss something?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This was really great, Nate." 	
			Fang says, "or whether 'we' are the green plague" 	
			K-Y says, "I played this twice, I know that much" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put in yellow disk" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to put?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Probably the glowgrass was a co-cause of the plague. It probably wasn't the only factor." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put yellow disk in slow" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "slow".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put yellow disk in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | A projected image of a rainforest appears on the seat beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Helplessly out of control, the skycar plunges down into the jungle.

Floyd |
Floyd | Trapped in the wreckage, you desperately race to free yourself, but
Floyd | it's too late.  The car's electrics die, sending a last surge of
Floyd | unregulated power through the fusion ignitors.  Everything within a
Floyd | thirty metre radius explodes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The recovery team, six months later, finds no trace of your body.  Had
Floyd | you lived, you would have warned them to may more attention to
Floyd | instructions.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** Your expedition has failed ***
Floyd |

Floyd | You may RESTORE a saved game, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO the previous
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Otto says, "great game. I had some hard time figuring out what it was talking about, but nice anyway :)" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I thought the green plague was the jungle. Supid plants." 	
			K-Y says, "But I can't remember most of it" 	
			Nate says, "well, you are a descendent of what 'humanity' ended up being after the plague, which was partly plant-based because of having glowgrass in your genes" 	
			K-Y says, "oops, typo there" 	
			Nate says, "because the glowgrass, being the first mass-produced gene-modified product, was everywhere and so ended up part of the big whoosh" 	
			Taleslinger asks (of nate), "Ah, so that's the taller predators?" 	
			Otto says, "yes, may => pay" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)

Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in the air
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the jungle below.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access

Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "I dunno, they're just weird mutant dinosaurs and things" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in the air

Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the jungle below.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |

Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "x blood" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "blood".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Ha ha." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "magprobe marie" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "and presumably there's some reason why the super-smart future plant-people have never gone into these old jungles before" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "probe marie" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put green in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie's projected image appears on the seat beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar leaves the crater, passing over a sheer cliff - recently
Floyd | fractured by the dropship's blast wave - into a river valley that
Floyd | winds its way out towards more familiar territory.  The setting sun
Floyd | slowly drops out of sight, leaving a trail of soft green light as the

Floyd | glowgrass jungle switches on its full bioluminescence.  Bright moving
Floyd | dots mark the passage of birds and predators.  You hope Marie doesn't
Floyd | ask about the taller ones; or notice the drop of greenish, sparkling,
Floyd | blood oozing from the tiny cut on your arm.  Tommorow will be time
Floyd | enough for everything.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hope," continues Marie, quietly, watching the jungle swallow the
Floyd | night.  "Yes. I guess that's all any of us has."
Floyd |
Floyd | You nod, silently.  There doesn't seem anything else to say.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** The end...  for now ***

Floyd |
Floyd | You may RESTORE a saved game, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO the previous
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		DavidW says, "The probe's back in the house." 	
			Fang says, "nah, everything is in the car" 	
			Taleslinger says, "sequel!!" 	
			Bert asks, "Are the super-smart future plant-people even earth people?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Oh yeah, good idea." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "restore cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore >

		Nate says, "well, they're post-humans" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of

Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, we went two hours. I say we table the Spider & Web thing until next week." 	
			Bert says, "I think when I read it, I wasn't certain if they were even related to humans or not." 	
			Nate says, "they might live on the Moon or something, I'm not sure" 	
			Jacqueline says, "s/2hrs/1:45hrs." 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The engine's hum increases to a
Floyd | whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar accelerates up and out to the southwest, grazing the edge
Floyd | of the vehicle dome's ceiling in a shower of sparks.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie's image flickers.  "Sorry about that.  Okay, I've got it now.
Floyd | Watch out for the turn, I'm going to need full throttle in a moment."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The engine's whine increases to a
Floyd | shriek.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar skims through the courtyard, heading directly for the
Floyd | southern wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | "This is it!" shouts Marie, her hands flicking across the console.
Floyd | "Full throttle, now!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		Nate says, "anyway, yay for playing." 	
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar banks sharply to the south and east, pulling hard into a
Floyd | near-vertical turn across the glowgrass lawn.  Through the viewshield,
Floyd | you see the pool and vehicle dome, tilted at a freakish angle.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Excellent!" shouts Marie.  "I didn't think we were going to make that
Floyd | one.  Okay, slacken back a bit and I'll try to staighten us up."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "But it seems perfectly reasonable to consider that the Earth wasn't practical to live on anymore, and they've been building civilization elsewhere." 	
			Bert asks, "And who is Nate to claim otherwise?" 	
			Bert says, "He doesn't even know what the big dino-things are." 	
			Fang says, "I guess not following her instructions works too" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |

Floyd | Skycar, in vehicle dome
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the vehicle dome.  The
Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.

Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image sits on the seat beside you, watching the
Floyd | console.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "take green" 		Jacqueline says (to Nate), "Yay for you writing this. Really good stuff." 	
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | Marie's image vanishes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar continues to hover a few feet above the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Fang says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The engine's hum increases to a
Floyd | whine.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar accelerates up and out to the southwest, grazing the edge

Floyd | of the vehicle dome's ceiling in a shower of sparks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "pull lever" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the lever back one notch.  The engine's whine increases to a

Floyd | shriek.
Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar skims through the courtyard, heading directly for the
Floyd | southern wall. You wrestle with the controls, but find that you have
Floyd | no steering!
Floyd |

Floyd | A moment later, the skycar collides with the wall, shearing up and
Floyd | nearly over before flipping and plunging nose-first into the ground.
Floyd | The electrics die; fusion ignitors spark in a final unregulated surge
Floyd | of power, and then the vehicle and everything within a thirty metre
Floyd | radius explodes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The recovery team, six months later, finds no trace of your body.  But
Floyd | had you survived, you would have warned them against flying an unknown
Floyd | craft without competent assistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** Your expedition has failed ***
Floyd |

Floyd | You may RESTORE a saved game, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO the previous
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Jacqueline says (to Nate), "We look for a sequel to be released, addressing all these questions we have, on the fifteenth anniversary of the game's release." 	
			Nate says, "Skycar proudly manufactured by Ford Pinto" 	
			Bert says, "Ha." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Fang says, "hah" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Skycar, in courtyard
Floyd | The interior of the skycar is fairly cramped compared to a modern
Floyd | altiwing or dropship.  There's a control console directly in front of
Floyd | you, and a viewshield through which you can see the courtyard.  The

Floyd | exit hatch to your side is closed; in the rear of the car is an access
Floyd | panel (currently closed).  A green button on the console is glowing.
Floyd |
Floyd | You see a Frisbee Helipta, a white vat, and a magprobe here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says (to nate), "Well, this mentioned a civilized mars" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put in green disk" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to put?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nate says, "that wasa 'fuck you for derailing my train-ride' ending" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "put green in slot" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | Marie's projected image appears on the seat beside you.

Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar skims through the courtyard, heading directly for the
Floyd | southern wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is it!" shouts Marie, her hands flicking across the console.
Floyd | "Full throttle, now!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	Fang says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | The skycar banks sharply to the south and east, pulling hard into a
Floyd | near-vertical turn across the glowgrass lawn.  The engines struggle
Floyd | for power, but there isn't enough; the car stalls, spins, and crashes
Floyd | out of the sky into the concrete pool.
Floyd |

Floyd | Trapped in the wreckage, you desperately race to free yourself, but
Floyd | it's too late.  The car's electrics die, sending a last surge of
Floyd | unregulated power through the fusion ignitors.  Everything within a
Floyd | thirty metre radius explodes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The recovery team, six months later, finds no trace of your body.  Had

Floyd | you lived, you would have warned them to may more attention to
Floyd | instructions.
Floyd |
Floyd | *** Your expedition has failed ***
Floyd |
Floyd | You may RESTORE a saved game, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO the previous

Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Jacqueline says, "Great game, everyone. Let's discuss next week." 	
			Nate says, "cheers. I better go now." 	
			Nate says, "bye" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bye, Nate!" 	
	Nate goes home. 		Taleslinger says, "Bye, Nate." 	
			Jacqueline says, "There was a request from a reader (not a player, ever, iirc) for us to finish Spider & Web. We could address that request next week on its own, or we could choose a really short game to combine it with." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Ideas?" 	
			Bert asks, "Are there any games that have been in the ifComp top 3 that haven't been played on CF yet?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "You mean for any given year?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm sure there probably are." 	
			Bert says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We haven't gone through things that systematically." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We've recently been working through the suggested list here." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), ">X CFS" 	
			Fang asks, "has everyone here played S&W?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Huh. S&W is still on there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have not." 	
			Jacqueline says, "They started it, didn't finish. It was a week when I was not here." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I have and didn't care too much for it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was not terribly sad about that, as I hear it is quite puzzly and difficult, which is not my standard enjoyable experience. I'm in it for story more than puzzles, but maybe I don't know enough about the game." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So there's a partial transcript on the site, which I processed, but have not even looked at." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm thinking rather than 'finish it,' we should play it from scratch if we're going to deal with it at all, unless the people who were there for that play session want to pick it up by themselves, which'd be fine." 	
			Bert asks, "We played ACitW, Tooneesia, and Uncle Zebulon's Will, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Nitku says, "My vote is on Babel or The Edifice." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'd like TMtSatLGoS, but that's probably not a two hour game." 	
			inky says, "I was going to run through the rest of spider & web after we were done here, but I won't do that if you're going to play it again later" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, I'm not hearing a ton of ideas on the S&W request." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Actually, if you're up for doing that today, that'd be fine and great, methinks." 	
			Bert asks, "Has Metamorphoses been played yet?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm on a tenuous 'net connection, so if you could maintain Perry's log on your connection and send me a transcript, that'd be better." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Yes." 	
			Bert says, "Also, yeah, I'd favor playing S&W from scratch rather than trying to build a partial save." 	
			Nitku says, "I don't really like S&W that much and frankly I would be a bit disappointed if another full session would be used for it." 	
			Taleslinger says, "i'd like TMtSatLGoS, too,but given that it's by GM , a "look" in the wrong place might make it unwinnable." 	
			Bert says, "But I've already finished it, so I'm kinda irrelevant to the question." 	
			Jacqueline says (to T), "Well, that's what >PUSH SAVE is for." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I don't care too much about S&W either." 	
			Nitku asks, "Maybe there could be an extra session for those who want to play S&W again?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "I'd like "For a change."" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll play S&W from scratch if there's other interest, but it sounds like there's not, and that people would be okay with inky's plan outside of CF." 	
			Bert says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is that the consensus?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Yup." 	
			Nitku says, "sounds good." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "You up for that?" 	
			Bert asks, "Has CF played All Roads?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Hm, I don't think so, but I'd have to check the list to know for sure." 	
			baf says, "Hm. All Roads seems like it would be a good CF game" 	
			inky says, "yeah, I'll log it" 	
			Bert asks, "Earth and Sky and its sequels?" 	
			baf says, "because it really supports discussion." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Okay, I'll shut down Perry on my end."	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Earth and Sky by Paul O'Brian
As played on ifMUD on January 25, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Earth and Sky, written by Paul O'Brian. Earth and Sky was originally released as part of the 2001 IF Competition, where it took eighth place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Paul arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Paul asks (of Jacqueline), "Is this the right place?" 		* Paul has joined the channel. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hey hey there, Paul." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Very cool that you could be here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was just about to make the general announcement, too..." 	
	Paul Heya 		
	olethros arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Paul says, "Er, heya. It has been truly ages since I've been on ifMUD. Still getting my sea legs back." 	
	Jacqueline hollers, "In fifteen minutes we shall be playing the first of the three Earth & Sky games by Paul O'Brian (who's here to watch!). Please join us in the Toyshop to play along." 		
	olethros says, "oh I played that" 		
	Nitku arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says (to Paul), "No worries. I'm sure you'll get your equilibrium soon enough." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh WAIT." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I just realized something." 	
			Jacqueline says, "One sec..." 	
	Jacqueline says (to floyd), "list e" 		
	Floyd says (to Jacqueline), "eas east edifice elements eleven elysium endmeans enemies enlisted episodeartist erden escapist everybodydies evil exterminate" 		
	maga arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says, "D'oh. We forgot to upload the game. I forgot we just added it to the list." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ack. And nobody who can access Floyd is online." 	
			Jacqueline sighs. 	
			Nitku asks, "Is "eas" something else then?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's see." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load eas" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | It's been almost a month since your parents disappeared.
Floyd |
Floyd | One Tuesday, they just didn't come home, and there's been no sign of
Floyd | them since. For the University and the rest of the town, the mystery
Floyd | is beginning to pall. To those people, it's as if Claire and Scott

Floyd | Colborn suddenly stopped existing -- strange and inexplicable, to be
Floyd | sure, but forgettable in the long run.
Floyd |
Floyd | But for you it's as if the ground beneath your feet stopped existing,
Floyd | and you've been plummeting in freefall ever since. Your brother
Floyd | Austin, though, has been a rock through the whole experience, handling

Floyd | the numbing details, the endless meetings with useless detectives,
Floyd | even sorting through Mom and Dad's lab in hopes of finding an answer.
Floyd | Now you stand outside the lab door, clutching his note, hardly daring
Floyd | to hope that such an answer may have arrived at long last.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | EARTH AND SKY
Floyd | Interactive fiction by Lee Kirby
Floyd | First-time players should type INFO or read the easinfo.txt file
Floyd | 2001 IF Competition Edition -- Release 1
Floyd | Serial number 010926 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |

Floyd | Outside the Lab Door
Floyd | You stand in one of the many beige, featureless corridors of the
Floyd | Physics building. The hall continues west, and reaches its eastern
Floyd | terminus here, at the door to Mom and Dad's lab.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lab door is closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | A card reader is mounted to the wall beside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Paul Crisis averted. Everything is super. 		Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay. Phew." 	
			Paul says, "Dammit" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Heh. No worries." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		Paul says, "I just wanted a half-colon, not an entire one" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll restart it in ten minutes." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm figuring Jota uploaded them, since this was really his idea to play the trilogy." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I had completely forgotten to check." 	
			Paul says, "That's nice. He was a tester for ep 2." 	
	Paul says (to floyd), "list a" 		
	Floyd says (to Paul), "aardvark abductv2 abent above acorncourt across actofmurder ad551 advent adventureland adverbum aftrmath agb aisle alienabduct allroads almamater almanac alpha alys amnos01 amoi anchor annoy aotyrz arrival asendent atrox atsclues atwctw august awaken awe awitl" 		Jacqueline asks (of Paul), "Hm. It's not there, is it?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The next one, I mean." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not a biggie, as we can add it before next week." 	
			Paul says, "Nope. I didn't even realize Floyd could play Glulx games" 	
	DavidW arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline says, "He can, but he can't show the fancy features is all." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, like, no art." 	
			Paul says, "Ah. Well, I did put alt text in all my fancy sound effects, so let's hope it prints." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, brb... going to get a snack before we begin." 	
			Paul says, "k" 	
			DavidW says, "What's on tap for today? I haven't been paying attention." 	
	ParserGirl arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		Jacqueline says (to DW), "This is week one of our Earth & Sky trilogy series!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Muy exciting." 	
			ParserGirl says, "ay ay ay me la gusta" 	
			Jacqueline says (to ParserGirl), "Fantastico!" 	
			DavidW says, "We won't get to see those sound-effect graphics, though, via Floyd." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Paul says he put in alt-text." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We'll see if it shows up." 	
			DavidW says, "huh." 	
			DavidW says, "I didn't know any IF graphics could have alt text." 	
	Jacqueline hollers, "Five minutes (actually four) until we start playing Earth & Sky in the Toyshop... please join us if you'd like to play." 		
	D arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		Paul says, "Well, that's what the spec says, or did at the time I was writing. Whether it's actually implemented anywhere is another matter." 	
			DavidW says, "heh. gotcha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, mail from Tailslinger saying he can't make it..." 	
			DavidW says, "I seem to remember E&S 1 as being very forgiving and newb-friendly. Also, two similar winning endings, with one better than the other." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I guess he was really looking forward to it, too. Oh well." 	
			D asks, "Is this made in TADS?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Glulx, methinks." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't remember. I think it's Z-code, but I don't remember." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, it's time! w00t!" 	
			Paul says, "First was zcode, and the 2 sequels were glulx" 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load eas" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | It's been almost a month since your parents disappeared.
Floyd |
Floyd | One Tuesday, they just didn't come home, and there's been no sign of
Floyd | them since. For the University and the rest of the town, the mystery

Floyd | is beginning to pall. To those people, it's as if Claire and Scott
Floyd | Colborn suddenly stopped existing -- strange and inexplicable, to be
Floyd | sure, but forgettable in the long run.
Floyd |
Floyd | But for you it's as if the ground beneath your feet stopped existing,
Floyd | and you've been plummeting in freefall ever since. Your brother

Floyd | Austin, though, has been a rock through the whole experience, handling
Floyd | the numbing details, the endless meetings with useless detectives,
Floyd | even sorting through Mom and Dad's lab in hopes of finding an answer.
Floyd | Now you stand outside the lab door, clutching his note, hardly daring
Floyd | to hope that such an answer may have arrived at long last.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | EARTH AND SKY
Floyd | Interactive fiction by Lee Kirby
Floyd | First-time players should type INFO or read the easinfo.txt file
Floyd | 2001 IF Competition Edition -- Release 1
Floyd | Serial number 010926 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside the Lab Door
Floyd | You stand in one of the many beige, featureless corridors of the
Floyd | Physics building. The hall continues west, and reaches its eastern
Floyd | terminus here, at the door to Mom and Dad's lab.
Floyd |

Floyd | The lab door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | A card reader is mounted to the wall beside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "heh 'Lee Kirby'" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Ah, I guess it was the 'Cheap Glk Implementation' thing that was making me think Glulx. Good to know." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "info" 		
	

Floyd | EARTH AND SKY behaves like most interactive fiction, with the
Floyd | exception of its conversation system. This system is a mad scientist's

Floyd | hybrid of various techniques from other games:
Floyd |    * ASK <character> ABOUT <topic> and TELL <character> ABOUT <topic>

Floyd | are enabled, and can be used to interact with any non-player character
Floyd | (NPC).
Floyd |    * However, when an NPC addresses the player character (PC), EARTH
Floyd | AND SKY will present a list of possible replies, and ask the player to
Floyd | select one of these. (Remaining silent is always an option as well.)
Floyd |    * Finally, if the player would rather move along with the story

Floyd | than grill NPCs, the verb TALK TO <npc> is also available. Selecting
Floyd | this verb will prompt EARTH AND SKY to launch an entire dialogue
Floyd | between the PC and the NPC, each of whom will choose their words and
Floyd | topics based on what's currently happening in the game.
Floyd |

Floyd | EARTH AND SKY is designed so that it cannot be put into an unwinnable
Floyd | state.
Floyd |
Floyd | Note to PalmPilot users: For best results, play Earth And Sky with a
Floyd | 40-column-width screen. To set this under Frobnitz, access the menus
Floyd | (by tapping the menu button in the bottom left corner of the green

Floyd | lower window) then tap Options, Configure Display, and set Columns to
Floyd | 40. Then restart the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | Type CREDITS to see the acknowledgements. Thanks for playing EARTH AND
Floyd | SKY!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a note
Floyd |   an access card

Floyd |   a sweatshirt (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of sweat pants (being worn)
Floyd |   your sneakers (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You haven't been looking your best lately, but you find it hard to
Floyd | care. Austin won't mind your casual clothes, though -- he understands
Floyd | that fashion isn't exactly topping your priorities right now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "read note" 		
	

Floyd | This note was waiting for you when you got home today. It reads:
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily --

Floyd |
Floyd | Meet me at the lab as soon as you can. I've found some things that we
Floyd | need to talk about immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd |                                            -- A
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x card" 		
	

Floyd | This card, which doubles as your student ID, displays your name and
Floyd | photo, along with a barcode and a 16-digit ID number; all this
Floyd | information is superimposed on an aerial shot of the campus and the
Floyd | pretty California surf. There's a magnetic stripe on the back.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "credits" 		
	

Floyd | As always, grateful acknowledgement is due to Graham Nelson for
Floyd | creating Inform and its excellent documentation, notably the fourth

Floyd | edition of the Inform Designers Manual. Thanks as well to Adam Cadre
Floyd | for his flags.h library extension.
Floyd |
Floyd | I'd also like to extend my appreciation and apologies to Richard
Floyd | Monastersky -- he wrote an article in the Oct. 19, 2000 edition of the
Floyd | Chronicle of Higher Education about West Chester University's research

Floyd | into isolating ancient bacteria, and that piece directly inspired much
Floyd | of part two. Apologies and thanks as well to Drs. Vreeland et. al. for
Floyd | the liberties I've taken with their work.
Floyd |
Floyd | Without the support of my family, this work would probably never have
Floyd | been started, let alone finished. A thousand thanks to them.

Floyd |
Floyd | EARTH AND SKY is an affectionate tribute to the creators of Marvel
Floyd | Comics, whose dazzling imaginations have illuminated my childhood and
Floyd | adulthood.
Floyd |
Floyd | And saving the best for last: extra-special thanks to David, Jenny,

Floyd | Jon, and Stephen, my outstanding cadre of betatesters. Way to save my
Floyd | skin a hundred times over, crew.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	olethros has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	GDorn arrives, full of fun and funk. 		DavidW says, "I've played this before; I should just hang back." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside the Lab Door

Floyd | You stand in one of the many beige, featureless corridors of the
Floyd | Physics building. The hall continues west, and reaches its eastern
Floyd | terminus here, at the door to Mom and Dad's lab.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lab door is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | A card reader is mounted to the wall beside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, I've played it, but don't remember a ton." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "slide card in reader" 		
	

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to slide the access card.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a note
Floyd |   an access card
Floyd |   a sweatshirt (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of sweat pants (being worn)
Floyd |   your sneakers (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock door with card" 		
	

Floyd | [swiping your access card in the reader]
Floyd | The green light glows, and there is a click from inside the lab door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | You open the lab door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You take a deep breath, and step across the threshold into the lab.
Floyd |

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "remove pants" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue.]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd |                                  A N D

Floyd |
Floyd |                                  S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                          Part 1: Suit Yourself

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "Lovely. heh" 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Lab
Floyd | Ever since Dad got shortlisted for the Nobel in physics and Mom's
Floyd | patents started making millions, the University has pretty much given
Floyd | them carte blanche. Consequently, this lab space is cavernous, tens of
Floyd | thousands of square feet, with ceilings reaching nearly five stories
Floyd | high. Some parts of this giant room are occupied by giant equipment,

Floyd | dizzyingly complex hunks of machinery at whose function you couldn't
Floyd | even begin to guess. Other parts are empty, save for a few tables and
Floyd | terminals. A ring of windows near the ceiling looks out on the distant
Floyd | stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and west into the
Floyd | hallway.
Floyd |

Floyd | You look around for Austin, but he's not here. Typical. Well, knowing
Floyd | your perpetually late brother, he'll be along soon enough.
Floyd |
Floyd | Amidst the general chaos of the lab, a legal pad seems to have fallen
Floyd | from one of the tables.
Floyd |

Floyd | The hallway door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | I beg your pardon?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rob arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "get pad" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lab door clicks and swings shut.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x pad" 		
	

Floyd | The first page contains a few notes scribbled in your father's
Floyd | familiar cryptic handwriting:
Floyd |

Floyd | ES: Str -- OK
Floyd |     Imp res -- OK
Floyd |     E res -- ??? -- probs
Floyd |
Floyd | SS: Flt -- OK
Floyd |     Fog -- OK

Floyd |     E -- OK
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Per N, bac strange. Hi-spd? Panspermia?
Floyd | Also: c T re: sightings. Could b big. Portal poss. at mtn site?
Floyd |

Floyd | The rest of the pages are blank.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x machinery" 		
	

Floyd | If you had a couple of days, unlimited curiosity, and several years

Floyd | worth of calculus and physics classes, Austin could probably explain
Floyd | some of this equipment to you. As it is, you prefer to be awed by its
Floyd | mysterious grandeur rather than the impressive feats it can no doubt
Floyd | perform. Luckily, Mom and Dad never pushed the science with either of
Floyd | you, so even though Austin ended up their prot?g? and you became a
Floyd | contented English major, he never got special treatment from them.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Room

Floyd | If Mom had her way, the storage room would be a neatly organized
Floyd | gallery of supplies, spare parts, and backup media, all efficiently
Floyd | arranged on the room's many metal shelving units. However, with Dad
Floyd | using the lab, that's not likely to happen. Oh sure, everything is on
Floyd | the shelves, but finding something could take the better part of a
Floyd | day. A door leads back north to the lab.

Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | A wooden chair sits in the middle of the storage room, with some
Floyd | bright blue fabric draped across it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x fabric" 		
	

Floyd | This appears to be a form-fitting bodysuit of some kind, tailored to
Floyd | fit a female body. It is bright blue, with cloud-patterned streaks of
Floyd | white. A combination cowl and mask is attached at the neck of the

Floyd | suit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You haven't been looking your best lately, but you find it hard to

Floyd | care. Austin won't mind your casual clothes, though -- he understands
Floyd | that fashion isn't exactly topping your priorities right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | An ordinary wooden chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "IRTA 'spare pants,' not 'spare parts.' This MUD is really starting to indoctrinate me." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get suit" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		olethros says, "hee" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Lab
Floyd | You are in Mom and Dad's lab. As usual, the majority of the equipment
Floyd | in this enormous space is more or less a mystery to you. Also here are
Floyd | a few tables and terminals; a ring of windows near the ceiling looks
Floyd | out on the distant stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and

Floyd | west into the hallway.
Floyd |
Floyd | The hallway door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | [first opening the hallway door]
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside the Lab Door

Floyd | You stand in one of the many beige, featureless corridors of the
Floyd | Physics building. The hall continues west, and reaches its eastern
Floyd | terminus here, at the door to Mom and Dad's lab.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lab door is open, revealing the enormous room beyond.
Floyd |

Floyd | A card reader is mounted to the wall beside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear footsteps in the deserted hallway, and turn to see Austin
Floyd | walking towards you. "Hi, Em," he says when he reaches you. "I see you
Floyd | found my note. Thanks for coming -- sorry I'm a little late. I'm going
Floyd | to head into the lab, so join me there whenever you're ready." True to

Floyd | his word, he enters the lab, closing the door behind him.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find yourself doing a double-take as the door shuts. Was Austin
Floyd | wearing a mask?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | [first opening the lab door]
Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh noes! Second potential crisis of the morning: out of coffee." 	
			Jacqueline will be right back. 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | That's what the card reader is for.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "put card in reader" 		
	

Floyd | The green light glows, and there is a click from inside the lab door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | [first opening the lab door]
Floyd |
Floyd | Lab
Floyd | You are in Mom and Dad's lab. As usual, the majority of the equipment

Floyd | in this enormous space is more or less a mystery to you. Also here are
Floyd | a few tables and terminals; a ring of windows near the ceiling looks
Floyd | out on the distant stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and
Floyd | west into the hallway.
Floyd |
Floyd | The hallway door is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Austin here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your brother has always been a bit of a fashion victim, but what he's

Floyd | wearing right now hits a new level on the sartorial freak-o-meter.
Floyd | It's a skintight grey body stocking, flecked with black and decorated
Floyd | with small orange or yellow streaks here and there. The whole thing
Floyd | snugly covers his modest frame, and a combination cowl and mask comes
Floyd | up from the back to conceal his hair and eyes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hey," says Austin. "Thanks again for coming. Listen Emily, you're not
Floyd | going to believe what I've been uncovering here. But before I tell you
Floyd | anything more, go into the storage room and put on that suit you're
Floyd | holding. I'll be waiting for you here."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Okay."
Floyd | 2) "I'm supposed to take fashion advice from somebody dressed like
Floyd | that?"
Floyd | 3) "Hey, what's with the orders? You're not the boss of me!"
Floyd | 4) "Austin, stop being so high-handed and just tell me what's going

Floyd | on."
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	Rob has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin laughs. "Okay, okay," he says, "I know this must look a little
Floyd | bizarre, considering you don't really know the context. But please,

Floyd | just trust me. It won't make sense until you're wearing yours too."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	ParserGirl says (to Floyd), "x austin" 		
	

Floyd | Austin was never one to conform to the whims of fashion, but right now

Floyd | he's dressed much more strangely than you've ever seen him. He's
Floyd | wearing a grey jumpsuit, speckled with black and shot through with
Floyd | streaks of yellow and orange. The outfit seems to include a cowl and
Floyd | mask, which covers Austin's brown eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Storage Room
Floyd | If Mom had her way, the storage room would be a neatly organized
Floyd | gallery of supplies, spare parts, and backup media, all efficiently

Floyd | arranged on the room's many metal shelving units. However, with Dad
Floyd | using the lab, that's not likely to happen. Oh sure, everything is on
Floyd | the shelves, but finding something could take the better part of a
Floyd | day. A door leads back north to the lab.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a chair here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "wear suit" 		
	

Floyd | [first removing the sweatshirt]
Floyd | You're not about to undress with the door open, even if the guy in the
Floyd | next room is only your brother.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "close door and wear suit" 		
	

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "gah" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "close door" 		
	

Floyd | You close the storage room door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "wear suit" 		
	

Floyd | [first removing the sweatshirt]
Floyd |
Floyd | [first removing the sweat pants]
Floyd |
Floyd | [first removing the sneakers]
Floyd |

Floyd | You slip into the blue bodysuit. It's not a perfect fit, but it's
Floyd | better than you'd expected, skintight in some areas and only slightly
Floyd | looser in others. The feel is warm and comfortable, and the suit
Floyd | covers almost your entire body, even your hands and feet. When you
Floyd | pull the cowl and mask on, you feel a strange tingling sensation in
Floyd | your scalp.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Paul says, "Use a period to separate commands. e.g. "close door. Wear suit."" 	
			GDorn exclaims, "first removing the sweat pants? but it wouldn't let me do that!" 	
			Paul says, "And then you closed the door." 	
			Nitku says, "You tried the remove pants command when the game was waiting for a keypress, so it didn't register" 	
			GDorn says, "ah, that explains it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, it might just be automating it so you don't run around pantless." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | [first opening the storage room door]
Floyd |
Floyd | Lab
Floyd | You are in Mom and Dad's lab. As usual, the majority of the equipment
Floyd | in this enormous space is more or less a mystery to you. Also here are
Floyd | a few tables and terminals; a ring of windows near the ceiling looks

Floyd | out on the distant stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and
Floyd | west into the hallway.
Floyd |
Floyd | The hallway door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Austin here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh good, you're wearing it," Austin says.
Floyd |
Floyd | He shows you a notebook he's been carrying. "I found this notebook,

Floyd | along with these stylish outfits, late last night. I was checking out
Floyd | all the ongoing experiments in hopes of... well, I don't know what I
Floyd | was hoping for. All I know is that nobody seems to know what happened
Floyd | to Mom and Dad, and nobody can even think of any reason why they would
Floyd | have disappeared. So I've been combing through the lab, trying to
Floyd | reconstruct what they were working on at the time it happened."

Floyd |
Floyd | He leans back against a towering piece of steel machinery, allowing
Floyd | himself to slide down it and sit on the floor. "They were working on a
Floyd | lot, Em, let me tell you -- most of it so far beyond my own scientific
Floyd | experience that it took me a long time to even grasp the point of each
Floyd | experiment. Dad's cryptic notation style didn't help much either. So

Floyd | last night, when I started checking out a piece of equipment that
Floyd | didn't seem to have any purpose at all, I figured it was just my own
Floyd | ignorance again, that I didn't know what the thing was. Then I
Floyd | stumbled on a tiny little latch, and the whole thing swung open. Em,
Floyd | it was hollow inside. And stuffed into that cavity were these suits,
Floyd | with this notebook."

Floyd |
Floyd | He opens the notebook and begins to read aloud:
Floyd |
Floyd |    Earthsuit: provides
Floyd |       * greatly enhanced strength
Floyd |       * resistance to electric shock

Floyd |       * invulnerability to impact (nearly)
Floyd |
Floyd | Must be Mom's notes, you think to yourself. Dad would've written
Floyd | something like "inv 2 imp (~)". Austin flips a few pages, then reads
Floyd | again.
Floyd |

Floyd |    Skysuit: provides
Floyd |       * flight
Floyd |       * electrical discharges (blasts)
Floyd |       * fog
Floyd |
Floyd | "The rest of the pages are filled with notes and diagrams that are way

Floyd | beyond my grasp. But near as I can figure, these are the suits those
Floyd | notes talk about. I'm wearing the earthsuit, and you're wearing the
Floyd | skysuit."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "I don't understand. What's this all about?"
Floyd | 2) "Did they also make a monkeysuit? Maybe with 'greatly enhanced
Floyd | banana-eating ability'?"
Floyd | 3) "I had to wear this goofy suit just to hear you recite from a
Floyd | notebook?"
Floyd | 4) "But this is just so bizarre. You think Mom and Dad were planning

Floyd | to make us into some kind of superheroes?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Jacqueline says, "Heh. Stylish. Right." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "4" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Maybe not us," he says. "Your build is very similar to Mom's, and I'm
Floyd | not all that much bigger than Dad. Maybe they were planning to wear
Floyd | the suits themselves. I don't know. All I know is that mine definitely
Floyd | works, or at least the strength part does. Watch."
Floyd |

Floyd | Austin turns around to face the device he had been using as a
Floyd | backrest. It's some sort of steel tower, probably fifteen feet tall
Floyd | and two feet in diameter. He squats in front of it, embraces it, and
Floyd | smoothly unbends his knees, lifting the entire thing as if it were
Floyd | made of balsa wood.
Floyd |

Floyd | "This thing must weigh almost a ton," he says through gritted teeth,
Floyd | "but I can lift it like it was a piece of furniture. It's a little
Floyd | awkward to keep balanced, but I can do it." As if to prove the point,
Floyd | he bends his knees again until the tower is in its original resting
Floyd | place, then turns to face you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Remember that tingling you felt when you put own the cowl? The suits
Floyd | respond to mental commands. I bet if you decided you wanted to fly up
Floyd | to the ceiling right now, you could. Why don't you try it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | The moment you think it, the ground silently drops away beneath you,
Floyd | so fast and so smoothly that it almost feels as if a wire is pulling
Floyd | you up to the ceiling. But there is no wire, and only air beneath your
Floyd | feet. You have risen...

Floyd |
Floyd | High Above The Lab
Floyd | You are hovering in the air, several stories above the lab floor. The
Floyd | beams and girders of the ceiling are so close you could touch them,
Floyd | and the windows display a magnificent view of the campus and ocean.
Floyd | Far below, Austin looks up at you from amid a sea of equipment. Good

Floyd | thing you're not afraid of heights.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "touch beams" 		
	

Floyd | Sure enough, you can touch them. [Hey, I wouldn't lie to you.] In

Floyd | fact, as you rest your hand on one of the girders, you notice a small
Floyd | envelope taped to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Can we do areobatics?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I spelled that way wrong, now that I look at it, but can we?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "somersault" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get envelope" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat beam" 		
	

Floyd | (first taking the ceiling struts)
Floyd | They're hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "open envelope" 		
	

Floyd | You open the envelope, revealing a letter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "read letter" 		
	

Floyd | [first removing it from the envelope]
Floyd |
Floyd | The letter is written in your mother's handwriting:
Floyd |

Floyd | Dear kids --
Floyd |
Floyd | If you've found this letter, something is probably very wrong. I wish
Floyd | I could explain everything to you, but that will have to wait. If Nina
Floyd | hasn't contacted you already, bring this letter to her. If we're
Floyd | missing, she can give you information that might help the search

Floyd | parties. If our deaths have been confirmed, she will serve as the
Floyd | executor of our estate, and deliver documents we've prepared for that
Floyd | circumstance.
Floyd |
Floyd | Remember that we love you both, and are very proud of you. And believe
Floyd | that we never meant to put you in danger -- for that we are deeply

Floyd | sorry.
Floyd |
Floyd | Courage,
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom + Dad
Floyd |

Floyd | Nina -- to you, she's always been "Aunt Nina", though of course she
Floyd | isn't really your blood relative. She's Mom and Dad's oldest and
Floyd | closest friend, so it makes perfect sense that they'd let her in on
Floyd | their secrets. But if she has information, why isn't she using it? And
Floyd | why hasn't she told you or Austin about any of this?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "One sec... I'm in a coffee shop, and they need to reset the router. Can we take a really brief, i.e. 5-10 min break (so I can have a full transcript and not miss anything?)" 	
			Nitku says, "sure" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, we'll resume from the save if anyone does anything while I'm offline. Back very soon." 	
	Limax arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Limax says, "Lucky me" 	
	--- Disconnected on Sunday, January 25, 2009, 10:22 AM --- 		
	--- Connected for 53 minutes, 59 seconds --- 		
			
			
	--- Connected on Sunday, January 25, 2009, 10:31 AM --- 		
	************************************************************************ 		
	** ** 		
	** Welcome to ifMUD! ** 		
	** ** 		
	************************************************************************ 		
			
			
			
			
			
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	ifMUD 		
	An interactive conversation 		
	Copyright 1997-2007 by Loungent Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of 		
	rec.[arts|games].int-fiction; All rights reserved. 		
	Release 4 / Serial number 990908 / perlMUD v2.1z 		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
	Dorm A 		
	This is a very long room, lined with multi-tiered bunks. Flimsy partitions between the tiers may provide a modicum of privacy. These spartan living quarters could house hundreds, many of whom are sleeping here right now. A narrow staircase set in the north wall leads up. 		
			
	Note to new users: Most of us hang out in the Adventurer's Lounge. The Lounge is up, and then west, from this location (or just type 'lounge'). If you get lost, type '@holler Help me! I'm lost!' and someone will try to find you. 		
			
	Players: Firion 		
	Visible Exits: up (to the Long Hall), down (to Dorm B) 		
	There are 11 new messages on #games/roleplaying/7thsea. 		
	There are 50 new messages on #games/roleplaying/D&D. 		
	There are 17 new messages on #games/roleplaying/Helvetica. 		
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	There are 68 new messages on #if/clubfloyd. 		
	There are 15 new messages on the main bulletin board. 		
	You mute all channels temporarily. 		
	You un-mute #if/clubfloyd. 		
	Toyshop and Floyditorium 		
	Bulging toychests make this a child's (or child-at-heart's) dream. Play all day, play all night. A small booth has been erected and is staffed by a friendly robot. The sign over it says, "INFOKOM GAMEZ 5 cents". A small notice on the door reads, "PLEASE RETURN TOYS TO THIS ROOM WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THEM." 		
			
	You can see: green button, banana machine, faucets, toy catalogue, a crystal ball, cuddly walrus, clicker, cloak, tic-tac-toe, thermometer, yellow button, waldo whisper object, checkers board, Werewolf rules, signaling device, Mike Tyson, IF Programmer Barbie, IF FLOYD'S DOWN, TELL JOTA -- OR ELSE HE WON'T KNOW, Autohugger, frobozz magic dispenser, fun shiny toy, madlibs, orange, jukebox, FREE DONUTS machine, long-stemmed red rose, dfan's quest, miniature ifMUD, Pun Police Whistle, orange door, monkey guru, mind chess, the 'hello clubfloyd' cube, apple, storyharp, save button, specimen jar, soda reading 'Don't drink me!', Best of Speed?, Gak, ClubFloyd Suggestions, colourcoding device, bunny burger, plea for Jacq's return, jellybean, Gene Ray, Photocopier, basketball, midterm monster, RPS Bot 3000 		
	Players: Waldo, Floyd, Paul, Nitku, maga, DavidW, ParserGirl, GDorn, Limax 		
	Visible Exits: northeast (to the Lounge) 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Firion arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline asks, "Okay, anything happen while I was gone?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do I need to restore or can we just resume?" 	
			Paul says, "just resume" 	
			DavidW says, "We can resume." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sa-weet." 	
			Limax exclaims, "She didn't notice!" 	
			DavidW says, "hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "Notice what? I was offline." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Above The Lab
Floyd | You are hovering in the air, several stories above the lab floor. The

Floyd | beams and girders of the ceiling are so close you could touch them,
Floyd | and the windows display a magnificent view of the campus and ocean.
Floyd | Far below, Austin looks up at you from amid a sea of equipment. Good
Floyd | thing you're not afraid of heights.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "do a flip" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion asks, "What game are we playing?" 	
			DavidW says, "Earth and Sky" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I didn't actually expect airbatics to work... but had to try." 	
			DavidW says, "aero-" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | From here, the windows command an incredible view. To the east, the
Floyd | campus spreads out before you and the main roads reach to the horizon.
Floyd | On the other side, moonlight glimmers on the vast ocean.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Right, but airbatics is a word, too." 	
			DavidW says, "I didn't know that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I used to have a Citabria, an airplane that could do barrel rolls and stuff, and the name of the plane was 'airbatic' spelled backwards. Clever, I always thought." 	
			Jacqueline says, "For the record, I never rolled it or flew it upside down. Too scared. heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But allegedly it could do that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "ANYway." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | As smoothly as you rose, you descend once more.
Floyd |

Floyd | Lab
Floyd | You are in Mom and Dad's lab. As usual, the majority of the equipment
Floyd | in this enormous space is more or less a mystery to you. Also here are
Floyd | a few tables and terminals; a ring of windows near the ceiling looks
Floyd | out on the distant stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and
Floyd | west into the hallway.

Floyd |
Floyd | The hallway door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Austin here.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, it's clear that the flying functionality is operational," says
Floyd | Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Now let's test out some of that suit's other capabilities. The notes
Floyd | mention a fog power -- the flying worked when you decided to fly, so

Floyd | let's see what happens when you try to fog something. Why don't we
Floyd | start by having you just think FOG? I have a hunch that will probably
Floyd | cloud up the general area."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Sure thing."
Floyd | 2) "Oh, there's a useful superpower. 'They're getting away! Quick,
Floyd | Fog-Woman, worsen their driving conditions!'"
Floyd | 3) "Okay, but all this moisture had better not make my hair really
Floyd | frizzy."
Floyd |

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		DavidW says, "hm. Not sure that's evidence for 'airbatics' being an actual word." 	
	inky arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "They use it in flying, but maybe not outside that. Might just be jargon." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin rolls his eyes. "Yeah, you want those glamorous powers that
Floyd | they give women in the comic books... like shrinking, or turning
Floyd | invisible. Watch out, evildoers: it's Unobtrusive Lass!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "slap austin" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Rob arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "fog" 		
	

Floyd | At your mental command, fog swirls around you, billowing out and
Floyd | silently engulfing the room. Because of the size of the lab, however,
Floyd | it quickly thins into a light mist.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Excellent!" says Austin. "Looks like the suit can generate a limited
Floyd | amount of fog when you just give the basic mental command. It's not
Floyd | enough to do much in this room, but it might be quite handy in a more
Floyd | confined space."
Floyd |

Floyd | Austin walks to a corner of the lab, retrieving a huge wooden spool
Floyd | that probably once held some of the cables powering Mom and Dad's
Floyd | various big machines. He carries it casually, in one hand, the way you
Floyd | might carry a cup of coffee. He then sets it down in front of you,
Floyd | saying, "Perhaps the suit allows you to fog specific objects as well.
Floyd | Why don't you focus your thought on fogging this spool?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Alright, I'll give it a shot."
Floyd | 2) "Why don't you focus your thought on not being so freaking bossy?"
Floyd | 3) "Hang on, I want to try something else first."

Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		ParserGirl says, "Fog? Uh, yeah. Sure. That was fog. *ahem*" 	
			inky says, "ha ha ew" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "It's fairly off-topic now, but yeah, I'm only seeing the word online in terms of pilot jargon. Good to know." 	
			Limax says, "Ooo... I like option 2" 	
			DavidW says, "go ahead" 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, we're mighty testy today, aren't we? Look, it's not like all

Floyd | this has been easy on me either, and I've been doing a lot more of the
Floyd | actual work than you have. I'm fine with that, but it doesn't mean I'm
Floyd | willing to be your personal punching bag. So do whatever you want.
Floyd | When you're interested in learning how to use the skysuit, I'll be
Floyd | waiting."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait, I thought Austin had been doing the work." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we were mopey." 	
			Limax says, "The roles have been switched" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought that, but then reread and it seemed like not." 	
			Paul says, "Austin is the one who said that." 	
			Paul says, "That last thing." 	
			DavidW says, "That was Austin replying, yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "fog austin" 		
	

Floyd | You concentrate on fogging Austin, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Interesting," muses Austin. "Apparently, the fog power only works on
Floyd | one thing at a time."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unfog" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "defog" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "tell austin to pull my finger" 		
	

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "stop fogging" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, I see. There was no dialog from us, just his reply. That was a little jarring to me for some reason." 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "remove fog" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "fog spool" 		
	

Floyd | You concentrate on fogging the large wooden spool, but nothing
Floyd | happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Did anyone tell Austin about the note from Mom?" 	
			Nitku says, "I don't think so." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a letter
Floyd |   an envelope (which is open but empty)

Floyd |   a skysuit (being worn)
Floyd |   a legal pad
Floyd |   a note
Floyd |   an access card
Floyd |   a sweatshirt
Floyd |   a pair of sweat pants

Floyd |   your sneakers
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "tell austin about the letter" 		
	

Floyd | Austin takes the letter from you and reads it, his eyes widening.

Floyd |
Floyd | He gives the letter back to you. "Seems like every clue we find leaves
Floyd | us understanding less than we did before, doesn't it?" he says. "And I
Floyd | don't know about you, but I'm starting to get pretty freaked out. I
Floyd | mean, their disappearance was terrifying enough, but now these suits,
Floyd | and this stuff about us being in danger? I just don't know what to

Floyd | think, Em. Least of all about Aunt Nina. Hey, aren't you scheduled to
Floyd | assist her in lab work tomorrow morning? Maybe you could ask her about
Floyd | all this then."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Sure."
Floyd | 2) "Oh yeah, that'll be a fun conversation. 'Howdy Aunt Nina, how are
Floyd | you? Oh, and by the way, I was wondering why you betrayed our
Floyd | family?'"
Floyd | 3) "I'll try, but Nina tends to get pretty wrapped up in her work. I
Floyd | may have to wait until after lab."

Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	crumple arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah, I've seen that in action," he laughs. "Well, at this point, the
Floyd | biggest part of the mystery is why she hasn't told us already. So I
Floyd | guess a few more hours won't kill us. I hope."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Aw. No sarcasm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fog" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "ask him about fog" 		
	

Floyd | "I suppose it's of limited use when it blocks your sight as well as
Floyd | that of others, but it's an interesting ability nonetheless."
Floyd |
Floyd | You notice that the mist has pretty much dissipated.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fog austin" 		
	

Floyd | At your mental command, fog swirls around Austin, silently engulfing
Floyd | him in a cloud of thick, grey vapor.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Verrrry funny," says the cloud. It blunders about the room for a few
Floyd | moments, finally bumping into and encompassing one of the lab's many
Floyd | tables. There is the sound of sliding papers, then a deep whoosh
Floyd | whoosh whoosh emanates from within the cloud, and you are buffeted by
Floyd | powerful waves of air. Within seconds, the cloud has cleared,

Floyd | revealing Austin waving a six-foot table as if it were an oriental
Floyd | fan.
Floyd |
Floyd | He sets the table down. "Okay, wiseass, you've made your point.
Floyd | Clearly, you can fog specific things, and even specific people. And
Floyd | I'm guessing that if you use it on somebody who can't overpower it,

Floyd | it'd probably be a pretty good weapon. I still think the spool
Floyd | would've been a better test subject, though," he says grumpily.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I think there's just one more power we have yet to test: the
Floyd | electrical blasts. Mom's notes are a little vague on this point -- it
Floyd | was probably more Dad's contribution -- but I'm betting that it works

Floyd | just like the specific fog, that you just decide what you want to
Floyd | blast and blast it. Of course, I'm not sure how much power you'll
Floyd | pack, so there's not many things in here it'd be safe to test on. How
Floyd | about we try this spool again? Either just blast it right here, or if
Floyd | you want to try it from the air, fly up to the ceiling and I'll toss
Floyd | the spool to you. I'm betting you can probably blow it to

Floyd | smithereens."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "You got it."
Floyd | 2) "Now that's more like it! KA-BLAMMO!"

Floyd | 3) "My God, you mean I can actually shoot lightning with this thing?
Floyd | This is all so surreal."
Floyd | 4) "How about we test your suit's resistance to electric shock,
Floyd | instead?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Limax says, "It just takes time" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, do we shoot Austin?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Like we fogged him?" 	
			DavidW says, "That might be dangerous." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. Well, it *said* we couldn't put the game in an unwinnable state." 	
			Limax asks, "And you believed it?" 	
			Firion says, "The biggest taboo I'm looking out for and avoiding like the plague in every game I write: Unwinnable states." 	
			Nitku says, "Let's ask his opinion about it" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "4" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin's usually confident expression collapses. "Uh, well... I have
Floyd | to say, Emily, the prospect makes me pretty nervous. I mean, it'd be
Floyd | great to find out that it works, but I'm not a hundred percent sure
Floyd | they finished building in that feature, and I don't think I'd want to
Floyd | be struck by lightning unless I was sure."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast austin" 		
	

Floyd | You extend your hand, and panic soaks Austin's face. "Emily, wait,
Floyd | STOP! What are you doing?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well," you say, "I figure: here's me with electrical powers, and
Floyd | here's you with a suit that absorbs electricity. Let's give it a try!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "But we don't know that the earthsuit's electrical protection actually
Floyd | works! I sure haven't done any tests, considering the consequences of

Floyd | those tests failing. I mean, it'd be great to find out that it works,
Floyd | but I'm not a hundred percent sure they finished building in that
Floyd | feature, and I don't think I'd want to be struck by lightning unless I
Floyd | was sure."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "austin, you pussy" 		
	

Floyd | "Now who's the bossy one?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast austin" 		
	

Floyd | You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue electricity
Floyd | arcs between you and Austin. "Emily, no! Don't--" he says, then sees
Floyd | the buzzing, sparking current and screams in alarm. For a moment, you
Floyd | are both frozen in that tableau, and then Austin's body begins to
Floyd | convulse, his muscles spasming uncontrollably as the current races

Floyd | through them. A jolt of adrenaline hits you, but the skysuit
Floyd | interprets your muscle tension as a command to continue the lightning,
Floyd | and Austin's seizure goes on. Finally, with utmost willpower, you
Floyd | relax your muscles, and the power stops flowing. You run to Austin,
Floyd | but you know the truth even before you reach him: it's much too late.
Floyd | Your lightning has stopped his heart, and he lies lifeless on a lab

Floyd | floor that grows ever colder beneath you.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have killed your brother ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		GDorn exclaims, "woo!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "hahaha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		Firion plays Taps 	
	

Floyd | Lab
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, okay, the game's unwinnable state = you lose immediately. Fair enough. heh" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast me" 		
	

Floyd | Nothing happens. Apparently, the suit has some sort of safeguard
Floyd | against self-destruction. Guess you'll have to go back to the

Floyd | slitting-your-wrists idea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "yie" 	
			Limax says, "That was an unwinnable state" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fog me" 		
	

Floyd | Thick, swirling fog coalesces around you, and you find yourself...
Floyd |
Floyd | Lost in a Cloud
Floyd | A thick cloud of impenetrable mist surrounds you on all sides.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh dear. I shouldn't laugh at that, but it was funny." 	
			GDorn says, "hahaha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Yup" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "say 'excuse me'" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Lost in a Cloud
Floyd | A thick cloud of impenetrable mist surrounds you on all sides.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (to yourself)
Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fog lifts, and you can see again.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lab

Floyd | You are in Mom and Dad's lab. As usual, the majority of the equipment
Floyd | in this enormous space is more or less a mystery to you. Also here are
Floyd | a few tables and terminals; a ring of windows near the ceiling looks
Floyd | out on the distant stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and
Floyd | west into the hallway.
Floyd |

Floyd | The hallway door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Austin and a large wooden spool here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blast spool" 		
	

Floyd | You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue electricity
Floyd | arcs between you and the large wooden spool. With a thundering
Floyd | KER-POW, the large wooden spool disintegrates, leaving only a smoking

Floyd | scorch mark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin whistles. "Wow," he says. "That is one powerful blast. Looks
Floyd | like you could pretty much obliterate most any nearby object, unless
Floyd | it was well grounded and a very good conductor. Even then, it'd
Floyd | probably get pretty fried by the sheer voltage passing through it. I

Floyd | suppose it'd have less effect on very large objects -- the damage
Floyd | would probably be localized, but still significant. Basically, you
Floyd | pack quite a wallop!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, I guess the suit checks out," says Austin. "We've tested every
Floyd | power mentioned in this notebook, and they all seem to work. I have no

Floyd | idea what Mom and Dad intended their original purpose to be, but
Floyd | they're not here to tell us, and the suits seem to fit us fine. So let
Floyd | me ask you this, Emily: How would you feel about using these suits to
Floyd | investigate the situation ourselves? I don't much feel like a
Floyd | superhero, but in a sense, that's what we are when we've got these
Floyd | suits on. Maybe we can explore avenues that aren't exactly open to the

Floyd | police. What do you say?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."

Floyd | 3) "We can't be superheroes! We don't know a thing about investigating
Floyd | a crime! How is shooting lightning and lifting heavy things going to
Floyd | find us clues that the police can't find?"
Floyd | 4) "I can't be a superhero! I don't have long, flowing hair or
Floyd | gigantic breasts!"
Floyd | 5) "You can't be a superhero! You're not covered with steroid-enhanced

Floyd | bulges!"
Floyd | 6) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"
Floyd | 7) "We can't be superheroes without snazzy-sounding code names, now
Floyd | can we?"
Floyd | 8) "I can't be a superhero! I'm in horrible shape! I probably couldn't
Floyd | even run around the block!"

Floyd | 9) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd | 10) "We can't be superheroes! How will we wear these suits without
Floyd | being noticed?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		GDorn says, "man, the fog jokes" 	
			GDorn asks, "where does the fog come from, anyway?" 	
			ParserGirl says, "yay 4" 	
			Limax says, "Hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We could say that, of course." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "4" 		Limax asks, "Why not?" 	
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin laughs. "I don't think those things are really much of an asset
Floyd | in combat, do you? I bet you could demolish any of those Pam Anderson

Floyd | types."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."

Floyd | 3) "We can't be superheroes! We don't know a thing about investigating
Floyd | a crime! How is shooting lightning and lifting heavy things going to
Floyd | find us clues that the police can't find?"
Floyd | 4) "You can't be a superhero! You're not covered with steroid-enhanced
Floyd | bulges!"
Floyd | 5) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"

Floyd | 6) "We can't be superheroes without snazzy-sounding code names, now
Floyd | can we?"
Floyd | 7) "I can't be a superhero! I'm in horrible shape! I probably couldn't
Floyd | even run around the block!"
Floyd | 8) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd | 9) "We can't be superheroes! How will we wear these suits without

Floyd | being noticed?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "4" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Austin smirks, and rolls his eyes. "Let's find Mom and Dad first, then
Floyd | I promise I'll subscribe to bodybuilding magazines and start cranking
Floyd | the anabolics. Okay?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."
Floyd | 3) "We can't be superheroes! We don't know a thing about investigating
Floyd | a crime! How is shooting lightning and lifting heavy things going to
Floyd | find us clues that the police can't find?"
Floyd | 4) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"

Floyd | 5) "We can't be superheroes without snazzy-sounding code names, now
Floyd | can we?"
Floyd | 6) "I can't be a superhero! I'm in horrible shape! I probably couldn't
Floyd | even run around the block!"
Floyd | 7) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd | 8) "We can't be superheroes! How will we wear these suits without

Floyd | being noticed?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, my snarking is done." 	
	Limax says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "But Emily, we already have. Without the skysuit, would we ever have
Floyd | found that note Mom left? She must have used the suit herself to get
Floyd | it up there. Anyway, it's better than just sitting around waiting for
Floyd | something to happen. Right?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."
Floyd | 3) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"
Floyd | 4) "We can't be superheroes without snazzy-sounding code names, now

Floyd | can we?"
Floyd | 5) "I can't be a superhero! I'm in horrible shape! I probably couldn't
Floyd | even run around the block!"
Floyd | 6) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd | 7) "We can't be superheroes! How will we wear these suits without
Floyd | being noticed?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "7" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah, the whole 'secret identity' problem. I always thought it was a

Floyd | little silly for comicbook superheroes to hide their identities, but
Floyd | maybe we ought to do that, at least until we find Mom and Dad.
Floyd | Otherwise, there might be a lot of uncomfortable suspicions around us,
Floyd | not to mention around Mom and Dad's research."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I agree, but that doesn't answer my question," you say.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, right. Actually, Mom and Dad seem to have thought of that, too. I
Floyd | tested wearing street clothes over the earthsuit before you got here;
Floyd | when enough of the suit is covered, the visible parts fade into
Floyd | transparency, and the cowl does some kind of holo-projection thing so
Floyd | that your hair and face look normal, too. It's really cool. You should

Floyd | give it a try sometime. The only problem is that you can't use the
Floyd | suit's powers when it's covered like that -- I think it uses mostly
Floyd | photoreceptors to power itself. But that's probably for the best,
Floyd | since without the cowls visible it'd just look like us doing those
Floyd | superpower things. Anyway, I hope that addresses your objection."
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."
Floyd | 3) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"
Floyd | 4) "We can't be superheroes without snazzy-sounding code names, now

Floyd | can we?"
Floyd | 5) "I can't be a superhero! I'm in horrible shape! I probably couldn't
Floyd | even run around the block!"
Floyd | 6) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Nitku says, "wow, super-supersuits" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I suspect that no matter how much we protest, we will end up saying #1." 	
			DavidW says, "And they have unstable molecules too!" 	
			Nitku says, "So we can just try them all" 	
			DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "It'll come down to yes or no. 1 or 2." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "4" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Cool code names, eh? Well, since it's an earthsuit and a skysuit that
Floyd | give us our powers, how about something that incorporates those

Floyd | elements? Like, I don't know... Earth-Man and Sky-Girl?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "First of all," you say, "why is it that you get to be a Man, and I'm
Floyd | just a Girl? Also, Earth-Man sounds like something a Star Trek alien
Floyd | would call you."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Okay, fine. What's your idea?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I think rather than try to sound like cheesy comic book superheroes
Floyd | by appending things like 'Man' or 'Lass' or 'Captain' or whatever, we
Floyd | ought to keep it short and elegant. How about just Earth and Sky?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Earth and Sky. I have to admit, those do sound pretty cool. Okay,
Floyd | Earth and Sky it is. So now that we have our cool code names, will you
Floyd | help me investigate this disappearance?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."
Floyd | 3) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"
Floyd | 4) "I can't be a superhero! I'm in horrible shape! I probably couldn't
Floyd | even run around the block!"
Floyd | 5) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		schep says, "oho, sounds like Earth & Sky in there" 	
	schep arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	maga's studied dalliance with his venal muses is little to our taste. 		Jacqueline asks, "Ack! Whaddimiss?" 	
	Jacqueline gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. 		
	Jacqueline arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Rob has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I don't think you missed anything." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, apparently nothing. For some reason only I bounced, not Perry." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Weird." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Shall we power through the rest of the denial, or just say #1?" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm logging too, fwiw." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "4" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Heh. I know what you mean. Still, with these suits, it's not like we
Floyd | really need to be in good shape. You can fly wherever you want to go,
Floyd | and this suit keeps me strong enough to run or jump or whatever

Floyd | without getting particularly winded. It probably wouldn't hurt us to
Floyd | start working out a little more, but it's not like we have to be
Floyd | Olympic athletes before we can use these suits."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."
Floyd | 3) "I can't be a superhero! I'm scared to death of fighting!"
Floyd | 4) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Jacqueline says (to DW), "Oh, good. This coffee shop logging is a touch tenuous." 	
			Jacqueline says (to schep), "Yep, Earth and Sky." 	
	Firion goes home. 		Limax says, "Let's see... with suits he says that you can't be hurt... yet you killed him" 	
			Jacqueline smirks. 	
			Nitku asks, "Wanna prove him wrong?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Enh, we already killed him." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin turns serious. "Well me too, of course. Certainly we'll have an

Floyd | advantage over anybody we want to take on, but I have no illusions
Floyd | that it won't be dangerous. I'm scared, too. But I guess I just think
Floyd | that if we can find Mom and Dad, it'll be worth the risk."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."
Floyd | 3) "We can't be superheroes! What if we get hurt?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		schep says, "I'll just watch, since I've played it a couple times and remember most of it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "What if Mom and Dad are already hurt?" retorts Austin. "Anything that
Floyd | happens to us couldn't be any worse than the fears I know we've both

Floyd | had about them. Don't we owe it to them to take that risk?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Okay, you've convinced me. Let's do it."
Floyd | 2) "No. I'm sorry, but I just think it's a bad idea."

Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin looks crestfallen, but reaches out to pat you on the shoulder.

Floyd | "Okay, Em. I understand, I really do. Why don't you just leave the
Floyd | suit here and head on home? I'll meet up with you tomorrow. Also, I'd
Floyd | appreciate it if you'd still talk to Aunt Nina tomorrow, and let me
Floyd | know what you find out. Sleep well, Emily."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue.]
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                                     E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd |                                       A N D
Floyd |
Floyd |                                       S K Y
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                          Part 2: Shake, Rattle, and Roar
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | It's hard to imagine how Nina Icolari ever became friends with your
Floyd | parents. Where they are serious and straightforward, even to the point
Floyd | of stuffiness, she's fun-loving and mischievous. Mom and Dad are night
Floyd | owls, while Nina works best early in the morning. Your parents drink
Floyd | Coke, she drinks Pepsi, and so on. But all those differences vanish
Floyd | inside the lab, where your goofy Aunt Nina suddenly metamorphoses into

Floyd | a world-class biologist, a driven scientist doing some of the most
Floyd | cutting-edge research in the field. When she's working, it's almost
Floyd | impossible to distract her with anything else, which makes your task
Floyd | today a difficult one...
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Observation Booth
Floyd | This small chamber is an adjunct to the materials handling room,
Floyd | designed to allow observation and some degree of remote control over
Floyd | the equipment in that room. On the north wall is the long, rectangular
Floyd | pane of thick glass that separates the two rooms, and below that is a

Floyd | control panel. Opposite the edges of this large window, on the south
Floyd | side of the room, a couple of tall window-slats let in the sunlight.
Floyd | To the west is the door out to the hallway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Should we undo?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or go this route?" 	
			GDorn says, "huh." 	
			Limax asks, "Why not go this way?" 	
			schep says, "it makes only minor differences" 	
			GDorn says, "almost would rather the game forced #1 on us." 	
			Nitku says, "I'm holding on to the no-dead-ends promise" 	
	schep says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a letter

Floyd |   a buzzer
Floyd |   an access card
Floyd |   your sneakers (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of sweat pants (being worn)
Floyd |   a sweatshirt (being worn)
Floyd |   a legal pad

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "I was thinking it would force #1, actually." 	
			DavidW asks, "'Nina Icolari' is an odd name. Does it anagram to anything?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But sure, we can go this route." 	
			Limax says, "I nan raloc ii" 	
			GDorn says, "A Nail Ironic" 	
			Limax says, "A Rilian coin" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x her" 		
	

Floyd | I'm not sure what "her" refers to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "I, Cranial Ion" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh, is she not actually here yet?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x Nina" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x nina" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "Where are we?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Observation Booth
Floyd | This small chamber is an adjunct to the materials handling room,
Floyd | designed to allow observation and some degree of remote control over

Floyd | the equipment in that room. On the north wall is the long, rectangular
Floyd | pane of thick glass that separates the two rooms, and below that is a
Floyd | control panel. Opposite the edges of this large window, on the south
Floyd | side of the room, a couple of tall window-slats let in the sunlight.
Floyd | To the west is the door out to the hallway.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x buzzer" 		
	

Floyd | Austin invented this gizmo. It's a plastic device, about the size and
Floyd | shape of a pencil, with a button on one end. When you push that
Floyd | button, the buzzer sends a signal to Austin, and the button flashes

Floyd | until he acknowledges the message. Then he'll come running to find
Floyd | you, following the buzzer's GPS signal. He asked you to take the
Floyd | buzzer this morning so that you could notify him immediately after you
Floyd | talk to Aunt Nina about the letter, or in case anything unusual comes
Floyd | up.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | This control panel rivals an airplane cockpit for complexity, and Aunt
Floyd | Nina hasn't trained you on a whole lot of its functions. The only
Floyd | controls you really know are a horizontal lever, a vertical lever, and

Floyd | a pale green switch. There is also a speaker and microphone built into
Floyd | the control panel so that people in the two rooms can talk to each
Floyd | other.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x horizontal" 		
	

Floyd | The horizontal lever controls the containment chamber where samples
Floyd | are kept before transfer. Pulling the lever opens the chamber, and
Floyd | pushing it closes the chamber.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x vertical" 		
	

Floyd | The vertical lever activates the security door for the materials
Floyd | handling room. If you pull it, a thick plate of lead alloy slides over
Floyd | the outside of the door, serving both as warning and protection for

Floyd | anyone outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x button" 		
	

Floyd | Austin invented this gizmo. It's a plastic device, about the size and

Floyd | shape of a pencil, with a button on one end. When you push that
Floyd | button, the buzzer sends a signal to Austin, and the button flashes
Floyd | until he acknowledges the message. Then he'll come running to find
Floyd | you, following the buzzer's GPS signal. He asked you to take the
Floyd | buzzer this morning so that you could notify him immediately after you
Floyd | talk to Aunt Nina about the letter, or in case anything unusual comes

Floyd | up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pale green" 		
	

Floyd | Once a sealed container has been placed within the transfer chamber,

Floyd | the pale green switch activates a sterile transfer to the desired
Floyd | receptacle. The switch is currently in the OFF position.
Floyd |
Floyd | One of the double-doors to the materials handling room opens, and in
Floyd | strides Aunt Nina. She's looking as beautiful as ever today, even with
Floyd | her dark hair pulled back into a severe bun.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Hi Emily," she says, her voice sounding tinny through the control
Floyd | panel speakers. Her attention is focused on the containment chamber,
Floyd | and you get the sense that she's only barely aware of your presence.
Floyd | "How are you today?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I'm fine, thanks."
Floyd | 2) "Actually, I'm kind of reeling. Can I talk to you about it?"
Floyd | 3) "I'm over here, Aunt Nina. That's the containment chamber you're
Floyd | talking to."

