Captain Verdeterre's Plunder
by Ryan Veeder (2013)

You should carry the bag. I'm more of a delegator.

action: %
response: You can't help thinking this could have been avoided.

"I know what you're thinking, lad. And you're right, this is all your fault. But you can't exactly blame yourself, either."

The captain makes a pained clicking noise. "You did your best, and it wasn't good enough. All we can do now is make the best of a bad situation."

He allows himself a moment of silence. Then he fixes you with a beady black eye:

"You think you maybe oughta get to work?"

Captain Verdeterre's Plunder
An account of the wreck of the Feckless by Ryan Veeder

This is the foremost section of the hold, the location of the giant hole that the reef tore in the ship's hull. Water is gushing in at an alarming rate.

The rest of the hold (and the stairs to the decks above) is aft.

"All right," says Captain Verdeterre. "Let's round up everything that's worth anything and put it in that bag." He indicates a nearby sack, which you pick up.

A perturbed-looking gorilla skull hangs from a hook on the wall.

In one corner of the room is a pewter goblet.

A thick book lies close by.
action: You take all
response: {To maintain the urgency of your situation, it is asked that you refrain from handling more than one item at a time. We sincerely regret any inconveniences suffered as a result of this policy.}
action: You take the book
response: You pick up the book.

"Oh, just drop that," says Verdeterre. "We're looking for
treasure, not mildewy books."

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You put the book in the bag
response: You put the thick book into the commodious sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}
action: You enable the nautical Vocabulary Notes
response: {Nautical Vocabulary Notes have been enabled. They may be disabled with the command "DISABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES" at your convenience.}
action: You take the skull
response: The captain smiles at the skull. "Good old Charlie! What a spirited guy. If I had the chance, I think I'd shoot him again."

You stuff the gorilla skull into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: You take the cup
response: "That one, for sure," says the captain. "People will pay all kinds of money for fancy chalices like that."

You stuff the pewter goblet into the sack.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: Aft
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. {Nautical Vocabulary Note: "Ballast" is
heavy material kept in the hold to help stabilize the ship.} Fore
from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

The water is up to your waist.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You open the box
response: You yank on the lid of the strongbox, but it's locked tight.

"Oh, shoot," says Verdeterre. "I forget where I left the key. Knowing me, it's probably hidden extremely well. But I can't remember what was in there, either, so it's not a big loss."

Now the water is up to your chest.

The vase is overturned by the waves and lost.
action: You look around
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. {Nautical Vocabulary Note: "Ballast" is
heavy material kept in the hold to help stabilize the ship.} Fore
from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

The captain strokes his tail thoughtfully.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.
action: You examine captain
response: Captain Verdeterre cuts an imposing figure, with his plumed hat and his snappy jacket. There are so many reasons to look up to him: his tactical brilliance, his dauntlessness, his self-certainty—and his ability to inspire the certainty of others in himself.

You can't literally look up to him, as he's several feet shorter than you, but that's because he's a rat.
action: Examine book
response: There's no title on the cover or the spine. It looks profoundly uninteresting.
action: You open the book
response: Taken.

You open the book. Carved into the pages is a cavity containing a steel bracelet.

"Well, how about that," says Verdeterre.

You stretch out your neck as the waters close over your shoulders.
action: You take the bracelet
response: You stuff the steel bracelet into the sack.

The waters have reached your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.
action: You take the crate
response: "Leave that be!" Verdeterre barks. "There's no room for any huge boxes on the lifeboat."
action: You look in the crate
response: In the smelly crate is a musky grey lump.
action: You examine the lump
response: It's grey and irregular, like a rock. It could almost be a rock, but it smells more strongly than any rock you've encountered.
action: You look in the lump
response: You find nothing of interest.

The rising water has reached your ankles.
action: You get the portrait
response: Verdeterre sighs. "It'll be a shame to sell off an item of such gorgeousness and sentimentality," he says, "but I suppose these are desperate times."

You stuff the captain's portrait into the sack.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You get the doll
response: "You know," says Verdeterre, "that doll gives me an idea. Better take it along."

You stuff the wooden doll into the sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You look in the barrel
response: Trying to turn over the barrel in water this deep is an unsuccessful endeavor, and it rolls away on the rising waves.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: You get the sextant
response: "I hate those things," says the captain. "Nobody will build one that's small enough for us to use."

You stuff the sextant into the sack.

The water is up to your waist.
action: You get the flag box
response: You are unable to pick up the flag box, as it has been securely attached to the cabin floor. In retrospect, that wasn't a great idea.

Now the water is up to your chest.

The flag box is covered by water.
action: Fore
response: {Nautical Vocabulary Note: A "galley" is a room on a ship where
food is prepared.}

This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

The waters have reached your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the violin
response: "Sure was nice of Blaise to leave that behind for us," Verdeterre sniggers.

You stuff the violin into the sack.

The water is in your mouth now.
action: Up
response: Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead. {Nautical
Vocabulary Note: A "bulkhead" is a wall.}

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: {Nautical Vocabulary Note: A "galley" is a room on a ship where
food is prepared.}

This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

You can't hold your breath any longer, and now water rushes into your mouth and nostrils. You're able to struggle for a little while, but it's no use.
action: Go upwards
response: Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead. {Nautical
Vocabulary Note: A "bulkhead" is a wall.}

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You take the locket
response: "Ooh, jewelry! Good eye, Tibert!" says the captain.

You stuff the silver locket into the sack.

Now the water is up to your shins.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.

Your knees are underwater now.

The rising waters swallow up the pin.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the medallion
response: You give the medallion a quick once-over and ask Verdeterre, "What did you do to earn this?"

"I stole it."

You stuff the gold medallion into the sack.

The water rises up around your thighs.
action: You take the key
response: Verdeterre's eyes light up as you lift the key. "I know what that is! That's the key to the strongbox in the hold! I knew it was somewhere."

