The Best Man
by Rob Menke (2000)


action: %
response: Amazing! After all these years some girl finally got Jack to propose. All you need to do is hop on a commuter plane, get the big lug to the church on time, and zip back. Piece of cake...

Well, almost. Blasted El Ni?o has air traffic in an uproar. This daily commuter flight out of San Francisco was delayed three times, which will make life fun when you finally make it down to San Diego...

Airplane (on Seat 4B)
The airlines claim that planes are getting bigger, but you don't believe a word of it. This cramped cabin feels about as roomy as a culvert, and has approximately the same decor.

There is a door south and a small kitchenette north.

I beg your pardon?

Instructions and Hints for "The Best Man"
N = next subject                                        P = previous RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game

> How to play
Credits
Hints
action: Examine
response: Instructions and Hints for "The Best Man"
N = next subject                                        P = previous RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game

> Credits
Hints
action: Go north
response: You'll have to get off Seat 4B first.
action: About you
response: As good-looking as ever.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
action: You open the box
response: You open the small velvet box, revealing a diamond ring.

The plane shudders slightly.
action: You eat the ring
response: (first taking the diamond ring)
That's plainly inedible.
action: You examine the ring
response: What a rock! How did Jack ever afford such a thing?

*** PING ***

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing some minor turbulence. Please return to your seat and fasten your seat belts."
action: Scream
response: Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Feel better now? Good.

The passenger next to you awakes with a start.
action: You wear the ring
response: You put on the diamond ring.

"I hate flying," your seat-mate bemoans.
action: You examine the passenger
response: He's wide awake, gripping the armrests with white-knuckled fear. You find his fixed-forward stare somewhat disturbing.

The plane lurches hard to the left. Your stomach churns.

"I always wonder if I'll ever see my daughter again."
action: You kill yourself
response: Violence isn't the answer to this one.

"What would my wife do if I were to die?"
action: You ask the passenger about the flying
response: He's too busy babbling to pay any attention to you.

A bright blue flash illuminates the entire west side of the airplane, followed by the noise of a tremendous explosion. The wing is on fire!

For a brief moment, everything is silent as the situation slowly sinks into the minds of the passengers. Then pandemonium breaks out in the cabin as the plane goes into a near-vertical dive.

"It's all your fault, you know."

Your traveling companion turns to face you, and you recoil in horror. The left side of his face is horribly mutilated, the skin torn and burnt. The empty eye socket stares at you accusingly.

"Why did you have to survive? I had a family, a child... they depended on me! You had nothing! You were nothing, and you still are nothing!"

He leans forward, and you can smell the horrid odor of burnt flesh.

"Nothing..."

Crash positions be damned! You struggle at your seat belt, but the mechanism is jammed.

He's moving closer... reaching out... reaching toward you... the stumps of his fingers... twitching... touching you... shaking you...
action: You give the ring to Man
response: ...and you find yourself wrestling the station attendant.

"Sorry about that! Didn't mean to startle you, but by the sound of it you were having a dilly of a nightmare!

"Anyway, you best be going. I've written a note explaining the situation to the conductor; it's on the back of your ticket. Better hurry."

You take the ticket and a copy of the schedule and make your way out to the platform.
action: You examine ticket
response: Sole survivor syndrome.

That's what they call it. Psychological trauma after surviving an accident that killed so many others.

You still can't look at a plane without hearing the screaming or smelling the blood. The last time you tried to visit an airport-- just to pick up someone-- you left in an ambulance, catatonic.

Things were looking bad when the old rust bucket died this morning. The mechanic said that the earliest he could get to it was first thing Monday morning, and the rental agency just laughed when you asked if you could get a car on short notice for the weekend. Flight was out of the question for obvious reasons, but rail had existed far earlier than planes. So you found yourself pleading your case to a sympathetic station manager, who managed to squeeze you onto a special charter train direct to San Diego.

Two years ago, the wedding was postponed indefinitely by your accident. You are determined that that will not happen again. The sun is shining, the tracks are clear, and in a few hours you'll be the star of the show. Come Hell or high water, nothing is going to stop you from being...

An Interactive Action-Adventure

Car 3 (on seat 4B)
Trains haven't changed much in the last 40 years. You could just imagine a furtive Cary Grant slipping from car to car or a diabolic Robert Walker plotting fiendishly in some corner.

You can see the conductor here.
action: You hit the conductor
response: Violence isn't the answer to this one.

"Ticket, please."
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
a ticket
action: You read the ticket
response: It's a hastily scrawled message:

John,

The kid needs a ride down to San Diego. There should be a seat open on the Special. Just keep quiet about it and no one will be the wiser.

The conductor is getting impatient.
action: Examine
response: (the conductor)
He's a handsome man, about 50, with an immaculate uniform. He stands straight and proud, driven by the conviction that he has an important job and that he does it very well.

A small twitch near the side of his mouth hints at impatience.
action: You open the box
response: You open the small velvet box, revealing a diamond ring.

The conductor is getting very impatient.
action: You give ring to the conductor
response: (first taking the diamond ring)
The conductor politely refuses your offer of marriage. Besides, it's not your ring to give.

"Very well, you leave me no choice."

He blows his whistle three times. Suddenly you are surrounded by burly security guards, who escort you unceremoniously off the train.

All for the best, it turns out. Only a few hours later, all of southern California is irradiated in a nuclear accident.
action: You show ring to him
response: Please give one of the answers above.
action: You give the ticket to the conductor
response: (first taking the ticket)
The conductor reads the back of the ticket quickly. "Ah, that explains why you're not on my list."

CLUNK. The conductor punches the ticket and returns it you.

He walks north to the next car.
action: You give the ticket to the conductor
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You read the ticket
response: It's a hastily scrawled message:

John,

The kid needs a ride down to San Diego. There should be a seat open on the Special. Just keep quiet about it and no one will be the wiser.
action: You go inside
response: You'll have to get off seat 4B first.
action: You look around
response: Car 3 (on seat 4B)
Trains haven't changed much in the last 40 years. You could just imagine a furtive Cary Grant slipping from car to car or a diabolic Robert Walker plotting fiendishly in some corner.
action: You examine the schedule
response: It's a hastily-printed train schedule, a photocopy smudged to near illegibility by your sweaty hands.

"Whoops!"

One of the reporters was walking down the aisle with a large cup of coffee when the train jerked. Guess who was unlucky enough to be in front of him when that happened?

You better do something about this stain. While your jacket isn't especially stylish, it would look bad to show up dressed like a bum.
action: You examine jacket
response: Threadbare, but serviceable. Better clothes await you in San Diego, which is good as these have a nasty stain. Inside the pocket you see a small velvet box (in which is a diamond ring) and a train schedule.
action: You stand up
response: You get off seat 4B.
action: You go north
response: Car 3, Aft
This tiny space near the junction to the next car is unremarkable, save the cramped stairway to the upper level and the door to the tiny lavatory west.

The closed door says "Unoccupied."
action: You open the door then W
response: You open the lavatory door.

This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The exit is east.
action: You cut the window with the ring
response: (first taking the diamond ring)
Cutting that up would achieve little.
action: You examine the sink
response: A small stainless-steel sink.
action: You turn on the sink
response: You turn on the faucet, allowing water to flow into the sink.
action: You turn on the light
response: A cursory glance around the room fails to reveal a visible switch.
action: You examine the door
response: It's a lavatory door, with a sliding bolt that changes the indicator on the outside from "Unoccupied" to "Occupied." High-tech stuff.
action: You lock the door
response: You click the door lock, and watch the little window change from "Unoccupied" to "Occupied" momentarily. Some spring mechanism in the door prevents you from keeping it locked while the door is open, however.
action: You drink yourself to the death
response: You can't see any such thing.

I only understood you as far as wanting to drink yourself.
action: Light
response: What do you want to light?
action: You examine the light
response: The light fixture is dark.

The flow from the faucet stops suddenly. (It must have one of those spring valves to prevent waste.)
action: You close the door
response: You close the lavatory door.

Suddenly, a group of armed terrorists takes over the train. In the resulting confusion, you are "accidentally" shot, adding a rather nasty bloodstain to the coffee stain already on your old jacket.
action: You stand
response: You get off Seat 4B.

*** PING ***

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing some minor turbulence. Please return to your seat and fasten your seat belts."
action: You go north
response: You wander towards the back. After hovering around the galley for a bit, you return to the cabin.

A flight attendant rushes up, escorts you back to your seat, clips you in, then disappears.

Airplane (on Seat 4B)
The airlines claim that planes are getting bigger, but you don't believe a word of it. This cramped cabin feels about as roomy as a culvert, and has approximately the same decor.

There is a door south and a small kitchenette north.

The passenger next to you awakes with a start.
action: Kiss passenger
response: He's too busy babbling to pay any attention to you.

"I hate flying," your seat-mate bemoans.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

The plane lurches hard to the left. Your stomach churns.

"I always wonder if I'll ever see my daughter again."
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

"What would my wife do if I were to die?"
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A bright blue flash illuminates the entire west side of the airplane, followed by the noise of a tremendous explosion. The wing is on fire!

For a brief moment, everything is silent as the situation slowly sinks into the minds of the passengers. Then pandemonium breaks out in the cabin as the plane goes into a near-vertical dive.

"It's all your fault, you know."

Your traveling companion turns to face you, and you recoil in horror. The left side of his face is horribly mutilated, the skin torn and burnt. The empty eye socket stares at you accusingly.

"Why did you have to survive? I had a family, a child... they depended on me! You had nothing! You were nothing, and you still are nothing!"

He leans forward, and you can smell the horrid odor of burnt flesh.

"Nothing..."

Crash positions be damned! You struggle at your seat belt, but the mechanism is jammed.

He's moving closer... reaching out... reaching toward you... the stumps of his fingers... twitching... touching you... shaking you...
action: Wait
response: ...and you find yourself wrestling the station attendant.

"Sorry about that! Didn't mean to startle you, but by the sound of it you were having a dilly of a nightmare!

"Anyway, you best be going. I've written a note explaining the situation to the conductor; it's on the back of your ticket. Better hurry."

You take the ticket and a copy of the schedule and make your way out to the platform.
action: You show the ticket to the conductor
response: Sole survivor syndrome.

That's what they call it. Psychological trauma after surviving an accident that killed so many others.

You still can't look at a plane without hearing the screaming or smelling the blood. The last time you tried to visit an airport-- just to pick up someone-- you left in an ambulance, catatonic.

Things were looking bad when the old rust bucket died this morning. The mechanic said that the earliest he could get to it was first thing Monday morning, and the rental agency just laughed when you asked if you could get a car on short notice for the weekend. Flight was out of the question for obvious reasons, but rail had existed far earlier than planes. So you found yourself pleading your case to a sympathetic station manager, who managed to squeeze you onto a special charter train direct to San Diego.

Two years ago, the wedding was postponed indefinitely by your accident. You are determined that that will not happen again. The sun is shining, the tracks are clear, and in a few hours you'll be the star of the show. Come Hell or high water, nothing is going to stop you from being...

An Interactive Action-Adventure

Car 3 (on seat 4B)
Trains haven't changed much in the last 40 years. You could just imagine a furtive Cary Grant slipping from car to car or a diabolic Robert Walker plotting fiendishly in some corner.

You can see the conductor here.
action: You show the ticket to the conductor
response: (first taking the ticket)
"That's the one."

"Ticket, please."
action: You show the ticket to the conductor
response: "That's the one."
action: You give the ticket
response: (to the conductor)
The conductor reads the back of the ticket quickly. "Ah, that explains why you're not on my list."

CLUNK. The conductor punches the ticket and returns it you.

He walks north to the next car.
action: You go to the north
response: "Whoops!"

Oh dear, it seems that you bumped into a young man carrying an open container of coffee, most of which is now decorating the front of your jacket.

Car 3, Aft
This tiny space near the junction to the next car is unremarkable, save the cramped stairway to the upper level and the door to the tiny lavatory west.

The closed door says "Unoccupied."
action: You close the door
response: You close the lavatory door.
action: You lock the door
response: The light above the sink flickers, then glows.

There seems to be a commotion outside.
action: Wash jacket
response: Alas, all you do is spread the stain slightly. This job requires water.

Wait... was that gunfire...?
action: You turn on the sink
response: You turn on the faucet, allowing water to flow into the sink.

Your Russian may be rusty, but a voice definitely said, "Sergei, check the toilets."
action: You look at the window
response: It's a small window, but if you were feeling suicidal, you could probably squeeze through it. That's a pretty big if...

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door and you.
action: You get on the floor
response: You can't go that way.

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door and you.
action: You enter the window
response: You can't, since the lavatory window is in the way.

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door and you.
action: You open the window
response: You open the lavatory window.

Wait... was that gunfire...?
action: You enter the window
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.

Your Russian may be rusty, but a voice definitely said, "Sergei, check the toilets."
action: You jump
response: You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door, the thin metal wall of the car, and you.
action: Go upward
response: Unfortunately, there are more than a few missing rungs in this ladder, making the roof of the car inaccessible.