Floyd | 4) "Aunt Nina, I want to talk to you about this letter I found. It
Floyd | says you know something about Mom and Dad's disappearance."
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Good, good, I'm glad to hear it," says Aunt Nina distractedly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to nina" 		
	

Floyd | "Aunt Nina, I really need to talk to you about something," you
Floyd | venture.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Can it wait, please? Finishing this procedure is my top priority
Floyd | today, then we can talk."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Well, I'd rather not wait..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I need to ask you to wait today, Emily. Thanks for understanding."
Floyd |
Floyd | "But Aunt Nina, I found a letter from Mom last night saying that you
Floyd | have information about where Mom and Dad are!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "I don't have time to write you a recommendation letter right now,
Floyd | Emily. Let's talk about it after the transfer," she says, her eyes on
Floyd | the transfer chamber controls.
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, Aunt Nina, I said--"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Emily, please!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You lapse into silence rather than continue the fruitless
Floyd | conversation.
Floyd |

Floyd | This is really very odd. Aunt Nina is always a little out of it when
Floyd | she's focused on a procedure, but you've never seen her quite this out
Floyd | of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aunt Nina walks over to the containment chamber and starts inspecting
Floyd | it, talking to you all the time. You recognize this behavior -- you

Floyd | and Austin call it her Lecture Mode, and once it starts rolling, it's
Floyd | about as easy to stop as a speeding train.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So, as I'm sure you remember, Emily, these experiments deal with
Floyd | bacteria that I'm convinced are at least 250 million years old. These
Floyd | guys were around millions of years before the first dinosaurs evolved,

Floyd | back when all the continents were in one smushed-together landmass
Floyd | called Pangaea. The bacteria have been trapped in a deposit of salt
Floyd | crystals since that time, and today's procedure is the next step in
Floyd | extracting the bacteria so that we can study them."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast nina" 		
	

Floyd | You can't blast anything until you put the skysuit back on.
Floyd |
Floyd | "People have found living bacteria trapped in salt before," continues
Floyd | Aunt Nina, "but their reports have been rejected because they couldn't

Floyd | prove that the microbes weren't actually contaminants from the lab.
Floyd | This time, though, we've taken extraordinary precautions -- everything
Floyd | has been in a sterile environment from the outset, and we've washed
Floyd | the salt crystals with both caustic bleach and acid. Then once the
Floyd | crystals are in the transfer chamber, we'll use sterilized equipment
Floyd | to drill inside them."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're evil." 	
			GDorn says, "indeed." 	
			Nitku says, "Well if you can blast stuff you should blast stuff." 	
			schep says, "man, good thing you didn't agree to the whole superhero dream. if that were the case, you might actually have the skysuit with you right now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we do have a save we could restore, but let us not encourage George." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, maybe we help her so that then she'll talk to us?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to nina" 		
	

Floyd | It's clearly pointless to even try talking to Aunt Nina right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aunt Nina walks over to the transfer chamber and starts typing on the

Floyd | attached keyboard, double-checking the programming of its internal
Floyd | equipment. "The bacteria actually live in tiny pockets of brine inside
Floyd | the crystals, so we'll extract that fluid and add some nutrients to
Floyd | see what grows. I think they've been able to survive this long because
Floyd | they were in a spore state, essentially shut down. But preliminary
Floyd | testing indicates that once these bacteria leave the spore state, they

Floyd | may be able to multiply astonishingly quickly."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x switch" 		
	

Floyd | Once a sealed container has been placed within the transfer chamber,

Floyd | the pale green switch activates a sterile transfer to the desired
Floyd | receptacle. The switch is currently in the OFF position.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course, there is a danger that the radiation emitted by nearby
Floyd | rocks might have damaged the DNA of this bacteria sometime during its
Floyd | 250 million year journey, but without a metric for comparison, it may

Floyd | be hard to tell. In any case, it certainly raises interesting
Floyd | questions about the limits of life. Knowing that bacteria can survive
Floyd | for this long in such an unforgiving environment has even begun to
Floyd | make me wonder whether it's possible that they can hop from one planet
Floyd | to another -- who knows, perhaps these microbes have an
Floyd | extraterrestrial origin?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This is starting to not sound good." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like, we don't want to wake these little spores up." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But of course we will anyway." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x resonance cascade" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aunt Nina is still staring at the transfer chamber screen and typing
Floyd | furiously. She says, "Alright Emily, let's get started. Please close
Floyd | the security door so that we can safely open the containment chamber."
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Activating security door."
Floyd | 2) "Um... how do I do that again?"
Floyd | 3) "Would you please stop talking for just a minute so I can ask you
Floyd | something?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Aunt Nina gets up from the transfer chamber and starts leafing

Floyd | intensely through one of the notebooks she brought in with her. She
Floyd | doesn't answer you.
Floyd |
Floyd | A prickling feeling is creeping up the back of your skull. Something
Floyd | is definitely wrong with Aunt Nina.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		GDorn asks, "which lever was the security door?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Aunt Nina is POSSESSED BY ALIEN BACTERIA" 	
			GDorn says, "oh, there" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "pull vertical" 		
	

Floyd | You hear a hum of servos, followed by a resonant thump. The red bulb
Floyd | lights up, indicating that the security door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Excellent," says Aunt Nina. She sets the notebook down and walks over
Floyd | to the containment chamber. "Now open the containment chamber,

Floyd | please."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Opening containment chamber."
Floyd | 2) "That's the horizontal lever, right?"

Floyd | 3) "That's the pale green switch, right?"
Floyd | 4) "That's the chartreuse trackball, right?"
Floyd | 5) "It really doesn't matter what I say, does it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Jacqueline says, "The horizontal opens & closes the chamber, the vertical does the security door." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "5" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Right, that's right," mumbles Aunt Nina, running a finger over one of
Floyd | her written calculations.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Hee hee... nothing like 5" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push vertical" 		
	

Floyd | You don't want to raise the security door in the middle of an

Floyd | experiment!
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's the horizontal lever. Did I say that? I can't remember. Well,
Floyd | that's what it is."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "dang" 	
			(from Jacqueline) Jacqueline says (to Limax), "That sounds like the voice of experience. You're married, aren't you?" 	
			Limax sobs 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "Go ahead, cry. It doesn't matter what you say or do, really." 	
			GDorn asks, "but what if I DO want to raise the security door in the middle of an experiment?" 	
			Limax says, "that's what I'm crying about" 	
			Paul says, "You'd be surprised how few marriage counselors are prepared to deal with the 'spouse possessed by alien bacteria' scenario." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Yeah, I think it's a failure of higher education to not properly prepare them for holistic counseling, really. Pity." 	
			GDorn says, "'heuristic counseling'" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pull horizontal" 		
	

Floyd | With a hydraulic hiss, the containment chamber slides open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aunt Nina's eyes light up as the containment chamber reveals its

Floyd | prize. She reaches in to retrieve it, a circular steel platter sealed
Floyd | by a glass dome. Beneath that hemisphere of glass sits a milky
Floyd | crystal, about the size of both your fists held together.
Floyd |
Floyd | Gingerly, she steps away and turns to face the transfer chamber, her
Floyd | eyes never leaving the crystal. She takes one step towards the

Floyd | transfer chamber, then stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | She lifts her head as if listening for something, a confused look on
Floyd | her face. Then you hear it, too.
Floyd |
Floyd | THRUMM

Floyd |
Floyd | It sounds almost like distant thunder, but also wrong, and even as
Floyd | this thought reaches you, the walls are swaying and the ground bucking
Floyd | like ocean waves.
Floyd |
Floyd | "EARTHQUAKE!" you manage to shout, looking over at Aunt Nina. She is

Floyd | gripping the platter tightly, her face consumed by utter panic. Then a
Floyd | particularly violent tremor throws her from her feet, the glass dome
Floyd | shattering next to her face. Finally, with a tremendous KER-CHUNK, a
Floyd | piece of equipment falls between you and Aunt Nina, blocking your view
Floyd | of her as the tremors subside.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | The button begins flashing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x nina" 		
	

Floyd | The view through the window is blocked by a huge rectangle of black
Floyd | metal.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now you hear a new sound, a deep animal growl. It's quiet at first,

Floyd | but quickly crescendos into a mind-shatteringly loud
Floyd | RRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRR!
Floyd |
Floyd | Then with a FA-FOOOOM! the ground is shaking again. The equipment that
Floyd | was blocking the large window falls onto its face, and you can see the
Floyd | materials handling room again. Except Aunt Nina isn't there. What's

Floyd | there is a monstrous leg the size of a redwood tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | And here you'd thought this day couldn't get any worse.
Floyd |

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x leg" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue.]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                     E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd |                                       A N D

Floyd |
Floyd |                                       S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                               Part 3: Monster Mash

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, it can always get worse." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Observation Booth
Floyd | The earthquake has left its mark on the observation booth. A hole
Floyd | large enough to walk through has opened in the east wall, and a long
Floyd | crack has appeared in the large window pane to the north. The control
Floyd | panel beneath it seems relatively unscathed, as does the hallway door
Floyd | on the west side of the room.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x leg" 		
	

Floyd | All you can see from here is the monster's leg, but that's more than
Floyd | enough to terrify you. It's green, and appears to be covered by thick,

Floyd | spiky shell plates. Even the toenails are obscenely huge and
Floyd | terrifying, five-foot cones tapering to lethally sharp points.
Floyd |
Floyd | Breathlessly, Austin arrives in the observation booth, wearing the
Floyd | earthsuit. "Emily, thank goodness you're OK," he says, hugging you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Thanks for buzzing me," he says. "I got suited up and came as soon as
Floyd | I got the message. What the hell is that thing?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I wish I knew -- Aunt Nina was transferring the salt crystal to

Floyd | the containment chamber when the quake happened. After the dust
Floyd | settled, this thing suddenly appeared!"
Floyd | 2) "Would you believe... a really bad case of the prehistoric flu?"
Floyd | 3) "What does it look like? It's a freaking huge green monster!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Wait, she had the crystal in her hands when the quake happened?" You
Floyd | nod.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Aha," says Austin, a look of comprehension dawning on his face. "Then
Floyd | I'll bet it cracked open next to her face, she inhaled those microbes,
Floyd | and here we have the results.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So if we can kill the bacteria, we might get rid of the monster and
Floyd | get Aunt Nina back at the same time!" concludes Austin. "Well, I'm no

Floyd | microbiologist, but I've spent enough time in the lab with Aunt Nina
Floyd | that I may be able to whip up some kind of rapid antibiotic. But I'll
Floyd | need to use the equipment in Aunt Nina's lab. In the meantime, find a
Floyd | way to stop tall, green, and ugly from wrecking the campus -- knock
Floyd | her out if you can. I'm not sure we'll be able to medicate her while
Floyd | she's still conscious."

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin thrusts something into your hands. "You'll probably need this,"
Floyd | he says. "I know you said you didn't want to, but I really can't see
Floyd | any other way. I'll be back as soon as I can!"
Floyd |
Floyd | With that, Austin sprints out through the hole in the wall, and you

Floyd | see him leaping over the biology building, heading towards Aunt Nina's
Floyd | lab on the other side of the building.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looks like it's up to you now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I'm no microbiologist, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." 	
			Paul says, "ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a skysuit

Floyd |   a letter
Floyd |   a buzzer
Floyd |   an access card
Floyd |   your sneakers (being worn)
Floyd |   a pair of sweat pants (being worn)
Floyd |   a sweatshirt (being worn)

Floyd |   a legal pad
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ah, the skysuit." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "wear suit" 		
	

Floyd | [first removing the sweatshirt]
Floyd |
Floyd | [first removing the sweat pants]
Floyd |
Floyd | [first removing the sneakers]
Floyd |

Floyd | You get back into the skysuit. Again, you feel the tingling in your
Floyd | scalp as you don the cowl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Mmm... tingly." 	
			GDorn says, "justasec" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Observation Booth
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "remove pants" 		
	

Floyd | You take off the sweat pants.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ha." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You're in the midst of changing clothes.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Timing. I should have known that's what you wanted to do." 	
			GDorn says, "haha" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "wear suit" 		
	

Floyd | [first removing the sweatshirt]
Floyd |
Floyd | [first removing the sneakers]
Floyd |
Floyd | You get back into the skysuit. Again, you feel the tingling in your

Floyd | scalp as you don the cowl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "we didn't try pants removal with people around, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, next time, perhaps." 	
			schep says, "it's not like Aunt Nina would notice" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of GDorn), "Is this some fetish you'd like to tell us about, by the way?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is low enough that all you could do is hover a foot or so
Floyd | above the ground, so you don't bother.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is low enough that all you could do is hover a foot or so
Floyd | above the ground, so you don't bother.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Observation Booth
Floyd | The earthquake has left its mark on the observation booth. A hole

Floyd | large enough to walk through has opened in the east wall, and a long
Floyd | crack has appeared in the large window pane to the north. The control
Floyd | panel beneath it seems relatively unscathed, as does the hallway door
Floyd | on the west side of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blast crack" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the window. There is now a large
Floyd | black scorch mark on the window.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x window" 		
	

Floyd | A long crack has appeared in the glass, but it still holds. What you
Floyd | can see through the glass makes you wish the view was still blocked.
Floyd | The window is also marred by scorch marks from your electrical blast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast window" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the window. There is now another

Floyd | large black scorch mark on the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm. Was hoping that would open 'er up." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside the Biology Building
Floyd | The campus biology building is a masterpiece of design, but it's just
Floyd | been made significantly less beautiful by the earthquake that's
Floyd | knocked a hole in its east wall. Then again, having a colossal green
Floyd | beast with one foot planted in the building won't win it a spread in

Floyd | Architectural Digest either.
Floyd |
Floyd | The monster tries to remove its foot from the biology building, but
Floyd | the hole is much too small.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops away as you soar upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | At the Monster's Knees
Floyd | You are at the monster's knees, and you're starting to get a sense of

Floyd | what it must be like to be an insect. The massive legs dominate the
Floyd | landscape like twin towers, one rising out of a hole in the bio
Floyd | building's roof while the other decimates the sidewalk with stomps and
Floyd | scratches.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast knees" 		
	

Floyd | The power crackles in your fingertips, and then a giant spark leaps
Floyd | between you and the monster's legs, with a thunderous KER-POW! The
Floyd | creature makes an unnerving high-pitched shriek as the bolt connects
Floyd | with its thigh.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've got the monster's attention now, and its huge claw is hurtling
Floyd | towards you!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fog me" 		
	

Floyd | Within moments, fog is swirling around you, but those moments are all
Floyd | the monster needs.
Floyd |
Floyd | WHAMMO! You twist to avoid the claws, but the flat of the monster's
Floyd | hand slams into you with unbelievable force. Your suit seems to absorb

Floyd | some of the impact by slowing your trajectory, but you're still sent
Floyd | flying into the library, landing with a crash that nearly knocks you
Floyd | silly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Roof of the Library
Floyd | Everything is fading in and out, and you can't seem to focus.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks (of GDorn), "Wow, good one. Maybe should have saved first?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | At the Monster's Knees

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Also, since we have some new folks here, to save, don't tell Floyd, just type >PUSH SAVE" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | [Can't "undo" twice in succession. Sorry!]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | At the Monster's Knees
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | Outside the Biology Building
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You start to flee from the scene, but hesitate. Aunt Nina is still
Floyd | missing. The creature is wreaking havoc. You and Austin may be the
Floyd | only ones who stand a chance of stopping it. Can you really abdicate
Floyd | that responsibility?
Floyd |
Floyd | Another parked car crumples beneath the beast's stamping foot; this is

Floyd | sure to be a black day in the history of auto and building insurance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		schep says, "I don't think you can actually lose this battle. Just have a long difficult time of it at worst." 	
			Jacqueline says, "There we go. Now, do your worst, George." 	
			GDorn says, "hah. undo override overridden" 	
			Jacqueline says (to GDorn), "Indeed. We have our ways." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | The ground drops away as you soar upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | At the Monster's Knees
Floyd | You are at the monster's knees, and you're starting to get a sense of
Floyd | what it must be like to be an insect. The massive legs dominate the
Floyd | landscape like twin towers, one rising out of a hole in the bio
Floyd | building's roof while the other decimates the sidewalk with stomps and
Floyd | scratches.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast knees" 		
	

Floyd | The power crackles in your fingertips, and then a giant spark leaps
Floyd | between you and the monster's legs, with a thunderous KER-POW! The

Floyd | creature makes an unnerving high-pitched shriek as the bolt connects
Floyd | with its thigh.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've got the monster's attention now, and its huge claw is hurtling
Floyd | towards you!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You soar higher, up to the monster's midsection.
Floyd |
Floyd | At the Monster's Belly

Floyd | Floating in the air, eye level with the belly of the beast, it's hard
Floyd | not to imagine that belly containing the remains of anybody foolish
Floyd | enough to aggravate this creature. The monster's head looms menacingly
Floyd | above you, and its spiky legs descend like barbed towers to the
Floyd | ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | The behemoth misses you, but that only seems to make it more
Floyd | determined. Another claw is coming at you like the Mortality Express.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "blast claw" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the monster. The creature recoils
Floyd | slightly, squealing with surprise.
Floyd |
Floyd | WHAMMO! You twist to avoid the claws, but the flat of the monster's
Floyd | hand slams into you with unbelievable force. Your suit seems to absorb

Floyd | some of the impact by slowing your trajectory, but you're still sent
Floyd | flying into the library, landing with a crash that nearly knocks you
Floyd | silly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Roof of the Library
Floyd | Everything is fading in and out, and you can't seem to focus.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | You shake your head to clear out the last few cobwebs, and your vision
Floyd | snaps back into focus.

Floyd |
Floyd | Roof of the Library
Floyd | You have found yourself on the roof of the library. The heating and
Floyd | air-conditioning ducts have buckled and broken from the force of the
Floyd | quake, and the tarpaper beneath you feels hot and slippery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Girding yourself for battle once more, you fly back to the scene of
Floyd | the rampage.

Floyd |
Floyd | At the Monster's Knees
Floyd | You are at the monster's knees, and you're starting to get a sense of
Floyd | what it must be like to be an insect. The massive legs dominate the
Floyd | landscape like twin towers, one rising out of a hole in the bio
Floyd | building's roof while the other decimates the sidewalk with stomps and

Floyd | scratches.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've got the monster's attention now, and its huge claw is hurtling
Floyd | towards you!
Floyd |
Floyd | It looks like your blasts are affecting the creature -- its swipes are

Floyd | becoming more furious, and its howls more tinged with pain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fog moster" 		
	

Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You soar higher, up to the monster's midsection.
Floyd |

Floyd | At the Monster's Belly
Floyd | Floating in the air, eye level with the belly of the beast, it's hard
Floyd | not to imagine that belly containing the remains of anybody foolish
Floyd | enough to aggravate this creature. The monster's head looms menacingly
Floyd | above you, and its spiky legs descend like barbed towers to the
Floyd | ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | Thanks to your fancy flying, you've managed to avoid getting swatted,
Floyd | but there's no time to celebrate, because another claw is coming
Floyd | towards you!
Floyd |
Floyd | The monster tries to remove its foot from the biology building, but

Floyd | the hole is much too small.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fog monster" 		
	

Floyd | At your mental command, fog swirls around the monster. However, the

Floyd | creature is so mind-staggeringly large that by the time the fog covers
Floyd | his length, it has thinned into wisps of vapor that blow away at the
Floyd | monster's next roar.
Floyd |
Floyd | WHAMMO! This time you're too slow to avoid the claw, and pain razors
Floyd | through you as the point penetrates your calf. As you sail towards the

Floyd | library, you notice that the suit has sealed itself over the wound and
Floyd | applied pressure to stop the bleeding. Then you're slamming into the
Floyd | roof, and everything goes black for just a moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't take much more of this.
Floyd |

Floyd | Roof of the Library
Floyd | Everything is fading in and out, and you can't seem to focus.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "I think we need to make it to her head and then fog that" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Go fer it." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Roof of the Library

Floyd | Everything is fading in and out, and you can't seem to focus.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Roof of the Library
Floyd | Everything is fading in and out, and you can't seem to focus.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "shake head" 		
	

Floyd | Your vision is swimming, and you're too dazed to do anything but lie
Floyd | still for a moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | You shake your head to clear out the last few cobwebs, and your vision
Floyd | snaps back into focus.
Floyd |

Floyd | Roof of the Library
Floyd | You have found yourself on the roof of the library. The heating and
Floyd | air-conditioning ducts have buckled and broken from the force of the
Floyd | quake, and the tarpaper beneath you feels hot and slippery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Girding yourself for battle once more, you fly back to the scene of
Floyd | the rampage.
Floyd |

Floyd | At the Monster's Knees
Floyd | You are at the monster's knees, and you're starting to get a sense of
Floyd | what it must be like to be an insect. The massive legs dominate the
Floyd | landscape like twin towers, one rising out of a hole in the bio
Floyd | building's roof while the other decimates the sidewalk with stomps and
Floyd | scratches.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've got the monster's attention now, and its huge claw is hurtling
Floyd | towards you!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You soar higher, up to the monster's midsection.
Floyd |
Floyd | At the Monster's Belly
Floyd | Floating in the air, eye level with the belly of the beast, it's hard
Floyd | not to imagine that belly containing the remains of anybody foolish

Floyd | enough to aggravate this creature. The monster's head looms menacingly
Floyd | above you, and its spiky legs descend like barbed towers to the
Floyd | ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The behemoth misses you, but that only seems to make it more
Floyd | determined. Another claw is coming at you like the Mortality Express.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Wind streaming through your hair, you zoom upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | At the Monster's Head
Floyd | The creature's close-set yellow eyes burn with anger as you hover in
Floyd | front of its face. From here, the thing's fetid breath washes over you
Floyd | like a tidal wave of swamp gas, and its roars are louder than jet
Floyd | engines. The ground seems very far below you now.
Floyd |

Floyd | Thanks to your fancy flying, you've managed to avoid getting swatted,
Floyd | but there's no time to celebrate, because another claw is coming
Floyd | towards you!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "huh. I had the impression the suit was sealed" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It did reseal to stop our bleeding, I thought." 	
			GDorn asks, "so. blast the monster or fog the monster?" 	
			Nitku says, "Fog the eyes" 	
			GDorn says, "I meant the wind streaming through your hair part" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, that. Huh. Yeah." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fog eyes" 		
	

Floyd | At your mental command, fog swirls around the monster's eyes, silently
Floyd | engulfing them in thick, grey vapor. The creature squeals in confusion
Floyd | as it loses its sight.

Floyd |
Floyd | The creature is flying into a frenzy, clutching its eyes with one hand
Floyd | and lashing out randomly with the other. Its feet stomp in fury,
Floyd | leveling trees and cars. Better take this beast down, and fast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast monster" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the monster. The blast strikes home
Floyd | between two armor-plates, and the creature screams in pain and rage.
Floyd |

Floyd | The beast reels back for a moment, temporarily stunned by the
Floyd | cumulative electrical power you've directed at it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast monster" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the monster. The bolt hits thick
Floyd | green hide, creating an impressive scorch mark but failing to do much
Floyd | actual damage.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blast eyes" 		
	

Floyd | The monster is thrashing about wildly in its blindness, and your
Floyd | lightning bolt misses its eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The beast's claws dig deep furrows in the concrete sidewalks.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast claws" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the monster. You make the mistake of

Floyd | looking directly at the lightning, and are blinded for a moment. When
Floyd | your vision clears, the monster seems to be bleeding slightly where
Floyd | you hit it.
Floyd |
Floyd | The creature picks up a stray car and throws it in your general
Floyd | direction. The car misses you, but slams into the side of the library,

Floyd | shaking that building's walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | The monster is wounded now in several places, and a sickly smoke
Floyd | drifts upward from the cauterized spots beneath its armor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "blast face" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the monster's head. The beast emits a
Floyd | keening wail and clutches the side of its head in torment.
Floyd |

Floyd | The creature picks up a stray car and throws it in your general
Floyd | direction. The car misses you, but slams into the side of the library,
Floyd | shaking that building's walls.
Floyd |
Floyd | The fog lifts, and the monster's eyes are visible again.
Floyd |

Floyd | The thing is stomping, swinging its arms, and bleating despair at its
Floyd | inability to stop the pain. It reminds you of nothing so much as a
Floyd | boxer, badly beaten and on the ropes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Another parked car crumples beneath the beast's stamping foot; this is
Floyd | sure to be a black day in the history of auto and building insurance.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "fog eyes" 		
	

Floyd | At your mental command, fog swirls around the monster's eyes, silently
Floyd | engulfing them in thick, grey vapor. The creature squeals in confusion

Floyd | as it loses its sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The creature is flying into a frenzy, clutching its eyes with one hand
Floyd | and lashing out randomly with the other. Its feet stomp in fury,
Floyd | leveling trees and cars. Better take this beast down, and fast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Heehee. 'Black day in the history of auto and building insurance.'" 	
			GDorn asks, "what part have we not blasted yet?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "blast face" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue
Floyd | electricity arcs between you and the monster's head. The beast emits a
Floyd | keening wail and clutches the side of its head in torment.
Floyd |
Floyd | The monster screams its frustration at not being able to find and
Floyd | crush you.

Floyd |
Floyd | The creature is swaying now, its voice ragged. Deadly claws still
Floyd | search for you, but you get the sense that the beast can't last much
Floyd | longer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | KER-POW! Your blast strikes the monster, and its head rocks back. It
Floyd | staggers, drops to one knee (crushing half the gymnasium in the
Floyd | process). Finally, with a long, foghorn groan, it falls forward,
Floyd | landing with its face planted in the football field.

Floyd |
Floyd | The creature lies motionless. Suddenly, a streak of grey appears,
Floyd | arcing over the stadium wall -- it's Austin! He lands by the
Floyd | creature's head, and motions for you to join him. Relief singing
Floyd | through your veins, you alight on the field next to your brother.
Floyd |

Floyd | On The Fifty Yard Line
Floyd | You are standing on the fifty-yard line of the University stadium, or
Floyd | at least what's left of it after the colossal green monster fell
Floyd | headlong onto the field. Something tells you that your student fees
Floyd | may be going towards an Astroturf installation some time soon.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see the monster's head and Austin here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin hands you a liquid-filled balloon. "That's got the supercharged
Floyd | antibiotic inside. It's not the world's finest delivery system, but it
Floyd | was the best I could improvise on short notice. The monster will have
Floyd | to ingest it, so it looks like I'll need to lift the head while you

Floyd | throw the balloon at its mouth."
Floyd |
Floyd | Without waiting for you to respond, he walks around to the creature's
Floyd | brow, slips his fingers underneath, and heaves. "URRGH! Hurry, Emily!
Floyd | This head is even heavier than it looks!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, well, well. Isn't that convenient. He shows up NOW." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice one, Bro." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "punt" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "BLAST HIM" 	
			schep says, "don't worry, in game 2 you get to play as Austin and Emily is useless" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh. True, I'd forgotten." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Next week, then." 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "eat balloon" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hurry!" says Austin. "It's slipping!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "put balloon in mouth" 		
	

Floyd | The liquid-filled balloon sails into the creature's mouth, causing the
Floyd | beast to swallow reflexively. When the mouth opens again, the

Floyd | liquid-filled balloon is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Seeing that the creature has swallowed its medicine, Austin steps back
Floyd | from the head, which drops with an earthshaking CRASH! You both watch
Floyd | the creature intently, as it lifts its head to regard you, not with
Floyd | anger now, but with puzzlement.

Floyd |
Floyd | And then you notice: the creature is shrinking. Its skin thins,
Floyd | wrinkles, deepens from its greenish cast to the rich brown of Aunt
Floyd | Nina's skin. Soon it is only a dazed Aunt Nina before you, naked and
Floyd | shivering. You quickly retrieve your sweatshirt and pants, and Austin
Floyd | helps you put the clothes onto her.

Floyd |
Floyd | She embraces you and your brother in a fierce hug. "Oh Austin, Emily!"
Floyd | she cries. "I remember now! On the same day that Claire and Scott
Floyd | disappeared these... things found me in my lab. They did something to
Floyd | my brain -- wiped out my memory, put all my focus on the experiment.
Floyd | But whatever happened to me just now must have broken their mental

Floyd | constraints." You show her the letter, and she scans it, nodding.
Floyd | "Yes, yes! It's true -- I do have information that I know can help you
Floyd | find your parents. Oh Emily, I'm so sorry I couldn't give it to you
Floyd | before now!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You look over at Austin, and he nods. "You'll have plenty of time to

Floyd | talk to us, Aunt Nina, but what you need right now is rest," he says.
Floyd | Then he gathers her into his powerful arms, and leaps over the stadium
Floyd | wall, heading for home. You're about to fly after him, when you catch
Floyd | sight of a reporter and a camera operator, scrambling through the
Floyd | rubble towards you. "Miss! Wait -- miss!" the reporter shouts,
Floyd | thrusting a microphone into your face. "Can you give us a statement?

Floyd | What happened here? Who are you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | You smile. "Call us Earth and Sky," you say, and then take to the air,
Floyd | flying home faster than any news copter can follow.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have saved the day ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Watch for Episode 2 of EARTH AND SKY, coming in 2002 to an IF archive
Floyd | near you!
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		Nitku says, "Whee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we shall play part two next week, folks. Hope to see you there!" 	
			Paul says, "Hey thanks for doing this Jacq. That was really fun to watch." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "I'm glad. Thank *you* for being here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's neat when authors show up, particularly when we have questions about how things work in terms of coding or what the thought process was behind something." 	
			schep asks, "there's three episodes so far, right?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Think you can make it next week, Paul?" 	
			Paul says, "For at least some part of things, yes." 	
			Jacqueline says (to schep), "Yeah, three." 	
			Paul says (to schep), "yes, three" 	
			GDorn asks, "what would have happned if we'd failed?" 	
	GDorn says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | On The Fifty Yard Line
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin's muscles are shaking with exertion. "Emily, I can't hold on
Floyd | much longer!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I'm losing it!" cries Austin, and steps back from the head, which
Floyd | drops with an earthshaking CRASH! The creature groans, and Austin
Floyd | shoots a look of pure frustration at you. "Come on, Emily! I can't
Floyd | hold the head up and deliver the antibiotic! Your part isn't
Floyd | difficult, so do it, before this thing wakes up again!" He bends his
Floyd | knees, grips the monster's brow, and hauls the enormous head up again.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "aww" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, let's keep failing him, then, George." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The monster groans again, and Austin has to scramble into a new
Floyd | position as the great head begins to stir. "Emily!" he shouts
Floyd | desperately.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	GDorn says (to floyd), "blast monster" 		
	

Floyd | You rear back to blast the creature once again, but then you remember
Floyd | that Austin is holding it -- what if his suit's shock resistance isn't
Floyd | up to par?

Floyd |
Floyd | A mammoth eye flicks open, regarding you with vague hatred.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | With unexpected speed, the creature snaps its head up, and closes its
Floyd | immense mouth on you! Looks like you're delivering the antibiotic
Floyd | after all, but you probably won't survive the trip.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You are a pill ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

		GDorn says, "hahaha" 	
			schep says, "excellent" 	
			Jacqueline says, "HOORAY" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Haha. That's great." 	
			schep says, "even a double-meaning" 	
			GDorn asks, "what happens to Nina a minute later?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "She dies because she shrinks with us in her stomach. It's sort of like a scene out of ALIEN." 	
	crumple is over 		Jacqueline says, "Pretty grusome, so Paul made it fade to black instead." 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, gruesome." 	
			Paul says, "Either that or she just feels really full." 	
			Paul says, "It is fun to see stuff I've totally forgotten about writing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "REALLY full." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "heh. Excellent." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Anything else we want to try, or can I work on processing the script?" 	
			schep says, "there is something optional in the game, which I didn't find until a later episode referenced it." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do you recall?" 	
			schep says, "yeah, in the lab scene" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "The first one, or the one with Nina?" 	
			schep says, "the beginning, I should say" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Above The Lab
Floyd | You are hovering in the air, several stories above the lab floor. The
Floyd | beams and girders of the ceiling are so close you could touch them,
Floyd | and the windows display a magnificent view of the campus and ocean.

Floyd | Far below, Austin looks up at you from amid a sea of equipment. Good
Floyd | thing you're not afraid of heights.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | As smoothly as you rose, you descend once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lab
Floyd | You are in Mom and Dad's lab. As usual, the majority of the equipment
Floyd | in this enormous space is more or less a mystery to you. Also here are
Floyd | a few tables and terminals; a ring of windows near the ceiling looks

Floyd | out on the distant stars. Doors lead south into the storage room and
Floyd | west into the hallway.
Floyd |
Floyd | The hallway door is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The storage room door is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Austin here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, it's clear that the flying functionality is operational," says
Floyd | Austin.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Now let's test out some of that suit's other capabilities. The notes
Floyd | mention a fog power -- the flying worked when you decided to fly, so
Floyd | let's see what happens when you try to fog something. Why don't we
Floyd | start by having you just think FOG? I have a hunch that will probably
Floyd | cloud up the general area."
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Sure thing."
Floyd | 2) "Oh, there's a useful superpower. 'They're getting away! Quick,
Floyd | Fog-Woman, worsen their driving conditions!'"
Floyd | 3) "Okay, but all this moisture had better not make my hair really

Floyd | frizzy."
Floyd |
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Jacqueline says (to schep), "Go for it." 	
	schep says (to Floyd), "/undo" 		
	

Floyd | High Above The Lab
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | High Above The Lab
Floyd | You are hovering in the air, several stories above the lab floor. The
Floyd | beams and girders of the ceiling are so close you could touch them,
Floyd | and the windows display a magnificent view of the campus and ocean.
Floyd | Far below, Austin looks up at you from amid a sea of equipment. Good

Floyd | thing you're not afraid of heights.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "x beams" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is braced by a pattern of struts and beams, all made of

Floyd | steel and painted an industrial maroon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "search beams" 		
	

Floyd | The ceiling is braced by a pattern of struts and beams, all made of

Floyd | steel and painted an industrial maroon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Paul says, "Okay, I gotta go. Thanks again." 	
	schep says (to Floyd), "x equipment" 		
	

Floyd | The equipment is just as baffling from the top-down view.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Bye, Paul!" 	
			schep says, "hmmm" 	
			Paul says, "The other optional thing I can think of is that you can blind Nina when she's in monster form. Schep, you may have been thinking of the envelope, which they did find." 	
			schep says, "ah, okay" 	
			Paul says, "Ep 2 I think asks continuity questions at the beginning, one of which is whether Nina was blinded." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, that." 	
			Paul says, "Okay, bye." 	
	Paul has disconnected. 		
	Paul goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "Okay, I'll process this transcript. Thanks for coming, everyone, and see you next week!"	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Another Earth, Another Sky by Paul O'Brian
As played on ifMUD on February 1, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Another Earth, Another Sky, written by Paul O'Brian. Another Earth, Another Sky was originally released as part of the 2002 IF Competition, where it took first place. It received Xyzzy nominations for Best Game, Best Individual NPC, Best Puzzles, Best Setting, and Best Writing, and ultimately took the Xyzzy for Best Use of Medium. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Paul arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Jacqueline says, "Hiya, Paul." 		
	Paul says, "Hey" 		
	Nitku arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	crumple arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Lucea says, "I haven't played the sequel, so I'm excited" 	
	D arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Otto arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Otto says, "Hello" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hello, Otto and Lucea and my... lots of people today. Hooray." 	
			Otto says (to Jacqueline), "I won't stay for long. I wanted to play earth and sky, and I haven't finished yet (I was sick last week so I couldn't come). Besides I don't have much time this evening, so I just come to say hello before you start" 	
			crumple says, "unfortunately, work demands mean i will only be keeping one eye on my monitor." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah... glad you are feeling better, Otto. And that was sweet of you to come say hello." 	
	Jacqueline says, "Okay, folks. Let's get started... refrain from chatter in the room and keep it on #ClubFloyd..." 		
	Jacqueline says (to floyd), "load eas2" 		
	

Floyd | >Are you sure you want to quit? Welcome to the Cheap Glk
Floyd | Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | It's been quite a week.
Floyd |
Floyd | Was it just two nights ago that you found the suits? You were
Floyd | searching through your parents' lab as usual, desperate for clues to
Floyd | explain their recent disappearance, when you found a latch on one of
Floyd | the machines. It opened, revealing two bodysuits crammed inside. One

Floyd | fit you perfectly. The other seemed to be made for your sister Emily.
Floyd | Hers, the "skysuit", gives her the power to fly, to generate thick
Floyd | fog, and to fire blasts of intense electrical energy, while your
Floyd | "earthsuit" has granted you the strength of a giant, and the
Floyd | invulnerability of a mountain.
Floyd |

Floyd | The powers came in handy the next morning, when your parents' best
Floyd | friend, Dr. Nina Icolari, found herself transformed into a raging,
Floyd | hundred-foot-tall monster. Aunt Nina had been working with some
Floyd | ancient bacteria, trapped for eons in a salt crystal, when an untimely
Floyd | earthquake shattered the crystal. She inhaled the microbes, became a
Floyd | behemoth, and only the power of your suits and your brains saved the

Floyd | campus from destruction.
Floyd |
Floyd | You employed a fast-acting antibiotic to reverse the transformation,
Floyd | and when she changed back, Aunt Nina realized that her memories of
Floyd | your parents' disappearance had been mysteriously altered... and that
Floyd | the trauma of metamorphosis had somehow restored them. Those memories

Floyd | have led you here, to a remote cabin in the Sierra Nevadas. Here, you
Floyd | hope that where the police have failed, Earth and Sky may succeed.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY
Floyd | Earth And Sky: Episode 2

Floyd | Serial interactive fiction by Paul O'Brian
Floyd | First-time players should type INFO or read the eas2info.txt file
Floyd | Release 2 / Serial number 030112 / Inform v6.21(G0.36) Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside the Cabin
Floyd | The air is vivid and cold here, deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Floyd | Evergreens surround you, except to the north, where a gravel driveway
Floyd | leads back to the main road, and to the south, where a small cabin
Floyd | occupies a clearing. Beyond the cabin, and above it, the observatory's
Floyd | domed roof casts a long, round shadow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is here, having just hiked up the driveway with you. "Thanks for

Floyd | driving us up here, Austin," she says. "Remember, though: I get
Floyd | control of the CD player on the way back down!"
Floyd |

		Bert says, "Recap... complete." 	
			Jacqueline says, "To be fair, it didn't save the campus from destruction, merely from *total* destruction." 	
			Nitku asks, "Is Paul coming tonight?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "He's here." 	
			Paul waves 	
			Nitku says, "Oh, oops. Hi." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about cd player" 		
	

Floyd | >"Our agreement still holds -- don't you try to weasel out of it."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x emily" 		
	

Floyd | >Like you, Emily is decked out in her superhero regalia, a blue
Floyd | skysuit with cloudy white streaks.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, ">?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Huh. What's the >?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that > is a right angle bracket. Furthermore, ascii 62 is >." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Alex, ever-helpful and yet not." 	
			Nitku says, "It prints the prompt in the wrong place." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask emily about cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |   a cabin key

Floyd |
Floyd | >"Pretty tiny, when you look at it."
Floyd |

		Paul asks, "Glulx thing maybe? Has clubfloyd ever done a glulx game before?" 	
			DavidW says, "Must be how the game gets rendered in this terp." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yes, we've done Glulx games, and I don't remember seeing it." 	
			DavidW says, "We've played Glulx games here before." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I mean, it's no big deal, I was just curious." 	
			Paul says, "Okay then, I'm all out of theories." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Some scientist YOU'd be." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x earthsuit" 		
	

Floyd | >It's a form-fitting grey bodysuit, peppered with black speckles and
Floyd | shot through with streaks of yellow and orange, and it grants you

Floyd | immense strength and near-invulnerabilty to impact. The earthsuit is
Floyd | made of a thick, flexible material that you suspect must conceal an
Floyd | amazing array of enhancer circuitry. A combination cowl and mask rises
Floyd | from the collar to cover your head and eyes.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "emily, blast me" 		
	

Floyd | >"I'd better not. We don't know that your suit's electrical resistance
Floyd | is working, remember?"
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask emily about my suit" 		
	

Floyd | >"I have to say I prefer mine. I'm sure super-strength is great, but
Floyd | your colors are just a little too drab."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Lucea says, "aw." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask emily about her suit" 		
	

Floyd | >"The superpowers are great and everything, but I'd really prefer
Floyd | something a little less... skintight."
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "I like my suit." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about nina" 		
	

Floyd | >"Seems like she's recovering OK. I know she really wants to look into
Floyd | how that bacteria was able to do what it did, but I'm not sure if she
Floyd | has any other samples."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >When an alum of modest means and solitary habits bequeathed this
Floyd | cabin and its small parcel of mountain land to the University,
Floyd | Administration was faced with a choice. They could either sell off the
Floyd | land and put the money into the general fund, or they could try to

Floyd | find some use for it. Enter Dr. Thaddeus Andrews, who offered to use
Floyd | his own inheritance to build an observatory on the land, and to
Floyd | christen it the High Sierra Research Station. Indeed, that's what the
Floyd | sign on this humble little cabin reads. The cabin's door is closed.
Floyd |

		
	Roger arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "lift cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >That's hardly portable.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "lift emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"Hey. Hey!" protests Emily. "Hands off!"
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "unlock cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >(with the cabin key)
Floyd | You unlock the wooden door.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >"Pretty tiny, when you look at it."

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | >HIGH SIERRA RESEARCH STATION
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Go in?" 	
			DavidW says, "sure" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >[first opening the cabin door]
Floyd | You step into the relative dimness of the small cabin.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H

Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY
Floyd |
Floyd | Part One

Floyd |
Floyd | "The Owner of this House
Floyd | A Stranger He must be --
Floyd | Eternity's Acquaintances
Floyd | Are mostly so -- to me."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Main Room
Floyd | Some people might describe the interior of this cabin as "cozy", but
Floyd | you're more inclined to face facts and call it what it is: cramped.
Floyd | Furnishings are minimal: a table, a few chairs, a hotplate, and a
Floyd | television that probably hasn't worked since the mid-1980s. The back

Floyd | door is south and the front door north, and two doors on the eastern
Floyd | wall lead northeast and southeast, to the bedroom and bathroom
Floyd | respectively.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands here, looking around.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the table are some loose papers.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily takes a quick glance at the papers on the table, and exhales.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Listen, Austin," she says, "I find all these diagrams and
Floyd | observatories and whatnot a bit exhausting, so I'd like for you to

Floyd | take the lead for a while, if that's OK. Let me know if there's
Floyd | anything specific you'd like me to do -- otherwise I'm just going to
Floyd | follow you around and offer my help if I think of anything that seems
Floyd | significant."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "No problem."
Floyd | 2) "Don't sell yourself short. Just because you're not a scientist
Floyd | doesn't mean you can't comprehend this stuff."
Floyd | 3) "Oh sure. When it comes to flying around and fighting monsters,
Floyd | you're all over it, but things like diagrams just tucker you out."

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Shame we don't get the cool graphics this way." 	
	Otto goes home. 		Paul says, "I'm glad that at least the alt text is showing up, though" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 3
Floyd |
Floyd | She laughs. "Well, I could probably do diagram-reading and then
Floyd | monster-fighting, but for some strange reason I find the other way
Floyd | round just a wee bit more taxing."

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Outside the Cabin
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Aw." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I meant to be nice and say 2 in the first place." 	
			DavidW says, "We undo'ed all the way outside." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, speaking of which..." 	
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		DavidW says, "Go in, and you'll get the choice again." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter cabin" 		
	

Floyd | >[first opening the cabin door]
Floyd | You step into the relative dimness of the small cabin.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |

Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY
Floyd |
Floyd | Part One
Floyd |

Floyd | "The Owner of this House
Floyd | A Stranger He must be --
Floyd | Eternity's Acquaintances
Floyd | Are mostly so -- to me."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily follows you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Main Room
Floyd | Some people might describe the interior of this cabin as "cozy", but
Floyd | you're more inclined to face facts and call it what it is: cramped.
Floyd | Furnishings are minimal: a table, a few chairs, a hotplate, and a
Floyd | television that probably hasn't worked since the mid-1980s. The back
Floyd | door is south and the front door north, and two doors on the eastern

Floyd | wall lead northeast and southeast, to the bedroom and bathroom
Floyd | respectively.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is here, watching you.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table are some loose papers.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily takes a quick glance at the papers on the table, and exhales.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Listen, Austin," she says, "I find all these diagrams and
Floyd | observatories and whatnot a bit exhausting, so I'd like for you to
Floyd | take the lead for a while, if that's OK. Let me know if there's

Floyd | anything specific you'd like me to do -- otherwise I'm just going to
Floyd | follow you around and offer my help if I think of anything that seems
Floyd | significant."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "No problem."
Floyd | 2) "Don't sell yourself short. Just because you're not a scientist
Floyd | doesn't mean you can't comprehend this stuff."
Floyd | 3) "Oh sure. When it comes to flying around and fighting monsters,
Floyd | you're all over it, but things like diagrams just tucker you out."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 2
Floyd |
Floyd | "I never said I couldn't comprehend it, just that it annoys and tires

Floyd | me to mess with it. I need a break, okay? I had a pretty rough day
Floyd | yesterday -- it's your turn to be the leader of this outfit."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "She's punny." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "read papers" 		
	

Floyd | >These papers are torn from a legal pad, and you recognize your
Floyd | father's handwriting and his extremely minimalist notation style on
Floyd | them. Most of them contain diagrams and equations that look quite
Floyd | similar to those you found with the suits, but there is one paper that
Floyd | seems to have notes on an unrelated topic:

Floyd |
Floyd | WWK: [This you recognize as Dad's abbreviation for "What We Know" --
Floyd | he's in the habit of making "What We Know" lists when trying to figure
Floyd | out a problem.]
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) Al. thru port.

Floyd | 2)T gone
Floyd | 3)T cont. by Al. (4 help?)
Floyd | 4)Al. prob. OK, but ???
Floyd | 5)N's mic. maybe invol.?
Floyd |
Floyd | Must purs. -- Claire agr.

Floyd |
Floyd | Claire is your mom's name, but that's all you can say for sure about
Floyd | this note.
Floyd |

		Roger says, "and no T" 	
			DavidW says, "Obviously we must acquire both T and not T." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show papers to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >(first taking the loose papers)
Floyd | "I'm horrible at figuring out Dad's notes, but I bet this last word is
Floyd | 'agree.' I wonder what Mom agreed to?"

Floyd |

		Nitku says, "We should ask Dr. Schr?dinger about that" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask emily about papers" 		
	

Floyd | >"That's pretty definitive proof that at least Dad was here."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Must pursue, Clair agrees?" 	
			DavidW says, "yeah" 	
			Lucea asks, "N's...microphone?" 	
			DavidW says, "N is Nina, I think." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nina's Microbes maybe involved, I think." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tv" 		
	

Floyd | >This dilapidated old wreck of a TV appears to have been cannibalized
Floyd | for spare parts some time ago.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x table" 		
	

Floyd | >This battered table looks like it's seen many a meal.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x hotplate" 		
	

Floyd | >Here you thought it was only college students whose only culinary
Floyd | equipment consisted of a hotplate and a saucepan. Turns out at least
Floyd | one college professor shares the predilection.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table" 		
	

Floyd | >Dust. Ancient scraps of food. The occasional ant. In short, nothing
Floyd | interesting or useful.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kill ant" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			DavidW asks, "Northeast or southeast?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Also, man. Why do people hate insects so much?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "I care not." 	
			DavidW says, "They BUG us." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bedroom
Floyd | Dusty, golden light seeps in through the closed curtains, further
Floyd | highlighting the various earth tones that adorn this sparse room. The
Floyd | wallpaper is brownish-orange, the nightstand is dark oak, the
Floyd | bedspread burnt sienna, and so on. The cabin's main room is west.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Wow," says Emily. "Somebody hasn't redecorated since the 1970s."
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is alongside you, resplendent in blue and white.
Floyd |
Floyd | The nightstand has a drawer, which is closed.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open drawer" 		
	

Floyd | >The drawer is locked.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "break drawer" 		
	

Floyd | >CRRASH! You hammer your fist on the oak tabletop, and the nightstand
Floyd | splinters into pieces. A notepad and a legal pad appear to be lying
Floyd | amid the debris.
Floyd |

Floyd | "If I ever open an antique store," says Emily, "you aren't allowed
Floyd | in."
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "ha" 	
			Bert says, "I see that the usual tendency to attempt to Get It On with NPCs apparently does not extend to incest." 	
			Bert says, "Unless that happened last time, and I missed it." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x notepad" 		
	

Floyd | >From the unfamiliar handwriting and the nature of the notes, you
Floyd | surmise that this notepad must belong to Dr. Andrews. Amid pages of
Floyd | detail about the orbital periods of various planets, telescope

Floyd | azimuths and elevations, spectroscope readings, and suchlike, you find
Floyd | a crude drawing of an apparently artificial sphere, with a
Floyd | cross-section showing an inner circle connected to its outer shell by
Floyd | two long columns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beneath these pictures is a swarm of equations, some of which appear

Floyd | to be calculations of density, gravitational pull, and surface
Floyd | temperature. The temperature equations in particular are interesting,
Floyd | as it appears that Dr. Andrews was either unable to come up with a
Floyd | solution, or unable to settle on one of many.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take notepad and legal pad" 		
	

Floyd | >notepad: Taken.
Floyd | legal pad: Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x debris" 		
	

Floyd | >These are the remains of a once-proud nightstand. Well, maybe not
Floyd | proud. A once-intact nightstand.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search it" 		
	

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x legal" 		
	

Floyd | >This is one of those legal pads that your Dad is known for filling

Floyd | with his cryptic notations, and indeed, this one bears his signature
Floyd | style. The notes are for a process that looks utterly unfamiliar to
Floyd | you. The most you can piece together is that it takes the
Floyd | dumbbell-shaped wave function of an electron at a particular energy
Floyd | state and splits it into two bubbles (though how a wave function can
Floyd | even be treated as a physical entity, let alone split, is left

Floyd | unexplained), allowing "half-electrons" to jump instantaneously from
Floyd | one bubble to the next along some extra-dimensional quantum pathway.
Floyd | Dad's laconic note-taking style doesn't make clear whether this is
Floyd | just a thought experiment, but knowing him, he's probably found some
Floyd | physical use for it.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "mourn nightstand" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "repair nightstand" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show legal to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"The scary thing is, this could be his grocery list and I still

Floyd | wouldn't understand it."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show notepad to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >She scratches her head. "Yikes," she says. "That thing looks like a
Floyd | hamster wheel."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bed" 		
	

Floyd | >The bed is unmade, and you suspect that's its natural state.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under bed" 		
	

Floyd | >Peering under the bed, you discover... that Thaddeus Andrews
Floyd | apparently was not big on the concept of "dusting."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about andrews" 		
	

Floyd | >"I never met him. Small wonder, really, considering how much time he
Floyd | spent up here."
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "dust" 		
	

Floyd | >What do you want to dust?
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "under bed" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "break bed" 		
	

Floyd | >It may be clobberin' time, but there's no reason to clobber that.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open curtains" 		
	

Floyd | >You open the curtains, letting light through the window.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through window" 		
	

Floyd | >You see the driveway and evergreens outside.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bedspread" 		
	

Floyd | >This bedspread is rumpled and messy, and obviously many years old.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | >It's chilly up here in the mountains, but not so chilly that you'd
Floyd | need to drape a comforter around yourself.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Huh. Dust is a default verb? Surely not." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we're done in this room." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Carry on..." 	
			DavidW says, "Dust is not a default verb." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Main Room
Floyd | Some people might describe the interior of this cabin as "cozy", but

Floyd | you're more inclined to face facts and call it what it is: cramped.
Floyd | Furnishings are minimal: a table, a few chairs, a hotplate, and a
Floyd | television that probably hasn't worked since the mid-1980s. The back
Floyd | door is south and the front door north, and two doors on the eastern
Floyd | wall lead northeast and southeast, to the bedroom and bathroom
Floyd | respectively.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands here, looking around.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | >You take a quick look around the bathroom, but since you find nothing

Floyd | out of the ordinary and don't require the facilities at the moment,
Floyd | you return to the main room.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "I'm impressed with the thoroughness of the implementation" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chairs" 		
	

Floyd | >You see nothing special about the chairs.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I like the bits about dust and ants and stuff." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't think of a compelling reason to wreck the ceiling.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | >You see nothing special about the ceiling.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x floor" 		
	

Floyd | >You see nothing special about the floor.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search tv" 		
	

Floyd | >This TV doesn't even have enough parts left for you to MacGyver some
Floyd | clever device out of it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" 		
	

Floyd | >There are several ways out. Please specify a direction.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't go that way.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Where's the main door?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >[first opening the back door]
Floyd | It seems to be locked.
Floyd |

		
	ParserGirl arrives, full of fun and funk. 		DavidW says, "hold on" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break back door" 		
	

Floyd | >Given that you have the key, that seems needlessly destructive.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock back door" 		
	

Floyd | >You unlock the back door from the inside.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | >You open the back door.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Behind The Cabin

Floyd | The view from behind the cabin is spectacular. The research station
Floyd | isn't situated in the highest part of the mountain range -- it isn't
Floyd | even above timberline -- but it's high enough to afford an expansive
Floyd | panorama of the valley below. The observatory is a little further up
Floyd | the incline to the south, and the cabin stands to the north, its back
Floyd | door open.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Perhaps we need to go to the observatory" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, fly" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily rockets upward, swooping out over the valley. "Whooooooo!" she
Floyd | cries. "It's just beautiful up here!" After a few more aerial fillips,
Floyd | she returns to earth. "I didn't see anything alarming, but it is a
Floyd | heckuva view."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That sounds reasonable." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about roof" 		
	

Floyd | >"It keeps the rain out, I guess."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Observatory Entrance
Floyd | A rocky path ends here, just north of the door to the concrete,

Floyd | rectangular portion of the observatory. Unlike the small observatory
Floyd | on the main campus, this one makes no particular concessions to
Floyd | aesthetics, and its door wouldn't be out of place on a bank vault. The
Floyd | path leads back down and north to the cabin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Man. Emily even has something to say about the roof." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't, since the steel door is in the way.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | >The observatory door is an imposing affair, with a large U-shaped
Floyd | handle and a very serious-looking lock. It's hard to be sure, but
Floyd | you're guessing the door's made of solid steel, no doubt with a
Floyd | massive deadbolt. It's currently shut tight.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | >(with the cabin key)
Floyd | That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x handle" 		
	

Floyd | >The observatory door is an imposing affair, with a large U-shaped
Floyd | handle and a very serious-looking lock. It's hard to be sure, but
Floyd | you're guessing the door's made of solid steel, no doubt with a
Floyd | massive deadbolt. It's currently shut tight.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, fly" 		
	

Floyd | >She nods, and floats upwards. When she alights on the ground again,
Floyd | she says, "The telescope dome is closed, and there are a bunch of
Floyd | solar panels on the roof, but that's about all I noticed."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "break door" 		
	

Floyd | >BANG! You slam your fist into the door, denting it a little.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >BANG! You slam your fist into the door, denting it a little.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "break lock" 		
	

Floyd | >BANG! You slam your fist into the door, denting it a little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >BANG! You slam your fist into the door, denting it a little.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, zap door" 		
	

Floyd | >"Yeah! I'll give it my fastball," says Emily. She goes into an
Floyd | exaggerated windup, and as her hand comes forward for the pitch,
Floyd | brilliant blue electricity crackles between her fingertips and the
Floyd | steel door. An explosive KER-POW splits the air, and the steel door is

Floyd | left standing, scorched but unmoved.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, that was anticlimactic," she says.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "lift observatory" 		
	

Floyd | >That's hardly portable.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull door" 		
	

Floyd | >SKREEEEEEEK! Planting your feet firmly, you pull at the handle. The

Floyd | door strains, then buckles, and the handle comes partway detached. But
Floyd | by then you can grip the door itself, and a mighty heave pulls it the
Floyd | rest of the way free, tearing it right off its hinges.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sweet. We're in." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "give door to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >(first taking the mangled steel door)
Floyd | You've already rendered the door useless. Let it go.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I shouldn't hog the controls. Someone else venture in." 	
			Bert asks, "Who else hasn't played yet?" 	
			Roger says, "A Mighty Heave" 	
			ParserGirl says, "My fingers are greasy from tacos." 	
			Nitku says, "I haven't" 	
	D goes home. 		DavidW says, "I've played before." 	
			DavidW says (to Nitku), "so take us in" 	
			Nitku says, "Don't mind if I do" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Observatory
Floyd | The observatory is astonishing. It's not the desk, or the computer, or
Floyd | the other laboratory accoutrements that make it so, but rather the

Floyd | staggeringly complex mass of ornate machinery that smothers every
Floyd | wall. Tubes, readouts, and gleaming metal plates swarm together in a
Floyd | lunatic collage, every lever and dial shouting your parents' design
Floyd | influence as surely as if they had autographed their work. You've
Floyd | known these sights all your life, but their presence here is a shock
Floyd | -- clearly, Mom and Dad were collaborating far more closely with Dr.

Floyd | Andrews than they ever revealed. The newly opened entranceway leads
Floyd | back north, and a doorway leads east to the telescope dome.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily leans against the wall here.
Floyd |
Floyd | In front of the dome doorway, seemingly generated by the room's

Floyd | prodigious gadgetry, is a curious projection: a curtain of light,
Floyd | within which coruscate ever-shifting patterns and colors. The curtain
Floyd | covers the doorway completely -- there doesn't seem to be any way to
Floyd | cross the threshold into the dome without first crossing the
Floyd | flickering barrier.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I've played, but so long ago I remember nada." 	
			DavidW says, "I love it when IF uses words like 'coruscate'." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't think of a compelling reason to wreck the ceiling.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x projection" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >The patterns of light that define the curtain refuse to stay still.
Floyd | Symmetrical fluorescent squiggles travel from the edges to the center,
Floyd | only to dissolve into sparkling dots that dance in Brownian ecstasy,
Floyd | adhering into gentle pastel waves, which in turn become spinning

Floyd | geometric designs, and so on.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   a legal pad

Floyd |   a notepad
Floyd |   some loose papers
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |   a cabin key
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >Gingerly, you reach out to touch the sparkling curtain, and feel a
Floyd | force pull sharply on your fingers, drawing you further into the
Floyd | light. Startled, you yank your hand out and back away from the
Floyd | curtain, with a clammy suspicion that it was only the power of the

Floyd | earthsuit that allowed you to break free of that inexorable pull.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I'd suggest throwing something through first." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "ask emily about the curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >"Freaky, isn't it? I feel like the Jefferson Airplane should be

Floyd | playing in front of it."
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "throw emily through curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >I only understood you as far as wanting to throw Emily.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Perhaps the key" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "throw emily at curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >(first taking Emily)
Floyd | "Hey. Hey!" protests Emily. "Hands off!"
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "throw key at curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >The cabin key sails toward the curtain of light, and disappears. The
Floyd | barrier is only semi-transparent, but you don't see the cabin key land
Floyd | on the other side.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x equipment" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "emily, go e" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" 		
	

Floyd | >"I think I'd prefer to stick together."
Floyd |
Floyd | >Unlike the corporate, modular furniture popular in university
Floyd | offices, this is an honest-to-goodness desk: huge, made of wood, big

Floyd | file drawer... the works. There is a computer on the desk.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x computer" 		
	

Floyd | >A cursory examination of the computer reveals that it is
Floyd | password-locked, and you haven't got a clue what Andrews' password

Floyd | might be. Looks like this is one lock that you won't be able to tear
Floyd | open.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x file drawer" 		
	

Floyd | >The drawer is closed, but doesn't appear to have a lock. Apparently

Floyd | Dr. Andrews thought that the immense steel door was security enough.
Floyd | So much for that theory!
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | >You open the drawer, revealing a headset.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x headset" 		
	

Floyd | >It's clear that this device is meant to be worn on the head, but
Floyd | that's the only obvious thing about it. It's got one piece that seems
Floyd | intended to fit over the ear, and another that arcs over the head and

Floyd | balances out the other side. The earpiece bristles with electronics.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, I'll bet it's written down around here somewhere, that password." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | >Taken.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "wear it" 		
	

Floyd | >You put on the headset.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "turn headset on" 		
	

Floyd | >You don't see an on/off switch on the headset. Unless you miss your
Floyd | guess, Mom and Dad probably outfitted it with a permanent,
Floyd | long-lasting power supply, so it's always on.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machinery" 		
	

Floyd | >Sometimes, growing up, you suspected that Mom and Dad's designs were
Floyd | deliberately ornate, exposing their complexity in order to impress or
Floyd | intimidate. As you've gotten older, though, and learned more from
Floyd | them, you've realized that the reason the complexity isn't covered is
Floyd | because neither one of them wants to waste time on making things

Floyd | pretty.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x readouts" 		
	

Floyd | >Sometimes, growing up, you suspected that Mom and Dad's designs were
Floyd | deliberately ornate, exposing their complexity in order to impress or

Floyd | intimidate. As you've gotten older, though, and learned more from
Floyd | them, you've realized that the reason the complexity isn't covered is
Floyd | because neither one of them wants to waste time on making things
Floyd | pretty.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x notepad" 		
	

Floyd | >From the unfamiliar handwriting and the nature of the notes, you
Floyd | surmise that this notepad must belong to Dr. Andrews. Amid pages of
Floyd | detail about the orbital periods of various planets, telescope
Floyd | azimuths and elevations, spectroscope readings, and suchlike, you find

Floyd | a crude drawing of an apparently artificial sphere, with a
Floyd | cross-section showing an inner circle connected to its outer shell by
Floyd | two long columns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beneath these pictures is a swarm of equations, some of which appear
Floyd | to be calculations of density, gravitational pull, and surface

Floyd | temperature. The temperature equations in particular are interesting,
Floyd | as it appears that Dr. Andrews was either unable to come up with a
Floyd | solution, or unable to settle on one of many.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x temperature equations" 		
	

Floyd | >From the unfamiliar handwriting and the nature of the notes, you
Floyd | surmise that this notepad must belong to Dr. Andrews. Amid pages of
Floyd | detail about the orbital periods of various planets, telescope
Floyd | azimuths and elevations, spectroscope readings, and suchlike, you find
Floyd | a crude drawing of an apparently artificial sphere, with a
Floyd | cross-section showing an inner circle connected to its outer shell by

Floyd | two long columns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beneath these pictures is a swarm of equations, some of which appear
Floyd | to be calculations of density, gravitational pull, and surface
Floyd | temperature. The temperature equations in particular are interesting,
Floyd | as it appears that Dr. Andrews was either unable to come up with a

Floyd | solution, or unable to settle on one of many.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "type "andrews"" 		
	

Floyd | >I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "type andrews" 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "search notepad" 		
	

Floyd | >What do you want to type that on?
Floyd |

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "type andrews on computer" 		
	

Floyd | >Nice try.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "type thaddeus on computer" 		
	

Floyd | >Nice try.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "type claire on computer" 		
	

Floyd | >Nice try.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Inside the Observatory
Floyd | The observatory is astonishing. It's not the desk, or the computer, or
Floyd | the other laboratory accoutrements that make it so, but rather the
Floyd | staggeringly complex mass of ornate machinery that smothers every
Floyd | wall. Tubes, readouts, and gleaming metal plates swarm together in a

Floyd | lunatic collage, every lever and dial shouting your parents' design
Floyd | influence as surely as if they had autographed their work. You've
Floyd | known these sights all your life, but their presence here is a shock
Floyd | -- clearly, Mom and Dad were collaborating far more closely with Dr.
Floyd | Andrews than they ever revealed. The newly opened entranceway leads
Floyd | back north, and a doorway leads east to the telescope dome.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily leans against the wall here.
Floyd |
Floyd | The patterns of light flicker hypnotically in front of the dome
Floyd | doorway.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "ask emily about computer" 		
	

Floyd | >"It'd probably have lots of useful info, but I don't know the
Floyd | password any more than you do."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about password" 		
	

Floyd | >"A good question. A very good question. Okay, I actually have no idea
Floyd | what you mean."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask emily about headset" 		
	

Floyd | >"Looks like one of Mom and Dad's gadgets to me. Not that I have a
Floyd | clue what purpose it might serve. Still, might be good to have along."
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x lever" 		
	

Floyd | >Sometimes, growing up, you suspected that Mom and Dad's designs were
Floyd | deliberately ornate, exposing their complexity in order to impress or
Floyd | intimidate. As you've gotten older, though, and learned more from
Floyd | them, you've realized that the reason the complexity isn't covered is
Floyd | because neither one of them wants to waste time on making things

Floyd | pretty.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >There is only the doorway beyond.
Floyd |

		Bert asks, "I forget, does this game require saving?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x doorway" 		
	

Floyd | >The doorway seems to twist and flash behind the translucent light
Floyd | patterns.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Bert says, "(That is, is there anything that would require a restore?)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Dunno, but it's easy enough to save whenever." 	
			DavidW says, "I believe this game is very forgiving." 	
			Jacqueline says, "EAS1 was very forgiving." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "touch doorway" 		
	

Floyd | >Not after last time.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "We mostly used restore to explore alternatives." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, fog curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >"You got it," says Emily, and stares intently at the curtain of
Floyd | light. Nothing happens at all, and her face scrunches in frustration.
Floyd | "It's not working," she says.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I suspect this is similar." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "emily, blast curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily nods, and extends her hand towards the curtain of light.
Floyd | Nothing happens. "Well, that's a gyp," she says.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "say open sesame" 		
	

Floyd | >(to Emily)
Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I think, unless we can find the password, we'll have to go through the curtain. Deliberately." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >You take a decisive step towards the curtain of light, and Emily
Floyd | catches your arm. "Austin, wait!" You turn to face her.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We don't know what will happen when you try to cross that curtain,"
Floyd | she says. "I think we should stop and think a moment before we do it.

