Afflicted
by Doug Egan (2008)
Genres: Horror

This isn't the safest neighborhood. A young woman was abducted near here only recently. But as a city sanitarian you are obligated to complete your annual inspection of the local dive.

action: %
response: This has never been your favorite part of the city. Nor is this neighborhood the safest one. But as a city sanitarian, you are charged with completing an annual health and safety inspection of every restaurant in your district.

Each day you visit three or four restaurants. During those visits you take note of potential health code violations in your trusty notepad. Today's first target: Nikolai's Bar and Grill.

A hazy sun barely peeks above the three-story tenements.

Type "About" at any time to see game instructions and other notes from the author.

You are standing in front of Nikolai's Bar and Grill on 19th Street.
A green awning shades the smudged window into Nikolai's dining room. The front entrance is north of you.

The east/west sidewalk here is cracked and uneven, pocked by clumps of crabgrass. A storm gutter is built into the curb, littered with broken bottles. Across the street a neon sign flickers erratically.
A few cars are parked nearby (including yours), but otherwise you see no evidence that anyone visits this neighborhood past daybreak.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

A damp sheet of newspaper has blown up against the curb.
action: Examine newspaper
response: The newspaper scrap is worn and damp, rendering it almost unreadable.
action: You look at the placard
response: An aluminum placard, printed in red, is fixed to the front door.
action: You read it
response: You read: (in big red letters) CLOSED
action: You examine the gutter
response: The gutter is designed to carry storm water off the road. It extends west and east.

In storm gutter is some broken glass.
action: About yourself
response: You are the city health inspector, looking quite natty in your polyester shirt and vintage knit tie.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a notepad
action: You examine the notepad
response: This notebook is for recording health code violations when you inspect a restaurant. Nikolai's is likely to have a number of infractions.
To record them, "note [something]". Later in the day, back at the office, you will refer to these notes to write your official report.
action: Go east
response: A street-front window looks into Nikolai's bar. If you want into the bar, you'll have to go back to the restaurant entrance, which is west of here. There are no cars on this end of 19th Street. The sidewalk is uneven. A curb-side storm gutter empties here into a grated storm drain.
action: You examine the drain
response: The openings in the storm drain are barely wide enough to insert three fingers. You'll have to search more carefully to see what lies below.
action: You search the drain
response: Staring up at you, from a few inches below the grate, are a pair of eyes.
action: You examine the eye
response: On careful examination, the eyes are dismembered. They float in a dark pool several inches beneath the grate.
action: You examine sidewalk
response: The sidewalk buckles to such a degree, one might think it had been hit by an earthquake.
action: You examine the window
response: The window is marked by dozens of greasy finger prints and years of accumulated scratch marks. It should certainly be cleaned, if not replaced. But you can still see through well enough.
action: You note the window
response: You write, "Exterior windows are filthy-- should be cleaned." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look through the window
response: Through the window you see the Bar.

A trapezoid of light falls on the cork dance floor.

Behind the bar is a dinky two basin sink with an attached faucet. In the rinse basin is some ice.

A middle-aged woman, slight in build, is seated at the bar counter. She has fallen fast asleep.

You also see a stereo.
action: You look at the woman
response: Angela is Nikolai's day shift waitress. She doesn't have the endurance any longer to work the night shift. Angela is a thin woman not quite 50 with salt and pepper gray hair. Her skin is pale as a ghost. She is asleep.
action: You examine stereo
response: The stereo is one of those big, barely portable, over-the-shoulder models popular back in the day when Michael Jackson was undergoing his first plastic surgery. This one is held together by duct tape and wire. One of the bartenders probably brought it in to entertain themselves during the slow periods.

The stereo is switched off.
action: You wake woman
response: You knock. Angela wakes, looking startled. When she sees you motioning at the window, she stands.
action: You note the stereo
response: You can only look from this distance.

Angela moves to the dining room.
action: Go west
response: An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

A damp sheet of newspaper has blown up against the curb.

Angela opens the door.
action: You go to the north
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela is gaunt and anemic. She struggles to remain alert.

An obese man (Nikolai, the owner?) watches you from the balcony.

"Who's there? Tell him we're closed" Nikolai growls in disgust.

Angela cowers, "I think he's the man from the health department." She looks at you "We're not open right now."

Nikolai growls again, "We were just inspected six months ago. Tell him to go away." Without waiting for an answer from either you or Angela, Nikolai turns back into his office and closes the door.

Angela shrugs helplessly, and begins cleaning the dining room.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped three points.]
action: You tell Angela about yourself
response: Angela says, "You seem like sharp young fellow. Maybe Nikolai would let you work in the restaurant."

Angela takes a short break.
action: You look at Angela
response: Angela is Nikolai's day shift waitress. She doesn't have the endurance any longer to work the night shift. Angela is a thin woman not quite 50 with salt and pepper gray hair. Her skin is pale as a ghost.

Angela says, "You mustn't take Nikolai too seriously. He's really a very good man. It's just... he acts kind of grumpy sometimes because of his affliction.
action: You ask Angela about the affliction
response: Angela whispers, "When Nikolai started gaining a lot of weight, about fifteen years ago, his doctor diagnosed him with the affliction. You know, that blood sugar disease? He takes insulin for it, I think."

Angela begins wiping tables.
action: You ask Angela about the diabetes
response: "Right, that's the name of Nikolai's affliction."

Angela is pausing to rest. Nikolai pokes his head out of his office momentarily to shout, "If there's time to lean, there's time to clean".
action: You ask Angela about the restaurant
response: "Nikolai only pays the cooks five dollars an hour. They don't use recipes, because they can't read."
action: You examine the tables
response: The tables are four tops. None of twelve tables have been cleaned since last night.
action: You note the tables
response: You write, "Dining room tables require cleaning." in the notebook.

Angela begins sweeping the floor.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You examine the floor
response: (the cork dance floor)
The dance floor isn't very large but you imagine it doesn't need to be. People don't come to Nikolai's to dance. They come to get soused. The floor is discolored by water marks and mold.
action: You note the floor
response: (the cork dance floor)
You can only look from this distance.
action: You note the mold
response: You can only look from this distance.
action: Look around
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela is gaunt and anemic. She struggles to remain alert.
action: You look at the placard
response: An aluminum placard, printed in red, is fixed to the front door.
action: You read the placard
response: You read: (in big red letters) CLOSED
action: You examine the mirror
response: In the mirror you see The window is scratched, but intact.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela is gaunt and anemic. She struggles to remain alert.

About twelve tables are closely spaced within the small location.

Dozens of identical chairs are pushed snug against the four top tables.
You also see yourself.
action: You look at the window
response: The window is marked by dozens of greasy finger prints and years of accumulated scratch marks. It should certainly be cleaned, if not replaced. But you can still see through well enough.

Angela begins wiping tables.
action: You ask Angela about the anemia
response: Angela seems a little confused.
action: You ask Angela about Angela
response: "I came to this country when I was 19, from Czechoslovakia. Uncle Nikolai helped me to escape. I've been working for him ever since."
action: Go east
response: Sunlight from the 19th Street window (south) casts an bright trapezoid across the cork dance floor. In every other corner, the brick walls of this unpretentious watering hole are marked by shadows. If you don't mind risking ptomaine poisoning, Nikolai's dining room is to the west. Otherwise, the unisex lavatory is north through a low ceiling tunnel.