Now the water reaches your hips.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
an iron key
a false book (open but empty)
a commodious sack
a gold medallion
a silver locket
a violin
a sextant
a wooden doll
a captain's portrait
a steel bracelet
a pewter goblet
a gorilla skull
a flintlock pistol
action: You take the pillow
response: You pick up the pillow.

"Oh, no. I'm gonna miss that little guy," says Verdeterre. "I've never been able to get to sleep without it. But it needs to must, when devils drive!"

You stuff the silk pillow into the sack.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.
action: F.
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

The water is up to your chest.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You go up
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck. {Nautical Vocabulary Note: A "quarterdeck" is a raised deck at the stern of a ship.}

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

Soon the main deck will be too deep underwater for you to walk around on it.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You take the statuette
response: You stuff the bronze statuette into the sack.

The main deck has to be under at least five feet of water now.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: Go downwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

The water is in your mouth now. It tastes salty.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Go up
response: {Nautical Vocabulary Note: The "top" is a platform at the top of
one of the lower masts of a ship, providing support to the topmast, which is a mast that's attached to the top of a lower mast. Atop the topmast is the topgallant mast.}

What a dizzying height! The shrouds reach higher, of course, but up here is high enough.

A piece of brass is caught between the boards.

A seagull is perched further out on the rigging.

The rising water has almost reached the level of the upper decks.

The captain scampers up the lines ahead of you.
action: Fore
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. {Nautical Vocabulary Note: A "capstan" is a cylindrical mechanism used to haul heavy objects and increase tension in cables by winding them around its barrel.} The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up
a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the boat
response: Taken.

The water closes over your head. What would your like for the final action in your life to be?

"Fine, go down with the ship," says the Captain. "But I'm taking that sack with me."

He wrests the sack from your grasp, climbs in the lifeboat, and casts off without you.
action: You get in the boat
response: Are you sure you want to abandon ship? [y/n]
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

 I feel like this is probably the best you could have done. So relax! Pull up a chair!"

There is only one chair in the apartment, however, and Captain Verdeterre is sitting in it, so you nod politely and continue to stand as he curls up and drifts off to sleep.
action: Aft
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Go upwards
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Go upward
response: Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the key and the medallion
response: {To maintain the urgency of your situation, it is asked that you refrain from handling more than one item at a time. We sincerely regret any inconveniences suffered as a result of this policy.}
action: You get the key
response: Verdeterre's eyes light up as you lift the key. "I know what that is! That's the key to the strongbox in the hold! I knew it was somewhere."
action: Fore
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You go downward
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Go down
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

The waters have reached your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You go downwards
response: You can't move in that direction from here. {The available
directions are displayed in the status bar above.}
action: You unlock the strongbox with the key
response: You unlock the iron strongbox.

The water is in your mouth now.
action: You open the strongbox
response: You open the strongbox, revealing a green glass bottle. The captain's eyes brighten. "Now I remember! Grab hold of that bottle before it sinks!"

You're struggling to keep your head above water.
action: You get the bottle
response: You stuff the green glass bottle into the sack.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.
action: Go upward
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You look at the bottle
response: The bottle is filled with a dark liquid, and the label says "Prévenge", although you don't know that (you can't read).
action: Fore
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the hardtack
response: Taken.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: Go south
response: Moving toward the right side of the deck only causes the ship to lurch distressingly.
action: Aft
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Look around
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.
action: You ascend
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
an iron key
a commodious sack
a green glass bottle
a flintlock pistol
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You look in the barrel
response: When you peek under the barrel you discover an ancient-looking oil lamp.

"That's gotta be worth something!" according to the captain, so you toss it in the bag.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: Fore
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the hardtack
response: Taken.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: Aft
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The water is up to your waist.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Go upwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get ambergris
response: Captain Verdeterre wrinkles his nose. "What on earth is that thing? I don't like the looks of it."

You hold onto it anyway.

Now the water is up to your chest.
action: You get the handkerchief
response: You yank on the handkerchief, but it stays lodged in the wall; it's tied on from the other side.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf is a gold medallion.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the pin
response: You pull the pin out from the handkerchief, and it falls between the boards. Now you should be able to retrieve the hanky from the other side of the wall.
action: You examine the bed
response: The captain enjoys the privilege of sleeping in a human-sized bed, rather than a rat-sized bed, or a hammock. It's a nice-looking bed, too.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.
action: You look under the bed
response: You stoop down to check under the captain's bed, and turn up a curvy shell, bigger than your hand.

"That's a nautilus," Verdeterre explains. "You oughta see one when the squishy part is still inside. It's a sight that'd keep you up at night, let me tell you. Anyway, let's try and sell it."

You stuff the nautilus shell into the sack.
action: Fore
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the handkerchief
response: The captain smiles as you lift up the handkerchief. "Well, boy, I did make a promise, and I keep my promises. The hanky's yours."

You rub the silk between your fingers, and remark by way of expressing your gratitude that it's a very fine prize.

The captain nods. "You're right about that. Actually, it's probably too fine. Yes, you'd better put it in with the other loot so we can sell it later. Good idea."

You stuff the silk handkerchief into the sack.
action: Fore
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the mirror
response: You pick up the mirror, and Verdeterre motions for you to point it at him. He checks to make sure he's wearing his hat at an appropriately jaunty angle. He nods in approval.

You stuff the hand mirror into the sack.

Now the water is up to your shins.
action: You get the dagger
response: You pull on the handle of the dagger, but it remains stuck in the mast.

"Hey, that was Saad's, right?" Verdeterre asks. "What happened to him?"

"I think you told him you were going to kill him, so he ran away," you say.

He frowns. "Man, I think you're right. Wow. I shoulda been nicer."

Your knees are underwater now.
action: Up
response: What a dizzying height! The shrouds reach higher, of course, but up here is high enough.

A piece of brass is caught between the boards.