Floyd | Do you think we should really take the risk?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I think we have to, Em. I think this curtain has everything to do
Floyd | with Mom and Dad's disappearance."

Floyd | 2) "You're right. Let's back off for now and I'll consider what else
Floyd | we can do here."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Did we try throwing something through the curtain?" 	
			DavidW says, "yes. The cabin key. It disappeared." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, right." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 2
Floyd |
Floyd | "Fair enough."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take door" 		
	

Floyd | >Not after last time.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take steel door" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wall" 		
	

Floyd | >Which do you mean, the north wall, the south wall, the east wall or

Floyd | the west wall?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw emily through curtain" 		
	

Floyd | >I only understood you as far as wanting to throw Emily.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "throw emily" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily is already here.
Floyd |

		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "Nitku tried that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah, sorry." 	
			Nitku says, "Let's try going through." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was away. I shall hold off on trying more snarky things." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Go ahead..." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >You take a decisive step towards the curtain of light, and Emily
Floyd | catches your arm. "Here we go again," she says. "Look, let's talk
Floyd | about this instead of you just charging off. Do you really think it's
Floyd | worth the risk to cross this curtain?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I think we have to, Em. I think this curtain has everything to do
Floyd | with Mom and Dad's disappearance."
Floyd | 2) "You're right. Let's back off for now and I'll consider what else
Floyd | we can do here."

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 1
Floyd |

Floyd | "I guess you're right," she says, "but shouldn't we make a team
Floyd | decision about it? We have no idea what it does, or if it even does
Floyd | anything. Austin, what if it's broken, or a trap, or something? It
Floyd | could kill us to go through there!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "And what are the alternatives? Call the police, or the Army or
Floyd | something, and have them charge through there? If Mom and Dad have
Floyd | been kidnapped, we could be putting them in greater danger by doing
Floyd | that. And they did say not to involve the authorities unless
Floyd | absolutely necessary. No, I'm going to try it."

Floyd | 2) "My god, that's true. You're right. I need to take a little more
Floyd | time to think this over."
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 1

Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, I accept all that," says Emily. "Still, if it is dangerous,
Floyd | should I go through with you, or stay here in case you don't come
Floyd | back?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I can't make that decision for you, Em. But if you're asking my
Floyd | opinion, I think we should go through together. It might take all the
Floyd | power both of us can muster to face whatever's across that barrier."
Floyd | 2) "I can't make that decision for you, Em. If it were my call, I'd
Floyd | say you should stay here. No sense both of us taking such a huge risk,

Floyd | and maybe if I don't come back, you can go ahead and get the Army or
Floyd | whatever, and send the cavalry my way."
Floyd | 3) "I can't make that decision for you, Em. I see pros and cons either
Floyd | way. But I'm walking through that curtain, and whether or not you
Floyd | follow me is up to you."
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "I'd choose 3" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We saved, in any case." 	
			Lucea says, "yeah, good plan" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 3
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily sets her jaw. "Then I'm coming with you. We may need all the
Floyd | power that both of us possess to face whatever's on the other side of

Floyd | that curtain."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Watch," you say. "We'll walk right through and nothing will happen at
Floyd | all."
Floyd |
Floyd | "That would be great," she replies grimly, "but somehow I doubt it."

Floyd | She grabs your hand, and the two of you step into the light together.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY

Floyd |
Floyd | Part Two
Floyd |
Floyd | "How soft this Prison is
Floyd | How sweet these sullen bars
Floyd | No Despot but the King of Down

Floyd | Invented this repose"
Floyd |

		
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | . . .
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | . . .
Floyd |

Floyd | Sleepily, you open your eyes. What's that pinkish glow? Sunrise? Did
Floyd | you leave the bedroom window open? Wait, this isn't your bedroom.
Floyd | Where...?
Floyd |
Floyd | Wait -- the curtain! You stepped through with Emily, and that's the
Floyd | last thing you remember before awakening on this... floor. And Emily

Floyd | -- she's gone!
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Cell
Floyd | You find yourself in a small, square room, perhaps eight feet on a
Floyd | side. The ceiling is high, maybe fifteen feet above your head, but

Floyd | what's even stranger is that it and all the walls are glowing with a
Floyd | bright pink energy field.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a cabin key here.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get key" 		
	

Floyd | >Taken.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x field" 		
	

Floyd | >A bright pink field of energy glows from the walls and ceiling,
Floyd | radiating about six inches from them. It hurts your eyes to look at
Floyd | the field too long, but it's also sort of hard not to.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "IRTA 'sullen bears,' of course." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "touch field" 		
	

Floyd | >The energy yields momentarily to your touch, then repels your fingers
Floyd | as gently as you applied them.
Floyd |

		Paul asks, "You read what as that?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "'sullen bars'" 	
			Jacqueline | How sweet these sullen bars 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "hit field" 		
	

Floyd | >Picking a wall at random, you aim a punch at the energy field. The

Floyd | field slows your fist, stops it, and then propels it back outward with
Floyd | kinetic force equal to that of your blow. You never penetrated the
Floyd | field more than an inch or two.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "But, y'know, I live in Alaska." 	
			Paul says, "Ah -- my eyes skipped right over the epigram" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hence 'sullen bears.'" 	
			Paul says, "Where the bears are exceptionally sullen" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x floor" 		
	

Floyd | >The floor here seems to be made of some sort of polymer, a type you

Floyd | don't recognize.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "hit floor" 		
	

Floyd | >THOOM! You bring your mighty foot down on the polymer floor, causing
Floyd | a minor tremor. The floor seems completely unaffected.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Well, when we use bear-proof trashcans, yeah." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   a cabin key

Floyd |   a headset (being worn)
Floyd |   a legal pad
Floyd |   a notepad
Floyd |   some loose papers
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | >AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "heh" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "dig floor" 		
	

Floyd | >Digging would achieve nothing here.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Hitting the floor was probably on the right track. It's the only surface not protected with a force field." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "hit floor" 		
	

Floyd | >THOOM! You bring your mighty foot down on the polymer floor, causing
Floyd | a minor tremor. The floor seems completely unaffected.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hm. More coffee required for this puzzle..." 	
			DavidW says, "o/~ Might as well ... o/~" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x headset" 		
	

Floyd | >It's clear that this device is meant to be worn on the head, but
Floyd | that's the only obvious thing about it. It's got one piece that seems
Floyd | intended to fit over the ear, and another that arcs over the head and

Floyd | balances out the other side. The earpiece bristles with electronics.
Floyd |

		
	Qfwfq arrives, full of fun and funk. 		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You crouch, then launch yourself at the ceiling. As you expected, the

Floyd | energy field absorbs your momentum, then propels you back downward
Floyd | with equal force. You hurtle towards the floor, hitting it with a
Floyd | tremendous CRRUNCH! Beneath your feet, a spiderwebbed network of
Floyd | hairline cracks radiates from the point of impact.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "hooray" 	
			DavidW says, "hee" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you leap upwards, bouncing off the ceiling's energy field
Floyd | to smack into the floor with a resounding CRRUNCH! The cracks have
Floyd | grown larger, and light filters through some of them.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >Bracing yourself for a final assault on the weakening floor, you
Floyd | vault upward, then plummet down again. This time, when your feet slam
Floyd | into the polymer, there is a deafening KA-THUNKK! as the floor splits,

Floyd | and you find yourself falling.
Floyd |
Floyd | And falling. Air buffets your face and whistles past your ears, as you
Floyd | try to take in the situation. You appear to be falling to Earth, from
Floyd | a great height, as if you had just jumped out of a plane, sans
Floyd | parachute. The ground below you, though... there's something strange

Floyd | about it. You can see its curvature, as if you were much farther away
Floyd | from the planet than you seem to be. Or as if the planet itself had
Floyd | shrunk.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the ground comes closer, you can see that the planet itself seems
Floyd | demarcated into clearly defined zones -- a bluish-white Arctic, a

Floyd | sandy desert, a blue-green ocean, and others -- all tidily encased in
Floyd | separate regions of the globe. Even stranger, you're catching glimpses
Floyd | of a huge metal cylinder that rises up from the ground and far into
Floyd | the sky above you. This isn't Earth you're falling towards. Either
Floyd | that, or Earth has changed a lot since the last time you were above
Floyd | it. Gravity feels about the same, though -- the ground is still

Floyd | rushing towards you at alarming speed. Actually, you're rushing
Floyd | towards it. Funny, how many thoughts can pass through your brain in a
Floyd | situation like this. The suit is supposed to make you invulnerable to
Floyd | impact, but will it really protect you from this kind of fall? Guess
Floyd | you're about to find--
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sweet." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have my coffee now, but I see that you solved this without coffee." 	
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |

		
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | W  H  A  M  M  O  !
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY
Floyd |

Floyd | Part Three
Floyd |
Floyd | "I saw no Way -- The Heavens were stitched --
Floyd | I felt the Columns close --
Floyd | The Earth reversed her Hemispheres --
Floyd | I touched the Universe --"

Floyd |

		
	Nitku pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Arctic (in the ice hole)
Floyd | You remember the ground, blinding white, reaching up to clobber you.
Floyd | Then blackness. Then cold. Serious cold. As you gather your senses
Floyd | back to you, several things become clear. One, you're not dead -- in
Floyd | fact, not even hurt, though a little dazed. Two, you've landed in a
Floyd | cold place. And three, your landing has created a deep pit with icy

Floyd | walls, and you're at the bottom of it.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "yay. We landed on some soft ice." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ah... home." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | >You spring upwards and fly out of the hole more quickly than you
Floyd | expected. Landing softly in the snow, you estimate that gravity must
Floyd | be around 0.8G on this planetoid.
Floyd |
Floyd | Arctic

Floyd | Icy monoliths, ridged with frozen rivulets, rise up around you. Your
Floyd | suit's insulation feels distressingly meager in the freezing, stinging
Floyd | wind, and the light glistens white as the snow reflects the distant
Floyd | sun. For all you know, you're at the pole of this little world, so
Floyd | compass directions don't mean much, but you invent some just to keep
Floyd | your bearings. The faraway blue-green smudge is north, the faraway tan

Floyd | smudge south. Your views east and west are blocked by huge, rugged
Floyd | breccia hills.
Floyd |
Floyd | A deep crater is here, which is what happens when an immovable object
Floyd | like this glacier meets an irresistible force like a plummeting
Floyd | superhero.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beside the crater, a long metal tube reaches into the sky. The bottom
Floyd | of the tube has been entirely dislodged from its base, no doubt
Floyd | wrecked by your recent impact.
Floyd |
Floyd | That impact also appears to have exposed some sort of access panel.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "hm. How long a tube? Cannon? Space elevator?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x tube" 		
	

Floyd | >A metal cylinder, wide enough that you could comfortably fit inside
Floyd | it -- if you could figure out how to enter it, that is. As your eyes

Floyd | follow it upward, you can see that it terminates alongside a glowing,
Floyd | pink hole in the sky. Its other end, at your feet, has been wrenched
Floyd | free from the ground, exposing a base rife with wrecked machinery.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x access panel" 		
	

Floyd | >The panel is set directly into the ground. It's acquired a light
Floyd | dusting of snow, leading you to conclude that your cataclysmic
Floyd | entrance probably removed the panel's cover. Its only control is a
Floyd | square touchplate, colored indigo and emblazoned with an
Floyd | upwards-pointing triangle.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Sounds like an elevator to me." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "push touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >You put a finger on the pad, but nothing happens. However, when you
Floyd | lay your whole hand on it, it lights up briefly, and you hear a series

Floyd | of whines and clicks from the cylinder's base.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x base" 		
	

Floyd | >The base of the tube contains a great deal of intricate machinery,
Floyd | some of it obviously crushed or torn by its forced separation from the

Floyd | tube proper.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the distance, you can see a rookery of penguins waddling blissfully
Floyd | around the ice. Or, wait. Are they penguins? They appear to be
Floyd | throwing snowballs at each other. Penguins can't throw, can they?
Floyd | Taking a closer look, you fancy that their heads are larger than those

Floyd | of normal penguins, and that you can make out gripping fingers at the
Floyd | edge of their wings.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Arctic penguins! Hooray!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Very rare." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Very, very rare." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, different planet, so." 	
			DavidW says, "This is a different Arctic, of course, yes." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x penguins" 		
	

Floyd | >They're too far away to make out many details, but they appear to be
Floyd | normal penguins, with the notable exceptions of the outsized heads and
Floyd | the wing-fingers.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Shame our inventory doesn't include chopsticks. I'd love to see penguins try to use them." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's a sentence I never anticipated hearing during my lifetime, David." 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Arctic

Floyd | Icy monoliths, ridged with frozen rivulets, rise up around you. Your
Floyd | suit's insulation feels distressingly meager in the freezing, stinging
Floyd | wind, and the light glistens white as the snow reflects the distant
Floyd | sun. For all you know, you're at the pole of this little world, so
Floyd | compass directions don't mean much, but you invent some just to keep
Floyd | your bearings. The faraway blue-green smudge is north, the faraway tan

Floyd | smudge south. Your views east and west are blocked by huge, rugged
Floyd | breccia hills.
Floyd |
Floyd | A deep crater is here, which is what happens when an immovable object
Floyd | like this glacier meets an irresistible force like a plummeting
Floyd | superhero.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beside the crater, a long metal tube reaches into the sky. The bottom
Floyd | of the tube has been entirely dislodged from its base, no doubt
Floyd | wrecked by your recent impact.
Floyd |
Floyd | That impact also appears to have exposed some sort of access panel.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x crater" 		
	

Floyd | >The hole is probably twenty feet deep. If you were Wile E. Coyote, it
Floyd | would be shaped like an outline of your body, but instead it's more
Floyd | generally crater-like, though a deep crater rather than a wide one.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pink hole" 		
	

Floyd | >Like a punctured eggshell, the sky is missing a piece, letting pink
Floyd | light shine through.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sky" 		
	

Floyd | >Like a punctured eggshell, the sky is missing a piece, letting pink
Floyd | light shine through.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >You begin trudging northwards for a few minutes, but the landscape
Floyd | changes little. This planet may be much smaller than Earth, but it'll
Floyd | still take you ages to get anywhere on foot. So you head back to where
Floyd | you stared from, thinking that there's got to be an easier way.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "leap n" 		
	

Floyd | >You take a running start, get up to top speed, and then vault
Floyd | upwards. The ground drops away beneath you -- gravity is definitely
Floyd | less than 1G on this planetoid, though your mind boggles to think how

Floyd | dense the core must be in order to even come close. Your thoughts
Floyd | return to the present as the border of the arctic area approaches --
Floyd | the demarcation between it and the adjoining areas is distinct and
Floyd | sharp. Incredibly, you've traveled almost 45 degrees across the sphere
Floyd | already, and your trajectory will take you another 45, to the side of
Floyd | the sphere, before you land. Always assuming, of course, that the

Floyd | borders are permeable.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the border passes beneath you, a momentary nausea sweeps over you,
Floyd | gone as soon as you enter the next area.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've reached the arc of your parabola, and have begun to descend. An

Floyd | ocean sloshes below you, uncluttered by islands or land masses. As the
Floyd | water approaches, you suddenly realize that some of the things you're
Floyd | carrying will be ruined if they get wet. Frantically running your
Floyd | hands along your costume searching for a pouch, your finger slides
Floyd | over a line that splits into an opening. Thinking quickly, you stuff
Floyd | the items inside, and run your finger along the line to close it

Floyd | again. Just in time, too, because you hit the water with a massive
Floyd | SPLOOSH!
Floyd |
Floyd | Once your head is submerged, a plastic sheath emerges from the sides
Floyd | of your cowl, covering your nose and mouth. You take a hesitant
Floyd | breath, and realize that the suit must be filtering oxygen from the

Floyd | water. Mom and Dad sure planned ahead when they made this thing!
Floyd | Unfortunately, they apparently weren't able to make it very
Floyd | lightweight, and you quickly sink to the ocean floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,

Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent
Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such
Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.

Floyd |
Floyd | A large circular door, apparently a hatch, is set in the ground here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate embedded in rock about ten yards
Floyd | away from the hatch.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Whoa." 	
			DavidW says, "Puny planet no stop Hulk. Er, Earth." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x hatch" 		
	

Floyd | >The hatch is of a rather generous diameter, and appears to be made of
Floyd | the same polymer as the floor of your former cell. In its center is a
Floyd | turquoise touchplate. The hatch is closed.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "push touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >Which do you mean, the turquoise touchplate or the beige touchplate?
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "turquoise" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and the hatch
Floyd | slowly swings open, releasing a huge bubble of air that floats lazily
Floyd | upwards.
Floyd |

		Nitku asks, "Should we go in? Or try the beige plate first?" 	
			DavidW says, "go in" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | >

Floyd | Waterlock
Floyd | The walls are close and smooth in this utterly nondescript,
Floyd | cylindrical room, currently filled with water. The only noteworthy
Floyd | feature is that a couple of touchplates adorn one wall, one crimson
Floyd | and one turquoise.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "push turquoise" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and the hatch swings smoothly
Floyd | closed. Water begins to drain from the room, hidden pumps rapidly
Floyd | replacing it with air. Your suit returns to normal, and an entrance
Floyd | slides open beside you, in a direction you capriciously decide to call

Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're dry again, you unzip the suit pouch and retrieve your
Floyd | delicate items.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   a cabin key
Floyd |   a headset
Floyd |   a legal pad
Floyd |   a notepad

Floyd |   some loose papers
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "ah. Not wearing the headset." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "wear headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You put on the headset.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | >

Floyd | Ocean Observatory
Floyd | You're now standing beneath the mirrored bubble. The air in this room
Floyd | feels rather stale, and the only light comes from the plants outside
Floyd | the bubble. That bubble gives an excellent view of the ocean floor,
Floyd | and you surmise that this room must have been built for observation of
Floyd | that area. The waterlock is west of here.

Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "The plants glow?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x plants" 		
	

Floyd | >You see the ocean floor, dimly illuminated by bioluminescent plants.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Always nice to find a lightsource." 	
			Nitku says, "Yeah, that was established when we sank in the ocean" 	
			Bert RTA, of course, 'pants'. 	
			DavidW says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ocean" 		
	

Floyd | >You see the ocean floor, dimly illuminated by bioluminescent plants.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bubble" 		
	

Floyd | >The bubble must act as a sort of one-way glass, though it's clearly
Floyd | made from something much tougher than glass.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, they're conveniently bioluminescent." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Ocean Observatory
Floyd | You're now standing beneath the mirrored bubble. The air in this room
Floyd | feels rather stale, and the only light comes from the plants outside
Floyd | the bubble. That bubble gives an excellent view of the ocean floor,

Floyd | and you surmise that this room must have been built for observation of
Floyd | that area. The waterlock is west of here.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "In the grand tradition established by zork." 	
			DavidW asks, "hm. Nothing in the room itself?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "For the record, I have seen plants which glow, but never bright enough to see by." 	
			(from DavidW) Jacqueline says, "I've also seen penguins play canasta, but they aren't very good at it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			DavidW says, "I think it's time to explore elsewhere." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That would be cool, but unfortunately on this planet, penguins don't exist in the arctic." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Explore away." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >

Floyd | Waterlock
Floyd | The walls are close and smooth in this utterly nondescript,
Floyd | cylindrical room. The only noteworthy feature is that a couple of
Floyd | touchplates adorn one wall, one crimson and one turquoise. There's
Floyd | also an exit to, oh let's call it the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put headset in pocket" 		
	

Floyd | >Because the suit is skintight, it's not terribly comfortable to have
Floyd | things stuffed inside it, so you'd prefer not to do that unless it's
Floyd | absolutely necessary.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push crimson" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and a field of crimson energy
Floyd | materializes in the cylinder! The floor opens, and the energy field
Floyd | carries you downwards, hurtling through darkness until you reach
Floyd | the...

Floyd |
Floyd | Nexus
Floyd | You hang suspended within a translucent crimson bubble of energy, with
Floyd | nothing but inky darkness beyond. Also suspended by the energy field
Floyd | are six touchplates, each bearing an icon. The icons are: a snowflake,
Floyd | ocean waves, a cactus, a broad leaf, an evergreen tree, and one you

Floyd | don't recognize, which looks a bit like an abstract rendition of a
Floyd | cat's face.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wow, Dan Shiovitz cameo." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. Sounds like we've got six ecosystems to explore, two of which we've already been to." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do 'em in order?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Cactus next?" 	
			DavidW says, "I don't care which order, as long as we don't forget the beige touchplate in the ocean rock." 	
			DavidW says, "Cactus is fine." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we could do the touchplate." 	
			DavidW says, "Some of these plates might even be broken." 	
			DavidW says, "I bet the snowflake one is broken, for example." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "push cactus" 		Jacqueline says, "Try it and see." 	
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the cactus touchplate, and the bubble begins
Floyd | spinning smoothly. You have the sensation of swift movement,
Floyd | effortless at first, then stuttering and jerking violently. The
Floyd | surface of the bubble wavers, and for a moment your blood freezes with
Floyd | the thought that it will dissolve before finishing the journey.

Floyd | Finally and suddenly, the bubble dumps you on sandy ground just before
Floyd | dissolving around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Sandy Dome
Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and
Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, but

Floyd | that's not too useful, since the entire dome appears to be buried in
Floyd | sand. There are several platforms on the ground, reaching to your hip
Floyd | and covered with a soft bedding on top, and to one side of these is a
Floyd | pedestal with a crimson touchplate. You can see no exits.
Floyd |
Floyd | On one side of the dome, a large pile of sand covers the floor,

Floyd | drifting to its highest point at a junction of dome wall and floor.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Ah, Nitku makes the executive decision." 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
			Nitku says, "Less yappin', more ... uh.. playin'" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "a sand" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x sand" 		
	

Floyd | >Looking more closely at the sand, it becomes clear that it's here

Floyd | because of a rupture between the dome's wall and its floor -- the dome
Floyd | isn't flush with the ground, and sand has flowed into the gap.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "move it" 		
	

Floyd | >You push some of the sand more toward the center of the dome, but

Floyd | more flows in through the gap.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "Given the big game this afternoon, I am all for that." 	
			vimes says, "more tappin' (on the keyboard) (to play, instead of yap)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not that this isn't *also* a big game, of course." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x platforms" 		
	

Floyd | >If you had to guess, you'd say these platforms serve as furniture for
Floyd | whoever built this dome.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pedestal" 		
	

Floyd | >This is just a small, cylindrical pedestal, about four feet high.
Floyd | Atop its angled surface is a crimson touchplate.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bedding" 		
	

Floyd | >If you had to guess, you'd say these platforms serve as furniture for
Floyd | whoever built this dome.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dome" 		
	

Floyd | >You see nothing special about the dome wall.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search bedding" 		
	

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "I guess there's not much here to do." 	
			Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take sand" 		
	

Floyd | >There's no particular reason to carry around a bunch of sand.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "touch crimson" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, but nothing happens.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "oops" 	
	ParserGirl goes home. 		Jacqueline asks, "Does that mean that we're... stuck here?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >

Floyd | Sandy Dome
Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and
Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, but
Floyd | that's not too useful, since the entire dome appears to be buried in
Floyd | sand. There are several platforms on the ground, reaching to your hip
Floyd | and covered with a soft bedding on top, and to one side of these is a

Floyd | pedestal with a crimson touchplate. You can see no exits.
Floyd |
Floyd | On one side of the dome, a large pile of sand covers the floor,
Floyd | drifting to its highest point at a junction of dome wall and floor.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search sand" 		
	

Floyd | >Looking more closely at the sand, it becomes clear that it's here
Floyd | because of a rupture between the dome's wall and its floor -- the dome
Floyd | isn't flush with the ground, and sand has flowed into the gap.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I think we can escape." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "dig" 		
	

Floyd | >(the pile of sand)
Floyd | The pile of sand is fairly shallow, and there's nothing buried in it.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x gap" 		
	

Floyd | >There's about a six-inch gap between the dome wall and floor, through
Floyd | which has spilled an impressive quantity of sand.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter sand" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not something you can enter.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "hit gap" 		
	

Floyd | >Satisfying though it would be, that's probably not productive.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "eat sand" 		
	

Floyd | >(first taking the pile of sand)

Floyd | There's no particular reason to carry around a bunch of sand.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit dome" 		
	

Floyd | >Your punch bounces ineffectually off the dome wall, though you do
Floyd | hear a creak, and the sound of the sand shifting.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >Your punch bounces ineffectually off the dome wall, though you do
Floyd | hear a creak, and the sound of the sand shifting.
Floyd |

		Paul says, "That's how Matter-Eater Lad would solve the problem" 	
	inky arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open gap" 		
	

Floyd | >You bend your knees, work your fingers into the gap, and heave. You

Floyd | can feel the earthsuit augmenting your muscles, its amazing strength
Floyd | struggling against the weight of the dome and the sand surrounding it.
Floyd | You feel it give, just a little, and you redouble your efforts,
Floyd | shaking with the strain. Sand flows between your feet as the dome edge
Floyd | inches ever higher, and finally, with a mighty CREEEAK!, the rest of
Floyd | the seal gives way, and a tsunami of sand smacks you in the face.

Floyd | Spluttering and coughing, you dig yourself out of the dune, and pull
Floyd | the dome the rest of the way free. The pedestal and platforms are
Floyd | buried -- all that's left of the dome is its shell, upended into the
Floyd | big bowl beside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Desert

Floyd | The first thing you notice is the heat. It is punishing, astonishing,
Floyd | like standing inside an inferno that burns without flames. Your suit
Floyd | insulates you somewhat, and a lucky thing, too, because otherwise you
Floyd | wouldn't last long under a sun that feels like it's just a few feet
Floyd | away. It's hard to tell which direction is which, since you emerged
Floyd | from the dome rather than landing here -- you'll need to invent some

Floyd | directions based on gut instinct and hope they work out. So let's say
Floyd | that the cool, distant greenness is east, and the gentler, golden hue
Floyd | is west. Sand dunes block your view north and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, Y-shaped cactus stands nearby.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see an enormous bowl (which is empty) here.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Mr. Shiovitz." 	
			inky says, "atsa me" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >Once it was the Desert area's dome, but since you upended this huge
Floyd | piece of concave polymer, it's now a huge, transparent bowl.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Now we need a T-Rex to adopt as our puppy, and this can be its bowl." 	
			Nitku says, "Or a sandworm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cactus" 		
	

Floyd | >This sturdy cactus looks like a headless, prickly, green referee
Floyd | signaling a touchdown. Hmm, maybe extreme heat affects your brain's
Floyd | ability to come up with good metaphors. The sun is shining directly
Floyd | between the arms of the cactus.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "climb it" 		
	

Floyd | >I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "I like that metaphor." 	
			DavidW says, "okay, that cactus description demands something like a magnifying glass or mirror be wedged in it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Hm, possibly." 	
			DavidW says, "Unless you have a giant ACME rubber band handy instead." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "beep beep" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "meep" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >The bowl is too big and awkward to carry while you're holding

Floyd | anything else.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | >cabin key: Dropped.
Floyd | legal pad: Dropped.

Floyd | notepad: Dropped.
Floyd | loose papers: Dropped.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "get bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You heft the bowl over your head. Taken.

Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "put bowl on cactus" 		
	

Floyd | >The bowl is way, way, way too big to fit between the cactus' arms.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "er, any reason we want the bowl right now?" 	
			DavidW says, "oh, I see." 	
			Nitku says, "I was going with the magnifying glass idea" 	
			Nitku says, "Though it probably wouldn't do any good at this point" 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps it'll become clearer later on." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "drop bowl. get all" 		
	

Floyd | >You set the bowl down near the cactus.
Floyd | enormous bowl: You heft the bowl over your head. Taken.
Floyd | loose papers: You can't pick up anything else while you're carrying
Floyd | the bowl.

Floyd | notepad: You can't pick up anything else while you're carrying the
Floyd | bowl.
Floyd | legal pad: You can't pick up anything else while you're carrying the
Floyd | bowl.
Floyd | cabin key: You can't pick up anything else while you're carrying the
Floyd | bowl.

Floyd | cactus: You can't pick up anything else while you're carrying the
Floyd | bowl.
Floyd |

		Nitku says, "grr" 	
			DavidW says, "ha" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "drop bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You set the bowl down near the cactus.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "get all except bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >loose papers: Taken.
Floyd | notepad: Taken.
Floyd | legal pad: Taken.
Floyd | cabin key: Taken.
Floyd | cactus: Somehow, you don't have the heart to uproot the only sign of

Floyd | life you see here.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I don't even want to say how my mind read 'loose papers: You can't pick up anything else while you're carrying the bowl.'" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Suffice it to say that the words 'loose' and 'bowl' were close to each other due to the placement of the hard return." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I need to get more sleep or something." 	
			Paul says, "Or less coffee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			DavidW says, "I think we need to visit either the green or the gold area next." 	
			DavidW says, "Green probably means a jungle or savannah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Desert
Floyd | The first thing you notice is the heat. It is punishing, astonishing,

Floyd | like standing inside an inferno that burns without flames. Your suit
Floyd | insulates you somewhat, and a lucky thing, too, because otherwise you
Floyd | wouldn't last long under a sun that feels like it's just a few feet
Floyd | away. It's hard to tell which direction is which, since you emerged
Floyd | from the dome rather than landing here -- you'll need to invent some
Floyd | directions based on gut instinct and hope they work out. So let's say

Floyd | that the cool, distant greenness is east, and the gentler, golden hue
Floyd | is west. Sand dunes block your view north and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, Y-shaped cactus stands nearby.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an enormous bowl (which is empty) here.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.

Floyd |
Floyd | From the zenith of your jump, it looks like a lush, green carpet is
Floyd | spread below you, but as you fall, the landscape soon resolves itself
Floyd | into treetops, with occasional glimpses of tall, thick trunks below
Floyd | the canopy, and one clearly artificial tower that is even taller than
Floyd | the surrounding forest. By now, you've gotten the hang of steering

Floyd | your descent a little, so you aim towards that tower, crashing through
Floyd | the branches and landing solidly at its base.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest
Floyd | The air is cool and quiet down here, far beneath the treetop canopy.
Floyd | On every side of you, massive trunks rise majestically. These trees

Floyd | are enormous, like old-growth redwoods but growing higher than Earth
Floyd | gravity would ever permit. The trees completely block the horizon, and
Floyd | you feel quite disoriented as to where the compass directions are.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is the base of a tower that's even taller than the trees.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "ah. Forest" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trees" 		
	

Floyd | >The sheer height of these trees is absolutely breathtaking. Their
Floyd | bark is smooth and tan, and even their lowest branches are a hundred
Floyd | feet above your head.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tower" 		
	

Floyd | >This tower appears to be made of the same familiar polymer from the
Floyd | floor of your cell, and its sides are perfectly smooth. It rises well
Floyd | out of sight, past the treetops.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >You launch yourself straight upward, shooting above the treetops and
Floyd | hanging in space above the forest for a moment. You catch a glimpse of
Floyd | icy whiteness -- the Arctic area -- so that's where north is. Then

Floyd | you're hurtling down once more, landing heavily at the tower base.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb tree" 		
	

Floyd | >Not a chance -- even the lowest branches are far above you. Also,
Floyd | since these trees grew in a low-grav environment, you have your doubts

Floyd | that their branches would support you all that well.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb tower" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't get a grip on the smooth polymer.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search tower" 		
	

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ground" 		
	

Floyd | >You see nothing special about the ground.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search trees" 		
	

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit tower" 		
	

Floyd | >The tower seems utterly impervious to your hammering fists.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | >You can make out the sounds of complex, varied birdsong from high
Floyd | above you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x birds" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "smell" 		
	

Floyd | >The air smells crisp and clean here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dig ground" 		
	

Floyd | >Digging would achieve nothing here.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "find touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Not much to do here yet, I guess." 	
	crumple is over 		Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >There isn't a great deal of room to run, but you do your best, and

Floyd | launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've reached the arc of your parabola, and have begun to descend. An
Floyd | ocean sloshes below you, uncluttered by islands or land masses. As you

Floyd | fly through the air, you tuck your non-waterproof possessions into the
Floyd | suit pouch. Soon, you hit the water with a massive SPLOOSH!
Floyd |
Floyd | As you sink, the suit begins supplying oxygen to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ocean

Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent
Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such
Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow

Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large circular door, apparently a hatch, is set in the ground here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.

Floyd |
Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate embedded in rock about ten yards
Floyd | away from the hatch.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a
Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor
Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting

Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You
Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its
Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a

Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over
Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.
Floyd |

Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're at the surface again, you try to orient yourself. The

Floyd | whitish smudge in the distance must be the Arctic area, so let's call
Floyd | that north. That would make the Forest west, the beige smudge east,
Floyd | and the bright green smudge south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're dry again, you unzip the suit pouch and retrieve your
Floyd | delicate items.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heehee room description" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Island

Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by
Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the beige
Floyd | smudge is east, and the bright green smudge is south.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x green" 		
	

Floyd | >From this distance, you can make out no details at all.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x island" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Seems... empty." 	
			DavidW says, "At least we can land on land in the ocean now. That might be useful." 	
			DavidW says, "I guess 'broad leaf' was Forest, so the bright green smudge = 'evergreen tree' and beige might be either 'cat's face' or 'cactus'." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump south" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't get much of a running start in such a tiny area, but you
Floyd | crouch and launch yourself upwards, and that seems to provide
Floyd | sufficient momentum.

Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your landing spot is entirely obscured by thick, grey clouds, pierced
Floyd | by a long, metal tube that reaches far into the sky. You fall into the
Floyd | clouds, soaked in rain, thinking of Emily -- please, let her be okay.

Floyd | Suddenly a thick, broad leaf strikes you across the face, and you're
Floyd | crashing through slick, wet vegetation. One bouncing, awkward, and
Floyd | destructive fall later, you pick yourself up from damp ground, brush
Floyd | the mud off your costume, and look around.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rainforest

Floyd | You stand amidst a symphony of green. Deep jade moss covers the trunks
Floyd | of trees, whose leaves far above filter mottled avocado light over
Floyd | emerald bushes and green grass -- adjectives run out long before the
Floyd | shades of green do. The air is warm, muggy, and filled with the sounds
Floyd | of wildlife.
Floyd |

Floyd | Beside you is the bottom of a long steel tube that rises into the sky
Floyd | and past the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | One small square at your feet appears free of moss, or at least it
Floyd | might, if you could see past the swarming mass of slugs that infest
Floyd | it.

Floyd |
Floyd | A closed metal canister sits next to the slug-infested square.
Floyd |
Floyd | In a rare patch of foliage-free ground near you, the mirrored surface
Floyd | of a dome reflects the surrounding greenery.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Good thing it wasn't a devil's club broadleaf, since we were smacked in the face with it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hahaha 'adjectives run out long before the shades of green do.'" 	
			DavidW says, "I guess I was wrong. Broad leaf must be here, and evergreen was the Forest." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x canister" 		
	

Floyd | >This is a small canister, about twice the size of a beer can.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear voices in conversation above you -- no language you've ever
Floyd | heard, but clearly a dialogue -- and look up to see two parrots on a
Floyd | nearby branch, vocalizing to each other with occasional glances at
Floyd | you. Their tones make you feel like you've just crashed a very

Floyd | exclusive party, and are terribly underdressed to boot.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to parrots" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x parrots" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't be sure that these birds are actually parrots, of course,
Floyd | but that's what they most resemble, with perhaps somewhat larger
Floyd | heads, and feet that more closely resemble articulated fingers. One of
Floyd | the birds sports the sort of blue, yellow, and green plumage that

Floyd | accompany your mental default image of a parrot, while the other is a
Floyd | uniform shade of grey.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask parrots about emily" 		
	

Floyd | >There is no reply.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a crashing, thumping sound from above, and jump out of the
Floyd | way. No one falls, though, and in a moment it becomes clear that one
Floyd | of the parrots was imitating the sound of your galumphing descent
Floyd | through the rainforest vegetation.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take canister" 		
	

Floyd | >Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >You've never seen this behavior in slugs before -- they're crawling
Floyd | over, under, and around each other in a slimy, pale mass. They're
Floyd | covering the panel almost completely.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a crashing, thumping sound from above, and jump out of the
Floyd | way. No one falls, though, and in a moment it becomes clear that one
Floyd | of the parrots was imitating the sound of your galumphing descent
Floyd | through the rainforest vegetation.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | >What with the slugfest, it's difficult to discern anything about the
Floyd | square. You do occasionally see a tiny corner of indigo underneath the
Floyd | slimy swarm.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tube" 		
	

Floyd | >This tube is an exact duplicate of the one from the Arctic area, with
Floyd | one salient difference: it hasn't been wrecked by a massive impact. It
Floyd | looks easily wide enough to fit yourself into -- if you can figure out
Floyd | how to enter it, that is.

Floyd |
Floyd | One of the parrots squawks loudly and indignantly, but you're not sure
Floyd | whether its outrage is directed at you, at the other parrot, or at the
Floyd | world in general.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "This must be the 2nd space elevator, as per the diagram we found earlier." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x moss" 		
	

Floyd | >Water runs down the sides of these trees in a continual trickle,
Floyd | feeding the moss that grows on every trunk.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trees" 		
	

Floyd | >Water runs down the sides of these trees in a continual trickle,
Floyd | feeding the moss that grows on every trunk.
Floyd |
Floyd | In unison, the parrots fly to a different branch, and resume their

Floyd | conversation from there.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x parrots" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't be sure that these birds are actually parrots, of course,
Floyd | but that's what they most resemble, with perhaps somewhat larger

Floyd | heads, and feet that more closely resemble articulated fingers. One of
Floyd | the birds sports the sort of blue, yellow, and green plumage that
Floyd | accompany your mental default image of a parrot, while the other is a
Floyd | uniform shade of grey.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You open the canister, revealing a few crystal grains.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grains" 		
	

Floyd | >These are a few grains of a white, crystalline substance.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "taste grains" 		
	

Floyd | >A bit reluctantly, you shake the grains onto your tongue, and

Floyd | swallow. They were common table salt.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pour salt on slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put salt on slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pour salt" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		Nitku exclaims, "Remarkable birds! Lovely plumage!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pour grains on slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x salt" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x grains" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pour canister on slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not something that will have a particularly harmful effect on
Floyd | the slugs.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You close the canister.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "well. A plan begins to form." 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps we need a somewhat larger supply of salt." 	
			DavidW says, "And since we haven't found a salt mine or salt lick, I'm thinking of ocean water." 	
			DavidW says, "Which might be evaporated in the desert sun." 	
			DavidW says, "We still need a lens, I think, to put in the cactus's arms." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't see inside, since the canister is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a crashing, thumping sound from above, and jump out of the
Floyd | way. No one falls, though, and in a moment it becomes clear that one

Floyd | of the parrots was imitating the sound of your galumphing descent
Floyd | through the rainforest vegetation.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You open the canister.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in canister" 		
	

Floyd | >The canister is empty.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Did we eat *all* the salt?" 	
			DavidW says, "There was only a few grains left, I guess." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Although, this game is usually forgiving, so you're probably right about a new source." 	
			DavidW says, "We need a full canister's worth, I think." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, ocean water, then desert?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Have we explored everywhere and not found a lens?" 	
			Jacqueline scrolls back to see what's left, maybe. 	
			DavidW says, "We have not explored everywhere. The cat's face / beige area." 	
			DavidW says, "We haven't been inside the tower yet, either." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   a canister (which is open but empty)
Floyd |   a cabin key
Floyd |   a legal pad

Floyd |   a notepad
Floyd |   some loose papers
Floyd |   a headset
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "We can probably enter the tower via the Nexus." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That bowl was opaque, or clear?" 	
			DavidW says, "Clear, of course." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So..." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Maybe a lens?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You put on the headset.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | >The parrots are silent at the moment, but even when they're talking,
Floyd | you can't understand a word they say.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to parrots" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Or was that tried? (Sorry, someone I know showed up in the coffee shop and has distracted me.)" 	
			DavidW says, "we haven't found a lens yet." 	
			Bert says, "Someone tried putting the bowl on the cactus." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "No, I mean could the bowl serve that purpose?" 	
			DavidW says, "The bowl can hold the ocean water to start with." 	
			Bert says, "It was too big." 	
			Jacqueline says, "ah" 	
			DavidW says, "I think if a lens was put in the cactus, we'd have a beam that the dome/bowl could be put in." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >If this is the opposite pole from the Arctic area, everything is
Floyd | north of here, in a sense. However, that doesn't do you much good --
Floyd | you'll need to decide on some arbitrary directions, preferably ones
Floyd | that correspond with the ones you've been using so far. So you launch

Floyd | yourself straight upward, punching through the rainclouds and hanging
Floyd | for a moment in the sunshine above them. Quickly, you look around: the
Floyd | sand dunes of the Desert area are visible from here, so that would be
Floyd | north. You fall back through the clouds and trees, with an improved
Floyd | sense of direction.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "eat key" 		
	

Floyd | >You're Earth, not Matter-Eater Lad.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >There isn't a great deal of room to run, but you do your best, and
Floyd | launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |

Floyd | You're descending towards a broad savannah, sparsely dotted with tall
Floyd | trees. For a second, you think you spot movement, the grasses parting
Floyd | and dark shapes darting away over the gentle hills, but once you land
Floyd | and look around, everything seems perfectly still.
Floyd |
Floyd | Veldt

Floyd | Tall grasses of faded gold reach past your knees, swaying; here and
Floyd | there, baobab trees pose elegantly against a brilliant blue sky. Soft
Floyd | hills ripple through this prairie, and the hot, thick air buzzes with
Floyd | the sounds of distant insects. You can see blue-whiteness in one
Floyd | direction -- the Arctic area -- so that's north, and the Rainforest
Floyd | area is south. Far on the eastern horizon is the tan haze of the

Floyd | Desert area, and the blue-green Ocean shimmers in the distant west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is a dome, its mirrored surface reflecting the sun.
Floyd |

		inky says, "heh" 	
			Paul says, "Ha, Matter-Eater Lad joke already in the game. Apparently I have not changed at all in 7 years." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search grass" 		
	

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dome" 		
	

Floyd | >The dome is about ten feet high at its zenith, and perhaps twenty
Floyd | feet in diameter at its base. Its surface is reflective, but you don't
Floyd | recognize the material it's made of -- no doubt another miracle
Floyd | polymer from the same technology that produced your cell floor.

Floyd |

		Paul says, "Gotta sign off for a bit. Be back soon, I hope." 	
	Paul has disconnected. 		
	Paul goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "Bye -" 	
			Jacqueline says, "- Paul." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we should visit via the Nexus." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | >You briefly boogie to music only you can hear.

Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | >Your singing is abominable.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | >You're a superhero, not a magician.
Floyd |
Floyd | Something tickles your peripheral vision, and you turn. A feline face
Floyd | is peeking over one of the ridges, and its eyes lock with yours for a

Floyd | moment. Then it disappears, leaving the tall grass rocking behind it.
Floyd | The moment passed quickly, but you did notice that the head was more
Floyd | oval than triangular, and that the space between the eyes and ears was
Floyd | enough to contain a brainpan larger than that of any earth cat. In
Floyd | fact, the size of the head seemed to imply a rather large creature
Floyd | overall.

Floyd |
Floyd | You stealthily approach the ridge and look over. About a hundred yards
Floyd | away, there are perhaps a half-dozen cat-creatures, feline bodies
Floyd | covered with fur but walking upright on their hind legs, and with
Floyd | articulated gripping fingers on their front paws, from which you can
Floyd | see claws occasionally extending. They are indeed large, probably

Floyd | about eight feet tall and impressively muscled. The cat-people notice
Floyd | you immediately, and retreat to a safe distance, but from there regard
Floyd | you with equal curiosity.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Bert), "Only you." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except that because you do that, it has caught on." 	
			Bert asks, "Dancing, singing, xyzzying, or eating keys?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Dancing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cats" 		
	

Floyd | >These creatures are definitely feline, but don't appear to derive

Floyd | from any animal you recognize. They stand about eight feet tall,
Floyd | walking upright without awkwardness. Each wears a crude skin loincloth
Floyd | and has a small, apparently vestigial tail. The patterns in their fur
Floyd | are unique to each, but you suspect you can see some genetic
Floyd | inheritance among two or three of them.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I heard you started that trend." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You're already wearing that!
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the cats speaking to each other in a series of growls,

Floyd | trills, and vocalizations that is occasionally overridden by your
Floyd | mother's voice in the headset, whispering in your ear words like
Floyd | "food", "stranger", and "child."
Floyd |

		Bert says, "Huh. I had no idea I was a trend-setter." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "talk to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >You'd have to shout, and they almost certainly wouldn't understand
Floyd | you anyway.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "The headset appears to translate the cat language." 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "talk to headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |

		inky says, "sure that's one theory" 	
			inky says, "maybe it makes you schizophrenic" 	
			DavidW says, "I want to get inside the dome via the Nexus." 	
			Bert says (to inky), "Ha ha." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "heehee" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "meow" 		
	

Floyd | >Nice try, but making convincing cat sounds isn't one of your

Floyd | superpowers.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "ha" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "purr" 		
	

Floyd | >Nice try, but making convincing cat sounds isn't one of your
Floyd | superpowers.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "yay" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "bark" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "Let's get back to the Nexus, please." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've reached the arc of your parabola, and have begun to descend. An
Floyd | ocean sloshes below you, dotted by just one tiny island. As you fly

Floyd | through the air, you tuck your non-waterproof possessions into the
Floyd | suit pouch. Soon, you hit the water with a massive SPLOOSH!
Floyd |
Floyd | As you sink, the suit begins supplying oxygen to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ocean

Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent
Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such
Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow

Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large circular door, apparently a hatch, is set in the ground here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.

Floyd |
Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x bubble" 		
	

Floyd | >The bubble is made of a substance you don't recognize, and reflects
Floyd | your face back at you, distorted into shapes that would startle
Floyd | Chester Gould.
Floyd |
Floyd | You sense a presence behind you. Whirling, you find yourself
Floyd | face-to-eye with an enormous squid, at least fifty feet long. The

Floyd | squid is regarding you, not with aggression, but with curiosity.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "uh oh" 	
			DavidW asks, "oh, we didn't land on the island, huh?" 	
			inky says, "squids are our friends!" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "quid, hello" 		
	

Floyd | >You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x squid" 		
	

Floyd | >This squid is one of the most astonishing living creatures you've
Floyd | ever seen. Its dark, mesmerizing eye is as big as a hubcap. Eight long
Floyd | tentacles and two even longer feeding arms trail from its maroon,
Floyd | torpedo-shaped body, and at the center of that body is a
Floyd | formidable-looking beak. The squid is keeping a safe distance from

Floyd | you, examining you and your possessions with keen interest.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "squid, hello" 		
	

Floyd | >"Uh, hi there." you begin gamely. "I'm Austin Colborn."
Floyd |

Floyd | The squid just looks at you, its tentacles swaying slowly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You, uh, come here often?" you say.
Floyd |
Floyd | The squid continues to look at you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Hey wait," you say, "I'm encased in a suit. I'll bet you can't even
Floyd | hear me. Tell you what, if you can't hear me, or can't understand me,
Floyd | just stare at me and do absolutely nothing."
Floyd |
Floyd | The giant squid just stares at you. It does absolutely nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | The squid taps you, then points one tentacle at the beige touchplate
Floyd | while waving the others in an urgent but uninterpretable pattern.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline needs to check on her squid. 	
			inky says, "oh hey yeah" 	
			Bert says, "I think it's trying to communicate with us." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "What's the address for that again? I'm not at my home computer." 	
			Bert says, "Perhaps it's wondering if we're intelligent." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch beige" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and it lights up briefly. The
Floyd | silvery column begins sliding downward, retreating back into the
Floyd | ground. Soon, the ocean floor is flat once again, looking as
Floyd | undisturbed as if nothing had ever happened.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a
Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor

Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting
Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You
Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its

Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a
Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over
Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.

Floyd |
Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by
Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the Veldt

Floyd | area is east, and the Rainforest is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're dry again, you unzip the suit pouch and retrieve your
Floyd | delicate items.
Floyd |

		inky says, "[LINK]" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dive" 		
	

Floyd | >Before diving in, you tuck your non-waterproof possessions into the
Floyd | suit pouch. Then you dive into the water, and sink like a cinderblock
Floyd | until you reach the bottom.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent
Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such

Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | An incredible giant squid floats alongside you, just out of reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large circular door, apparently a hatch, is set in the ground here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch turquoise" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and the hatch
Floyd | slowly swings open, releasing a huge bubble of air that floats lazily

Floyd | upwards.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Waterlock

Floyd | The walls are close and smooth in this utterly nondescript,
Floyd | cylindrical room, currently filled with water. The only noteworthy
Floyd | feature is that a couple of touchplates adorn one wall, one crimson
Floyd | and one turquoise.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch turquoise" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and the hatch swings smoothly
Floyd | closed. Water begins to drain from the room, hidden pumps rapidly
Floyd | replacing it with air. Your suit returns to normal, and an entrance
Floyd | slides open beside you, in a direction you capriciously decide to call

Floyd | east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're dry again, you unzip the suit pouch and retrieve your
Floyd | delicate items.
Floyd |

		inky says, "I just passed a giant squid" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Ocean Observatory
Floyd | You're now standing beneath the mirrored bubble. The air in this room
Floyd | feels rather stale, and the only light comes from the plants outside

Floyd | the bubble. That bubble gives an excellent view of the ocean floor,
Floyd | and you surmise that this room must have been built for observation of
Floyd | that area. The waterlock is west of here.
Floyd |

		inky says, "and that squid .. was .. ME" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x squid" 		
	

Floyd | >You see the ocean floor, dimly illuminated by bioluminescent plants.
Floyd | A giant squid floats calmly near the bubble, exploring its environment
Floyd | with tentacles and enormous eyes.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Waterlock
Floyd | The walls are close and smooth in this utterly nondescript,
Floyd | cylindrical room. The only noteworthy feature is that a couple of

Floyd | touchplates adorn one wall, one crimson and one turquoise. There's
Floyd | also an exit to, oh let's call it the east.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch crimson" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and a field of crimson energy

Floyd | materializes in the cylinder! The floor opens, and the energy field
Floyd | carries you downwards, hurtling through darkness until you reach
Floyd | the...
Floyd |
Floyd | Nexus
Floyd | You hang suspended within a translucent crimson bubble of energy, with

Floyd | nothing but inky darkness beyond. Also suspended by the energy field
Floyd | are six touchplates, each bearing an icon. The icons are: a snowflake,
Floyd | ocean waves, a cactus, a broad leaf, an evergreen tree, and one you
Floyd | don't recognize, which looks a bit like an abstract rendition of a
Floyd | cat's face.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch cat" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the cat touchplate, and the bubble begins
Floyd | spinning smoothly. You have the sensation of swift, effortless
Floyd | movement. With surprising suddenness, the energy transport deposits
Floyd | you elsewhere, then dissolves around you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Veldt Dome
Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and
Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, and on
Floyd | the other side of it is a wide grassland, creased with gentle hills
Floyd | and the occasional baobab tree. There are several platforms inside the

Floyd | dome, reaching to your hip and covered with a soft bedding on top, and
Floyd | to one side of these is a pedestal with a crimson touchplate. You can
Floyd | see no exits.
Floyd |
Floyd | A white cylinder sits atop one of the platforms.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x white cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | >This cylinder is about the size and shape of a paint can. Its entire
Floyd | surface is white except for a small black button on one of its flat
Floyd | faces.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | >The device is surprisingly heavy, as if its core is quite dense.
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x black button" 		
	

Floyd | >The black button bears the icon of an oval with some indecipherable
Floyd | scribbles inside.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "My squid has made friends with a ... giant sea pig. I have no idea what that is; it sounds made up." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You put on the headset.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "But back to the game." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cats" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		inky | * Scotoplanes, a genus of deep-sea holothurians (sea cucumbers) commonly called Sea pigs 	
			inky | * some species of porpoise or dolphin or dugong 	
			inky | * an animal in medieval texts with uncertain identity (porcus marinus) 	
			inky says, "so basically it could be anything" 	
			inky says, "but you are totally friends with it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hahah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Excellent." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Indecipherable squiggles as in language, eh?" 	
			DavidW says, "I dunno what this cylinder is. I'm gonna assume 'bomb' for now." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Heh. Always the safest assumption." 	
			DavidW asks, "maybe the cats can read it. Who knows?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >This crimson touchplate sports the icon of a circle from which six

Floyd | spokes radiate.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch it" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and a field of crimson energy
Floyd | materializes next to the pedestal, surrounding you in a glowing shell.

Floyd | The floor beneath you opens, and the energy field carries you
Floyd | downwards, hurtling through darkness until you reach the...
Floyd |
Floyd | Nexus
Floyd | You hang suspended within a translucent crimson bubble of energy, with
Floyd | nothing but inky darkness beyond. Also suspended by the energy field

Floyd | are six touchplates, each bearing an icon. The icons are: a snowflake,
Floyd | ocean waves, a cactus, a broad leaf, an evergreen tree, and one you
Floyd | don't recognize, which looks a bit like an abstract rendition of a
Floyd | cat's face.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch evergreen" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the tree touchplate, and the bubble begins
Floyd | spinning smoothly. You have the sensation of swift, effortless
Floyd | movement. With surprising suddenness, the energy transport deposits
Floyd | you elsewhere, then dissolves around you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Forest Dome
Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and
Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, and
Floyd | through it you can see that you're about twenty yards above the
Floyd | treetops of a magnificent forest. There are several platforms on the

Floyd | ground, reaching to your hip and covered with a soft bedding on top,
Floyd | and to one side of these is a pedestal with a crimson touchplate. You
Floyd | can see no exits.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the center of the dome, an odd device rests atop an eight-foot
Floyd | pole.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x device" 		
	

Floyd | >You're not sure exactly what this device is, but given that it has a
Floyd | large lens on one end and a face-shaped indentation on the other,
Floyd | you're inclined to believe it's somehow intended for long-distance

Floyd | viewing -- a "viewscope", you decide provisionally. Sadly, it's at the
Floyd | top of an eight-foot pole in the center of the dome, and the
Floyd | indentation doesn't appear to be shaped to accommodate a human face,
Floyd | so it's not exactly tourist-friendly.
Floyd |

		
	Paul arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		DavidW says, "Anyway, we seem to have a lens here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lens" 		
	

Floyd | >This is a large, convex lens meant for focusing light to view distant
Floyd | objects. It is currently screwed onto the viewscope.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unscrew lens" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't reach it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >Even at its highest point, the ceiling isn't far out of reach, and
Floyd | there's nothing on it.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in viewscope" 		
	

Floyd | >It's too far above you.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "climb pole" 		
	

Floyd | >It would probably be easier just to climb up on one of the platforms.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb platform" 		
	

Floyd | >You climb onto the platform nearest the viewscope.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unscrew lens" 		
	

Floyd | >It takes a fair amount of strength, but you unscrew the lens from the
Floyd | viewscope.
Floyd |

		inky says, "it gives you a funny feeling, like when you used to climb the pole in astronomy class" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take lens" 		
	

Floyd | >You already have that.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "down" 		inky says, "wait, you didn't look through it" 	
	

Floyd | >You get off the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest Dome

Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and
Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, and
Floyd | through it you can see that you're about twenty yards above the
Floyd | treetops of a magnificent forest. There are several platforms on the
Floyd | ground, reaching to your hip and covered with a soft bedding on top,
Floyd | and to one side of these is a pedestal with a crimson touchplate. You

Floyd | can see no exits.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a viewscope here.
Floyd |

		inky says, "there might have been something awesome" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Forest Dome
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Forest Dome
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Forest Dome
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through lens" 		
	

Floyd | >Try looking through the eyepiece instead.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through eyepiece" 		
	

Floyd | >It's hard to get a steady view, and it's a bit blurry looking through
Floyd | only one eyepiece, but you can see creatures in the treetops. They're
Floyd | humanoid, in fact almost human-like -- mostly standing upright but

Floyd | crouching occasionally, large front teeth tearing into their food,
Floyd | interacting with each other in what appear to be fairly social ways.
Floyd | In fact, if you didn't know that you were in the present, staring at a
Floyd | world that isn't Earth, you'd have identified them as
Floyd | Australopithecus.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "good catch" 	
			DavidW says, "I was expecting to be in the tower, though, not a dome. I didn't note a dome in the Forest." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I recall none of this. Maybe I didn't finish this one..." 	
			inky says, "you can't see the dome for the trees" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Isn't that always the way." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x australopithecines." 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x figures" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x humanoids" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		inky says, "australopithecines, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
			DavidW says, "We should get the lens and check out the Rainforest dome as well." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unscrew lens" 		
	

Floyd | >It takes a fair amount of strength, but you unscrew the lens from the
Floyd | viewscope.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take lens" 		
	

Floyd | >You already have that.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "I thought we said you were going to quit doing crazy, mind-altering drugs." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >You get off the platform.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest Dome
Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and
Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, and

Floyd | through it you can see that you're about twenty yards above the
Floyd | treetops of a magnificent forest. There are several platforms on the
Floyd | ground, reaching to your hip and covered with a soft bedding on top,
Floyd | and to one side of these is a pedestal with a crimson touchplate. You
Floyd | can see no exits.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can see a viewscope here.
Floyd |

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "right after I come down off this one" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay then." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and a field of crimson energy
Floyd | materializes next to the pedestal, surrounding you in a glowing shell.
Floyd | The floor beneath you opens, and the energy field carries you
Floyd | downwards, hurtling through darkness until you reach the...

Floyd |
Floyd | Nexus
Floyd | You hang suspended within a translucent crimson bubble of energy, with
Floyd | nothing but inky darkness beyond. Also suspended by the energy field
Floyd | are six touchplates, each bearing an icon. The icons are: a snowflake,
Floyd | ocean waves, a cactus, a broad leaf, an evergreen tree, and one you

Floyd | don't recognize, which looks a bit like an abstract rendition of a
Floyd | cat's face.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch leaf" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the leaf touchplate, and the bubble begins

Floyd | spinning smoothly. You have the sensation of swift, effortless
Floyd | movement. With surprising suddenness, the energy transport deposits
Floyd | you elsewhere, then dissolves around you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rainforest Dome
Floyd | You're in a dome, probably about ten feet high at its zenith and

Floyd | twenty feet in diameter at its base. The wall is transparent, and
Floyd | through it you can see a verdant jungle, its colors only a little bit
Floyd | muted by the interposing dome. There are several platforms inside the
Floyd | dome, reaching to your hip and covered with a soft bedding on top, and
Floyd | to one side of these is a pedestal with two touchplates. You can see
Floyd | no exits.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pedestal" 		
	

Floyd | >This is just a small, cylindrical pedestal, about four feet high.
Floyd | Atop its angled surface are two touchplates, one crimson and one
Floyd | indigo. The indigo one has a very thin sponge attached to it.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sponge" 		
	

Floyd | >Depending on how you look at it, this is either a very thin sponge,
Floyd | or a fairly thick piece of spongy paper -- it certainly wouldn't be
Floyd | useful for absorbing much of anything, except perhaps odor. In any

Floyd | case, it's white and adorned with patterned ink scrawls. You surmise
Floyd | that these scrawls may be some sort of writing, but you haven't a clue
Floyd | how to decipher them.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "smell sponge" 		
	

Floyd | >You don't smell anything, so if the sponge is retaining an odor,
Floyd | it'll take a sharper nose than yours to detect it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" 		
	

Floyd | >The sponge peels smoothly off the touchplate, leaving no trace of
Floyd | adhesive.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x indigo" 		
	

Floyd | >The icon on this indigo touchplate is an upward-pointing triangle,

Floyd | identical to the one you saw in the Arctic area.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "hm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "More scrolly squiggles." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push indigo" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, but nothing happens.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push crimson" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and a field of crimson energy

Floyd | materializes next to the pedestal, surrounding you in a glowing shell.
Floyd | The floor beneath you opens, and the energy field carries you
Floyd | downwards, hurtling through darkness until you reach the...
Floyd |
Floyd | Nexus
Floyd | You hang suspended within a translucent crimson bubble of energy, with

Floyd | nothing but inky darkness beyond. Also suspended by the energy field
Floyd | are six touchplates, each bearing an icon. The icons are: a snowflake,
Floyd | ocean waves, a cactus, a broad leaf, an evergreen tree, and one you
Floyd | don't recognize, which looks a bit like an abstract rendition of a
Floyd | cat's face.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Can we stick it on something else?" 	
			DavidW says, "possibly" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push cactus" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the cactus touchplate, and the bubble begins

Floyd | trembling, first gently, then with more and more violence. For a
Floyd | moment, you fear it's about to shake itself apart and leave you
Floyd | stranded in this abyss, but then the tremors calm down once more.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push snowflake" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the snowflake touchplate, and the bubble begins
Floyd | trembling, first gently, then with more and more violence. For a
Floyd | moment, you fear it's about to shake itself apart and leave you
Floyd | stranded in this abyss, but then the tremors calm down once more.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push ocean" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the waves touchplate, and the bubble begins
Floyd | spinning smoothly. You have the sensation of swift, effortless
Floyd | movement. With surprising suddenness, the energy transport deposits
Floyd | you elsewhere, then dissolves around you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Waterlock
Floyd | The walls are close and smooth in this utterly nondescript,
Floyd | cylindrical room. The only noteworthy feature is that a couple of
Floyd | touchplates adorn one wall, one crimson and one turquoise. There's
Floyd | also an exit to, oh let's call it the east.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push turquoise" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and the room rapidly fills with
Floyd | water. With the water rising rapidly, you tuck your non-waterproof
Floyd | possessions into the suit pouch so that they won't be damaged. As

Floyd | before, your suit starts processing the water through its gills, and
Floyd | then the hatch opens, releasing the last of the air.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >

Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent
Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such

Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | An incredible giant squid floats alongside you, just out of reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, open hatch leads downward.

Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >You spring upwards, shooting through the water like a torpedo, but
Floyd | it's no good. By the time you reach the surface, the water resistance
Floyd | has drained your jump of its inertia, leaving you to sink back down to

Floyd | the ocean floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent

Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such
Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | An incredible giant squid floats alongside you, just out of reach.