A set of Naugahyde stools are pushed against the linoleum bar.

Behind the bar is a dinky two basin sink with an attached faucet. In the rinse basin is some ice.

Beside the sink is a personal stereo (held together largely with duct tape).
action: Smell
response: The odor of stale beer and sweat threatens to overwhelm you. You imagine it must smell even worse when the local mill workers are packed in here during happy hour.
action: You look in the wash basin
response: The wash basin is empty.
action: You look in rinse basin
response: In the rinse basin is some ice.
action: You examine the ice
response: Rounded chips of melting ice drain in the sink. The pile of ice has a red streak through its center. Sloe Gin, or perhaps grenadine would make that color streak.
action: You search the ice
response: While sifting through the ice in the rinse basin, you pause in horror. Buried near the drain is a severed human hand.
action: You note the hand
response: (the severed left hand)
The severed left hand is likely evidence of a ghastly crime, but you falter when trying to assign it as a particular health code violation in your notebook.
action: You examine the hand
response: (the severed left hand)
The hand is pale and cold as ice. It is cut cleanly at the wrist, as if by a cleaver. The hand appears to be human. It appears to be the real thing.
action: You look at the stools
response: (the cork dance floor)
The dance floor isn't very large but you imagine it doesn't need to be. People don't come to Nikolai's to dance. They come to get soused. The floor is discolored by water marks and mold.

The beet red Naugahyde stools are torn, revealing the rotting yellow foam beneath.
action: You note the floor
response: (the cork dance floor)
You write, "Dance floor covered with carcinogenic mold-- apply fungicide." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You note the stools
response: You write, "Repair bar stools and replace foam padding." in the notebook.

The ice has completely melted.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at your surroundings
response: Sunlight from the 19th Street window (south) casts an bright trapezoid across the cork dance floor. In every other corner, the brick walls of this unpretentious watering hole are marked by shadows. If you don't mind risking ptomaine poisoning, Nikolai's dining room is to the west. Otherwise, the unisex lavatory is north through a low ceiling tunnel.

A set of Naugahyde stools are pushed against the linoleum bar.

Behind the bar is a dinky two basin sink with an attached faucet. In the rinse basin is a severed left hand.

Beside the sink is a personal stereo (held together largely with duct tape).
action: You examine walls
response: (the brick)
The walls are made of the same black and red brick which covers the building's exterior.
action: Oops shadows
response: Creeping shadows fall everywhere, creating a sensation of permanent dusk.
action: You examine the faucet
response: The faucet is turned off, though it drips intermittently.
action: You turn on the faucet
response: No water comes out.
action: You note the faucet
response: You write, "Replace bar sink with something larger. And clean the damn thing." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You turn off the faucet
response: The faucet continues to drip.
action: You look at the counter
response: The bar's linoleum counter top is green, with a marbelesque pattern. Brown stains give it the appearance of a rotted apple.
action: You note the counter
response: You write, "Linoleum counter top is stained-- clean with an abrasive oxidizing solution." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at the notebook
response: This notebook is for recording health code violations when you inspect a restaurant. Nikolai's is likely to have a number of infractions.
To record them, "note [something]". Later in the day, back at the office, you will refer to these notes to write your official report.
action: You read it
response: window -- Exterior windows are filthy-- should be cleaned.
crumbs -- Dining room tables require cleaning.
cork dance floor -- Dance floor covered with carcinogenic mold-- apply fungicide.
bar stool -- Repair bar stools and replace foam padding.
sink -- Replace bar sink with something larger. And clean the damn thing.
linoleum counter -- Linoleum counter top is stained-- clean with an abrasive oxidizing solution.
action: You look around
response: Sunlight from the 19th Street window (south) casts an bright trapezoid across the cork dance floor. In every other corner, the brick walls of this unpretentious watering hole are marked by shadows. If you don't mind risking ptomaine poisoning, Nikolai's dining room is to the west. Otherwise, the unisex lavatory is north through a low ceiling tunnel.

A set of Naugahyde stools are pushed against the linoleum bar.

Behind the bar is a dinky two basin sink with an attached faucet. In the rinse basin is a severed left hand.

Beside the sink is a personal stereo (held together largely with duct tape).

A cockroach scurries across the floor.
action: You examine the cockroach
response: The cockroach has escaped your view.
action: You note the cockroach
response: You write, "Call exterminator." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You take the duct tape
response: The stereo would probably fall apart if you removed the wire and tape.
action: You turn on the stereo
response: The radio emits a staticy rendition of "That'll be the Day" by Buddy Holly.

The song on the radio changes to "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard.
action: You turn off the stereo
response: You switch the stereo off.
action: Go north
response: The low ceiling restroom is painted yellow, the color of urine and bile. Its only fixtures are a porcelain toilet, hand sink, soap dispenser and automatic hand dryer, all mounted low to the floor as if they were reclaimed from an abandoned grade school, or this lavatory was designed for alcoholic ten-year-olds.

A Jackson Pollack pattern of vomit is splashed across the back wall of the bathroom, certainly nowhere near the toilet where it was presumably aimed.

You hear a mouse scurrying through the wall.
action: You note the vomit
response: You write, "Please, please, please, clean the barf off the bathroom wall." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at the vomit
response: The bilious material was probably spewed there last night after a few rounds of drinks. It is now dried, with undigested lumps of green pepper and onion plastered in place. Remains of a cheese steak sandwich, maybe?
action: You look at the toilet
response: (the toilet)
The toilet has a five (possibly ten or fifteen) gallon tank. Who knew that such monumental water guzzlers still existed? But the size of the tank is less your concern than contents of the basin. A massive quantity of shit and toilet paper threaten to overflow the rim. This toilet probably hasn't been flushed since yesterday's happy hour.

A tiny brown mouse dashes out of view.
action: You note the toilet
response: (the toilet)
You write, "Clogged toilet-- call plumber." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at tank
response: The toilet has a five (possibly ten or fifteen) gallon tank. Who knew that such monumental water guzzlers still existed? But the size of the tank is less your concern than contents of the basin. A massive quantity of shit and toilet paper threaten to overflow the rim. This toilet probably hasn't been flushed since yesterday's happy hour.
action: Flush toilet
response: (the toilet)
That would just cause the toilet to overflow. Better to document this in your notepad.

A cockroach scuttles up the wall.
action: You look at the sink
response: A cracked porcelain sink is mounted about two feet above the floor. Its handles have been removed, rendering it useless.
action: You note the Sink
response: You write, "Sink handles missing-- call plumber." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at the soap
response: The cracked, wall mounted soap dispenser is equipped with a lever for dispensing-- well, for dispensing whatever the hell Nikolai puts in there.

A tiny brown mouse dashes out of view.
action: You examine dryer
response: This stainless steel automatic hand dryer is the same model that was common in American service station restrooms half a century ago. A silver button in front invites you to push it.

The hand dryer is switched off.
action: You note dispenser
response: You write, "The dispenser is empty-- replace soap." in the notebook.