A seagull is perched further out on the rigging.

There might be about a foot of water over the main deck now.

The captain scampers up the lines ahead of you.
action: You get the brass
response: It's a miniature crown, maybe the size of a tablespoon.

"That!" Verdeterre shrieks. "That is important. Put that in the sack. Do not lose that."

You stuff the tiny brass crown into the sack.

The deck below is still sinking.
action: You give the hardtack to the seagull
response: The seagull doesn't seem interested.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: You look at the seagull
response: The seagull seems to look straight back at you, a challenge in its eye. It has a gold watch clutched in its talons. Or do they count as talons if they're webbed?

"Seagulls! Vermin of the sea! I hate them," the captain grumbles.
action: You show hardtack to the seagull
response: The seagull is unimpressed.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: You shoot the seagull
response: Your shot goes wide, but the report is enough to make the seagull drop its prize and fly away. The watch falls into the water.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: Go down
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

The water is up to your chest.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Fore
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The waves close over your shoulders.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

The water reaches your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Up
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The main deck has to be under at least five feet of water now.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get fid
response: "Do we need this?" you ask your captain, indicating the fid.

He says, "I kinda doubt it, but you might as well."

You pick up the fid.

Your chance to return to the main deck is almost gone.
action: You examine the figurehead
response: You have to lean uncomfortably over the gunwale to get a good look, but there she is: a wooden human woman in need of a coat of paint.

"Hey, what's that she's wearing?" asks Verdeterre.

In fact, the figurehead is wearing very little, but Verdeterre indicates what seems to be a non-wooden necklace around her neck. "Go get that!"
action: You get the necklace
response: The only way to reach that necklace would be to climb out onto the bowsprit.
action: You climb onto the bowsprit
response: You climb out to hang precariously from the bowsprit.

From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.

Around her neck is a string of pearls.

The waters continue to bury the main deck.
action: You get the necklace
response: You pull one hand free from the bowsprit to snatch up the necklace, and nearly lose your grip.

"Careful down there!" Verdeterre cries. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you lost any of our stuff. You should probably toss the necklace up to me so you don't drop it. Or I guess just put it in the bag."

You stuff the pearl necklace into the sack.

The water is too high now for you to safely hang from the bowsprit without drowning.

Very, very carefully, you climb back from the bowsprit to the relative safety of the fo'c'sle.

The rising water has almost reached the level of the upper decks.
action: Aft
response: It's too late to go back down now. The deck below is almost completely flooded.

The main deck is utterly lost now, and the waters begin inching up over the fo'c'sle and quarterdeck...
action: You look around
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

The captain eyes you expectantly.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The water glides over the fo'c'sle deck and soon it is up to your ankles. You are going to die here.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

Now the water is up to your shins.

"What a disappointment," Captain Verdeterre says, as he swims away.

You wish you could swim.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

Your knees are underwater now.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The water rises up around your thighs.
action: Look around
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

Now the water reaches your hips.
action: Go down
response: It's too late to go back down now. The deck below is completely flooded.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The water is up to your chest.
action: You wait a while
response: Time passes.

The waves close over your shoulders.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The water reaches your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

The water is in your mouth now.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. Unfortunately, there isn't really anywhere to go from here.
action: Drink bottle
response: There's nothing suitable to drink here.

The water closes over your head. What would your like for the final action in your life to be?
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a fid
a silk handkerchief
a musky grey lump
a piece of hardtack
an iron key
a commodious sack
a pearl necklace
a tiny brass crown
a hand mirror
a nautilus shell
an oil lamp
a green glass bottle
a flintlock pistol
action: You open the bottle
response: That's not something you can open.

You can't hold your breath any longer, and now water rushes into your mouth and nostrils. You're able to struggle for a little while, but it's no use.
action: Aft
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You enter the boat
response: Are you sure you want to abandon ship? [y/n]
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

 I feel like this is probably the best you could have done. So relax! Pull up a chair!"

There is only one chair in the apartment, however, and Captain Verdeterre is sitting in it, so you nod politely and continue to stand as he curls up and drifts off to sleep.
action: You examine the hole
response: You would have thought the hull was too strong to be busted up so much by a reef, but on the other hand you did hit that reef pretty hard.
action: You examine the gun
response: This, your trusty pistol, may still technically belong to the captain. Sometimes he says he gave it to you, and sometimes he says he's loaning it to you.
action: You put the sack in the hole
response: You can't let go of the sack. You're under orders to fill it with treasure.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: Aft
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You shoot strongbox
response: You shoot at the strongbox. Your bullet, the only bullet you have, bounces off harmlessly and disappears.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}
action: Up
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You examine the flag box
response: The flag box contains, or used to contain, all of the flags a pirate ship could ever need. Over the course of your many voyages, a lot of the flags were ripped up angrily, or destroyed in the course of hilarious pranks.

Right now it's closed.
action: You open the flag box
response: You open the flag box, revealing a red and yellow flag.
action: You get the flag
response: You pull the flag out of the box and unfold it: the design is a yellow cross on a red field. "Whose flag is this?" you ask your captain.

"I dunno. I think Denmark? Anyway, it's useless. Toss it."

You nod, and throw the flag somewhere where it won't get in the way.

The flag that was underneath is striped.
action: You get striped
response: You unfold the striped flag to see the entire design. It's a blue stripe, a white stripe, a red stripe, a white stripe, and a blue stripe.

"That's the Russian flag," Verdeterre explains. "You're holding it upside down."

It's just a Russian flag anyway, so you toss it. The next flag in the box has a red X on it.
action: You get X
response: This flag has a red X on a white field. "That's the Swiss flag," Verdeterre says, but then he stops himself: "No, wait. The Swiss flag is a white cross on red. So this one, I guess, is for... the Swiss navy."

The captain seems put off a bit at himself, so you throw away the offending flag.

