Trinity
by Brian Moriarty (1986)
Genres: Fantasy
Time Travel

You're neither an adventurer nor a professional thrill-seeker. You're simply an American tourist in London, enjoying a relaxing stroll through the famous Kensington Gardens. When World War III starts and the city is vaporized moments after the story begins, you have no hope of survival. Unless you enter another time, another place, another dimension. Escaping the destruction of London is not the end of your problems, but rather the beginning of new, more bizarre riddles. You'll find yourself in an exotic world teeming with giant fly traps, strange creatures, and other inconveniences. Time and space will behave with their own intricate and mischievous logic. You'll visit fantastic places and acquire curious objects as you seek to discover the logic behind your newfound universe. And if you can figure out the patter of events, you'll wind up in the New Mexico desert, minutes before the culmination of the greatest scientific experiment of all time: the world's first atomic explosion, code-named Trinity.

action: %
response: Sharp words between the superpowers. Tanks in East Berlin. And now, reports the BBC, rumors of a satellite blackout. It's enough to spoil your continental breakfast.

But the world will have to wait. This is the last day of your $599 London Getaway Package, and you're determined to soak up as much of that authentic English ambience as you can. So you've left the tour
bus behind, ditched the camera and escaped to Hyde Park for a contemplative stroll through the Kensington Gardens.

A tide of perambulators surges north along the crowded Broad Walk. Shaded glades stretch away to the northeast, and a hint of color marks the western edge of the Flower Walk.
action: You examine yourself
response: Aside from your London vacation outfit, you're wearing a wristwatch.
action: Examine watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:30:15 pm.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You're not holding anything, but you're wearing a wristwatch. You also have a credit card and a seven-sided coin in your pocket.
action: You look at the coin
response: You'll have to take it out of your pocket first.
action: You take the coin
response: You take the seven-sided coin out of your pocket.
action: You look at the coin
response: It's standard British currency, worth fifty pence.
action: You put coin in the pocket
response: You put the seven-sided coin in your pocket.
action: You take card
response: You take the credit card out of your pocket.
action: You look at the card
response: The credit card is embossed with the usual codes. It expires tomorrow.
action: You put the card in the pocket
response: You put the credit card in your pocket.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: A tide of perambulators surges north along the crowded Broad Walk. Shaded glades stretch away to the northeast, and a hint of color marks the western edge of the Flower Walk.
action: You look at the people
response: The tourists look a lot like you do.
action: Xyzzy
response: [Sigh.]
action: You go to the northeast
response: The east wind makes it difficult to walk straight.

This grassy clearing is only twenty feet across, and perfectly circular. Paths wander off in many directions through the surrounding thicket.

A shaft of golden sunlight falls across a handsome antique sundial, erected at the exact center of the clearing.
action: You look at the sundial
response: The perimeter of the sundial is inscribed with seven curious symbols and a compass rose, with the legend "TEMPUS EDAX RERUM" emblazoned across the bottom. A triangular gnomon casts a fingerlike shadow that is creeping slowly towards the first symbol.
action: You look at the symbols
response: The seven symbols are arranged in a circle. The series begins with a Greek omega and runs clockwise around the dial, ending with a Greek alpha.

[You'll find the symbols reproduced on the sundial in your
Trinity package.]
action: You look at the watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:33:30 pm.
action: You look around
response: This grassy clearing is only twenty feet across, and perfectly circular. Paths wander off in many directions through the surrounding thicket.

A shaft of golden sunlight falls across a handsome antique sundial, erected at the exact center of the clearing.
action: Oops gimbal
response: [You don't need to use the word "gimbal" to complete this story.]

> TURN SUNDIAL

The sundial is firmly set into the ground. It cannot be moved.
action: You look at the gnomon
response: It's a triangular piece of metal, about a quarter-inch thick and four inches long, screwed into the center of the sundial.
action: You turn it
response: You can feel the gnomon getting more and more wobbly as you turn it. A final twist, and it falls with a clatter onto the face of the sundial.
action: You get it
response: You take the gnomon off the sundial.

[Your score just went up by 5 points. The total is now 5 out of
100.]