A mouse runs in circles, then races away.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You note the dryer
response: You write, "Must repair the hand dryer." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: Smell
response: You're almost unable to breath, it smells so foul in here.
action: Look around
response: The low ceiling restroom is painted yellow, the color of urine and bile. Its only fixtures are a porcelain toilet, hand sink, soap dispenser and automatic hand dryer, all mounted low to the floor as if they were reclaimed from an abandoned grade school, or this lavatory was designed for alcoholic ten-year-olds.

A Jackson Pollack pattern of vomit is splashed across the back wall of the bathroom, certainly nowhere near the toilet where it was presumably aimed.
action: Smell
response: You're almost unable to breath, it smells so foul in here.

You note a rat out of the corner of your eye.
action: You note rat
response: You write, "Call exterminator." in the notebook.

A tiny brown mouse dashes out of view.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You search the toilet
response: (the toilet)
In the toilet are a wad of toilet paper and some excrement.
action: You examine the wad
response: Swaths of tissue, entire rolls perhaps, clog the toilet.
action: You look at the excrement
response: As a health inspector, you're cautious about examining other people's excrement.
action: Go south
response: Behind the bar is a dinky two basin sink with an attached faucet. In the rinse basin is a severed left hand.

Beside the sink is a personal stereo (held together largely with duct tape).
action: Go west
response: Nothing obvious happens.

The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela is gaunt and anemic. She struggles to remain alert.

Nikolai pokes his head out from the top office, "Angela, be a peach and pick up some bread from the food pantry."

Angela looks puzzled "You mean the 5th Avenue Mission?"

"Of course that's where I mean. Our regular bread company won't deliver here anymore. Just go to the food pantry and fill up your car."

"I can't take food from a homeless shelter."

Nikolai's face turns red, "We need bread, and you can get it free from the mission. Tell them you're a homeless wench. Tell them you've got twelve screaming brats to feed. I don't care. If you won't go there, then go to the store and pay for the bread with your own money, but don't come back without it!"

Angela lowers her head. She looks like she's about to cry.

As Angela leaves the restaurant, you notice a small flashlight fall off of her key chain.
action: Go west
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela is gaunt and anemic. She struggles to remain alert.

Nikolai pokes his head out from the top office, "Angela, be a peach and pick up some bread from the food pantry."

Angela looks puzzled "You mean the 5th Avenue Mission?"

"Of course that's where I mean. Our regular bread company won't deliver here anymore. Just go to the food pantry and fill up your car."

"I can't take food from a homeless shelter."

Nikolai's face turns red, "We need bread, and you can get it free from the mission. Tell them you're a homeless wench. Tell them you've got twelve screaming brats to feed. I don't care. If you won't go there, then go to the store and pay for the bread with your own money, but don't come back without it!"

Angela lowers her head. She looks like she's about to cry.

As Angela leaves the restaurant, you notice a small flashlight fall off of her key chain.
action: You take the flashlight
response: Taken.
action: You examine it
response: The flashlight is a pocket size model, which fell off of Angela's key chain.

The flashlight is switched off.
action: You go north
response: You are in a galley kitchen about eight feet long, and just wide enough for one person to turn around. On the south side facing the dining room is a wooden prep table. On the left end of the prep table is a mini fridge, and on the right end is a steam table.

Opposite the prep table is a flat grill. Dried rivulets of grease ooze down the wall from the overhead vents. A narrow aisle winds north into darkness.
action: You note the grease
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Use a grill brick to clean the flat grill." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You examine the prep table
response: This prep table looks like it may have been nailed together on site, from two by fours and plywood. The cutting surface is scarred with knife marks and grime, providing multiple rich environments for bacterial growth. Beneath the  prep table is a storage shelf.
action: You note the prep table
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Replace prep table with a fresh undamaged cutting board." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at the storage shelf
response: A warped plywood shelf below the prep table provides space for the grill cook to cast off his soiled cooking implements.

On the storage shelf are a pair of tongs, a pot and a fry pan.
action: You look at the tongs
response: A pair of 10 inch stainless steel fry tongs.

You note a rat out of the corner of your eye.
action: You note the pot
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Clean the spaghetti pot" in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You look at the fry pan
response: A black, cast iron fry pan.

In the fry pan are some blackened chips of bacon.

A cockroach scuttles up the wall.
action: You note the pan
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Fry pan is soiled with bacon grease." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You examine the fridge
response: The mini fridge sits on the floor, near the left end of prep table.
action: You look at the steam table
response: A curved aluminum lid covers the steam table.
action: You examine the lid
response: the lid curves over the steam table, keeping the heat inside. The lid is closed.
action: You open the lid
response: A cloud of hot steam rises out of the table. The table contains a kettle.
action: You note the kettle
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Gravy kettle has not been washed." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You close lid
response: You close the steam table.
action: You examine the fridge
response: The mini fridge sits on the floor, near the left end of prep table.
action: You open it
response: The fridge is a few degrees colder than the rest of the room. It contains a rotting head of lettuce.
action: You examine the lettuce
response: The lettuce is more brown than green, and barely a solid.
action: You note the lettuce
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Produce has been stored past its expiration." in the notebook.

A large rat turns to look at you, then runs away.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You move the lettuce
response: Nothing obvious happens.
action: You close the fridge
response: You close the mini fridge.
action: You look around
response: You are in a galley kitchen about eight feet long, and just wide enough for one person to turn around. On the south side facing the dining room is a wooden prep table. On the left end of the prep table is a mini fridge, and on the right end is a steam table.

Opposite the prep table is a flat grill. Dried rivulets of grease ooze down the wall from the overhead vents. A narrow aisle winds north into darkness.
action: You look at the Grill
response: The blackened surface of the flat grill hasn't been cleaned in some time. A dial in front controls the temperature.
action: You look at dial
response: The printed numbers on the dial have worn away. The grill is switched off.

The dial is switched off.
action: You turn the dial
response: You turn the dial. The grill begins to warm.
action: You turn the dial off
response: You turn the dial. The grill begins to cool.
action: You look under the prep table
response: A warped plywood shelf below the prep table provides space for the grill cook to cast off his soiled cooking implements.

On the storage shelf are a pair of tongs, a pot and a fry pan.
action: You turn on flashlight
response: A narrow beam of light pierces the dusty air.

A narrow hall twists and winds from the prep kitchen (south) to the dish room (north). A walk-in refrigerator is west of here. During every dinner shift, smoke from the kitchen drifts down this hall and deposits an oily film against the brown wall.

Mounted on the wall is a first aid kit.

A formidable buffalo chopper is parked against one corner of this twisting labyrinth. This machine probably harbors more than a hundred varieties of pathogens and therefore deserves quite careful attention.
action: You look at the chopper
response: The chopper is old, covered in rust. Drops of fresh blood leak out from the food trough in places where it has rusted completely through. The device has an on/off button, and the rotating trough which is designed to carry large volumes of food past a stationary blade. It isn't quite large enough to accommodate a full size buffalo. But a rabbit or a small dog, perhaps.

The buffalo chopper is switched off.
action: You examine the trough
response: The trough is circular, pocked with rust, and contains some variety of ground meat. Only about a third of the trough is visible. The rest is hidden beneath a cover which protects you from the blade in back.