At the bottom of the flag box is an old tapestry.
action: You get the tapestry
response: You pull out the tapestry and unfold it. It depicts a rat in clerical garb lying on his back, his stomach pierced by the spear of a human paladin. The rat's fingers are either raised in pious benediction or twisted in pain.

"Hey, that's the Martyrdom of Saint Incertus!" says Verdeterre. "He's the patron saint of the pursued, I think. Too bad he's not the patron saint of shipwrecks. Better take it along."

You fold it up carefully. "Why did they martyr him?" you ask.

"Well, between the Human Catholic Church and the Rat Catholic Church there are some differences in the rules—such as, according to the human church, you're not allowed to declare yourself a saint. It's considered presumptuous. But we did get a tapestry out of it."

You stuff the tapestry of Saint Incertus into the sack.
action: Fore
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Go down
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the vase
response: The captain squeaks approvingly. "That's a good one. That'll keep us fed for a week."

You stuff the ornate vase into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: Up
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Up
response: What a dizzying height! The shrouds reach higher, of course, but up here is high enough.

A piece of brass is caught between the boards.

A seagull is perched further out on the rigging.

The captain scampers up the lines ahead of you.
action: You shoot the seagull
response: Your shot goes wide, but the report is enough to make the seagull drop its prize and fly away. The watch falls to the deck below.
action: Go downward
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

A gold watch is lying on the deck, apparently undamaged after its descent.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the watch
response: You pick up the watch. "That scumbag bird tried to steal our watch," Verdeterre says, "but we sure showed him, right?"

You stuff the gold watch into the sack.
action: Fore
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Up
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Oops fid
response: "Do we need this?" you ask your captain, indicating the fid.

He says, "I kinda doubt it, but you might as well."

You pick up the fid.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

The captain surveys the situation with a sober eye.
action: You examine the figurehead
response: You have to lean uncomfortably over the gunwale to get a good look, but there she is: a wooden human woman in need of a coat of paint.

"Hey, what's that she's wearing?" asks Verdeterre.

In fact, the figurehead is wearing very little, but Verdeterre indicates what seems to be a non-wooden necklace around her neck. "Go get that!"
action: You climb out onto the bowsprit
response: You climb out to hang precariously from the bowsprit.

From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.

Around her neck is a string of pearls.
action: You get the necklace
response: You pull one hand free from the bowsprit to snatch up the necklace, and nearly lose your grip.

"Careful down there!" Verdeterre cries. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you lost any of our stuff. You should probably toss the necklace up to me so you don't drop it. Or I guess just put it in the bag."

You stuff the pearl necklace into the sack.
action: Up
response: Very, very carefully, you climb back from the bowsprit to the relative safety of the fo'c'sle.
action: Aft
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the dagger
response: You pull on the handle of the dagger, but it remains stuck in the mast.

"Hey, that was Saad's, right?" Verdeterre asks. "What happened to him?"

"I think you told him you were going to kill him, so he ran away," you say.

He frowns. "Man, I think you're right. Wow. I shoulda been nicer."

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.
action: You examine fid
response: It's a long wooden cone with a mean-looking point.
action: You pull the dagger
response: That's fine where it is.
action: You take the dagger
response: The captain sighs as you yank on the dagger. "It's not coming out," he says.

Now the water is up to your shins.
action: You take the dagger
response: The dagger stays stuck. Verdeterre rolls his eyes.

Your knees are underwater now.

The mirror disappears beneath the waves.
action: You take the dagger
response: As much as you pull, the knife won't budge. "Leave it alone, will you?" cries Verdeterre.

The water rises up around your thighs.
action: You take the dagger
response: You pull again. You're almost there. You can feel the dagger's resolve fading.

Now the water reaches your hips.
action: You take the dagger
response: The dagger stays stuck. Verdeterre rolls his eyes.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.

{A friendly reminder: Substantial resources have been invested in
the research and implementation of this game's Nautical Vocabulary Notes. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you very much.}
action: You take the dagger
response: The captain sighs as you yank on the dagger. "It's not coming out," he says.

The water is up to your chest.
action: Fore
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The waves close over your shoulders.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You look at the davits
response: The davits lean out over the side of the vessel, and a lifeboat hangs underneath them.
action: You enter the boat
response: Are you sure you want to abandon ship? [y/n]
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

 I feel like this is probably the best you could have done. So relax! Pull up a chair!"

There is only one chair in the apartment, however, and Captain Verdeterre is sitting in it, so you nod politely and continue to stand as he curls up and drifts off to sleep.
action: Aft
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Up
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the statuette
response: You stuff the bronze statuette into the sack.
action: You examine the wheel
response: This is where you were standing when it happened. The captain said he needed some shuteye. You told him you could handle steering by yourself for a while. He trusted you.

You've got to make it up to him.
action: You examine the statuette
response: The statuette depicts a man with the head of a bird, wearing an extremely elaborate headdress. Or maybe those are just his own feathers.
action: Go downwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Fore
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Up
response: What a dizzying height! The shrouds reach higher, of course, but up here is high enough.

A piece of brass is caught between the boards.

A seagull is perched further out on the rigging.

The captain scampers up the lines ahead of you.
action: You get the brass
response: It's a miniature crown, maybe the size of a tablespoon.

"That!" Verdeterre shrieks. "That is important. Put that in the sack. Do not lose that."

You stuff the tiny brass crown into the sack.
action: You put the crown on the statuette
response: First you take the tiny brass crown.

Taken.

If you leave things lying around, you're liable to forget about them entirely.
action: You examine doll
response: It's a little wooden girl, with rosy cheeks and spindly limbs. She doesn't have a scrap of clothing on her.
action: You look in barrel
response: When you peek under the barrel you discover an ancient-looking oil lamp.