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door, the thin metal wall of the car, and you.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door, the thin metal wall of the car, and you.
action: You open the window
response: You open the lavatory window.

The door rattles for a second as the gunman tries to get in. Frustrated, he fires off a dozen bullets which pass easily through the door and you.
action: You open the window
response: You open the lavatory window.
action: You leave
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.
action: Go upwards
response: Unfortunately, there are more than a few missing rungs in this ladder, making the roof of the car inaccessible.
action: You go to the west
response: That looks like a particularly unsafe direction to go.
action: You go to the east
response: The exit is east.
action: Go east
response: Car 3, Aft

The lavatory door is open.
action: Go upwards
response: All the seats in the upper deck are filled.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a punched ticket
a stained sport coat (being worn)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You search the coat
response: In the stained sport coat are a small velvet box and a train schedule.
action: You unlock door
response: The fluorescent light goes off.

Wait... was that gunfire...?
action: You go outside
response: Your Russian may be rusty, but a voice definitely said, "Sergei, check the toilets."
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A voice outside the door says, "Empty."
action: Look around
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.

The screams have died down, so the gunmen have decided to start the usual diatribe. "We now control this train... if you cooperate, you will be spared... attempt tricks and you will die..."
action: Go downward
response: It isn't that hopeless yet.

"Is everyone here?"

"Everyone was here or in the press car," the conductor replies, strangely calm. "As you can see, everyone in this car is also on this list."

"Da..."
action: You enter
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The door is closed.

"Sergei, did you check the toilets?"

"Da, I checked the toilets."

"Did you check inside the toilets?

There is a momentary pause, followed by a low curse.
action: Go outside
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.

"Ready?" asks a voice outside.
action: Go downward
response: It isn't that hopeless yet.

The door explodes inward.

"Good, nobody here."

The door is closed again.
action: Go inside
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The door is closed.

"Take everyone to the last car."

There is the sound of marching outside the door, then silence.
action: Wash jacket
response: Alas, all you do is spread the stain slightly. This job requires water.
action: You open the door
response: You open the lavatory door.
action: Go inside
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The exit is east.

Water is flowing into the sink.
action: You go east
response: Car 3, Aft
This tiny space near the junction to the next car is unremarkable, save the cramped stairway to the upper level and the door to the tiny lavatory west.

The lavatory door is open.
action: You go south
response: Without any passengers, this car takes on a definite tomb-like atmosphere. A sealed passageway leads south, while the junction to the next car leads north.
action: You go south
response: The metal plate sealing the door prevents movement south.
action: Go up
response: Better not. It would be very easy to be trapped up there.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

The train just rushed past the Salinas station.

The door to car 3 slides shut.
action: You examine the schedule
response: It's a hastily-printed train schedule, a photocopy smudged to near illegibility by your sweaty hands.
action: You read the schedule
response: Salinas                        1:11 pm
Paso Robles                    2:48 pm
San Luis Obispo                3:27 pm
Santa Barbara                  5:24 pm
Oxnard                         6:01 pm
Simi Valley                    6:31 pm
Glendale                       7:02 pm
Los Angeles                    7:08 pm
Fullerton                      7:34 pm
Anaheim                        7:40 pm
Santa Ana                      7:44 pm
Irvine                         7:54 pm
San Juan Capistrano            8:06 pm
Escondido                      8:20 pm
action: Go north
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Fore
So this is the press car. Big deal. It's just a modified sleeper, with the compartments converted into miniature offices for the reporters. Compartments lie east and west, while the rest of the car lies north and the exit from this car is south.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go to the east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: You examine computer
response: It's an ancient VT100 terminal, which belongs more in a museum than in an office. These things haven't been used for, what, 50 years?

The computer terminal is currently switched off.
action: You switch on terminal
response: The computer comes to life, goes through its complex bootstrap procedure, then asks you for a user name and password. You turn the machine off in disgust.
action: You go to the west
response: Car 4, Fore
So this is the press car. Big deal. It's just a modified sleeper, with the compartments converted into miniature offices for the reporters. Compartments lie east and west, while the rest of the car lies north and the exit from this car is south.
action: You go to the west
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies east.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, a quiet hum emanating from its fan.
action: You examine computer
response: You start to approach the computer when suddenly a huge spider on the keyboard attacks you!

This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies east.

After you've gathered your wits together, you notice that the "spider" is actually a piece of black paper folded into the shape of a spider. Obviously one of the reporters was bored and decided to play a little prank.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, a quiet hum emanating from its fan.
action: You examine the spider
response: (A description of Wolfie is included in your game package.)

It's an origami wolf spider.
action: You get the spider
response: Taken.
action: Open spider
response: You'd never get him back together again.
action: You look at the computer
response: It's an ancient VT100 terminal, which belongs more in a museum than in an office. These things haven't been used for, what, 50 years?

A completely incomprehensible text editing program dominates the screen.
The computer terminal is currently switched on.
action: Go north
response: Car 4, Mid
The middle of the press car is even less interesting than the rest. Compartments are to either side of you, and the rest of the car lies south and north.
action: You go to the east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: Go west
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies east.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: Go north
response: Car 4, Aft
The north section of the car is a tight squeeze. Another compartment lies east, while the exit from the car lies to the north.

The lavatory door is closed.
action: You go to the east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: You open the door
response: (the lavatory door)
You open the lavatory door.
action: You go west
response: This lavatory has been converted into a makeshift darkroom. (I guess some photographers haven't joined the "digital revolution.") All the windows have been painted black, a loose conglomeration of items rest on a crude shelf, while a workbench sits under a naked electrical fixture.

The darkroom door allows exit east.
action: You get all
response: darkroom door: That's fixed in place.
faucet: That's fixed in place.
sink: That's fixed in place.
light bulb socket: That's fixed in place.
shelf: That's hardly portable.
workbench: That's hardly portable.
action: You get all from the shelf
response: As far as you can tell, it's just junk.
action: You search the junk
response: On the shelf are a bottle of hydroxide, a bottle of acid and a bottle of developing fluid.
action: You look at the bench
response: A makeshift wooden table, stained with chemicals.
action: You remove the bulb
response: (first taking the strange red bulb)
(putting the punched ticket into the stained sport coat to make room) You unscrew the strange red bulb from the light bulb socket.
action: You get all from the shelf
response: bottle of hydroxide: (putting Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers) into the stained sport coat to make room)
Removed.
bottle of acid: (putting the strange red bulb into the stained sport coat to make room)
Removed.
bottle of developing fluid: (putting the bottle of hydroxide into the stained sport coat to make room)
Removed.
miscellaneous junk: The rest of the stuff is just junk.
action: You look under bench
response: A glass tube rolls out from under the workbench.
action: You examine tube
response: A small glass tube used for protecting dry chemicals. There's a label on the tube.
action: You read label
response: The label reads LITMUS.
action: You examine the bulb
response: It's a light bulb that has been painted with a clear red enamel.
action: You search the coat
response: In the stained sport coat are a bottle of hydroxide, a strange red bulb, Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers), a punched ticket, a small velvet box and a train schedule.
action: Go east
response: Car 4, Aft
The north section of the car is a tight squeeze. Another compartment lies east, while the exit from the car lies to the north.

The darkroom door is west.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: You look at the floor
response: Something felt wobbly when you stepped into this area, and a quick investigation reveals the answer. It's a metal access panel embedded in the floor of the train, with a sawtooth-edge that makes it almost invisible against the pattern of the floor.
action: You look at the panel
response: It's a metal access panel embedded in the floor of the train, with a sawtooth-edge that makes it almost invisible against the pattern of the floor.
action: You open the panel
response: You open the maintenance access hatch.
action: Go down
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut after you pass through.)

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: You pull the lever
response: It's stuck tight.
action: You pour the acid on the lever
response: The bottle of acid is closed.
action: You open the bottle
response: Which do you mean, the bottle of developing fluid, the bottle of acid or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: Acid
response: You open the bottle of acid.
action: Examine acid
response: A dark glass bottle with a screw cap. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.
action: You go south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Aft
The north section of the car is a tight squeeze. Another compartment lies east, while the exit from the car lies to the north.

The darkroom door is west.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You get all
response: darkroom door: That's fixed in place.
door to the car junction: That's hardly portable.
action: You go to the east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: All
response: Sorry, you can only have one item here. Which exactly?
action: You go to the west
response: This lavatory has been converted into a makeshift darkroom. (I guess some photographers haven't joined the "digital revolution.") All the windows have been painted black, a loose conglomeration of items rest on a crude shelf, while a workbench sits under a naked electrical fixture.

The darkroom door allows exit east.

You can also see a small plastic tube (which is closed) (in which is some litmus powder) here.
action: You get the shelf
response: That's hardly portable.
action: You examine fixture
response: The light bulb socket is empty.
action: You take the fan
response: That's fixed in place.
action: You turn on the computer
response: That's already on.
action: You go north
response: Car 4, Mid
The middle of the press car is even less interesting than the rest. Compartments are to either side of you, and the rest of the car lies south and north.

The train just rumbled past the Paso Robles station.
action: You drop all
response: bottle of developing fluid: Dropped.
bottle of acid: Dropped.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: Go down
response: You are unable to descend by the maintenance access hatch.
action: You go to the south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 4, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You go to the south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 2, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

The train just rumbled through the San Luis Obispo station.
action: You go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 4, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: Go upwards
response: You can't go that way.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 6, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

There is the nervous shuffling of feet above you.
action: Go north
response: This is the last car of the train. (It's a special, remember?)

There is the nervous shuffling of feet above you.
action: Go up
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.
action: You go north
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is closed) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: Open chest
response: You open the tool chest, revealing a squirt bottle and a can of lubricant.
action: Open chest
response: That's already open.
action: Scream
response: Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Screaming is a good way to attract the unwanted attention of terrorists, you quickly find out.
action: You say hello
response: (to the passengers)
The passengers are too scared to respond.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a stained sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a strange red bulb
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You examine the passengers
response: They look scared, and with good reason. Reporters report news; they aren't part of it.
action: You open the Wolfie
response: You'd never get him back together again.
action: You read wolfie
response: (A description of Wolfie is included in your game package.)

It's an origami wolf spider.
action: You show the Wolfie to the passengers
response: (first taking Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers))
They mumble amongst themselves, but the consensus is that they have no comment to make on Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers).
action: You pour the hydroxide on the Wolfie
response: The bottle of hydroxide is closed.
action: You open bottle
response: Which do you mean, the squirt bottle or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: You look at the squirt
response: It's a squirt bottle. The label is so faded as to make it practically illegible.
action: You open the hydroxide
response: You open the bottle of hydroxide.
action: Close hydroxide
response: You close the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You take squirt
response: (putting Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers) into the stained sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is empty) here.
action: You go to the south
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

The door to car 6 slides shut.
action: Go down
response: You are unable to descend by the maintenance access hatch.
action: You open hatch
response: You open the maintenance access hatch.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a can of lubricant
a stained sport coat (being worn)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a strange red bulb
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You examine pale blue
response: It's a squirt bottle. The label is so faded as to make it practically illegible.
action: Squirt lever
response: What do you want to squirt the release lever on?
action: Squirt bottle
response: What do you want to squirt the squirt bottle on?
action: Squirt lubricant on lever
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the release lever.
action: You pull the lever
response: Releasing the car is certainly an irreversible action, and could result in an unpredictable chain of events. Are you sure you want to do that?
action: Y.
response: The connector opens with a loud clank.

Slowly the cars begin to separate. The cables and hoses surrounding you complain loudly as they struggle to hold the cars together.

The junction shudders, creeks and groans.
action: You go to the south
response: You can't hold onto all the things you are carrying and crawl around underneath the train.

The junction shudders, creeks and groans.
action: Go up
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

The metal plates shift unpleasantly underfoot.
action: Go south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You start to open the door, but an ominous shadow across the window convinces you otherwise.

With a groan that shudders through the entire train, the cars separate.

This results in the floor beneath you opening up and dropping you unceremoniously onto the tracks. Not pleasant.
action: Go north
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is empty) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

With a groan that shudders through the entire train, the cars separate.

Suddenly the entire world is flame and noise as an explosion rips through the car. Your pain is, thankfully, brief.
action: Look around
response: You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a can of lubricant
a stained sport coat (being worn)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a strange red bulb
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You look at the blue liquid
response: It's a squirt bottle. The label is so faded as to make it practically illegible.
action: You read the label
response: What do you want to read in?
action: You read the squirt bottle
response: WARNINC: Con ains ammo a. Do not m x wit oth r hfv sd d sb vcio
action: You look at the bottle
response: (the squirt bottle)
It's a squirt bottle. The label is so faded as to make it practically illegible.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.
action: You go south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You start to open the door, but an ominous shadow across the window convinces you otherwise.
action: You take the hydroxide
response: (putting the can of lubricant into the stained sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the stained sport coat.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.
action: You drop the bulb and Wolfie
response: strange red bulb: You haven't got that.
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers): You haven't got that.
action: You drop the bottle and the lubricant
response: squirt bottle: You carefully set the squirt bottle in the undercarriage.
can of lubricant: You carefully set the can of lubricant in the undercarriage.
action: You drop the lubricant
response: The can of lubricant is already here.
action: You take the bulb and Wolfie
response: strange red bulb: Taken.
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers): (putting the bottle of hydroxide into the stained sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You drop the bulb and Wolfie
response: strange red bulb: You carefully set the strange red bulb in the undercarriage.
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers): You carefully set Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers) in the undercarriage.
action: You take the bottle and lubricant
response: squirt bottle: Taken.
can of lubricant: Taken.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a stained sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You take the ticket
response: (putting the squirt bottle into the stained sport coat to make room) Taken.
action: You drop the ticket
response: You carefully set the punched ticket in the undercarriage.
action: You put the bottle in the coat
response: Which do you mean, the squirt bottle or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: Squirt
response: What do you want to squirt?
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a stained sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You put the lubricant in the coat
response: You put the can of lubricant into the stained sport coat.
action: You go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: You go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.