In the trough is ground meat.
action: You examine the meat
response: A soupy puree of ground organ meat.
action: You open the chopper
response: The cover is held in place by a large screw.
action: You look around
response: A narrow hall twists and winds from the prep kitchen (south) to the dish room (north). A walk-in refrigerator is west of here. During every dinner shift, smoke from the kitchen drifts down this hall and deposits an oily film against the brown wall.

Mounted on the wall is a first aid kit.

A formidable buffalo chopper is parked against one corner of this twisting labyrinth. This machine probably harbors more than a hundred varieties of pathogens and therefore deserves quite careful attention.
action: Examine kit
response: The first aid kit is an opaque plastic box with a red cross on the cover.
action: You open the kit
response: You open the first aid kit, revealing a tourniquet.
action: You take the tourniquet
response: Taken.

You hear a mouse scurrying through the wall.
action: You look at the wall
response: (the oily film)
An oily film is deposited almost evenly over every exposed surface.

A cockroach stares at you boldly, challenging you to smash it.
action: You note wall
response: (the oily film)
You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Power wash the winding hall-- remove oily film." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You examine the tourniquet
response: A tourniquet is a curious thing to find in a restaurant first aid kit. It would only ever be useful to stop major arterial bleeding.
action: Go west
response: Nikolai's walk-in refrigerator is kept at a few degrees above zero Celsius. The tight dimensions of this poorly lit unit induce a sense of claustrophobia. The textured metal walls are splashed with now dry remnants of long ago dinner specials. The exit back to the winding hall is east.

A five gallon soup cauldron is pushed carelessly into one corner.

A four tier wire shelf supports an assortment of hotel pans in varied sizes and depths.
action: You examine the remnants
response: Streaks of broken eggs, tomato sauce, goulash and other unidentified soups have been reduced to a form of colorful glue against the metal wall.
action: You examine cauldron
response: The soup cauldron is made of aluminum. It is covered.
action: You note the remnants
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Clean refrigerator walls." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You open the cauldron
response: You are aghast to discover a severed foot festering in the bottom of the cauldron.
action: You examine the foot
response: The left foot is cut cleanly at the ankle, as if by an ax.
action: You close it
response: You close the soup cauldron.
action: You examine the shelf
response: The tiered wire shelf takes up the back wall of the tight walk-in. That is to say, it's not very wide.
action: You examine the pans
response: The refrigerator is loaded with hotel pans, carrying left-overs from long ago.
action: You note the pans
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Label, date and organize the refrigerated left-overs." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: Go east
response: A narrow hall twists and winds from the prep kitchen (south) to the dish room (north). A walk-in refrigerator is west of here. During every dinner shift, smoke from the kitchen drifts down this hall and deposits an oily film against the brown wall.

Mounted on the wall is a first aid kit.

A formidable buffalo chopper is parked against one corner of this twisting labyrinth. This machine probably harbors more than a hundred varieties of pathogens and therefore deserves quite careful attention.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a tourniquet
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad
action: Go north
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

A manhole-size drain cover is set in the floor.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is sealed tight.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).
action: You examine the servingware
response: Plates, cups, saucers and silverware populate the dish rack. None of it looks as if it has been cleaned recently.
action: You note it
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Dish racks are piled up around both sides of the dish machine." in the notebook.

From somewhere below your feet, you hear a muffled thump.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You open the drain cover
response: You open the drain cover.
action: You look in the drain
response: (the drain cover)
You find nothing of interest.
action: Look around
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is sealed tight.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).
action: Go downwards
response: The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot sealed crate, composed mostly of particle board.
action: You look at the door
response: The alley door is warped from moisture. The door is closed.
action: You note the bleach
response: You've already made enough observations to have Nikolai's place condemned. One more note is just another nail in the coffin.

You write, "Bleach used in dishroom is over concentrated." in the notebook.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped two points.]
action: You examine the machine
response: The dish machine is a stainless steel contraption, with a top mounted cabinet just large enough to accommodate one dish rack at a time. It has an on/off switch to start each cycle, which then lasts just over two minutes. This model is designed to be much faster than a home dish washer, but is still pretty small as far as commercial machines go.

The dish machine is switched off.
action: You open it
response: You are alarmed to find a severed right foot in the dish machine.
action: You examine foot
response: The right foot is burned away from the leg, as if by a plasma torch.
action: Close machine
response: You close the cabinet.

From somewhere below your feet, you hear a muffled thump.
action: You look at the table
response: The dish table is made of stainless steel. It is made to the same width as the dish machine, allowing tray racks to slide easily in one side and out the other. The lip and back splash are designed to channel water into the dish machine, and keep it off the floor. Both sides of the table are so thoroughly soiled, you can only guess which side the dishes go in, and which they come out. Racks of dirty dishes are piled on either side.

From somewhere below your feet, you hear a muffled thump.
action: You open the door
response: (first unlocking the alley door)
You lack a key that fits the alley door.
action: Smell
response: This place is a tomb. All around you, the putrid nauseating smell of death.
action: You examine the pylons
response: The pylons offer support to the floor above, preventing the building from falling into the ground.
action: Examine boxes
response: The liquor boxes are so thoroughly decayed, they almost crumble to your touch.
action: You look at the crate
response: Judging from the absence of mold or rot, it must have been placed here only recently. The particle board crate is tightly sealed.
action: You examine the bottles
response: The bottles come in various shades of green and brown. Many are broken.
action: You listen
response: When you are very quiet, you can hear mice crawling through the walls.
action: Examine box
response: (the particle board crate)
Judging from the absence of mold or rot, it must have been placed here only recently. The particle board crate is tightly sealed.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a tourniquet
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad
action: You look at the floor
response: You see nothing special about the floor.

A large rat turns to look at you, then runs away.
action: You open the box
response: (the particle board crate)
Your first reflex is to gag. Inside is the dismembered body of an adult female. Her arms and legs have been removed, her abdomen sliced open and disemboweled. Where her eyes were once, empty sockets remain. Having been drained entirely of blood, her skin is now as pale as the clean cotton bed sheet draped across her pelvis.

She lifts her head, and knocks it three times against the bottom of the box. But no, you must have imagined that. She is dead. Quite dead.
action: You examine the body
response: The woman has been butchered. Her arms and legs have been removed. Both legs are cut off at the hip. Her abdomen is sliced wide and disemboweled. Where her eyes were once, empty sockets remain. She's been drained of blood leaving her skin as white as the clean cotton bed sheet draped across her pelvis.
action: You take the sheet
response: She is naked, except for the sheet. Out of respect for the dead, you leave it in place.

A tiny brown mouse dashes out of view.
action: You search the abdomen
response: Her abdomen is empty.
action: You take the sheet
response: She is naked, except for the sheet. Out of respect for the dead, you leave it in place.
action: You examine the abdomen
response: Her abdomen is sliced wide. Many of the internal organs have been removed. Others are mutilated.
action: You put the tongs in the abdomen
response: You put the pair of tongs into her abdomen.
action: You take the tongs
response: That seems to belong to the mutilated corpse.
action: You search the abdomen
response: In her abdomen is a pair of tongs.
action: You give the tongs to you
response: (The mutilated corpse first taking the pair of tongs)
Even in the better establishments, restaurant people are seldom receptive to your commands. You might try asking them about something or showing them something instead.
action: You ask the body about the restaurant
response: You are startled to watch her jaw quiver a bit, but without a working set of lungs the woman can't reply to your questions.