"That's gotta be worth something!" according to the captain, so you toss it in the bag.
action: You look at the oil lamp
response: This grubby antique probably hasn't been used in years. There's no oil inside, that's for sure.
action: Turn dagger
response: {It is politely requested that you respect the orientation of the curved dagger.}
action: You examine the dagger
response: The handle is finely crafted, and the blade comes to a point in a dramatic curve.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a commodious sack
an oil lamp
a flintlock pistol
action: Fore
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

An old zither lies in the corner.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the zither
response: You point at the zither, and the captain says "Yeah, sure. It's out of tune, though."

You lift the instrument from the floor. "How do you know?"

"I don't, but it stands to reason, right?"

You stuff the zither into the sack.
action: You play zither
response: You plunk out a couple notes. It doesn't sound like music to you.
action: Aft
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a commodious sack
a zither
an oil lamp
a flintlock pistol
action: Go upward
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get fid
response: "Do we need this?" you ask your captain, indicating the fid.

He says, "I kinda doubt it, but you might as well."

You pick up the fid.
action: You go downward
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You look at the davits
response: The davits lean out over the side of the vessel, and a lifeboat hangs underneath them.
action: You look around
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

The captain eyes you expectantly.
action: You examine the hammocks
response: It's hard to be comfortable in one of these, but there's an upside: lately you haven't had to share this room with anybody at all!
action: Go downwards
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The little wooden doll floats away.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Fore
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the violin
response: "Sure was nice of Blaise to leave that behind for us," Verdeterre sniggers.

You stuff the violin into the sack.

The water is up to your waist.

The currents carry the hardtack out of sight.
action: Aft
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

Now the water is up to your chest.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a commodious sack
a violin
a zither
an oil lamp
a flintlock pistol
action: F.
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Go upward
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get fid
response: "Do we need this?" you ask your captain, indicating the fid.

He says, "I kinda doubt it, but you might as well."

You pick up the fid.
action: Aft
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.

{A friendly reminder: Substantial resources have been invested in
the research and implementation of this game's Nautical Vocabulary Notes. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you very much.}

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You examine fid
response: It's a long wooden cone with a mean-looking point.
action: Aft
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

Now the water is up to your shins.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

The water rises up around your thighs.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Fore
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

Now the water reaches your hips.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: F.
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get in the boat
response: Are you sure you want to abandon ship? [y/n]
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

"
action: You look around
response: This is the foremost section of the hold, the location of the giant hole that the reef tore in the ship's hull. Water is gushing in at an alarming rate.

The rest of the hold (and the stairs to the decks above) is aft.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

A perturbed-looking gorilla skull hangs from a hook on the wall.

In one corner of the room is a pewter goblet.

A thick book lies close by.
action: You get the skull
response: The captain smiles at the skull. "Good old Charlie! What a spirited guy. If I had the chance, I think I'd shoot him again."

You stuff the gorilla skull into the sack.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You open the book
response: You pick up the book.

"Oh, just drop that," says Verdeterre. "We're looking for
treasure, not mildewy books."

You open the book. Carved into the pages is a cavity containing a steel bracelet.

"Well, how about that," says Verdeterre.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
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action: You get the bracelet
response: You stuff the steel bracelet into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: Aft
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the ball
response: "Good eye. Superstitious suckers eat that kind of thing up." Verdeterre chuckles.

You stuff the crystal ball into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: Up
response: Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the medallion
response: You give the medallion a quick once-over and ask Verdeterre, "What did you do to earn this?"

"I stole it."

You stuff the gold medallion into the sack.
action: Go downward
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Unlock strongbox
response: (with the iron key)
You unlock the iron strongbox.

The water closes over your head. You might have time to do one last thing before you drown...
action: You open the strongbox
response: You open the strongbox, revealing a green glass bottle. The captain's eyes brighten. "Now I remember! Grab hold of that bottle before it sinks!"

You can't hold your breath any longer, and now water rushes into your mouth and nostrils. You're able to struggle for a little while, but it's no use.

The Captain, as it turns out, is a fairly capable swimmer, and he paddles away without you.
action: You get the ball
response: "Good eye. Superstitious suckers eat that kind of thing up." Verdeterre chuckles.

You stuff the crystal ball into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: Go downwards
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain scurries along after you.

A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Unlock strongbox
response: (with the iron key)
You unlock the iron strongbox.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.
action: You open it
response: You open the strongbox, revealing a green glass bottle. The captain's eyes brighten. "Now I remember! Grab hold of that bottle before it sinks!"

The water closes over your head. You might have time to do one last thing before you drown...
action: You get the bottle
response: You stuff the green glass bottle into the sack.

You can't hold your breath any longer, and now water rushes into your mouth and nostrils. You're able to struggle for a little while, but it's no use.

The Captain, as it turns out, is a fairly capable swimmer, and he paddles away without you.
action: Up
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Go downwards
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You open the box
response: You yank on the lid of the strongbox, but it's locked tight.

"Oh, shoot," says Verdeterre. "I forget where I left the key. Knowing me, it's probably hidden extremely well. But I can't remember what was in there, either, so it's not a big loss."

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.
action: Go downwards
response: It's too late to go back down now. The deck below is almost completely flooded.

The rising water has reached your ankles.
action: You examine painting
response: The canvas is a foot and a half wide, and the image of Verdeterre is somewhat larger than the captain himself. Rendered more or less expertly in oils, the portrait successfully conveys the courage and ingenuity that Verdeterre has difficulty projecting in person.
action: You look at shelf
response: The captain had this shelf set up to display the most beloved of his possessions that he was able to keep track of.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.
action: You search the bed
response: On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.
action: You open the locket
response: Verdeterre looks on with interest as you struggle to undo the locket's tiny clasp, and when you finally get it open he asks, "Who's the picture of?"

The tiny painting depicts a fairly respectable-looking rat. Engraved inside the cover is the name "Etienne". You turn the interior toward Verdeterre for inspection.

"Oh, hey, I know her. Let me see that," he says, prying the locket from your hands. He swings it over his head and throws it as far away as possible.