The train just rushed by the Santa Barbara station.
action: You go to the south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 4, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You go south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 3.

Car 3, Aft
This tiny space near the junction to the next car is unremarkable, save the cramped stairway to the upper level and the door to the tiny lavatory west.

The lavatory door is open.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You enter the lavatory
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The exit is east.
action: You turn on the light
response: A cursory glance around the room fails to reveal a visible switch.
action: You lock the door
response: You click the door lock, and watch the little window change from "Unoccupied" to "Occupied" momentarily. Some spring mechanism in the door prevents you from keeping it locked while the door is open, however.
action: You lock the door
response: The light above the sink flickers, then glows.
action: Wash jacket
response: A quick wipe and the stain disappears.
action: You unlock door
response: The fluorescent light goes off.
action: You open the door
response: You open the lavatory door.
action: You leave
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.
action: You go east
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The exit is east.

Water is flowing into the sink.

The flow from the faucet stops suddenly. (It must have one of those spring valves to prevent waste.)
action: You go east
response: Car 3, Aft
This tiny space near the junction to the next car is unremarkable, save the cramped stairway to the upper level and the door to the tiny lavatory west.

The lavatory door is open.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

The door to car 3 slides shut.
action: You stand on the railing
response: Even though every ounce of sanity left in your body tells you not to, you hop up on the railing. Your reward is the discovery of a well-concealed maintenance ladder climbing up the side of the car.
action: Up
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.
action: You go to the north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rushed through the Oxnard station.
action: You go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.
action: You examine vents
response: This is one of a number of screened portals, designed to allow fresh air to be drawn into the car as it moves.
action: Go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You listen
response: That's definitely English from the car below.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You open the vent
response: The metal screen is firmly attached to the portal.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You go downwards
response: Descending by the ladder here would drop you off the end of the train. Not a good idea.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You look at the vents
response: This is one of a number of screened portals, designed to allow fresh air to be drawn into the car as it moves.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
action: You open vents
response: a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule

You hear noises from the car below.

The metal screen is firmly attached to the portal.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You remove the screen
response: (first taking the air vent)
That's hardly portable.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You put the lubricant on the vent
response: You need to be holding the can of lubricant before you can put it on top of something else.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.
action: Go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just zoomed past the Simi Valley station.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: Go north
response: This is the last car of the train. (It's a special, remember?)

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You open the vent
response: The metal screen is firmly attached to the portal.
action: You squirt the lubricant on the screen
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the air vent.
action: You squirt the lubricant on yourself
response: You'll have to remove the can of lubricant from yourself first.
action: You listen
response: That's definitely Russian from the car below.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You open the hydroxide
response: You open the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You pour the hydroxide in the box
response: The small velvet box is closed.
action: You open the box
response: You open the small velvet box, revealing a diamond ring.
action: You examine it
response: What a rock! How did Jack ever afford such a thing?

The oil on the air vent evaporates away.
action: You wear it
response: You put on the diamond ring.
action: You cut screen with the ring
response: Cutting that up would achieve little.
action: You pour the hydroxide in the box
response: The bottle of hydroxide is empty already.
action: You go downward
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.
action: Go south
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Aft
The north section of the car is a tight squeeze. Another compartment lies east, while the exit from the car lies to the north.

The darkroom door is west.

You can also see a bottle of acid (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of acid) and a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed) here.

The train just barreled through the Glendale station.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You take the acid
response: Taken.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small velvet box (which is open but empty)
a train schedule

The train just barreled past the Los Angeles station.
action: You put the acid in the coat
response: You put the bottle of acid into the sport coat.
action: You wear the ring
response: You're already wearing that!
action: You pour the acid on the screen
response: acid: The air vent is not designed to hold liquids.
action: Close acid
response: You close the bottle of acid.
action: You open the bottle
response: Which do you mean, the bottle of acid, the squirt bottle or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: You pour the acid in the box
response: acid: The small velvet box is not designed to hold liquids.
action: You go to the south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just rumbled by the Fullerton station.
action: You look at the hatch
response: It's one of those industrial ventilation hatches. Obviously the car below isn't a passenger car.
action: You open hatch
response: That's already open.
action: You descend
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.

The train just zoomed through the Anaheim station.
action: You open it
response: You pull off the front of the wooden crate. Horror grips your stomach as you survey the infernal contraption inside. It could be only one thing: a bomb.
action: You examine the bomb
response: The rose-colored glass hampers your ability to make out details...

A curious glass tube sticks out of a mass of electronics glued to the back of the box. Inside the tube you see a swirling gas. A thin gold wire spirals its way around the outside of the tube.

A glass dish sits under a thick metal coil, which dangles from another breadboard packed with electronics.

In the center of the bomb is a Plexiglas box.

Sitting on a nest of electronics within the glass box is an ominous black sphere.

Above the glass box is an antique pair of brass scales, curiously out of place when compared to the high-tech components around them. The metal dishes normally associated with such scales have been replaced by two labeled Pyrex beakers.
action: You get the beaker
response: Which do you mean, the left beaker or the right beaker?
action: Both
response: left beaker: The left beaker is firmly attached to the pair of scales. right beaker: The right beaker is firmly attached to the pair of scales.

The train just rushed through the Santa Ana station.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small velvet box (which is open but empty)
a train schedule
action: You examine the sphere
response: It's black and seamless.
action: You pour the ammonia in left beaker
response: The squirt bottle is closed.
action: Open ammonia
response: You open the squirt bottle.
action: You pour it in the left beaker
response: liquid: The metal box isn't open.
action: You open the box
response: (the metal box)
Try as you might, the glass is securely affixed to the front of the box by some thick, gooey sealant. The sealant itself seems to be invulnerable to all of your attacks.
action: Close ammonia
response: You close the squirt bottle.
action: No
response: That was a rhetorical question.
action: You pour acid on the sealant
response: It's doubtful that the contents of the bottle of acid could damage the silicone caulking.

The train just rushed through the Irvine station.
action: You cut the caulk with the ring
response: Cutting that up would achieve little.

The train just rumbled by the Irvine station.
action: You spray the bottle on the sealant
response: Which do you mean, the left beaker, the right beaker, the bottle of acid, the squirt bottle or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: You pour the hydroxide on the sealant
response: It's doubtful that the contents of the bottle of hydroxide could damage the silicone caulking.
action: You take the tube
response: Which do you mean, the tube filled with gas or the can of lubricant?
action: You look at the door
response: It looks very strong.
action: You open the door
response: Try as you might, you cannot open the door. It must be locked from the other side.
action: Go upward
response: Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small velvet box (which is open but empty)
a train schedule

The train just barreled by the San Juan Capistrano station.
action: You drop liquid
response: Which do you mean, the bottle of acid or the squirt bottle?
action: You drop the coat
response: (first taking the sport coat off)
You take off the sport coat.
The sport coat falls off the train and hits the ground. Within moments it is out of sight.
action: You drop all
response: liquid: The liquid falls off the train and hits the ground. Within moments it is out of sight.
action: You look around
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: Go down
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.
action: Go down
response: You are unable to descend by the maintenance access hatch.

The bomb detonates, vaporizing you instantly.
action: You wake up
response: This nightmare is all too familiar...

A bright blue flash illuminates the entire west side of the airplane, followed by the noise of a tremendous explosion. The wing is on fire!

For a brief moment, everything is silent as the situation slowly sinks into the minds of the passengers. Then pandemonium breaks out in the cabin as the plane goes into a near-vertical dive.

"It's all your fault, you know."

Your traveling companion turns to face you, and you recoil in horror. The left side of his face is horribly mutilated, the skin torn and burnt. The empty eye socket stares at you accusingly.

"Why did you have to survive? I had a family, a child... they depended on me! You had nothing! You were nothing, and you still are nothing!"

He leans forward, and you can smell the horrid odor of burnt flesh.

"Nothing..."

Crash positions be damned! You struggle at your seat belt, but the mechanism is jammed.

He's moving closer... reaching out... reaching toward you... the stumps of his fingers... twitching... touching you... shaking you...
action: Fly plane
response: ...and you find yourself wrestling the station attendant.

"Sorry about that! Didn't mean to startle you, but by the sound of it you were having a dilly of a nightmare!

"Anyway, you best be going. I've written a note explaining the situation to the conductor; it's on the back of your ticket. Better hurry."

You take the ticket and a copy of the schedule and make your way out to the platform.

Sole survivor syndrome.

That's what they call it. Psychological trauma after surviving an accident that killed so many others.

You still can't look at a plane without hearing the screaming or smelling the blood. The last time you tried to visit an airport-- just to pick up someone-- you left in an ambulance, catatonic.

Things were looking bad when the old rust bucket died this morning. The mechanic said that the earliest he could get to it was first thing Monday morning, and the rental agency just laughed when you asked if you could get a car on short notice for the weekend. Flight was out of the question for obvious reasons, but rail had existed far earlier than planes. So you found yourself pleading your case to a sympathetic station manager, who managed to squeeze you onto a special charter train direct to San Diego.

Two years ago, the wedding was postponed indefinitely by your accident. You are determined that that will not happen again. The sun is shining, the tracks are clear, and in a few hours you'll be the star of the show. Come Hell or high water, nothing is going to stop you from being...

An Interactive Action-Adventure

Car 3 (on seat 4B)
Trains haven't changed much in the last 40 years. You could just imagine a furtive Cary Grant slipping from car to car or a diabolic Robert Walker plotting fiendishly in some corner.

You can see the conductor here.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
a ticket

"Ticket, please."
action: You give the ticket
response: (to the conductor)
(first taking the ticket)
The conductor reads the back of the ticket quickly. "Ah, that explains why you're not on my list."

CLUNK. The conductor punches the ticket and returns it you.

He walks north to the next car.
action: Go north
response: You'll have to get off seat 4B first.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: Trains haven't changed much in the last 40 years. You could just imagine a furtive Cary Grant slipping from car to car or a diabolic Robert Walker plotting fiendishly in some corner.
action: You look under the seat
response: Which do you mean, the other seat or seat 4B?
action: You look under the other seat
response: (the other seat)
You find nothing of interest.
action: You look
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The door is closed.
action: You examine the ticket
response: It's a strip of paper. Something has been written on the back. A round hole has been punched in it.
action: You examine the pockets
response: Threadbare, but serviceable. Better clothes await you in San Diego, which is good as these have a nasty stain. Inside the pocket you see a small velvet box and a train schedule.
action: You open the box
response: You open the small velvet box, revealing a diamond ring.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

Suddenly, a group of armed terrorists takes over the train. In the resulting confusion, you are "accidentally" shot, adding a rather nasty bloodstain to the coffee stain already on your old jacket.
action: You enter
response: The door is closed.

Suddenly, a group of armed terrorists takes over the train. In the resulting confusion, you are "accidentally" shot, adding a rather nasty bloodstain to the coffee stain already on your old jacket.
action: You get up
response: You'll need to undo your belt first.

The plane shudders slightly.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a small velvet box (which is closed)

*** PING ***

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing some minor turbulence. Please return to your seat and fasten your seat belts."
action: You open the box
response: You open the small velvet box, revealing a diamond ring.

A breathless flight attendant rushes up and clips your belt closed for you, then disappears.

The passenger next to you awakes with a start.
action: You wear ring
response: (first taking the diamond ring)
You put on the diamond ring.

"I hate flying," your seat-mate bemoans.
action: You run
response: You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.

The plane lurches hard to the left. Your stomach churns.

"I always wonder if I'll ever see my daughter again."
action: You run north
response: You'll have to get off Seat 4B first.

"What would my wife do if I were to die?"
action: You stand up
response: You'll need to undo your belt first.

A bright blue flash illuminates the entire west side of the airplane, followed by the noise of a tremendous explosion. The wing is on fire!

For a brief moment, everything is silent as the situation slowly sinks into the minds of the passengers. Then pandemonium breaks out in the cabin as the plane goes into a near-vertical dive.

"It's all your fault, you know."

Your traveling companion turns to face you, and you recoil in horror. The left side of his face is horribly mutilated, the skin torn and burnt. The empty eye socket stares at you accusingly.

"Why did you have to survive? I had a family, a child... they depended on me! You had nothing! You were nothing, and you still are nothing!"

He leans forward, and you can smell the horrid odor of burnt flesh.