[NOTE: You can turn score notification on or off at any time with the NOTIFY command.]
action: You look at it
response: It's a triangular piece of metal, about a quarter-inch thick and four inches long. A long bolt is welded to the bottom.
action: You examine the sundial
response: The perimeter of the sundial is inscribed with seven curious symbols and a compass rose, with the legend "TEMPUS EDAX RERUM" emblazoned across the bottom. A threaded hole is set into the center of the dial.
action: You examine the hole
response: The hole has a left-handed thread, and is set in the center of the dial.
action: Go east
response: The thicket blocks your path.
action: Go north
response: Ducks and swans bob on the sparkling surface of the Round Pond. They share the water with an impressive fleet of toy boats, directed by the excited shouts of children.

Crowded paths radiate from the Pond in many directions.
action: You look at the children
response: It makes you smile to watch them play.

One of the toy boats on the Round Pond catches your eye. The east wind blows it closer, and you realize that the white sails are actually wings. It's a folded paper bird, floating just within reach.
action: You get the paper bird
response: You lean over the edge of the Round Pond, and pluck the paper bird out of the water.

[Your score just went up by 3 points. The total is now 8 out of
100.]
action: You look at it
response: The paper bird is skillfully folded from a piece of paper. Something
is written between the folds.
action: Unfold bird
response: You gently unfold the paper bird to its full size.
action: You look at the watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:38:15 pm.
action: You get the children
response: A nanny whacks you over the head with her umbrella. Ouch!
action: Go north
response: Crowded walkways lead east and west along an iron fence. Narrow paths wander south into the Gardens.

A young boy sits nearby, listening to a pair of headphones and idly blowing soap bubbles. There's a dish full of soapy water by his side.

The boy dips the bubble wand in the dish and swishes it around.
action: You examine boy
response: The boy pulls the bubble wand out of the dish, puts it to his lips and blows a big soap bubble.

The boy snaps his fingers to the headphone music as the soap bubble bursts with a flabby pop.
action: You examine the dish
response: The dish is filled to the brim with soapy water.

The boy dips the bubble wand in the dish and swishes it around.
action: You look at the east
response: You see trees that way.

The boy pulls the bubble wand out of the dish, puts it to his lips and blows a big soap bubble.
action: You look at the west
response: You see trees that way.

The boy bobs his head to the headphone music as the soap bubble bursts with a flabby pop.
action: You look at the watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:40:00 pm.

The boy dips the bubble wand in the dish and swishes it around.
action: You talk to boy
response: The boy doesn't respond. It looks as if he can't hear you.
action: You wave at boy
response: The boy does his best to ignore you.

The boy pulls the bubble wand out of the dish, puts it to his lips and blows a big soap bubble.
action: You listen boy
response: You hear faint, rhythmic music coming from the headphones.

bursts with a flabby pop.
action: You take the headphones
response: "Aow!"

The startled boy leaps backward at your approach, splashing water all over the place. "Stupid git!" he cries (in an intriguing Cockney accent). Then he retrieves the empty dish, pockets the wand and disappears between the prams, glaring at you over his shoulder.
action: You look at the trees
response: The surrounding trees sway in the brisk east wind.
action: Look around
response: Crowded walkways lead east and west along an iron fence. Narrow paths wander south into the Gardens.
action: Go east
response: the Lancaster Walk. Shady paths lead west along an iron fence, and southwest between the trees.

There's an old woman under the tree, struggling to open an umbrella. The stiff east wind isn't making it easy for her.
action: You look at tree
response: It's quite a nice tree, actually.

A strong gust of wind snatches the umbrella out of the old woman's hands and sweeps it into the branches of the tree.

The woman circles the tree a few times, gazing helplessly upward. That umbrella obviously means a lot to her, for a wistful tear is running down her cheek. But nobody except you seems to notice her loss.

After a few moments, the old woman dries her eyes, gives the tree a vicious little kick and shuffles away down the Lancaster Walk.
action: You get the umbrella
response: The umbrella is high out of reach.
action: You look
response: the Lancaster Walk. Shady paths lead west along an iron fence, and southwest between the trees.

An umbrella is wedged in the branches overhead.
action: You go south
response: An impressive sculpture of a horse and rider dominates this bustling intersection. The Walk continues north and south; lesser paths curve off in many directions.