"Cool, that's taken care of. Let's get a move on." You decide it's best not to ask.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Aft
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Go downward
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the violin
response: "Sure was nice of Blaise to leave that behind for us," Verdeterre sniggers.

You stuff the violin into the sack.

The water is up to your waist.
action: You eat the hardtack
response: Before tucking into the hardtack, you look over at your captain. He nods in approval, and you scarf the whole thing down.

Now the water is up to your chest.
action: Aft
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

Now the water is up to your chest.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the ambergris
response: Captain Verdeterre wrinkles his nose. "What on earth is that thing? I don't like the looks of it."

You hold onto it anyway.

You stretch out your neck as the waters close over your shoulders.

The crate disappears under the water, and the horrible smell starts to fade away.
action: Go upwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the medallion
response: You give the medallion a quick once-over and ask Verdeterre, "What did you do to earn this?"

"I stole it."

You stuff the gold medallion into the sack.
action: You look at the medallion
response: The medal shines so brightly that you cannot doubt it is real gold. The face has been stamped with the image of an angry-looking lion.
action: You look at the shelf
response: The captain had this shelf set up to display the most beloved of his possessions that he was able to keep track of.

On the shelf is an iron key.
action: You get the shelf
response: That's hardly portable.
action: You listen to the shell
response: You hear nothing unexpected.

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.
action: You throw the shell
response: Taken.

If you leave things lying around, you're liable to forget about them entirely.

Now the water is up to your shins.

{A friendly reminder: Substantial resources have been invested in
the research and implementation of this game's Nautical Vocabulary Notes. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you very much.}
action: F.
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

Your knees are underwater now.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the pin
response: You pull the pin out from the handkerchief, and it falls between the boards. Now you should be able to retrieve the hanky from the other side of the wall.

Your knees are underwater now.
action: F.
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

The water rises up around your thighs.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the hanky
response: The captain smiles as you lift up the handkerchief. "Well, boy, I did make a promise, and I keep my promises. The hanky's yours."

You rub the silk between your fingers, and remark by way of expressing your gratitude that it's a very fine prize.

The captain nods. "You're right about that. Actually, it's probably too fine. Yes, you'd better put it in with the other loot so we can sell it later. Good idea."

You stuff the silk handkerchief into the sack.

Now the water reaches your hips.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You examine the point
response: The handle is finely crafted, and the blade comes to a point in a dramatic curve.
action: Go up
response: What a dizzying height! The shrouds reach higher, of course, but up here is high enough.

A piece of brass is caught between the boards.

A seagull is perched further out on the rigging.

The sea continues to bury the main deck, inching its way toward you.

The captain scampers up the lines ahead of you.
action: You shoot the seagull
response: Your shot goes wide, but the report is enough to make the seagull drop its prize and fly away. The watch falls into the water.

Soon the main deck will be too deep underwater for you to walk around on it.
action: Go downwards
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

The water reaches your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The water is in your mouth now.

The dagger's edge glints one last time before disappearing in the murk.
action: F.
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

***
***The return to civilization was a long one, but you both survived, and the long task of liquidating your assets finally began. Now, having dealt with numerous fences, suckers, and a few legitimate businessmen, you take inventory of your priceless treasures and how much they turned out to worth:

The skull of an African gorilla, sold for 70 Spanish dollars to a credulous fellow already possessing the incomplete skeleton of an orangutan...
A musky grey lump, later identified as a piece of rare ambergris, valued at 179 dollars...
An unremarkable but serviceable violin, sold for 50 dollars...
A silk handkerchief, sold for 10 dollars...
A medallion of mysterious provenance, sold for 68 dollars...
A slightly chipped nautilus shell, sold to a British dandy for 49 dollars...

...For a total of 426 Spanish dollars.

The first mate's share of that came to 26 Spanish dollars and 5 reales.

***
action: Up
response: Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf are a gold medallion and an iron key.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the key
response: Verdeterre's eyes light up as you lift the key. "I know what that is! That's the key to the strongbox in the hold! I knew it was somewhere."
action: Go down
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.

The water is in your mouth now.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Unlock box
response: (with the iron key)
You unlock the iron strongbox.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.
action: You open the box
response: You open the strongbox, revealing a green glass bottle. The captain's eyes brighten. "Now I remember! Grab hold of that bottle before it sinks!"

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.
action: You get the bottle
response: You stuff the green glass bottle into the sack.

The water closes over your head. You might have time to do one last thing before you drown...
action: Up
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the doll
response: "You know," says Verdeterre, "that doll gives me an idea. Better take it along."

You stuff the wooden doll into the sack.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You get the ambergris
response: Captain Verdeterre wrinkles his nose. "What on earth is that thing? I don't like the looks of it."

You hold onto it anyway.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the sextant
response: "I hate those things," says the captain. "Nobody will build one that's small enough for us to use."

You stuff the sextant into the sack.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: You open the flagbox
response: You open the flag box, revealing a red and yellow flag.

The water is up to your waist.

The waves lift the barrel off the floor, and it rolls away.
action: You get the flag
response: You pull the flag out of the box and unfold it: the design is a yellow cross on a red field. "Whose flag is this?" you ask your captain.

"I dunno. I think Denmark? Anyway, it's useless. Toss it."

You nod, and throw the flag somewhere where it won't get in the way.

The flag that was underneath is striped.

Now the water is up to your chest.

The flag box is covered by water.
action: Aft
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You open the flagbox
response: You open the flag box, revealing a red and yellow flag.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: You get the flag
response: You pull the flag out of the box and unfold it: the design is a yellow cross on a red field. "Whose flag is this?" you ask your captain.

"I dunno. I think Denmark? Anyway, it's useless. Toss it."

You nod, and throw the flag somewhere where it won't get in the way.