"Nothing..."

Crash positions be damned! You struggle at your seat belt, but the mechanism is jammed.

He's moving closer... reaching out... reaching toward you... the stumps of his fingers... twitching... touching you... shaking you...
action: Wait
response: ...and you find yourself wrestling the station attendant.

"Sorry about that! Didn't mean to startle you, but by the sound of it you were having a dilly of a nightmare!

"Anyway, you best be going. I've written a note explaining the situation to the conductor; it's on the back of your ticket. Better hurry."

You take the ticket and a copy of the schedule and make your way out to the platform.

Sole survivor syndrome.

That's what they call it. Psychological trauma after surviving an accident that killed so many others.

You still can't look at a plane without hearing the screaming or smelling the blood. The last time you tried to visit an airport-- just to pick up someone-- you left in an ambulance, catatonic.

Things were looking bad when the old rust bucket died this morning. The mechanic said that the earliest he could get to it was first thing Monday morning, and the rental agency just laughed when you asked if you could get a car on short notice for the weekend. Flight was out of the question for obvious reasons, but rail had existed far earlier than planes. So you found yourself pleading your case to a sympathetic station manager, who managed to squeeze you onto a special charter train direct to San Diego.

Two years ago, the wedding was postponed indefinitely by your accident. You are determined that that will not happen again. The sun is shining, the tracks are clear, and in a few hours you'll be the star of the show. Come Hell or high water, nothing is going to stop you from being...

An Interactive Action-Adventure

Car 3 (on seat 4B)
Trains haven't changed much in the last 40 years. You could just imagine a furtive Cary Grant slipping from car to car or a diabolic Robert Walker plotting fiendishly in some corner.

You can see the conductor here.
action: You read the note
response: (in the conductor)
You discover nothing of interest in the conductor.

"Ticket, please."
action: You give the ticket
response: (to the conductor)
(first taking the ticket)
The conductor reads the back of the ticket quickly. "Ah, that explains why you're not on my list."

CLUNK. The conductor punches the ticket and returns it you.

He walks north to the next car.
action: You unlock door
response: The fluorescent light goes off.

Your Russian may be rusty, but a voice definitely said, "Sergei, check the toilets."
action: You go window
response: It's quite breathtaking out here, and you'd probably enjoy the scenery if it weren't for the annoying fact that you're clinging to a flimsy metal ladder while being buffeted by sixty mile-per-hour winds. Safety lies inside, east.

A voice outside the door says, "Empty."
action: Go inside
response: The door is closed.

The screams have died down, so the gunmen have decided to start the usual diatribe. "We now control this train... if you cooperate, you will be spared... attempt tricks and you will die..."
action: You look
response: This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The door is closed.

"Is everyone here?"

"Everyone was here or in the press car," the conductor replies, strangely calm. "As you can see, everyone in this car is also on this list."

"Da..."
action: You listen
response: You hear nothing unexpected.

"Sergei, did you check the toilets?"

"Da, I checked the toilets."

"Did you check inside the toilets?

There is a momentary pause, followed by a low curse.
action: You go window
response: "Ready?" asks a voice outside.
action: Close window
response: Better not, you might not be able to get it open again.

The door explodes inward.

"Good, nobody here."

The door is closed again.
action: Go inside
response: The door is closed.

"Take everyone to the last car."

There is the sound of marching outside the door, then silence.
action: You turn the tap
response: It is fixed in place.
action: You turn on the tap
response: You turn on the faucet, allowing water to flow into the sink.
action: Clean coat
response: A quick wipe and the stain disappears.

The flow from the faucet stops suddenly. (It must have one of those spring valves to prevent waste.)
action: You unlock door
response: The fluorescent light goes off.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

The door to car 3 slides shut.
action: You examine the floor
response: Something felt wobbly when you stepped into this area, and a quick investigation reveals the answer. It's a metal access panel embedded in the floor of the train, with a sawtooth-edge that makes it almost invisible against the pattern of the floor.

The train just zoomed by the Salinas station.
action: You go west
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You can't go that way.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Fore
So this is the press car. Big deal. It's just a modified sleeper, with the compartments converted into miniature offices for the reporters. Compartments lie east and west, while the rest of the car lies north and the exit from this car is south.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: Go west
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies east.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: Go east
response: Car 4, Fore
action: You go to the east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: You go west
response: A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: You go to the east
response: Car 4, Mid
action: Go east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, a quiet hum emanating from its fan.
action: You turn on the computer
response: You start to approach the computer when suddenly a huge spider on the keyboard attacks you!

This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

After you've gathered your wits together, you notice that the "spider" is actually a piece of black paper folded into the shape of a spider. Obviously one of the reporters was bored and decided to play a little prank.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, a quiet hum emanating from its fan.
action: You get the computer
response: That's fixed in place.
action: You look around
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

After you've gathered your wits together, you notice that the "spider" is actually a piece of black paper folded into the shape of a spider. Obviously one of the reporters was bored and decided to play a little prank.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, a quiet hum emanating from its fan.
action: Go west
response: Car 4, Aft

The lavatory door is closed.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: Go south
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Aft

The lavatory door is closed.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You open the door
response: (the lavatory door)
You open the lavatory door.
action: You go west
response: This lavatory has been converted into a makeshift darkroom. (I guess some photographers haven't joined the "digital revolution.") All the windows have been painted black, a loose conglomeration of items rest on a crude shelf, while a workbench sits under a naked electrical fixture.

The darkroom door allows exit east.
action: You look under bench
response: A glass tube rolls out from under the workbench.
action: You examine the shelf
response: There are a lot of things stored on the shelf. You could search through them if you want.
action: You remove the bulb
response: (first taking the strange red bulb)
(putting the punched ticket into the sport coat to make room)
You unscrew the strange red bulb from the light bulb socket.
action: You examine the junk
response: It's just junk.
action: You look around
response: This lavatory has been converted into a makeshift darkroom. (I guess some photographers haven't joined the "digital revolution.") All the windows have been painted black, a loose conglomeration of items rest on a crude shelf, while a workbench sits under a naked electrical fixture.

The darkroom door allows exit east.
action: Acid and fluid
response: bottle of hydroxide: (putting the small plastic tube into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
bottle of acid: (putting the strange red bulb into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
bottle of developing fluid: (putting the bottle of hydroxide into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: Hydroxide
response: A clear bottle with a glass stopper. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.
action: Fluid
response: The bottle of developing fluid is closed.
action: You open the fluid bottle
response: You open the bottle of developing fluid, revealing a quantity of liquid.
action: You close the fluid bottle
response: You close the bottle of developing fluid.
action: Go east
response: Car 4, Aft

The darkroom door is west.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some red powder
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You look at the powder
response: A small quantity of red crystals, ground into a fine powder.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You drop the coat
response: (first taking the sport coat off)
You take off the sport coat.
Dropped.
action: Go down
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut after you pass through.)

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: You look at the brakes
response: Almost anything could be hidden in that mess.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: You listen
response: The voices are too muffled to understand.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.

The train just rushed by the Paso Robles station.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: You go to the south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.
action: Go north
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Fore

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go to the south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

The train just rushed past the San Luis Obispo station.
action: You look at the mechanisms
response: Almost anything could be hidden in that mess.
action: You go to the north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You examine the railing
response: The metal railing is the only thing that keeps one from falling off the car to your death. That, and the common sense not to go too near the edge.
action: You examine the chest
response: It's long, heavy, made of metal, paint flaking off here and there. A tool chest.
action: You move chest
response: Nothing obvious happens.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
action: You drop the squirt bottle
response: Dropped.
action: You drop blue liquid
response: The squirt bottle is already here.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
action: You look at the can
response: It's a very large can of a popular brand of all-purpose lubricant, complete with the long pointy tube that allows delivery of chemicals into tight spaces.

The oil on the release lever evaporates away.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a squirt bottle (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of pale blue liquid) here.
action: Go up
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a can of lubricant here.
action: You drop the lubricant
response: The can of lubricant is already here.
action: You drop all
response: (the squirt bottle)
Dropped.
action: Go north
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Fore
So this is the press car. Big deal. It's just a modified sleeper, with the compartments converted into miniature offices for the reporters. Compartments lie east and west, while the rest of the car lies north and the exit from this car is south.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go ladder
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just zoomed by the Santa Barbara station.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: You go hatch
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.
action: You examine the fixture
response: In the light bulb socket is a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb.
action: You get the bulb
response: You unscrew the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb from the light bulb socket.
action: You examine the bulb
response: It's your average 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb, good for general purpose work in the home or office.
action: You move the box
response: (the metal box)
It is fixed in place.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.
action: You go upwards
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: Go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just zoomed by the Oxnard station.
action: You listen
response: That's definitely Russian from the car below.
action: You speak through the vents
response: (to yourself)
There is no reply.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You go to the south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just zoomed through the Simi Valley station.
action: You go downward
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a sport coat (in which are a bottle of hydroxide (which is empty), a strange red bulb, a small plastic tube (which is closed) (in which is some litmus powder), a punched ticket, a small velvet box (which is closed) and a train schedule), a bottle of acid (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of acid) and a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed) here.
action: You wear the ring
response: (first taking the diamond ring)
You're already wearing that!
action: You look at the acid
response: A dark glass bottle with a screw cap. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a train schedule
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see an external ladder, a small velvet box (which is empty), a punched ticket, a bottle of acid (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of acid) and a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed) here.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)

The train just barreled through the Glendale station.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

The train just barreled through the Los Angeles station.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see an external ladder, a squirt bottle (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of pale blue liquid) and a can of lubricant here.
action: Go upward
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see an external ladder and a can of lubricant here.
action: You stand on the railing
response: Not again! It was nerve-wracking enough the first time!
action: You go south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You start to open the door, but an ominous shadow across the window convinces you otherwise.
action: You go to the north
response: You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is empty) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go south
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.

The door to car 6 slides shut.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
action: Go north
response: The door is locked, and even if you could open it, you'd step out to empty space.
action: You drop all
response: can of lubricant: The can of lubricant falls off the train and hits the ground. Within moments it is out of sight.
squirt bottle: The squirt bottle falls off the train and hits the ground. Within moments it is out of sight.
action: Shit
response: Real adventurers do not use such language.

The train just rumbled through the Fullerton station.
action: You look
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
action: You go upwards
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: You go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rumbled by the Oxnard station.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just barreled through the Simi Valley station.
action: You go down
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.

You can also see a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb here.
action: You open hatch
response: That's already open.
action: You go upwards
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: Go downwards
response: Descending by the ladder here would drop you off the end of the train. Not a good idea.

The train just rumbled by the Glendale station.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: Go downwards
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a squirt bottle (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of pale blue liquid) and a can of lubricant here.

The train just zoomed by the Los Angeles station.
action: You get all
response: maintenance access hatch: That's fixed in place.
external ladder: That's fixed in place.
squirt bottle: Taken.
can of lubricant: Taken.
metal railing: That's hardly portable.
door to car 5: That's hardly portable.
door to car 6: That's hardly portable.
action: You stand on the railing
response: Not again! It was nerve-wracking enough the first time!
action: Ascend
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a sport coat (in which are a bottle of hydroxide (which is empty), a strange red bulb, a small plastic tube (which is closed) (in which is some litmus powder), a punched ticket, a small velvet box (which is closed) and a train schedule), a bottle of acid (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of acid) and a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed) here.
action: You get all
response: maintenance access hatch: That's fixed in place.
sport coat: Taken.
bottle of acid: Taken.
bottle of developing fluid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
metal railing: That's hardly portable.
door to car 5: That's hardly portable.
door to car 4: That's hardly portable.
action: You look around
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed) here.
action: You get the ticket
response: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a sport coat
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: Look around
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a punched ticket, a bottle of acid (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of acid) and a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed) here.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You get the acid
response: (putting the bottle of developing fluid into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: Look around
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a small velvet box (which is closed) and a punched ticket here.
action: You open the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
You open the bottle of acid.

The train just zoomed by the Paso Robles station.
action: Open fluid
response: You open the bottle of developing fluid, revealing a quantity of liquid.
action: You take the fluid
response: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You put the fluid in the acid
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of developing fluid into the bottle of acid.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of developing fluid into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the bottle of acid.
action: You look at the acid
response: A dark glass bottle with a screw cap. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.

The vapors coming out of the bottle of acid are swept away by the wind.
action: Look around
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a small velvet box (which is closed) and a punched ticket here.

The train just zoomed past the Paso Robles station.
action: You stand on the railing
response: Even though every ounce of sanity left in your body tells you not to, you hop up on the railing. Your reward is the discovery of a well-concealed maintenance ladder climbing up the side of the car.
action: You go ladder
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.)

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.
action: Go downwards
response: You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a small velvet box (which is closed) and a punched ticket here.
action: You go to the south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Aft

The darkroom door is west.