Floyd |
Floyd | A large, open hatch leads downward.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and it lights up briefly. The

Floyd | silvery column begins sliding downward, retreating back into the
Floyd | ground. Soon, the ocean floor is flat once again, looking as
Floyd | undisturbed as if nothing had ever happened.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a
Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor
Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting

Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You
Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its
Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a

Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over
Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.
Floyd |

Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by
Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the Veldt
Floyd | area is east, and the Rainforest is south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're dry again, you unzip the suit pouch and retrieve your
Floyd | delicate items.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hm, wait a tick. I definitely rememeber the squid." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't get much of a running start in such a tiny area, but you
Floyd | crouch and launch yourself upwards, and that seems to provide
Floyd | sufficient momentum.
Floyd |

Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again, you hurtle through the canopy of leaves and land more or
Floyd | less at your previous arrival point.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest

Floyd | The air is cool and quiet down here, far beneath the treetop canopy.
Floyd | On every side of you, massive trunks rise majestically. These trees
Floyd | are enormous, like old-growth redwoods but growing higher than Earth
Floyd | gravity would ever permit. The trees completely block the horizon, and
Floyd | you can only keep yourself oriented by remembering the direction you
Floyd | were facing when you jumped up and saw the Arctic area.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is the base of a tower that's even taller than the trees.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >There isn't a great deal of room to run, but you do your best, and

Floyd | launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again, you land in the sandy, sweltering desert.
Floyd |

Floyd | Desert
Floyd | The first thing you notice is the heat. It is punishing, astonishing,
Floyd | like standing inside an inferno that burns without flames. Your suit
Floyd | insulates you somewhat, and a lucky thing, too, because otherwise you
Floyd | wouldn't last long under a sun that feels like it's just a few feet
Floyd | away. Orienting yourself based on the direction you came from, you can

Floyd | see enormous sand dunes rising north and south of you, creating no
Floyd | shade but blocking your vision. Through the heat haze, you can barely
Floyd | perceive the Forest to the east, and the Veldt to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, Y-shaped cactus stands nearby.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see an enormous bowl (which is empty) here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put lens in cactus" 		
	

Floyd | >You wedge the lens between the arms of the cactus, and it fits
Floyd | perfectly, catching the sunlight and creating an intense, concentrated

Floyd | beam aimed directly at the bowl.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >The bowl is too big and awkward to carry while you're holding
Floyd | anything else.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop all" 		
	

Floyd | >very thin sponge: Dropped.
Floyd | white cylinder: Dropped.
Floyd | canister: Dropped.

Floyd | cabin key: Dropped.
Floyd | legal pad: Dropped.
Floyd | notepad: Dropped.
Floyd | loose papers: Dropped.
Floyd | headset: Dropped.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You heft the bowl over your head. Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again, you hurtle through the canopy of leaves and land more or

Floyd | less at your previous arrival point.CRRASH!  The bowl upends when it
Floyd | hits the trees, and you just manage to grab its lip and drag it down
Floyd | with you so it doesn't get stuck in the treetops.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest
Floyd | The air is cool and quiet down here, far beneath the treetop canopy.

Floyd | On every side of you, massive trunks rise majestically. These trees
Floyd | are enormous, like old-growth redwoods but growing higher than Earth
Floyd | gravity would ever permit. The trees completely block the horizon, and
Floyd | you can only keep yourself oriented by remembering the direction you
Floyd | were facing when you jumped up and saw the Arctic area.
Floyd |

Floyd | Beside you is the base of a tower that's even taller than the trees.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see an enormous bowl (which is empty) here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >There isn't a great deal of room to run, but you do your best, and
Floyd | launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |

Floyd | You've reached the arc of your parabola, and have begun to descend. An
Floyd | ocean sloshes below you, dotted by just one tiny island. You hit the
Floyd | water with a massive SPLOOSH!
Floyd |
Floyd | As you sink, the suit begins supplying oxygen to you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent
Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such

Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | An incredible giant squid floats alongside you, just out of reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, open hatch leads downward.

Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.

Floyd |
Floyd | A sizable fish floats by, and the squid conceals itself behind an
Floyd | outcropping. Then, with startling speed, one of its feeding arms darts
Floyd | out and ensnares its prey. The squid takes the fish into its
Floyd | tentacles, tearing and crunching with its sharp beak, and then returns
Floyd | its attention to you.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and it lights up briefly. The
Floyd | silvery column begins sliding downward, retreating back into the
Floyd | ground. Soon, the ocean floor is flat once again, looking as

Floyd | undisturbed as if nothing had ever happened.
Floyd |

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "shake tentacle" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a
Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor

Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting
Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You
Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its

Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a
Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over
Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.

Floyd |
Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by
Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the Veldt

Floyd | area is east, and the Rainforest is south.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Island
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Island
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Ocean
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "er, did I drop the bowl?" 	
			Paul says, "Yep. In the Forest." 	
			DavidW says, "drat" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a
Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor

Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting
Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You
Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its

Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a
Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over
Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.

Floyd |
Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by
Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the Veldt

Floyd | area is east, and the Rainforest is south.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't get much of a running start in such a tiny area, but you

Floyd | crouch and launch yourself upwards, and that seems to provide
Floyd | sufficient momentum.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again, you hurtle through the canopy of leaves and land more or

Floyd | less at your previous arrival point.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forest
Floyd | The air is cool and quiet down here, far beneath the treetop canopy.
Floyd | On every side of you, massive trunks rise majestically. These trees
Floyd | are enormous, like old-growth redwoods but growing higher than Earth

Floyd | gravity would ever permit. The trees completely block the horizon, and
Floyd | you can only keep yourself oriented by remembering the direction you
Floyd | were facing when you jumped up and saw the Arctic area.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is the base of a tower that's even taller than the trees.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see an enormous bowl (which is empty) here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You heft the bowl over your head. Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >There isn't a great deal of room to run, but you do your best, and
Floyd | launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've reached the arc of your parabola, and have begun to descend. An
Floyd | ocean sloshes below you, dotted by just one tiny island. You hit the
Floyd | water with a massive SPLOOSH! You can't manage to hang onto the bowl,
Floyd | and leave it floating at the surface while you sink downward.
Floyd |

Floyd | As you sink, the suit begins supplying oxygen to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent

Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such
Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | An incredible giant squid floats alongside you, just out of reach.

Floyd |
Floyd | A large, open hatch leads downward.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, I see that Paul filled you in. I was still scrolling back to find it..." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Now where is it?" 	
			DavidW says, "oh. On the surface. Bother." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and it lights up briefly. The
Floyd | silvery column begins sliding downward, retreating back into the
Floyd | ground. Soon, the ocean floor is flat once again, looking as
Floyd | undisturbed as if nothing had ever happened.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a

Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor
Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting
Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You

Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its
Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a
Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over

Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.
Floyd |
Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by

Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the Veldt
Floyd | area is east, and the Rainforest is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bowl is floating just a few yards away, and you manage to swim out
Floyd | and retrieve it before the weight of your suit drags you back down to
Floyd | the ocean floor.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fill bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You dip the bowl in the ocean, filling it with thousands of gallons
Floyd | of salt water, though not so much that it will sink as soon as you let
Floyd | go of it.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You heft the bowl over your head (which is significantly harder now
Floyd | that it's full of water.) Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't get much of a running start in such a tiny area, but you
Floyd | crouch and launch yourself upwards, and that seems to provide
Floyd | sufficient momentum.
Floyd |

Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | You land in the tall grasses once again. A few hundred gallons of
Floyd | water slosh from the bowl before you can steady it, but your landing
Floyd | in the grass is soft enough that you don't lose too much.
Floyd |

Floyd | Veldt
Floyd | Tall grasses of faded gold reach past your knees, swaying; here and
Floyd | there, baobab trees pose elegantly against a brilliant blue sky. Soft
Floyd | hills ripple through this prairie, and the hot, thick air buzzes with
Floyd | the sounds of distant insects. You can see blue-whiteness in one
Floyd | direction -- the Arctic area -- so that's north, and the Rainforest

Floyd | area is south. Far on the eastern horizon is the tan haze of the
Floyd | Desert area, and the blue-green Ocean shimmers in the distant west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is a dome, its mirrored surface reflecting the sun.
Floyd |
Floyd | The cat-people startle as one for no apparent reason, and retreat a

Floyd | little further from you.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   an enormous bowl

Floyd |     a massive quantity of salt water
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.

Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again, you land in the sandy, sweltering desert. A few hundred
Floyd | gallons of water slosh from the bowl before you can steady it, but
Floyd | your landing in the sand is soft enough that you don't lose too much.

Floyd |
Floyd | Desert
Floyd | The first thing you notice is the heat. It is punishing, astonishing,
Floyd | like standing inside an inferno that burns without flames. Your suit
Floyd | insulates you somewhat, and a lucky thing, too, because otherwise you
Floyd | wouldn't last long under a sun that feels like it's just a few feet

Floyd | away. Orienting yourself based on the direction you came from, you can
Floyd | see enormous sand dunes rising north and south of you, creating no
Floyd | shade but blocking your vision. Through the heat haze, you can barely
Floyd | perceive the Forest to the east, and the Veldt to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, Y-shaped cactus stands nearby, with a lens between its arms,

Floyd | creating a beam of concentrated sunlight aimed at the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a headset, some loose papers, a notepad, a legal pad,
Floyd | a cabin key, a canister (which is empty), a white cylinder and a very
Floyd | thin sponge here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put bowl in beam" 		
	

Floyd | >Just dropping the bowl here will put it in the path of the beam.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop bowl" 		
	

Floyd | >You set the bowl down near the cactus, intercepting the beam. Within
Floyd | minutes, you can see bubbles forming on the sides of the bowl.
Floyd |
Floyd | With the beam hitting the water like this, it's sure to boil sometime
Floyd | soon. On the other hand, as overheated as you feel right now, you're

Floyd | not at all certain you can handle standing around waiting for it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all but bowl and cactus" 		
	

Floyd | >headset: Taken.
Floyd | loose papers: Taken.

Floyd | notepad: Taken.
Floyd | legal pad: Taken.
Floyd | cabin key: Taken.
Floyd | canister: Taken.
Floyd | white cylinder: The device is surprisingly heavy, as if its core is
Floyd | quite dense. Taken.

Floyd | very thin sponge: Taken.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |

Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | You land in the tall grasses once again.
Floyd |
Floyd | Veldt
Floyd | Tall grasses of faded gold reach past your knees, swaying; here and

Floyd | there, baobab trees pose elegantly against a brilliant blue sky. Soft
Floyd | hills ripple through this prairie, and the hot, thick air buzzes with
Floyd | the sounds of distant insects. You can see blue-whiteness in one
Floyd | direction -- the Arctic area -- so that's north, and the Rainforest
Floyd | area is south. Far on the eastern horizon is the tan haze of the
Floyd | Desert area, and the blue-green Ocean shimmers in the distant west.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is a dome, its mirrored surface reflecting the sun.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You put on the headset.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show sponge to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >The cat people are unimpressed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You notice that one of the cats is obviously female, and carries a

Floyd | child. (Or kitten, perhaps.) She licks the child clean with obvious
Floyd | affection, and coos to it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear the hum of insects, but you can't tell from where.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "listen to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show button to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >(first taking the black button)
Floyd | That seems to be a part of the white cylinder.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I teek thinking of TOOKiE'S SONG" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show cylinder to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >The cat people are unimpressed.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | >You briefly boogie to music only you can hear.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "talk to cats" 		
	

Floyd | >You'd have to shout, and they almost certainly wouldn't understand

Floyd | you anyway.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sponge" 		
	

Floyd | >Depending on how you look at it, this is either a very thin sponge,
Floyd | or a fairly thick piece of spongy paper -- it certainly wouldn't be

Floyd | useful for absorbing much of anything, except perhaps odor. In any
Floyd | case, it's white and adorned with patterned ink scrawls. You surmise
Floyd | that these scrawls may be some sort of writing, but you haven't a clue
Floyd | how to decipher them.
Floyd |

		DavidW asks, "Any ideas what to do with the sponge or cylinder? Dare we push the button?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Save is our friend." 	
			DavidW says, "If the cats can't help, maybe the penguins or other creatures can." 	
			DavidW asks, "Maybe the squid can read a sponge?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | >The cylinder emits a series of sounds, with tones varying from fierce
Floyd | to plaintive. You have absolutely no idea what they mean, but you hear
Floyd | your mother's voice in your ear through the headset, choppily
Floyd | translating the sounds into English:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Light-half 2, 5740. Construction nearly finished on the project, and

Floyd | preparing to move in. This record will track overall impressions, and
Floyd | may be distributed later in expanded form. Nervous but excited to see
Floyd | large-scale results."
Floyd |
Floyd | As soon as the cylinder starts playing, the head of every cat-creature
Floyd | turns to look at it, pupils dilated and ears rotated forward. As soon

Floyd | as it finishes, their fur is raised, and they let out hissing chorus.
Floyd | Then they are in motion, streaking across the grassland and away from
Floyd | you with children and possessions in tow, faster than you could ever
Floyd | hope to pursue them. It's unlikely you'll see them again anytime soon.
Floyd |

		inky :XC 	
			Jacqueline says, "uh-oh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Veldt
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "So. Not a bomb but a tape recorder." 	
			DavidW says, "But in cat-speak." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump east" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.

Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again, you land in the sandy, sweltering desert.
Floyd |
Floyd | Desert

Floyd | The first thing you notice is the heat. It is punishing, astonishing,
Floyd | like standing inside an inferno that burns without flames. Your suit
Floyd | insulates you somewhat, and a lucky thing, too, because otherwise you
Floyd | wouldn't last long under a sun that feels like it's just a few feet
Floyd | away. Orienting yourself based on the direction you came from, you can
Floyd | see enormous sand dunes rising north and south of you, creating no

Floyd | shade but blocking your vision. Through the heat haze, you can barely
Floyd | perceive the Forest to the east, and the Veldt to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large, Y-shaped cactus stands nearby, with a lens between its arms,
Floyd | creating a beam of concentrated sunlight aimed at the bowl.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see an enormous bowl (in which is a pile of sea salt)
Floyd | here.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear headset" 		
	

Floyd | >You're already wearing that!

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | >The cylinder emits a series of sounds, with tones varying from fierce
Floyd | to plaintive. You have absolutely no idea what they mean, but you hear
Floyd | your mother's voice in your ear through the headset, choppily

Floyd | translating the sounds into English:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Light-half 2, 5740. Construction nearly finished on the project, and
Floyd | preparing to move in. This record will track overall impressions, and
Floyd | may be distributed later in expanded form. Nervous but excited to see
Floyd | large-scale results."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open canister" 		
	

Floyd | >That's already open.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | >Time passes.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put salt in canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You scoop up the sea salt with the canister.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You close the canister.

Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I still think the squid might help with the sponge" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I say slugs first." 	
			DavidW says, "ok" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But you have been The Man, so I defer to your judgment." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump south" 		
	

Floyd | >Once again, you get a running start and launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |

Floyd | This time, you're a little more ready for the rainclouds and
Floyd | vegetation, but that doesn't stop your fall from being a careening,
Floyd | wet one.
Floyd |
Floyd | Rainforest
Floyd | You stand amidst a symphony of green. Deep jade moss covers the trunks

Floyd | of trees, whose leaves far above filter mottled avocado light over
Floyd | emerald bushes and green grass -- adjectives run out long before the
Floyd | shades of green do. The air is warm, muggy, and filled with the sounds
Floyd | of wildlife.
Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is the bottom of a long steel tube that rises into the sky

Floyd | and past the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | One small square at your feet appears free of moss, or at least it
Floyd | might, if you could see past the swarming mass of slugs that infest
Floyd | it.
Floyd |

Floyd | In a rare patch of foliage-free ground near you, the mirrored surface
Floyd | of a dome reflects the surrounding greenery.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:

Floyd |   a very thin sponge
Floyd |   a white cylinder
Floyd |   a canister (which is closed)
Floyd |   a cabin key
Floyd |   a legal pad
Floyd |   a notepad

Floyd |   some loose papers
Floyd |   a headset (being worn)
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open canister" 		
	

Floyd | >You open the canister, revealing a pile of sea salt.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a crashing, thumping sound from above, and jump out of the
Floyd | way. No one falls, though, and in a moment it becomes clear that one
Floyd | of the parrots was imitating the sound of your galumphing descent

Floyd | through the rainforest vegetation.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pour salt on slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >You pour the salt onto the slugs, and they shrivel in droves. More
Floyd | rush in to replace them, but you keep pouring, and they keep

Floyd | desiccating. In the end, it takes all the salt you have, but you get
Floyd | rid of all the slugs, and no others arrive.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "woo" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I mean, ewww, but woo" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "Salt always banish slugs in IF." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >The touchplate is indigo and emblazoned with an upwards-pointing
Floyd | triangle.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch it" 		
	

Floyd | >The pad lights up briefly, and the tube's once-seamless face splits;
Floyd | a ten-foot tall section slides open, revealing a clean, lighted
Floyd | interior.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "crikey" 	
			DavidW says, "I bet this is a one way way, however." 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "score" 		
	

Floyd | >I'm not keeping score, but you're probably doing fine.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "er, one way trip" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, you saved." 	
			DavidW says, "I wanna visit the squid one last time." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push touchplate" 		
	

Floyd | >Nothing else happens.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump south" 		
	

Floyd | >There isn't a great deal of room to run, but you do your best, and
Floyd | launch yourself upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've reached the arc of your parabola, and have begun to descend. An
Floyd | ocean sloshes below you, dotted by just one tiny island. As you fly
Floyd | through the air, you tuck your non-waterproof possessions into the
Floyd | suit pouch. Soon, you hit the water with a massive SPLOOSH!
Floyd |

Floyd | As you sink, the suit begins supplying oxygen to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ocean
Floyd | You're standing on silty ground, deep underwater. The light is dim,
Floyd | but you can still see well enough, thanks to bioluminescence from
Floyd | plants that make their home here. Judging from the time you spent

Floyd | sinking, your rough estimate is that you're about two thousand feet
Floyd | below the surface. Happily, the suit seems equipped to handle such
Floyd | extreme pressures, and although you feel like you're moving in slow
Floyd | motion, you're experiencing no discomfort.
Floyd |
Floyd | An incredible giant squid floats alongside you, just out of reach.

Floyd |
Floyd | A large, open hatch leads downward.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just alongside the hatch is a large, mirrored half-bubble, like a
Floyd | glassy eye in the sand.
Floyd |

Floyd | You also notice a beige touchplate next to a towering silver cylinder
Floyd | about ten yards away from the hatch.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "show sponge to squid" 		
	

Floyd | >The squid takes the very thin sponge and examines it with great
Floyd | interest, passing it from tentacle to tentacle and even biting down
Floyd | tentatively with its beak. Finally, its curiosity satisfied, it gently
Floyd | deposits the very thin sponge back at your feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | Apparently startled, the squid jets away, only to return in a few
Floyd | seconds.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take sponge" 		
	

Floyd | >Taken.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Sponge: nibbled." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put sponge on beige" 		
	

Floyd | >Putting things on the beige touchplate would achieve nothing.
Floyd |

Floyd | The squid taps you, then points one tentacle at the beige touchplate
Floyd | while waving the others in an urgent but uninterpretable pattern.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:

Floyd |   a very thin sponge
Floyd |   a white cylinder
Floyd |   a canister (which is open but empty)
Floyd |   a cabin key
Floyd |   a legal pad (stashed inside your costume)
Floyd |   a notepad (stashed inside your costume)

Floyd |   some loose papers (stashed inside your costume)
Floyd |   a headset (stashed inside your costume)
Floyd |   an earthsuit (being worn)
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | >The cylinder is probably emitting sounds, but sealed off as you are,
Floyd | you can hardly hear anything at all.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >You lay your hand on the touchplate, and it lights up briefly. The
Floyd | silvery column begins sliding downward, retreating back into the
Floyd | ground. Soon, the ocean floor is flat once again, looking as
Floyd | undisturbed as if nothing had ever happened.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push beige" 		
	

Floyd | >When you lay a finger on the touchplate, nothing happens, but when
Floyd | you press it with your whole hand, it lights up briefly, and once
Floyd | again, nothing happens. At least, nothing happens at first, but in a
Floyd | moment, you hear a rumbling, and suddenly the bit of ocean floor

Floyd | you're standing on begins to rise! Soon, you find yourself shooting
Floyd | upward on a small plot of land, spearing through tons of water that
Floyd | would surely crush you if not for the earthsuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | You break the surface with a terrific SPLOOSH! And then it's over. You
Floyd | find yourself standing on a small island as water sluices off its

Floyd | surface and back into the ocean. By all rights, you should have a
Floyd | serious case of the bends after such a rapid ascent from deep
Floyd | underwater, but you feel fine -- the earthsuit must somehow have
Floyd | fooled your body into thinking it was still at one atmosphere of
Floyd | pressure, thus preventing nitrogen absorption. The plastic sheath over
Floyd | your nose and mouth retreats back into the cowl.

Floyd |
Floyd | Island
Floyd | In the funnies, all deserted islands are barely large enough to fit
Floyd | two people, and always have a palm tree in the middle. This island is
Floyd | just like that, except without the palm tree. Orienting yourself by
Floyd | the distant smudges, you decide that the Forest is west, the Veldt

Floyd | area is east, and the Rainforest is south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now that you're dry again, you unzip the suit pouch and retrieve your
Floyd | delicate items.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump south" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't get much of a running start in such a tiny area, but you
Floyd | crouch and launch yourself upwards, and that seems to provide
Floyd | sufficient momentum.
Floyd |

Floyd | The familiar flash-nausea passes as you cross the barrier.
Floyd |
Floyd | This time, you're a little more ready for the rainclouds and
Floyd | vegetation, but that doesn't stop your fall from being a careening,
Floyd | wet one.
Floyd |

Floyd | Rainforest
Floyd | You stand amidst a symphony of green. Deep jade moss covers the trunks
Floyd | of trees, whose leaves far above filter mottled avocado light over
Floyd | emerald bushes and green grass -- adjectives run out long before the
Floyd | shades of green do. The air is warm, muggy, and filled with the sounds
Floyd | of wildlife.

Floyd |
Floyd | Beside you is the bottom of a long steel tube that rises into the sky
Floyd | and past the clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The newly slug-free access panel winks up at you from the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | In a rare patch of foliage-free ground near you, the mirrored surface
Floyd | of a dome reflects the surrounding greenery.
Floyd |
Floyd | The parrots jabber some more, and you could swear you just heard one
Floyd | of them snicker.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put sponge on panel" 		
	

Floyd | >Putting things on the panel would achieve nothing.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter tube" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't see any obvious way into the tube.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tube" 		
	

Floyd | >This tube is an exact duplicate of the one from the Arctic area, with

Floyd | one salient difference: it hasn't been wrecked by a massive impact. It
Floyd | looks easily wide enough to fit yourself into -- if you can figure out
Floyd | how to enter it, that is.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch tube" 		
	

Floyd | >You feel nothing unexpected. Of course, you're wearing gloves, but
Floyd | you probably wouldn't feel anything unexpected anyway.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch panel" 		
	

Floyd | >You feel nothing unexpected. Of course, you're wearing gloves, but
Floyd | you probably wouldn't feel anything unexpected anyway.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push panel" 		
	

Floyd | >The pad lights up briefly, and the tube's once-seamless face splits;

Floyd | a ten-foot tall section slides open, revealing a clean, lighted
Floyd | interior.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter tube" 		
	

Floyd | >You step into the tube and it closes around you. A second later, your

Floyd | stomach lurches and your feet leave the ground -- this isn't an
Floyd | elevator whose floor lifts you to your destination, it's some sort of
Floyd | levitation device. What's more, although it's opaque from the outside,
Floyd | from in here the tube is perfectly transparent, so you see yourself
Floyd | punching through the clouds of the rainforest and hurtling upward at
Floyd | an alarming rate. Just as it's crossing your mind to be grateful that

Floyd | Emily got the flying power instead of you, the barrier of the sky
Floyd | passes, and the tube expels you into new surroundings.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "huh" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D

Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY
Floyd |
Floyd | Part Four
Floyd |
Floyd | "Perhaps I asked too large --

Floyd | I take -- no less than skies --
Floyd | For Earths, grow thick as
Floyd | Berries, in my native town --
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor
Floyd | The walls of this corridor reflect your image back at you, mazed with
Floyd | the outlines of machinery built into their surfaces. After the tube

Floyd | ride, your sense of direction is confounded once again, so you posit
Floyd | that the tube entrance is west, the corridor continues east, and the
Floyd | large door is to your south. There is also a pink touchplate next to
Floyd | the door.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | >I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, thought there was no prompt for some reason." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well done, Daveed." 	
			DavidW says, "thanks" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pink" 		
	

Floyd | >The icon on this touchplate exactly matches the shape of the door
Floyd | beside it.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | >This isn't a traditional door, with knob and hinges and such, but its
Floyd | outline in the wall makes its function plain. It is currently closed,
Floyd | and pink light seeps around its edges.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I suspect another cell." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push pink" 		
	

Floyd | >The large door slides open.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | >Time passes.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | Cell
Floyd | This cell is exactly identical to the one that imprisoned you, with
Floyd | three critical differences. First, there's no pink energy field -- the
Floyd | walls are simply bare. Second, there's an open doorway in the north

Floyd | wall. And finally, there's no giant, gaping hole in the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, sitting in a corner and looking dejectedly at the
Floyd | floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily scrambles to her feet. "Austin!" she shouts. "Woo hoo! Boy, am I

Floyd | glad to see you!" She rushes over and hugs you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Likewise! So have you been in here ever since stepping through the
Floyd | curtain?"

Floyd | 2) "Well, considering you'd probably be trapped in there forever if
Floyd | not for me, I'm not surprised at the warm reception."
Floyd | 3) "Thanks. You have no idea what I had to go through to get here."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 1
Floyd |
Floyd | "Pretty much," she replies. "What happened to you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Well, actually, it was quite interesting. I was in a cell just
Floyd | like this one..."
Floyd | 2) "Oh, you know... stuff."
Floyd | 3) "I'll tell you the whole story, but not right now."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 3
Floyd |
Floyd | "Now there's a plan I can support. Let's get to work."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor

Floyd | The walls of this corridor reflect your image back at you, mazed with
Floyd | the outlines of machinery built into their surfaces. After the tube
Floyd | ride, your sense of direction is confounded once again, so you posit
Floyd | that the tube entrance is west, the corridor continues east, and the
Floyd | large door is to your south. There is also a pink touchplate next to
Floyd | the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands a few feet away from you, looking bored.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | >"Um... right! Good point! Okay, I actually have no idea what you

Floyd | mean."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give headset to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily takes the headset from you. "Looks like one of Mom and Dad's
Floyd | gadgets to me. Not that I have a clue what purpose it might serve.

Floyd | Still, might be good to have along."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, wear it" 		
	

Floyd | >"Hey, just because I'm 18 months younger doesn't mean you get to boss
Floyd | me around."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, please wear it" 		
	

Floyd | >"Um, I know I'm an English major and everything, but I didn't follow
Floyd | you there."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take headset" 		
	

Floyd | >That seems to belong to Emily.
Floyd |

		inky says, "oh, incidentally, if you're playing this on floyd, you missed that every time austin smashes something there is a big SMASH illustrated sound effect" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, give headset to me" 		
	

Floyd | >"Sure," she says, handing you the headset.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push button" 		
	

Floyd | >The cylinder emits a series of sounds, with tones varying from fierce
Floyd | to plaintive. You have absolutely no idea what they mean, but they
Floyd | sound something like this:
Floyd |
Floyd | "mrreow rr uaowuaowmr ftf aow mrr dr m ieu ssmfiao rrm uoowueimrrff mr

Floyd | iumr m mrrmrriao eae ia iim rreueiuaowaow uooia<cough>mrrrruaow eow "
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "He totally should have used the Invisible Argonaut effect as alt text." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about headset" 		
	

Floyd | >"Looks like one of Mom and Dad's gadgets to me. Not that I have a
Floyd | clue what purpose it might serve. Still, might be good to have along."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "But sadly, that game was not as trend-setting as I had hoped." 	
			Paul asks, "What's the Invisible Argonaut effect?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about cats" 		
	

Floyd | >"Interesting. I wonder why that touchplate had the creature rather
Floyd | than the landscape inscribed on it?"
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | >"Um... right! Good point! Okay, I actually have no idea what you
Floyd | mean."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about squid" 		
	

Floyd | >"Yow. I'm glad it was you and not me -- that would have freaked me
Floyd | out a bit."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about penguins" 		
	

Floyd | >"Aww, that sounds cute! Then again, the whole 'oversized head' thing
Floyd | cuts down on the cuteness factor quite a bit."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Paul), "I guess you shall have to play it and find out... heehee" 	
			Jacqueline | [LINK] 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "It will take you all of four minutes." 	
			Paul says, "Oh, ha. Okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about parrots" 		
	

Floyd | >"That sounds irritating. I probably woulda blasted 'em."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tell emily about slugs" 		
	

Floyd | >"Ew. Next topic, please."

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Corridor

Floyd | This section of corridor shows the signs of a recent battle. Scorch
Floyd | marks mar the gleaming machinery, and the grey carpet is distressed by
Floyd | bloodstains and rips. The hallway continues east to an intersection
Floyd | and west to the tube entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.

Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x marks" 		
	

Floyd | >The machinery inset into the metal walls appears still functional,
Floyd | but somewhat the worse for wear, assailed by dents and scorch marks.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machinery" 		
	

Floyd | >The machinery inset into the metal walls appears still functional,
Floyd | but somewhat the worse for wear, assailed by dents and scorch marks.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "hm. We may want to blast that. Dunno yet." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >As you enter the intersection, a shrill alarm begins to peal
Floyd | throughout the halls, bright lights flash, and polymer walls slam down
Floyd | on either side of you, leaving only small niches to the north and

Floyd | south. Matters deteriorate quickly from bad to worse as a portal opens
Floyd | in the corridor east of here, releasing a stream of broad, tall
Floyd | security robots that cut off the corridor completely. The robots see
Floyd | you, and are advancing menacingly towards you!
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Intersection
Floyd | This intersection appears to have borne the brunt of the earlier
Floyd | fighting, with its walls dented, its carpet decimated, and even its
Floyd | ceiling showing a mark or two. Moments ago, passageways led north and
Floyd | south here, but they have just been closed off by impenetrable polymer

Floyd | walls, leaving just a small niche on either side of the corridor,
Floyd | which continues east and west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily hovers a few feet above the ground here.
Floyd |
Floyd | A piercing alarm shrieks through the hallways, accompanied by bright,

Floyd | flashing lights.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security robots are advancing on you from the east in an imposing
Floyd | column.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "emily, zap robots" 		
	

Floyd | >"It would be my pleasure," says your sister, and blue lightning arcs
Floyd | from her fingers with a shattering KER-POW, frying the circuits of the
Floyd | robotic regiment and scattering them like bowling pins. As more robots
Floyd | emerge from the portal, you jump in to do your part, sending sentinels

Floyd | flying with the SKRANG  of your fists and feet colliding with their
Floyd | more frangible bodies. Finally, the two of you have cut a wide swath
Floyd | through the mechanical guardians, and find yourself east of the
Floyd | intersection, fried and smashed robots littering the ground at your
Floyd | feet.
Floyd |

Floyd | Corridor
Floyd | The hallway dead-ends here at the portal that released the robots. It
Floyd | has since closed, and its robots litter the ground, soundly defeated
Floyd | by you and your sister. A doorway leads north, and the intersection is
Floyd | west.
Floyd |

Floyd | A piercing alarm shrieks through the hallways, accompanied by bright,
Floyd | flashing lights.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands a few feet away from you, looking smug.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Woo hoo! Yeah!" shouts Emily, and pumps her fist several times for

Floyd | good measure.
Floyd |

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Observation Center
Floyd | This room appears to serve several purposes, at least one of which is
Floyd | to be an observation center for the various environments below. You
Floyd | draw this conclusion from the six large panels arranged along the
Floyd | north wall, four of which display rotating views of the Ocean, Veldt,

Floyd | Forest, and Rainforest environments, while the other two are blank. On
Floyd | the western wall, a transporter curtain shimmers through its endless
Floyd | pattern changes, and to the east, a lavish arrangement of cushions
Floyd | suggests sleeping quarters of some sort. Control panels of various
Floyd | sorts dot the walls, and the only exit is to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something decisive.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a giant, catlike alien here.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you enter, the huge, humanoid cat-creature stabs a button, and the
Floyd | alarm falls into sudden, tense silence. The creature glowers at you,

Floyd | oval-slitted eyes burning with a combination of fury, frustration, and
Floyd | fear. Its toothy mouth gapes, and a stream of angry, hissing syllables
Floyd | flows forth: "mr mrrowuoiiaow ssao aow urr mrr iaow<throat-clearing
Floyd | sound>eowff uaoweeoom<hiss> mrrm rr rrrrmrreou aowmrr rrmrao

Floyd | fffteeaouw !"
Floyd |
Floyd | Seeing the look of incomprehension on your face, it stalks over to the
Floyd | other side of the room and twists a dial. When it speaks again, a
Floyd | hidden speaker broadcasts an English translation over its words.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You stupid, clumsy, vomit-brained, simian cub!" it resumes, "You did
Floyd | this, didn't you?" It gestures angrily at one of the blank screens.
Floyd | "You wrecked my Arctic equipment, and tramped your filthy body through
Floyd | every other environment! You've destroyed my work!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Uh, well... You don't... I mean... That is..."
Floyd | 2) "Hey, back off Sylvester! All I did was escape from a prison cell!
Floyd | What was I supposed to do, just sit there and rot away?"
Floyd | 3) "Um... I'm sorry."
Floyd | 4) "What? I don't know what you're talking about!."

Floyd | 5) "Hello. My name is Austin Colborn. You killed my father. Well,
Floyd | maybe not, but do you know where he is?"
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, uh-oh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>
Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >>

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, that doesn't work. bleargh" 	
			DavidW says, "You can't save in mid-converse, no." 	
			Bert says, "I like #2, personally." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 2
Floyd |
Floyd | The creature seems to deflate under the sting of your tirade. It
Floyd | slumps against the wall and begins preening its fur nervously. "Oh,
Floyd | stink. You're right, apeling. Owrr was right to insist that the

Floyd | transport channels be shunted to security cells. I ignored you from
Floyd | impatience and must take the blame of destruction."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Well, I'm sorry all the same. I had no idea what would happen when

Floyd | I broke through the floor of that cell. What is this place, anyway?"
Floyd | 2) "You see how I had no choice. Still, those environments are
Floyd | fascinating -- are you trying to evolve intelligent species?"
Floyd | 3) "Who is Owrr? What are you? What is this place? What in the world
Floyd | is going on?"
Floyd | 4) "Fine. Have you seen any other 'simians' around here lately?"

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "That was unexpected." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "2?" 	
			inky says, "their one weakness, being called sylvester" 	
			DavidW says, "I was considering 1, 3, or 4." 	
			Bert says, "Ha ha." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Evidently." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Aw." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 2
Floyd |
Floyd | The creature tilts its head, giving you an odd look. "Not exactly,
Floyd | cub. Not for its own sake. I study the origin of my species, called
Floyd | iueeoorr. We have a gap in our fossil record, between feline ancestors

Floyd | and proto-iueeoorr."
Floyd |
Floyd | "We have the same problem in ours," you say. "We call it the missing
Floyd | link."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I know, cub. Quiet, now. I found ancient bacteria in salt deposits,

Floyd | and extracted it. Those beasts you saw were ordinary before infection.
Floyd | There is no missing link -- infection moves a species to sentience.
Floyd | Such is my theory, and this environment is to test it, but my rival
Floyd | Esrrua has sabotaged it with his spy-creature. That creature killed
Floyd | my... my pridemate, Owrr, escaped to your planet, and now endless
Floyd | strings of apes tramp through here to chase it."

Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Wait, are you telling me that some alien creature is on my world,
Floyd | and that my parents and their friend are chasing it?"
Floyd | 2) "I'm sorry for your loss. This spy-creature... it's on my planet?

Floyd | Is it dangerous?"
Floyd | 3) "That's all I needed to know, and since you're obviously so eager
Floyd | to be rid of me, I'm going to go find my parents."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 1
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes," says the cat-creature, still preening its fur. "Probably Esrrua
Floyd | as well."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Could they be dangerous to the people on my world?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Very likely. That's why those others pursued it. Myself, I have more
Floyd | important priorities, like repairing the damage you caused."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah, you work on those priorities," snarls Emily, "and we'll work on

Floyd | ours. Okay, Austin, this curtain takes us one step closer to Mom and
Floyd | Dad. Let's head back home, shall we?" Without waiting for an answer,
Floyd | she grabs your hand and pulls you into the curtain with her. The
Floyd | familiar, sleepy feeling of teleportation engulfs you immediately.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |

Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 2:
Floyd | ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY
Floyd |
Floyd | Watch for Episode Three of EARTH AND SKY
Floyd |

Floyd | Coming in 2003 to an IF Archive near you!
Floyd |

		
	Ellison arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "press space" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Earth awaits ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

		Jacqueline says (to Ellison), "Just in time!" 	
			Ellison says, "woo, I win!" 	
			Bert says, "Congrats." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Ellison), "Well done." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Normally I would encourage us to stay and play if we so desire, to look at other outcomes, but I need to be somewhere quite soon." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Would there be any upset feelings if I end the transcript here?" 	
			Jota wonders if everyone has now worked out what the cryptic notes at the beginning were about 	
			Paul says, "Well thanks again for playing through this series. I am having super fun watching." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Excellent." 	
			Jota asks (of Paul), "Is there anything you'd like to say about it?" 	
			DavidW says (to Jota), "I'd have to look at them again." 	
			Paul says, "Only that I cringe when I see things I could/should have implemented better." 	
	Qfwfq concentrates, and disappears. 		inky says, "also that we missed the whole bonus area with the squid civilization" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Wha?" 	
			DavidW says (to inky), "aw man" 	
			Paul says, "That's only if you bought the expansion pack" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "heehee" 	
	Bert has disconnected. 		
	Bert goes home. 		
			Jacqueline | Floyd | 1) Al. thru port. 	
			Jacqueline | Floyd | 2)T gone 	
			Jacqueline | Floyd | 3)T cont. by Al. (4 help?)	
			Jacqueline | Floyd | 4)Al. prob. OK, but ???	
			Jacqueline | Floyd | 5)N's mic. maybe invol.?	
			Jacqueline | Floyd |	
			Jacqueline | Floyd | Must purs. -- Claire agr.	
			Jota asks, "Next week, Luminous Horizon?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have to admit I don't get it all." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Jota), "Yeah." 	
			Paul asks, "Should I explain those?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. DW might want to puzzle it out himself first." 	
			Jota says, "I think they're fairly self-explanatory at this point." 	
			inky says, ""purs" is obviously a misspelling of "purrs"" 	
			Paul says, "hee" 	
			Ellison says, "hehe" 	
			Jacqueline says, "he" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, +e" 	
			DavidW says, "T might be Thaddeus Andrews." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, right." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That was what was hanging me up." 	
			DavidW asks, "Al. = Aliens?" 	
			DavidW asks, "I don't get 'cont.' get. Contaminated? Continued?" 	
			DavidW says, "er yet" 	
			Jota says, "I'm assuming 'contacted'." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Contacted, I thought." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And yeah, Aliens was my guess there." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But that one I feel less certain about." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Paul could explain, I guess." 	
			Paul says, "DING! "Contacted" is correct." 	
			Paul says, "Okay, I must dash now. Thanks again, and I'll see you next week." 	
			DavidW says, "bye Paul. Thanks for the games!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bye, Paul." 	
	Paul has disconnected. 		
	Paul goes home. 		Jacqueline says, "Okay, this transcript prolly won't go up until late tonight or (more likely) tomorrow." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Due to football party to which I am now headed...)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Fare thee well, all."	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Luminous Horizon by Paul O'Brian
As played on ifMUD on February 8, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Luminous Horizon, written by Paul O'Brian. Luminous Horizon was originally released as part of the 2004 IF Competition, where it took first place. It also received Xyzzy nominations for Best NPCs and Best Individual PC. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, let's do this thing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load eas3" 		
	

Floyd | > Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H

Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 3:
Floyd | LUMINOUS HORIZON
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Welcome to LUMINOUS HORIZON!
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) Information about this game
Floyd | 2) If you've played other Earth And Sky games...
Floyd | 3) Disable conversation menus
Floyd | 4) Restore a saved game
Floyd | 5) Start a new game
Floyd | 6) Quit the game

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Please make a selection: 2
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | It's Continuity Time! Please answer a few questions to help establish
Floyd | what happened in your sessions with earlier Earth And Sky games:
Floyd |
Floyd | Have you played Part 1, Earth And Sky, to completion?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd | Please answer yes or no.>
Floyd | Great! Was Aunt Nina blinded at the end of your game session?

		Jacqueline asks, "Oh, um... yes, right?" 	
			Nitku says, "Yeah we fogged her" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | Please answer yes or no.>
Floyd |
Floyd | Have you played part 2, Another Earth, Another Sky, to completion?

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | Please answer yes or no.>
Floyd | Excellent! Were Emily and Austin together at the end of your game
Floyd | session?

		Paul says, "Not on the first playt-- oh, nevermind." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "heh. Oh, well." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And yes on this question, too, right?" 	
			Paul says, "Yeah, it only affects some plot-resolution messages" 	
			Paul says, "Yes, she traveled through the curtain" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd | Please answer yes or no.>
Floyd |
Floyd | And that marks the end of the continuity questions. Thanks for your
Floyd | participation!
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline clears the save counter. 		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Welcome to LUMINOUS HORIZON!
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) Information about this game
Floyd | 2) If you've played other Earth And Sky games...
Floyd | 3) Disable conversation menus
Floyd | 4) Restore a saved game

Floyd | 5) Start a new game
Floyd | 6) Quit the game
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "5" 		
	

Floyd | Please make a selection: 5

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | There is heat. There is glaring light outside your closed eyes. You

Floyd | are aware of uneven, rocky ground beneath you, its prickles and points
Floyd | muffled by the thick earthsuit that covers your body. You slowly sit
Floyd | up, opening your eyes to an arid landscape of rocks and scrub. How did
Floyd | you get here?
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the memories erupt. Your parents' disappearance a month ago. Your

Floyd | discovery of their creations, suits that give you and your sister
Floyd | Emily fantastic superpowers. Using those powers to save your campus
Floyd | when longtime family friend Nina Icolari turned into a raging
Floyd | behemoth, transformed by a prehistoric bacteria sample gone amok. When
Floyd | Aunt Nina recovered, she also recovered memories that had been
Floyd | suppressed by mysterious interlopers, memories that led you and Emily

Floyd | to Professor Thaddeus Andrews' remote observation post in the Sierra
Floyd | Nevadas. There, you found an astonishing teleportation device,
Floyd | apparently built by your parents. The device took you to another world
Floyd | entirely, an artificially constructed planetoid built solely for the
Floyd | purpose of testing hyper-evolutionary bacteria, perhaps related to the
Floyd | microbes that affected Aunt Nina.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily was transported to the other side of the planetoid's outer
Floyd | structure, where you found the alien scientist in charge of the
Floyd | experiment. That scientist explained to the two of you that his rival
Floyd | Esrrua had stowed a spy-creature aboard the experiment, and that
Floyd | Andrews had tried to intervene in the ensuing fight, only to be

Floyd | captured by Esrrua himself. Your parents had followed to rescue
Floyd | Andrews, pursuing the spy-creature through another teleportation
Floyd | portal... the same one that brought you here. But although Emily is
Floyd | beside you, struggling to her feet and no doubt reliving her own
Floyd | memories, your parents are nowhere to be seen. In fact, besides the
Floyd | bushes and the distant mountains, the area is quite featureless.

Floyd |
Floyd | Where are you?
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | LUMINOUS HORIZON
Floyd | Earth And Sky: Episode 3

Floyd | Serial interactive fiction by Paul O'Brian
Floyd | First-time players should type INFO or read the eas3info.txt file
Floyd | Release 1 -- 2004 IF Comp version
Floyd | Serial number 040929 / Inform v6.21(G0.36) Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | High Plains

Floyd | Scrub bushes and sparse grasses provide a little ground cover for the
Floyd | otherwise rocky, sandy soil of this area. Other than the jagged
Floyd | mountains looming a few miles to the east, this spot seems entirely
Floyd | barren.
Floyd |
Floyd | A damaged road sign lies at your feet.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily hovers a few inches above the ground here.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read sign" 		
	

Floyd | >This highway sign reads ALAMOGORDO 23. Its steel post appears to have

Floyd | been twisted and deformed by some incredible force, so much so that
Floyd | you can't tell where the sign originally stood.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | >Sporting your earthsuit, you look every inch the superhero. Well,

Floyd | except without the caricatured physique.
Floyd |

		Paul says, "FWIW, this game was released with a (virtual) comic book feelie -- 8 pages of art by Rob and script by me. You can see it starting at [LINK]" 	
	Firion arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "Oh hey, I'd forgotten about that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Except in that image it *does* look like we have the physique." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Though Emily would need bigger breasts to be a believable superheroine." 	
			lunasspecto asks, "Alamogordo, huh?" 	
			Paul says, "Nah, it's just a puffy suit." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh. Okay. Then why isn't it puffy in Emily's chest region, too?" 	
			Firion says, "Search me..." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have seen the comic books. I know how these things go." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"That teleportation thing is so strange, isn't it?" you say. "I feel

Floyd | like I just woke up from this amazing dream right into another dream."
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily snorts. "Yeah, some amazing dream. I pretty much spent the
Floyd | entire time in a prison cell."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, sure, but come on, how often do you see aliens and robots and

Floyd | space stations and all that kind of stuff?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I guess," she says sullenly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Time to change the subject. "So," you ask, "any ideas on what we
Floyd | should do next?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, if it were me, I'd probably explore around this area a bit
Floyd | first, at least do what we can to figure out where we are."
Floyd |
Floyd | "What do you mean, if it were you? You planning to just hang out and
Floyd | let me do all the work again?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily glares at you. "Fine. We should explore this area first. I think
Floyd | we were sent here for a reason, and we just need to find out what's
Floyd | special about this spot."
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | High Plains
Floyd | Scrub bushes and sparse grasses provide a little ground cover for the
Floyd | otherwise rocky, sandy soil of this area. Other than the jagged
Floyd | mountains looming a few miles to the east, this spot seems entirely

Floyd | barren.
Floyd |
Floyd | A damaged road sign lies at your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily hovers a few inches above the ground here.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x grasses" 		
	

Floyd | >This vegetation clings tenaciously to life, and while that makes it
Floyd | sort of admirable, it's by no means pretty.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mountains" 		
	

Floyd | >The mountains are a few miles distant. Their sharp, jagged peaks feel
Floyd | different, harsher than the solemn ridges of your familiar Sierra
Floyd | Nevadas.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "search bushes" 		
	

Floyd | >The vegetation is too thin and scraggly to conceal much, but you make
Floyd | a cursory search anyway, finding nothing.
Floyd |

		Firion asks, "Belatedly, what are we playing?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is our third week of playing the Earth and Sky series." 	
			Firion says, "I should've remembered." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, it's either that I'm a park ranger, or just a complete hippy, but every time I try to type the word Earth, I type 'Earthy' and then have to backspace to get rid of the Y." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I find that sort of amusing." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x ground" 		
	

Floyd | >You see nothing special about the ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I can't think of anything to do except to go check out those mountains." 	
			Paul says, "Earthy And Skyy. The advetures of a magical hippie and his vodka-powered sister." 	
			Jacqueline says, "HA" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That'll be the next sequel, or else a wonderfully silly parody that someone will write after reading this transcript." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, unless anyone objects, I'm gonna go look at them there mountains." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Hm, but how?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump toward mountains" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	Bert arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	

Floyd | >You consider heading towards the mountains, but something just feels
Floyd | wrong about that. If you were supposed to find your parents there, why
Floyd | wouldn't the teleporter have sent you there to begin with?
Floyd |

Floyd | What the--? For a second there you could swear you saw the air shimmer
Floyd | in the heat, except that there's no heat.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, it's one of THOSE situations." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x shimmer" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >You can see nothing but more scrub in that direction. You take a few

Floyd | steps, then turn around when you realize the uselessness of aimless
Floyd | wandering.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x air" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >You consider heading towards the mountains, but something just feels
Floyd | wrong about that. If you were supposed to find your parents there, why
Floyd | wouldn't the teleporter have sent you there to begin with?

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >You can see nothing but more scrub in that direction. You take a few
Floyd | steps, then turn around when you realize the uselessness of aimless
Floyd | wandering.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >You can see nothing but more scrub in that direction. You take a few
Floyd | steps, then turn around when you realize the uselessness of aimless
Floyd | wandering.

Floyd |

		lunasspecto asks, "Might throwing dust in the air reveal something?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm. Peraps." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You leap straight up to get a higher perspective on your

Floyd | surroundings. At the zenith of your leap, you can see a black, winding
Floyd | stripe of road some distance to the west. The mountains to the east
Floyd | are craggy and forbidding, and the rest of the landscape is desolate.
Floyd | Then gravity pulls you back down to where you started.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take dirt" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "jump west" 		
	

Floyd | >With practiced ease, you launch yourself up and westwards, soaring
Floyd | over acres of terrain and landing by a decaying road. Emily follows
Floyd | your trajectory, and lands alongside you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Road
Floyd | You are standing on a decrepit country highway, just barely paved, and

Floyd | even that probably happened twenty years ago. The road is deserted --
Floyd | it's obviously seldom used, if at all. The crumbling asphalt leads
Floyd | north and south in a distracted, wandering fashion.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands here, looking around.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Wait just a damn second." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I can't go west, but we can jump west?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hrm." 	
			Firion says, "Bug." 	
			Jacqueline says (to F), "Maybe." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Paul), "?" 	
			Paul says, "Not a bug." 	
	Paul It's too far to walk, but you can jump or fly there 		Paul says, "Also, the aimless wandering statement is still true." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wanted to do that, but it didn't work the way I tried it, I guess." 	
			Paul says, "Oh, right -- it didn't parse "Jump toward mountains". That you can call a bug." 	
			Nitku says, "And the mountans are to the east but we jumped west." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, no matter." 	
			Paul says, "Yeah, I think it would have handled "jump e"." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x asphalt" 		
	

Floyd | >If you were hoping to give some new shock absorbers a really good
Floyd | test, this is the road you'd want to visit. It's twisty, uneven, and
Floyd | littered with potholes.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Twisty little potholes." 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x potholes" 		
	

Floyd | >If you were hoping to give some new shock absorbers a really good

Floyd | test, this is the road you'd want to visit. It's twisty, uneven, and
Floyd | littered with potholes.
Floyd |

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "talk to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"This doesn't make any sense!" you exclaim. "Why would our parents

Floyd | have followed Professor Andrews into the middle of nowhere? Why would
Floyd | he have been here in the first place?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Danged if I know," says Emily, "but maybe there's more here than
Floyd | meets the eye. We are talking about aliens, after all -- maybe they're
Floyd | able to conceal things in ways we don't understand. You know, like the

Floyd | Klingon cloaking device or something."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Better not tell any of your academia friends you know that much about
Floyd | Star Trek."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, it's okay. I can just claim I'm being a cultural critic."

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >It's likely you'd find somebody after following the road, but it
Floyd | might take a long, long time, and would probably take you off the

Floyd | trail of your parents, too.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"I hate to admit it," you say, "but I'm stumped."
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily smirks. "Well, even though you know more about superheroes and
Floyd | science than I do, looks like it's up to me to get us out of this one.
Floyd | Lucky for you, I have an idea.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Follow me," she says, and flies back to your original landing place.
Floyd | With a prodigious leap, you arrive next to her a moment later.

Floyd |
Floyd | High Plains
Floyd | Scrub bushes and sparse grasses provide a little ground cover for the
Floyd | otherwise rocky, sandy soil of this area. Other than the jagged
Floyd | mountains looming a few miles to the east, this spot seems entirely
Floyd | barren.

Floyd |
Floyd | A damaged road sign lies at your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | She closes her eyes, and fog begins to coalesce around her. Within
Floyd | moments, a thick cloud of vapor swirls around you both, thinning a
Floyd | minute or two later to a light mist, refracting the sunlight and

Floyd | clinging persistently to the outlines of a structure you can just
Floyd | barely see.
Floyd |

		
	inky arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline says, "Aha. Fog, not dirt." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Shoulda thought of that." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice touch, Paul." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x structure" 		
	

Floyd | >The remnants of your sister's fog cloud cling tenaciously to the

Floyd | outlines of a mid-sized fortress, cloaked almost imperceptibly among
Floyd | the shrubs and grasses. The fog is particularly thick around the
Floyd | doors, which look quite solid indeed.
Floyd |

		Paul smiles. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter structure" 		
	

Floyd | >Not while those doors bar your way.
Floyd |
Floyd | What the--? For a second there you could swear you saw the air shimmer
Floyd | in the heat, except that there's no heat.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | >The doors seem to be quite locked.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "smash door" 		
	

Floyd | >SLAMMO! You rear back and direct a roundhouse punch at the doors,
Floyd | which fly open and warp on their hinges with the force of your blow!
Floyd | The cloak of invisibility around the fortress flickers, then blinks
Floyd | out altogether, revealing the entirety of the building, standing

Floyd | incongruously in the middle of the empty landscape.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "punching: are there any problems it can't solve?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Was SLAMMO! a textual substitution for the graphic?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "I think not." 	
			Paul says (to Jacq), "Yes" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Cool, so they do appear here, as you'd hoped. Huzzah." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x structure" 		
	

Floyd | >Now that it's visible, the fortress doesn't look nearly as
Floyd | mysterious, though it certainly still looks quite solid. Basically,
Floyd | it's more or less a large bunker, made of the same indestructible
Floyd | polymer that constituted the cat-alien's research station. The
Floyd | fortress doors have been smashed open.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter structure" 		
	

Floyd | >You and Emily step into the fortress, hoping for the best.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Maerr's ears swiveled to attention at the distant crash. He locked
Floyd | eyes with Science Master Esrrua, and leaned towards the microphone.
Floyd | "Should we halt the procedure?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course not, you tail-raiser," hissed Esrrua over the com-link.
Floyd | "It's likely nothing, and besides, there are security robots. Seal the
Floyd | room."
Floyd |
Floyd | Maerr's eyes narrowed. He growled low in his throat, but said nothing.

Floyd | His gaze still on Esrrua, he moved the vertical lever downwards. The
Floyd | sound of servos and a resonant thump told him that the lab was now
Floyd | sealed from the outside world, even as the glass partition separated
Floyd | himself and Esrrua. "Sealed."
Floyd |

		Paul says, "Yeah, eas2 was glulx too, so that question got answered last week." 	
			Paul exclaims, "And huzzah indeed!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I guess it did. For some reason it didn't stand out to me last week like it did just now." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 3:
Floyd | LUMINOUS HORIZON

Floyd |
Floyd | Part One
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "press green" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | The instant you cross the threshold, an earsplitting, discordant
Floyd | screech begins repeating through the corridor, and security robots

Floyd | emerge at the end of the hall, skittering towards you with alarming
Floyd | rapidity!
Floyd |
Floyd | "Holy crap!" shouts Emily over the din. "I'll keep the robots busy,
Floyd | Austin -- you figure out a way to shut off that godawful noise!" With
Floyd | that, she goes to work, frying robot after robot with her electrical

Floyd | blasts, even as more and more emerge to replace their fallen comrades.
Floyd |
Floyd | Entry Corridor
Floyd | The entry corridor of the fortress looks innocent enough, just a
Floyd | simple passageway leading north, with some mangled iron doors at the
Floyd | south end. At the moment, though, what with the rampaging horde of

Floyd | security robots, maybe it doesn't seem so innocent after all. Down the
Floyd | length of the corridor, alarms shriek and red lights flash in perfect
Floyd | synchronization.
Floyd |
Floyd | A transparent bubble on the wall protects a panel of electronics and
Floyd | urgent-looking lights, lights that pulse with the rhythm of the

Floyd | screeching alarm.
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless

Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Man, I hate loud noises." 	
			Paul exclaims, "This is the wrong game for you!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Quit yelling!" 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
			Paul says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't think of a compelling reason to wreck the ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.

Floyd |

		Lucea says, "this seems like a timed section.." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x robots" 		
	

Floyd | >The robots are insectile and frightening, gliding swiftly towards you
Floyd | on four articulated limbs attached to a central platform. Rising from

Floyd | this platform is a central body-stem, from which extend two arms that
Floyd | end in glittering needle points. There seems to be an inexhaustible
Floyd | supply of these things.
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |

Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks (of Lucea), "What's your thought?" 	
			inky says, "my thought is you should punch something" 	
			Lucea says, "oh, I was just wondering if we wanted a driver" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bubble" 		
	

Floyd | >The bubble is clear but looks quite strong. It completely covers the
Floyd | panel, and shows no sign of being openable.

Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "punch it" 		
	

Floyd | >CRRASH! Your piledriver fist shatters the bubble into thousands of
Floyd | tiny shards!
Floyd |

Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Well, I guess that's one problem punching actually didn't solve. Bummer." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | >The lights of the panel flash in perfect synchronization with the
Floyd | sounds of the alarm. Although you can discern no obvious operating
Floyd | mechanism, you have a hunch that this panel somehow controls the

Floyd | alarm.
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless

Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily slips for a moment, almost slamming to the ground before finally
Floyd | catching herself and floating upward again!
Floyd |

		inky says, "ok, I did my part" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thank you, inky." 	
			Lucea asks, "how didn't it help?" 	
			Lucea says, "now the panel's open" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, true. I just wanted the noise to stop, too." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But I guess that's inside the panel." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe." 	
			Lucea asks, "can we punch the panel>?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "punch panel" 		
	

Floyd | >THUNK! You put a significant dent in the alarm panel, but the alarm
Floyd | plays on.
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!

Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh NOES" 	
			Lucea says, "hm. again." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "punch panel" 		
	

Floyd | >THUNK! You put a significant dent in the alarm panel, but the alarm
Floyd | plays on.
Floyd |

Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, right." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >THUNK! You put a significant dent in the alarm panel, but the alarm
Floyd | plays on.
Floyd |

Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >THUNK! You put a significant dent in the alarm panel, but the alarm
Floyd | plays on.
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!

Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless
Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, maybe not." 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			Lucea says, "or not" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "switch to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		inky asks, "what's the command?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "switch" 		
	

Floyd | >What do you want to switch?
Floyd |

		Paul says, "Switch" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That seems counter-intuitive to everything I know about punching." 	
			inky says, "switch emily" 	
			inky says, "er" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "switch switch" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "switch emily" 		
	

Floyd | >She's not something you can switch.
Floyd |
Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister is here, fiercely tossing lightning bolts and fogging the
Floyd | robots. The automatons are piling up, but there seems to be an endless

Floyd | stream of replacements, and Emily can't manage to gain any ground.
Floyd |

		Paul says, "nope, sorry. Change" 	
			Paul says, "or c" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Entry Corridor
Floyd | The entry corridor of the fortress looks innocent enough, just a
Floyd | simple passageway leading north, with some mangled iron doors at the

Floyd | south end. At the moment, though, what with the rampaging horde of
Floyd | security robots, maybe it doesn't seem so innocent after all. Down the
Floyd | length of the corridor, alarms shriek and red lights flash in perfect
Floyd | synchronization.
Floyd |
Floyd | An alarm panel adorns the wall here, its lights flashing in perfect

Floyd | synchronization with the sounds of the alarm despite a few dents from
Floyd | Austin's fists.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin shouts, "Let me fight the robots for a while -- try to stop
Floyd | that alarm!"
Floyd |

Floyd | SKREE! SKREE! SKREE!
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is fighting the robots ably, knocking them to bits against the
Floyd | walls of the corridor and sending them flying into one another.
Floyd | Unfortunately, he's only staying even with the replacements that flow
Floyd | endlessly into the corridor.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "blast panel" 		
	

Floyd | >KER-POW! ZZZORK! The alarm panel's casing splits with the force of
Floyd | your lightning bolt, and for a moment all the lights in the corridor
Floyd | flash at strobe intensity. Then they go out, and the alarm sound

Floyd | abruptly stops as the lights flicker back to life. Instantly, the
Floyd | security robots cease their attack and scuttle out of sight, leaving
Floyd | their fallen comrades behind.
Floyd |
Floyd | The last dead robot clanks to the ground, and then the corridor is
Floyd | silent, except for a low hum that seems to come from far beneath you.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, *that* kind of switch." 	
			Lucea says, "aha" 	
			inky says, "I forgot that sometimes you have to solve problems with blowing stuff up instead of punching them" 	
			inky says, "silly me" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			Paul says, "I didn't want to overload "switch" in the library." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I can guess that'd be weird." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x robots" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | When the alarm stopped, Science Master Esrrua flicked his tail in
Floyd | Maerr's direction without looking up from his work. "You see? The
Floyd | security bots have solved whatever problem was occurring."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I regret that you are wrong, pridemate. My displays indicate that
Floyd | living, non-iueeoorr creatures roam the first level."
Floyd |
Floyd | Esrrua scowled. "Piss! Very well, then, let us make sure they remain
Floyd | there. This procedure is too important to interrupt. Shut down the

Floyd | transport tubes!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Maerr's paws raced over the panel. "They are disabled," he said.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good! Now, let us continue. Open containment chamber."
Floyd |

Floyd | Maerr moved the horizontal lever from left to right, and the
Floyd | containment chamber on the other side of the glass partition between
Floyd | Esrrua and himself slid open. "Opening."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Mwuahaha" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |

Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 3:
Floyd | LUMINOUS HORIZON
Floyd |
Floyd | Part Two
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Entry Corridor

Floyd | The entry corridor looks quite the worse for wear from the recent
Floyd | battle. Not only are the southern doors warped and mangled, but the
Floyd | extent of the passageway leading north is scorched, scratched, dented,
Floyd | and littered with nonfunctional security robots.
Floyd |
Floyd | An alarm panel adorns the wall here, thoroughly fried by your

Floyd | lightning bolt.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin taps his foot nervously beside you.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take robot" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Aw. I wanted to hurl dead robots at kitties." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >Austin follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | T Junction
Floyd | Here, away from the battle scars of the entry corridor, it's easier to
Floyd | see the patterns that dance along the walls: graceful black swirls
Floyd | laid over a softly glowing grey background. From where you stand,

Floyd | paths lead east, west, and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is alongside you, his earthsuit nearly blending in with the
Floyd | surroundings.
Floyd |
Floyd | Directly opposite the southern corridor, a tall cylinder interrupts

Floyd | the north wall. The tube runs floor to ceiling, with an opening in the
Floyd | front, a foot or two taller than you are.
Floyd |

		Paul says, "I think that was a puzzle planned for Activision's graphical Planetfall game." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x cylinder" 		
	

Floyd | >The tube is made of the same material as the walls, and is the same
Floyd | color, light grey with black swirls.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf2" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter tube" 		
	

Floyd | >Confidently, you step into the tube. You stand there. You wait.
Floyd | Nothing happens, and there's no space above or below you to fly into,
Floyd | so you step back out again.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I was hoping to fly while inside the tube, to push it upward." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Darn." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >"Nice job on that bubble," you say.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And my compliments on your panel-electrocution," replies Austin.