The flag that was underneath is striped.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: You get the flag
response: You unfold the striped flag to see the entire design. It's a blue stripe, a white stripe, a red stripe, a white stripe, and a blue stripe.

"That's the Russian flag," Verdeterre explains. "You're holding it upside down."

It's just a Russian flag anyway, so you toss it. The next flag in the box has a red X on it.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: You get the flag
response: This flag has a red X on a white field. "That's the Swiss flag," Verdeterre says, but then he stops himself: "No, wait. The Swiss flag is a white cross on red. So this one, I guess, is for... the Swiss navy."

The captain seems put off a bit at himself, so you throw away the offending flag.

At the bottom of the flag box is an old tapestry.

The water is up to your waist.

The waves lift the barrel off the floor, and it rolls away.
action: You get the tapestry
response: You pull out the tapestry and unfold it. It depicts a rat in clerical garb lying on his back, his stomach pierced by the spear of a human paladin. The rat's fingers are either raised in pious benediction or twisted in pain.

"Hey, that's the Martyrdom of Saint Incertus!" says Verdeterre. "He's the patron saint of the pursued, I think. Too bad he's not the patron saint of shipwrecks. Better take it along."

You fold it up carefully. "Why did they martyr him?" you ask.

"Well, between the Human Catholic Church and the Rat Catholic Church there are some differences in the rules—such as, according to the human church, you're not allowed to declare yourself a saint. It's considered presumptuous. But we did get a tapestry out of it."

You stuff the tapestry of Saint Incertus into the sack.

Now the water is up to your chest.

The flag box is covered by water.
action: You get the sextant
response: "I hate those things," says the captain. "Nobody will build one that's small enough for us to use."

You stuff the sextant into the sack.

You stretch out your neck as the waters close over your shoulders.
action: F.
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

The waters have reached your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.

The water carries away the portrait of your noble captain, who whimpers pathetically as it disappears.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

The water is in your mouth now.

The rising waves push the violin off of its hook, and it floats away.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You get the locket
response: "Ooh, jewelry! Good eye, Tibert!" says the captain.

You stuff the silver locket into the sack.
action: Aft
response: Here is where the captain sleeps, where he eats, where he does his deep thinking. Most of this happens in his bed. Hung on one wall is a shelf, set aside for the captain's favorite objects.

A pin is sticking out of the forward bulkhead, holding up the handkerchief outside.

On the captain's bed is a silk pillow.

On the shelf is a gold medallion.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get the pin
response: You pull the pin out from the handkerchief, and it falls between the boards. Now you should be able to retrieve the hanky from the other side of the wall.
action: You get the medallion
response: You give the medallion a quick once-over and ask Verdeterre, "What did you do to earn this?"

"I stole it."

You stuff the gold medallion into the sack.

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.
action: F.
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

Now the water is up to your shins.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You get the hanky
response: The captain smiles as you lift up the handkerchief. "Well, boy, I did make a promise, and I keep my promises. The hanky's yours."

You rub the silk between your fingers, and remark by way of expressing your gratitude that it's a very fine prize.

The captain nods. "You're right about that. Actually, it's probably too fine. Yes, you'd better put it in with the other loot so we can sell it later. Good idea."

You stuff the silk handkerchief into the sack.

Your knees are underwater now.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

The water rises up around your thighs.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You take the dagger
response: You pull on the handle of the dagger, but it remains stuck in the mast.

"Hey, that was Saad's, right?" Verdeterre asks. "What happened to him?"

"I think you told him you were going to kill him, so he ran away," you say.

He frowns. "Man, I think you're right. Wow. I shoulda been nicer."
action: You take dagger
response: You pull again. You're almost there. You can feel the dagger's resolve fading.
action: You take the dagger
response: With a mighty tug, you wrench the dagger from the mast. "All right, cool; put it in the bag," says Verdeterre.

You stuff the curved dagger into the sack.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.
action: You get the mirror
response: You pick up the mirror, and Verdeterre motions for you to point it at him. He checks to make sure he's wearing his hat at an appropriately jaunty angle. He nods in approval.

You stuff the hand mirror into the sack.
action: You take the locket
response: "Ooh, jewelry! Good eye, Tibert!" says the captain.

You stuff the silver locket into the sack.
action: You go upward
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You take the ambergris
response: Captain Verdeterre wrinkles his nose. "What on earth is that thing? I don't like the looks of it."

You hold onto it anyway.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: Go upwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You climb
response: What do you want to climb?
action: You look around
response: What a dizzying height! The shrouds reach higher, of course, but up here is high enough.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

A piece of brass is caught between the boards.

A seagull is perched further out on the rigging.
action: You go downward
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You climb the bowsprit
response: You climb out to hang precariously from the bowsprit.

From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.

Around her neck is a string of pearls.

You notice that the waters have just crested over the main deck.
action: You take the necklace
response: You pull one hand free from the bowsprit to snatch up the necklace, and nearly lose your grip.

"Careful down there!" Verdeterre cries. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you lost any of our stuff. You should probably toss the necklace up to me so you don't drop it. Or I guess just put it in the bag."

You stuff the pearl necklace into the sack.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.
action: Go downwards
response: Very, very carefully, you climb back from the bowsprit to the relative safety of the fo'c'sle.

The main deck keeps on sinking.
action: You descend
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The water rises up around your thighs.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

***
***The return to civilization was a long one, but you both survived, and the long task of liquidating your assets finally began. Now, having dealt with numerous fences, suckers, and a few legitimate businessmen, you take inventory of your priceless treasures and how much they turned out to worth:

A musky grey lump, later identified as a piece of rare ambergris, valued at 179 dollars...
A silk handkerchief, sold for 10 dollars...
A silver locket, sold to a lovesick and desperate young man for 15 dollars...
A Yemeni jambiya, with a handle of rhinoceros horn, worth 276 dollars...
A cheap hand mirror, worth 12 dollars to a man who thought his soul was trapped inside...
A medallion of mysterious provenance, sold for 68 dollars...
A cheap reproduction of a Ptolemaic statuette of the Egyptian god Thoth, melted down into lead ingots worth four dollars...
An extremely fine pearl necklace, sold to a "Bavarian princess" for 186 dollars...