The train just rumbled through the Paso Robles station.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see a small velvet box (which is closed) and a punched ticket here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a sport coat
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a train schedule
action: You drop the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
Dropped.
action: You get the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
Taken.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: You go south
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Aft

The darkroom door is west.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go south
response: Car 4, Mid
action: Go north
response: Car 4, Aft

The darkroom door is west.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: You stand on the railing
response: Even though every ounce of sanity left in your body tells you not to, you hop up on the railing. Your reward is the discovery of a well-concealed maintenance ladder climbing up the side of the car.
action: Go downwards
response: You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a sport coat
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a strange red bulb
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a train schedule
action: You drop the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
Dropped.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a sport coat
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
a train schedule
action: Go downwards
response: You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a strange red bulb, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: You get the schedule
response: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You get the coat
response: Taken.

The train just zoomed past the San Luis Obispo station.
action: Descend
response: You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a train schedule, a strange red bulb, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: Look around
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see a sport coat (in which are a bottle of acid (which is closed) (in which is a quantity of acid), a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed), a bottle of hydroxide (which is empty) and a small plastic tube (which is closed) (in which is some litmus powder)), an external ladder, a train schedule, a strange red bulb, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: You get all
response: sport coat: Taken.
maintenance access hatch: That's fixed in place.
external ladder: That's fixed in place.
train schedule: Taken.
strange red bulb: (putting the train schedule into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
punched ticket: (putting the strange red bulb into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
small velvet box: (putting the punched ticket into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
metal railing: That's hardly portable.
door to car 5: That's hardly portable.
door to car 4: That's hardly portable.
action: Hints
response: [HINTS: It is strongly suggested that you experiment with the puzzles before resorting to hints. If the temptation to read the hints is too great, you can also disable the hints permanently with the HINTS OFF command. Note that you will always have the option of reading hints after you die.]
action: You keep going
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game

> The Plane
The Train
action: Go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game

> The Train
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a punched ticket
a sport coat
a strange red bulb
a train schedule
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: Wear coat
response: You put on the sport coat.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...
action: Go downwards
response: You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: Go downward
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut after you pass through.)

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: You listen
response: You hear nothing unexpected.

There is the nervous shuffling of feet above you.
action: You go to the south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see an external ladder here.
action: You go north
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is closed) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a sport coat (being worn)
a strange red bulb
a train schedule
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You get the squirt
response: You already have that.
action: You put the squirt in the coat
response: You put the squirt bottle into the sport coat.
action: You follow you
response: The passengers are too scared to respond.
action: Go south
response: You open the door to the car junction.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.

The door to car 6 slides shut.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You pour the acid into the hydroxide bottle
response: acid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You examine the fluid
response: A tall metal flask, with a screw cap. The label on the outside has a skull-and-crossbones on it.
action: You examine the squirt bottle
response: It's a squirt bottle. The label is so faded as to make it practically illegible.
action: You pour the blue liquid into the hydroxide bottle
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.

The liquid in the bottle of hydroxide turns pale blue.
action: Smell blue liquid
response: Which do you mean, the squirt bottle or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: You open the developing fluid bottle
response: You open the bottle of developing fluid, revealing a quantity of liquid.
action: You pour the developing fluid into the hydroxide bottle
response: liquid: The bottle of hydroxide is already as full as possible.
action: Open tube
response: You open the small plastic tube.
action: You examine tube
response: A small glass tube used for protecting dry chemicals. There's a label on the tube.
action: You pour the developing fluid into the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You pour the acid into the hydroxide
response: The bottle of acid is closed.
action: Smell the hydroxide
response: You smell nothing unexpected.

The vapors coming out of the bottle of hydroxide are swept away by the wind.
action: You pour the hydroxide into the vents
response: liquid: The air vent is not designed to hold liquids.

The vapors coming out of the bottle of hydroxide are swept away by the wind.
action: Examine vent
response: This is one of a number of screened portals, designed to allow fresh air to be drawn into the car as it moves.

The vapors coming out of the bottle of hydroxide are swept away by the wind.
action: You put the hydroxide in the vent
response: You need to be holding the bottle of hydroxide before you can put it on top of something else.

The vapors coming out of the bottle of hydroxide are swept away by the wind.
action: You get the hydroxide
response: Taken.

The vapors coming out of the bottle of hydroxide are swept away by the wind.
action: You put the hydroxide in the vent
response: The bottle of hydroxide is easily wedged into the air vent so that it doesn't get blown off the train.

The vapors pouring out of the bottle of hydroxide are drawn into the air vent.
action: You listen
response: That's definitely Russian from the car below.

The vapors pouring out of the bottle of hydroxide are drawn into the air vent.
action: You look inside bulb
response: (the light)
You find nothing of interest.

The vapors pouring out of the bottle of hydroxide are drawn into the air vent.
action: Examine vent
response: This is one of a number of screened portals, designed to allow fresh air to be drawn into the car as it moves.

The vapors pouring out of the bottle of hydroxide are drawn into the air vent.

The sound of multiple bodies falling to the floor comes from somewhere within the car.
action: You take the bottle
response: Which do you mean, the bottle of hydroxide, the squirt bottle, the bottle of acid or the bottle of developing fluid?
action: Empty bottle
response: (the bottle of hydroxide)
liquid: Liquid splashes all over the place, seeping through unseen cracks until it is gone.
action: You put the bottle in the coat
response: (the bottle of hydroxide in the sport coat)
You put the bottle of hydroxide into the sport coat.
action: You go to the south
response: Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.
action: Go down
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is closed) here.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You go downwards
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut after you pass through.)
Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: Go north
response: Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.
action: Go upwards
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see an external ladder here.
action: Go south
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 5.

This car may have been a kitchen car, or perhaps it was temporarily converted into one for the purposes of this trip. In either case, the recent occupation by the terrorists has left it in shambles. Exits lead south and north.

The lifeless bodies of the terrorists lie scattered around the car.

The refrigerator must have been broken, as a heavy-duty ice chest sits in the corner.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You look at bodies
response: They're draped over their weapons.
action: You search the bodies
response: You find nothing of interest.

The train just zoomed through the Santa Barbara station.
action: Open chest
response: You open the ice chest, revealing some cans of soda.
action: You look at the cans
response: Cheap bastards only sprang for generic cola.
action: You go south
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is empty) here.

The door to car 5 slides shut.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to car 5.

This car may have been a kitchen car, or perhaps it was temporarily converted into one for the purposes of this trip. In either case, the recent occupation by the terrorists has left it in shambles. Exits lead south and north.

The lifeless bodies of the terrorists lie scattered around the car.

The refrigerator must have been broken, as a heavy-duty ice chest sits in the corner.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.

The door to car 5 slides shut.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see a train schedule, all of the passengers and a tool chest (in which is a can of lubricant) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: Terrorists are dead
response: The passengers are too scared to respond.
action: Search passengers
response: The passengers object to being frisked.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (in which is a can of lubricant) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You get the lubricant
response: (putting the cans of soda into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You get the chest
response: It's too bulky for you to lug around, so you leave it.
action: You go to the south
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Aft
The north section of the car is a tight squeeze. Another compartment lies east, while the exit from the car lies to the north.

The darkroom door is west.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
some cans of soda
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is empty) here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some cans of soda
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You go north
response: You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see all of the passengers and a tool chest (in which is a can of lubricant) here.

The train just rushed by the Oxnard station.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You put the lubricant in the coat
response: You put the can of lubricant into the sport coat.
action: You put the lubricant in the coat
response: You need to be holding the can of lubricant before you can put it into something else.

The junction shudders, creeks and groans.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
some cans of soda
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a can of lubricant
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder

With a groan that shudders through the entire train, the cars separate.

This results in the floor beneath you opening up and dropping you unceremoniously onto the tracks. Not pleasant.
action: You look around
response: This car may have been a kitchen car, or perhaps it was temporarily converted into one for the purposes of this trip. In either case, the recent occupation by the terrorists has left it in shambles. Exits lead south and north.

The lifeless bodies of the terrorists lie scattered around the car.

The refrigerator must have been broken, as a heavy-duty ice chest sits in the corner.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.
Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.

The door to car 5 slides shut.
action: You go downwards
response: Death. Nasty, oily, ground-to-a-pulp-under-the-wheels death. Best not to even consider it.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

The train just rushed past the Oxnard station.
action: Go up
response: The maintenance access hatch seems to be blocked.
action: You open hatch
response: You can't. There's something on the other side preventing you from opening it.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 2, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You examine the hatch
response: It's a metal panel that provides access to the upper portion of the train.
action: You go to the north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.

The train just rumbled through the Simi Valley station.
action: Go up
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see an external ladder here.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.

The door to car 3 slides shut.
action: Break glass
response: Which do you mean, the tube filled with gas, the glass dish or the rose-colored glass pane?
action: Rose
response: Try as you might, you can't break the glass. It's too thick.
action: Rose
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

You can't get close enough to see the contents, however.
action: You stand on the box
response: (the metal box)
That's not something you can stand on.
action: Go north
response: You can't go that way.

The train just rumbled through the Glendale station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You pour the blue liquid in the left beaker
response: liquid: The metal box isn't open.

The train just barreled past the Los Angeles station.
action: You open the box
response: (the metal box)
Try as you might, the glass is securely affixed to the front of the box by some thick, gooey sealant. The sealant itself seems to be invulnerable to all of your attacks.
action: You pour the acid in the hydroxide bottle
response: The bottle of acid is closed.
action: You open the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
You open the bottle of acid.
action: You pour acid in the hydroxide bottle
response: acid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You pour the blue liquid in the hydroxide bottle
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.

The liquid in the bottle of hydroxide turns pale blue.
action: You examine the liquid
response: (the bottle of hydroxide)
A clear bottle with a glass stopper. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.
action: You examine the hydroxide
response: A clear bottle with a glass stopper. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.
action: You pour the hydroxide on the sealant
response: It's doubtful that the contents of the bottle of hydroxide could damage the silicone caulking.
action: You get the bulb
response: Which do you mean, the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb or the strange red bulb?
action: You go north
response: You can't go that way.

The train just zoomed by the Los Angeles station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You drop the bulb
response: (the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
Dropped.
action: You go to the north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rushed past the Fullerton station.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: You go downwards
response: Descending by the ladder here would drop you off the end of the train. Not a good idea.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just barreled past the Anaheim station.
action: You go downward
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder here.
action: You move chest
response: It is fixed in place.

The train just barreled through the Santa Ana station.
action: Go upward
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just barreled by the Irvine station.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just rumbled by the San Juan Capistrano station.
action: You go downwards
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

You can also see a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb here.
action: You get the tube
response: Which do you mean, the tube filled with gas or the small plastic tube?
action: You go to the north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The bomb detonates, vaporizing you instantly.
action: You open acid bottle
response: You open the bottle of acid.

The train just rushed through the Los Angeles station.
action: You examine the wire
response: Fluorescent gas swirls around the inside of the tube.
action: You examine the plexiglas box
response: It's made a transparent plastic.

The thick plastic walls distort the box's contents.
action: You look at the left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

You can't get close enough to see the contents, however.
action: You pour the acid on the sealant
response: It's doubtful that the contents of the bottle of acid could damage the silicone caulking.
action: You pour the acid in the left beaker
response: acid: The metal box isn't open.
action: You attach the bulb to the box
response: Which do you mean, the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb or the strange red bulb?
action: White
response: (the metal box)
You would achieve nothing by this.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: Open tube
response: (the small plastic tube)
You open the small plastic tube.
action: You look at the powder
response: Which do you mean, the white powder or the litmus powder?
action: White
response: It's a white powder that sticks to itself in clumps, like flour that has been allowed to get damp.
action: You examine the litmus powder
response: A small quantity of red crystals, ground into a fine powder.
action: You examine the glass tube
response: Fluorescent gas swirls around the inside of the tube.
action: You look under the box
response: (the metal box)
You find nothing of interest.
action: Break box
response: (the metal box)
Violence isn't the answer to this one.
action: You look at the glass dish
response: The metal box isn't open.

The train just barreled by the Fullerton station.
action: You read the labels
response: What do you want to read in?
action: You cut the box with diamond
response: (the metal box with the diamond ring)
Cutting that up would achieve little.
action: Pane
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You feel the box
response: (the metal box)
You feel nothing unexpected.

The train just rushed past the Anaheim station.
action: Search box
response: (the metal box)
The rose-colored glass hampers your ability to make out details...

A curious glass tube sticks out of a mass of electronics glued to the back of the box. Inside the tube you see a swirling gas. A thin gold wire spirals its way around the outside of the tube.

A glass dish sits under a thick metal coil, which dangles from another breadboard packed with electronics.

In the center of the bomb is a Plexiglas box.

Sitting on a nest of electronics within the glass box is an ominous black sphere.

Above the glass box is an antique pair of brass scales, curiously out of place when compared to the high-tech components around them. The metal dishes normally associated with such scales have been replaced by two labeled Pyrex beakers.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder

The train just zoomed past the Santa Ana station.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: Close bottle
response: Which do you mean, the left beaker, the right beaker, the bottle of hydroxide, the squirt bottle, the bottle of acid or the bottle of developing fluid?
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You open the bottle
response: Which do you mean, the bottle of hydroxide, the squirt bottle, the bottle of acid or the bottle of developing fluid?
action: You put the acid in the coat
response: You need to be holding the bottle of acid before you can put it into something else.