Floyd |
Floyd | An awkward silence follows.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "change" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]
Floyd |
Floyd | T Junction
Floyd | From where you stand, paths lead east, west, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.
Floyd |
Floyd | Directly opposite the southern corridor, a tall cylinder interrupts
Floyd | the north wall. The tube runs floor to ceiling, with an opening in the
Floyd | front, a foot or two taller than you are.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"So listen," you say, "about this tube... the design of it looks a
Floyd | little familiar to me. I think it might be related to these
Floyd | transportation tubes I saw on the alien sphere. You step inside it and
Floyd | some kind of gravity control mechanism raises or lowers you to another

Floyd | level. It's really a rather fascinating technology, and I have some
Floyd | ideas as to how it might have been accomplished. Certain subatomic
Floyd | particles have been theorized, and to some extent observed, to have
Floyd | anti-gravitic properties, and it's possible that--"
Floyd |
Floyd | "So," Emily interrupts, "you're saying we should step into this tube?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "We already tested the tube, remember? I have a feeling that it won't
Floyd | be taking us anywhere. We'll have to find some other way into the
Floyd | lower levels."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't think of a compelling reason to wreck the ceiling.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "punch floor" 		
	

Floyd | >THOOM! You bring your mighty foot down on the ground, causing a minor
Floyd | tremor. Nothing useful seems to result.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Whoa!" says Emily, settling back down to the ground. "Thought you
Floyd | could knock me off my feet, huh? Too bad for you I can fly." She
Floyd | sticks her tongue out at you.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | T Junction
Floyd | From where you stand, paths lead east, west, and south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is here, watching you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Directly opposite the southern corridor, a tall cylinder interrupts
Floyd | the north wall. The tube runs floor to ceiling, with an opening in the
Floyd | front, a foot or two taller than you are.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | East Corridor

Floyd | This is a short corridor, leading west to the T junction and
Floyd | dead-ending in a blank wall to the east. Light in these corridors is
Floyd | ambient, radiating evenly from the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.
Floyd |

Floyd | An archway leads south into shadow.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Hangar
Floyd | This is a huge room, thousands of square feet, with its ceiling high
Floyd | enough to be invisible in the darkness -- in other words, a room very
Floyd | much like your parents' lab back home, and pain pierces you at the
Floyd | thought. However, where your parents' lab is occupied by clutter and

Floyd | machinery, this room is rather bare, except for the large device in
Floyd | the center. At least, you suppose it's bare, but the only light in
Floyd | here is what leaks through the archway leading north; shadows rule
Floyd | everywhere else.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands a few feet away from you, looking stricken for a moment,

Floyd | then composing herself.
Floyd |
Floyd | A sizable machine dominates the room, two stories tall and covered in
Floyd | a nest of pipes. It has the unmistakable appearance of a vehicle. You
Floyd | tell Emily so, and she just nods and says, "Whatever you say, Austin,"
Floyd | in that way she has.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x vehicle" 		
	

Floyd | >The vehicle is large and sleek, roughly rectangular in shape but
Floyd | tapering a bit at one end. Its entire surface is covered in a mazy
Floyd | tangle of pipes. Pipes wind around each other and down every side and

Floyd | edge, some terminating in a flare at the ground and others opening
Floyd | dark holes at the ship's untapered end. The whole thing looks a bit
Floyd | like an unfortunate collision between a shoebox and a French horn. No
Floyd | entrance is apparent anywhere.
Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "can we punch it?" 	
			Lucea says, "no, I'm serious" 	
			Lucea says, "if there's no entrance..." 	
			lunasspecto asks, "...make one?" 	
			lunasspecto says, "You could punch something vital." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "punch it" 		
	

Floyd | >It's possible you may be able to smash your way into the vehicle, but
Floyd | it almost certainly wouldn't function with a giant hole in its side,
Floyd | so you refrain.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "Oh. Well then." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x pipes" 		
	

Floyd | >Based on their configuration, you surmise that these pipes must have
Floyd | something to do with propulsion and stabilization of the craft.
Floyd |

		
	lunasspecto says (to Floyd), "enter pipes" 		
	

Floyd | >Unless you manage to acquire a shrinking power, the pipes are too
Floyd | small to enter.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "snrk" 	
			Jacqueline just finished reading the crazy comic. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Man, furries." 	
			Jacqueline says, "(kidding)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(except not entirely)" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >You've said all you can think of to say to Emily for the moment.
Floyd |

		Paul says, "That's waiting for the AIF version" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
	Taleslinger arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		Jacqueline says, "Let's go look at the other end of the T-junction." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | East Corridor
Floyd | This is a short corridor, leading west to the T junction and
Floyd | dead-ending in a blank wall to the east. Light in these corridors is
Floyd | ambient, radiating evenly from the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily is here, watching you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An archway leads south into shadow.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | T Junction
Floyd | From where you stand, paths lead east, west, and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.
Floyd |
Floyd | Directly opposite the southern corridor, a tall cylinder interrupts
Floyd | the north wall. The tube runs floor to ceiling, with an opening in the
Floyd | front, a foot or two taller than you are.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Hello!" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | West Corridor

Floyd | This is a short corridor, leading east to the T junction and
Floyd | dead-ending in a blank wall to the west. Light in these corridors is
Floyd | ambient, radiating evenly from the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily leans against the wall here.
Floyd |

Floyd | A tall archway provides an exit to the south.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Hello, Taleslinger." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Before you break the plane of the archway, you look where you're

Floyd | going, and what you see stops you cold. The room beyond the archway is
Floyd | home to rank upon rank of security robots. There must be hundreds of
Floyd | them, standing alertly in thick regiments. The robots have clearly
Floyd | noticed you -- their bodies swivel to follow your every movement, but
Floyd | they do not advance. Down one of the aisles formed by the regiments,
Floyd | far at the back of the room, the lights of a large machine march in

Floyd | perfect rhythm.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | >The machine is at the back of a big room, so you can't make out much
Floyd | -- mostly just that it's large and festooned with flashing lights. The

Floyd | whole thing is maybe the size of a concession stand, with yellow
Floyd | sliding doors on its front, flanked by black walls that curve smoothly
Floyd | away. Given its placement and its shape, you suspect that it serves
Floyd | the purpose of creating the security robots, and perhaps controlling
Floyd | them as well.
Floyd |

		
	schep arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Jacqueline says, "Recent peer-interaction is making me want to punch the machine, of course." 	
			Jacqueline says, "inky and Lucea = bad influences" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "Is this still unwinnable?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "How so?" 	
			inky says, "I bet this is going to involve dance-fighting" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Erm, I actually mean not being able to be made unwinnable." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Interpretive dance fighting, maybe." 	
			lunasspecto asks, "Ununwinnable?" 	
			Lucea says, "bad influences? it worked!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to lunasspecto), "The other E&S games can't be accidentally placed in an unwinnable state." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I'm guessing this one can't be, either." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x lights" 		
	

Floyd | >The machine is at the back of a big room, so you can't make out much
Floyd | -- mostly just that it's large and festooned with flashing lights. The
Floyd | whole thing is maybe the size of a concession stand, with yellow

Floyd | sliding doors on its front, flanked by black walls that curve smoothly
Floyd | away. Given its placement and its shape, you suspect that it serves
Floyd | the purpose of creating the security robots, and perhaps controlling
Floyd | them as well.
Floyd |

		Paul says, "That is true. Unless you count immediately losing as an unwinnable state. But that's what UNDO is for." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right." 	
			Taleslinger says (to paul), "I love these games. Unfortunately, I couldn't be here for various reasons the last two times." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "punch machine" 		
	

Floyd | >The large machine is too far away.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "go to machine" 		
	

Floyd | >The large machine is too far away.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >"Austin!" shouts Emily. "What's the matter with you? You saw how
Floyd | tough it was to fight off those robots in a narrow corridor --
Floyd | stepping into that room would be suicide!"
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Oh, right. Good point."
Floyd | 2) "I can take 'em! I've got SUPER-POWERS!"
Floyd | 3) "But how do we know they'll attack?"
Floyd |

		Paul says (to Taleslinger), "Hey, thanks. I love hearing that." 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 2

Floyd |
Floyd | "Super-powers maybe, but you're not invincible, dummy. Those robots
Floyd | would massacre you, and I'd like you around for a while longer."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily just says, "Think again, Austin."
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]

Floyd |
Floyd | West Corridor
Floyd | This is a short corridor, leading east to the T junction and
Floyd | dead-ending in a blank wall to the west. Despite their somewhat
Floyd | antiseptic appearance, these hallways have a warmth and a slightly
Floyd | pungent smell that reminds you of the zoo on a summer day.

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin stands next to you, his eyes taking in everything.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tall archway provides an exit to the south.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "Maybe as Em, we can fly over them?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "blast machine" 		
	

Floyd | >You look at the machine. It seems so far away, but the robots prevent
Floyd | you from getting any closer. If you're going to blast it, you'll have
Floyd | to do it from here.
Floyd |

Floyd | You thrust your hand toward it, willing the skysuit to do its
Floyd | lightning bolt thing. There's a tiny tingle, then a little more, but
Floyd | no lightning. Dammit. Just too far away. You drop your hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | No! You've come through an incredible amount of craziness to find your
Floyd | parents, and here you are, and you are not going to be stopped by

Floyd | this! You thrust your hand out again, and this time you keep your arm
Floyd | extended, feeling yourself starting to sweat within the skysuit.
Floyd |
Floyd | "My God, of course!" says Austin. "You're holding the charge, aren't
Floyd | you? But Emily, be careful! I think your suit's insulation should
Floyd | protect you, but don't push it too far! What you're doing could be

Floyd | dangerous!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, with a crackle and a bright flash of light, arcs of
Floyd | electricity are dancing between your fingers and the floor near the
Floyd | machine. They're still a few yards away from the big device, but they
Floyd | begin to creep closer... closer...

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | >I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't bear to let the charge build any further, and you drop your
Floyd | arm, steeling your resolve to start over. The electrical arcs vanish,
Floyd | and you can breathe again.  So you take a deep breath, close your
Floyd | eyes, and extend your arm.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Careful, Em," says Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, with a crackle and a bright flash of light, arcs of
Floyd | electricity are dancing between your fingers and the floor near the
Floyd | machine. They're still a few yards away from the big device, but they

Floyd | begin to creep closer... closer...
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't bear to let the charge build any further, and you drop your
Floyd | arm, steeling your resolve to start over. The electrical arcs vanish,

Floyd | and you can breathe again.  So you take a deep breath, close your
Floyd | eyes, and extend your arm.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Careful, Em," says Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, with a crackle and a bright flash of light, arcs of

Floyd | electricity are dancing between your fingers and the floor near the
Floyd | machine. They're still a few yards away from the big device, but they
Floyd | begin to creep closer... closer...
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | >You can't bear to let the charge build any further, and you drop your
Floyd | arm. The electrical arcs vanish, and you can breathe again.
Floyd |
Floyd | The ceiling is low enough that all you could do is hover a foot or so
Floyd | above the ground, so you don't bother.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "meh" 	
			Paul says, "Try Z. Should've caught that." 	
			Paul says, "Instead of g, i mean." 	
			inky says, "I remember Paul posted a thread on the newsgroup on how to do this scene" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Oh?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "blast machine" 		
	

Floyd | > So you take a deep breath, close your eyes, and extend your arm.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Careful, Em," says Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, with a crackle and a bright flash of light, arcs of
Floyd | electricity are dancing between your fingers and the floor near the
Floyd | machine. They're still a few yards away from the big device, but they
Floyd | begin to creep closer... closer...

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | >You wait, letting the charge build, and soon the air swims with acrid
Floyd | ozone. Your tongue feels like it's been coated in copper, and your
Floyd | breath comes in quick gasps. The electrical arcs brighten, inching

Floyd | ever closer to the machine, until they're just a few feet away from
Floyd | making contact.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Why z instead of g?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | >You can barely keep your arm straight as your muscles begin spasming
Floyd | of their own accord. The buzz of the electricity drones relentlessly
Floyd | in your ears, and through the red mist that's rapidly obscuring your
Floyd | vision, you can see that your electrical charge is just inches away
Floyd | from the huge machine.

Floyd |
Floyd | Distantly, you can hear Austin shouting encouragement. "You're almost
Floyd | there, Emily! If you can just hang on a few seconds more, you'll get
Floyd | it!"
Floyd |

		Paul says, "You're letting the charge build, rather than starting over." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Details, details. heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Makes sense." 	
	olethros arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Paul says, "But I should've recognized the intention of g in this scene." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | >ZZZORK!
Floyd | KA-BOOM!
Floyd |
Floyd | Your blast reaches the machine, which explodes in a gratifying shower
Floyd | of sparks, like a special effect on the old Star Trek. I did this

Floyd | amazingly hard thing, and the image that comes to my mind is of Star
Floyd | Trek? These are your last thoughts as you slip out of consciousness.
Floyd |
Floyd | [now controlling Austin]
Floyd |
Floyd | West Corridor

Floyd | This is a short corridor, leading east to the T junction and
Floyd | dead-ending in a blank wall to the west. Light in these corridors is
Floyd | ambient, radiating evenly from the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tall archway provides an exit to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | The bright current flowing from Emily's fingertips vanishes, and she
Floyd | crumples to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Emily!" you cry, rushing to her. She doesn't respond. You reach down
Floyd | to pick her up -- she feels light as a sheet of paper in your
Floyd | earthsuited arms. Her head lolls, and then her eyelids begin to

Floyd | twitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | "All that electroshock, and I'm still in a rotten mood," she says,
Floyd | opening her eyes and smiling weakly up at you. You release the breath
Floyd | you didn't know you were holding, and lower her back down to the
Floyd | ground, steadying her until she can stand up on her own. She looks

Floyd | tired, but none the worse for wear after her ordeal.
Floyd |
Floyd | The same can't be said for the distant machine, its lights
Floyd | extinguished and smoke pouring from between its doors. Every robot in
Floyd | the room seems to have been affected by the machine's destruction --
Floyd | they all slump slightly forward in the same inactive, defeated pose.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Robot Headquarters

Floyd | The lights are still ambient and sourceless but much brighter in this
Floyd | room, a cavernous space housing hundreds of security robots. The sound
Floyd | and vibration you felt in other rooms of the fortress is quite a bit
Floyd | stronger here, so much so that you can't hear or feel your own
Floyd | footsteps. At the south end of the room, a ruined robot controller
Floyd | sends plumes of noisome black smoke up to the high ceiling. A tall

Floyd | archway leads north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is here, watching you.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x controller" 		
	

Floyd | >This machine is about the size of a concession stand, with yellow
Floyd | double-doors in the front and black polymer walls that curve smoothly
Floyd | away. It is structurally intact, more or less, but it is obviously
Floyd | quite defunct. Its lights have gone out, and black smoke seeps from
Floyd | between its doors. Now that you're closer to it, you can see that the

Floyd | machine isn't just resting on the ground, but instead rises up from
Floyd | it, almost as if it were a part of the floor.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open doors" 		
	

Floyd | >You step up to the doors, prying your fingers into the seam between

Floyd | them. With muscles made mighty by the power of the earthsuit, you
Floyd | pull, and the doors slide apart with an earsplitting SKREEEK! of
Floyd | protest, releasing a cloud of evil-smelling black smoke directly into
Floyd | your face. By the time your coughing fit ends, the smoke has
Floyd | dissipated, and you can see a small, dim space beyond the open doors.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Damn. Another loud noise!" 	
			Jacqueline puts in ear plugs. 	
			Paul says (to Jacq), "Told you this game was full of 'em." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter controller" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside The Robot Fabricator
Floyd | Here in the guts of the former robot controller, there's barely room
Floyd | for two people to stand up, and even then, they have to be hunched
Floyd | over. Disappointingly, the walls are just more reflective polymer,

Floyd | betraying no information about the inner workings of the device. In
Floyd | fact, the only complicated-looking thing in here at all is the floor,
Floyd | which is a small metropolis of gleaming, interlocking metal pieces,
Floyd | with handle-like protrusions rising prominently from each edge. It's
Floyd | hard to find anywhere to put your feet where you won't be crushing
Floyd | something. The noise and vibration you felt in the outer room are even

Floyd | stronger in here. You can exit through the aperture made by the
Floyd | wrenched-open doors.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is alongside you, resplendent in blue and white.
Floyd |

		schep says, "and us without our fancy glulx comic book fonts" 	
			olethros asks, "is this E & S 3?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "What? I can't--" 	
			Jacqueline takes out her ear plugs. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
			Paul says, "hee" 	
			inky says (to olethros), "yep" 	
			inky says (to Jacqueline), "psst, you have a banana in your ear" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull handle" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull potrusions" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "What? I can't hear you - I have a banana in my ear." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You're inside a tiny room -- there's no up to go to.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "smash floor" 		
	

Floyd | >THOOM! You flatten some of the gears and blocks with a potent stomp,
Floyd | but the floor remains in place.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull protrusions" 		
	

Floyd | >These cramped quarters make it difficult for you to find a place to
Floyd | stand where you can pull the floor up. The fact that Emily is crammed
Floyd | in here with you makes it impossible.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "emily, out" 		
	

Floyd | >"Okay, but just this once, because it is way too cramped in here."
Floyd | She floats serenely out.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "pull protrusions" 		
	

Floyd | >With one knee bent and your other foot resting almost all the way
Floyd | outside the chamber, you lean forward, gripping the handles at the
Floyd | furthest edge from the door. You brace yourself, and strain against
Floyd | the floor, willing it upward with every ounce of power in your tired

Floyd | muscles. At first, the floor seems immobile and your effort hopeless,
Floyd | but then you hear the sounds of metal pieces grinding against each
Floyd | other, and you feel the seam begin to give. There is a tearing, then
Floyd | another, and suddenly, an enormously satisfying KKKKRRRKK! as
Floyd | thousands of tiny clockwork pieces smash together and the floor peels
Floyd | backwards like a banana skin, folding into an inviting carpet in front

Floyd | of the robot controller.
Floyd |
Floyd | Security Robot Headquarters
Floyd | The lights are still ambient and sourceless but much brighter in this
Floyd | room, a cavernous space housing hundreds of security robots. The sound
Floyd | and vibration you felt in other rooms of the fortress is quite a bit

Floyd | stronger here, so much so that you can't hear or feel your own
Floyd | footsteps. At the south end of the room is the robot fabricator, whose
Floyd | former floor is now folded in front of it like a welcome mat. A tall
Floyd | archway leads north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily leans against the wall here.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >Just because your codename is Earth doesn't mean you have to start
Floyd | tunneling all over the place.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "in" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside The Robot Fabricator
Floyd | Here in the guts of the former robot controller, there's barely room

Floyd | for two people to stand up, and even then, they have to be hunched
Floyd | over. Disappointingly, the walls are just more reflective polymer,
Floyd | betraying no information about the inner workings of the device.
Floyd | You're balancing precariously on a thin metal rafter joist, all that's
Floyd | left of the floor you ripped away. Loud, constant machine noise comes
Floyd | from below, where you can see small, blocky robots milling about

Floyd | purposefully, on a floor that's at least five stories down from here.
Floyd | As well as the obvious way down, you can also exit through the
Floyd | aperture made by the wrenched-open doors.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily hovers above the hole you've made in the floor.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "down?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wait." 	
			Jacqueline puts her ear plugs back in. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, yeah." 	
			Paul says, "HA" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >You step off the joist and plummet towards the floor below...
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Two sets of ears snapped alert. "Something has been torn," said Maerr.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Status," growled Esrrua, his back hunched and his narrow-slitted eyes
Floyd | focused on the crystal held sterile in its transparent container.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The intruders have reached the drilling room."
Floyd |

Floyd | Science Master Esrrua emitted a strangled sound. "This is
Floyd | intolerable!" he spat. "Reactivate the transport tubes and send the
Floyd | simian-hunters through them. Instruct them to exterminate the prey
Floyd | immediately. No sport."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I shall so instruct, though you know their independent natures."

Floyd |
Floyd | "They will obey or die. These interruptions must cease! Open transfer
Floyd | chamber."
Floyd |
Floyd | Once again Maerr manipulated the panel, and a quick symphony of servos
Floyd | played. "Simian-hunters released. Transfer chamber opened."

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Eep! Simian-hunters!" 	
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D
Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Episode 3:
Floyd | LUMINOUS HORIZON

Floyd |
Floyd | Part Three
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You land on the floor with a WHUMP that you can barely hear due to the
Floyd | incredibly high noise level in here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Drill Room
Floyd | A low, teeth-rattling vibration and a deafening hum fill this room, so
Floyd | loud you feel like you've got knitting needles jammed in your ears.
Floyd | The sonic barrage makes it difficult to concentrate on anything else,
Floyd | but the huge apparatus dominating the north half of the room demands

Floyd | your notice. It's a giant, threaded cone, pointed towards the ground
Floyd | and held by a sturdy frame -- obviously a drill, even if it wasn't
Floyd | poised above an immense hole in the floor, which in fact it is. The
Floyd | drill's operating mechanism isn't readily visible, as you're finding
Floyd | is typical of this alien technology. On the opposite wall, a pile of
Floyd | polished crystals reaches up towards the high ceiling. Between these

Floyd | two monoliths, dozens of small, squarish robots buzz around you
Floyd | constantly, frenetically working at various tasks. A wide archway
Floyd | leads west, and a hole in the distant ceiling provides access to the
Floyd | upper level of the fortress.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands here, looking around.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x robots" 		
	

Floyd | >The robots mill around you constantly, each busily working at its
Floyd | prescribed task. Some float up from inside the hole, hauling rocks;
Floyd | others polish these rocks until crystal shines through; others cut the

Floyd | larger crystals into rectangular blocks; and still others sort the
Floyd | crystals into their respective piles.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x crystals" 		
	

Floyd | >The pile of crystals is actually two adjoining piles. One consists of

Floyd | larger specimens, hewn roughly into rectangles, stacked atop one
Floyd | another, and refracting the light quite beautifully. Oddly, the
Floyd | crystals aren't particularly gemlike, looking more like polished glass
Floyd | trinkets with air-bubbles trapped inside them. The other pile appears
Floyd | to be remnants from the first, and ranges from fair-sized, irregularly
Floyd | shaped hunks to powdery heaps.

Floyd |

		
	Otto goes home. 		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "search them" 		
	

Floyd | >You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "punch drill" 		
	

Floyd | >WHAM! You can't hear the impact, but you certainly feel it as you
Floyd | slam a powerful fist into the frame that supports the drill. It bends
Floyd | perilously, setting the auger at a crazy angle to the ground.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >WHAM! You can't hear the impact, but you certainly feel it as you
Floyd | slam a powerful fist into the frame that supports the drill. It breaks

Floyd | the rest of the way, and the drill topples to the ground with a CRRASH
Floyd | that looks a lot more impressive than it sounds in this earsplitting
Floyd | room. Your action seems to have affected neither the activity level of
Floyd | the robots nor the noise level of the room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >WHAM! You can't hear the impact, but you certainly feel it as you

Floyd | slam a powerful fist into the frame that supports the drill. It breaks
Floyd | the rest of the way, and the drill topples to the ground with a CRRASH
Floyd | that looks a lot more impressive than it sounds in this earsplitting
Floyd | room. Your action seems to have affected neither the activity level of
Floyd | the robots nor the noise level of the room.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Talelinger), "heehee" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Great minds..." 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Lucea says, "resilient robots" 	
			Taleslinger high-fives jacq. 	
			schep says, "wow, you toppled it twice" 	
			Paul says, "D'oh. That shouldn't print twice." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We're *just* that good." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x drill" 		
	

Floyd | >The apparatus is obviously a drill

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | >
Floyd | The Drill Room

Floyd | A low, teeth-rattling vibration and a deafening hum fill this room, so
Floyd | loud you feel like you've got knitting needles jammed in your ears.
Floyd | The sonic barrage makes it difficult to concentrate on anything else,
Floyd | but the huge apparatus dominating the north half of the room demands
Floyd | your notice. It's a giant, threaded cone, pointed at the wall and
Floyd | lying on its side, thanks to the action of your super-strength and

Floyd | violent tendencies. Apparently, it used to be a drill, but it seems
Floyd | unlikely that it'll be doing any drilling in the near future. The
Floyd | results of its handiwork are still evident in the immense pit that it
Floyd | dug. On the opposite wall, a pile of polished crystals reaches up
Floyd | towards the high ceiling. Between these two monoliths, dozens of
Floyd | small, squarish robots buzz around you constantly, frenetically

Floyd | working at various tasks. A wide archway leads west, and a hole in the
Floyd | distant ceiling provides access to the upper level of the fortress.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline steps away for a quick moment. 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "look in pit" 		
	

Floyd | >Darkness.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "say echo" 		
	

Floyd | >(to Emily)
Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |

		schep says, "ah, super-strength and violent tendencies. solves so much." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "push crystals" 		
	

Floyd | >You give the pile a shove, and a few crystals topple from its
Floyd | heights, smashing to powder on the floor below.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get crystal" 		
	

Floyd | >It would be easy enough to haul around one of these big hunks of
Floyd | crystal. It would be difficult to find a reason to do so.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push machine" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push drill" 		
	

Floyd | >You are unable to.
Floyd |

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "take drill" 		
	

Floyd | >That's hardly portable.
Floyd |

		
	schep says (to Floyd), "take robot" 		
	

Floyd | >They're hardly portable.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "push crystals" 		
	

Floyd | >You give the pile a shove, and a few crystals topple from its

Floyd | heights, smashing to powder on the floor below.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >You give the pile a shove, and a few crystals topple from its
Floyd | heights, smashing to powder on the floor below.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "punch crystals" 		
	

Floyd | >You aim a devastatingly powerful blow at one of the crystals, which
Floyd | shatters dramatically into fragments.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | The Drill Room
Floyd | A low, teeth-rattling vibration and a deafening hum fill this room, so

Floyd | loud you feel like you've got knitting needles jammed in your ears.
Floyd | The sonic barrage makes it difficult to concentrate on anything else,
Floyd | but the huge apparatus dominating the north half of the room demands
Floyd | your notice. It's a giant, threaded cone, pointed at the wall and
Floyd | lying on its side, thanks to the action of your brother's
Floyd | super-strength and violent tendencies. Apparently, it used to be a

Floyd | drill, but it seems unlikely that it'll be doing any drilling in the
Floyd | near future. The results of its handiwork are still evident in the
Floyd | immense pit that it dug. On the opposite wall, a pile of polished
Floyd | crystals reaches up towards the high ceiling. Between these two
Floyd | monoliths, dozens of small, squarish robots buzz around you
Floyd | constantly, frenetically working at various tasks. A wide archway

Floyd | leads west, and a hole in the distant ceiling provides access to the
Floyd | upper level of the fortress.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin taps his foot nervously beside you.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "blast crystals" 		
	

Floyd | >You extend your hand, and a sizzling bolt of bright blue electricity
Floyd | arcs between you and the crystals. With a thundering KER-POW, one of
Floyd | the crystals disintegrates, leaving only a smoking scorch mark.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "I think we can ascertain the crystals are indeed destroyable." 	
			Lucea says, "I was trying to see if punching it knocked the whole pile over" 	
			schep says, "but alas, only one or two at a time" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "West?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | >Austin follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the

Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a wide archway emits
Floyd | loud, droning noise.
Floyd |
Floyd | SLAM! says the archway, and suddenly an implacable black barrier fills

Floyd | it, blocking your way back to the drill room.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh dear," says Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a WHOOSHing sound at both ends of the corridor, and bright
Floyd | colors overpower the hall's neutral tones. At the north end, it's a

Floyd | petite Asian woman hovering just above the floor in a bodysuit of
Floyd | fiery orange and yellow, intricate flame patterns curling across it
Floyd | that mirror the fire dancing around her hands. Opposite her, at the
Floyd | corridor's south end, stands a tall, fair-skinned man, also in a
Floyd | bodysuit, this one a swirling grey latticed with thin streaks of
Floyd | bright purple.

Floyd |
Floyd | At this point, three realizations hit you. One, these bodysuits are
Floyd | just like yours, right down to the cowls and masks. Two, if you and
Floyd | your brother represent air and earth, these two must represent fire
Floyd | and water. And three, these are your parents. You've found your
Floyd | parents at last. Alive. But your joy turns to dread as you see the

Floyd | malice in their eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Humans!" shouts your mother imperiously, "You have invaded the
Floyd | facilities of Science Master Esrrua! Prepare to suffer the
Floyd | consequences! You will meet your death at the hands of FIRE AND RAIN!
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a reply:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Mom! It's us! It's Austin and Emily! We're here to rescue you!"
Floyd | 2) "Snap out of it, you guys! You're Claire and Scott Colborn! We're
Floyd | your kids!"
Floyd | 3) "Wait. What?"

Floyd | 4) "You named your super-team after a James Taylor song? That is so
Floyd | Baby Boomer!"
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "4" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 4

Floyd |
Floyd | A burst of flame from your mother's hands is her only answer, and you
Floyd | dodge just in time.
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "ha ha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "ha ha ha" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "get oedipal" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing north)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is behind you, facing Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is in front of you, her firelit eyes glaring at you with
Floyd | naked hatred.
Floyd |

Floyd | You and Austin are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from
Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father
Floyd | from behind you.
Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "but did they ever think they'd see us again?" 	
			inky says, "I think FIRE AND RAIN also gets a graphic" 	
			Paul says (to inky), "yes" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kill mum" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "kill fire" 		
	

Floyd | >(Mom)
Floyd | That action doesn't fit your code of ethics.
Floyd |

Floyd | Mom floats a little higher into the air, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind you,
Floyd | "and now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "blast fire" 		
	

Floyd | >(Mom)
Floyd | A blast of lightning from you would stop her, alright. It would
Floyd | probably kill her. The thought sickens you; even though she's out of
Floyd | her mind, she's still your mother. You have to find another solution.

Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you, and a gout of flame shoots
Floyd | outward from it. You manage to avoid the brunt of the blast, but some
Floyd | of the flames still touch your shoulder! The skysuit seems to be
Floyd | holding up pretty well so far, but the sooner you can get out of this,
Floyd | the better.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from behind you. Apparently Mom and Dad have spent
Floyd | the last month enrolled in a crash course at the School Of
Floyd | Supervillain Clich?s.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "fog mom" 		
	

Floyd | >You concentrate, but even as the mist forms around your mother, the
Floyd | waves of heat that pulsate from her burn it off immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel

Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from
Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | From behind you comes the sound of water swirling and crashing, like a
Floyd | waterfall in a fast river.
Floyd |

		Lucea asks, "is there a chandelier or something we can take out?" 	
			inky says, "fly up and see" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "blast pipes" 		
	

Floyd | >Your lightning powers don't normally work on objects that far away.
Floyd | You know now that if you hold a charge for a very long time, you can

Floyd | sometimes go further, but in this instance it hardly seems worth it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom floats a little higher into the air, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! You can hear one of Dad's water jets behind you, and there's

Floyd | a WHOOSH as Austin leaps upward to avoid it. Unfortunately, that means
Floyd | that the water jet hits you squarely in the back, sending you
Floyd | sprawling towards Mom! You manage to recover in the air and float
Floyd | backwards again, but your bones are still aching from the impact. The
Floyd | skysuit seems to be holding up pretty well so far, but the sooner you
Floyd | can get out of this, the better. A moment later, Austin returns to his

Floyd | former location.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "Thanks, bro!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The plans they're laying might put an end to us." 	
			Paul says (to Jacq), "HA HA HA" 	
			Jacqueline bows. 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)

Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is behind you, facing Emily.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Emily are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.

Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >You launch yourself upward, and at the zenith of your leap, you grab
Floyd | one of the pipes that runs along the ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the
Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You, in turn, hang suspended from the pipes. The earthsuit
Floyd | lets you grip them tirelessly, but you still need both arms to do it.
Floyd |

Floyd | FSSSH! You can hear one of Mom's flame jets behind you, and there's a
Floyd | WHOOSH as Emily flies upward to avoid it. A moment later, Emily
Floyd | returns to her former location.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father

Floyd | from below you, and while he speaks, moisture coalesces seemingly from
Floyd | nowhere to form an aura around his body, covering everything except
Floyd | his head in a watery shell. As it collects, the water spins with
Floyd | incredible speed, effectively becoming kinetic armor.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And I thought they repeated themselves a lot before they turned into

Floyd | supervillains!" shouts Emily.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "heh at emily" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "blast pipes" 		
	

Floyd | >You unleash a shocking torrent of verbal abuse at the thick pipes,

Floyd | but the effect is disappointingly minimal.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from behind and below
Floyd | you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones up at you, "and
Floyd | now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "oh, we're not Emily" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing north)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run

Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your brother is above your head, hanging onto one of the ceiling
Floyd | pipes.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your father is behind you, and Austin's departure has left your back
Floyd | totally exposed to her.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is in front of you, her firelit eyes glaring at you with
Floyd | naked hatred.
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "blast pipes" 		
	

Floyd | >Your lightning powers don't normally work on objects that far away.
Floyd | You know now that if you hold a charge for a very long time, you can
Floyd | sometimes go further, but in this instance it hardly seems worth it.
Floyd |

Floyd | Mom floats a little higher into the air, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from behind you.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "Maybe we can make them hit each other, so their suits cancel each other out?" 	
			Lucea says, "hm. so much for the "destroy the pipes and maybe something catastrophic will happen" idea" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "That is prolly it, yeah." 	
			schep says (to Lucea), "Earth is currently "up" and Sky is currently "down"" 	
			Lucea says, "ah" 	
			Jacqueline says, "The whole world is upside down!" 	
			Lucea says, "I must have missed that part" 	
			Lucea says, "went afk in the middle to refill tea" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to em" 		
	

Floyd | >It's true that lots of the great superheroes talk to themselves, but
Floyd | you don't have any exposition you need to do at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you, and a gout of flame comes too
Floyd | fast to avoid, nailing you square in the chest! Cracks are beginning

Floyd | to show in the skysuit's outer covering as its insulation wears away
Floyd | under the strain of the attacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | From behind you comes the sound of water swirling and crashing, like a
Floyd | waterfall in a fast river.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >He is too far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from

Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! You can hear one of Dad's water jets behind you, and there's
Floyd | a WHOOSH as Austin drops downward to avoid it. A moment later, Austin
Floyd | returns to his former location.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | >Easily, you soar upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the

Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You're floating just beneath them.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is next to you, hanging onto one of the pipes that runs along
Floyd | the ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Mom floats a little further to the north, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father
Floyd | from behind and below you.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Okay, how do we get them into a crossfire situation?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "blast pipes" 		
	

Floyd | >KER-POW! Lightning arcs from your fingers to the pipes, but they are
Floyd | unaffected.

Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you and fire jets upward. There's no
Floyd | room to maneuver up here, and the fire hits you directly in the legs!
Floyd | Cracks are beginning to show in the skysuit's outer covering as its
Floyd | insulation wears away under the strain of the attacks.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind and
Floyd | beneath you, "and now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "We need to get close to Austin, perhaps?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We are close to Austin" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I flew up to the ceiling to meet him." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Go up as Em, then go up as him" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, that's done." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >"Austin!" you cry, "I don't know what to do!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "I know!" he shouts in an anguished voice. "They're obviously being
Floyd | controlled somehow! We can't use our powers against them! We have to
Floyd | find a way to snap them out of this state!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from below you, as
Floyd | the flames from her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from the ground behind you.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >"What did you have in mind?" you yell over the din.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Try talking to them!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Mom floats a little further to the north, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | Underneath you and to the south comes the sound of water swirling and
Floyd | crashing, like a waterfall in a fast river.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to mom" 		
	

Floyd | >She is too far away.
Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you and fire jets upward. There's no

Floyd | room to maneuver up here, and the fire hits you directly in the legs!
Floyd | A few pieces of the skysuit's insulation have started to flake off
Floyd | altogether, revealing a freaky mesh of organics and circuitry beneath.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! You can hear one of Dad's water jets behind you, and there's
Floyd | a WHOOSH as Austin drops downward to avoid it. Unfortunately, that

Floyd | means that the water jet hits you squarely in the back, sending you
Floyd | sprawling towards Mom! You manage to recover in the air and float
Floyd | backwards again, but your bones are still aching from the impact. A
Floyd | few pieces of the skysuit's insulation have started to flake off
Floyd | altogether, revealing a freaky mesh of organics and circuitry beneath.
Floyd | A moment later, Austin returns to his former location.

Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "mum is ...down?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Not sure." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I think so, though." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >With a mental command, you descend. Taking his cue from you, Austin
Floyd | plummets back to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing north)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the

Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Austin are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off

Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is behind you, facing Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is in front of you, her firelit eyes glaring at you with
Floyd | naked hatred.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from
Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind

Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father
Floyd | from behind you.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to mum" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to mom" 		
	

Floyd | >"Mom!" you cry. "Wait! Wake up! Stop!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "SILENCE!" shouts your mother. "None may command us save Esrrua

Floyd | himself!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom floats a little higher into the air, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind you,

Floyd | "and now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | >You already know how useless that is. Better think of something else.
Floyd |

Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you, and you just manage to dodge the
Floyd | gout of flame that flies out from it!
Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from behind you.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to dad" 		
	

Floyd | >You'd have to be facing him to do anything like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from

Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | From behind you comes the sound of water swirling and crashing, like a
Floyd | waterfall in a fast river.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the

Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Emily are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off

Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is behind you, facing Emily.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing north)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the

Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Austin are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off

Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is behind you, facing Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is in front of you, her firelit eyes glaring at you with
Floyd | naked hatred.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to dad" 		
	

Floyd | >"Dad!" you cry. "Wait! Wake up! Stop!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "SILENCE!" shouts your father. "None may command us save Esrrua
Floyd | himself!"

Floyd |
Floyd | It feels a little hotter behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! Dad leans forward, thrusting both arms towards you, and the
Floyd | ball of suspended above his head elongates itself, coming at you with
Floyd | the force of a firehose! You just barely manage to dodge the

Floyd | waterspout, and it rains harmlessly to the ground.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, now I hate our parents." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "ball of suspended...?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was teetering on the edge, and now I've decided to just go ahead and hate them." 	
			Taleslinger says, "they're possessed and not themselves. it's like reverse puberty." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Yeah, there's a word missing... probably 'water'" 	
			Paul says, "Bleah." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "I reserve to not hate them anymore later, of course." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >It's true that lots of the great superheroes talk to themselves, but
Floyd | you don't have any exposition you need to do at the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! You can hear one of Mom's flame jets behind you, and there's a

Floyd | WHOOSH as Emily flies upward to avoid it. Unfortunately, that means
Floyd | that the firebolt hits you squarely in the back, its heat washing over
Floyd | the earthsuit! The earthsuit seems to be holding up pretty well so
Floyd | far, but the sooner you can get out of this, the better. A moment
Floyd | later, Emily returns to her former location.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father,
Floyd | and while he speaks, moisture coalesces seemingly from nowhere to form
Floyd | an aura around his body, covering everything except his head in a
Floyd | watery shell. As it collects, the water spins with incredible speed,
Floyd | effectively becoming kinetic armor.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "talk to em" 		
	

Floyd | >"Talking didn't work!" you say. "What else you got?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, okay -- wait! Look at Dad's costume!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones, "and now you
Floyd | will face the consequences!"

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x mom's costume" 		
	

Floyd | >You'd have to be facing her to do anything like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | It feels a little hotter behind you.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x dad's costume" 		
	

Floyd | >Dad's superhero suit is designed like yours, a skintight body
Floyd | stocking with a cowl and mask attached. Unlike the firesuit, its
Floyd | patterns don't directly represent its powers, but the thin streaks of
Floyd | bright purple on its opalescent grey background suggest rainfall well
Floyd | enough. One thing looks out of place, though: a black circle covering

Floyd | the top of his head, looking like nothing so much as a thick plastic
Floyd | yarmulke.
Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! You can hear one of Mom's flame jets behind you, and there's a
Floyd | WHOOSH as Emily flies upward to avoid it. Unfortunately, that means
Floyd | that the firebolt hits you squarely in the back, its heat washing over

Floyd | the earthsuit! Cracks are beginning to show in the earthsuit's outer
Floyd | covering as its insulation wears away under the strain of the attacks.
Floyd | A moment later, Emily returns to her former location.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dad throws his arms high into the air, and the water that had
Floyd | coalesced around his body gathers itself into a gravity-defying ball

Floyd | above his head.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "aha!" 	
			(from Taleslinger) Taleslinger, "Good thing girls are so much into clothing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, um... what? Punching the black spot seems... painful for dad." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "punch yarmulke" 		
	

Floyd | >Which do you mean, Dad's skullcap or Mom's skullcap?
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "dad's" 		
	

Floyd | >Your muscles tense, but you know you can't do it. Even though he
Floyd | seems to have gone insane, he's still your father; a hit from you
Floyd | might kill him, and you're not that Oedipal. You have to find a way to
Floyd | save him instead.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! Dad leans forward, thrusting both arms towards you, and the
Floyd | ball of water that was suspended above his head elongates itself,

Floyd | coming at you with the force of a firehose! There's no time to dodge,
Floyd | and the blast hits you directly in the chest! You don't feel the
Floyd | impact of the water, but you have a feeling that it's wreaking havoc
Floyd | on the parts of the earthsuit whose insulation has been burned away by
Floyd | Mom's firebolts. Cracks are beginning to show in the earthsuit's outer
Floyd | covering as its insulation wears away under the strain of the attacks.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take dad's yarmulk" 		
	

Floyd | >Which do you mean, the rainsuit or Dad's skullcap?
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >I only understood you as far as wanting to take Dad's skullcap.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take dad's skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >You lunge at Dad, trying to snatch the cap from his head, but he
Floyd | pivots fluidly, and your hand snatches at air.
Floyd |
Floyd | It feels a little hotter behind you.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father,
Floyd | and while he speaks, moisture coalesces seemingly from nowhere to form
Floyd | an aura around his body, covering everything except his head in a
Floyd | watery shell. As it collects, the water spins with incredible speed,
Floyd | effectively becoming kinetic armor.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing north)

Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |

Floyd | You and Austin are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is behind you, facing Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is in front of you, her firelit eyes glaring at you with

Floyd | naked hatred.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take mom's skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >You lunge at Mom, trying to snatch the cap from her head, but she
Floyd | flies neatly and rapidly out of your way, leaving you grasping at air.

Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you, and you just manage to dodge the
Floyd | gout of flame that flies out from it!
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind you,
Floyd | "and now you will face the consequences!"

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "blast mum's skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "blast mom's skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >A blast of lightning from you would stop her, alright. It would
Floyd | probably kill her. The thought sickens you; even though she's out of
Floyd | her mind, she's still your mother. You have to find another solution.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from
Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from behind you.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   a skysuit (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | Mom floats a little higher into the air, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | From behind you comes the sound of water swirling and crashing, like a
Floyd | waterfall in a fast river.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to emily" 		
	

Floyd | >It's true that lots of the great superheroes talk to themselves, but
Floyd | you don't have any exposition you need to do at the moment.

Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you, and a gout of flame shoots
Floyd | outward from it. You manage to avoid the brunt of the blast, but some
Floyd | of the flames still touch your leg! The skysuit is definitely being
Floyd | affected by Mom and Dad's attacks. The sense of lightness you usually
Floyd | feel is wavering intermittently and you can feel your command of fog

Floyd | and electricity slipping from you.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! You can hear one of Dad's water jets behind you, and there's
Floyd | a WHOOSH as Austin leaps upward to avoid it. Unfortunately, that means
Floyd | that the water jet hits you squarely in the back, sending you
Floyd | sprawling towards Mom! You manage to recover in the air and float

Floyd | backwards again, but your bones are still aching from the impact. The
Floyd | skysuit is definitely being affected by Mom and Dad's attacks. The
Floyd | sense of lightness you usually feel is wavering intermittently and you
Floyd | can feel your command of fog and electricity slipping from you. A
Floyd | moment later, Austin returns to his former location.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "er" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >"What are you talking about?" you bellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | "They're bearing attachments that are obviously foreign to the

Floyd | powersuits! The skullcaps! Look!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from
Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father
Floyd | from behind you.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to austin" 		
	

Floyd | >"What are you talking about?" you bellow.
Floyd |
Floyd | "They're bearing attachments that are obviously foreign to the
Floyd | powersuits! The skullcaps! Look!"
Floyd |

Floyd | Mom floats a little higher into the air, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind you,
Floyd | "and now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I hope you guys have a driver for this part." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nah, be we saved." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We are sort of having our asses handed to us, though." 	
			DavidW says, "yeah, that's what happened to me." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ram mom" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		schep says, "<hint> At least they seem pretty predictable </hint>" 	
			DavidW says, "I remember the key involves noticing a particular detail. I think." 	
			DavidW says (to schep), "Yeah, that's relevant." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "I think I get it." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >Unsteadily, you soar upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the
Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You're floating just beneath them.

Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! A fiery bolt from your mother cooks the spot where you were
Floyd | just standing!
Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from the ground behind you.

Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "austin, jump" 		
	

Floyd | >Austin has better things to do.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel

Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from below you, as
Floyd | the flames from her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | Underneath you and to the south comes the sound of water swirling and
Floyd | crashing, like a waterfall in a fast river.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "change, then up" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I guess so." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]

Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black

Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | Em floats high above your head, near the pipes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your mother is behind you, and Emily's departure has left your back
Floyd | totally exposed to her.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x dad" 		
	

Floyd | >Dad was always the quieter parent, usually lost in his own thoughts

Floyd | or deeply absorbed in his work. Now he's wearing a skintight grey
Floyd | bodysuit with bright violet streaks, leaping about wild-eyed, and
Floyd | shouting as if he's channeling Laurence Olivier's Hamlet. His attacks
Floyd | may be robotic, but they are nonetheless ruthless; you have no doubt
Floyd | that he will kill you if he can.
Floyd |

Floyd | Something about the rainsuit he's wearing seems a little odd.
Floyd |
Floyd | It feels a little hotter behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! Dad leans forward, thrusting both arms towards you, and the
Floyd | ball of suspended above his head elongates itself, coming at you with

Floyd | the force of a firehose! You nimbly dodge the brunt of the blast, but
Floyd | part of the spout still hammers at your  leg. You don't feel the
Floyd | impact of the water, but you have a feeling that it's wreaking havoc
Floyd | on the parts of the earthsuit whose insulation has been burned away by
Floyd | Mom's firebolts. Cracks are beginning to show in the earthsuit's outer
Floyd | covering as its insulation wears away under the strain of the attacks.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I'll try it one more time this way, then probably restore." 	
			Jacqueline says, "As I think we're nearly dead." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | >Deep Corridor (facing south)

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >You launch yourself upward, and at the zenith of your leap, you grab
Floyd | one of the pipes that runs along the ceiling.

Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the
Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You, in turn, hang suspended from the pipes. The earthsuit
Floyd | lets you grip them tirelessly, but you still need both arms to do it.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily floats nearby.
Floyd |
Floyd | You feel increased heat radiate up at you from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! The water that was above Dad's head shoots outward with the

Floyd | force of a firehose into the spot you just vacated, then rains
Floyd | harmlessly to the ground.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "aha" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Taleslinger), "Want to drive?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "well, i think it'S up at here, then up as him. without looking in between." 	
			Taleslinger says, "at here = as her" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >You let go of the pipes and plummet back down to the floor. Taking

Floyd | her cue from you, Emily swoops down as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run

Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Emily are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is behind you, facing Emily.
Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! You can hear one of Mom's flame jets behind you, and there's a
Floyd | WHOOSH as Emily drops downward to avoid it. A moment later, Emily

Floyd | returns to her former location.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father,
Floyd | and while he speaks, moisture coalesces seemingly from nowhere to form
Floyd | an aura around his body, covering everything except his head in a

Floyd | watery shell. As it collects, the water spins with incredible speed,
Floyd | effectively becoming kinetic armor.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, but that's essentially what I just did (because I used undo)" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing north)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The

Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Austin are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is behind you, facing Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is in front of you, her firelit eyes glaring at you with
Floyd | naked hatred.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >You're on the ground already!
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel
Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother, as the flames from

Floyd | her hands spread to encompass the rest of her body.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind you,
Floyd | "and now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | >Unsteadily, you soar upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the

Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You're floating just beneath them.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom floats a little further to the north, and throws her hands above
Floyd | her head.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad from the ground behind you.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]

Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black

Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily floats high above your head, near the pipes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your mother is behind you, and Emily's departure has left your back
Floyd | totally exposed to her.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "jump" 		
	

Floyd | >You launch yourself upward, and at the zenith of your leap, you grab

Floyd | one of the pipes that runs along the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the
Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You, in turn, hang suspended from the pipes. The earthsuit

Floyd | lets you grip them tirelessly, but you still need both arms to do it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily floats nearby.
Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! You can hear one of Mom's flame jets behind you, and there's a
Floyd | WHOOSH as Emily drops downward to avoid it. Unfortunately, that means

Floyd | that the firebolt hits you squarely in the back, its heat washing over
Floyd | the earthsuit! A few pieces of the earthsuit's insulation have started
Floyd | to flake off altogether, revealing a strange mesh of organics and
Floyd | circuitry that would be fascinating if your life wasn't in immediate
Floyd | danger. A moment later, Emily returns to her former location.
Floyd |

Floyd | Dad throws his arms high into the air, and the water that had
Floyd | coalesced around his body gathers itself into a gravity-defying ball
Floyd | underneath you.
Floyd |

		inky says, "I think there is one other thing you have to think of" 	
			inky says, "I say unhelpfully" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Hm" 	
			DavidW says, "yes" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Is it a, like, 'Austin, follow me' thing?" 	
			schep says, "no, not a command trick" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Or maybe we're doing it the wrong way around" 	
			Lucea says, "I already used my idea" 	
			DavidW | "They're bearing attachments that are obviously foreign to the powersuits! The skullcaps! Look!" 	
			Lucea says, "so unless there's something else we can get to collapse" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we tried taking the skullcaps." 	
			Taleslinger says (to dw), "well, we couldn't get at those" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And punching them, of course." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I don't see us blasting them, as that's dangerous." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And don't see fogging them as useful." 	
			schep says, "you did try fogging Mom" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right, her as a whole." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "have we tried switching opponents?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "No, not sure how." 	
	schep says (to Floyd), "switch places" 		
	

Floyd | >(with Emily)
Floyd | Not while you're hanging on to the pipe.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel

Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from behind and below
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | SPLORSH! Dad thrusts his hands upward at you, and the ball of water
Floyd | elongates itself, coming at you with the force of a firehose! Hanging
Floyd | from the pipes, you can't avoid the waterspout, and it hits your legs!

Floyd | You don't feel the impact of the water, but you have a feeling that
Floyd | it's wreaking havoc on the parts of the earthsuit whose insulation has
Floyd | been burned away by Mom's firebolts. A few pieces of the earthsuit's
Floyd | insulation have started to flake off altogether, revealing a strange
Floyd | mesh of organics and circuitry that would be fascinating if your life
Floyd | wasn't in immediate danger.

Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >You let go of the pipes and plummet back down to the floor. Taking
Floyd | her cue from you, Emily swoops down as well.
Floyd |

Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The
Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.

Floyd |
Floyd | You and Emily are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |

Floyd | Your mother is behind you, facing Emily.
Floyd |
Floyd | It feels a little hotter behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You have infected the outer layers of Science Master Esrrua's Mind
Floyd | Outpost, but its core must remain inviolate!" declaims your father,

Floyd | and while he speaks, moisture coalesces seemingly from nowhere to form
Floyd | an aura around his body, covering everything except his head in a
Floyd | watery shell. As it collects, the water spins with incredible speed,
Floyd | effectively becoming kinetic armor.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "switch places" 		
	

Floyd | >What do you want to switch places with?
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "emily" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "emily" 		
	

Floyd | >"Emily!" you shout. "Change partners!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Your sister understands you immediately, and the two of you execute a
Floyd | neat simultaneous turn, leaving you now facing Mom to the north, while
Floyd | Emily looks south to square off against Dad.

Floyd |
Floyd | FSSSH! Mom aims an open hand at you, and a gout of flame comes too
Floyd | fast to avoid, nailing you square in the stomach! The earthsuit is
Floyd | definitely being affected by Mom and Dad's attacks. You're getting the
Floyd | sense that sometimes it's impeding your movements rather than aiding
Floyd | them, and the power in your limbs definitely seems to be waning.

Floyd |
Floyd | "You have awakened the Hounds Of Esrrua," Dad intones from behind you,
Floyd | "and now you will face the consequences!"
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor (facing south)
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The

Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Austin are standing back-to-back, each of you facing off
Floyd | against one parent.

Floyd |
Floyd | Your father is in front of you, his face flushed with bloodlust.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mother is behind you, facing Austin.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "fog dad" 		
	

Floyd | >You concentrate, and a thick mist forms around your father, which he
Floyd | immediately absorbs into his watery aura.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Those who dare to disturb the work of Science Master Esrrua must feel

Floyd | the heat of his displeasure!" snarls your mother from behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You shall feel the power of Science Master Esrrua rain down upon
Floyd | you!" shouts Dad.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "I don't actually remember why this is helpful" 	
			schep says, "I don't think it is helpful, but it's a neat touch." 	
			inky asks, "clearly you have to get them to blast each other, so maybe you have to be switched to coordinate that?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "oh, it's not? I'd thought it was" 	
			schep says, "not sure. Maybe after the end we can see if we can win without switching places." 	
			DavidW says, "I still think the skullcaps have to be affected somehow first, then get mom and dad to blast each other." 	
			DavidW asks, "Have you examined the skullcaps themselves?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought we did." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >Which do you mean, Dad's skullcap or Mom's skullcap?
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x dad's skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >It's a black circle, maybe an inch thick and six inches in diameter,
Floyd | crowning the top of Dad's head. Something about seeing him wearing
Floyd | that little plastic yarmulke just strikes a deep chord of wrongness in
Floyd | you. And it's not just the fact that you know he's an atheist.
Floyd |

Floyd | It feels a little hotter behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dad throws his arms high into the air, and the water that had
Floyd | coalesced around his body gathers itself into a gravity-defying ball
Floyd | above his head.
Floyd |

		inky says, "well, the skullcaps are obviously the mindcontrolly bits, so if you could affect those I assume they'd just stop attacking" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | >Unsteadily, you soar upwards.
Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor

Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the
Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You're floating just beneath them.
Floyd |
Floyd | SSSSSSS!
Floyd |

Floyd | Blazing flames meet the onrushing torrent below you, and steam boils
Floyd | angrily upwards. In moments, the heat is intense, and you have to shut
Floyd | your eyes as you try to protect your exposed facial skin from the
Floyd | scalding vapor. Just as the pain reaches a crescendo, the hissing
Floyd | sounds stop, replaced by peaceful silence and the gradual ebbing of
Floyd | the mist. When you open your eyes, the corridor is clear of steam and

Floyd | your parents lie below, unconscious.
Floyd |

		inky says, "hey hey" 	
			inky says, "I don't know why that worked, though" 	
			Taleslinger stares at screen. 	
			DavidW says, "Save!" 	
			Paul says, "They were both just about to let loose, and you flew upwards." 	
			Jacqueline says, "um. Huh." 	
			schep says, "I think it's a timing thing. They both have to be attacking on the same turn, and some of your actions delay them a bit." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "So, what did we do?" 	
			inky says (to schep), "oh, hmm" 	
			Paul nods at schep. 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "repair suit" 		
	

Floyd | >(the skysuit)

Floyd | The skysuit appears to be in perfect working order already.
Floyd |

		inky asks, "so changing places didn't actually help then?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]

Floyd |
Floyd | Above Deep Corridor
Floyd | Smooth black pipes the diameter of SUV tires hang suspended from the
Floyd | ceiling in this cramped space, running parallel down its length, north
Floyd | and south. You, in turn, hang suspended from the pipes. The earthsuit
Floyd | lets you grip them tirelessly, but you still need both arms to do it.

Floyd | In the corridor below, your parents lie unconscious on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily floats nearby.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "repair suit" 		
	

Floyd | >(the earthsuit)
Floyd | Not while you're hanging on to the pipe.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | >You let go of the pipes and plummet back down to the floor. Taking
Floyd | her cue from you, Emily swoops down as well.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor
Floyd | You are at the bottom of a tall, narrow, north-south niche in the
Floyd | earth, like a slice taken out of the warehouse-like drill room. The

Floyd | slice gets narrower towards the top, though, where thick pipes run
Floyd | along the length of the ceiling. To the east, a reflective black
Floyd | barrier seals the archway.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is nearby, waiting for you to do something interesting.
Floyd |

Floyd | Both your parents are sprawled on the floor here, defeated and out
Floyd | cold.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "repair suit" 		
	

Floyd | >(the earthsuit)

Floyd | The earthsuit appears to be in perfect working order already.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take dad's skullcap" 		
	

Floyd | >Gingerly, you kneel down and pull on the cap, trying not to exert too
Floyd | much pressure on your father's body, which suddenly seems very fragile

Floyd | in the face of your earthsuited strength. The adhesive resists at
Floyd | first, but then the cap pops free, and your father's eyes flutter
Floyd | open. You pull back, ready for another attack, but the hatred that was
Floyd | in his face is gone, replaced by recognition and relief.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Kids!" he cries, embracing you each in turn. "Where's Claire?" he

Floyd | says, turning around and answering his own question. "Austin, please
Floyd | take that thing off of her."
Floyd |
Floyd | You oblige, and in moments, your mother is awake and herself again.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Austin, give me those skullcaps, please," says your mother in a tone

Floyd | that permits no dissent. She takes them from you, lays them on the
Floyd | ground together, and fires a fierce, sustained blast of heat at them,
Floyd | melting both into one anonymous lump of black plastic.
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a response:
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Don't you want to study those rather than destroy them?"
Floyd | 2) "What were those things?"
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "that em for you, a caring child :-)" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 1
Floyd |
Floyd | "I never, ever want to see those things again, Austin. I desperately
Floyd | hope that humanity never discovers that particular technology."
Floyd |

Floyd | Then she turns to your father. "Are you okay, honey?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, I think so," he answers. "The worst part was having to call that
Floyd | alien 'Science Master' -- he's anything but."
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom smiles. "Well, your ego seems to have survived the experience

Floyd | intact." Her expression turns grim again. "Listen kids, something
Floyd | terrible is going on here."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a response:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "You know, Mom, we are in college. We're not really kids anymore."

Floyd | 2) "Wait, wait, wait. What happened to you guys? You've been missing
Floyd | for a month!"
Floyd | 3) "Yeah, what is going on here? What are these guys drilling for?"
Floyd |

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 3
Floyd |
Floyd | "Salt," she says, grimacing. "See, bizarre as this sounds, our
Floyd | kidnapper is from an extraterrestrial, nonhuman race. He's named
Floyd | Esrrua, and he thinks of himself as a scientist, though he seems to be

Floyd | somewhat of a laughingstock in his own planet's scientific community.
Floyd | He's formed a bizarre plan to redeem himself by perverting an
Floyd | experiment your Aunt Nina was working on -- he's extracting ancient
Floyd | bacterial samples from salt crystals, and plans to release them into
Floyd | the Earth's atmosphere. We have no clue what effect this will have,
Floyd | but it sure seems like a bad idea."

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily chimes in before you can say anything: "If they're the same
Floyd | bacteria Aunt Nina was working with, they're liable to turn everybody
Floyd | into gigantic green monsters!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "WHAT?!" say your parents in unison. You and Emily explain the

Floyd | incident with the earthquake, the bacteria, the monster, the
Floyd | antibiotic, and the crushed football stadium. Hesitantly, you also
Floyd | explain that Emily fired lightning into Nina's eyes, and that she
Floyd | remained blind even after she transformed back into her human self.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dad closes his eyes. "Oh. Oh, poor Nina. I don't know how I can ever

Floyd | forgive myself for creating the thing that did this to her." Then he
Floyd | snaps to attention again. "So this experiment is even more dangerous
Floyd | than we knew. If those bacteria get out, it could mean the end of
Floyd | humanity as we know it!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a response:

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Oh man, I knew there was a downside to this superhero thing.
Floyd | Couldn't we just call the Avengers at this point?"
Floyd | 2) "Great Scott! We've got to stop him! Where is he?"
Floyd | 3) "Does this have anything to do with the alien bacteria lab that I
Floyd | inadvertently wrecked?"

Floyd | 4) "What theory is he trying to test with this experiment?"
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "3" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 3

Floyd |
Floyd | "The what, now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh boy," says Emily, "I smell another recap."
Floyd |
Floyd | You quickly summarize your experiences on the artificial planetoid

Floyd | with the different environments.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So that's what Mrrueao was working on!" exclaims Dad. "He was far too
Floyd | arrogant ever to share any information with us. How fascinating that
Floyd | both he and Nina... well, time enough to ponder that later."
Floyd |

Floyd | Please select a response:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "But Dad, the bacteria I saw didn't turn anything monstrous! They
Floyd | just enhanced intelligence and dexterity!"
Floyd | 2) "Point taken. What do we do next?"
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "1" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 1
Floyd |
Floyd | "Really?" says Dad. "I wonder if the heightened radiation levels from

Floyd | the nearby nuclear tests somehow--"
Floyd |
Floyd | "People, PLEASE!" says Mom. "Right now we've got to stop Esrrua,
Floyd | rescue Thad Andrews, and get the heck out of here!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good point, dear." Dad examines your suits. "Austin, come here for a

Floyd | moment. Emily, you too."
Floyd |
Floyd | Your father sizes up the damage to both your suits, and opens a
Floyd | previously seamless panel on the back of each. He moves behind you
Floyd | first, and though you can't feel anything, you know he is manipulating
Floyd | parts of the suit that only he understands. Then he turns to Emily,

Floyd | rapidly tapping relays and touchpads built into the skysuit and seeing
Floyd | the muscles and tendons within the suit twitch in response. "There,"
Floyd | he says. "I've accelerated the self-healing process and run a quick
Floyd | hack to restore functionality, albeit temporarily. We've got to get
Floyd | you back home as quickly as possible, but first, we have some business
Floyd | to take care of here."

Floyd |
Floyd | Mom says, "Honey, do you want to upload the--?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Ah, right, of course," says your father. He faces each of you in
Floyd | turn, pressing at the nape of each suit's neck until two ports open,
Floyd | then plugging fingers into the ports for a few seconds each. As he's

Floyd | doing this, he explains, "In the time that we stayed here, our suits
Floyd | were upgraded with translation software that enabled us to understand
Floyd | the alien's speech patterns. It cared little about ours, but wanted us
Floyd | to understand its commands. We actually prototyped such a thing in
Floyd | hardware, but that's been left in Thad's observatory back home. The
Floyd | advantage of this software version is that I can transfer it directly

Floyd | into your suits... and there, it's done. You'll need it, because I'm
Floyd | afraid it's going to be up to you to face Esrrua."
Floyd |
Floyd | Please select a response:
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I understand. What would you like us to do?"

Floyd | 2) "What? Why? Can't we at least face him together?"
Floyd | 3) "What are you two going to do?"
Floyd |

		inky says, "hunh, I thought we managed to solve part one without blinding Nina" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "2" 		
	

Floyd | Select an option or 0 to say nothing >> 2
Floyd |
Floyd | "The risk is too great, Austin," says Mom. "He's had us under mental
Floyd | control for some time, and if he were to regain it at a crucial
Floyd | moment, you two would be doomed. Besides, we know this fortress, and

Floyd | can take care of some important tasks while you're stopping the
Floyd | experiment. Thad Andrews has to be rescued from his prison, those salt
Floyd | crystals need to be melted so that the bacteria inside can be killed,
Floyd | and we need to prepare the vehicle in the hangar so that we can
Floyd | finally get out of here."
Floyd |

Floyd | "So here are your tasks," says Dad. "Stop that experiment! Subdue and
Floyd | capture Esrrua and his assistants, if you can. Then meet us in the
Floyd | Hangar on the top level of the fortress -- we'll have the escape
Floyd | vehicle ready."
Floyd |
Floyd | Each of your parents gives you one last hug, then they send you south,

Floyd | down a final transport tube, finally to face the creature behind all
Floyd | this.
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Paul says, "There was a continuity question at the beginning about blinding Nina -- we said yes." 	
			DavidW says, "We lied to the narrator? For shame!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We didn't blind her at first." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Then we went back and did." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And I forgot which was which when answering questions." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So if we suck, it's my fault, I guess." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "But it's just a game. Try to get a full night's sleep tonight, okay, folks?" 	
			Paul says, "No suckage -- just a (slightly) different story fork." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "space" 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | "I have lost contact with the simian-hunters," said Maerr. "They are
Floyd | either killed or free."
Floyd |

Floyd | The hairs rose on Science Master Esrrua's neck, and for the first
Floyd | time, he detected a faint smell of fear on himself. "No!" he said.
Floyd | "Not when the experiment is almost ready! Begin extraction!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Maerr keyed in a sequence on his control panel, and said, "Extraction
Floyd | begun." Then his head whipped towards the door, ears at full alert.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Outside the door, Science Master Esrrua," he said. "I hear
Floyd | something."
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | E A R T H
Floyd |
Floyd | A N D

Floyd |
Floyd | S K Y
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Episode 3:
Floyd | LUMINOUS HORIZON
Floyd |
Floyd | Part Four
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside The Lab Door
Floyd | This is a small, sterile room, about the size of a walk-in closet. The

Floyd | floor here seems to be made of bare rock. You're facing a doorway
Floyd | blocked by a smooth sheet of grey polymer. Behind you is a transport
Floyd | tube entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily stands a few feet away from you, looking fierce.
Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Oh, wait. We still need to do what? Track the cats and kill 'em?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push door. hold speech." 		
	

Floyd | >You brace yourself and push against the door, but it's no use -- the
Floyd | polymer doesn't even begin to buckle.
Floyd | Sorry, but that's either not here or not important.

Floyd |

		Jacqueline asks, "Banish em?" 	
	Jacqueline Something? 		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | >A smooth sheet of polymer completely fills the doorway to the north.

Floyd | It even seems to have cut into the rock beneath it to create an
Floyd | effective seal.
Floyd |

		schep says, "yeah, take care of the bad cats" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside The Lab Door
Floyd | This is a small, sterile room, about the size of a walk-in closet. The
Floyd | floor here seems to be made of bare rock. You're facing a doorway

Floyd | blocked by a smooth sheet of grey polymer. Behind you is a transport
Floyd | tube entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is alongside you, his earthsuit nearly blending in with the
Floyd | surroundings.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "blast door" 		
	

Floyd | >KER-POW! Lightning arcs from your fingers to the grey polymer
Floyd | barrier, but it is unaffected.
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "are just jacq an me playing?" 	
			DavidW | "Stop that experiment! Subdue and capture Esrrua and his assistants, if you can. Then meet us in the Hangar on the top level of the fortress 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "knock on door" 		
	

Floyd | >There is no answer.
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "I'm lurking" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside The Lab Door

Floyd | This is a small, sterile room, about the size of a walk-in closet. The
Floyd | floor here seems to be made of bare rock. You're facing a doorway
Floyd | blocked by a smooth sheet of grey polymer. Behind you is a transport
Floyd | tube entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily leans against the wall here.

Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "slide door" 		
	

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push door" 		
	

Floyd | >You brace yourself and push against the door, but it's no use -- the
Floyd | polymer doesn't even begin to buckle.
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "I haven't played this chapter." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x door" 		
	

Floyd | >A smooth sheet of polymer completely fills the doorway to the north.
Floyd | It even seems to have cut into the rock beneath it to create an
Floyd | effective seal.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x rock" 		
	

Floyd | >Unlike the other parts of the fortress, the floor here isn't made of
Floyd | alien polymer. Instead, the walls seem to rest on bare, uneven rock.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit rock" 		
	

Floyd | >You drive your mighty fingers into the stone beneath the door,
Floyd | pulling them back to cut deep grooves into the living rock. You could
Floyd | easily grip the bottom of the door now.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lift door" 		
	

Floyd | >You squat, reaching into the grooves you've made in the stone floor
Floyd | to grip the polymer sheet's bottom edge. With a deep breath, you
Floyd | unbend your knees and thrust your arms upward. The lab door resists
Floyd | your efforts with incredible power, but you manage to create an

Floyd | aperture large enough for you and Emily to go through. You're not sure
Floyd | how much longer you can hold the door up, though.
Floyd |

		inky says, "sometimes I guess you have to smash something other than your main target to enable you to more fully smash the main target" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Emily]
Floyd |
Floyd | Outside The Lab Door
Floyd | This is a small, sterile room, about the size of a walk-in closet. The
Floyd | floor here seems to be made of bare rock, pitted by Austin's powerful

Floyd | fingers. Austin is holding up a grey polymer barrier with great
Floyd | effort, creating an aperture to the north. Behind you is a transport
Floyd | tube entrance.
Floyd |
Floyd | All of Austin's attention is focused on holding up the polymer sheet.
Floyd |

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >You scamper through the aperture, and Austin wrenches himself to the
Floyd | other side of the door. It slams shut when he lets go of it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Esrrua's Lab

Floyd | Even though this room is filled with clutter and equipment, it still
Floyd | has about as much open floor space as half a basketball court. A large
Floyd | window occupies much of its west wall, through which you can see
Floyd | another room, where one of the cat-aliens stands before a broad
Floyd | control panel. Byzantine machinery dominates all the other walls, and
Floyd | at the far north end of both rooms, a teleportation curtain shimmers

Floyd | and pulsates. Just behind you, to the south, the unbreakable polymer
Floyd | sheet once again blocks the exit. A monitor window floats in the air,
Floyd | displaying a view of the dilapidated road that winds just west of this
Floyd | fortress. Several clear chambers, one of which is filled with a
Floyd | swirling green cloud, reach to the ceiling.
Floyd |

Floyd | Austin stands next to you, his eyes taking in everything.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the center of the room stands another of the cat-aliens: a humanoid
Floyd | figure, well over seven feet tall and heavily muscled. It whirls to
Floyd | face you, and its oval-slitted eyes glare savagely. The creature bares
Floyd | its teeth, flattens its ears, and drops into a crouch. This can be

Floyd | none other than Esrrua.
Floyd |
Floyd | By Esrrua's side, a white, amorphous mass trembles, sending out eager
Floyd | pseudopods in your direction. The thing is large, as tall as Esrrua
Floyd | and half again as wide, but it is shapeless, constantly rippling its
Floyd | boundaries like a gigantic, puffy amoeba.

Floyd |
Floyd | "SO!" shouts Esrrua imperiously. "Still more apelings come to plague
Floyd | the progress of science! But you are too late! TOO LATE!"
Floyd |
Floyd | He turns toward the window and points at the control panel. "Maerr,
Floyd | release the bacteria!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Turning back to you, he curls his lip. "I will not taint my paws with
Floyd | your stink, dirty apelings, when my niarr can destroy you instead!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "DEVOUR THEM!" he shouts, and the white blob surges forward, long
Floyd | pseudopods writhing at its perimeter!

Floyd |

		Paul says (to inky), "Heh" 	
			Jacqueline has to buy more stuff to keep her internet going. 	
			Jacqueline returns with an Italian soda and a bagel, and recaps. 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "zap blob" 		
	

Floyd | >KER-POW! Blue lightning flows from your fingertips into the niarr,
Floyd | and for a moment, the creature grows rigid, processing the incredible
Floyd | energy of your blast. Then it swells, expanding to almost double its
Floyd | previous size. The niarr extends its tentacles again, apparently
Floyd | hungrier than ever!

Floyd |
Floyd | Meanwhile, your brother is pummeling the niarr, and the creature seems
Floyd | to swell with every blow. It's now about quadruple the size it was
Floyd | when you came in.
Floyd |
Floyd | Simultaneously, Maerr's paws skitter rapidly across the control panel,

Floyd | and a hissing sound fills the air. "Bacteria released!" he shouts
Floyd | triumphantly over an intercom, and the green gas roils upwards,
Floyd | disappearing from its chamber. A moment later, the monitor displays a
Floyd | hidden hatch opening in the ground next to the road, and a noxious
Floyd | cloud of viridian vapor spews forth! The cloud expands in all
Floyd | directions, not dissipating but rather multiplying, heading inexorably

Floyd | towards the towns and cities of New Mexico, ground zero for the
Floyd | upcoming worldwide infection.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** Humanity is doomed ***
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move
Floyd | or QUIT?

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | > Esrrua's Lab
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		inky says, "wow, ok, that was less turns than I expected" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fog maerr" 		
	

Floyd | >You concentrate, and a thick cloud of grey fog envelopes Maerr. You
Floyd | see the cloud moving frantically, and hear the alien's voice over an
Floyd | intercom, crying, "Science Master Esrrua, I... I cannot see! I cannot
Floyd | trigger the release sequence!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "NOOOOO!" screams Esrrua. "I cannot be thwarted when I am so close!
Floyd | Apeling, I shall kill you myself!" With this, he springs forward,
Floyd | claws extended and reaching for your face!
Floyd |
Floyd | Meanwhile, you hear Austin's fist slam into the niarr with a muffled

Floyd | WHUMP! The skysuit's mask doesn't leave you much peripheral vision,
Floyd | but it's enough to tell you that the white mass is growing at an
Floyd | alarming rate, swelling in proportion to the force of your brother's
Floyd | blows. It's now about double the size it was when you came in. So why
Floyd | does he keep hitting it?
Floyd |

		Lucea says, "be back in a bit" 	
			Jacqueline says, "[band-name] Eager Pseudopods" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "fly" 		
	

Floyd | >The ceiling is low enough that all you could do is hover a foot or so

Floyd | above the ground, so you don't bother.
Floyd |
Floyd | In an instant, Esrrua is upon you, his claws slashing through the
Floyd | skysuit to tear open your throat with unerring precision.
Floyd | Consciousness flows out of you as fast as the blood gushes from your
Floyd | jugular vein. Your last sight is of Austin looking with horror at your

Floyd | prone form and screaming, "NO!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Your brother's fists fly at your alien assassin... the bloated niarr
Floyd | looms to consume him... blackness descends.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have fallen ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move
Floyd | or QUIT?

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | > Esrrua's Lab
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "eeeagh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "zap esrrua" 		
	

Floyd | >You extend both your hands, and KER-POW! A huge blast of lightning
Floyd | jumps from your fingers, hitting Esrrua directly in the chest! His
Floyd | body flies backwards, its fur all stood on end, and lands in a heap

Floyd | just short of the teleportation curtain, still convulsing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Simultaneously, your brother directs a fierce karate kick at the
Floyd | niarr, and it lands with a booming WHUMP! Once again, the creature
Floyd | absorbs his blow, expanding like a water balloon hooked to a firehose!
Floyd | The niarr now takes up almost half the room, and it practically

Floyd | vibrates with absorbed energy. A thousand pseudopods shoot out from
Floyd | its edges, grasping at him!
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear an anguished, inarticulate scream over the intercom, and the
Floyd | sound of shattering glass. The cloud of fog is on the move, flowing
Floyd | through the broken window, and a screeching voice emerges from within

Floyd | it. "I cannot see you, murdering simians, but your stench is
Floyd | unmistakable!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, so powersuit fabric isn't very breathable!" shouts Austin.
Floyd |
Floyd | Then the cloud charges at you, covering the distance with alarming

Floyd | speed!
Floyd |

		Taleslinger says, "have we saved" 	
			inky says, "the world? not quite" 	
			Alex says (to inky), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that the world is pink." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We did, right when the parents died/" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, were knocked down, that is." 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "fog cloud" 		
	

Floyd | >(cloud of fog)

Floyd | You concentrate on fogging cloud of fog, but nothing happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | Simultaneously, your brother directs a fierce karate kick at the
Floyd | niarr, and it lands with a booming WHUMP! Once again, the creature
Floyd | absorbs his blow! The thing is standing still, vibrating, obscuring
Floyd | your view of the entire room now, all of its attention apparently

Floyd | focused on keeping itself intact.
Floyd |
Floyd | With astonishing speed, Maerr's claws reach your face. You feel
Floyd | lacerating pain as your flesh splits and tears, you hear your
Floyd | brother's distant shouts, and quickly enough, you slip into blessed
Floyd | unconsciousness.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have fallen ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move
Floyd | or QUIT?

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | > Esrrua's Lab

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "zap blob" 		
	

Floyd | >KER-POW! Blue lightning flows from your fingertips into the niarr,
Floyd | and for a moment, the creature grows rigid, processing the incredible

Floyd | energy of your blast. Then it swells, to fill almost the whole room!
Floyd | The thing is standing still, vibrating, all of its attention
Floyd | apparently focused on keeping itself intact.
Floyd |
Floyd | WHAM! Austin's fist hurtles into the cloud and connects with Maerr's
Floyd | chest! The alien's body flies out the back of the fog cloud,

Floyd | dispersing the vapor and skidding backwards to land alongside Esrrua.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | KA-BLAMMO!
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Taleslinger asks, "Maybe we should switch an stop Austin (ehem) enlargement plans?" 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The explosion was so sudden, so overwhelming that there was no time to

Floyd | protect yourself, no time for anything but flying backwards into the
Floyd | wall. When the blackness in your head lifts, the room is much changed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The niarr is gone, though the walls are smeared with white goo and a
Floyd | sour smell hangs in the air. Gone as well are Esrrua and Maerr,
Floyd | apparently blown through the teleportation curtain shortly before it,

Floyd | too, disappeared. And now the room itself seems to be unraveling,
Floyd | while a series of yowls repeat in the air, conveniently translated by
Floyd | the software in your suit:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence commenced...
Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence commenced..."

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Esrrua's Lab
Floyd | All of the equipment that was in this room is gone, and even the walls
Floyd | themselves seem to be rapidly dissolving, melting away before your
Floyd | eyes like film over a candle. Chunks of dirt and large rocks are

Floyd | falling through the rapidly opening holes, and the room seems to be a
Floyd | hair's breadth from collapsing outright!
Floyd |
Floyd | One beneficial side-effect of the ongoing room-erasure is that the
Floyd | passage to the south has reopened, and a lucky thing, too, since
Floyd | that's the only way out of here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is beside you, looking deeply alarmed.
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >Austin follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | Outside The Lab Door
Floyd | Holes are appearing in the walls of this room, but it's still more or
Floyd | less retaining its shape for the moment. The doorway to the north is
Floyd | blocked by thousands of tons of caved-in earth, but the transport tube
Floyd | is unscathed, at least for now.

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is running right behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The walls continue to dissolve before your eyes, and that eerily calm
Floyd | alien voice keeps advising you:
Floyd |

Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues...
Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues..."
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "enter tube" 		
	

Floyd | >You step into the tube, and there is a WHOOSH of air with the

Floyd | sensation of upward motion; you step out into new surroundings.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor South
Floyd | You were last in this corridor on your way to battle Esrrua, and now
Floyd | it is unraveling along with the rest of the fortress. The dissolution
Floyd | has begin with the transport tube, which pretty much disappeared the

Floyd | moment you stepped out of it, and the walls continue to eat themselves
Floyd | with each passing moment! The corridor continues north, at least for
Floyd | the moment.
Floyd |
Floyd | Austin steps out of the tube a second behind you.
Floyd |

Floyd | The walls continue to dissolve before your eyes, and that eerily calm
Floyd | alien voice keeps advising you:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues...
Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues..."
Floyd |

		DavidW says, "We need to go up, yeah" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >Austin follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor

Floyd | The corridor has almost collapsed already -- the only things keeping
Floyd | the ceiling from caving in are the pipes above you, which have bowed
Floyd | to an alarming degree, dipping to less than a foot above your head.
Floyd | Dirt and rocks fall between them in a constant rain. The south end of
Floyd | the corridor has caved in completely. Even worse, a huge boulder has
Floyd | rolled into the corridor, blocking your path completely!

Floyd |
Floyd | Austin is running right behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An enormous piece of rocky debris fills the corridor.
Floyd |
Floyd | The walls continue to dissolve before your eyes, and that eerily calm

Floyd | alien voice keeps advising you:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues...
Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues..."
Floyd |

		
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "save" 		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Nope." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fdkjfkd" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "c" 		
	

Floyd | >[now controlling Austin]
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor
Floyd | The walls are a little more than half gone now, and continuing to

Floyd | disappear rapidly! Even worse, the pipes above are themselves
Floyd | dissolving, and the incoming earth narrows your space every second.
Floyd | There's still time to make it north or east if you hurry.
Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is flying right behind you.
Floyd |

Floyd | An enormous piece of rocky debris fills the corridor.
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit debris" 		
	

Floyd | >SMASH! With a mighty blow, you shatter the great rock into gravel!
Floyd | With the boulder gone, you can see that as the walls continue to

Floyd | unravel, the barrier to the east has melted away. A northern route
Floyd | into unknown territory is also open.
Floyd |
Floyd | The room is just seconds away from collapsing!
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Type >PUSH SAVE (not to Floyd) to save sequentially." 	
			Taleslinger says, "ah, i forgot" 	
			DavidW asks, "ooh. North or east?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Otherwise is screws up the numbering." 	
			Taleslinger says, "north." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Deep Corridor North
Floyd | Like the rest of the fortress, this corridor is about to cease

Floyd | existing. The self-consumption virus is spreading from the south, and
Floyd | coming closer and closer to the transportation tube at the north end
Floyd | of the corridor. Rubble blocks the path south, and what looks like it
Floyd | might have been another tube on the west wall, so that remaining tube
Floyd | is looking like your best and only option.
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily is flying right behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The walls continue to dissolve before your eyes, and that eerily calm
Floyd | alien voice keeps advising you:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues...

Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues..."
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "I wonder if that's being said in that sexy StarTrek female computer voice." 	
			DavidW says, "Let's assume so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter tube" 		
	

Floyd | >You step into the tube, and there is a WHOOSH of air with the
Floyd | sensation of upward motion; you step out into new surroundings.
Floyd |
Floyd | T Junction

Floyd | The decay has advanced considerably around you, and the entire
Floyd | fortress looks on the verge of disintegration. Collapsed ceilings
Floyd | block the way west and south, and the ongoing cave-in continues to
Floyd | force you eastwards. The walls keep liquefying, and the ceiling here
Floyd | is shuddering unsteadily.
Floyd |

Floyd | Emily floats out of the tube a second behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The walls continue to dissolve before your eyes, and that eerily calm
Floyd | alien voice keeps advising you:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues...

Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues..."
Floyd |

		schep says, "yes, except the cat version of that" 	
			Jacqueline says, "MeroOOW." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | >Emily follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | East Corridor
Floyd | Alarming holes keep blooming in the walls, and the ceiling sways
Floyd | drunkenly. An archway offers escape to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Emily is flying right behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | An archway leads south into shadow.
Floyd |
Floyd | The walls continue to dissolve before your eyes, and that eerily calm

Floyd | alien voice keeps advising you:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues...
Floyd | Critical state reached... Self-consumption sequence continues..."
Floyd |

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | >You and Emily dash through the archway as the room falls apart behind
Floyd | you!
Floyd |
Floyd |

		Jacqueline says, "Crikey." 	
	DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd | [Please press a key to continue]
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The fortress is disintegrating all around you, but the ceiling here is
Floyd | open, and the pipe-covered vehicle hovers about eight feet off the
Floyd | ground. The vehicle's floor is transparent, and through it you can see
Floyd | Mom and Dad, along with an older man who must be Thaddeus Andrews,
Floyd | urging you to enter via a large hatch. A quick jump and you're in,
Floyd | with Emily swooping right behind you. The hatch closes, Dad

Floyd | manipulates an alien device, and the vehicle rises higher. Through its
Floyd | floor, you can see the last of the fortress consume itself into
Floyd | nonexistence, with only a sinkhole in the desert to suggest anything
Floyd | of Earth's first contact with an extraterrestrial species.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Austin!" says Emily, grabbing your arm, "We did it! We found Mom and

Floyd | Dad, and basically saved the world in the process! The freaking world,
Floyd | Austin! We are superheroes! We are a family of superheroes, and my
Floyd | GOD, we rock!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Yeah. Saved the world. You did, didn't you?
Floyd |

Floyd | Life is going to be a whole lot different now. That's the thought that
Floyd | keeps going through your head as you sail westward, in an alien
Floyd | vehicle, with your super-powered family, into the luminous horizon.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have won ***

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move
Floyd | or QUIT?

		Jacqueline says, "The FREAKING WORLD!" 	
			inky says, "aw yeah" 	
			schep exclaims, "hooray!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We do indeed rock." 	
			schep asks, "dare I ask if there might be further adventures to come?" 	
			Taleslinger says, "yes!" 	
			Skyy decides it's time for some Skyy. 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Sadly, the name 'Sky' was taken.)" 	
			inky says (to Jacqueline), "yeah, try finger sky" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of schep), "Good question. Paul?" 	
			Paul says, "Not in the near future, at least. I would love to do it, but stupid real life is in the way." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I hate that. Yeah." 	
			inky says, "you need to train your kid to write IF" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Stupid RL." 	
			Paul says (to Jacq), "I had ifMUD E & S avatars made for some xyzzy awards ceremony." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ahh.... hence the name being taken. Heh." 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Paul says (to inky), "That day may come. He is already amazing me by reading." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Now that I've played this game, I'm wondering if I couldn't find a way to train my cats to write IF. If cats can do science..." 	
			inky says, "awesome" 	
			inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "yeah, but based on this, your cats would write evil IF" 	
			Paul says (to Jacq), "I would totally pay to play an IF game written by a cat." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Thank you so much for showing up for all three of these." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "Commercial IF may yet be revived." 	
			Paul exclaims, "Thanks for inviting me, and more to the point, for choosing them to play!" 	
			Paul says (to Jacq), "We'll see." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It was neat to play a trilogy over three sessions." 	
			Taleslinger says, "want sequels!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Paul), "No, seriously. All I have to do is teach Skookum to write and Taiya to beta test." 	
	schep has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		Paul says, "It's so fun to watch a session in progress. Though I am a bit sore from multiple wincings during this one." 	
			Taleslinger says (to taiya), "No, sleeping on the keyboard is not beta-testing!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "There are totally enough cats owned by Mudders. Maybe a Feline Whispers is in order." 	
			DavidW says, "IF Whiskers" 	
			Jacqueline says, "YAY" 	
			Jacqueline cackles. 	
			Paul says (to DavidW), "Yay" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Lucy would look at the screen and run away." 	
			Taleslinger says, "yay!" 	
	olethros disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. 		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 			
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Undertow by Stephen Granade
As played on ifMUD on February 15, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Undertow, written by Stephen Granade. Undertow was originally released as part of the 1995 IF Competition, where it took fourth place in the TADS division. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
			Jacqueline says, "So, the file name is 'under?'" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load under" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Yesterday, as you were walking through Central Park, a meteorite
Floyd | crashed nearby, bathing you in cosmic radiation.  It only made the
Floyd | twelth page of the paper, under Dear Abby.  Of course, if anyone could
Floyd | have foreseen the awful effects of that accident, it surely would have
Floyd | been a front page story.  But there was no way for you, or anyone
Floyd | else, to predict that the result of that accident would be....

Floyd |
Floyd | The Underoos That Ate New York!
Floyd | An Interactive Quickie by G. Kevin Wilson
Floyd | (c) 1994. All Rights Reserved.
Floyd | Email: gkw@pobox.com
Floyd | Type 'xyzzy' for help and information.

Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 970329 / Inform v6.11 Library 6/4
Floyd | Standard interpreter 1.0
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom (on the bed)
Floyd | Home sweet home for a '60s throwback bachelor like yourself.
Floyd | Assorted, but unimportant decorations litter the walls and ceiling.

Floyd | To the west is a door that, as you fuzzily recall, leads into your
Floyd | walk-in closet.  To the east is a hallway, that, as you even more
Floyd | fuzzily recall, leads to the kitchen.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Um, no." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "xyzzy" 		
	

Floyd | A hollow voice says, "This is a short sample 'game' designed to test
Floyd | out some programming ideas I had.  It pays homage to the bad old

Floyd | sci-fi B movies.  The material here is, I suppose, vaguely mystifying
Floyd | to small children, so parents be warned, play it through first
Floyd | yourself, and make your own decision about it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "The file name is not 'under.'" 	
			inky says, "I said it was tow11" 	
			DavidW says, "No. tow11, I thought it was." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "One moment." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to quit?

		
	Miseri arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "yes" 		
	

Floyd |

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load tow11" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd | tadsr - A text-only TADS 2.5.10 Interpreter.
Floyd | Copyright (c) 1993, 2006 by Michael J. Roberts.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | How did Thom ever talk you into this one...

Floyd |
Floyd | Your friend Thom Hall has always been a smooth talker, which is
Floyd | probably how he got you to attend his party on board the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  The fourty-eight-foot yacht is named after the H.M.S.
Floyd | Bellerophon, the ship on which Napoleon formally surrendered in 1815
Floyd | after Waterloo.  Thom isn't usually too modest.

Floyd |
Floyd | Anyway, you're now stuck at a floating party with three other people
Floyd | you barely know, friends of Thom's.  Bill Leveritt is one of Thom's
Floyd | partners in his architectural firm.  Carl Weathers, another old friend
Floyd | of Thom's, brought his girlfriend Ashleigh Flannagin, which completes
Floyd | the floating fivesome.

Floyd |
Floyd | So far you've seen Bill and Thom yell at each other, Thom hit Carl for
Floyd | some unexplained reason, and Ashleigh ignore both Thom and you.  Not
Floyd | the most pleasant party you've ever been to.
Floyd |
Floyd | And it's barely 10 a.m...

Floyd |
Floyd | Undertow v1.1 (9/5/1995) by Stephen Granade
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule

Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  A closed door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That's better." 	
			Limax says, "Ha ha" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "sit on toilet" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to sit on the toilet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, so I don't remember anything about this other than that it's old and it's a murder mystery" 	
			inky says, "but I think it's reasonably finishable in two hours" 	
			Lucea says, "the mystery of a murder" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l in it" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the medicine cabinet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are empty-handed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x it" 		
	

Floyd | It is bolted to the wall just above the sink.  It is made of strong
Floyd | plastic, and is open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x drain" 		
	

Floyd | It sees a lot of use due to the shower.  Its metal surface is streaked
Floyd | with hard-water stains.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the drain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the drain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick it" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "lick".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "This is before 'lick' was invented, I think." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "take a shower" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the shower.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "time" 		
	

Floyd | The time is now 10:12 a.m.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look remarkably like yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "What did we do before we could lick?" 	
			DavidW says, "Time is moving, guys." 	
			DavidW says (to Limax), "Taste." 	
			inky says, "yeah, but we don't know what we're doing" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "taste drain" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "taste".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the door first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It's locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the door first.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | Unlocked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is a hanging locker, and
Floyd | across from it is the door to the forward head, standing open.  A
Floyd | small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    Sitting on the left v-berth is a pill bottle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The closed bottle is opaque and plastic.  The label has been torn off,
Floyd | so you don't know where it came from or what its pills do.  All that

Floyd | is left is a faded sketch of a man with dark circles under his eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "drink it" 		
	

Floyd | The pill bottle doesn't appear appetizing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the pill bottle reveals five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "This could be the next Featured Theme on ifWiki: Games that start in the Bathroom" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "eat pill" 		
	

Floyd | You swallow the pill, grimacing at its chalky taste.  Almost
Floyd | immediately, you feel a wave of lethargy sweep over you.  You have to
Floyd | fight off the overwhelming urge to sleep.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is a hanging locker, and
Floyd | across from it is the door to the forward head, standing open.  A
Floyd | small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the hanging locker reveals a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | Squat, grey, metal.  It obviously requires a key to unlock it.  Part
Floyd | of the top of the safe is scarred with deep gouges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x gouges" 		
	

Floyd | On closer inspection, you can see that the gouges outline a panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | The panel is surrounded by gouges, evidence of prior removals.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how you try to fit your fingers around the panel, you fail.
Floyd | Evidently the panel is not openable without the assistance of a tool.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "How critical is time, do we think?" 	
			inky says, "what we need is a tool -- I suggest our friend Thom" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "i.e. Should we restart, save often? Should we have a driver?" 	
			inky says, "my guess is we may end up restarting once" 	
			DavidW says, "In a murder mystery? Probably critical." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Right, exactly." 	
			inky says, "but we don't know what we're doing, so we might as well wander around for now" 	
	crumple arrives, full of fun and funk. 		Jacqueline says, "We could save as we enter each room, so that we have the liberty to try licking things, then restore and do what's necessary." 	
			DavidW says, "I'd like to learn the geography. What's where." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "oops" 	
			Lucea says, "I've been a bit loosey-goosey with examining" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tray" 		
	

Floyd | The wooden drink tray has held many, many drinks on its surface and is
Floyd | discolored with many, many drink stains.  Right now it holds a whiskey
Floyd | bottle, a scotch bottle, a wine bottle, and a bottle of beer.  One
Floyd | edge is chipped slightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the west.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl Weathers is about 28, with sandy brown hair and light blue eyes.
Floyd | If Hitler were alive today, he'd put Carl on one of his posters.  Carl

Floyd | is a bit of a know-it-all, but fairly bright.  You've never quite been
Floyd | sure what he does for a living.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a large sigh, Carl sits down on the bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask carl about bill" 		
	

Floyd | Carl says, "Hmm, can't tell you too much about that!"
Floyd |

Floyd | Bill wanders over to the drink tray and picks up the whiskey bottle.
Floyd | From somewhere around the bar, he scrounges up a slightly-clean glass.
Floyd | With a deft flick of his wrist, he pours himself a shot of the whiskey
Floyd | and replaces the bottle.  "I've always, er, liked whiskey," he
Floyd | comments.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, we probably do need to examine stuff." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for
Floyd | as long as you've known Thom.  Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and
Floyd | round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years.  He tries
Floyd | to dress flamboyantly but often fails, as demonstrated today by his
Floyd | long-sleeved blue oxford shirt.  He's extremely good at what he does,
Floyd | but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of the firm.  In one

Floyd | hand he is holding one of his ubiquitous glasses of whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh sits down next to Carl and whispers something to him.  He
Floyd | grins slightly in response.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh Flannagin is a knockout, which is why Thom ever dated her in
Floyd | the first place.  However, Thom always has to be right, and it didn't
Floyd | take long for Ash to tire of that and start dating Carl.  She has
Floyd | shoulder-length copper hair and dark brown eyes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl Weathers is about 28, with sandy brown hair and light blue eyes.
Floyd | If Hitler were alive today, he'd put Carl on one of his posters.  Carl

Floyd | is a bit of a know-it-all, but fairly bright.  You've never quite been
Floyd | sure what he does for a living.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		crumple asks, "wait, carl weathers as in apollo creed?" 	
			DavidW says, "I need to read faster. I'm missing WAY too much." 	
			inky says, "well, everyone else has shown up, so I expect Thom is dead" 	
			Lucea asks, "why are all IF guys named Carl unappealing guys?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "well, by 'all' I mean two" 	
			(from schep) baf cries. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x chip" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "chip".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the

Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see much of the flying bridge except its canopy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x canopy" 		
	

Floyd | It arches over much of the flying bridge.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "well ok then!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I've never heard of a part of a boat called a 'forecastle.'" 	
			inky says, "he means the fo'c'sle" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the

Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x rail" 		
	

Floyd | The metal rail prevents you from sliding overboard and into the chilly
Floyd | water surrounding the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax asks, "Are we playing the gal again?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "What? E&S finished last week, if that's what you mean." 	
			Limax says, "Oh. Whoops" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nice try, though." 	
			Limax says, "I thought we were playing one of those again... man, I'm completely lost" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You look remarkably like yourself.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess we are a generic protagonist" 	
			Limax says, "Aha... I didn't read the bb cafefully" 	
			inky says, "except to the extent of being buddies with this guy" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern
Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied

Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest
Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "I saw 'earth & sky' and didn't read the rest" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x line" 		
	

Floyd | The line is tough, easily able to withstand the rigors of marine life.
Floyd | One end of it is tied to a cleat.  The other end of it runs over the
Floyd | rail and into the water.  It is taught, as if something heavy were
Floyd | tied to it.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "this looks promising" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull line" 		
	

Floyd | You tug on the line as hard as you can, but something is weighing it

Floyd | down.  Glancing over the rail, you see a dark shape in the water.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x shape" 		
	

Floyd | It looks disturbingly person-like.  In fact, it looks disturbingly

Floyd | Thom-like.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aw yeah, dead body time" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "untie line" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how hard you work at the knot, you can't seem to untie it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "so much for disposing of the evidence" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull line" 		
	

Floyd | You tug on the line as hard as you can, but Thom's...dead weight, for
Floyd | lack of a better term, is too much for you.  Judging from the weight,
Floyd | it is too much for everyone else on board.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x thom" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any thom here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "x water" 		
	

Floyd | It stretches all around you, rolling and glistening in the glare of
Floyd | the sun, churned up by the propellers.  It is tantalizingly close yet
Floyd | out of reach.  In the water, you can see a dim shape attached to the
Floyd | line tied to the cleat.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell bill about thom" 		
	

Floyd | You tell Bill about seeing Thom's body in the water.  Bill, however,
Floyd | just waves you off absentmindedly.
Floyd |
Floyd | As he is walking past it, Bill absentmindedly tugs on the line.
Floyd | Something about it makes him stop.  He looks over the rail and into
Floyd | the water.  His eyes widen alarmingly, and he yells, "Oh, my God!

Floyd | Quick!  Everyone to the cockpit deck!  It's Thom!"  Bill begins
Floyd | pulling on the line with all his strength.  "Help me!" he says to you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha ha" 	
			inky says, "that ruled" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull line" 		
	

Floyd | You tug on the line as hard as you can, but Thom's...dead weight, for
Floyd | lack of a better term, is too much for you.  Judging from the weight,
Floyd | it is too much for everyone else on board.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "tell bill about thom" 		
	

Floyd | You tell Bill about seeing Thom's body in the water.  Bill, however,
Floyd | just waves you off absentmindedly.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess we need a winch or something" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "help bill" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "or, hrm, maybe if we all pull together" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl grabs hold of the line and strains in concert with Bill.  You

Floyd | slide in between them and put your back into the effort, but to no
Floyd | avail.  After a few seconds, Carl stops, swearing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill says, "The four of us won't be able to drag Thom on board while
Floyd | we're, uh, moving."
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh nods in agreement.  "We've got to cut the engines."  You find
Floyd | yourself wondering just who this "we" are--you surely don't want to
Floyd | monkey around with Thom's boat.  Not that he's going to care now, but
Floyd | habits are hard to break.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | The large access panel can be opened in order to repair or service the
Floyd | engines which power the boat.  Right now the panel is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl finally convinces himself that he won't be able to drag Thom

Floyd | onboard.  You would have been glad to explain it to him, but no doubt
Floyd | that would have taken one minute shy of eternity.  He glances at the
Floyd | three of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "C'mon," he says, "I need you three on the flying bridge.  I'll
Floyd | explain up there, right?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Not that he's going to care now.... heh" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl leaves to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess we should follow." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom

Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.

Floyd |    Bill stands here, slouching his way from one part of the boat to
Floyd | another.
Floyd |    Carl, hands in pockets, is standing here, obviously on his way to
Floyd | somewhere else.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.
Floyd |

Floyd | Bill climbs up the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl climbs up the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs up the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the

Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through
Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in
Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is looking at the helm, thinking.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is standing here, obviously a bit disturbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill says, "Um, ok, Carl, what now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl looks at the controls.  "I'd best man the anchor."  He looks at
Floyd | you, then at Bill.  Finally, "Bill, I want you to go to the cockpit

Floyd | deck and take care of the line Thom's attached to.  I want you," he
Floyd | turns to Ashleigh, "to relay my instructions to Bill, and I want you,"
Floyd | he turns to you, "to throttle back when I say so.  Look over the
Floyd | helm."  He makes a few adjustments to the helm, then nods to himself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh dear. Opportunity to screw up." 	
	Nitku says (to Floyd), "look over helm" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x helm" 		
	

Floyd | The helm is amazingly complex, with gagues for RPMs, temperature,
Floyd | amperage...the mind boggles.  On the right side of the helm are two
Floyd | levers:  the throttle handle and the clutch handle.  The throttle is
Floyd | taller than and to the right of the clutch handle.  In the middle of

Floyd | the helm is a large wooden wheel.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "The kids are demanding breakfast" 	
			Limax says, "I guess I'll be AFK" 	
			inky says, "in a hilarious mishap we send the body flying over the boat and landing on the canopy" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x throttle" 		
	

Floyd | The throttle handle controls the boat's speed.  When pushed all the
Floyd | way forward, the engines run full out.  When pulled back, the engines
Floyd | almost idle.  Right now it is set to very slow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, I'm just hoping Thom isn't tied to the anchor line." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf1" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "doesn't throttle back mean go slower? it seems like we're already throttled back" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x clutch" 		
	

Floyd | The clutch handle controls the direction the boat moves, either
Floyd | forward or reverse.  It can be pushed forward or pulled back.  Right
Floyd | now it is set to forward.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it means go slower." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x wheel" 		
	

Floyd | Attached to the helm, the wheel controls the ship's rudders.  It
Floyd | resembles a stereotypical ship wheel, with large wooden handles all

Floyd | around its circumference.
Floyd |
Floyd | From below, Carl yells at you, "Pull the throttle back to idle."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Firion goes home. 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the throttle back to idling speed.  You hear the engines slow
Floyd | down.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x island" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "island".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the
Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through

Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in
Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is standing here, obviously a bit disturbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "whatta wimp" 	
			DavidW asks, "hm?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bow" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bow here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about thom" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh laughs, a deep throaty sound.  "Sometimes I wonder how I ever
Floyd | dated him."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about bill" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I don't know much about that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl is no longer here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess we don't date Ashleigh for her sparkling conversation." 	
			inky asks, "wait, we're dating ashleigh?" 	
			inky says, "I thought Carl was dating ashleigh" 	
			DavidW says, "no" 	
			maga says, "score" 	
			DavidW says, "We aren't dating her." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I was hoping she'd say, "Thom? Sometimes I wonder how I ever dated him. Bill? Sometimes I wonder why I didn't sleep with him sooner." Except that would make this too easy." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Well, she's single now." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh wait." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, who's she with? Carl?" 	
			Jacqueline scrolls back. 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh Flannagin is a knockout, which is why Thom ever dated her in
Floyd | the first place.  However, Thom always has to be right, and it didn't

Floyd | take long for Ash to tire of that and start dating Carl.  She has
Floyd | shoulder-length copper hair and dark brown eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, Carl." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So I guess she's not single." 	
			DavidW says, "Everyone has a different hair colour, I noticed." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "That will come in handy during the CSI portion of the game." 	
			DavidW says, "Of course." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about murder" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "murder".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn wheel clockwise" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "clockwise".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn wheel to right" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any right here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn wheel" 		
	

Floyd | Turn it left or right?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn wheel right" 		
	

Floyd | You spin the wheel to the right.  The bow begins to swing to
Floyd | starboard.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl yells, "Ok, reverse the engines!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull clutch" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the clutch back.  You hear the engines drop into neutral.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull clutch" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the clutch back.  You hear the engines begin to turn in
Floyd | reverse.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the
Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through
Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in

Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is standing here, obviously a bit disturbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chair" 		
	

Floyd | The blue chair makes piloting the boat much more comfortable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "sit on chair" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're now sitting on the chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl shouts up at you, "Push the throttle to one-quarter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to very slow speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to one-quarter speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge, in the chair
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the
Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through

Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in
Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is standing here, obviously a bit disturbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "Carl is just keeping us all busy as he cleans up after himself" 	
			DavidW asks, "well, what do you suggest?" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe we should kill him." 	
			inky says, "oh, we might as well still follow his instructions" 	
			inky says, "I'm just fingering him for the killer" 	
			DavidW says, "well, perhaps someone else should enter commands." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bow" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bow here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "No, you're a good driver." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x land" 		
	

Floyd | Staring at it, you realize how far the boat has actually travelled.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Unless inky wants to drive... heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You two boys work that out." 	
			inky says, "I admit I don't know what we're supposed to be doing here besides listening to carl" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm at a bit of a loss in this game." 	
			inky says, "I thought in mystery games you were supposed to talk to the npcs but they don't seem to be very talkative" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I wanted to explore the ship first before plot asserted itself." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about me" 		
	

Floyd | You can't reach that from the chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I guess sitting down was a mistake." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Because Carl put us to work?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, I am still amused that Taleslinger is not here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, we could do this. We could restart and explore the ship before we find the body." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thus learning the lay of the boatscape." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I would say landscape, except that wouldn't be right." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, you're no longer in the chair.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl yells, "Ok, I need you to shut off the...oh, screw it.  Ash, kill
Floyd | the engines!  And tell Bill to try pulling Thom in now."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh moves to the helm, leaving you to yell Carl's instructions to
Floyd | Bill.  "Oh, er, right!" he yells back.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Stateroom
Floyd |    From where you are, only a thin rail stands between you and the
Floyd | water to starboard.  A roof, much more substantial than the rail and

Floyd | belonging to the aft stateroom, lies to port, stretching from here to
Floyd | the port side of the boat. Small windows gape in the stateroom's side.
Floyd | Two-thirds of the boat lie to the north, while the other one-third of
Floyd | the boat is to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Forecastle
Floyd |    Above you and to port rises the flying bridge, casting a cold
Floyd | shadow across you.  Also to port are the curtained windows which
Floyd | afford you a glimpse into the forecastle.  At your feet lies a closed

Floyd | compartment.  The boat continues to the northwest and south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x compartment" 		
	

Floyd | The compartment is about three meters long by half a meter wide and

Floyd | runs the length of the boat.  The lid of the compartment normally
Floyd | doubles as the deck.  Built in the lid is a small keyhole.  The
Floyd | compartment is closed and locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "this boat sure has a lot of compartments" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Boats do." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But boats in murder mysteries in particular do." 	
			inky says, "I wonder if any have secret passages" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see much of the flying bridge except its canopy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole
Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of

Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm thinking that bent screwdriver could be used as a hook to get the rag with." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x hole" 		
	

Floyd | The hole in the deck opens into the chain locker, where the anchor
Floyd | chain is stored.  The anchor chain runs out of it, over the rail, and
Floyd | plunges into the sea.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "that sounds promising" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "push bill" 		
	

Floyd | Pushing Bill doesn't do anything.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | Your hand is too small to fit through the hole.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Or we could pretend the bent screwdriver is our hook of a hand and avenge Thom's death." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But David is probably more right." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | Thom has really put this tool through its paces.  Its tip is bent, as

Floyd | if he used it for non-standard purposes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x windows" 		
	

Floyd | They look into the forecastle.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x chain" 		
	

Floyd | The anchor chain, along with the anchor, is used to attach the boat to
Floyd | the bottom of the sea.  It runs out of the hole in the deck, over the

Floyd | rail, and into the sea.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle

Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "i'm thinking mini.crowbar, because of the bent tip" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x lamp" 		
	

Floyd | A quick appraisal of the lamp bring the words "bulbous," "green," and
Floyd | "hideous" to mind for no apparent reason.  The red plaid lampshade
Floyd | does little to mute its appearance.  It has been attached to a square
Floyd | base about three centimeters thick, in case the boat pitches
Floyd | violently.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x base" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "base".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "chest" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x chest" 		
	

Floyd | The chest-of-drawers is a nice piece of furniture despite the many
Floyd | water stains on its surface.  Three drawers run from the bottom of the
Floyd | chest to the top.  A lamp perches on top of the chest like a vulture.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open top" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the top drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "close it" 		
	

Floyd | Closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open middle. look in it. close it" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's nothing in the middle drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | Closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open bottom. look in it. close it" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |

Floyd | There's nothing in the bottom drawer.
Floyd |
Floyd | Closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "lame" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get lamp" 		
	

Floyd | After fooling with it for a few seconds, you decide that taking the
Floyd | lamp is a lost cause.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "ha ha" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l under bench" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the dinette bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Hope jscott didn't see that." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "l on bench" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the dinette bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x tray" 		
	

Floyd | The wooden drink tray has held many, many drinks on its surface and is
Floyd | discolored with many, many drink stains.  Right now it holds a whiskey
Floyd | bottle, a scotch bottle, a wine bottle, and a bottle of beer.  One
Floyd | edge is chipped slightly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x edge" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "edge".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "get bottles" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "bottles".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we know one of the guys always drinks whiskey" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The label claims that the whiskey is a good brand.  Knowing Thom, the
Floyd | label bears little relationship to what's inside.  The bottle contains
Floyd | quite a bit of whiskey.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x scoth" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "scoth".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x scotch" 		
	

Floyd | The scotch appears to be passable.  Unfortunately, you don't care much
Floyd | for scotch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x wine" 		
	

Floyd | It is slightly yellowish.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "freaky" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x beer" 		
	

Floyd | It's Stella, an imported beer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x wine bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The bottle's label proclaims it to be the proud product of Ernest &
Floyd | Julio Gallo's vinyards.  The bottle contains some white wine.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x beer bottle" 		
	

Floyd | It is some imported beer named Stella.  The bottle contains a little
Floyd | beer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "yes, I imagine we can pop a pill into the bottle of whomever we want to target" 	
			DavidW says, "Bill is the whiskey drinker." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x scotch bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Light glints off the glass bottle, sparkling in your eyes.  Too bad
Floyd | you don't like scotch; this looks to be good.  The bottle contains
Floyd | some scotch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "There's that sparkle you vampire guys wanted earlier." 	
			Taleslinger asks, "what are we tryinbg to do here? find the killer?" 	
			DavidW says (to Taleslinger), "That and probably fix the boat." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x galley" 		
	

Floyd | It is a marvel of compact engineering, managing to fit an electric

Floyd | stove, an oven, a sink, and a refrigerator in a tiny space.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open fridge" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the refrigerator-freezer.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "close it" 		
	

Floyd | Closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stove" 		
	

Floyd | The stove has four burners, just enough for most marine cooking.
Floyd | However, for this trip the burners have been disconnected.  Thom
Floyd | always was paranoid.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x oven" 		
	

Floyd | Close inspection shows you that the oven is without power, to prevent
Floyd | accidents.  It is closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | It is a square metal sink, about fourty centimeters by thirty
Floyd | centimeters.  It has one handle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x handle" 		
	

Floyd | Which handle do you mean, the throttle, the clutch, or the sink
Floyd | handle?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the sink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x sink handle" 		
	

Floyd | It is one of those single handles which control both cold and hot
Floyd | water.  Right now it is off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn it" 		
	

Floyd | Turning the sink handle doesn't have any effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind bar" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing behind the small bar.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "hm. I wonder if the screwdriver is bent because it was the gouging tool used on the safe?" 	
			inky says, "hmm, could be" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Explore more?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging

Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "please" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open panel with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You work the screwdriver under the panel and lean on it forcefully.
Floyd | The panel groans open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in safe" 		
	

Floyd | It's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in panel" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the square panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "uh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | Squat, grey, metal.  It obviously requires a key to unlock it.  Part
Floyd | of the top of the safe is scarred with deep gouges which outline an
Floyd | open panel.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock safe" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to unlock it with?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "search safe" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in safe" 		
	

Floyd | It's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I am confused" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Eep." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get panel" 		
	

Floyd | %You'll% need more than your bare fingers to remove the panel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Panel != safe?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get panel with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You work the screwdriver under the panel and lean on it forcefully.
Floyd | The panel groans open.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "well, it says it's open, right?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | Squat, grey, metal.  It obviously requires a key to unlock it.  Part

Floyd | of the top of the safe is scarred with deep gouges which outline an
Floyd | open panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "It does." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in safe" 		
	

Floyd | It's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | Peering in the panel only deepens the mystery of the safe.  You can
Floyd | clearly see mechanical workings of some sort, and deep inside a
Floyd | battery.  An electrically-opened safe?  Two contacts jut up from the
Floyd | safe's innards.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open radio" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the portable radio reveals a nine-volt battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take battery" 		Jacqueline says, "So it's panel != safe." 	
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put battery in panel" 		
	

Floyd | Done.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | Peering in the panel only deepens the mystery of the safe.  You can
Floyd | clearly see mechanical workings of some sort, and deep inside a
Floyd | battery.  An electrically-opened safe?  Two contacts jut up from the
Floyd | safe's innards.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x contacts" 		
	

Floyd | The electrical contacts stick up from the workings of the safe.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get battery" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put battery in contacts" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything into the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put battery on contacts" 		
	

Floyd | There's no good surface on the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "uh, ok, I guess not" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect battery to contacts" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the safe battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, a
Floyd | screwdriver, and a nine-volt battery.  The pill bottle seems to
Floyd | contain five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect radio battery to contacts" 		
	

Floyd | There appear to be extra words after your command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x safe battery" 		
	

Floyd | No doubt used to power the workings of the safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put nine-volt battery in contacts" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything into the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x battery" 		
	

Floyd | Which battery do you mean, the nine-volt battery, or the safe battery?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "connect nine-volt battery to contacts" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to do that to the battery and the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x contacts" 		
	

Floyd | The electrical contacts stick up from the workings of the safe.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put nine-volt in contacts" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything into the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach nine-volt to contacts" 		
	

Floyd | There's no need to do that to the battery and the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach contacts to nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to attach the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x safe battery" 		
	

Floyd | No doubt used to power the workings of the safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take safe battery" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the safe battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Use?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "use nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to be more specific on how you want to use the nine-volt
Floyd | battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "use nine-volt with contact" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "use nine-volt with contacts" 		Jacqueline says, "sigh" 	
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "use nine-volt on contacts" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach contacts to safe battery" 		
	

Floyd | The safe battery isn't important.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect contacts" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to attach it to?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect contacts to nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to attach the contacts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "connect contacts to safe battery" 		
	

Floyd | The safe battery isn't important.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "fix safe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "fix".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "repair safe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "repair".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "install battery" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "install".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "This is disheartening." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry. Desparate." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "punch safe" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "punch".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "aw. punching always works!" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Yeah. Wonder if we're just barking up the wrong tree?" 	
			DavidW says, "We couldn't open Thom's hand either." 	
			Lucea asks, "do we have a tool?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, a
Floyd | screwdriver, and a nine-volt battery.  The pill bottle seems to
Floyd | contain five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "pry panel with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | The panel is already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We have the screwdriver, but it already opened the panel." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Lucea says, "ah" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x safe door" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any safe door here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "We have wires?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | Squat, grey, metal.  It obviously requires a key to unlock it.  Part
Floyd | of the top of the safe is scarred with deep gouges which outline an

Floyd | open panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are rudely interrupted by the explosion of the *Bellerophon*.  As
Floyd | you are flung into the air, you find yourself futilely wondering who
Floyd | caused the explosion.
Floyd |

Floyd | >> You have died <<
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current
Floyd | command.

Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Jacqueline asks, "WHAT?" 	
			Lucea says, "Um." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ouch." 	
			DavidW says, "I guess there was a bomb we never found." 	
			Lucea says, "Damn." 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "I guess so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe we'll need to restart." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe." 	
			inky says, "wow" 	
			Jacqueline asks (of inky), "Unexpected, eh?" 	
			inky says, "ok, uh, I was not expecting that" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, me neither." 	
			radix says, "let me guess, you guys just ran into the time limit? (which I read about on ifdb)" 	
			Jacqueline says, "One minute I'm typing >X SAFE and the next minute, BLAMMO" 	
			inky says, "ran into indeed" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			DavidW says, "oh, now you tell us" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Maybe we actually do need a driver." 	
			radix says, "actually it was baf's where I read about it" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | How did Thom ever talk you into this one...
Floyd |
Floyd | Your friend Thom Hall has always been a smooth talker, which is
Floyd | probably how he got you to attend his party on board the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  The fourty-eight-foot yacht is named after the H.M.S.
Floyd | Bellerophon, the ship on which Napoleon formally surrendered in 1815

Floyd | after Waterloo.  Thom isn't usually too modest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Anyway, you're now stuck at a floating party with three other people
Floyd | you barely know, friends of Thom's.  Bill Leveritt is one of Thom's
Floyd | partners in his architectural firm.  Carl Weathers, another old friend
Floyd | of Thom's, brought his girlfriend Ashleigh Flannagin, which completes

Floyd | the floating fivesome.
Floyd |
Floyd | So far you've seen Bill and Thom yell at each other, Thom hit Carl for
Floyd | some unexplained reason, and Ashleigh ignore both Thom and you.  Not
Floyd | the most pleasant party you've ever been to.
Floyd |

Floyd | And it's barely 10 a.m...
Floyd |
Floyd | Undertow v1.1 (9/5/1995) by Stephen Granade
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Head

Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule
Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  A closed door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Who's taking the wheel" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "?" 	
	Miseri has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take pills" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any pills here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "well, we still don't know what to do" 	
			inky says, "the pills are outside the room here" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh right." 	
			inky says, "we didn't find anything in this room last time" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd | Are you sure you want to start over?  (YES or NO) >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "y" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | How did Thom ever talk you into this one...
Floyd |
Floyd | Your friend Thom Hall has always been a smooth talker, which is
Floyd | probably how he got you to attend his party on board the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  The fourty-eight-foot yacht is named after the H.M.S.

Floyd | Bellerophon, the ship on which Napoleon formally surrendered in 1815
Floyd | after Waterloo.  Thom isn't usually too modest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Anyway, you're now stuck at a floating party with three other people
Floyd | you barely know, friends of Thom's.  Bill Leveritt is one of Thom's
Floyd | partners in his architectural firm.  Carl Weathers, another old friend

Floyd | of Thom's, brought his girlfriend Ashleigh Flannagin, which completes
Floyd | the floating fivesome.
Floyd |
Floyd | So far you've seen Bill and Thom yell at each other, Thom hit Carl for
Floyd | some unexplained reason, and Ashleigh ignore both Thom and you.  Not
Floyd | the most pleasant party you've ever been to.

Floyd |
Floyd | And it's barely 10 a.m...
Floyd |
Floyd | Undertow v1.1 (9/5/1995) by Stephen Granade
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |

Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule
Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  A closed door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We never explored properly. I still don't have a map of the boat." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We still don't know all the geography, right?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Timing." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Let's explore first, just find out what's here." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "DW? You have a map going? Why don't you explore to what you don't have?" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that DW is Discworld." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Alex), "DW is also that guy sitting in the corner wearing a feather boa." 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Okay, DW is also that guy sitting in the corner wearing a feather boa." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It's locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Excuse me?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "break door" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to tell me how to do that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I don't have a feather boa." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh, sorry." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You did that one time!" 	
			Jacqueline says (to Alex), "forget that" 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Okay, DW is not that guy sitting in the corner wearing a feather boa." 	
			DavidW asks, "When?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "There's a photo! But we digress." 	
			DavidW says, "That wasn't me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, it wasn't? I've been thinking that all these years? Oops." 	
			DavidW says, "I was the ugly guy in the chair." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thought you had a boa, though. Guess it's melded in my mind." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Anyway, I've told Alex to forget it. Let's explore." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry." 	
			inky says, "alex can forget but he can never forgive" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "snrk" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | Unlocked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I was Prometheus. The guy with the boa was the eagle, performing Zeus's will against me." 	
			Jacqueline says, "You're not helping, inky." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is a hanging locker, and
Floyd | across from it is the door to the forward head, standing open.  A

Floyd | small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    Sitting on the left v-berth is a pill bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, ">ACCUSE ALEX" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x berth" 		
	

Floyd | Which berth do you mean, the left v-berth, or the right v-berth?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "left" 		
	

Floyd | The left v-berth looks to be comfortable, but has no sheets on it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x right" 		
	

Floyd | The right v-berth is barely long enough for a tall person, and lacks
Floyd | sheets.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under left" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the left v-berth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under right" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the right v-berth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x locker" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Almost two meters high, the hanging locker is big, especially when you
Floyd | consider the size of everything else aboard the *Bellerophon*.  It was
Floyd | built so clothes could hang freely inside of it.  The locker is
Floyd | closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet

Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is a hanging locker, and
Floyd | across from it is the door to the forward head, standing open.  A
Floyd | small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Did we look in the locker?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the hanging locker reveals a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh right, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Carry on." 	
			Jacqueline says, "We'll come back to that, I guess." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x drawers" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any drawers here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "There's gotta be more than 2 locations belowdeck." 	
			DavidW says, "hm. The bomb is probably what's in the safe." 	
			inky says, "there's also the aft deck" 	
			DavidW asks, "We never went down from Cockpit Deck, you mean?" 	
			inky says, "below the aft deck is where the guy was changing his shirt" 	
			inky says, "the cockpit deck was I thought up from here" 	
			DavidW says, "It is. You also remember we're unclear on the geography." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the

Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "So there's the foreward stateroom and head, and the aft stateroom and head, but they're not directly connected?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x galley" 		
	

Floyd | It is a marvel of compact engineering, managing to fit an electric
Floyd | stove, an oven, a sink, and a refrigerator in a tiny space.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "that is the case as far as I know" 	
			DavidW says, "This level has at least seven locations." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't remember seeing the stateroom on this level, though." 	
			inky asks, "is there one?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Well, I have 'Port of Stateroom' and 'Starboard of Stateroom'" 	
			inky asks, "hunh?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Carl stands here, hands in his pockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a large sigh, Carl sits down on the bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh, I guess north goes down" 	
			DavidW says, "West, south, east might take us to the 3rd stateroom." 	
			Jacqueline says, "This is a daycruise party, right? So it's not like everyone had their own stateroom or something." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or do they?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the

Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the

Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "maybe the entrance is on the other side" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern

Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied
Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest
Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Stateroom
Floyd |    From where you are, only a thin rail stands between you and the
Floyd | water to starboard.  A roof, much more substantial than the rail and
Floyd | belonging to the aft stateroom, lies to port, stretching from here to

Floyd | the port side of the boat. Small windows gape in the stateroom's side.
Floyd | Two-thirds of the boat lie to the north, while the other one-third of
Floyd | the boat is to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Well what's between Port of Stateroom and Starboard of Stateroom?!?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "A stateroom? I see your point." 	
			Jacqueline says, "It's weird that we're using N/S/E/W instead of F/A/P/S" 	
			inky says, "I dunno, we can't go directly e, we have to go se and then ne" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x windows" 		
	

Floyd | Through them, you can see the aft stateroom.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter the,m" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "m".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "enter windows" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to enter the windows.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "it might be the stuff that is west of here is what we get to if we go downstairs" 	
			inky says, "but if so it is a little weirdly described" 	
			DavidW asks, "Maybe. Can the windows verify that idea?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look through windows" 		
	

Floyd | The aft stateroom is deserted.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "just that it's described as the aft stateroom" 	
			inky says, "let me go down and into it and see what it's called" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern

Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied
Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest
Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Stateroom
Floyd |    Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
Floyd | either side of the stateroom, and a dresser.  The north door to the
Floyd | aft head is open.  A short ladder leads up to the open south door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "... yeah, so I guess so" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x dresser" 		
	

Floyd | The dresser takes up much of the room available in the aft stateroom.

Floyd | It is situated between the right berth and the ladder that leads up,
Floyd | and has three drawers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open drawersw" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "drawersw".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "open drawers" 		
	

Floyd | top drawer:  Opened.

Floyd | middle drawer:  Opened.
Floyd | bottom drawer:  Opening the bottom drawer reveals a portable radio.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess I have been on boats with this setup" 	
			Lucea asks, "did we find this before?" 	
			inky says, "where the point is to give a higher ceiling in the bedroom" 	
			DavidW says, "The radio? Yes." 	
			inky says, "yeah, the radio has the battery" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get radio" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Also, I'd like to know if 'u' or 'climb flystaff' works at Cockpit Deck." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Head
Floyd |    Against one wall of the aft head crouches a small toilet.  On the
Floyd | port wall is a sink and mirror, while the starboard wall sports the
Floyd | unbelievable luxury of a full bathtub.  Built into the floor is a

Floyd | panel, which is closed.  The open door to the south leads to the aft
Floyd | stateroom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "this is where the bilge pump is" 	
			inky says, "I dunno if it matters" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tub" 		
	

Floyd | A bathtub is not standard issue on most boats.  In this case, it's one
Floyd | of the many ways Thom shows you how much money he has.  It is plastic,
Floyd | to reduce its weight, and it has a single handle, much like the sink.

Floyd | Its stopper is missing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aHA" 	
			inky says, "the missing stopper clearly reveals that the murderer is ... BILL" 	
			DavidW asks, "er?" 	
			inky says, "I dunno" 	
			inky says, "I assume it's significant for some reason" 	
			inky says, "but maybe just so he doesn't have to implement it filling with water" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn on tub" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, it's now turned on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x tub" 		
	

Floyd | A bathtub is not standard issue on most boats.  In this case, it's one
Floyd | of the many ways Thom shows you how much money he has.  It is plastic,
Floyd | to reduce its weight, and it has a single handle, much like the sink.
Floyd | Its stopper is missing.  Water is running into the tub and out again.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn off tub" 		
	

Floyd | Okay, it's now turned off.
Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere outside you hear Bill yell, "Oh, my God!  Quick!

Floyd | Everyone to the cockpit deck!  It's Thom!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "time" 		
	

Floyd | The time is now 10:37 a.m.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf3" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Okay, I've taken a hit for the team." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I have a hint that is not a hint but merely a means to tell you how to do something you've been really frustrated about. Do you want to know, for future reference, what the guess-the-verb verb is for the wires and contacts and stuff?" 	
			inky says, "sure" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, ">TIE WIRES TO WHATEVER is the way you phrase it." 	
			inky says, "oho hmm" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | You swing open the panel, revealing the bilge pump housed beneath it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get wires" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, and a pair of wires.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Which I never would have thought of." 	
			inky says, "I think I didn't realize we'd taken the wires before" 	
			inky says, "or maybe we hadn't" 	
			Jacqueline says, "We tried >CONNECT, I thought." 	
			inky says, "yeah, but I thought that was just with the battery directly to the contacts" 	
			inky says, "maybe not" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wasn't envisioning it that way for some reason." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But anyway." 	
			DavidW says, "I saw the wires in our inventory, but there was an EXPLOSION before I could comment or experiment." 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says (to David), "Sorry about that. It was all my fault for examining the safe one last time, of course." 	
			inky says, "hey, you can't let a little thing like an explosion get in the way! walk it off! walk it off!" 	
			DavidW says, "I'll go have a snack." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Good idea. That's what I do when I'm in an explosion. Unless my snack has been compromised in the explosion, of course." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Which is what happens more often than not." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Unless the snack is fruitcake." 	
			inky says, "ok, anyway, I guess I'll go up to the cockpit" 	
			inky says, "since I assume they are getting lonely without us" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wait." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | From somewhere outside you hear Carl calling for you.  You have to
Floyd | strain to understand what he's saying, but it sounds like he wants you
Floyd | on the flying bridge.  Now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "What about the safe?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Now that we know the sekrit verb?" 	
			inky says, "we can't get into it until we get the screwdriver" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, true." 	
			inky says, "which (I think) doesn't show up until after this conference" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Carry on." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Stateroom
Floyd |    Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
Floyd | either side of the stateroom, and a dresser.  The north door to the

Floyd | aft head is open.  A short ladder leads up to the open south door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck

Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern
Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied
Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest

Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl suddenly shows up.  "Right, I need you on the flying deck.
Floyd | C'mon."  He grabs you by the arm and begins dragging you.  You have no
Floyd | real choice but to follow him.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What is it?" you ask him en route.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Thom.  We've found him dead."
Floyd |
Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the

Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through
Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in
Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is looking at the helm, thinking.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is standing here, obviously a bit disturbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill says, "Um, ok, Carl, what now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl looks at the controls.  "I'd best man the anchor."  He looks at
Floyd | you, then at Bill.  Finally, "Bill, I want you to go to the cockpit

Floyd | deck and take care of the line Thom's attached to.  I want you," he
Floyd | turns to Ashleigh, "to relay my instructions to Bill, and I want you,"
Floyd | he turns to you, "to throttle back when I say so.  Look over the
Floyd | helm."  He makes a few adjustments to the helm, then nods to himself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x canopy" 		
	

Floyd | The large canopy arches overhead, its blue fabric blocking the sun's
Floyd | terrible glare.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill climbs down the ladder and is gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Is there anything to do but wait until he yells at us, do you think?" 	
			inky says, "I dunno, it goes on so long it seems like there should be, but I can't think of what" 	
			DavidW says, "I looked at the controls, land, etc." 	
			inky says, "unless, like I said, he's actually decoying us and doing something else, or bill is" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh moves in front of you, blocking you.  "What the hell are you
Floyd | doing?  You have to run the helm!  Stay here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "... I guess we're not supposed to leave" 	
			Jacqueline says, "haha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Ashleigh told YOU." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hottie, but controlling." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss Ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "kiss".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Sadness." 	
			inky says, "hunh" 	
			inky says, "I guess it's not a standard tads library verb" 	
			inky says, "(or wasn't in 1996)" 	
			DavidW says, "TADS games ... tmg" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
			inky says, "obviously it was in by the time of kiss chase" 	
			Jacqueline says, "1995, actually, I think." 	
			inky says, "oh, I'd typed that first but it seemed too old so I figured I was wrong" 	
			inky says, "ok well whatever" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | From below, Carl yells at you, "Pull the throttle back to idle."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the throttle back to idling speed.  You hear the engines slow
Floyd | down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to very slow speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to one-quarter speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to half speed.  You hear the engines rev
Floyd | up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to three-quarters speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to full speed.  You hear the engines rev
Floyd | up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |

Floyd | Asheligh looks at you, then at the helm, then back at you.  Then she
Floyd | grimaces.  "You want something done..." she mutters as she pulls the
Floyd | throttle back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl yells, "Ok, reverse the engines!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x controls" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any controls here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x helm" 		
	

Floyd | The helm is amazingly complex, with gagues for RPMs, temperature,
Floyd | amperage...the mind boggles.  On the right side of the helm are two
Floyd | levers:  the throttle handle and the clutch handle.  The throttle is

Floyd | taller than and to the right of the clutch handle.  In the middle of
Floyd | the helm is a large wooden wheel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "turn wheel" 		
	

Floyd | Turn it left or right?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "left" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn wheel left" 		
	

Floyd | You give the wheel a quick tug to the left.  The bow begins to swing

Floyd | to port.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You give the wheel a quick tug to the left.  The bow begins to swing

Floyd | to port.
Floyd |
Floyd | Muttering to herself, Ashleigh pulls the clutch back.  You hear the
Floyd | engines reverse.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn wheel right" 		
	

Floyd | You spin the wheel to the right.  The stern begins to swing to
Floyd | starboard.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl shouts up at you, "Push the throttle to one-quarter."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn wheel right" 		
	

Floyd | You spin the wheel to the right.  The stern begins to swing to
Floyd | starboard.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to very slow speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I guess they give us all this time so we have more time to dick around" 	
			Jacqueline nods. 	
			DavidW says, "You need to push the throttle again." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to one-quarter speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "whoops, right" 	
			DavidW says, "Wonder if Ashleigh will finger you as the murderer, since you were deliberately making the recovery effort difficult." 	
			Jacqueline says, "oh noes" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about thom" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh laughs, a deep throaty sound.  "Sometimes I wonder how I ever
Floyd | dated him."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about bill" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I don't know much about that."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl is no longer here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Um. Okay." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh is no longer here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl yells, "Ok, I need you to shut off the...oh, screw it.  Ash, kill
Floyd | the engines!  And tell Bill to try pulling Thom in now."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh moves to the helm, leaving you to yell Carl's instructions to

Floyd | Bill.  "Oh, er, right!" he yells back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ashleigh is so here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Weird." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or... wait, where are we?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "We're at the help, aren't we?" 	
			DavidW says, "Or helm" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Nevermind." 	
			inky says, "yeah, I thought so" 	
			inky says, "unless that's downstairs" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed

Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the
Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through
Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in
Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is standing here, obviously a bit disturbed.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, typo. Helm." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bow" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bow here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			DavidW says, "Downstairs is the breastplate." 	
			inky says, "I wonder if we'll have to steer the boat later" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "if you need me, I'll be in the vambrace" 	
			DavidW says, "you vambraceable you" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf4" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, so we've gotten through the intro bits." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Now... screwdriver, safe?" 	
			inky says, "oh yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft

Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl leaves to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary

Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern
Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied
Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest
Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.

Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Ashleigh stands almost motionless, constantly glancing at Thom's
Floyd | body.
Floyd |    Carl stands here, hands in his pockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl glances at poor Thom and shakes his head.  "Poor bastard," he

Floyd | whispers.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill glances nervously at everyone.  "Uh, what now?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh laughs sourly.  "We sail back into port."
Floyd |

Floyd | You nod in agreement, then say, "Who'll pilot the boat?"
Floyd |
Floyd | After a few seconds of silence, Carl speaks up.  "That would be me.
Floyd | I'll run back to the flying bridge."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "search body" 		
	

Floyd | As disgusting as it is, you riffle through Thom's pockets.  Nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl leaves to the northwest.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh shakes her head.  "Nothing to do but go back to the fo'cle
Floyd | and wait."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "body" 		
	

Floyd | There's no verb in that sentence!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how often you hated Thom for one thing or another, you
Floyd | certainly didn't want to see him dead like this.  His face is a
Floyd | strange purple color.  Along one side of his head, just under his wet
Floyd | hair, is a nasty bruise, slowly darkening.  One of his hands is
Floyd | clenched tight, tight enough to drive his fingernails into his palm.
Floyd | Looped complexly around his leg is a length of line.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aggaaagahagagagha open your hand" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So why do we hate Thom?" 	
			inky says, "I dunno, I assumed we were buddies" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Did WE kill him? Maybe that's the SURPRISE ENDING." 	
			DavidW says, "Everyone hated Thom." 	
			inky asks, "otherwise why would we have agreed to come on this cruise?" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "To kill him, of course." 	
			inky says, "oho, good point" 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			inky says, "hmm, I'm not sure this plot has been done" 	
			inky says, "(in a game, at least)" 	
			Taleslinger says, "It wouldn't work as a twist." 	
			Lucea says, "well, there's - wait, even mentioning that would be a spoiler" 	
			inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Taleslinger says, "It would be interesting if you'd be the one to hide your involvement." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Lucea), "haha" 	
			Lucea says, "there's a certain well-reviewed comp game" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet

Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |    Bill stands here, slouching his way from one part of the boat to
Floyd | another.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |    Bill stands here, slouching his way from one part of the boat to

Floyd | another.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the east.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on

		
	Nitku was translated with Google. Sorry. 		
	

Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in purse" 		
	

Floyd | It's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open purse" 		
	

Floyd | You open the bag, revealing the usual assortment of purse
Floyd | accoutrements...and a gun.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."
Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh ho ho" 	
			inky says, "not that I know what it means" 	
			inky asks, "I mean, he wasn't shot, right?" 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps his whiskey was spiked." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get purse" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any purse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask bill about purse" 		
	

Floyd | "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Maybe the killer changes when we restarted." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for
Floyd | as long as you've known Thom.  Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and
Floyd | round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years.  He tries

Floyd | to dress flamboyantly but often fails, as demonstrated today by his
Floyd | long-sleeved blue oxford shirt.  He's extremely good at what he does,
Floyd | but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of the firm.  In one
Floyd | hand he is holding one of his ubiquitous glasses of whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "hmm, could be" 	
			inky says, "(I am pretty sure Miseri did that for the first time, but I could be wrong0" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill hands Ash's purse to her.  "Here," he says, "you dropped this."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh turns an odd shade of red: you can't tell if she's
Floyd | embarassed, mad, or worried.  "Thanks," she finally says.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about purse" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I don't know much about that."
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh looks up at Carl, sensing that something's wrong.  "What's
Floyd | up?"  she asks Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | He runs his hands distractedly through his curly hair.  "Ok," he
Floyd | finally says.  "Here's what we've got going on.  Someone's sabotaged

Floyd | the engines, and I don't think I can fix them.  I'll get on the radio
Floyd | and get someone here to help us.  Until that happens, though, we're
Floyd | stuck."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Great!"  Bill says.  "Just great!  We're stuck on Thom's rotten boat
Floyd | with Thom's rotten body and one of us killed him!"  He downs his

Floyd | whiskey in one gulp as he jumps to his feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hunh" 	
			inky says, "we really missed all this conversation before" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | With a disgusted shake of his head, Carl moves to the radio and begins
Floyd | calling for help.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh, on the other hand, watches Bill for a few seconds before
Floyd | moving to him and slapping him for all she's worth.  Bill stops
Floyd | completely: he has no idea how to react.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Listen here, you pompous ass," Ash hisses at him, "none of us are

Floyd | particularly happy right now.  But you're not helping.  Stop it."
Floyd |
Floyd | After a long few seconds of staring, Bill turns and pours himself
Floyd | another whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl turns from the radio.  "Way to tell him," he says softly to
Floyd | Ashleigh, glancing at you as if to see if you agree.  Ashleigh,
Floyd | however, grimaces.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I didn't mean to yell at him like that.  It's just...I mean..."  Her
Floyd | sentence trails off.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl looks at her for almost half a minute, doubt showing on his face.
Floyd | Finally, "I think I'll go check the engines.  Gives me something to
Floyd | do, anyway."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl leaves to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south

Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom

Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the

Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.

Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.  Discarded on the deck, against
Floyd | one edge of the boat, is a bent screwdriver.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky asks, "wasn't it bill examining the engines before?" 	
			inky asks, "or am I misremembering?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for
Floyd | as long as you've known Thom.  Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and
Floyd | round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years.  His green
Floyd | Polo shirt makes him look even thinner than he is.  He's extremely
Floyd | good at what he does, but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of
Floyd | the firm.  In one hand he is holding one of his ubiquitous glasses of

Floyd | whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leans over the rail, looking in the still water.  "I think I'll
Floyd | go to the bow for a bit," he announces to no one in particular.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light

Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.

Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the northeast.  As Bill walks away, Carl mutters to
Floyd | you, "What a prick."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "No, Carl inspected the engines before." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Stateroom
Floyd |    Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
Floyd | either side of the stateroom, and a dresser.  The north door to the

Floyd | aft head is open.  A short ladder leads up to the open south door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck

Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is

Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you clear the aft stateroom, you see a flash of color over the
Floyd | rail.  You can't quite tell, but it looks like a rag.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x color" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "color".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x rag" 		
	

Floyd | You can't quite see the rag--it's hung on something about a meter
Floyd | down, just above the water.  You're surprised it hasn't been washed
Floyd | away.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "That little Bill/Ashleigh exchange was great." 	
			inky says, "well, his shirt's definitely different now" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Especially the silence followed by pouring himself another whiskey." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bill knows how to deal with conflict." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or is he just NERVOUS?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft

Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, and a
Floyd | screwdriver.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the

Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging

Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open panel with screwdriver" 		
	

Floyd | You work the screwdriver under the panel and lean on it forcefully.
Floyd | The panel groans open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | Peering in the panel only deepens the mystery of the safe.  You can
Floyd | clearly see mechanical workings of some sort, and deep inside a
Floyd | battery.  An electrically-opened safe?  Two contacts jut up from the
Floyd | safe's innards.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ok, so lessee" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x battery" 		
	

Floyd | No doubt used to power the workings of the safe.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get it" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the safe battery.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open radio" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the portable radio reveals a nine-volt battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tie wires to nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the battery to the pair of wires with a few quick turns of
Floyd | each wire.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tie wires to contacts" 		
	

Floyd | You touch the wires to the contacts.  Motors whir as the safe springs
Floyd | open, its regular locking mechanism bypassed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in safe" 		
	

Floyd | In the safe you see a small key, a note, some pictures, and some
Floyd | letters.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "aw yeah, blackmail" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf5" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get key, note, pictures, letters" 		
	

Floyd | small key:  Taken.

Floyd | note:  Taken.
Floyd | pictures:  Taken.
Floyd | letters:  Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x key" 		
	

Floyd | Unremarkable, even as small metal keys go.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there's that locker up on deck" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x note" 		
	

Floyd | The note is scrawled in Thom's handwriting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read it" 		
	

Floyd | The note reads, "Thom, the key's in your pocket, stupid."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			inky says, "I wonder what that means" 	
			Lucea says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x pictures" 		
	

Floyd | The pictures are of Carl and some woman other than Ashleigh in very
Floyd | compromising positions.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x letters" 		
	

Floyd | The letters are from Carl to Thom.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "read letters" 		
	

Floyd | Reading them, you quickly figure out that Thom was blackmailing Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "awesome" 	
			Lucea asks, "gee, you *think*?" 	
			inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "so I'm confused about the bill thing" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bill just doesn't like corpses." 	
			inky says, "yeah maybe" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "So I guess the bomb wasn't in the safe." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And is an alcoholic." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in

Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole

Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show pictures to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill stares at the pictures in confusion.  "Uh, so?"  he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah, we still need to find the bomb." 	
			inky says, ">TELL BILL ABOUT NAKED LADIES" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "show letters to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill stares at the letters in confusion.  "Uh, so?"  he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Bill != Smart" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Forecastle
Floyd |    Above you and to port rises the flying bridge, casting a cold
Floyd | shadow across you.  Also to port are the curtained windows which
Floyd | afford you a glimpse into the forecastle.  At your feet lies a closed
Floyd | compartment.  The boat continues to the northwest and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "unlock compartment with key" 		
	

Floyd | Unlocked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the compartment reveals a long pole.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x pole" 		
	

Floyd | The wooden pole is about two meters long and terminates in a curved
Floyd | hook.  No doubt Thom used it for retrieving things he dropped in the
Floyd | water.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get pole" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "well, this seems clear enough" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Stateroom
Floyd |    From where you are, only a thin rail stands between you and the
Floyd | water to starboard.  A roof, much more substantial than the rail and

Floyd | belonging to the aft stateroom, lies to port, stretching from here to
Floyd | the port side of the boat. Small windows gape in the stateroom's side.
Floyd | Two-thirds of the boat lie to the north, while the other one-third of
Floyd | the boat is to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light

Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.

Floyd |
Floyd | As you clear the aft stateroom, you see a flash of color over the
Floyd | rail.  You can't quite tell, but it looks like a rag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get rag with pole" 		
	

Floyd | It takes you a few seconds to snag the rag, but once you have it,
Floyd | dragging it on deck is almost anticlimactic.  Now that it's on deck,
Floyd | you can tell that the rag is actually a shirt.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x shirt" 		
	

Floyd | If this shirt doesn't belong to Bill, it's certainly a dead ringer for
Floyd | the one he had on earlier.  The right sleeve is torn and slightly
Floyd | blood-stained.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I am still confused here" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Who was right abou tthe shirt? David? Whoever it was, hooray." 	
			Alex says (to Jacqueline), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that David is not quite as common a name as Andrew." 	
			inky says, "of course it was David" 	
			inky says, "he is always right about IF games" 	
			Jacqueline says, "He is the master, yes." 	
			DavidW says, "Yes, I guessed it was Bill's shirt." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "get shirt" 		Lucea says, "heh" 	
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pocket" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "pocket".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky asks, "but did he think of .. THIS?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "wear shirt" 		
	

Floyd | You can't wear the blue shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "apparently Sargent didn't either" 	
			Lucea says, "sure, implicate yourself" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search shirt" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "DEE-NIED." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blood" 		
	

Floyd | The stain looks a lot like blood.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "lick stain" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "lick".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "but it's really red ink" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x flystaff" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "flystaff".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "we could drug bill and search him, I guess" 	
			DavidW says, "cool" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "climb flagstaff" 		
	

Floyd | Halfway up, you decide that you would really rather not, and climb
Floyd | back down.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Or show the shirt to someone." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck

Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is

Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "oh. flagstaff" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "show shirt to carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl waves you away.  "I don't need to see that," he tells you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Lucea asks, "oh really?" 	
			inky says, "these guys are the least curious murder suspects ever" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet

Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "tell carl about shirt" 		
	

Floyd | Carl is no longer here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet

Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says (to inky), "Word." 	
			inky says, "sorry, go ahead" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to

Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.

Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "tell carl about shirt" 		
	

Floyd | "Yeah, ok, ok," Carl says.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "well, damn" 	
			DavidW says, "er, I said show, not tell." 	
			Lucea says, "we tried that" 	
			Lucea says, "Carl didn't care any more" 	
			Lucea says, ">CARL THIS SHIRT HAS BLOOD ON IT OK? BLOOD! AS IN, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET *MURDERED*" 	
			DavidW says, "Probably Bill would care, though." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stern light" 		
	

Floyd | The stern light stares balefully back at you, the sun reflecting off
Floyd | of its clear plastic case.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light

Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask carl about belts" 		
	

Floyd | "Without the belts, the boat's going nowhere."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim" 		
	

Floyd | What do you want to swim in?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ocean" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "ocean".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "swim in water" 		
	

Floyd | You don't really have time for that right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "well, we can show it to ashleigh" 	
			inky says, "or show the photos to her" 	
			inky says, "oh, wait" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "show photos to carl" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "photos".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show photographs to carl" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "photographs".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, a
Floyd | screwdriver, a small key, a note, some pictures, some letters, a long
Floyd | pole, and a blue shirt.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, if we do that, won't he kill us?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "show picture to carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl turns away, then back to you.  "Ok, yes, Thom had pictures taken
Floyd | of me and...Carol."  He runs one hand through his hair.  "It was a

Floyd | fling a month ago or so.  Thom's been blackmailing me since."  He
Floyd | glares at you.  "But I wasn't the one who killed him!  I swear!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I dunno, but it'll be awesome" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "show shirt to carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl waves you away.  "I don't need to see that," he tells you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Carl and Carol" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask carl about carol" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "carol".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "ha ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Saving might have been good." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a

Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the

Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.

Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light

Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a

Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show pictures to carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl turns away, then back to you.  "Ok, yes, Thom had pictures taken
Floyd | of me and...Carol."  He runs one hand through his hair.  "It was a

Floyd | fling a month ago or so.  Thom's been blackmailing me since."  He
Floyd | glares at you.  "But I wasn't the one who killed him!  I swear!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show pictures to carl" 		
	

Floyd | "What are you trying to do, torture me?"  he hisses at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show letters to carl" 		
	

Floyd | "What are you trying to do, torture me?"  he hisses at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Man, inky, layoff the poor man." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "give pictures to carl" 		
	

Floyd | "What are you trying to do, torture me?"  he hisses at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show note to carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl waves you away.  "I don't need to see that," he tells you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask carl about note" 		
	

Floyd | Carl says, "Hmm, can't tell you too much about that!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bill here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how often you hated Thom for one thing or another, you
Floyd | certainly didn't want to see him dead like this.  His face is a
Floyd | strange purple color.  Along one side of his head, just under his

Floyd | now-dry hair, is a nasty bruise, slowly darkening.  One of his hands
Floyd | is clenched tight, tight enough to drive his fingernails into his
Floyd | palm.  Looped complexly around his leg is a length of line.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pry hand" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "hand".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "this is a morbid idea" 	
			Lucea says, "can we just cut his hand off" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "pry body" 		
	

Floyd | You can't pry up the Thom's body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "I dunno, we can't seem to refer to the hand at all" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x finger" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "finger".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x fingers" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "fingers".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x grasp" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "grasp".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull body" 		
	

Floyd | Pulling the Thom's body doesn't have any effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "push body" 		
	

Floyd | Pushing the Thom's body doesn't do anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in body" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the Thom's body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mouth" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "mouth".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open body" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to open the Thom's body.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "turn body" 		
	

Floyd | Turning the Thom's body doesn't have any effect.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "eat body" 		
	

Floyd | The Thom's body doesn't appear appetizing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hee hee" 	
			inky says, "we might have to resort to cannibalism if we can't get the engines going, yeah" 	
			Taleslinger asks, "maybe his fist is just clenched in agony?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask carl about hand" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "hand".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all from thom" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you're referring to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take all" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see what you're referring to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says (to Taleslinger), "c'mon, this is a mystery, it must be a clue" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "stand on thom" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to stand on the Thom's body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "flip thom" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to flip the Thom's body.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x hair" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "hair".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x line" 		
	

Floyd | The line is tough, easily able to withstand the rigors of marine life.
Floyd | One end of it is tied to a cleat.  The other end is looped around one
Floyd | of Thom's ankles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x cleat" 		
	

Floyd | The cleat is a t-shaped piece of metal with two shafts attached to the
Floyd | boat, and is used in lashing lines.  In fact, a line is tied to it
Floyd | now.  An odd reddish stain mars its surface.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get line" 		
	

Floyd | After fooling with the knot for a moment, you give up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x thom's" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how often you hated Thom for one thing or another, you
Floyd | certainly didn't want to see him dead like this.  His face is a
Floyd | strange purple color.  Along one side of his head, just under his
Floyd | now-dry hair, is a nasty bruise, slowly darkening.  One of his hands

Floyd | is clenched tight, tight enough to drive his fingernails into his
Floyd | palm.  Looped complexly around his leg is a length of line.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "untie line" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how hard you work at the knot, you can't seem to untie it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "maybe he just slipped and fell and hit his head on the cleaty" 	
			inky says, "er, -y" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x line" 		
	

Floyd | The line is tough, easily able to withstand the rigors of marine life.
Floyd | One end of it is tied to a cleat.  The other end is looped around one
Floyd | of Thom's ankles.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "after his leg getting mysteriously tangled in it" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "untie line" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how hard you work at the knot, you can't seem to untie it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "untie thom" 		
	

Floyd | The Thom's body isn't tied to anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "hm. We've done nothing with the anchor chain. Can it be raised/lowered?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Quite possible, I guess." 	
			inky says, "yeah maybe" 	
			DavidW says, "Something might be hooked or tied to it." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Stateroom
Floyd |    From where you are, only a thin rail stands between you and the
Floyd | water to starboard.  A roof, much more substantial than the rail and
Floyd | belonging to the aft stateroom, lies to port, stretching from here to
Floyd | the port side of the boat. Small windows gape in the stateroom's side.

Floyd | Two-thirds of the boat lie to the north, while the other one-third of
Floyd | the boat is to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Starboard of Forecastle
Floyd |    Above you and to port rises the flying bridge, casting a cold
Floyd | shadow across you.  Also to port are the curtained windows which
Floyd | afford you a glimpse into the forecastle.  At your feet lies an open
Floyd | compartment.  The boat continues to the northwest and south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going

Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole
Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about shirt" 		
	

Floyd | "Oh, um, I had to change.  The other shirt was chafing me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show shirt to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill's eyes widen.  "Oh, my God," he whispers.  One eyebrow twitches
Floyd | slightly.  "Where did you...I mean, I don't know--"
Floyd |
Floyd | "C'mon," you say to Bill, "cut to the chase.  I know you were there

Floyd | when Thom...fell overboard.  Just tell me what hap--"
Floyd |
Floyd | Your speech is cut short by the muzzle of a revolver.  It must be
Floyd | Ashleigh's.  How did he get Ash's gun?  You don't have a lot of time
Floyd | to think about that, however, as Bill interrupts you.  "Shut up!  Just
Floyd | shut up!  I don't have to listen to you!"  Bill is clearly skating

Floyd | over the thin ice of insanity.  He prods you in your side with the
Floyd | revolver.  "Let's find the others."  He pushes you ahead of him.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to

Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.

Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole

Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "Well." 	
			inky says, "guess we should save first" 	
			inky says, "also, I wonder about the bomb" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wonder where it is." 	
			inky says, "maybe it's on the anchor" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "That would blow us up inside the boat?" 	
			Lucea asks, "all we have to do is find some bob-omb looking thing, right? right?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "I could see the boat rocking on waves, but exploding?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Seems a stretch." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		Lucea asks, "is it in the engine?" 	
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We don't know where it is." 	
			inky says, "I'm not actually sure where the engine is" 	
			inky says, "which is a little weird, come to think of it" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "The engines are at the back." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole

Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pull chain" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the anchor chain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We could go take a look at those missing belts." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the

Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet

Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the

Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.

Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "But they're missing." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "x engine" 		
	

Floyd | You're not much of a skipper, but even you can tell that the
Floyd | alternator and water-pump belts are missing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x panel" 		
	

Floyd | The large access panel can be opened in order to repair or service the
Floyd | engines which power the boat.  Right now the panel is open, giving a
Floyd | view of the engines.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "look in panel" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing in the access panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Well, yes." 	
			inky says, "ok, so I guess there's not an engine room as such" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I just mean to have a poke around and see if he's lying." 	
			inky says, "I'm not much of a skipper, or even a barbie, but even I can tell that the alternator and water-pump belts are missing" 	
			DavidW asks, "hm. How is the murderer escaping the yacht when the explosion happens?" 	
			inky says, "also a good question" 	
			Lucea says, "his death is just the beginning" 	
			inky says, "maybe he jumps overboard with a life preserver" 	
			Lucea says, "or has a submersible or something" 	
			DavidW asks, "We haven't checked the rails at all. Are there preservers?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rails" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "rails".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x rail" 		
	

Floyd | The metal rail prevents you from sliding overboard and into the chilly
Floyd | water surrounding the boat.  It is heavily scratched, so much that the
Floyd | paint has flaked off of it in places.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x scratches" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "scratches".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x preserver" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "preserver".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x saver" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "saver".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lifesaver" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "lifesaver".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "So... plan?" 	
			inky says, "well, it might be the sort of game where we just show the shirt to bill and go into a room and then execute a cunning plan to get the gun away from him" 	
			inky says, "I don't know how the bomb would come in in that case, though" 	
			DavidW says, "Check the bridge and foreward stateroom again. See if anything new left in those places." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm up for that." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where's Bill right now, again?" 	
			Limax says, "Man... I missed a lot. :(" 	
			DavidW says, "Bill's at Foredeck." 	
			Jacqueline asks (of Limax), "Did your kids really need to eat?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You missed tons. We were blown up!" 	
			Limax says, "Yeah, and I got involved with them and the TV" 	
			Limax says, "Aw man... I love being blown up" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, it was, um, unexpected. And thus fun." 	
			Limax says, "Heh. I eally need to read the transcripts" 	
			Lucea says, "Hey, let's open this sa - KABOOM" 	
			Limax says, "Ha ha" 	
			Lucea says, "which is pretty much how it happened" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a

Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "So, what. We have Bill, who is drunk and nervous and weilding a gun." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we have a bomb somewhere." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft

Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Throw coffee at him" 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we are adrift." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the
Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through
Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in

Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Am I missing anything for Limax?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through windscreen" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Bill standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh, Bill is probably guilty as sin." 	
			Limax says, "Hm" 	
			DavidW says, "We probably should've been looking through the windscreen earlier." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x poles" 		
	

Floyd | The poles hold the canopy in place.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search chair" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under chair" 		
	

Floyd | There's nothing under the chair.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x canopy" 		
	

Floyd | The large canopy arches overhead, its blue fabric blocking the sun's
Floyd | terrible glare.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb poles" 		
	

Floyd | Don't worry about the canopy poles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bill here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel

Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on

Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.

Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule

Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  An open door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sink" 		
	

Floyd | The sink is a semi-circle with a single handle attached to it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | It is bolted to the wall just above the sink.  It is made of strong
Floyd | plastic, and is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shower" 		
	

Floyd | The shower is almost more for decoration than utility.  It takes up
Floyd | one corner of the head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x left" 		
	

Floyd | The left v-berth looks to be comfortable, but has no sheets on it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x right" 		
	

Floyd | The right v-berth is barely long enough for a tall person, and lacks
Floyd | sheets.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "hm. Nothing new." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hrm." 	
			DavidW says, "I suppose confronting Bill or Ashleigh is the way to go." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the

Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put pill in whiskey" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything into the whiskey.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Ashleigh, this time." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put pill in whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | The pill bottle won't fit in the whiskey bottle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Wait, you can't lace the whiskey>" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Boo" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open pill bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the pill bottle reveals five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are rudely interrupted by the explosion of the *Bellerophon*.  As
Floyd | you are flung into the air, you find yourself futilely wondering who

Floyd | caused the explosion.
Floyd |
Floyd | >> You have died <<
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, or UNDO:  >

		Jacqueline says, "Crush it - HA" 	
			Lucea says, "eeeagh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Again with the esplosions." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee. It's, um, sort of funny." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But only sort of ." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "To which save should we return?" 	
			DavidW says, "This time, grab the gun while one can." 	
			Jacqueline says (to DW), "Drive, baybee." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm still not sure what to do." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "restart" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | How did Thom ever talk you into this one...
Floyd |
Floyd | Your friend Thom Hall has always been a smooth talker, which is
Floyd | probably how he got you to attend his party on board the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  The fourty-eight-foot yacht is named after the H.M.S.
Floyd | Bellerophon, the ship on which Napoleon formally surrendered in 1815

Floyd | after Waterloo.  Thom isn't usually too modest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Anyway, you're now stuck at a floating party with three other people
Floyd | you barely know, friends of Thom's.  Bill Leveritt is one of Thom's
Floyd | partners in his architectural firm.  Carl Weathers, another old friend
Floyd | of Thom's, brought his girlfriend Ashleigh Flannagin, which completes

Floyd | the floating fivesome.
Floyd |
Floyd | So far you've seen Bill and Thom yell at each other, Thom hit Carl for
Floyd | some unexplained reason, and Ashleigh ignore both Thom and you.  Not
Floyd | the most pleasant party you've ever been to.
Floyd |

Floyd | And it's barely 10 a.m...
Floyd |
Floyd | Undertow v1.1 (9/5/1995) by Stephen Granade
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Head

Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule
Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  A closed door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | It's locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "unlock door" 		
	

Floyd | Unlocked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | (Opening the door)
Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is a hanging locker, and
Floyd | across from it is the door to the forward head, standing open.  A
Floyd | small ladder to the south leads up to a door.

Floyd |    Sitting on the left v-berth is a pill bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take pill bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "optn it" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "optn".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the pill bottle reveals five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open locker" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the hanging locker reveals a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	[markov-chains] BrenBarn says (to markov), "That's the stuff that's just basic, man" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |    Carl, hands in pockets, is standing here, obviously on his way to

Floyd | somewhere else.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl leaves to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for
Floyd | as long as you've known Thom.  Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and
Floyd | round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years.  He tries

Floyd | to dress flamboyantly but often fails, as demonstrated today by his
Floyd | long-sleeved blue oxford shirt.  He's extremely good at what he does,
Floyd | but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of the firm.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Long-sleeved blue oxford shirt." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is seated on the dinette bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill wanders over to the drink tray and picks up the whiskey bottle.
Floyd | From somewhere around the bar, he scrounges up a slightly-clean glass.
Floyd | With a deft flick of his wrist, he pours himself a shot of the whiskey
Floyd | and replaces the bottle.  "I've always, er, liked whiskey," he
Floyd | comments.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Perhaps we missed converse here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about whiskey" 		
	

Floyd | "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh sits down next to Carl and whispers something to him.  He
Floyd | grins slightly in response.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "is it too mean to show the pictures to Ashleigh?" 	
			DavidW says, "Jacq is off line." 	
			DavidW says, "She can't resign on. One of us should use Perry." 	
			Taleslinger says, "I'll do it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, forget what I said on the phone, I guess." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Weird." 	
			DavidW says, "oh. okay." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hopefully it holds." 	
			DavidW asks, "Who has Perry now?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I do." 	
			Taleslinger says, "Jacq." 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "show pictures to ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any pictures here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle.  The pill bottle seems to contain five little

Floyd | pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says (to Lucea), "uhhhhh" 	
			Lucea says, "oh, we don't have them" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "DId you guys do much while I was gone?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is seated on the dinette bench.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting quietly on the dinette bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is seated on the dinette bench.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting quietly on the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "If so, could someone send me what transpired? I can splice it in." 	
			DavidW says, "Not much. I was driving, supposedly." 	
			Lucea says, "(sorry, had to stop paying attention - doing actual work" 	
			Taleslinger says, "Where did you leave?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, nothing substantial transpired? Do I need to even splice it in?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "(Heh. Now when people don't reply *immediately* I get paranoid...)" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Did you restore? To save six?" 	
			DavidW says, "I can't search my scrollback. After the session, I can send my own log." 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sounds good." 	
			DavidW says, "I don't think you missed much, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Cool." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So, the plan is to confront Ashleigh?" 	
			Taleslinger asks (of jacq), "Where did you disconnect?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Right after I said to DavidW, 'Drive, baybee.'" 	
			Lucea says, "I don't know if it's the Plan" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I then typed 'So, save #6?' and realized the network was gone." 	
			Lucea says, "it's just an idea I had" 	
			DavidW says, "My plan was to restart." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh, entirely? To give us the most time to work on the last bits? That's smart." 	
			DavidW says, "I'm all a fumble, now, though, with all the interruptions." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sorry about that. Sort of wasn't in my control." 	
			DavidW says, "I think we should look through the windscreen during the navigation scene." 	
			Taleslinger says (to jacq), "I'll send you the missing bits." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Continue. I'll just get the transcript worked out later." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Right. Thanks!" 	
			Jacqueline sits in the corner, quietly, while everyone glares at her. 	
			DavidW says, "But I got sidetracked because I saw the cast converge here, and thought it might be useful to hear what's said here." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about thom" 		
	

Floyd | Bill says, "I, uh, I'm really not sure how much longer I can take his
Floyd | attitude. He's been really, ah, annoying lately."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "listen to carl" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "listen".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)

Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the

Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.

Floyd |    Carl is seated on the dinette bench.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting quietly on the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask carl about thom" 		
	

Floyd | Carl grimaces.  "I dunno," he says, "he just really pisses me off some
Floyd | times."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about yacht" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "yacht".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh Flannagin is a knockout, which is why Thom ever dated her in
Floyd | the first place.  However, Thom always has to be right, and it didn't
Floyd | take long for Ash to tire of that and start dating Carl.  She has
Floyd | shoulder-length copper hair and dark brown eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x purse" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any purse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask ashleigh about carl" 		
	

Floyd | Carl is no longer here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is seated on the dinette bench.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting quietly on the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I wonder where the purse comes from." 	
			Lucea says, "er" 	
			Lucea says, "what" 	
			DavidW asks (of Lucea), "Later on, Ashleigh has a purse. Where is it now, though?" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about safe" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh ignores you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask carl about safe" 		
	

Floyd | Carl says, "Hmm, can't tell you too much about that!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about safe" 		
	

Floyd | "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "suspicious!" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | You see no one through the window.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "(the er what was to the parser saying Carl had left, when he's right there)" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "ask carl about bomb" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "bomb".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through north window" 		
	

Floyd | You see no one through the window.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask bill about ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh is no longer here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Carl is seated on the dinette bench.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting quietly on the dinette bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "or that" 	
			DavidW says, "There's a bug involving that topic." 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps this is a good location to spy on adjoining locations." 	
			DavidW says, "I suppose we can get the radio and wires." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the

Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet

Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck

Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern
Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied
Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest

Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Stateroom

Floyd |    Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
Floyd | either side of the stateroom, and a dresser.  The north door to the
Floyd | aft head is open.  A short ladder leads up to the open south door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open bottom" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the bottom drawer reveals a portable radio.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take radio" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Head
Floyd |    Against one wall of the aft head crouches a small toilet.  On the
Floyd | port wall is a sink and mirror, while the starboard wall sports the
Floyd | unbelievable luxury of a full bathtub.  Built into the floor is a
Floyd | panel, which is closed.  The open door to the south leads to the aft
Floyd | stateroom.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open panel" 		
	

Floyd | You swing open the panel, revealing the bilge pump housed beneath it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take wires" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Aft Stateroom
Floyd |    Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
Floyd | either side of the stateroom, and a dresser.  The north door to the
Floyd | aft head is open.  A short ladder leads up to the open south door.

Floyd |
Floyd | From somewhere outside you hear Bill yell, "Oh, my God!  Quick!
Floyd | Everyone to the cockpit deck!  It's Thom!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern

Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied
Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest
Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Bill is tugging with all his might on the line.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull line" 		
	

Floyd | You tug on the line as hard as you can, but something is weighing it
Floyd | down.  Glancing over the rail, you see a dark shape in the water.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl arrives from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open radio" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the portable radio reveals a nine-volt battery.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl grabs hold of the line and strains in concert with Bill.  You
Floyd | slide in between them and put your back into the effort, but to no

Floyd | avail.  After a few seconds, Carl stops, swearing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill says, "The four of us won't be able to drag Thom on board while
Floyd | we're, uh, moving."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh nods in agreement.  "We've got to cut the engines."  You find

Floyd | yourself wondering just who this "we" are--you surely don't want to
Floyd | monkey around with Thom's boat.  Not that he's going to care now, but
Floyd | habits are hard to break.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl finally convinces himself that he won't be able to drag Thom
Floyd | onboard.  You would have been glad to explain it to him, but no doubt

Floyd | that would have taken one minute shy of eternity.  He glances at the
Floyd | three of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | "C'mon," he says, "I need you three on the flying bridge.  I'll
Floyd | explain up there, right?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the

Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Flying Bridge
Floyd |    From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
Floyd | view of the waters in any direction.  The wind whispers around the
Floyd | canopy's poles and past you on its journey.  Beyond the helm, through

Floyd | the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat.  Further away is
Floyd | land, quite some distance away to the northeast.  A chair sits in
Floyd | front of the helm.  Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "tie wires to nine-volt" 		
	

Floyd | You attach the battery to the pair of wires with a few quick turns of
Floyd | each wire.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill says, "Um, ok, Carl, what now?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl looks at the controls.  "I'd best man the anchor."  He looks at
Floyd | you, then at Bill.  Finally, "Bill, I want you to go to the cockpit
Floyd | deck and take care of the line Thom's attached to.  I want you," he
Floyd | turns to Ashleigh, "to relay my instructions to Bill, and I want you,"
Floyd | he turns to you, "to throttle back when I say so.  Look over the

Floyd | helm."  He makes a few adjustments to the helm, then nods to himself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look south" 		
	

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cockpit" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any cockpit here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask carl about helm" 		
	

Floyd | Carl says, "Hmm, can't tell you too much about that!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill climbs down the ladder and is gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through windscreen" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat.  Further out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat.  Further out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further

Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | From below, Carl yells at you, "Pull the throttle back to idle."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the throttle back to idling speed.  You hear the engines slow
Floyd | down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through windscreen" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl yells, "Ok, reverse the engines!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull clutch" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the clutch back.  You hear the engines drop into neutral.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull clutch" 		
	

Floyd | You pull the clutch back.  You hear the engines begin to turn in
Floyd | reverse.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through windscreen" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl shouts up at you, "Push the throttle to one-quarter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "We can't see what Bill's up to, unfortunately." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "push throttle" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to very slow speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You push the throttle forward to one-quarter speed.  You hear the
Floyd | engines rev up to a higher pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through windscreen" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any bill here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through windscreen" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl yells, "Ok, I need you to shut off the...oh, screw it.  Ash, kill
Floyd | the engines!  And tell Bill to try pulling Thom in now."
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh moves to the helm, leaving you to yell Carl's instructions to
Floyd | Bill.  "Oh, er, right!" he yells back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow.  Further
Floyd | out is land.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open

Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary
Floyd | engine maintenance.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern
Floyd | light perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into
Floyd | the aft stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied

Floyd | to a cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest
Floyd | is the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |    Ashleigh stands almost motionless, constantly glancing at Thom's
Floyd | body.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for
Floyd | as long as you've known Thom.  Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and
Floyd | round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years.  He tries
Floyd | to dress flamboyantly but often fails, as demonstrated today by his
Floyd | long-sleeved blue oxford shirt.  He's extremely good at what he does,
Floyd | but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of the firm.  In one

Floyd | hand he is holding one of his ubiquitous glasses of whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl glances at poor Thom and shakes his head.  "Poor bastard," he
Floyd | whispers.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill glances nervously at everyone.  "Uh, what now?"

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh laughs sourly.  "We sail back into port."
Floyd |
Floyd | You nod in agreement, then say, "Who'll pilot the boat?"
Floyd |
Floyd | After a few seconds of silence, Carl speaks up.  "That would be me.

Floyd | I'll run back to the flying bridge."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x body" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how often you hated Thom for one thing or another, you

Floyd | certainly didn't want to see him dead like this.  His face is a
Floyd | strange purple color.  Along one side of his head, just under his wet
Floyd | hair, is a nasty bruise, slowly darkening.  One of his hands is
Floyd | clenched tight, tight enough to drive his fingernails into his palm.
Floyd | Looped complexly around his leg is a length of line.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl leaves to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh shakes her head.  "Nothing to do but go back to the fo'cle
Floyd | and wait."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "ok, I'm not sure if I should follow Ashleigh or get on with the safe/pole/rag business." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the

Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |    Carl, hands in pockets, is standing here, obviously on his way to
Floyd | somewhere else.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl climbs up the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in

Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill arrives from the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" 		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | File to save game in >
Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x purse" 		
	

Floyd | The closed purse is made of soft leather.  Tasteful, but then, what
Floyd | other kind would Ashleigh carry?
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open purse" 		
	

Floyd | You open the bag, revealing the usual assortment of purse
Floyd | accoutrements...and a gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take gun" 		
	

Floyd | Are you crazy?!?  You can't be seen toting that thing around, or
Floyd | everyone will think YOU killed Thom.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."

Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd | The purse seems to contain some accoutrements and a gun.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take purse" 		
	

Floyd | Didn't your mother ever teach you about stealing?  That's Asheligh's,
Floyd | not yours.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."

Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "er" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "open purse" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any purse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."
Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the

Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd | The purse seems to contain some accoutrements and a gun.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x accoutrements" 		
	

Floyd | It's the usual assortment of things that any given woman would carry
Floyd | in her purse.  The stand-out of the group, however, is the gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."
Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on

Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)

Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the

Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd | The purse seems to contain some accoutrements and a gun.

Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "Ok, I've forgotten what I was doing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, shut
Floyd | tightly.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the east door first.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the door to the head unlock, then see it swing open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for
Floyd | as long as you've known Thom.  Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and
Floyd | round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years.  He tries
Floyd | to dress flamboyantly but often fails, as demonstrated today by his

Floyd | long-sleeved blue oxford shirt.  He's extremely good at what he does,
Floyd | but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of the firm.  In one
Floyd | hand he is holding one of his ubiquitous glasses of whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl arrives from the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | Bill hands Ash's purse to her.  "Here," he says, "you dropped this."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh turns an odd shade of red: you can't tell if she's
Floyd | embarassed, mad, or worried.  "Thanks," she finally says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about purse" 		
	

Floyd | "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh looks up at Carl, sensing that something's wrong.  "What's
Floyd | up?"  she asks Carl.

Floyd |
Floyd | He runs his hands distractedly through his curly hair.  "Ok," he
Floyd | finally says.  "Here's what we've got going on.  Someone's sabotaged
Floyd | the engines, and I don't think I can fix them.  I'll get on the radio
Floyd | and get someone here to help us.  Until that happens, though, we're
Floyd | stuck."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Great!"  Bill says.  "Just great!  We're stuck on Thom's rotten boat
Floyd | with Thom's rotten body and one of us killed him!"  He downs his
Floyd | whiskey in one gulp as he jumps to his feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask bill about belts" 		
	

Floyd | Which bill do you mean, Bill, or Bill?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask ash about belts" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I don't know much about that."
Floyd |
Floyd | With a disgusted shake of his head, Carl moves to the radio and begins
Floyd | calling for help.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh, on the other hand, watches Bill for a few seconds before
Floyd | moving to him and slapping him for all she's worth.  Bill stops
Floyd | completely: he has no idea how to react.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Listen here, you pompous ass," Ash hisses at him, "none of us are

Floyd | particularly happy right now.  But you're not helping.  Stop it."
Floyd |
Floyd | After a long few seconds of staring, Bill turns and pours himself
Floyd | another whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |    Carl stands here, hands in his pockets.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put pill in whiskey" 		
	

Floyd | You can't put anything into the whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a disgusted shake of his head, Carl moves to the radio and begins

Floyd | calling for help.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh, on the other hand, watches Bill for a few seconds before
Floyd | moving to him and slapping him for all she's worth.  Bill stops
Floyd | completely: he has no idea how to react.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Listen here, you pompous ass," Ash hisses at him, "none of us are
Floyd | particularly happy right now.  But you're not helping.  Stop it."
Floyd |
Floyd | After a long few seconds of staring, Bill turns and pours himself
Floyd | another whiskey.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |    Carl stands here, hands in his pockets.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put pill in whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It quickly
Floyd | dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.

Floyd |
Floyd | With a disgusted shake of his head, Carl moves to the radio and begins
Floyd | calling for help.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh, on the other hand, watches Bill for a few seconds before
Floyd | moving to him and slapping him for all she's worth.  Bill stops

Floyd | completely: he has no idea how to react.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Listen here, you pompous ass," Ash hisses at him, "none of us are
Floyd | particularly happy right now.  But you're not helping.  Stop it."
Floyd |
Floyd | After a long few seconds of staring, Bill turns and pours himself

Floyd | another whiskey.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Belatedly, as my phone rang right as you asked, I thought we were trying to decide between whether to pursue Ashleigh or do the safe/pole/rag thing." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | You can't repeat that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "put pill in whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It quickly
Floyd | dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leaves to the west.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl turns from the radio.  "Way to tell him," he says softly to

Floyd | Ashleigh, glancing at you as if to see if you agree.  Ashleigh,
Floyd | however, grimaces.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I didn't mean to yell at him like that.  It's just...I mean..."  Her
Floyd | sentence trails off.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl looks at her for almost half a minute, doubt showing on his face.
Floyd | Finally, "I think I'll go check the engines.  Gives me something to
Floyd | do, anyway."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | You see no one through the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl leaves to the west.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | You see no one through the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Bill.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Bill and Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "um" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "So Bill just joined him?" 	
			DavidW says, "Carl joined Bill." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Er, yeah." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "But why the um?" 	
			DavidW asks, "I was checking to see if I could watch Bill change his shirt and why. Perhaps Carl and Bill fought?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "And why isn't Bill passing out?" 	
			DavidW says, "Maybe not enough pills." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hrm." 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Bill and Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle

Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Stateroom
Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open

Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light

Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.  Discarded on the deck, against
Floyd | one edge of the boat, is a bent screwdriver.

Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |    Bill slumps here quietly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill leans over the rail, looking in the still water.  "I think I'll
Floyd | go to the bow for a bit," he announces to no one in particular.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Port of Stateroom

Floyd |    You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
Floyd | stateroom.  Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the
Floyd | roof and then to the flying bridge.  Beside the ladder, windows open
Floyd | into the stateroom.  To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel
Floyd | between you and the cerulean water.  The boat runs beneath your feet
Floyd | from the north to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Bill and Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Bill and Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl and Bill.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl and Bill.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl and Bill.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x carl" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any carl here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through north window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Bill.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look through south window" 		
	

Floyd | Through the window, you see Carl.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "One pill started to knock us out immediately earlier, no?" 	
			DavidW says, "Perhaps I'm misunderstanding where the window looks into." 	
			DavidW says, "And perhaps the windows aren't as useful as I hoped if they only show location and not action." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, regardless, Bill seems to not be passing out. Perhaps thinking we can drug Bill is an assumption we shouldn't make." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Or do you think it's just making stuff up about who's coming and going, and those people really aren't coming and going?" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm passing out, though." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Like, it's just a - heh" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Up all night, eh?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Who else is still here?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Since we're hitting the 3.5 hour mark?" 	
			DavidW says, "No. It's tiresome to 'play' a game in this manner, fighting the format." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
			Jacqueline says, "That is true." 	
			DavidW says, "If we were playing it normally, we'd know what a gun-toting Bill does by now." 	
			Limax asks, "This wasn't normal?" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Do you mean through the window?" 	
			DavidW says, "I'm gonna make more tea. Someone else drive for a bit." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "One sec, let me go back and look at something." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.  Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take purse" 		
	

Floyd | Didn't your mother ever teach you about stealing?  That's Asheligh's,
Floyd | not yours.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x purse" 		
	

Floyd | The closed purse is made of soft leather.  Tasteful, but then, what

Floyd | other kind would Ashleigh carry?
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."
Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.

Floyd | She grimaces to herself.  Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x purse" 		
	

Floyd | The closed purse is made of soft leather.  Tasteful, but then, what
Floyd | other kind would Ashleigh carry?
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take purse" 		
	

Floyd | Didn't your mother ever teach you about stealing?  That's Asheligh's,
Floyd | not yours.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."

Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.  Restored.
Floyd |

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open purse" 		
	

Floyd | You open the bag, revealing the usual assortment of purse
Floyd | accoutrements...and a gun.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "hide purse" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "hide".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sit on purse" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know how to sit on the purse.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."
Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Meh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure there's a way to keep Bill from the gun." 	
			Limax says, "Bill is quite upset" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Bill's an idiotic sot and a problem." 	
			Limax says, "Just shoot him with his own gun and be done with it" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I would, but I can't seem to get it." 	
			Jacqueline says, "The gun, that is." 	
			Jacqueline says, "I'll restore and follow Ash, perhaps." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.  Restored.
Floyd |

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask ash about purse" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I don't know much about that."
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom

Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is briskly walking through here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh leaves to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule
Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  An open door leads west.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I really need to use the bathroom, if you don't
Floyd | mind..."  Bemused, you leave the head.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging

Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | The east door swings close and you hear it lock.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "d'oh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Also, ha." 	
			Limax asks, "She's locked herself in?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, yeah. To take a pee." 	
			Jacqueline says, "And we're a gentleman, so we lef.t" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, left." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "knock" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "knock".

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Aw" 	
			Limax asks, "No steamy sex in the head?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "My." 	
			Jacqueline says, "No." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Golly." 	
			Limax says, "Heh" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x safe" 		
	

Floyd | Squat, grey, metal.  It obviously requires a key to unlock it.  Part
Floyd | of the top of the safe is scarred with deep gouges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x gouges" 		
	

Floyd | On closer inspection, you can see that the gouges outline a panel.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the door to the head unlock, then see it swing open.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives from the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "She's done!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I thouht she'd stay in the head for the rest of the game for some reason." 	
			Limax asks, "ou turn?" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about gun" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh says, "I don't know much about that."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs up the ladder and is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill hands Ash's purse to her.  "Here," he says, "you dropped this."
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh turns an odd shade of red: you can't tell if she's

Floyd | embarassed, mad, or worried.  "Thanks," she finally says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Oh wait. We should have maybe stayed here." 	
			Jacqueline says, "So that he can't get the gun." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.  Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask bill about bill" 		
	

Floyd | "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | Bill suddenly notices Ash's purse.  "Oh," he says, "Ashleigh's purse."
Floyd | He picks it up, sits back down, changes his mind, starts down the
Floyd | ladder to the fore stateroom, changes his mind again, and collapses on
Floyd | the dinette bench once more.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask bill about manpurse." 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "manpurse".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ask bill about purse" 		
	

Floyd | "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh arrives, climbing up the ladder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW says, "I'm gonna be afk for a bit. I think I'd better move the bbq before it's too dark." 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill hands Ash's purse to her.  "Here," he says, "you dropped this."

Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh turns an odd shade of red: you can't tell if she's
Floyd | embarassed, mad, or worried.  "Thanks," she finally says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure I can play much longer, fwiw." 	
			Limax asks, "Didn't inky say this would take us two hours?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I wasn't going to be here at all today, and now I've been here over 3.5 hours." 	
			Jacqueline says (to Limax), "Well, it *was* a comp game." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "They're all two hours, right?" 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
			inky says, "well, you guys keep purposely avoiding the endgame" 	
			Limax says, "Uh. Sure" 	
			inky says, "I am not sure why" 	
			Jacqueline asks, "Where we get murdered?" 	
			inky asks, "what do you mean? he just pulls you into the cabin, doesn't he?" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, I don't know. We never found out." 	
			Jacqueline says, "He's drunk and has a gun and I'm afraid of him." 	
			Jacqueline says, "eh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "er, heh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I saw that, and shut it off." 	
			Jacqueline says, "ILAC" 	
	Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, and a pair of wires.  The
Floyd | pill bottle seems to contain five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Mmm... pills to pop" 	
			inky says, "anyway, if nobody cares, I'm just going to restore a previous saved game" 	
			inky says, "since I am pretty sure there is nothing else to do here" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "Okay." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "RESTORE" 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf8" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill collapses onto the dinette bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh paces back and forth worriedly, then stops self-consciously.
Floyd | She grimaces to herself.  Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on

Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.

Floyd |    You see a purse here.  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing casually.
Floyd |    Bill is slumped in the dinette bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, and a pair of wires.  The
Floyd | pill bottle seems to contain five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		Jacqueline says, "I was scrolling back to find out where some stuff was, but since you were driving earlier you can probably do it quicker." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Foredeck

Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole
Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.

Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, a

Floyd | screwdriver, a small key, a note, some pictures, some letters, a long
Floyd | pole, and a blue shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show shirt to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill's eyes widen.  "Oh, my God," he whispers.  One eyebrow twitches
Floyd | slightly.  "Where did you...I mean, I don't know--"
Floyd |
Floyd | "C'mon," you say to Bill, "cut to the chase.  I know you were there
Floyd | when Thom...fell overboard.  Just tell me what hap--"
Floyd |

Floyd | Your speech is cut short by the muzzle of a revolver.  It must be
Floyd | Ashleigh's.  How did he get Ash's gun?  You don't have a lot of time
Floyd | to think about that, however, as Bill interrupts you.  "Shut up!  Just
Floyd | shut up!  I don't have to listen to you!"  Bill is clearly skating
Floyd | over the thin ice of insanity.  He prods you in your side with the
Floyd | revolver.  "Let's find the others."  He pushes you ahead of him.

Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft

Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit bill" 		
	

Floyd | Before you can do anything, Carl has glanced up at you, then at Bill.
Floyd | "Yeah?" he asks, but your face tells him something's wrong.

Floyd |
Floyd | Bill is faster than both of you.  "Get in front of me.  Both of you.
Floyd | Let's go find Ashleigh."
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |    Carl is standing here, eyeing Bill and his gun.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Bill puts a restraining hand on your shoulder, stopping you.
Floyd | "Ashleigh," he says.
Floyd |

Floyd | "What?" she asks irritably, looking up into the muzzle of the
Floyd | revolver.  "Hey!" she says.  "My gun!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Shut up!" Bill shouts.  "Just shut up!  All of you!"  His eyes are
Floyd | wide, his face sweat-slick.  "Move over there together!"  All three of
Floyd | you comply.

Floyd |
Floyd | "He wasn't supposed to..."  Bill clears his throat, mopping his face
Floyd | with his left hand.  "Thom was embezzling from our firm.  I would have
Floyd | been bankrupted.  I only found out yesterday.  When I confronted him
Floyd | with it, he laughed at me.  You saw us shouting.  What an idiot I
Floyd | was."  He laughs quietly, but there's an edge of desperation to his

Floyd | laughter.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And when I confronted him with it again, he told me there was no
Floyd | proof.  I showed it to him.  He never was as clever as he thought he
Floyd | was.  He tried to grab it, I shoved him back..."  His eyes dart around
Floyd | the room.  "He wasn't supposed to fall overboard!  It was an

Floyd | accident!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You've been transfixed by the fact that Bill was able to say all that
Floyd | without one "uh" or "ah," but Carl has been inching closer.  It looks
Floyd | like he's about to try to jump Bill; if you don't distract Bill, Carl
Floyd | won't stand a chance.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show pictures to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill points the gun at you.  "Don't move!  Don't move!"  You freeze,
Floyd | hoping you've distracted him enough, but knowing that you haven't.

Floyd |
Floyd | Carl decided that now's his best chance, and he jumps towards Bill.
Floyd | Bill jerks back, swinging the revolver around and firing in the same
Floyd | motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | The smell of cordite fills the air as Ashleigh screams.  Carl's eyes

Floyd | widen almost comically, and he staggers back, blood spurting from a
Floyd | newly-formed hole approximately in the middle of his chest.  Bill
Floyd | fires again, then again, more of a reflex action than anything else.
Floyd | You try to grab the gun from Bill, but he backhands you with it.
Floyd | "Shut up, Ashleigh!" he yells at Ash.  Surprisingly, she stops.
Floyd |

Floyd | Bill looks around wildly, then makes a decision.  "Drag him into the
Floyd | stateroom, both of you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Let me at least get one of the drinks for their wounds," Ash begs of
Floyd | Bill.  He nods slightly, glancing nervously around the forecastle.
Floyd | Ashleigh grabs the whiskey bottle.

Floyd |
Floyd | You take hold of one of Carl's arms; Ashleigh grabs the other, looking
Floyd | distinctly queasy.  The two of you drag Carl into the stateroom,
Floyd | leaving Bill behind to mutter to himself about his nerves and how they
Floyd | need calming.
Floyd |

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.

Floyd |    Carl lies limply on the floor where you and Ashleigh dropped him.
Floyd |    Asheligh is sitting in some sort of catatonic state.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "hmm" 	
			inky says, "I wonder if there was a better solution there" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, watching Bill's every move.
Floyd |    Carl is taut, about to jump Bill.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | You yell for all you're worth.  Bill jerks, swinging the gun at you.
Floyd |

Floyd | Carl is as surprised as Bill and Ashleigh, but he recovers more
Floyd | quickly and leaps at Bill.  Bill turns and fires in the same motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | The smell of cordite fills the air, and Carl's leap turns into a
Floyd | stumble as the revolver bullet furrows into his left leg.  He lets out
Floyd | a long, drawn-out scream.  Bill and Ashleigh are shocked into

Floyd | immobility.  You make a grab for Bill's gun, but he still possesses
Floyd | the presence of mind to backhand you viciously with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill looks around wildly, then makes a decision.  "Drag him into the
Floyd | stateroom, both of you."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Let me at least get one of the drinks for their wounds," Ash begs of
Floyd | Bill.  He nods slightly, glancing nervously around the forecastle.
Floyd | Ashleigh grabs the whiskey bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | You take hold of one of Carl's arms; Ashleigh grabs the other, looking
Floyd | distinctly queasy.  The two of you drag Carl into the stateroom,

Floyd | leaving Bill behind to mutter to himself about his nerves and how they
Floyd | need calming.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging

Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		inky says, "there we go" 	
			inky says, "hmm, I think we screwed up" 	
			inky says, "should have drugged the whiskye" 	
			inky says, "er, whiskey" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the south door first.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh dribbles some of the whiskey onto Carl's leg.  He screams,

Floyd | then mercifully passes out.  "It'll be ok, it'll be ok," she whispers
Floyd | to him, dropping the bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put pills in whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any pills here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, a
Floyd | screwdriver, a small key, a note, some pictures, some letters, a long
Floyd | pole, and a blue shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open botlte" 		
	

Floyd | I don't know the word "botlte".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "oops bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Which bottle do you mean, the pill bottle, or the whiskey bottle?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "pill" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the pill bottle reveals five little pills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get whiskey" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put pills in whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It

Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It
Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It
Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It

Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It
Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "there we go" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "look" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging

Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "We did in one of the - well, man." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "up" 		
	

Floyd | You'll have to open the south door first.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open door" 		
	

Floyd | Which door do you mean, the south door, or the east door?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "south" 		
	

Floyd | No matter how hard you try, you can't open it.  Bill must have wedged
Floyd | something against it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, maybe that'll be enough." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heh" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit door" 		
	

Floyd | Which door do you mean, the south door, or the east door?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "south" 		
	

Floyd | All that would do would be to reduce your frustration at the expense
Floyd | of something which isn't yours.  Besides, you would probably hurt
Floyd | yourself.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule

Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  An open door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x cabinet" 		
	

Floyd | It is bolted to the wall just above the sink.  It is made of strong
Floyd | plastic, and is closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open it" 		
	

Floyd | Opened.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the companionway between the stateroom and the forecastle
Floyd | being unblocked and opened.  A few seconds later, you hear Bill's
Floyd | voice.  "Where's the whiskey, Ashleigh?"
Floyd |

Floyd | Ashleigh stammers, "What--why do you--what--"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Where is it!?!"  he screams, totally out of control now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing

Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | As you enter, Bill swivels around.  "You!" he screams at you.  You
Floyd | hand over the whiskey bottle without a word.  He upends the bottle and
Floyd | drains it in one draught.  Bill's eyes suddenly close, much to his
Floyd | surprise.  The muzzle of the gun traces an arc to the floor.
Floyd | "Sleepy," he mumbles, just before he drops the gun and crumples to the
Floyd | floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | You are left with Ashleigh and Carl's unconscious body to wait for
Floyd | someone to pick you up.
Floyd |
Floyd | In just under an hour, a Coast Guard ship pulls alongside the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  All you can think is, why did they take so long?  The

Floyd | three of you are taken in for questioning, and Bill is turned over to
Floyd | the police.  You were fortunate enough to stop Bill before he could
Floyd | kill Carl, even though Carl will limp a bit for the rest of his life.
Floyd | You ferreted out the connection between Carl, Thom, and those
Floyd | pictures; but you never found out why Ashleigh was carrying that gun.
Floyd | All in all, a good showing.

Floyd |
Floyd | Thank you for playing Undertow.

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		inky says, "not bad" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Wow, that is slow slow slow slow OMG ENDING." 	
			Jacqueline says, "heehee" 	
			inky says, "maybe we can ask Ashleigh about the gun while we were in there" 	
			inky says, "I can't tell if that ending means there is a way to have Carl not get shot totally or what" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Hm." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Yeah." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	Floyd says (to inky), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "load tow11" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.

Floyd |
Floyd | tadsr - A text-only TADS 2.5.10 Interpreter.
Floyd | Copyright (c) 1993, 2006 by Michael J. Roberts.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | How did Thom ever talk you into this one...

Floyd |
Floyd | Your friend Thom Hall has always been a smooth talker, which is
Floyd | probably how he got you to attend his party on board the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  The fourty-eight-foot yacht is named after the H.M.S.
Floyd | Bellerophon, the ship on which Napoleon formally surrendered in 1815
Floyd | after Waterloo.  Thom isn't usually too modest.

Floyd |
Floyd | Anyway, you're now stuck at a floating party with three other people
Floyd | you barely know, friends of Thom's.  Bill Leveritt is one of Thom's
Floyd | partners in his architectural firm.  Carl Weathers, another old friend
Floyd | of Thom's, brought his girlfriend Ashleigh Flannagin, which completes
Floyd | the floating fivesome.

Floyd |
Floyd | So far you've seen Bill and Thom yell at each other, Thom hit Carl for
Floyd | some unexplained reason, and Ashleigh ignore both Thom and you.  Not
Floyd | the most pleasant party you've ever been to.
Floyd |
Floyd | And it's barely 10 a.m...

Floyd |
Floyd | Undertow v1.1 (9/5/1995) by Stephen Granade
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule

Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  A closed door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf6" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |

Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a

Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.

Floyd |
Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole
Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor

Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show shirt to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill's eyes widen.  "Oh, my God," he whispers.  One eyebrow twitches
Floyd | slightly.  "Where did you...I mean, I don't know--"
Floyd |
Floyd | "C'mon," you say to Bill, "cut to the chase.  I know you were there

Floyd | when Thom...fell overboard.  Just tell me what hap--"
Floyd |
Floyd | Your speech is cut short by the muzzle of a revolver.  It must be
Floyd | Ashleigh's.  How did he get Ash's gun?  You don't have a lot of time
Floyd | to think about that, however, as Bill interrupts you.  "Shut up!  Just
Floyd | shut up!  I don't have to listen to you!"  Bill is clearly skating

Floyd | over the thin ice of insanity.  He prods you in your side with the
Floyd | revolver.  "Let's find the others."  He pushes you ahead of him.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the
Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to

Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.
Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.

Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Before you can do anything, Carl has glanced up at you, then at Bill.
Floyd | "Yeah?" he asks, but your face tells him something's wrong.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill is faster than both of you.  "Get in front of me.  Both of you.
Floyd | Let's go find Ashleigh."
Floyd |

Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on

Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |    Carl is standing here, eyeing Bill and his gun.

Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about gun" 		
	

Floyd | Bill puts a restraining hand on your shoulder, stopping you.

Floyd | "Ashleigh," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What?" she asks irritably, looking up into the muzzle of the
Floyd | revolver.  "Hey!" she says.  "My gun!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Shut up!" Bill shouts.  "Just shut up!  All of you!"  His eyes are

Floyd | wide, his face sweat-slick.  "Move over there together!"  All three of
Floyd | you comply.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He wasn't supposed to..."  Bill clears his throat, mopping his face
Floyd | with his left hand.  "Thom was embezzling from our firm.  I would have
Floyd | been bankrupted.  I only found out yesterday.  When I confronted him

Floyd | with it, he laughed at me.  You saw us shouting.  What an idiot I
Floyd | was."  He laughs quietly, but there's an edge of desperation to his
Floyd | laughter.
Floyd |
Floyd | "And when I confronted him with it again, he told me there was no
Floyd | proof.  I showed it to him.  He never was as clever as he thought he

Floyd | was.  He tried to grab it, I shoved him back..."  His eyes dart around
Floyd | the room.  "He wasn't supposed to fall overboard!  It was an
Floyd | accident!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You've been transfixed by the fact that Bill was able to say all that
Floyd | without one "uh" or "ah," but Carl has been inching closer.  It looks

Floyd | like he's about to try to jump Bill; if you don't distract Bill, Carl
Floyd | won't stand a chance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask carl about ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Bill points the gun at you.  "Don't move!  Don't move!"  You freeze,
Floyd | hoping you've distracted him enough, but knowing that you haven't.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl decided that now's his best chance, and he jumps towards Bill.
Floyd | Bill jerks back, swinging the revolver around and firing in the same
Floyd | motion.

Floyd |
Floyd | The smell of cordite fills the air as Ashleigh screams.  Carl's eyes
Floyd | widen almost comically, and he staggers back, blood spurting from a
Floyd | newly-formed hole approximately in the middle of his chest.  Bill
Floyd | fires again, then again, more of a reflex action than anything else.
Floyd | You try to grab the gun from Bill, but he backhands you with it.