The body's lips tremble, but no sound comes out.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a tourniquet
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad

The woman looks mournfully toward the vacant cavity in her severed abdomen.
action: Look around
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is sealed tight.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a tourniquet
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad
action: You open the machine
response: You open the cabinet, revealing a severed right foot.
action: You take foot
response: Taken.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped five points.]
action: Go downwards
response: The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot sealed crate, composed mostly of particle board.
action: Open crate
response: Your first reflex is to gag. Inside is the dismembered body of an adult female. Her arms and legs have been removed, her abdomen sliced open and disemboweled. Where her eyes were once, empty sockets remain. Having been drained entirely of blood, her skin is now as pale as the clean cotton bed sheet draped across her pelvis.

She lifts her head, and knocks it three times against the bottom of the box. But no, you must have imagined that. She is dead. Quite dead.
action: You put foot on the corpse
response: You put the severed right foot into the particle board crate.

A mouse runs in circles, then races away.
action: You talk to the woman
response: You are startled to watch her jaw quiver a bit, but without a working set of lungs the woman can't reply to your questions.

The woman looks mournfully toward the vacant cavity in her severed abdomen.
action: You give foot to the corpse
response: The woman is both blind and mute.
action: You put foot in the box
response: (the particle board crate)
You put the severed right foot into the particle board crate.
action: You attach foot to the body
response: But Sofia is still missing her right leg.
action: You go to the south
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.
action: Go south
response: You are standing in front of Nikolai's Bar and Grill on 19th Street.
A green awning shades the smudged window into Nikolai's dining room. The front entrance is north of you.

The east/west sidewalk here is cracked and uneven, pocked by clumps of crabgrass. A storm gutter is built into the curb, littered with broken bottles. Across the street a neon sign flickers erratically.
A few cars are parked nearby (including yours), but otherwise you see no evidence that anyone visits this neighborhood past daybreak.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

A damp sheet of newspaper has blown up against the curb.
action: Go east
response: A street-front window looks into Nikolai's bar. If you want into the bar, you'll have to go back to the restaurant entrance, which is west of here. There are no cars on this end of 19th Street. The sidewalk is uneven. A curb-side storm gutter empties here into a grated storm drain.
action: You take the eyes with the tongs
response: The eyes bob on the surface of the dark pool each time you stab them with the tongs, but after a bit of practice you succeed in removing them from the sewer.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped five points.]
action: You take the paper
response: The newspaper scrap is worn and damp, rendering it almost unreadable.

Taken.
action: You read the paper
response: You read: "Sofia Kozyar, a dancer at Hannibal's Exotic Revue, disappeared early Friday morning after leaving her place of employment. Ms Kozyar immigrated to the US from the Ukraine on a student visa seven years ago, then remained in this country illegally after completing her Bachelor's degree in the fine arts. Police have no leads in this investigation."

The other articles on the page are illegible.
action: You take the glass
response: (the broken glass)
A street sweeper comes down 19th Street on the third of every month. Let them pick up the bottles.
action: You go to the west
response: You are walking past the window to Goldschmidt's Pawnshop (on the north side of 19th Street). Although the shop is closed right now, the window provides a neat display of hocked merchandise. Nikolai's Bar and Grill is east. To the west, the neighborhood becomes even seedier.

Goldschmidt's is closed for the day. The door is locked.
action: You examine the pawnshop
response: The carefully arranged display includes a letter opener, a saxophone and a baby's crib.
action: You look at the opener
response: The letter opener appears to be made of sterling silver. A crucifixion scene is cast in the handle.
action: You examine the window
response: The window is marked by dozens of greasy finger prints and years of accumulated scratch marks. It should certainly be cleaned, if not replaced. But you can still see through well enough.
action: You open the door
response: (first unlocking Goldschmidt's door)
You lack a key that fits Goldschmidt's door.
action: You knock on the door
response: You tap lightly on Goldschmidt's door.
action: You go to the west
response: You probably shouldn't wander too far from your car. Go finish your inspection at Nikolai's so you can leave this god-forsaken part of town.
action: Look around
response: You are walking past the window to Goldschmidt's Pawnshop (on the north side of 19th Street). Although the shop is closed right now, the window provides a neat display of hocked merchandise. Nikolai's Bar and Grill is east. To the west, the neighborhood becomes even seedier.

Goldschmidt's is closed for the day. The door is locked.
action: You examine the crib
response: The crib is painted blue. It appears to be hand-made.
action: You go east
response: You are standing in front of Nikolai's Bar and Grill on 19th Street.
A green awning shades the smudged window into Nikolai's dining room. The front entrance is north of you.

The east/west sidewalk here is cracked and uneven, pocked by clumps of crabgrass. A storm gutter is built into the curb, littered with broken bottles. Across the street a neon sign flickers erratically.
A few cars are parked nearby (including yours), but otherwise you see no evidence that anyone visits this neighborhood past daybreak.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.
action: You examine awning
response: The green awning is made of canvas. It's faded and torn from age, and has hand painted letters across the front.
action: You read it
response: Faded yellow letters across the awning once said "Nikolai's Bar and Grill", though a more recent graffiti artist has replaced the last two letters in black spray paint to read "Nikolai's Bar and Grist". A more appropriate moniker, perhaps.
action: You examine the neon
response: A thin tube of glowing red neon curls around itself to form words.
The light flickers on and off erratically. Just looking at it is almost seizure inducing. It says, "Hanibal's Exotic Revue."
action: You go south
response: All your business is on the north side of the street. Finish your inspection so you can go home.
action: You go to the east
response: You probably shouldn't wander too far from your car. Go finish your inspection at Nikolai's so you can leave this god-forsaken neighborhood.
action: You examine the crabgrass
response: Everywhere the sidewalk is broken, crabgrass grows tenaciously.
action: You look at the cars
response: There are a small number of cars parked nearby, some likely abandoned. One has been locked with the boot.
action: You examine the boot
response: A boot is a device used by the police to lock cars which have accrued too many unpaid fines. The boot is secured to one of the the car's tires, and is less expensive than having the car towed. Fortunately parking violations are outside your jurisdiction, and your position as a city health inspector enables you to park in many locations for free.
action: You search the car
response: Your car is empty.
action: You take the boot
response: Even if you could, the boot is police property.
action: You go to the north
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.
action: Go east
response: Sunlight from the 19th Street window (south) casts an bright trapezoid across the cork dance floor. In every other corner, the brick walls of this unpretentious watering hole are marked by shadows. If you don't mind risking ptomaine poisoning, Nikolai's dining room is to the west. Otherwise, the unisex lavatory is north through a low ceiling tunnel.

A set of Naugahyde stools are pushed against the linoleum bar.

Behind the bar is a dinky two basin sink with an attached faucet. In the rinse basin is a severed left hand.

Beside the sink is a personal stereo (held together largely with duct tape).
action: You take the hand
response: (the severed left hand)
Taken.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped five points.]
action: You go west
response: Nikolai's walk-in refrigerator is kept at a few degrees above zero Celsius. The tight dimensions of this poorly lit unit induce a sense of claustrophobia. The textured metal walls are splashed with now dry remnants of long ago dinner specials. The exit back to the winding hall is east.