The train just rumbled past the Irvine station.
action: You put the acid in the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
You can't put something inside itself.
action: Close bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
That's already closed.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You put the bottle in the coat
response: (the bottle of acid in the sport coat)
You put the bottle of acid into the sport coat.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You drop all
response: acid: Dropped.
action: Go downwards
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

You can also see a quantity of acid here.

The train just rumbled by the San Juan Capistrano station.
action: You go to the north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The bomb detonates, vaporizing you instantly.
action: You go to the north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rushed past the Los Angeles station.
action: Go downwards
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, some cans of soda, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is empty) here.
action: You drop the red bulb
response: Dropped.

The train just rumbled through the Los Angeles station.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, some cans of soda, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is empty) here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: You put the soda in the coat
response: You put the cans of soda into the sport coat.
action: You go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just zoomed past the Fullerton station.
action: Go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just barreled through the Anaheim station.
action: You go downward
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

You can also see a strange red bulb here.
action: You open the soda
response: If you want to drink it, just say so.

The train just rushed through the Santa Ana station.
action: You drink the soda
response: Aaah! Quite refreshing, thank you. And you still have 5 cans left.
action: You drink the soda
response: Aaah! Quite refreshing, thank you. And you still have 4 cans left.
action: You drink the soda
response: Aaah! Quite refreshing, thank you. And you still have 3 cans left.
action: You drink the soda
response: Aaah! Quite refreshing, thank you. And you still have 2 cans left.
action: You drink the soda
response: Aaah! Quite refreshing, thank you. And you still have 1 can left.
action: You drink the soda
response: Aaah! Quite refreshing, thank you. But that was the last can.
action: Puncture caulking with ring
response: Try as you might, you cannot puncture the silicone caulking with the diamond ring.

The train just rumbled by the Santa Ana station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some cans of soda
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You examine the caulking
response: The centimeter-wide gap between the edge of the metal box and the glass pane has been filled with a rubbery sealant, probably silicone.
action: You open the bottle
response: (the bottle of acid)
You open the bottle of acid.
action: You put the acid in the hydroxide bottle
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the bottle of hydroxide.)

acid: (putting the cans of soda into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You pour the soda in the hydroxide
response: The bottle of hydroxide is designed to hold liquids.

The train just barreled past the Irvine station.
action: You pour the blue in the hydroxide
response: The squirt bottle is closed.
action: You pour the blue in hydroxide
response: liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.

The liquid in the bottle of hydroxide turns pale blue.
action: You examine the liquid
response: Which do you mean, the left beaker, the right beaker, the bottle of hydroxide or the squirt bottle?
action: Squirt bottle
response: Which do you mean, the left beaker, the right beaker, the bottle of acid, the bottle of hydroxide, the squirt bottle or the bottle of developing fluid?
action: Bottle of hydroxide
response: What do you want to squirt the bottle of hydroxide on?
action: You drop all
response: cans of soda: Dropped.
action: Go up
response: Some of the liquid sloshes out of the bottle of hydroxide.

Some of the liquid sloshes out of the squirt bottle.

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.
action: Go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rushed past the San Juan Capistrano station.
action: You go to the north
response: Some of the liquid sloshes out of the bottle of hydroxide.

It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The bomb detonates, vaporizing you instantly.
action: You drop all
response: What do you want to drop those things in?
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some cans of soda
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You go upward
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just rushed past the Santa Ana station.
action: You go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rumbled past the Irvine station.
action: Go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 6, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

The train just rushed by the San Juan Capistrano station.

There is the nervous shuffling of feet above you.
action: You go upwards
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The bomb detonates, vaporizing you instantly.
action: Break bulb
response: (the strange red bulb)
Violence isn't the answer to this one.

The train just zoomed by the Santa Ana station.
action: You examine the caulking
response: The centimeter-wide gap between the edge of the metal box and the glass pane has been filled with a rubbery sealant, probably silicone.
action: You look at chest
response: It's an insulated carrying case for sodas and the like. Numerous battle scars tell of a long history of withstanding abuse. The brand name "Tuff-Stuf" is emblazoned on the side.
action: You search the chest
response: The ice chest is empty.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
some cans of soda
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of developing fluid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some cans of soda
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You look at your surroundings
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see a bottle of developing fluid (which is empty), a can of lubricant and an external ladder here.
action: You go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just barreled past the Oxnard station.
action: Lubricate the caulking
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the silicone caulking.
action: Go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rumbled by the Simi Valley station.
action: Go down
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a bottle of hydroxide (which is empty) and a bottle of developing fluid (which is empty) here.
action: You put the hydroxide in the coat
response: You put the bottle of hydroxide into the sport coat.
action: Go downward
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.

You can also see a can of lubricant here.
action: You pour the lubricant in hydroxide bottle
response: The bottle of hydroxide is designed to hold liquids.
action: Look around
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.
action: You feel the door
response: You feel nothing unexpected.

The train just zoomed past the Glendale station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You smash the light bulb
response: (the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
Violence isn't the answer to this one.
action: You examine the soda
response: Cheap bastards only sprang for generic cola.
action: You pour the soda on the sealant
response: (putting the can of lubricant into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You open the soda
response: If you want to drink it, just say so.
action: You look around
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

You can also see a can of lubricant here.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You examine the bulb
response: (the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
It's your average 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb, good for general purpose work in the home or office.
action: You go north
response: You can't hold onto all the things you are carrying and move around the top of the train.

The train just barreled by the Fullerton station.
action: Go south
response: You open the door to car 4.
Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

Car 4, Aft
The north section of the car is a tight squeeze. Another compartment lies east, while the exit from the car lies to the north.

The darkroom door is west.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go south
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move southwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

A large metal hatch is embedded in the roof of the car.

The train just barreled by the Glendale station.
action: You go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just barreled through the Los Angeles station.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You put the white bulb in the coat
response: You put the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat.
action: You go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just barreled by the Glendale station.
action: Go north
response: Car 4, Mid
The middle of the press car is even less interesting than the rest. Compartments are to either side of you, and the rest of the car lies south and north.

The train just rumbled past the Los Angeles station.
action: You put the white bulb in the socket
response: You screw the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the light bulb socket.
action: You close the door
response: You close the darkroom door.

It is now pitch dark in here!
action: You lock the door
response: You lock the darkroom door.
action: You unlock door
response: You unlock the darkroom door.
action: You open the door
response: You open the darkroom door.

This lavatory has been converted into a makeshift darkroom. (I guess some photographers haven't joined the "digital revolution.") All the windows have been painted black, a loose conglomeration of items rest on a crude shelf, while a workbench sits under a naked electrical fixture.

The darkroom door allows exit east.
action: You examine the socket
response: In the light bulb socket is a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb begins to glow.
action: You remove the white bulb
response: (first taking the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
You unscrew the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb from the light bulb socket.
action: You put the red bulb in the socket
response: You screw the strange red bulb into the light bulb socket.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The strange red bulb begins to glow.
action: You look around
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

The beam of sunlight from the open metal hatch draws your eyes to a large wooden crate sitting at the north end of the car.

You can also see a can of lubricant here.
action: Left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

You can't get close enough to see the contents, however.

The train just rumbled by the Glendale station.
action: You look at the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
In the light bulb socket is a strange red bulb.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The strange red bulb begins to glow.
That's already on.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You touch the bulb
response: (the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
You feel nothing unexpected.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

You can't get close enough to see the contents, however.

The train just zoomed through the Los Angeles station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You put the powder in the soda
response: Which do you mean, the white powder or the litmus powder?
action: You remove the bulb
response: (the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
You're not wearing that.
action: You get the bulb
response: (the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb)
You already have that.
action: You get the red bulb
response: The bulb is too hot to handle.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: Go north
response: It's a real struggle, but eventually you move northwards along the top of the train...

Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

The train just rumbled by the Glendale station.
action: Go downward
response: Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder, a punched ticket and a small velvet box (which is empty) here.
action: You cut box
response: What do you want to cut the small velvet box with?
action: You go east
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies west.

After you've gathered your wits together, you notice that the "spider" is actually a piece of black paper folded into the shape of a spider. Obviously one of the reporters was bored and decided to play a little prank.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, a quiet hum emanating from its fan.

The train just zoomed by the Los Angeles station.
action: You go south
response: Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

Car 4, Mid
The middle of the press car is even less interesting than the rest. Compartments are to either side of you, and the rest of the car lies south and north.
action: Go west
response: This is a tiny nondescript office, a hasty conversion from the original cabin that it was: the outlines of the bed and furnishings are still visible on the wall. A relief from claustrophobia lies east.

A computer sits on a makeshift desk, completely quiet.
action: You examine computer
response: It's an ancient VT100 terminal, which belongs more in a museum than in an office. These things haven't been used for, what, 50 years?

The computer terminal is currently switched off.
action: You go to the south
response: You open the door to car 3.

Car 3, Aft
This tiny space near the junction to the next car is unremarkable, save the cramped stairway to the upper level and the door to the tiny lavatory west.

The lavatory door is open.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go to the west
response: Some of the acid sloshes out of the bottle of acid.

This compartment leaves very little room for movement, but you're not here to do the macarena. A stainless-steel lavatory sits next to a tiny sink. A window west provides some light, which is nice as the fluorescent fixture above the mirror is not on.

The exit is east.

The train just rushed past the Fullerton station.
action: You examine the fixture
response: The light fixture is dark.
action: You examine the lavatory
response: (the lavatory door)
It's a lavatory door, with a sliding bolt that changes the indicator on the outside from "Unoccupied" to "Occupied." High-tech stuff.
action: Shit
response: Real adventurers do not use such language.

The train just rumbled by the Anaheim station.
action: Go upward
response: Better not. It would be very easy to be trapped up there.

The train just barreled past the Santa Ana station.
action: You go south
response: Without any passengers, this car takes on a definite tomb-like atmosphere. A sealed passageway leads south, while the junction to the next car leads north.
action: You examine the floor
response: You see nothing special about the floor.

The train just rumbled by the Irvine station.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a small velvet box (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder and a punched ticket here.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: You examine the door
response: Which do you mean, the door to car 5 or the door to car 4?
action: Door 4
response: It's a sliding door, spring-loaded. The kind you have to hold open as you pass through.
action: You get the red bulb
response: (putting the small velvet box into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You drop the velvet box
response: Dropped.

The train just zoomed past the San Juan Capistrano station.
action: You put the red bulb in the chest
response: The strange red bulb fits snugly in the ice chest.
action: Close chest
response: You close the ice chest.
action: You look
response: This car may have been a kitchen car, or perhaps it was temporarily converted into one for the purposes of this trip. In either case, the recent occupation by the terrorists has left it in shambles. Exits lead south and north.

The lifeless bodies of the terrorists lie scattered around the car.

The refrigerator must have been broken, as a heavy-duty ice chest sits in the corner.

You can also see a small velvet box (which is empty) here.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

You see a concealed maintenance access hatch in the floor here.

You can also see an external ladder and a bottle of developing fluid (which is empty) here.

The door to car 5 slides shut.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see a train schedule, all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is empty) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You ask the passengers about the terrorists
response: One woman speaks up. "We haven't seen them since George stupidly went over to ask them for some water. Once they heard his knock, they made a big deal about marching up and down the train to make their point about who's in charge."
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You show the cans to the passengerd
response: (first taking the cans of soda)
They mumble amongst themselves, but the consensus is that they have no comment to make on the cans of soda.

Something just happened, because you were just vaporized by a nuclear explosion.
action: Left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

You can't get close enough to see the contents, however.
I beg your pardon?
action: You look around
response: Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

You can also see a can of lubricant here.
action: You examine the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
In the light bulb socket is a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb.
action: You take the white bulb
response: The bulb is too hot to handle.

The train just rushed by the Glendale station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You turn off the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb goes dark.
action: You put the red bulb in the socket
response: You screw the strange red bulb into the light bulb socket.

The train just rumbled through the Los Angeles station.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The strange red bulb begins to glow.
action: You open the pane
response: Try as you might, the glass is securely affixed to the front of the box by some thick, gooey sealant. The sealant itself seems to be invulnerable to all of your attacks.
action: You pour it on the sealant
response: That would scarcely empty anything.
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You read left beaker
response: Written on the side are the letters "NaOH."
action: You read right beaker
response: Written on the side are the letters "HCl."
action: You take the left beaker
response: The left beaker is firmly attached to the pair of scales.
action: You examine tube
response: (the can of lubricant)
It's a very large can of a popular brand of all-purpose lubricant, complete with the long pointy tube that allows delivery of chemicals into tight spaces.

The train just barreled past the Fullerton station.
action: You squirt the lubricant on sealant
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the silicone caulking.

The train just barreled by the Fullerton station.
action: You pour the LITMUS on the sealant
response: Try as you might, you cannot puncture the silicone caulking with the litmus powder.

The train just barreled past the Anaheim station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You pour the ammonia on the LITMUS
response: The litmus powder can't contain things.

The train just rumbled past the Santa Ana station.

The oil on the silicone caulking evaporates away.
action: You pour the soda in the tube
response: (the can of lubricant)
(putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
That can't contain things.
action: Go north
response: You can't hold onto all the things you are carrying and move around the top of the train.