Floyd | "Shut up, Ashleigh!" he yells at Ash.  Surprisingly, she stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill looks around wildly, then makes a decision.  "Drag him into the
Floyd | stateroom, both of you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Let me at least get one of the drinks for their wounds," Ash begs of

Floyd | Bill.  He nods slightly, glancing nervously around the forecastle.
Floyd | Ashleigh grabs the whiskey bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | You take hold of one of Carl's arms; Ashleigh grabs the other, looking
Floyd | distinctly queasy.  The two of you drag Carl into the stateroom,
Floyd | leaving Bill behind to mutter to himself about his nerves and how they

Floyd | need calming.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing

Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies limply on the floor where you and Ashleigh dropped him.
Floyd |    Asheligh is sitting in some sort of catatonic state.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its

Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The

Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, watching Bill's every move.
Floyd |    Carl is taut, about to jump Bill.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "hit bill" 		
	

Floyd | You make a very sudden move towards Bill, not the brightest thing to
Floyd | do to a nervous man with a gun.  Bill, however, is reluctant to shoot
Floyd | you.  "Don't try anything!"  he warns you in a high-pitched voice, the

Floyd | gun trembling in his grip.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl is as surprised as Bill and Ashleigh, but he recovers more
Floyd | quickly and leaps at Bill.  Bill turns and fires in the same motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | The smell of cordite fills the air, and Carl's leap turns into a

Floyd | stumble as the revolver bullet furrows into his left leg.  He lets out
Floyd | a long, drawn-out scream.  Bill and Ashleigh are shocked into
Floyd | immobility.  You make a grab for Bill's gun, but he still possesses
Floyd | the presence of mind to backhand you viciously with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill looks around wildly, then makes a decision.  "Drag him into the

Floyd | stateroom, both of you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Let me at least get one of the drinks for their wounds," Ash begs of
Floyd | Bill.  He nods slightly, glancing nervously around the forecastle.
Floyd | Ashleigh grabs the whiskey bottle.
Floyd |

Floyd | You take hold of one of Carl's arms; Ashleigh grabs the other, looking
Floyd | distinctly queasy.  The two of you drag Carl into the stateroom,
Floyd | leaving Bill behind to mutter to himself about his nerves and how they
Floyd | need calming.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom

Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Limax says, "Gotta go... Laurie wants cheesecake" 	
			inky says, "hmm, that still got him shot" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about gun" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh is busy comforting Carl.  You'd best leave her alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh dribbles some of the whiskey onto Carl's leg.  He screams,
Floyd | then mercifully passes out.  "It'll be ok, it'll be ok," she whispers

Floyd | to him, dropping the bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "dammit" 	
	Limax walks slowly out of the room and into the sunset. 		
	inky says (to Floyd), "x purse" 		
	

Floyd | I don't see any purse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask carl about purse" 		
	

Floyd | You wisely decide to leave Carl alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask carl about gun" 		
	

Floyd | You wisely decide to leave Carl alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Poor Carl." 	
			inky says, "ok, I dunno" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Everytime you try something new, he gets shot again." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Heh." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, you got the good ending." 	
			inky says, "yeah, it's not perfect, but I guess it's good enough" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Thanks for wrapping it up for us, inky." 	
			inky says, "oh, I should look at the walkthrough and see" 	
			Jacqueline says, "mmkay" 	
			Jacqueline says, "You do that, I'll look into a game for next week." 	
			inky says, "...looks like the solution has you distracting bill by attacking him, so probably carl still gets shot" 	
			inky says, "but you can ask ashleigh about the gun earlier" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "restore" 		
	

Floyd | File to restore game from >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "cf7" 		
	

Floyd | Restored.
Floyd |
Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going
Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole

Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south

Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forecastle

Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across
Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is

Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about gun" 		
	

Floyd | "What?!?"  Ashleigh says.  "Okay!  So there's a gun in my purse!  So
Floyd | what?"  She pushes a lock of her copper hair out of her face.  "Yes, I
Floyd | wanted to kill him."  She laughs ruefully.  "Who didn't?  But you saw
Floyd | him.  He wasn't shot!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Ash sighs.  "He was ready to have me fired.  I just couldn't let
Floyd | him...he was going to..."  Her objections slowly wind down.  Then she
Floyd | looks back at you.  "But I didn't kill him!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Ash then grabs your shoulder, pleading.  "Please, please, don't tell

Floyd | Carl."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ask ashleigh about thom" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh runs her hand through her hair.  "I just can't believe he's

Floyd | dead.  Sure, I'd thought about it before, but..."  She stops talking,
Floyd | perhaps realizing what she just said.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Port of Forecastle
Floyd |    The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
Floyd | the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the
Floyd | forecastle.  To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south
Floyd | are the aft sections of the boat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd | Foredeck
Floyd |    The foredeck is as far forward on the *Bellerophon* as you can go
Floyd | and still be on the boat.  The bow rail keeps you from going

Floyd | overboard, lucky for you.  At your feet lies a small elliptical hole
Floyd | leading to the chain locker below.  Out of the hole runs the anchor
Floyd | chain.  Behind you loom the windows to the forecastle.  The rest of
Floyd | the yacht lies to the southwest and southeast.
Floyd |    Bill is leaning against the bow rail.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "show shirt to bill" 		
	

Floyd | Bill's eyes widen.  "Oh, my God," he whispers.  One eyebrow twitches
Floyd | slightly.  "Where did you...I mean, I don't know--"
Floyd |

Floyd | "C'mon," you say to Bill, "cut to the chase.  I know you were there
Floyd | when Thom...fell overboard.  Just tell me what hap--"
Floyd |
Floyd | Your speech is cut short by the muzzle of a revolver.  It must be
Floyd | Ashleigh's.  How did he get Ash's gun?  You don't have a lot of time
Floyd | to think about that, however, as Bill interrupts you.  "Shut up!  Just

Floyd | shut up!  I don't have to listen to you!"  Bill is clearly skating
Floyd | over the thin ice of insanity.  He prods you in your side with the
Floyd | revolver.  "Let's find the others."  He pushes you ahead of him.
Floyd |
Floyd | Cockpit Deck
Floyd |    The cockpit deck houses the twin diesel engines which power the

Floyd | boat.  A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to
Floyd | the engines.  On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light
Floyd | perched atop it like a squat bird.  The door leading down into the aft
Floyd | stateroom yawns widely.  Small windows flank the door.  Tied to a
Floyd | cleat on the port side is a line.  To the northeast and northwest is
Floyd | the remainder of the boat.

Floyd |    Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
Floyd |    Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Before you can do anything, Carl has glanced up at you, then at Bill.
Floyd | "Yeah?" he asks, but your face tells him something's wrong.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill is faster than both of you.  "Get in front of me.  Both of you.

Floyd | Let's go find Ashleigh."
Floyd |
Floyd | Forecastle
Floyd |    The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its
Floyd | small size.  The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on
Floyd | the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp.  Across

Floyd | from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the
Floyd | galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom.  Also on
Floyd | the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar.  Across from it is
Floyd | a dinette bench.  Windows are at each of the cardinal directions.  The
Floyd | west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
Floyd |    Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
Floyd |    Carl is standing here, eyeing Bill and his gun.
Floyd |    Bill, more tense than you've ever seen him, is waving around a gun.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Bill puts a restraining hand on your shoulder, stopping you.
Floyd | "Ashleigh," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What?" she asks irritably, looking up into the muzzle of the

Floyd | revolver.  "Hey!" she says.  "My gun!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Shut up!" Bill shouts.  "Just shut up!  All of you!"  His eyes are
Floyd | wide, his face sweat-slick.  "Move over there together!"  All three of
Floyd | you comply.
Floyd |

Floyd | "He wasn't supposed to..."  Bill clears his throat, mopping his face
Floyd | with his left hand.  "Thom was embezzling from our firm.  I would have
Floyd | been bankrupted.  I only found out yesterday.  When I confronted him
Floyd | with it, he laughed at me.  You saw us shouting.  What an idiot I
Floyd | was."  He laughs quietly, but there's an edge of desperation to his
Floyd | laughter.

Floyd |
Floyd | "And when I confronted him with it again, he told me there was no
Floyd | proof.  I showed it to him.  He never was as clever as he thought he
Floyd | was.  He tried to grab it, I shoved him back..."  His eyes dart around
Floyd | the room.  "He wasn't supposed to fall overboard!  It was an
Floyd | accident!"

Floyd |
Floyd | You've been transfixed by the fact that Bill was able to say all that
Floyd | without one "uh" or "ah," but Carl has been inching closer.  It looks
Floyd | like he's about to try to jump Bill; if you don't distract Bill, Carl
Floyd | won't stand a chance.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "shout" 		
	

Floyd | You yell for all you're worth.  Bill jerks, swinging the gun at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carl is as surprised as Bill and Ashleigh, but he recovers more

Floyd | quickly and leaps at Bill.  Bill turns and fires in the same motion.
Floyd |
Floyd | The smell of cordite fills the air, and Carl's leap turns into a
Floyd | stumble as the revolver bullet furrows into his left leg.  He lets out
Floyd | a long, drawn-out scream.  Bill and Ashleigh are shocked into
Floyd | immobility.  You make a grab for Bill's gun, but he still possesses

Floyd | the presence of mind to backhand you viciously with it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bill looks around wildly, then makes a decision.  "Drag him into the
Floyd | stateroom, both of you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Let me at least get one of the drinks for their wounds," Ash begs of

Floyd | Bill.  He nods slightly, glancing nervously around the forecastle.
Floyd | Ashleigh grabs the whiskey bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | You take hold of one of Carl's arms; Ashleigh grabs the other, looking
Floyd | distinctly queasy.  The two of you drag Carl into the stateroom,
Floyd | leaving Bill behind to mutter to himself about his nerves and how they

Floyd | need calming.
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing

Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get bottle" 		
	

Floyd | You already have the pill bottle!
Floyd |
Floyd | Ashleigh dribbles some of the whiskey onto Carl's leg.  He screams,
Floyd | then mercifully passes out.  "It'll be ok, it'll be ok," she whispers

Floyd | to him, dropping the bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "get whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "open pill bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Opening the pill bottle reveals five little pills.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "put pills in whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It
Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It

Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It
Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It
Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd | little pill:  You drop one of the pills into the whiskey bottle.  It

Floyd | quickly dissolves, leaving behind virtually no trace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "tell carl about ashleigh" 		
	

Floyd | Ashleigh is no longer here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Forward Stateroom

Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging
Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    The hanging locker seems to contain a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.

Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "(oh come on)" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline asks, "Carl's passed out, anyway, right?" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "oh yeah" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		inky says, "wimp can't stand a little bullet trauma" 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "drop whiskey bottle" 		
	

Floyd | Dropped.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "e" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Head
Floyd |    The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule
Floyd | shower.  In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and
Floyd | medicine cabinet.  An open door leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Jacqueline says, "Totally." 	
	inky says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | Forward Stateroom
Floyd |    Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet
Floyd | near the nose of the ship.  On the port wall is an open hanging

Floyd | locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing
Floyd | open.  A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
Floyd |    You see a whiskey bottle here.  The hanging locker seems to contain
Floyd | a safe.
Floyd |    Carl lies here, in shock from the wound to his leg.
Floyd |    Ashleigh is sitting beside Carl, tending to his wound.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	inky says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes...
Floyd |

Floyd | A sudden sound startles you.  The companionway is being opened!  Bill
Floyd | climbs down the ladder, revolver pointed at you the whole time.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Where's the whiskey?" he asks you and Ashleigh.  He then sees the
Floyd | bottle.  "Get it for me," he tells you, motioning with the gun.  You
Floyd | comply, handing it to him.  He upends the bottle, drinking all of it

Floyd | before tossing the empty bottle aside.  Bill's eyes suddenly close,
Floyd | much to his surprise.  The muzzle of the gun traces an arc to the
Floyd | floor.  "Sleepy," he mumbles, just before he drops the gun and
Floyd | crumples to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are left with Ashleigh and Carl's unconscious body to wait for

Floyd | someone to pick you up.
Floyd |
Floyd | In just under an hour, a Coast Guard ship pulls alongside the
Floyd | *Bellerophon*.  All you can think is, why did they take so long?  The
Floyd | three of you are taken in for questioning, and Bill is turned over to
Floyd | the police.  You were fortunate enough to stop Bill before he could

Floyd | kill Carl, even though Carl will limp a bit for the rest of his life.
Floyd | You ferreted out the connection between Carl, Thom, and those
Floyd | pictures; andyou discovered why Ashleigh was after Thom.  All in all,
Floyd | an excellent showing.
Floyd |
Floyd | Thank you for playing Undertow.

		
	Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" 		inky says, "ok, I guess that is good enough" 	
			Jacqueline says, "So, guess Carl gets it no matter what." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Poor Carl." 	
			inky says, "yeah I think so" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Oh well. You make an omelette, you gotta break a few eggs." 	
			inky says, "s/eggs/legs/" 	
			inky says, "although the solution says "the described actions are optimal in my opinion only"" 	
			inky says, "so maybe the walkthrough author *wanted* Carl to get shot" 	
			Jacqueline says (to inky), "heehee legs" 	
			Jacqueline says, "ha" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Sargent was so attached to his characters, and came to hate Carl so, so much." 	
			Jacqueline asks, "What about Guess the Verb for next week?" 	
			inky says, "that would be fine" 	
			inky says, "I seem to recall it is pretty short but that is probably ok" 	
			Jacqueline says, "A short game, now and then, is a good thing." 	
			radix says, "it's only short if you know the verbs" 	
			Jacqueline says, "I have a great vocabulary!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "But suck at puzzles, so." 	
			Lucea asks, "oh, it's done?" 	
			Lucea says, "(work again)" 	
			(from Taleslinger) Jacqueline says, "Guess the verbal-thing!" 	
			Jacqueline says, "yay" 	
			inky says, "truth and justice won the day" 	
			inky says, "with the moral of: kids, use drugs, but only on other people" 	
			Jacqueline says, "That's, um, not a good moral." 	
			Jacqueline says, "But it worked in this case, so." 	
			Jacqueline says, "Well, for everyone but Carl." 	
			radix says, "why only let other people have the fun"	
	



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ClubFloyd Transcript:
Guess the Verb! by Leonard Richardson
As played on ifMUD on February 22, 2009

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Guess the Verb!, written by Leonard Richardson. Guess the Verb! was originally released as part of the 2000 IF Competition, where it took eleventh place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.


		
	
ToyShop & Floyditorium
		
#ClubFloyd Discussion
	
			
	 		
	Jacqueline hollers, "ClubFloyd will be playing Guess the Verb! in half an hour in the Toyshop. For a good time, call maga (as I will not be present)." 		Jacqueline says, "Sorry, I just wanted to say 'For a good time, call maga.'" 	
			Jacqueline smiles. 	
			Jacqueline says, "Man, he offers to step in and log for me, and in return I write his name on the bathroom walls of ifMUD. How cruel." 	
			vimes says, "hee hee" 	
			vimes says, "867-530plugh" 	
			Jacqueline says, "hahaha" 	
			maga says, "love you too, dearest" 	
			Jacqueline says, "Okay, I should probably go. Thanks, maga, for logging; thanks, vimes, for the laugh; thanks, anyone who shows up, for playing. Sorry to be bailing on you all." 	
	Bert arrives, ready to play with the toys. 		
	Nitku arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	maga arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		maga says, "Guess the Verb starting in a few minutes." 	
	maga says, "All right. Jacq isn't here today, so I have stepped in" 		
	maga says, "today we're playing Guess the Verb! by Leonard Richardson" 		
	maga says (to Floyd), "load guess" 		
	

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to start a NEW game, RESTORE a saved game, start a
Floyd | SCRIPT, or QUIT?
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "new" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The smell of cotton candy, warm lemonade, and grass induces an
Floyd | exciting sort of nausea in your stomach. This year (finally!), your
Floyd | parents have decided that you're old enough to wander the midway of

Floyd | the Avogadro County Fair without adult supervision. After sitting
Floyd | through the mandatory safety lecture (a small price to pay for being
Floyd | spared the Hall of Farming Implements), you are sent off to fend for
Floyd | yourself for two glorious hours.
Floyd |
Floyd | Immediately spending three-quarters of your allotted dollar on a corn

Floyd | dog, you find yourself curiously drawn by the necessities of the plot
Floyd | to a brightly lit carnival booth that invites you to...
Floyd |
Floyd | GUESS THE VERB!
Floyd | An Effective Enumeration
Floyd | Copyright 2000 Leonard Richardson (leonardr@segfault.org)

Floyd | Web page: http://www.crummy.com/devel/if/gtv/
Floyd | Type HELP for help, CREDITS for credits, ABOUT for... about.
Floyd | Release 4 / Serial number 001210 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the

Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | As your fleshy eye momentarily catches Lalrry's roving, metallic one,
Floyd | you suddenly become his most important (not to mention only) potential
Floyd | customer. Lights flash on his status panel as he loads a new pitch
Floyd | into extended memory.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hello, little boy or girl!", bellows Lalrry in the alarming tone used

Floyd | by adults who are trying to be friendly. "Wait a minute... are you a
Floyd | boy or a girl? Are you a BOY or a GIRL?"
Floyd |
Floyd | =>

		maga asks, "does anybody have a preference?" 	
			Bert says, "I think I played as a boy." 	
	Emily arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Bert says, "So I'd choose girl this time." 	
			maga says, "fine by me" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "girl" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "And what's your name, little girl?"
Floyd |
Floyd | =>

		maga says, "heh heh heh" 	
			Bert asks, "Jacqueline?" 	
			Alex says (to Bert), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Jacqueline is isquiesque." 	
			Bert says, "(Or Samantha...)" 	
	Lucea arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		maga says, "never a good thing to put in the player's control" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "Isqui" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | "Well Isqui would you like to GUESS THE VERB!?!?! Just one shiny
Floyd | quarter gets you a spin of the wheel! And you can GUESS THE VERB for
Floyd | fun and prizes!"

Floyd |
Floyd | His pitch delivered, Lalrry switches back to broadcast mode and begins
Floyd | his old banter with an occasional hopeful glance in your direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | The parser looks much the way Peter Norton would look if Peter Norton
Floyd | were made of stainless steel and had, instead of a head, an Ethernet
Floyd | hub with two small surveillance cameras attached on top and a speaker
Floyd | attached underneath. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the parser

Floyd | is wearing a shirt and a tie.
Floyd |
Floyd | He's also wearing a straw hat and a nametag that says "Hello! My name
Floyd | is LALRRY." A series of lights in his forehead monitor the traffic
Floyd | that flows through an Ethernet cable plugged into where Peter Norton's
Floyd | left cheek would be, which cable disappears down into the booth.

Floyd |
Floyd | As a natural language parser, Lalrry can deal with a reasonable subset
Floyd | of some human language (English, in his case), through some
Floyd | combination of recursive grammars and ad-hoc tricks. Most such parsers
Floyd | were created in the 1980s to answer queries and to help people find
Floyd | treasures and kill trolls. Nowadays, most parsers are working at Web

Floyd | start-ups. The fact that Lalrry is working as a carnival barker does
Floyd | not say much for his language handling capabilities.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Step right up, step right up!", says Lalrry with perfectly
Floyd | synthesized heartiness.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Funky." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "x wheel" 		
	

Floyd | A sort of rotating pie chart, the wheel of fortune is about four feet
Floyd | in diameter and attached to a frame which, in turn, is bolted to the

Floyd | side of the booth. A plastic red arrow suspended over the top of the
Floyd | wheel indicates one of the five verbs at random (currently
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE), and will do so again when Lalrry spins the wheel. The
Floyd | verbs currently on the pie chart are SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN,
Floyd | DISEMBARK, and UNDO, each taking up an equal slice of the pie.
Floyd |

Floyd | "It's time to GUESS THE VERB!", declares Lalrry, although he offers no
Floyd | evidence to back this up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga asks, "does anybody know if there's any timing-sensitive stuff in this?" 	
			maga asks, "i.e. do we need a driver?" 	
			maga says, "I don't remember any but it has been eight years" 	
			Bert says, "I *think* you can retry stuff if you screw it up." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "x me" 		
	

Floyd | You are a perfectly normal eleven-year-old girl, not yet aware of
Floyd | anything more interesting than video games or dinosaurs.
Floyd |
Floyd | "One shiny quarter gets you a spin of the wheel!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a tarnished quarter
Floyd |   a corn dog
Floyd |   your identity bracelet (being worn)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a tarnished quarter

Floyd |   a corn dog
Floyd |   your identity bracelet (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "eat quarter" 		
	

Floyd | That's plainly lacking the "edible" flag.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lalrry briefly pulls you aside. "The crowned heads of Europe have
Floyd | guessed verbs at my booth," he says confidentially. "The Queen Mum was
Floyd | quite keen on PARTITION, although the King of France would hear of
Floyd | nothing but JUMP--SAUTER, rather, I should say." Somehow you doubt

Floyd | this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x bracelet" 		
	

Floyd | A white plastic embarassment which your parents make you wear on those

Floyd | rare occasions on which you are allowed off on your own. In little red
Floyd | letters just above your wrist, it says "My name is _ISQUI_. In case of
Floyd | emergency, call my mother's cell phone at (210) 603-3999."
Floyd |
Floyd | Lalrry briefly pulls you aside. "The crowned heads of Europe have
Floyd | guessed verbs at my booth," he says confidentially. "The Queen Mum was

Floyd | quite keen on PARTITION, although the King of France would hear of
Floyd | nothing but JUMP--SAUTER, rather, I should say." Somehow you doubt
Floyd | this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "give quarter to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | Lalrry takes the quarter and scrutinizes it carefully. "Sorry, Isqui,"
Floyd | he says, handing the coin back to you. "This is not a shiny quarter."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Is anyone else now wondering what that's the number for?" 	
			Bert says, "It's in the San Antonio area." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the

Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Booths
Floyd | You are in a shadowy alcove, surrounded by the canvas backs of several

Floyd | carnival booths. The music and bustle of the midway seems very far
Floyd | away, and a harvest moon illuminates the wet grass of the fairgrounds
Floyd | and the makeshift walls that surround you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The glinting tip of a small metal box peeks out from beneath the verb
Floyd | guessing booth.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | The metal box is about the size of a deck of cards and is decorated
Floyd | with black plastic trim. An LED and two switches (one orange, the

Floyd | other blue) are mounted on the front of the box, and a cord runs from
Floyd | either end up into the booth.
Floyd |
Floyd | The LED is currently glowing green. Both switches are in the on
Floyd | position.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x moon" 		
	

Floyd | The light from the harvest moon seems magical tonight. If Neil Young
Floyd | were here, he would undoubtedly write a song about it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "open box" 		
	

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "get moon" 		
	

Floyd | You are insane.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert says, "Small group this week." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "press orange switch" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Bert asks, "Perhaps the main driver should be someone who hasn't played yet, if there is anyone?" 	
			maga says, "that would be ideal" 	
			maga says, "but it doesn't look as if we have anyone" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "x cord" 		
	

Floyd | The cords run from either end of a metal box up into the booth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "clean quarter" 		
	

Floyd | Your valiant attempt fails to noticeably improve the quarter's looks.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "turn off orange switch" 		
	

Floyd | You switch the orange switch off.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		maga says, "although probably we shouldn't be playing with these until we know Lalrry's normal behaviour" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Booths

Floyd | You are in a shadowy alcove, surrounded by the canvas backs of several
Floyd | carnival booths. The music and bustle of the midway seems very far
Floyd | away, and a harvest moon illuminates the wet grass of the fairgrounds
Floyd | and the makeshift walls that surround you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The glinting tip of a small metal box peeks out from beneath the verb

Floyd | guessing booth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "verbose" 		
	

Floyd | GUESS THE VERB! is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long
Floyd | descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the

Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Midway
Floyd | The lights and noise of the midway seem hollow and dull compared to

Floyd | the aura of excitement you felt at the verb guessing booth. You survey
Floyd | the sights around you as though through different eyes: the
Floyd | merry-go-round, the concession stand--they seem so pedestrian now. You
Floyd | feel a strange attraction pulling you back towards the southwest, as
Floyd | though a ham-handed author were trying to place hints into the room
Floyd | description that the game would progress a lot faster if you went back

Floyd | to the verb guessing booth already.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you really want to, though, you can go east to rejoin your parents
Floyd | and end the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't help but notice a small but obtrusive quarter shining

Floyd | machine squatting here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | The quarter shining machine sits in the middle of a line of similar

Floyd | machines which accept coins of smaller denomination, like pennies, and
Floyd | do more interesting things to them, like smush them up and imprint
Floyd | them with touristy slogans. In the face of such intense competition,
Floyd | the quarter shining machine has taken to mimicry, hoping to trap
Floyd | unsuspecting coins intended for a less boring (if also less shiny)
Floyd | fate in another machine.

Floyd |
Floyd | Its innards are exposed, an unnecessarily complicated mesh of shiny
Floyd | gears and pistons. A prominent notice on the side of the machine
Floyd | assures you with alarming urgency that the practice of quarter-shining
Floyd | is legal under federal statute BH-2510958. The coin tray has two
Floyd | quarter-shaped slots; the left one to contain payment and the right to

Floyd | contain the quarter you want shined and dropped into the receptacle
Floyd | near the bottom of the machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | The left coin slot is empty. The right coin slot is also empty. The
Floyd | receptacle is also also empty.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x left slot" 		
	

Floyd | A small, round slot in the coin tray. It would just hold a quarter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "this is a losing proposition" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a tarnished quarter
Floyd |   a corn dog

Floyd |   your identity bracelet (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x corn dog" 		
	

Floyd | The corn dog is a curious creature. Its life cycle begins when the

Floyd | larval corn dog is cooked and put on a stick. The corn dog is dipped
Floyd | in batter to form a cocoon and fried. Inside the batter cocoon, the
Floyd | baby corn dog metamorphoses into an adult phase which is then
Floyd | purchased, slathered with mustard, and eaten. The rumbling of your
Floyd | stomach tells you that the end is near for this particular corn dog.
Floyd | We will miss you, corn dog.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "aw. I am sad that Jacq was not here for the corn dog" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "eat corn dog" 		
	

Floyd | My, that was a yummy corn dog!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "kick machine" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "push machine" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "dammit where is my second quarter" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Midway
Floyd | The lights and noise of the midway seem hollow and dull compared to

Floyd | the aura of excitement you felt at the verb guessing booth. You survey
Floyd | the sights around you as though through different eyes: the
Floyd | merry-go-round, the concession stand--they seem so pedestrian now. You
Floyd | feel a strange attraction pulling you back towards the southwest, as
Floyd | though a ham-handed author were trying to place hints into the room
Floyd | description that the game would progress a lot faster if you went back

Floyd | to the verb guessing booth already.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you really want to, though, you can go east to rejoin your parents
Floyd | and end the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't help but notice a small but obtrusive quarter shining

Floyd | machine squatting here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x stand" 		
	

Floyd | The concession stand offers a variety of deep-fried and/or sugary

Floyd | items, for a price.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x merry-go-round" 		
	

Floyd | The merry-go-round does not seem as merry to you anymore.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the

Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x booth" 		
	

Floyd | The Guess the Verb booth is small and liberally stocked with stuffed
Floyd | animals, gewgaws, jimcracks, heehaws, and spistacks, all intended as
Floyd | prizes for successful guessers of the verb. A large wheel with five

Floyd | divisions dominates the center of the booth, and it is to this wheel
Floyd | that your friend the parser gestures quite emphatically. One might
Floyd | even say spastically. "Spastically." There, I said it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "well, I don't see any obvious quarter-hiding places, and we are too puny a child for the proper solution to vending-machine puzzles" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "hint" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "help" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |    > What is IF?

Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |      Sample Transcript
Floyd |      About This Game
Floyd |      Credits
Floyd |      License
Floyd |      Hints

Floyd |      Budget Walkthru
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!

Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |      What is IF?

Floyd |    > Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |      Sample Transcript
Floyd |      About This Game
Floyd |      Credits
Floyd |      License

Floyd |      Hints
Floyd |      Budget Walkthru
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |

Floyd |      What is IF?
Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |    > Sample Transcript
Floyd |      About This Game
Floyd |      Credits

Floyd |      License
Floyd |      Hints
Floyd |      Budget Walkthru
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:

Floyd |
Floyd |      What is IF?
Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |      Sample Transcript
Floyd |    > About This Game

Floyd |      Credits
Floyd |      License
Floyd |      Hints
Floyd |      Budget Walkthru
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |

Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |      What is IF?
Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |      Sample Transcript
Floyd |      About This Game

Floyd |    > Credits
Floyd |      License
Floyd |      Hints
Floyd |      Budget Walkthru
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game

Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |      What is IF?
Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |      Sample Transcript

Floyd |      About This Game
Floyd |      Credits
Floyd |    > License
Floyd |      Hints
Floyd |      Budget Walkthru

Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game
Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |      What is IF?
Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts

Floyd |      Sample Transcript
Floyd |      About This Game
Floyd |      Credits
Floyd |      License
Floyd |    > Hints

Floyd |      Budget Walkthru
Floyd |

		
	maga presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |                                 Clues
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |    > The Carnival
Floyd |      The Scenarios in General
Floyd |      The Spaceship
Floyd |      The Laboratory
Floyd |      The College

Floyd |      The Cave
Floyd |      The Castle
Floyd |

		
	maga presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |                             The Carnival
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |    > What am I trying to do?
Floyd |      Why won't Lalrry accept my quarter?
Floyd |      How can I shine my tarnished quarter?
Floyd |      So how do I get to play the game?

Floyd |      So I win every time, is that your little game?
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                             The Carnival

Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      What am I trying to do?

Floyd |    > Why won't Lalrry accept my quarter?
Floyd |      How can I shine my tarnished quarter?
Floyd |      So how do I get to play the game?
Floyd |      So I win every time, is that your little game?
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |                             The Carnival
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      What am I trying to do?
Floyd |      Why won't Lalrry accept my quarter?
Floyd |    > How can I shine my tarnished quarter?

Floyd |      So how do I get to play the game?
Floyd |      So I win every time, is that your little game?
Floyd |

		
	maga presses the yellow enter button. 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | (Press H for another hint, or SPACE to return.)
Floyd |
Floyd | You need to use the quarter shining machine on the midway.
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | It costs a quarter.
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | But you only have the one quarter.

Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | In fact, at any given point in the game you will have at most one
Floyd | quarter.
Floyd |

		Emily says, "rar" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "h" 		
	

Floyd | So you can't shine anything.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Please press SPACE.]

		
	maga pushes the green 'space' button. 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                             The Carnival
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |      What am I trying to do?
Floyd |      Why won't Lalrry accept my quarter?

Floyd |    > How can I shine my tarnished quarter?
Floyd |      So how do I get to play the game?
Floyd |      So I win every time, is that your little game?
Floyd |

		maga says, "so I guess we need to mess with the switches" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                             The Spaceship
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous

Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    > What's going on?

Floyd |      I can't leave the ship!
Floyd |      Where are my parents?
Floyd |      Is this the sort of game where hostile symbionts infect my body?
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                                 Clues
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                              Q = previous menu
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |    > The Carnival
Floyd |      The Scenarios in General
Floyd |      The Spaceship

Floyd |      The Laboratory
Floyd |      The College
Floyd |      The Cave
Floyd |      The Castle
Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |                           Guess The Verb!
Floyd |  N = next subject                                        P = previous
Floyd |  RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game

Floyd |
Floyd |  There is information provided on the following:
Floyd |
Floyd |      What is IF?
Floyd |      Introduction to IF Concepts
Floyd |      Sample Transcript

Floyd |      About This Game
Floyd |      Credits
Floyd |      License
Floyd |    > Hints
Floyd |      Budget Walkthru

Floyd |

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "q" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the

Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Booths
Floyd | You are in a shadowy alcove, surrounded by the canvas backs of several

Floyd | carnival booths. The music and bustle of the midway seems very far
Floyd | away, and a harvest moon illuminates the wet grass of the fairgrounds
Floyd | and the makeshift walls that surround you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The glinting tip of a small metal box peeks out from beneath the verb
Floyd | guessing booth.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | The metal box is about the size of a deck of cards and is decorated
Floyd | with black plastic trim. An LED and two switches (one orange, the

Floyd | other blue) are mounted on the front of the box, and a cord runs from
Floyd | either end up into the booth.
Floyd |
Floyd | The LED is currently glowing green. The blue switch is in the on
Floyd | position, and the orange switch is in the off position.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".

Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the
Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lalrry babbles a bit about some computer game or other.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "give quarter to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | "Yuck!", says Lalrry, rejecting your offer. "A tarnished!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Booths
Floyd | You are in a shadowy alcove, surrounded by the canvas backs of several
Floyd | carnival booths. The music and bustle of the midway seems very far

Floyd | away, and a harvest moon illuminates the wet grass of the fairgrounds
Floyd | and the makeshift walls that surround you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The glinting tip of a small metal box peeks out from beneath the verb
Floyd | guessing booth.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "push blue switch" 		
	

Floyd | It is fixed in place.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "turn off blue switch" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the LED suddenly goes dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	maga arrives, full of fun and funk. 		maga says, "oops" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the once-jovial natural language parser inside the booth, now
Floyd | seems oddly unable to move or speak. The rest of the carnival midway
Floyd | lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the booth to the

Floyd | southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "give quarter to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | At the moment, Lalrry doesn't seem interested in the tarnished
Floyd | quarter, or indeed in much of anything.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Behind the Booths
Floyd | You are in a shadowy alcove, surrounded by the canvas backs of several

Floyd | carnival booths. The music and bustle of the midway seems very far
Floyd | away, and a harvest moon illuminates the wet grass of the fairgrounds
Floyd | and the makeshift walls that surround you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The glinting tip of a small metal box peeks out from beneath the verb
Floyd | guessing booth.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "turn on orange switch" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the LED suddenly lights up green.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. 		
	maga arrives, full of fun and funk. 		maga says, "DAMMIT" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,

Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the
Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,

Floyd | each of its five equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, FASTEN, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It's time to GUESS THE VERB!", declares Lalrry, although he offers no
Floyd | evidence to back this up.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "give quarter to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | Lalrry gladly takes the quarter from your outstretched palm. With the
Floyd | flair of a showman, he tosses it into the air and catches it in his
Floyd | shirt pocket. Stepping back, he indicates the wheel.

Floyd |
Floyd | [To guess a verb, use "GUESS [verb]"; for example, "GUESS DISLIKE"]
Floyd |
Floyd | "Guess a verb, verb!", says Lalrry, indicating the wheel of fortune.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga asks, "any preferences?" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "guess disambiguate" 		
	

Floyd | "Sorry, that's not on the wheel!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Guess a verb, verb!", says Lalrry, indicating the wheel of fortune.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "guess reconfigure" 		
	

Floyd | "Hey, guess! And so I spin the wheel..."
Floyd |

Floyd | Lalrry gives the wheel a good push and it begins rapidly rotating,
Floyd | spinning faster now, now slowly winding down until it...stops...on...
Floyd |
Floyd |                   FASTEN
Floyd |
Floyd | Lalrry shrugs and says "Luck next time!"

Floyd |
Floyd | You shrug too, and try to look nonchalant, but you feel a hollowness
Floyd | in the pit in your stomach which is something more than simple
Floyd | disappointment. The lights of the midway seem uncomfortably close, the
Floyd | music incessant and loud. You wonder if you aren't coming down with
Floyd | something, and blink to clear the glare from your eyes.

Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly you are falling.
Floyd |
Floyd | You claw at the air, then at the unidentifiable blurs that race past
Floyd | you, then at your own body, which is unaccountably absent from this
Floyd | mad scene. You open your hypothetical mouth and emit a potential

Floyd | scream which never quite materializes, and then with the feeling of
Floyd | suddenly waking up from a nightmare, you are somewhere else.
Floyd |
Floyd | And a little dwarf is in the room with you.
Floyd |
Floyd | **********************************************************************

Floyd | **********
Floyd |
Floyd | He's relatively young, as dwarves go; only about a hundred or so. At
Floyd | first he starts, surprised to meet a human one-on-one, but he quickly
Floyd | remembers his manners, and, doffing his miner's helmet, bows low.
Floyd | "Duran son of Czadhan, at your service."

Floyd |
Floyd | You return the bow to the extent your heavy sack will allow. "Isqui,
Floyd | at yours."
Floyd |
Floyd | "By the load you bear," says he, indicating his own bulging backpack,
Floyd | "I see the factors that brought me to scenic Wyrmsworth Caverns have

Floyd | been at work upon you as well."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Love of the underground realms," you reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran nods, and, with a twinkle in his eye, acknowledges the one
Floyd | strongest commonality, so often unstated, between human and dwarf.

Floyd |
Floyd | "And greed."
Floyd |
Floyd | Slate Room
Floyd | The floor of this room is covered with shattered pieces of slate,
Floyd | peeled off from the ceiling above. The glow of your lantern is

Floyd | swallowed up by the dark material of which the ceiling, floor, and
Floyd | walls are made. There is a wide, rounded portal to the northwest, a
Floyd | narrower entrance to the south, and a passage to the north which opens
Floyd | up after a little way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran the dwarf stands beside you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask duran about lantern" 		
	

Floyd | "Nice brass."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask duran about slate" 		
	

Floyd | "Fairly low-grade slate."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "I could go around asking Duran about everything but that might not be productive" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "ask duran about orthoclase" 		
	

Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran rests his hand momentarily on the haft of his axe.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a wristwatch with compass (being worn)

Floyd |   a canister of vintage celluloid
Floyd |   a copy of the Clamshell Book
Floyd |   a Sack of Infinite Capacity (which is open)
Floyd |     a jade idol
Floyd |     the McGuffin
Floyd |   a brass lantern (providing light)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x wristwatch" 		
	

Floyd | A combination wristwatch and compass, indispensable for any
Floyd | adventurer. The current time is 184.50 AST.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x canister" 		
	

Floyd | A canister of celluloid, labeled "Nov. 1921 - B. Keaton." Not the sort
Floyd | of treasure one normally expects to find in a cave, but valuable

Floyd | nonetheless.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x copy" 		
	

Floyd | A white book with a blue spine, entitled "Dungeon Exploration".

Floyd | There's a picture of a giant clamshell on the cover, thus the
Floyd | nickname. Flipping through the book brings nothing to your eye that
Floyd | seems relevant to your current situation.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear echoing voices from the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x sack" 		
	

Floyd | The Sack of Infinite Capacity is truly a wondrous device. No matter
Floyd | how many things you put into it, it never fills or becomes too heavy
Floyd | to carry. The depressing thing is that this makes the sack much more

Floyd | valuable than just about anything you might find to put in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear echoing voices from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x idol" 		
	

Floyd | A jade idol of a great and terrible god, probably once an integral
Floyd | part of some ritual ceremony. Oh well, defilement is all in a day's
Floyd | work!
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear echoing voices from the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x mcguffin" 		
	

Floyd | It seems to shift under your gaze--now an ankh-shaped amulet, now the

Floyd | deed to an orphanage, now a piece of futuristic machinery. In another
Floyd | world, perhaps, this item would complete your quest. Now, however, it
Floyd | is merely one of many treasures you wish to find.
Floyd |
Floyd | A group of tourists, led by a trollish guide, enters from the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | Duran strokes his beard a moment in thought.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x tourists" 		
	

Floyd | A group of fat, belching tourists congregates around a frazzled

Floyd | trollish tour guide who reluctantly explains the wonders of
Floyd | treasure-laden Wyrmsworth Caverns. Most of the tourists are dwarves or
Floyd | orcs, and each appears to have won his or her local Loudest Hawaiian
Floyd | Shirt competition before moving on to the regionals here in the cave.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The slate room, here, was once a mine which provided much of the

Floyd | state's slate, from 1941 until the cave complex was made a national
Floyd | park in 1973."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x troll" 		
	

Floyd | A young bleary-eyed troll points out interesting formations to the
Floyd | spellbound tourists, occasionally dropping hints relating to the
Floyd | wondrous treasures to be found in the Wyrmsworth complex. His
Floyd | flip-flop sandals slap against the cave floor as he walks slowly
Floyd | backwards, gesturing and pointing.
Floyd |

Floyd | A dwarvish child trips over a thick slab of slate, skinning her knees.
Floyd | The guide and the child's parents help her up and dust her off.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Um, to the northwest, here," says the guide, "we have one of the most
Floyd | spectacular sights to grace Wyrmsworth Caverns."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The tour leaves to the northwest.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Tourists!" Duran snorts derisively, lowering his voice. "They come to
Floyd | the caverns and what do they do? They take pictures! I don't know why
Floyd | the cave trolls put up with it. These orcs and Southern dwarves know
Floyd | nothing of a good adventure."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Geode Room
Floyd | The large quartz crystals that cover the rounded walls of this small

Floyd | room give you the feeling of being inside an oversized geode. The
Floyd | lamplight reflects, and reflects, and reflects again from the
Floyd | glittering display that surrounds you. The crystals are clear near the
Floyd | ceiling at the far end of the room, but gradually take on a purplish
Floyd | sheen towards the exit to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | A group of tourists sloughs its way through the caverns.
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is what we call the 'geode room', because it resembles the
Floyd | inside of a geode. It's not really a geode, though. The quartzite
Floyd | crystals are part of a quartz vein that runs through this area, and
Floyd | were caused by dwaeomer-oxidization as this whole section of rock was

Floyd | undergoing magical erosion about twenty thousand years ago."
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran whistles appreciatively at the crystals, even though they are
Floyd | valueless quartz. Apparently dwarves can appreciate beauty even
Floyd | unalloyed by riches.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Taleslinger arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. 		maga says, "hey Tale" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x crystals" 		
	

Floyd | Myriad glittering crystals cover the walls and ceiling of this room.

Floyd | An awesome sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'd like to point out that the stunning beauty of the geode room is
Floyd | reminiscent of the great riches that are hidden within Wyrmsworth,
Floyd | waiting to be discovered by intrepid adventurers. In fact, as recently
Floyd | as 1996, a diamond the size of a cockatoo's egg was found near here."

Floyd | The guide pauses, searching his audience for signs of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask guide about diamond" 		
	

Floyd | "The Cockatoo's Egg Diamond is a flawless blue diamond, considered

Floyd | priceless by many," says the guide. "It's indicative of the many
Floyd | treasures still to be found in the caves." He gives you a theatrical
Floyd | wink.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well," says the guide. "This is just about the halfway point on our
Floyd | tour... follow me, please."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "Hey, folks. Small group today." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The tour leaves to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Slate Room
Floyd | The floor of this room is covered with shattered pieces of slate,
Floyd | peeled off from the ceiling above. The glow of your lantern is
Floyd | swallowed up by the dark material of which the ceiling, floor, and
Floyd | walls are made. There is a wide, rounded portal to the northwest, a

Floyd | narrower entrance to the south, and a passage to the north which opens
Floyd | up after a little way.
Floyd |
Floyd | A group of tourists sloughs its way through the caverns.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Will we be seeing any stalagmites on this tour?", asks an elderly

Floyd | orc.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask guide about stalagmites" 		
	

Floyd | "Those form on the cave floor."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yes, of course," says the guide. "After all, what would a cave tour
Floyd | be without stalagmites? Actually, we're on our way to the stalagmites
Floyd | right now, if you'll just follow me up this slope." The guide glances

Floyd | behind him, not anxious to trip over a chunk of slate as he walks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "bah, I forget which were the funny ones" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "take slate" 		
	

Floyd | The slate stains your fingers, and is insufficiently valuable to carry
Floyd | around anyway.
Floyd |
Floyd | The tour leaves to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "s" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the Bridge
Floyd | You are in a chasm, studded with stalagmites, running from the north
Floyd | to the southeast. A swaying rope bridge runs from west to east, far

Floyd | above your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | A group of tourists sloughs its way through the caverns.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Here are, uh, the stalagmites," says the guide, waving in their
Floyd | direction. "These were formed by gradual accretion of--"

Floyd |
Floyd | "Excuse me," says an elf, pointing a delicate finger toward a
Floyd | stalagmite nearly as tall and thin as she is, "I thought these were
Floyd | stalactites, these on the bottom."
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "who's duran?" 	
			maga says, "our dwarf friend" 	
			maga says, "and fellow plunderer of treasure" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "x slalagmites" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x stalagmites" 		
	

Floyd | Which do you mean, the nondescript stalagmites or Stalagmite 13?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "13" 		
	

Floyd | A particularly large stalagmite. Apart from its size and the crude
Floyd | "13" carved into it, it is unremarkable.
Floyd |
Floyd | "No, that's a common misconception," says the troll. "Stalactites are
Floyd | formations that accrete from the ceiling. Stalagmites are those that
Floyd | accrete on the cave floor, such as this one, Stalagmite 13."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask troll about 13" 		
	

Floyd | "No one knows the real meaning of the carving. Or if they do, they're
Floyd | not telling."

Floyd |
Floyd | "This chasm we're in extends a little to the south," says the guide,
Floyd | pointing down the narrowing gulf. "Er, southeast, I suppose. But we'd
Floyd | never all fit down there, so this is as far as we'll go there. We'll
Floyd | start making our way back to the stairs, now."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x bridge" 		
	

Floyd | Made of ropes and wood, the bridge sways high above your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | The tour leaves to the north.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger asks, "can we sneak away?" 	
	Taleslinger says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Chasm End
Floyd | The chasm ends here, its walls narrowing to nothing. You can only
Floyd | proceed back to the northwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | There are rare stamps here!
Floyd |

Floyd | Duran follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "we're only following the tour because we're trying to see what they do, yeah" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "take stamps" 		
	

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x stamps" 		
	

Floyd | Misprints, first-day covers, you name it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran takes a lump of coal out of his pocket and offers you a piece.
Floyd | When you decline, he shrugs and bites into it, chewing with gusto.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Taleslinger says, "oops, sorry" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Under the Bridge
Floyd | You are in a chasm, studded with stalagmites, running from the north

Floyd | to the southeast. A swaying rope bridge runs from west to east, far
Floyd | above your head.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Slate Room
Floyd | The floor of this room is covered with shattered pieces of slate,
Floyd | peeled off from the ceiling above. The glow of your lantern is

Floyd | swallowed up by the dark material of which the ceiling, floor, and
Floyd | walls are made. There is a wide, rounded portal to the northwest, a
Floyd | narrower entrance to the south, and a passage to the north which opens
Floyd | up after a little way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Geode Room

Floyd | The large quartz crystals that cover the rounded walls of this small
Floyd | room give you the feeling of being inside an oversized geode. The
Floyd | lamplight reflects, and reflects, and reflects again from the
Floyd | glittering display that surrounds you. The crystals are clear near the
Floyd | ceiling at the far end of the room, but gradually take on a purplish
Floyd | sheen towards the exit to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Slate Room
Floyd | The floor of this room is covered with shattered pieces of slate,
Floyd | peeled off from the ceiling above. The glow of your lantern is
Floyd | swallowed up by the dark material of which the ceiling, floor, and
Floyd | walls are made. There is a wide, rounded portal to the northwest, a

Floyd | narrower entrance to the south, and a passage to the north which opens
Floyd | up after a little way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "n" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Huge Room
Floyd | This room is so large, it makes you claustrophobic. You cannot help
Floyd | but think how far underground you must be, that a cave ceiling might

Floyd | be so impossibly high without opening to blue sky. The tremendous mass
Floyd | of empty air above you seems to press harder than mere rock ever
Floyd | could. But you cannot look away, for running down the walls are
Floyd | breathtaking waterfalls of stone, enormous calcite formations that
Floyd | seem to have been formed from the discarded candles of a million
Floyd | million visitors. Sloping arches form stone awnings over paths to the

Floyd | south and northeast, and a tight crawl leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear echoing voices from the northeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | As Duran enters the room, he lets out a chuckling roar. "By the
Floyd | gods!", he murmurs. "This splendid room would make a dining hall

Floyd | worthy of the dwarves of old!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Winding Stairway
Floyd | A winding stairway reaches up into the blackness here. Another natural
Floyd | chimney; about a hundred feet up, it opens up to a large room to the
Floyd | southwest (accessible to you through an arch). Far above you, you can
Floyd | hear the sounds of someone, as yet invisible, slowly rappeling down.
Floyd |

Floyd | A group of tourists sloughs its way through the caverns.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the old tour group begins to disappear into the darkness above, the
Floyd | new guide clears his throat, preparing to begin his tour.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "u" 		
	

Floyd | You and Duran climb the stairway for several minutes, but seem no
Floyd | closer to the cave exit than before. Winded, the two of you rest a

Floyd | while and come back down.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay," says the new guide, "here we are near the winding stair, where
Floyd | our tour of the lower levels will begin and end -- should take about
Floyd | thirty turns."
Floyd |

Floyd | Duran rests his hand momentarily on the haft of his axe.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Huge Room
Floyd | This room is so large, it makes you claustrophobic. You cannot help
Floyd | but think how far underground you must be, that a cave ceiling might
Floyd | be so impossibly high without opening to blue sky. The tremendous mass
Floyd | of empty air above you seems to press harder than mere rock ever
Floyd | could. But you cannot look away, for running down the walls are

Floyd | breathtaking waterfalls of stone, enormous calcite formations that
Floyd | seem to have been formed from the discarded candles of a million
Floyd | million visitors. Sloping arches form stone awnings over paths to the
Floyd | south and northeast, and a tight crawl leads west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear echoing voices from the northeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | East-West Crawl
Floyd | A stooped, gravely crawl that tightens to the west. The sloping tunnel
Floyd | at the west end would be impassable for an adult, but a determined
Floyd | eleven-year-old should be able to squeeze through it. (What luck! You
Floyd | happen to be a determined eleven-year-old!) Even if you weren't, you'd

Floyd | still be able to back out to the east, where the crawl abruptly opens
Floyd | up into a much larger room.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a bowling trophy here!
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "take bowling trophy" 		
	

Floyd | (putting the rare stamps into the Sack of Infinite Capacity to make
Floyd | room)

Floyd | (putting the canister of vintage celluloid into the Sack of Infinite
Floyd | Capacity to make room)
Floyd | (putting the copy of the Clamshell Book into the Sack of Infinite
Floyd | Capacity to make room)
Floyd | (taking the rare stamps back out of the Sack of Infinite Capacity
Floyd | because we didn't really need that much room after all)

Floyd | (taking the canister of vintage celluloid back out of the Sack of
Floyd | Infinite Capacity because we didn't really need that much room after
Floyd | all)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "ha ha oh dear" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "w" 		
	

Floyd | You and Duran scramble through a short crawl, and find yourselves...
Floyd |
Floyd | On The Ledge

Floyd | Few people ever visit this subterranean clifftop, since few can get
Floyd | here in the first place--the wandering children of tourists, perhaps,
Floyd | or of the trolls who inhabit these caves. Hopefully, none are too
Floyd | young to know that those who play too close to the edges of cliffs
Floyd | inevitably end up as object lessons to others.
Floyd |

Floyd | About thirty feet below, your light glints off metal. There's no way
Floyd | down there, though; only east into a tight crawl.
Floyd |
Floyd | A rusted iron hook protrudes from the wall above the cliff.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran leans over the ledge, shining his headlamp into the murky

Floyd | darkness below. "Gold!" he exclaims, rubbing his hands together.
Floyd | "Thousands of points worth!"
Floyd |
Floyd | The dwarf pulls a coil of rope from his backpack. "I knew this would
Floyd | come in handy," he says, hefting the coil in his hands.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x hook" 		
	

Floyd | Oddly enough, this hook is a completely natural iron precipitation.
Floyd | Although rusty, its fusion to the rock wall stands any test of
Floyd | strength you can think to apply to it.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Perfect!", says Duran, spotting the iron hook and gauging the
Floyd | distance between it and the cliff bottom. "I'll just tie rope to hook,
Floyd | here..." Hastily tying a loop into one end of the rope, Duran slips it
Floyd | over the hook and begins to tighten the knot.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran peers at the rope in his hands, which has inexplicably slipped

Floyd | off the hook and become untied. "That's odd..." Retying the knot,
Floyd | Duran mutters the incantation "Tie rope to hook!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Again Duran finds himself holding an untied knot. "Okay, let's try
Floyd | another one," he mutters. "Put rope on hook!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "z" 		
	

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran looks dismayed, and pokes at his ill-behaved rope. "That's
Floyd | always worked before," he mutters, "so there can't be anything wrong

Floyd | with the rope. Don't worry, I'll figure it out."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "fasten rope to hook" 		
	

Floyd | Duran shrugs and hands you the rope. You quickly tie a rudimentary

Floyd | knot and loop it over the hook. Amazingly, the knot holds!
Floyd |
Floyd | "Astounding!" exclaims Duran. "'Fasten'--who would have thought?"
Floyd |
Floyd | Duran gestures at the rope.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "climb rope" 		
	

Floyd | You shimmy down the rope, Duran following you...
Floyd |
Floyd | Bottom of Cliff

Floyd | A cliff looms above you, here; you can ascend via a rope that dangles
Floyd | before you, or follow the pebbled path of an ancient and long dry
Floyd | waterway to the north or the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | There are many gold bars here!
Floyd |

Floyd | Duran drops off the rope and struts around, admiring the piles of
Floyd | gold. "Fabulous!", he exclaims, shaking your hand and insinuating a
Floyd | gold bar into your pack. "We make quite a team!" Excited, the young
Floyd | dwarf begins to sort the bars into two piles, but when he looks up,
Floyd | you are gone...
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | **********************************************************************
Floyd | **********
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth

Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the

Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its four equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a candy bar
Floyd |   a shiny trophy

Floyd |   your identity bracelet (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x candy bar" 		
	

Floyd | A sugar-packed Buttertonsils bar, in its characteristic golden

Floyd | wrapper. You're not sure how you got ahold of it, but they're not bad.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x trophy" 		
	

Floyd | A dented but shiny bowling trophy of bronze. Inscribed on the base are

Floyd | the words, "LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1992".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "give trophy to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | "You earned that trophy, you should keep it," says Lalrry.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "eat bar" 		
	

Floyd | The candy bar slides down your throat, and your stomach quickly is
Floyd | full.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "undo" 		
	

Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "give candy to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | Lalrry politely declines your offer.
Floyd |

Floyd | Lalrry mumbles to himself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "hrm. sorry; wanted to try that" 	
	Firion arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x wrapper" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion says, "Experimentation is what makes these games more interesting." 	
			maga asks, "so I suppose we need another quarter?" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of

Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the
Floyd | booth to the southeast.

Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its four equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW arrives, full of fun, but no funk. 		
	maga says (to Floyd), "eat bar" 		
	

Floyd | The candy bar slides down your throat, and your stomach quickly is
Floyd | full.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Verbs, prizes, fun!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:

Floyd |   a shiny trophy
Floyd |   your identity bracelet (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Firion does a double-take. "The description of the candy bar being eaten... That's from AGT..." 	
			maga says, "yeah, this is a game full of IF references" 	
			DavidW says, "yay" 	
	Gerynar arrives, full of funk, but no fun. 		Firion says, "Written in Inform no less I'd wager." 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "guess undo" 		
	

Floyd | "But I need a quarter from you before you can GUESS THE VERB!",
Floyd | stutters Lalrry suddenly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lalrry makes a long-winded, heartfelt speech which you can't
Floyd | understand at all.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "Sorry I overslept. Can anyone quickly recap?" 	
			maga says, "we are at the Guess the Verb booth. we have already played the dungeon level, but now we need a quarter to do the next one" 	
			DavidW asks, "Are we at a carnival or amusement park? Can we dance/caper/sing/panhandle for a quarter?" 	
			maga says, "yes, and we haven't tried that yet" 	
			DavidW asks, "And where did the previous one go? Can we steal that one back?" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "nw" 		
	

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Midway
Floyd | The lights and noise of the midway seem hollow and dull compared to

Floyd | the aura of excitement you felt at the verb guessing booth. You survey
Floyd | the sights around you as though through different eyes: the
Floyd | merry-go-round, the concession stand--they seem so pedestrian now. You
Floyd | feel a strange attraction pulling you back towards the southwest, as
Floyd | though a ham-handed author were trying to place hints into the room
Floyd | description that the game would progress a lot faster if you went back

Floyd | to the verb guessing booth already.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you really want to, though, you can go east to rejoin your parents
Floyd | and end the game.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't help but notice a small but obtrusive quarter shining

Floyd | machine squatting here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "dance" 		
	

Floyd | You perform a little jig. The producers of Riverdance won't be calling

Floyd | you anytime soon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "sing" 		
	

Floyd | Your singing is abominable.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "take quarter" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "caper" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machine" 		
	

Floyd | The quarter shining machine sits in the middle of a line of similar
Floyd | machines which accept coins of smaller denomination, like pennies, and
Floyd | do more interesting things to them, like smush them up and imprint
Floyd | them with touristy slogans. In the face of such intense competition,

Floyd | the quarter shining machine has taken to mimicry, hoping to trap
Floyd | unsuspecting coins intended for a less boring (if also less shiny)
Floyd | fate in another machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Its innards are exposed, an unnecessarily complicated mesh of shiny
Floyd | gears and pistons. A prominent notice on the side of the machine

Floyd | assures you with alarming urgency that the practice of quarter-shining
Floyd | is legal under federal statute BH-2510958. The coin tray has two
Floyd | quarter-shaped slots; the left one to contain payment and the right to
Floyd | contain the quarter you want shined and dropped into the receptacle
Floyd | near the bottom of the machine.
Floyd |

Floyd | The left coin slot is empty. The right coin slot is also empty. The
Floyd | receptacle is also also empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "kick machine" 		
	

Floyd | Violence isn't the answer to this one.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake machine" 		
	

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search machine" 		
	

Floyd | In the quarter shining machine are a small receptacle, a coin tray, a

Floyd | left coin slot and a right coin slot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coin tray" 		
	

Floyd | The coin tray has two slots for quarters. The left one contains

Floyd | payment for the shining service, the right contains the quarter to be
Floyd | shined.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "the other thing is that Lalrry has some switches on a box controlling him" 	
			DavidW says, "oho" 	
			maga says, "one of them makes him accept non-shiny quarters when it's switched off. we haven't figured out what the other one does" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" 		
	

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a shiny trophy

Floyd |   your identity bracelet (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x trophy" 		
	

Floyd | A dented but shiny bowling trophy of bronze. Inscribed on the base are

Floyd | the words, "LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1992".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "not going to spoil" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in it" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x id" 		
	

Floyd | A white plastic embarassment which your parents make you wear on those
Floyd | rare occasions on which you are allowed off on your own. In little red
Floyd | letters just above your wrist, it says "My name is _ISQUI_. In case of
Floyd | emergency, call my mother's cell phone at (210) 603-3999."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea asks, "but do you want a hint?" 	
			maga says, "maybe the other one makes him accept shiny things regardless of whether they're quarters or not" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x larrly" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		maga says, "he did say 'ugh! a tarnished!' when we had them the other way around" 	
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | The Midway

Floyd | The lights and noise of the midway seem hollow and dull compared to
Floyd | the aura of excitement you felt at the verb guessing booth. You survey
Floyd | the sights around you as though through different eyes: the
Floyd | merry-go-round, the concession stand--they seem so pedestrian now. You
Floyd | feel a strange attraction pulling you back towards the southwest, as
Floyd | though a ham-handed author were trying to place hints into the room

Floyd | description that the game would progress a lot faster if you went back
Floyd | to the verb guessing booth already.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you really want to, though, you can go east to rejoin your parents
Floyd | and end the game.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can't help but notice a small but obtrusive quarter shining
Floyd | machine squatting here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "sw" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".
Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for

Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the
Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its four equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:

Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "se" 		
	

Floyd |

Floyd | Behind the Booths
Floyd | You are in a shadowy alcove, surrounded by the canvas backs of several
Floyd | carnival booths. The music and bustle of the midway seems very far
Floyd | away, and a harvest moon illuminates the wet grass of the fairgrounds
Floyd | and the makeshift walls that surround you.
Floyd |

Floyd | The glinting tip of a small metal box peeks out from beneath the verb
Floyd | guessing booth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "x orange" 		
	

Floyd | It's orange.
Floyd | The orange switch is currently switched on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "turn orange off" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the LED suddenly goes dark.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "turn blue on" 		
	

Floyd | As you flip the switch, the LED suddenly lights up green.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "search grass" 		
	

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x booths" 		
	

Floyd | The canvas walls of the booths are constructed according to an ancient
Floyd | carnival ritual involving a variety of swear words and a certain

Floyd | amount of duct tape. They look a bit rickety, but they'll hold until
Floyd | the carnival moves on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read boots" 		
	

Floyd | (in the metal box)
Floyd | You discover nothing of interest in the metal box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "read booths" 		
	

Floyd | The canvas walls of the booths are constructed according to an ancient
Floyd | carnival ritual involving a variety of swear words and a certain
Floyd | amount of duct tape. They look a bit rickety, but they'll hold until
Floyd | the carnival moves on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" 		
	

Floyd | The metal box is about the size of a deck of cards and is decorated
Floyd | with black plastic trim. An LED and two switches (one orange, the
Floyd | other blue) are mounted on the front of the box, and a cord runs from
Floyd | either end up into the booth.

Floyd |
Floyd | The LED is currently dark. The blue switch is in the on position, and
Floyd | the orange switch is in the off position.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cord" 		
	

Floyd | The cords run from either end of a metal box up into the booth.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x blue switch" 		
	

Floyd | It's blue.
Floyd | The blue switch is currently switched on.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "ne" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".

Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the
Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its four equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	maga says (to Floyd), "give trophy to lalrry" 		
	

Floyd | Lalrry gladly takes the trophy from your outstretched hands. With the
Floyd | flair of a showman, he tosses it into the air and fails to notice as
Floyd | it crashes to the ground inside the booth. Stepping back, Lalrry
Floyd | indicates the wheel.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Guess a, any!", says Lalrry, indicating the wheel of fortune.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		maga says, "yay, we broke his nouns" 	
	Bert says (to Floyd), "l" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Verb Guessing Booth
Floyd | The cramped, brightly-lit booth before which you stand is the field of
Floyd | play for a carnival game with the improbable name of "Guess The Verb".

Floyd | Lalrry, the jovial natural language parser inside the booth,
Floyd | broadcasts a well-rehearsed patter promising great prizes and fun for
Floyd | all ages; high adventure and unbridled kleptomania. The rest of the
Floyd | carnival midway lies to the northeast, and you can scamper behind the
Floyd | booth to the southeast.
Floyd |

Floyd | A large wheel of fortune is attached to the booth behind the counter,
Floyd | each of its four equally-sized divisions labeled with a single word:
Floyd | SCRUTINIZE, RECONFIGURE, DISEMBARK, and UNDO.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Guess a, any!", says Lalrry, indicating the wheel of fortune.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		
	Bert says (to Floyd), "x trophy" 		
	

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "let's do Undo" 	
			Lucea says, "well, we don't have to" 	
			DavidW asks, "We don't spin the wheel?" 	
			maga says, "we guess, he spins" 	
			Lucea says, "oh, right" 	
	maga says (to Floyd), "guess undo" 		
	

Floyd | "Hey, good! And so spin the..."
Floyd |
Floyd | Lalrry gives the wheel a good push and it begins rapidly rotating,

Floyd | spinning faster now, now slowly winding down until it...stops...on...
Floyd |
Floyd |                   RECONFIGURE
Floyd |
Floyd | "Sorry!", says Lalrry with a shrug. "Better luck next!"
Floyd |

Floyd | You close your eyes and brace yourself for the fall you feel is
Floyd | inevitable. It isn't until your body fades away, leaving your
Floyd | consciousness without any eyelids to shield it, that you realize that
Floyd | you have been falling for quite a while. Before you have time to get
Floyd | properly panicked again, though, you are somewhere else.
Floyd |

Floyd | **********************************************************************
Floyd | **********
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | CSUA Lounge
Floyd | The UCLA Computer Science student lounge is a hacker's paradise: a

Floyd | line of Linux machines and X terminals runs parallel to the south and
Floyd | west wall, ending in a Windows machine and an old Macintosh (for
Floyd | contrarians) in the northwest corner. A couch makes the environment
Floyd | conducive to overnighters and software design bull sessions. The exit
Floyd | is to the east.
Floyd |

Floyd | Four computer geeks are here; Fred, Mark, Dan, and Leonard, by name.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see a rollable whiteboard here.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I have this bizarre feeling that I keep saying the same things over
Floyd | and over again," muses Dan. "And I know I've written this function

Floyd | before. Maybe there's something to Nietzsche's idea of eternal
Floyd | recurrence."
Floyd |
Floyd | Mark loads the Cruel Site of the Day into his web browser, and laughs
Floyd | hysterically.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

		Lucea says, "it's been a few years" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x fred" 		
	

Floyd | If a character as unlikely as Frederick Lee did not exist, it would be
Floyd | necessary to invent him. Computer science students are common enough,

Floyd | but Fred possesses that most uncommon trait among computer science
Floyd | students, a lust for free software. Indeed, he has gone so far as to
Floyd | swear eternal vengeance against any and all forms of proprietary
Floyd | code--a move previously unheard of. His thick glasses, buzz cut, and
Floyd | casual mode of dress give him a look unlike any nerd you have ever
Floyd | seen.

Floyd |
Floyd | Fred is currently logged into fire, sweating over the nameserver
Floyd | configuration.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Actually," Leonard confides to you, "this scenario setup is perfect.
Floyd | It lets me write a college game in the manner of Save Princeton

Floyd | without opening me up to charges of actually having written a college
Floyd | game."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Did I tell you about my internship with VA Linux?", asks Mark of the
Floyd | room in general. No one seems interested, and Mark soon goes back to
Floyd | his terminal.

Floyd |
Floyd | Dan toys with the idea of starting his paper on Berkeley, but decides
Floyd | against it. "It'd only disappear when I wasn't working on it," he says
Floyd | resignedly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x whiteboard" 		
	

Floyd | A rollable whiteboard, intended for scratch work, mounted on casters
Floyd | so as to be pushed about. It's covered with geometric diagrams on one
Floyd | side and the de facto API for a group project on the other. There is
Floyd | also a scoreboard of some sort: "DAN 7 LUG 2".

Floyd |
Floyd | "Okay, it should work now," says Fred.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mark types in a command and shakes his head. "Nope."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	Lucea says (to floyd), "x leonard" 		
	

Floyd | In addition to being a sensitive yet manly human being, Leonard
Floyd | Richardson is a musical genius and a coding god. This is primarily due
Floyd | to the fact that, as the author of this game, it fell upon him to
Floyd | write the previous sentence. His T-shirt advertises the Second Annual

Floyd | Lake Arrowhead Rubber Ducky Race (1988).
Floyd |
Floyd | Leonard is currently logged into rei, and is working on a text
Floyd | adventure which he hopes to enter in the 2000 Interactive Fiction
Floyd | Competition. At the moment he is attempting to program a random
Floyd | dialogue engine for four particularly fanciful characters.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I can't figure out what's wrong with the configuration," says Fred,
Floyd | pounding on fire's keyboard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		DavidW asks, "my. Self-reference or what?" 	
	Lucea says (to floyd), "ask leonard about himself" 		
	

Floyd |
Floyd | Leonard shrugs. "What's to say?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "What's the volume of the intersection of a cone and a circle?", asks

Floyd | Dan, in case someone has this fact memorized. No one has.
Floyd |
Floyd | "This part of the game is a little too self-referential for my taste,"
Floyd | says Leonard, indicating an especially indulgent monologue on his
Floyd | screen. "In fact, I shouldn't be here at UCLA in the first place,
Floyd | since I graduated before I even started this game--so did Adam,

Floyd | incidentally. But authorial self-insertion is a time-honored IF trope,
Floyd | and it seemed a shame to miss such a golden opportunity to make use of
Floyd | it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

		
	DavidW says (to Floyd), "x fire" 		
	

Floyd | fire.csua.ucla.edu is CSUA's main machine, and hosts hundreds of user
Floyd | accounts. From the way Fred keeps frantically switching between
Floyd | configuration files, you get the feeling that something is wrong with
Floyd | that machine.