A five gallon soup cauldron is pushed carelessly into one corner.

A four tier wire shelf supports an assortment of hotel pans in varied sizes and depths.

A mouse runs in circles, then races away.
action: You open the cauldron
response: You open the soup cauldron, revealing a severed left foot.
action: You take foot
response: (the severed left foot)
Taken.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped five points.]
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a severed left foot
a severed left hand
a newspaper
some pair of eyes
a severed right foot
a tourniquet
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad
action: Go east
response: A narrow hall twists and winds from the prep kitchen (south) to the dish room (north). A walk-in refrigerator is west of here. During every dinner shift, smoke from the kitchen drifts down this hall and deposits an oily film against the brown wall.

Mounted on the wall is a first aid kit.

A formidable buffalo chopper is parked against one corner of this twisting labyrinth. This machine probably harbors more than a hundred varieties of pathogens and therefore deserves quite careful attention.
action: You go north
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is sealed tight.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).

A large rat turns to look at you, then runs away.
action: Go downwards
response: The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot crate, composed mostly of particle board. A mutilated corpse lies in state.
action: You put the eyes in the sockets
response: You slip each eye into its socket with a plop. The eyes rotate around independently until they are both pointing directly toward you. Her lips tremble. But without a working set of lungs, she can not speak.
action: You look at flashlight
response: The flashlight is a pocket size model, which fell off of Angela's key chain.

The flashlight is switched on.

The woman bangs her head against the crate, desperate to communicate.
action: You examine the body
response: The woman has been butchered. Her arms and legs have been removed. Both legs are cut off at the hip. Her abdomen is sliced wide and disemboweled. Yet even in death, her eyes are unnaturally animated. They blink and track your movements intently. She's been drained of blood leaving her skin as white as the clean cotton bed sheet draped across her pelvis.
action: You show the newspaper to the woman
response: Her eyes look at you imploringly, but without a working set of lungs her voice is mute.
action: You drop right foot and left foot and the hand
response: severed right foot: Dropped.
severed left foot: Dropped.
severed left hand: Dropped.
action: You look at the tongs
response: A pair of 10 inch stainless steel fry tongs.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a newspaper
a tourniquet
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad
action: You take the screw with the tongs
response: The screw can safely be grasped without the aid of the pair of tongs, so you try taking the screw without the pair of tongs.

You'd need to unscrew that to take it.
action: You unscrew the screw
response: The screw is rusted in place. Your only other alternative for inspecting the blade is to reach in the trough.
action: You reach in the trough
response: You reach under the cover of the trough and cautiously poke around. Wedged against the blade is a pulpy mass of sinewy entrails. With some effort, you jerk the entrails free from the blade.

Suddenly, and without warning, the buffalo chopper roars to life.
Your sleeve catches against the rusty blade, which stalls momentarily, but seizes your arm deeper into the device. Then the blade spins once again. At first you're not even sure what has happened, but you hear a crunching noise, and feel faint from a sudden drop in blood pressure. With a rush of endorphins, you yank your arm free from the buffalo chopper, and collapse on the floor.

You are missing a hand. If you don't act quickly, you will die.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped ten points.]
action: Go downward
response: The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot crate, composed mostly of particle board. A mutilated corpse lies in state.

You can also see a severed left hand, a severed left foot and a severed right foot here.
action: You take the hand
response: (the severed left hand)
Taken.
action: You take the meat with the tongs
response: Ground meat can safely be grasped without the aid of the pair of tongs, so you try taking ground meat without the pair of tongs.

The lukewarm puree drips through your fingers.
action: You examine the meat
response: A soupy puree of ground organ meat.
action: You take off the shirt
response: You are carrying:
a severed left hand
a newspaper
a tourniquet
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad

So long as you represent the city health department, you'd best keep your clothes on.
action: You use tourniquet
response: You can't see any such thing.

I didn't understand that sentence.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You fight against excruciating pain to perform even the simplest actions.

You are carrying:
a severed left hand
a newspaper
a tourniquet
action: You wear the tourniquet
response: a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad

Fighting against the most severe pain, you twist the tourniquet into place. The flow of blood gradually ceases.

A moment later your right hand and the entrails which had been blocking the blade are ejected from the chopper at high velocity.
They land on the floor nearby.
action: Entrails
response: severed right hand: Taken.
entrails: Taken.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped ten points.]
action: You examine the entrails
response: The entrails have been through a buffalo chopper, rendering the specific organs almost indistinguishable. A muscular tube which resembles sausage casing might be the intestines. A bit of gray matter might be some lung. A darker spot of pulp could be the heart.
action: You wear the hand
response: Which do you mean, the severed right hand or the severed left hand?
action: Go downwards
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is sealed tight.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).

The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot crate, composed mostly of particle board. A mutilated corpse lies in state.

You can also see a severed left foot and a severed right foot here.
action: Oops entrails
response: You hear the slurp and gurgle of aspirating fluids as each organ settles into its proper location. Peristaltic waves shiver through the newly reformed intestines. The heart murmurs. Even the lungs gasp for another breath. Then, as if these miracles weren't startling enough, The entire abdomen zips shut, leaving nothing more than a scar.

To your shock and horror, the woman whispers "Thank you. My name is Sofia Kozyar. I would appreciate if you could find the rest of me."
action: You ask Sofia about Sofia
response: "I am Sofia Kozyar. But enough about me, Darling. Tell me a little more about yourself."
action: You tell Sofia about yourself
response: Sofia coos, "You're an attractive fellow. Why don't you lean in and give me a little kiss?"
action: You ask Sofia about the restaurant
response: Sofia laughs, "Have you sampled the food here? Simply abysmal."

Sofia remarks, "You're a pretty one, my pet."
action: You ask her about the right hand
response: Sofia examines the severed right hand carefully. "You carry around so many curious things."
action: You ask her about Nikolai
response: "Nikolai is a dying brute, but even with his affliction I fear he is still more powerful than you, Darling. You must help me escape. I can subdue him, then we can rule his roost as Queen and King. Won't that be delightful?"
action: Kiss sofia
response: You lean in to offer the woman a soft peck on the cheek. Quite
action: Kiss sofia
response: suddenly her head spins, and her teeth seize your neck. You struggle to keep her from pulling you into her coffin. A moment later you are released.

You feel a warm trickle of blood on your neck, but she merely smiles as if nothing had happened.
She coos, "Darling, you kiss marvelously."

Once bitten, twice shy.
action: You ask her about Angela
response: Sofia says, "Nikolai feeds on her like she's a trough. I pity that worn out serving wench."
action: You ask her about vampirism
response: Sofia says, "I like talking to you. Why don't you lean in and give me a little kiss?"
action: You ask Sofia about the vampire
response: "The world is wide open and mysterious. Anything is possible, don't you think?"
action: You show the newspaper to Sofia
response: Sofia scans the article. "I'm so happy you discovered me in this tomb, when even the police could not."

Sofia says, "I like when you talk to me."
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
your severed right hand
a severed left hand
a newspaper
a tourniquet (being worn)
a pair of tongs
a flashlight (providing light)
a notepad
action: You show the tourniquet to Sofia
response: Sofia examines the tourniquet carefully. "You carry around so many curious things."