The train just barreled through the Irvine station.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
some cans of soda
some litmus powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You look
response: Handholds in the top of the car allow one to move carefully across the surface, but make no mistake about it: one slip means a short but unpleasant trip over the side. The handholds travel south or north along the length of the train, provided one does not get snagged on the numerous air vents and lights protruding from the surface.

You hear noises from the car below.
action: Examine vent
response: This is one of a number of screened portals, designed to allow fresh air to be drawn into the car as it moves.

The train just zoomed past the Simi Valley station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a sport coat (being worn)
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: Y.
response: Amazing! After all these years some girl finally got Jack to propose. All you need to do is hop on a commuter plane, get the big lug to the church on time, and zip back. Piece of cake...

Well, almost. Blasted El Ni?o has air traffic in an uproar. This daily commuter flight out of San Francisco was delayed three times, which will make life fun when you finally make it down to San Diego...

Airplane (on Seat 4B)
The airlines claim that planes are getting bigger, but you don't believe a word of it. This cramped cabin feels about as roomy as a culvert, and has approximately the same decor.

There is a door south and a small kitchenette north.

(First time players should type INFO for game-playing details.)
action: You go south
response: You'll have to get off Seat 4B first.
action: You wash the coat
response: A quick wipe and the stain disappears.

The flow from the faucet stops suddenly. (It must have one of those spring valves to prevent waste.)

Wait... was that gunfire...?
action: You unlock door
response: The fluorescent light goes off.

Your Russian may be rusty, but a voice definitely said, "Sergei, check the toilets."
action: You open the window
response: You open the lavatory window.

A voice outside the door says, "Empty."
action: Go west
response: That looks like a particularly unsafe direction to go.

"Is everyone here?"

"Everyone was here or in the press car," the conductor replies, strangely calm. "As you can see, everyone in this car is also on this list."

"Da..."
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

"Sergei, did you check the toilets?"

"Da, I checked the toilets."

"Did you check inside the toilets?

There is a momentary pause, followed by a low curse.
action: Continue
response: Time passes.

"Ready?" asks a voice outside.
action: Continue
response: Time passes.

The door explodes inward.

"Good, nobody here."

The door is closed again.
action: Go east
response: The door is closed.
action: You open the door
response: You open the lavatory door.
action: You turn on the computer
response: The computer comes to life, goes through its complex bootstrap procedure, then asks you for a user name and password. You turn the machine off in disgust.

The train just rushed past the Salinas station.
action: You take the hydroxide
response: (putting the punched ticket into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You take the acid
response: (putting Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers) into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You take the fluid
response: (putting the bottle of hydroxide into the sport coat to make room) Taken.
action: You go to the south
response: You open the door to the car junction.

The door to car 4 slides shut.
action: Go south
response: You open the door to car 3.

Car 3, Aft

The lavatory door is open.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You go south
response: Without any passengers, this car takes on a definite tomb-like atmosphere. A sealed passageway leads south, while the junction to the next car leads north.
action: You go south
response: The metal plate sealing the door prevents movement south.
action: Go north
response: Car 3, Aft

The lavatory door is open.
action: Go north
response: You open the door to the car junction.

The door to car 3 slides shut.
action: You go north
response: You open the door to car 4.

Car 4, Fore

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You open hatch
response: (I assume you mean the concealed access hatch that you found out about in an earlier incarnation.)
You open the maintenance access hatch.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some red powder
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
a train schedule
action: Go upward
response: (You pop open the maintenance access hatch as you go topside.)

Between each pair of cars is an area which has always frightened you. Maybe it's the fact that the area is open save for a flimsy metal railing across the gaps; maybe it's the constant shifting of the floor beneath your feet. Safer areas lie south and north.

A maintenance access hatch is open, leading downwards to darkness.

You can also see a small plastic tube (which is closed) (in which is some red powder) here.
action: You put the fluid in the coat
response: You put the bottle of developing fluid into the sport coat.
action: You take the bottle
response: Which do you mean, the squirt bottle, the bottle of developing fluid, the bottle of acid or the bottle of hydroxide?
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
a punched ticket
a small velvet box (which is closed)
action: You take the box
response: (the tool chest)
It's too bulky for you to lug around, so you leave it.
action: You take the velvet box
response: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a can of lubricant
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
action: You go north
response: You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see a punched ticket, a small velvet box (which is closed), all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is empty) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: Go north
response: (The maintenance access hatch slams shut when you release it to move.) You open the door to car 6.

Car 6, the last car
This is a tiny car-- a classic caboose, except it isn't red, and it doesn't have a potbelly stove. It's pretty much a lounge for the conductor and his assistants, except the conductor is conspicuously missing.

You can see a punched ticket, a small velvet box (which is closed), all of the passengers and a tool chest (which is empty) here.

The door to the car junction slides shut.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a can of lubricant
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of developing fluid (which is closed)
a bottle of acid (which is closed)
a quantity of acid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is closed)
Wolfie (the paper spider guardian of computers)
action: You put the squirt in the coat
response: You put the squirt bottle into the sport coat.

The train just zoomed by the Paso Robles station.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 5, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.

The train just rushed by the Paso Robles station.

There is the movement of feet above you.
action: You go north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.

The train just rushed past the San Luis Obispo station.
action: You open hatch
response: You can't. There's something on the other side preventing you from opening it.
action: You go to the north
response: Slowly you crawl northwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

You're in a small gap between the cars. Small maintenance tunnels lead south and north, although they are rather small and probably not safe when the train is in motion. A maintenance hatch above you offers more traditional passage on the train.

A prominent lever is attached to the car junction. The lever has been pushed into the "closed" position.

The train just rumbled by the Paso Robles station.
action: Go south
response: Slowly you crawl southwards along the length of the train...

Car 3, underside
From here, you can make out the complex speed regulators, air brakes, and other mechanisms you take for granted whenever you travel by rail. You can crawl south or north along the length of the car.
action: You put the LITMUS in the dish
response: The metal box isn't open.

The train just rumbled through the Glendale station.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You take the bulb
response: Which do you mean, the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb or the strange red bulb?
action: Close hatch
response: You close the metal hatch.

It is now pitch dark in here!
action: You open hatch
response: You open the metal hatch.

Once inside, you realize why this car wasn't accessible from the rest of the train: it's a mail transport car. Bags of letters and parcels fill the shelves around you, almost completely obscuring the one light fixture in the car. The sliding metal door east offers a possible exit.

In front of you stands a large metal box, closed on all sides save the front, which is protected by a pane of glass. The rose-tinting of the glass hints at rather than exposes the complicated machinery held within.

An open metal hatch reveals the sun and sky above.

You can also see a can of lubricant here.
action: You put the red bulb in light
response: (the light bulb socket)
There is no more room in the light bulb socket.

The train just zoomed past the Los Angeles station.
action: You look in the socket
response: In the light bulb socket is a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb.
action: You take the light bulb
response: (the strange red bulb)
You already have that.
action: You take the incandescent bulb
response: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
You unscrew the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb from the light bulb socket.
action: Close hatch
response: You close the metal hatch.
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You look at the scales
response: A pair of antique brass scales, intricately carved.

The scales are balanced.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: Hints
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game

> The Plane
The Train
action: Go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game

> The Plane
The Train
The Plane
N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> What's going on here?
How do I warn the stewardess?
How do I warn the pilot?
I don't want to die in a crash!
action: Go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subject  Q = resume game

> The Train
The Train
N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> The Prologue
After the Attack
Under the Train
On Top of The Train
The Mail Car
action: Go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> After the Attack
Under the Train
On Top of The Train
The Mail Car
action: You go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> Under the Train
On Top of The Train
The Mail Car
action: You go to the north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

Under the Train
> On Top of The Train
The Mail Car
action: Go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

Under the Train
On Top of The Train
> The Mail Car
action: Go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> The Prologue
After the Attack
Under the Train
On Top of The Train
The Mail Car
The Prologue
N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> I got kicked off the train!
What a mess! How do I clean my jacket?
What's going on in the corridor?
How can I avoid being shot?
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a strange red bulb
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You look at the socket
response: In the light bulb socket is a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb.

The train just barreled through the Glendale station.
action: You take the incandescent bulb
response: You unscrew the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb from the light bulb socket.
action: You take the red bulb
response: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You put it in the socket
response: You screw the strange red bulb into the light bulb socket.
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You open hatch
response: That's already open.

The train just barreled through the Los Angeles station.
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You turn off  the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The strange red bulb goes dark.

It is now pitch dark in here!
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: P.
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

Under the Train
On Top of The Train
> The Mail Car
The Mail Car
N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> How do I open the glass-fronted box?
The powder burst into flame!
action: You go to the north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

How do I open the glass-fronted box?
> The powder burst into flame!
[Press H for another hint, any other key to exit]

(1/17) The conductor may offer some insight on the white powder and the silicone caulking.
action: %
response: Amazing! After all these years some girl finally got Jack to propose. All you need to do is hop on a commuter plane, get the big lug to the church on time, and zip back. Piece of cake...

Well, almost. Blasted El Ni?o has air traffic in an uproar. This daily commuter flight out of San Francisco was delayed three times, which will make life fun when you finally make it down to San Diego...

Airplane (on Seat 4B)
The airlines claim that planes are getting bigger, but you don't believe a word of it. This cramped cabin feels about as roomy as a culvert, and has approximately the same decor.

There is a door south and a small kitchenette north.

(First time players should type INFO for game-playing details.)
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You look at the squirt
response: It's a squirt bottle. The label is so faded as to make it practically illegible.

The train just rumbled by the Los Angeles station.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You open the squirt
response: You open the squirt bottle.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You look at the acid
response: A dark glass bottle with a screw cap. The label on the outside has a stylized hand being dissolved away.
action: You take the acid
response: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You look at the tube
response: (the can of lubricant)
It's a very large can of a popular brand of all-purpose lubricant, complete with the long pointy tube that allows delivery of chemicals into tight spaces.
action: You put the tube in the sealant
response: (the can of lubricant in the silicone caulking)
You need to be holding the can of lubricant before you can put it into something else.
action: You take the tube
response: (the can of lubricant)
(putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You put it in the sealant
response: The can of lubricant easily pierces the silicone caulking.
action: White
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the white powder.
action: You cut the glass with the diamond
response: Which do you mean, the tube filled with gas, the glass dish or the rose-colored glass pane?
action: Pane
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Nothing else happens, so you carefully remove the cut pane and set it to the side.

The tube filled with gas cracks with a loud pop, followed by a much larger explosion.
action: You lubricate it
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the tube filled with gas.
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Nothing else happens, so you carefully remove the cut pane and set it to the side.

The tube filled with gas cracks with a loud pop, followed by a much larger explosion.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is closed)
some litmus powder
action: You look at the socket
response: In the light bulb socket is a strange red bulb.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
The strange red bulb begins to glow.

The train just barreled past the Fullerton station.
action: You cut the pane with the diamond
response: As you cut the glass, you hear a gentle hiss, as if gas is escaping.

Nothing else happens, so you carefully remove the cut pane and set it to the side.
action: You look at the bomb
response: Even with the glass removed, it's still difficult to comprehend the box's contents all at once...

A curious glass tube sticks out of a mass of electronics glued to the back of the box. Inside the tube you see a swirling gas. A thin gold wire spirals its way around the outside of the tube.

A glass dish sits under a thick metal coil, which dangles from another breadboard packed with electronics.

In the center of the bomb is a Plexiglas box.

Sitting on a nest of electronics within the glass box is an ominous black sphere.

Above the glass box is an antique pair of brass scales, curiously out of place when compared to the high-tech components around them. The metal dishes normally associated with such scales have been replaced by two labeled Pyrex beakers.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You lubricate the white powder
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the white powder.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
Nothing seems to happen.
action: You put it in the socket
response: Ouch! You get a nasty shock.
action: You turn on the light
response: (the light bulb socket)
That's already on.
action: Close hatch
response: You close the metal hatch.

The train just rumbled through the Glendale station.
action: You put it in the sealant
response: Try as you might, you cannot puncture the silicone caulking with the small plastic tube.

The train just rumbled past the Los Angeles station.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
action: You take the bottle
response: Which do you mean, the left beaker, the right beaker, the bottle of hydroxide, the squirt bottle or the bottle of acid?
action: You take the acid
response: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is closed)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
action: You take the squirt
response: (putting the small plastic tube into the sport coat to make room) Taken.
action: You look at the bomb
response: Even with the glass removed, it's still difficult to comprehend the box's contents all at once...

A curious glass tube sticks out of a mass of electronics glued to the back of the box. Inside the tube you see a swirling gas. A thin gold wire spirals its way around the outside of the tube.

A glass dish sits under a thick metal coil, which dangles from another breadboard packed with electronics.

In the center of the bomb is a Plexiglas box.

Sitting on a nest of electronics within the glass box is an ominous black sphere.

Above the glass box is an antique pair of brass scales, curiously out of place when compared to the high-tech components around them. The metal dishes normally associated with such scales have been replaced by two labeled Pyrex beakers.