A broad field of grass, meticulously manicured, extends to the east. Beyond it you can see the Long Water glittering between the trees.

A printed notice is stuck into the grass.
action: You look at long Water
response: You can see it sparkling between the trees to the east.
action: You look at the watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:44:00 pm.
action: Inventory
response: You're holding a piece of paper and a gnomon. You're wearing a wristwatch, and you have a credit card and a seven-sided coin in your pocket.
action: You walk on the grass
response: As your feet touch the grass you sense a strange motion around you. Looking down, you watch with horror as the grass begins to ripple and writhe with vegetable indignance!

Angry green stalks whip around your legs, pull you to the ground and drag you, kicking and screaming, back to the paved surface of the Lancaster Walk.

footing.
action: You read the paper
response: The words "Long Water, Four O'Clock" are scrawled on the piece of paper.

A young couple zooms down the Lancaster Walk on bicycles. You watch them roll across the grass and disappear into the crowd.
action: You look
response: An impressive sculpture of a horse and rider dominates this bustling intersection. The Walk continues north and south; lesser paths curve off in many directions.

A broad field of grass, meticulously manicured, extends to the east. Beyond it you can see the Long Water glittering between the trees.

There's a notice here.
action: You look at the horse
response: According to a plaque, the sculpture is called Physical
Energy.
action: You jump east
response: That'd be a cute trick.
action: Go south
response: Gaily colored flower beds line the walks bending north and west, filling the air with a gentle fragrance. A little path leads
northwest, between the trees.

You can see a soccer ball half-hidden among the blossoms.

The spires of the Albert Memorial are all too visible to the south. Passing tourists hoot with laughter at the dreadful sight; nannies
hide their faces and roll quickly away.
action: You get the ball
response: You take the soccer ball off the flower beds.

[Your score just went up by 1 point. The total is now 9 out of
100.]
action: You throw the ball to umbrella
response: The soccer ball lodges itself in the tree beside the umbrella.

The umbrella teeters uncertainly for a moment, then tumbles out of the tree and lands at your feet.
action: You get the umbrella
response: As you pick up the umbrella and smooth the wrinkles, you notice a touristy slogan printed around the outside: "All prams lead to the Kensington Gardens."

[Your score just went up by 5 points. The total is now 14 out of
100.]
action: You get the ball
response: The soccer ball is high out of reach.
action: Trinity01
response: [SAVE completed.]
action: You wait
response: Time passes.
action: Examine watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:48:00 pm.
action: Examine watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:49:15 pm.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A steady drone begins to rise above the east wind. As it grows louder and more insistent, you recognize a sound you've heard only in old war movies. Air-raid sirens.
action: Examine watch
response: Your wristwatch says it's 3:58:00 pm.

Another siren joins the first. Tourists search the sky, eyes wide with apprehension.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

Sirens are howling all around you. Children, sensing fear in the air, begin to whimper for their nannies.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

Confused shouts can be heard in the distance. Worried nannies turn their perambulators toward the gates.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

Police and fire alarms join in the rising din as the crowd rushes to escape the open sky of the Gardens.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

Distant megaphones can be heard barking orders. Frightened tourists
and screaming perambulators flee in every direction.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A round of gunfire drowns out the wailing sirens. Tourists cover their heads and trample one another in blind panic.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The ground trembles with the roar of jet interceptors. Terror-stricken tourists dive for cover.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The east wind falls silent, and a new star flashes to life over the doomed city.

You're on a lifeless strip of sand beside a great river. The water is unnaturally dark and still; ribbons of mist coil across its surface like ghostly fingers, obscuring what lies beyond.

As you peer across the river you notice a lone vessel gliding out of the fog. You can make out a dark oarsman at the stern.

The oarsman guides his dory to a soundless landing. Something in the way he crooks his skeletal finger compels you to board. You surrender
a silver coin you didn't know you had, take a seat and wait patiently for your first glimpse of the opposite shore.

[Your score is 14 points out of 100, in 119 moves. This gives you the rank of Tourist.]

Do you want to restart the story, restore a saved position, or quit?