Sofia moves her head to follow your motions.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot crate, composed mostly of particle board. Sofia lies in state.

You can also see a severed left foot and a severed right foot here.
action: Go south
response: A narrow hall twists and winds from the prep kitchen (south) to the dish room (north). A walk-in refrigerator is west of here. During every dinner shift, smoke from the kitchen drifts down this hall and deposits an oily film against the brown wall.

Mounted on the wall is a first aid kit.

A formidable buffalo chopper is parked against one corner of this twisting labyrinth.
action: You go to the south
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Since the last time you were here, Nikolai has managed to transport himself down those treacherous steps to the Dining Room. He sits on one of those tiny dining room chairs, which appears barely capable of supporting his weight. Angela has returned from her bread run. She sits across Nikolai's lap, scarcely conscious, with just a trace of blood dribbling from twin teeth marks in her neck. Nikolai looks up from her neck, with blood stains on his own fat face, "You're next, Mr. Health Inspector. I knew you'd cause me trouble when you walked in here."

Since your last tour through the dining room, Nikolai has locked and barred the front door to prevent your escape.
action: You look at the mirror
response: In the mirror you see The window is scratched, but intact.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

About twelve tables are closely spaced within the small location.

Dozens of identical chairs are pushed snug against the four top tables.
You also see Angela's body, Nikolai and yourself.

Nikolai grins at you and licks his lips.
action: You ask Nikolai about Sofia
response: Nikolai pales. "I don't know who you're talking about."
action: You ask Nikolai about the key
response: "She'd be better with a little catsup. Watch out, you're next."

Nikolai growls, "I lose a lot of business because of you."

A tiny brown mouse dashes out of view.
action: You examine Angela
response: Angela is a dark haired woman, not quite 50, now unconscious. Her neck and shoulders are marked by numerous scars.

Nikolai shifts his weight. The chair creaks.
action: Go upwards
response: Nikolai pursues you up the stairs, huffing and wheezing from the effort. You double your speed just in time to escape his reach. Nikolai is left stranded and out of breath back on the fifth step.

Nikolai's office is an ill-maintained balcony sky box above his restaurant. A window looks out over the restaurant. But as you could see earlier, the dining room side is mirrored such that employees and guests can't see in. A rickety set of steps leads back to the main floor. The plaster walls are water stained and cracked. A single unfrosted bulb hangs from the ceiling by a loose wire. Mounds of unpaid invoices litter Nikolai's wooden desk.

On Nikolai's desk are a brass key and a book.

A plastic pitcher sits on the floor in the corner of the office, filled with some foamy amber liquid.

Your heart is racing.

You hear a mouse scurrying through the wall.
action: Examine book
response: The volume is small and weather-beaten. The cover is so dark you can scarcely read the title: "Lore of the Vampires". Chapters are written in several different languages. Many of the pages are stained.
action: You look at the pitcher
response: This is a one quart plastic pitcher, just like those used in the bar or dining room for delivering beer to customers.

In the plastic pitcher is an amber liquid.
action: Smell liquid
response: You are overwhelmed by an ammonia odor.
action: You take the key
response: You already have that.
action: You look around
response: Nikolai's office is an ill-maintained balcony sky box above his restaurant. A window looks out over the restaurant. But as you could see earlier, the dining room side is mirrored such that employees and guests can't see in. A rickety set of steps leads back to the main floor. The plaster walls are water stained and cracked. A single unfrosted bulb hangs from the ceiling by a loose wire. Mounds of unpaid invoices litter Nikolai's wooden desk.

On Nikolai's desk is a book.

A plastic pitcher sits on the floor in the corner of the office, filled with some foamy amber liquid.
action: You look at the window
response: This window allows Nikolai to observe his staff and customers from the privacy of his own office. A man his size, and in such poor physical condition, can't easily navigate those steps. To communicate, Nikolai barks insults at the people in his Dining Room below.
action: You examine the desk
response: Nikolai's has an old aluminum desk. It is painted olive drab in places, and gray where the enamel has chipped away.

On Nikolai's desk are mounds of unpaid invoices and a book.

A cockroach scurries across the floor.
action: You examine the invoices
response: Some of these invoices are dated from months ago. It seems that Nikolai isn't very timely about paying his bills.
action: You examine the desk
response: Nikolai's has an old aluminum desk. It is painted olive drab in places, and gray where the enamel has chipped away.

On Nikolai's desk are mounds of unpaid invoices and a book.
action: You open it
response: That's not something you can open.

A tiny brown mouse dashes out of view.
action: You read it
response: You read: "Lore of the Vampires". Two chapter titles catch your attention: "Vampire Culture" and "Killing Vampires". Most of the remaining chapters are written in an unfamiliar Slavic language.
action: You read the Vampire Culture
response: You read: Vampire Culture.

Bratislavan vampires, like their Transylvanian cousins, require nightly aliquots of blood for their continued immortality. But unlike the Transylvanians, who are mostly solitary in habit, the Bratislavan vampires fight actively amongst themselves for territory, a stable of victims and general dominance. The most dominant vampire in a given territory is the arch-vampire.
action: You read killing Vampires
response: You read: Killing Vampires

Methods for warding or killing a vampire are so widely known, they are now almost clich?. For warding: either a wreath of garlic or a wooden cross worn around the neck should effectively ward off both the Bratislavan and Transylvanian type vampires. For killing, only a weapon made of silver has any permanent effect.

Of course one is not likely to find these implements (garlic, crosses, or silver weapons) in the vampire's own abode. This creates a problem for Bratislavan vampires who desire nothing so much as to kill and dominate their rivals. They achieve this without the use of silver (which might be turned against them) by dismembering their opponents and scattering the remaining parts as widely as possible. Yet even this gruesome ritual is impermanent. The dismembered parts of a vampire retain their own force of will, and strive to reassemble themselves by whatever means available.
action: You go downward
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela's unconscious body is propped like a rag doll across Nikolai's corpulent lap.

Nikolai is here, lapping blood from Angela's neck. He shoots you a look of contempt.
action: You go north
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is sealed tight.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).

A cockroach scuttles up the wall.
action: You unlock the door with key
response: You unlock the alley door.

You hear a mouse scurrying through the wall.
action: You open door
response: You open the alley door.
action: Go north
response: Windowless brick walls rise three stories on either side of you, blocking out most of the sunlight. The cobbled alley slopes down hill at a dangerous pitch. You won't be able to get back to the street from here however, as the top of the alley ends in a dead end, and the bottom is securely gated, locked from the other side

A warped wooden door is set into the brick. It leads south back to the dish room. The door is open.

A rectangular green dumpster is parked at the dead end. Greasy effluent leaks from the sides and bottom, meandering downhill between the cobbles to form a slick but irregular path.
action: You note effluent
response: Your writing hand has been amputated. You need to find a way back to your car and get some help!
action: You open it
response: You open the green dumpster, revealing a tangled mound of putrefying human limbs: a severed left arm, a severed right arm, a severed left leg and a severed right leg.
action: You take all from it
response: severed left arm: Taken.
severed right arm: Taken.
severed left leg: Taken.
severed right leg: Taken.

