From: esti@quads.uchicago.edu (Paul A. Estin)
Subject: Arty's Desert (was Re: To Smoke (was: Friends Forever) )
Reply-To: esti@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: U. Michigan Cognitive Psychology
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 20:10:52 GMT

In article <1992Sep29.020413.14695@tamsun.tamu.edu>
rlm7337@tamsun.tamu.edu (Richard L. Mcmahon) writes:

>I would also like to ask this (perhaps it will help): could those of
>you who knew the Artful Dodger post your fondest memory?  I would like
>to know what kind of man he was...I already know from the friends he
>kept that he was a great one.

Snark pipes up, "Well... I had some good conversations with him back
in spring, on HoloMuck mostly, but I'd rather post of an indirect
memory, one you all can share, of wandering through areas he built on
Holo..."

-----
This is an edited (to eliminate repetition) transcript of a walk
through the Great Sonoran Desert, which was built by Arty (Regan Scott
Pylman, aka the Artful Dodger) on HoloMuck...

over Desert and Shrub (8 N 75 E)(#670R)
Below you there is a desert-like area, but one which is punctuated by various
shrubs and small flora, and even a few small bodies of water.
NE: there is a region of short grass steppe.
E: the desert gets even drier and harsher.
SE: the hot desert stretches into the southern hemisphere.
S: a large sign blocks your view, with the message 'Most of the Southern
Hemisphere is under construction!'
W: there is a region of Dry Hills, which appear to be mere foothills to a
mountain range beyond.
NW: is a region of wooded steppe.
LAND: below, you can land in the Great Sonoran Desert.
[Obvious exits: ne, e, se, s, w, nw, land]

You land below...
The Great Sonoran Desert(#1430Rja)
You land near a giant Saguaro, a thirty foot monster which spreads
it's arms protectivly above a patch of jumping Cholla.
	There is a ring of mountains surrounding you, and it is the 
shadow of these which creates the desert here and to the east.
	A sign post shows the way to various points of intrest.
[Obvious exits: e, launch]
Contents:
sign(#4653)

The sign has several arrows, pointing in different directions.
E: Sabino Canyon, Mount Lemmon, Water seven miles.
S: Kitt Peak
W: Mount Grahm
N: The Devourer

You set your eyes on the mountains and begin to trudge.  At one point, you see
some desert pronghorns, but they vanish quickly.
Santa Catalina mountains(#4618R)
The mountains are purple with blooming Palo Verde.  A jack rabbit runs 
across the trail, and it startles you.  There's a canyon further east,
and a stream runs through the bottom of it.
[Obvious exits: e, w]
Contents:
sign near mountain(#13263)
Try climbing 'up' the mountain to the sky.  - the HoloMuck Tourist Board

You venture off the horse path, climbing the mountain.
Mount Lemmon(#3448Rn)
you stand atop the highest peak in the Santa Catalina chain. 
from here, you can see far out over the desert.  Golden Eagles circle,
watching you, warily.  
to the East, you can see the blowing sands and harsh conditions of 
the Arabian desert.  far in the distance, something black marks the 
horizon.  
To the west, the Great Sonoran Desert stretches to the White Mountains,
hundreds of miles away.  In the valley, you can see something moving.

you climb into the sky, guided by the power of your totem.
Sky(#6510Rn)
You stand in the great dome of the sky.  Arround you, great eagles
wheel, eyeing you suspiciously.  You see the track of the Sun,
and the Gates of the sunset, guarded by a Thunderbird.

You fall from the sky, coming to rest on the peak of Mount Lemmon.
Mount Lemmon(#3448Rn)

Santa Catalina mountains(#4618R)

You trudge through the loose soil, headed for the canyon, and the promise of
water.
Sabino Canyon(#4646R)
Here, a small river flows down from the mountains, fed by the snow melt-off.
There are Willows and Cottonwoods in the river bed.  Above, on the 
walls of the canyon, a profusion of Saguaros grow.
	You eat lunch near Hutch's pool.  It's about twenty degrees
cooler here than on the desert floor, but it's still hot enough for
the icy water to feel good when you go swimming.
	Further to the east is a saddle in the mountains, you suspect 
it might be a pass.
[Obvious exits: stream, e, w]

you strip off your clothes and dive into the pool.
Hutch's Pool(#5910Rn)
The cold water is a shock after the desert heat, but it feels good.
The pool is deep, possibly bottomless.

You climb out onto the beach.
Sabino Canyon(#4646R)

you walk along the stream bed, then head for the pass.
Don's Pass(#4669R)
The pass cuts through the Santa Catalina mountains, and as you walk, 
you realize you are crossing the edge of the rain shadow.  To the
east, it is dryer, and to the west, somewhat wetter.
[Obvious exits: e, w]
Contents:
A beautiful rose(#3338)
sign(#4813)
A beautiful rose grows out of the bottom of the sign, seemingly drawing its
sustenance from the memories generated here.
	This pass was named in honor of Don Pylman, Registered
Nurse, Viet Nam Veteran, and Father, who died in a bicycle accident
at Saguro National Monument on April 21st, 1989.

you head down to the foothills, carefully hoarding your water.
foothills(#4603R)
	Here, in the rain shadow of the Santa Catalina mountains, 
water is scarce.  
	There are a few Cholla, some prickly pear, and some sagebrush,
but looking east you know you'll need water to cross the burning sands.
	To the west you can see a horse path leading down from a pass.
[Obvious exits: e, w]

You foolishly press on into the burning sands, hoping you have enough water to
get you across...
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