The train just rushed through the Los Angeles station.
action: You take the tube
response: Which do you mean, the tube filled with gas, the can of lubricant or the small plastic tube?
action: You put it on the sphere
response: The plexiglas box isn't open.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You open the box
response: (the plexiglas box)
It seems to be locked.

The train just barreled through the Los Angeles station.
action: You look at the box
response: (the metal box)
Even with the glass removed, it's still difficult to comprehend the box's contents all at once...

A curious glass tube sticks out of a mass of electronics glued to the back of the box. Inside the tube you see a swirling gas. A thin gold wire spirals its way around the outside of the tube.

A glass dish sits under a thick metal coil, which dangles from another breadboard packed with electronics.

In the center of the bomb is a Plexiglas box.

Sitting on a nest of electronics within the glass box is an ominous black sphere.

Above the glass box is an antique pair of brass scales, curiously out of place when compared to the high-tech components around them. The metal dishes normally associated with such scales have been replaced by two labeled Pyrex beakers.
action: You take naoh
response: Taken.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You open the squirt
response: You open the squirt bottle.

The train just barreled by the Los Angeles station.
action: You squirt the white powder
response: What do you want to squirt the white powder on?
action: You squirt the lubricant on white powder
response: You apply a liberal amount of lubricant to the white powder.
action: You put the ammonia in naoh
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the bottle of hydroxide.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of hydroxide into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You take the right beaker
response: The right beaker is firmly attached to the pair of scales.
action: You put the ammonia in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You look at the right beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 100mL of liquid.
action: You read it
response: Written on the side are the letters "HCl."
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You put it in the right beaker
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.

The liquid in the right beaker turns bright red.
action: You put the soda in the right beaker
response: The right beaker is designed to hold liquids.
action: You put the LITMUS in right beaker
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The liquid in the right beaker turns bright red.
action: You look at the gas tube
response: Fluorescent gas swirls around the inside of the tube.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You put the acid in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

acid: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: You put it in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You put the acid in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

acid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: You put the LITMUS in right beaker
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The liquid in the right beaker turns bright red.
action: You put it in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You put the LITMUS in the left beaker
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The liquid in the left beaker turns dark blue.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You put the dish on the left beaker
response: The left beaker is designed to hold liquids.
action: You pour the soda in the left beaker
response: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You pour the soda in the left beaker
response: The left beaker is designed to hold liquids.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You take the LITMUS
response: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.
action: You pour the ammonia in the right beaker
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.

The liquid in the right beaker turns dark blue.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You pour the left beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the left beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You pour the right beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the right beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You put it in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the cans of soda into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You pour the right beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the right beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You look at the bomb
response: Even with the glass removed, it's still difficult to comprehend the box's contents all at once...

A curious glass tube sticks out of a mass of electronics glued to the back of the box. Inside the tube you see a swirling gas. A thin gold wire spirals its way around the outside of the tube.

In the center of the bomb is a Plexiglas box.

Sitting on a nest of electronics within the glass box is an ominous black sphere.

Above the glass box is an antique pair of brass scales, curiously out of place when compared to the high-tech components around them. The metal dishes normally associated with such scales have been replaced by two labeled Pyrex beakers.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
some cans of soda
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You pour it in the left beaker
response: acid: (putting the cans of soda into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You put the acid in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You take the ammonia
response: Taken.

The train just rumbled past the Fullerton station.
action: Left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.
action: You pour the left beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the left beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You put the acid in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

acid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: You put it in the the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: You put the ammonia in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.
action: You pour the left beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the left beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The train just rumbled by the Fullerton station.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The train just rushed through the Anaheim station.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The train just barreled past the Santa Ana station.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The train just rushed by the Irvine station.
action: You put the acid in the ammonia
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the squirt bottle.)

acid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the squirt bottle.
action: You pour the gas tube in the hydroxide
response: That's fixed in place.

The train just rumbled by the Fullerton station.
action: You take the pane
response: You'd cut your hands to ribbons playing with that.
action: You cut pane with the diamond
response: No use cutting that up more.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a glass dish
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put the acid in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: The left beaker is already as full as possible.

The train just barreled past the Fullerton station.
action: You read the scale
response: A pair of antique brass scales, intricately carved.

The scales are tilting to the left.
action: You examine the left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 500mL of pale blue liquid.
action: You put the acid in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

acid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: You pour the left beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the left beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You pour the right beaker in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the right beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You take the ammonia
response: Taken.

The train just barreled past the Anaheim station.
action: You put it in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: You put the tube on the scale
response: Which do you mean, the tube filled with gas, the can of lubricant or the small plastic tube?
action: You take the plastic
response: Which do you mean, the plexiglas box, the silicone caulking or the small plastic tube?
action: You put it on the scale
response: You need to be holding the small plastic tube before you can put it on top of something else.

The train just zoomed by the Santa Ana station.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
some litmus powder
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
action: You put the LITMUS in the right beaker
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.
action: You look at the right beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 260mL of bright red liquid.
action: You put the diamond in the right beaker
response: The right beaker is designed to hold liquids.
action: You look at the left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 500mL of pale blue liquid.
action: You look at the left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 100mL of liquid.
action: You look at the right beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 100mL of liquid.
action: You put ammonia in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You put the ammonia in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns pale blue.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 200mL of pale blue liquid.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 200mL of bright red liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put it in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: Left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 160mL of liquid.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 100mL of bright red liquid.
action: You put the ammonia in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.

The liquid in the right beaker turns dark blue.
action: You look at the right beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 500mL of dark blue liquid.
action: You look at left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 160mL of liquid.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put the ammonia in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.
action: You look at the left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 260mL of pale blue liquid.
action: You pour the right beaker on the dish
response: liquid: The glass dish is not designed to hold liquids.

The train just rushed past the Fullerton station.
action: You put the ammonia in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

The squirt bottle is empty already.
action: You put the ammonia in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: You put the acid in right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

acid: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: You look at the right beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 260mL of bright red liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
some litmus powder
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 160mL of bright red liquid.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 500mL of bright red liquid.
action: You put the ammonia in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
some litmus powder
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)

The train just barreled through the Fullerton station.
action: You put it in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

acid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: You look at the right beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 160mL of liquid.
action: You put it in left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.
action: You put the ammonia in right
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 260mL of bright red liquid.
action: You put it in the right beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: Right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 500mL of pale blue liquid.
action: You look at the left beaker
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 200mL of pale blue liquid.
action: You put it in the left beaker
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 260mL of dark blue liquid.
action: You pour right in the left
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.
Emptying the right beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: Pour left in right
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
Emptying the left beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a glass dish
some white powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 500mL of pale blue liquid.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You put it in right
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

The liquid in the right beaker turns bright red.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put the ammonia in right
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You put it in right
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You squirt the ammonia in right
response: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour 5mL into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns pale blue.
You squirt some liquid into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 105mL of bright red liquid.
action: You put the ammonia in right
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns dark blue.
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 500mL of dark blue liquid.
action: You put ammonia in the left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 200mL of pale blue liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open)
a quantity of acid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You put the acid in the left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

The bottle of acid is empty already.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You put it in left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 160mL of dark blue liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
some white powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You take the white powder
response: It would be easier to carry that around in the dish.
action: You pour the white powder in the left
response: It would be easier to carry that around in the dish.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: Keep going
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 160mL of dark blue liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You take the ammonia
response: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You put it in right
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the right beaker.)

The bottle of acid is empty already.
action: You take the ammonia
response: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You put the ammonia in right
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the right beaker.)

liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 500mL of pale blue liquid.
action: You put the ammonia in the left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The train just rushed through the Fullerton station.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a glass dish
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put it in left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You take the dish
response: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
Taken.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You put the ammonia in the left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You put the ammonia in the left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You put the ammonia in the left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.
liquid: You pour some liquid into the left beaker.
action: Left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 500mL of dark blue liquid.
action: You put it in left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You put it in left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: The left beaker is already as full as possible.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 100mL of dark blue liquid.
action: You take the acid
response: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: Left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the bottle of acid into the left beaker.)

acid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put it in left
response: (I assume you mean to pour the squirt bottle into the left beaker.)

liquid: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room) You pour some liquid into the left beaker.
action: You squirt the ammonia in left
response: (putting the litmus powder into the sport coat to make room)
You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.
action: Left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 165mL of dark blue liquid.
action: You pour 95 ML of the ammonia in the left
response: liquid: You pour 95mL into the left beaker.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You are carrying:
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You pour 160 ML of the ammonia in right
response: liquid: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room) You pour 160mL into the right beaker.

The train just rushed by the Fullerton station.

The pair of scales go into balance.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You pour 240 ML of the ammonia in right
response: liquid: You pour 240mL into the right beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the right.

The liquid in the right beaker turns dark blue.
action: You pour the acid in right
response: The bottle of acid is empty already.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
some litmus powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: You put the LITMUS in right
response: You dissolve a few crystals in the liquid.

The train just rumbled by the Anaheim station.
action: You pour 400 ML of ammonia in the left
response: liquid: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour 400mL into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You pour 400 ML of the ammonia in right
response: liquid: You pour 100mL into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns pale blue.
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 200mL of pale blue liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a glass dish
some white powder
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open)
a quantity of acid
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You pour 100 ML of the acid in the left
response: acid: You pour 60mL into the left beaker.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You squirt the ammonia in the the left beaker
response: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour 5mL into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.
action: You continue
response: You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.
action: Continue
response: You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You take the dish
response: Taken.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: Left
response: (putting the squirt bottle into the sport coat to make room)
You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.
action: Continue
response: You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.

The train just zoomed through the Fullerton station.
action: Keep going
response: You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.

The train just rushed through the Anaheim station.
action: Continue
response: You pour 5mL into the left beaker.
You squirt some liquid into the left beaker.

The train just rumbled past the Santa Ana station.
action: You look at left
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the left beaker is about 320mL of pale blue liquid.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a glass dish
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: P.
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

Under the Train
On Top of The Train
> The Mail Car
The Mail Car
N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

> How do I open the glass-fronted box?
The Plexiglas box is locked, and I don't have a key!
action: You go north
response: N = next subjectP = previous
RETURN = read subjectQ = previous menu

How do I open the glass-fronted box?
> The Plexiglas box is locked, and I don't have a key!
action: You pour the ammonia in the left
response: liquid: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the left beaker.

The liquid in the left beaker turns pale blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You pour the ammonia in right
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the right beaker.

The liquid in the right beaker turns pale blue.
action: You pour the acid in right
response: acid: (putting the glass dish into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the right beaker.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a bottle of acid (which is open but empty)
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
a glass dish
some white powder
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open but empty)
some cans of soda
a squirt bottle (which is open but empty)
a small plastic tube (which is open)
some litmus powder
action: You pour the soda on the white powder
response: That can't contain things.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The white powder quickly consumes itself.
action: You pour 240 ML of the left into the hydroxide
response: liquid: (putting the cans of soda into the sport coat to make room) You pour 240mL into the bottle of hydroxide.

The pair of scales go into balance.
action: You pour 240 ML of the right in hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour 240mL into the bottle of hydroxide.

The liquid in the bottle of hydroxide turns dark blue.

The pair of scales tilt to the left.
action: You pour 10 ML of the right in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour 10mL into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You look in the hydroxide
response: In the bottle of hydroxide is a quantity of dark blue liquid.
action: You look at right
response: A glass Pyrex beaker, maximum capacity 500ml, with something scrawled on the side in grease pencil. There's a glass probe fused to the bottom.

In the right beaker is about 160mL of bright red liquid.

The oil on the white powder evaporates away.

Whumpf! The white powder suddenly bursts into flame!

The resulting fire must have set off some sensor in the bomb. The subsequent explosion vaporizes you, the train, and a large portion of California instantaneously.
action: You pour 100 ML of the right in the hydroxide
response: liquid: (putting the bottle of acid into the sport coat to make room) There is no more room in the sport coat.
action: You pour 100ml of the right in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour 60mL into the bottle of hydroxide.
liquid: You pour 100mL into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the right beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.
action: You pour 60 ML of right in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour 60mL into the bottle of hydroxide.
liquid: You pour 60mL into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You pour 100 ML of the left in the hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour 100mL into the bottle of hydroxide.
action: You look in the hydroxide
response: In the bottle of hydroxide is a quantity of bright red liquid.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a glass dish
a diamond ring (being worn)
a sport coat (being worn)
some litmus powder
a squirt bottle (which is open)
a quantity of pale blue liquid
a 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb
a bottle of hydroxide (which is open)
a quantity of bright red liquid
some cans of soda
a small plastic tube (which is open but empty)
action: Pour left in hydroxide
response: liquid: You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.

The liquid in the bottle of hydroxide turns dark blue.
action: You pour 100 ML of the left in plastic tube
response: liquid: The small plastic tube is not designed to hold liquids.
action: Pour left in hydroxide
response: liquid: (putting the 60-watt soft-white incandescent light bulb into the sport coat to make room)
You pour some liquid into the bottle of hydroxide.
Emptying the left beaker was not a good idea. It seems to have triggered the bomb.