[Nikolai's sanitation rating has dropped twenty points.]
action: You look at the left arm
response: A bloodied left arm, hacked off at the shoulder and at the hand.
action: Go south
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is open.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).
action: Go down
response: The edges and corners of this brown room are rounded by accumulated cobweb nets, making it look more like a small cave than an urban underground. Moldy pylons and concrete extrusions resemble stalagmites. Wet cardboard boxes stacked along the wall contain empty unrecycled liquor bottles. The humid air smells of death.

You could escape through the drain pipe in the ceiling.

At the center of the room is a three foot by six foot crate, composed mostly of particle board. Sofia lies in state.

You can also see a severed left foot and a severed right foot here.
action: You take left foot and right foot
response: severed left foot: Taken.
severed right foot: Taken.
action: You put the left arm on Sofia
response: Almost before you release it, the left arm wriggles snakelike into location near the woman's shoulder. Muscle and sinew, then skin all regenerate between the disjointed limb and body. The air crackles. Your nose burns with the stench of cauterized flesh.

The woman flexes her left arm. She coos, "it still tingles. But Darling, you must still bring me my hand."
action: You put the right arm on Sofia
response: You hear a sudden crack, like bone breaking in reverse. Skin and tissue then grow over the freshly attached right arm at stop-action speed.

The woman flexes her right arm. She coos, "it still tingles. But Sweetie, you must still bring me my hand."
action: You put the left leg on Sofia
response: The left leg doesn't fit into its socket at quite the right angle. Sofia grimaces as it twists into place. The skin which grows over is purple and gangrenous. But not a moment later the gangrenous stench has disipated and the skin color fades to a mottled bruise.

The woman flexes her left leg. She coos, "it still tingles. But Darling, you must still bring me my foot."
action: You put the right leg on Sofia
response: Sofia looks with excitement as you lower the final limb into her coffin. She leans toward you so that the right leg locks into exactly the right place. The air crackles more loudly than before, filling the entire room with the smoke and stench of cauterization.

The woman flexes her right leg. She coos, "it still tingles. But Sweetie, you must still bring me my foot."
action: You put left foot on Sofia
response: The air is filled with a smell of searing flesh. Muscle and tissue regenerate unnaturally to produce a whole working leg.

A large rat turns to look at you, then runs away.
action: You put right foot on Sofia
response: The air is filled with a smell of searing flesh. Muscle and tissue regenerate unnaturally to produce a whole working leg.

Sofia says, "I like when you talk to me."
action: You put the left hand on Sofia
response: The air is filled with a smell of searing flesh. Muscle and tissue regenerate unnaturally to produce a whole working arm.
action: You put the right hand on Sofia
response: The air is filled with a smell of searing flesh. Muscle and tissue regenerate unnaturally to produce a whole working arm.

Sofia's body levitates out of her coffin until she has risen nearly to the ceiling. Then she rotates upright to face you, still suspended at least four feet above the ground.

"You have done good work today, my little hero. And since I fancy you, I will now help you escape."
"You are a sharp fellow. By now I expect you've figured out the situation on your own and I don't have to belabor my strained relationship with Nikolai. We are both, to put it crudely, vampires. When I moved into the neighborhood a few years ago, he still had the power to subordinate me. But I knew he was being weakened by diabetes and it would not be long before I would inherit his territory.
Nikolai knew this as well. So to prevent my challenge to his dominance he had me abducted and slaughtered."

Sofia smiles. "Now, I suppose, is the time for my revenge." She levitates out of this location to the dish room, then out of sight.
action: Go up
response: On entering the dish room you are overwhelmed by the astringent smell of fresh bleach. You would welcome this as evidence of sanitation, except that in such high concentrations bleach is actually toxic. Already you're feeling a little nauseous. A hall winds south into the darkness.

You step cautiously around the open drain cover.

A warped wooden door is set into the cement north wall. The door is open.

The largest fixture in this location is a straight unit dish machine, with a stainless steel dish table on either side.

On the dish table is a dish rack (in which are some servingware).
action: You look in crate
response: The particle board crate is empty.
action: Go south
response: Angela is dead on the floor, her life force sucked dry. Blood and other pieces of Nikolai are scattered around the room as if he had swallowed a hand grenade. The front door is blasted open. Yet there was no hand grenade which did this. The largest part of his remains have landed on a table. Sofia levitates magically above them, lapping the blood from his various wounds.

She is, at present, unaware that you've entered the room.

The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela lies dead on the floor.

Nikolai's remains are scattered throughout the room.

Sofia hovers several feet above the dining room tables, lapping blood from Nikolai's remains.
action: Examine remains
response: Nikolai's Remains cover nearly every exposed surface of the room.
action: You examine the mirror
response: In the mirror you see The window is scratched, but intact.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela lies dead on the floor.

About twelve tables are closely spaced within the small location.

Dozens of identical chairs are pushed snug against the four top tables.
You also see yourself, Nikolai and Sofia.
action: Go south
response: You are standing in front of Nikolai's Bar and Grill on 19th Street.
A green awning shades the smudged window into Nikolai's dining room. The front entrance is north of you.

The east/west sidewalk here is cracked and uneven, pocked by clumps of crabgrass. A storm gutter is built into the curb, littered with broken bottles. Across the street a neon sign flickers erratically.
A few cars are parked nearby (including yours), but otherwise you see no evidence that anyone visits this neighborhood past daybreak.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.
action: You take the placard
response: That seems to be a part of the front door.
action: You break the window
response: The window shatters, dropping shards of glass on both sides.
action: You take the letter opener
response: Taken.

You hear the wail of distant sirens.
action: Go north
response: The restaurant area of Nikolai's is relatively small: no more than a dozen four top tables, many still littered with yesterday's crumbs. A larger bar area--the primary source of revenue here--lies to the east. A rickety staircase leads to small balcony outside Nikolai's office loft. A wide mirror is mounted on the wall high above, right near his office entrance.

On the south end of the room, a long window provides an unattractive view of the street. The galley kitchen is north of here.

An aluminum placard is fixed to the front door.

Angela lies dead on the floor.

Nikolai's remains are scattered throughout the room.

Sofia hovers several feet above the dining room tables, lapping blood from Nikolai's remains.
action: You kill Sofia with the letter opener
response: Though it feels awkward to strike with your left hand, the letter opener slides into Sofia's chest as easily as a hot knife through butter. Sofia's mouth drops. Her expression speaks a sense of betrayal. Then her body is overcome with epileptic seizures. You are deafened by a momentary blast of thunder. Sofia has disintegrated. Nothing remains but fly-size specks of blood and tissue painted against walls and ceiling. You race to your car to vacate the neighborhood before police arrive.

You read in the newspaper the next day that police are unable to explain the carnage and gore they discovered at Nikolai's Bar and Grill that morning. Police are still looking for the culprit.

As for you, you are happy to have destroyed a coven of vampires. It is a shame that you became afflicted by the means of Sofia's kiss.
Now every night you find yourself trolling the streets for your own stable of victims.
action: You kill yourself with the opener
response: You are surprised at how easily the letter opener pierces your body, and shocked at how much pain it causes. Your body convulses in epileptic fits. That pain seems to continue for an eternity.