...For a total of 750 Spanish dollars.

The first mate's share of that came to 46 Spanish dollars and 7 reales.

***
action: Go upwards
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The deck below is still sinking.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You take the fid
response: "Do we need this?" you ask your captain, indicating the fid.

He says, "I kinda doubt it, but you might as well."

You pick up the fid.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: Go down
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The water is up to your chest.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.
action: You look at the pin
response: The pin is pulled through two corners of the handkerchief, making it impossible to pull the cloth away from the other side of the partition.
action: You get the pillow
response: You pick up the pillow.

"Oh, no. I'm gonna miss that little guy," says Verdeterre. "I've never been able to get to sleep without it. But it needs to must, when devils drive!"

You stuff the silk pillow into the sack.
action: You drop it
response: Taken.

If you leave things lying around, you're liable to forget about them entirely.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a silk pillow
a commodious sack (empty)
a flintlock pistol
action: Aft
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.

This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You look at the map table
response: In lieu of an actual map, some vague charts have been carved on the surface of the table. To you they are meaningless; to Verdeterre they are invaluable guides to the sea.

On the map table is a sextant.
action: You look at the charts
response: You squint at the charts. "Where exactly are we?" you ask.

"I thought I told you to quit asking," says the captain.
action: You look at the crate
response: It's a large crate, used for transporting various different types of cargo.

In the smelly crate is a musky grey lump.
action: You go downwards
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Despite the height of the water, you can still just barely reach the iron strongbox.

You can barely see where you're going, squeezing your eyes to keep out the salt water. You need to get to higher ground.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Aft
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You look in the vase
response: Sure is dark in there.
action: You get vase
response: The captain squeaks approvingly. "That's a good one. That'll keep us fed for a week."

You stuff the ornate vase into the sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: Up
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You throw the vase at the seagull
response: (first taking the ornate vase)
Taken.

You lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment.
action: You examine the vase
response: The white ceramic is painted with a pattern of twisting blue vines and leaves. It seems very fragile.

"It's Chinese," explains the captain. "The guys we stole it from were Spanish, but I'm pretty sure the guys they stole it from were Chinese."
action: You drop the vase
response: If you leave things lying around, you're liable to forget about them entirely.
action: You put the fid in the vase
response: Better not. You wouldn't want to break anything.
action: You shoot vase
response: You shoot the vase, which shatters to pieces. Your captain slaps his tiny forehead with his tiny paw.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a fid
a commodious sack (empty)
a flintlock pistol
action: You look around
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

The captain eyes you expectantly.
action: You shoot vase
response: You shoot the vase, which shatters to pieces. Your captain slaps his tiny forehead with his tiny paw.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}
action: Look around
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

The captain surveys the situation with a sober eye.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.
action: You look at the ball
response: The crystal is bright and clear. Verdeterre and the fortune-teller were business partners, briefly.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a commodious sack (empty)
a flintlock pistol
action: Cut pillow
response: Cutting that up would achieve little.
action: Fore
response: This is the foremost section of the hold, the location of the giant hole that the reef tore in the ship's hull. Water is gushing in at an alarming rate.

The rest of the hold (and the stairs to the decks above) is aft.

A perturbed-looking gorilla skull hangs from a hook on the wall.

The water is in your mouth now.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You put the pillow in the hole
response: First you take the silk pillow.

Taken.

If you leave something in there, you're liable to never find it again.

You're struggling to keep your head above water.

The gorilla skull seems to eye you accusingly as it sinks into the murk.
action: You look in the skull
response: You find nothing of interest.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You take Rat
response: I don't suppose Captain Verdeterre would care for that.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You look in the ball
response: The sphere gleams, and the words of the fortune-teller bubble up in your mind: death by water...
action: Look around
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

An ornate vase stands nearby.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.
action: You search ballast
response: There's no time to be bothering with the ballast. The ballast has done its job.
action: You shoot vase
response: You shoot the vase, which shatters to pieces. Your captain slaps his tiny forehead with his tiny paw.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

A crystal ball is rolling around on the floor.
action: You take the doll
response: "You know," says Verdeterre, "that doll gives me an idea. Better take it along."

You stuff the wooden doll into the sack.
action: You ask Captain about the doll
response: The captain shushes you. "Maybe save the chitchat for dry land, you know?"
action: You look around
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

The captain eyes you expectantly.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.
action: Search crate
response: In the smelly crate is a musky grey lump.
action: You take the portrait
response: Verdeterre sighs. "It'll be a shame to sell off an item of such gorgeousness and sentimentality," he says, "but I suppose these are desperate times."

You stuff the captain's portrait into the sack.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.
action: You take lamp
response: You stuff the oil lamp into the sack.
action: You shoot shell
response: You shoot the nautilus shell, and it shatters. The captain curses at you.
action: You get on the bed
response: Verdeterre jumps between you and the bed. "What do you think you're doing?" he hisses. "We've got wealth to amass!"
action: You move bed
response: That's fine where it is.
action: You shoot captain
response: You couldn't. What would you do without him?
action: You shoot the pillow
response: Your bullet reduces the silk pillow to shreds. The captain curses at you.
action: You wear it
response: First you take the gold medallion.

Taken.

You can't wear that!
action: You shoot the crystal ball
response: You aim and fire, and your bullet (your only bullet) bounces off the crystal ball harmlessly.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}
action: You shoot strongbox
response: You used up your only bullet when you shot that crystal ball.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The crystal ball disappears as the current sweeps over it.
action: F.
response: This is the foremost section of the hold, the location of the giant hole that the reef tore in the ship's hull. Water is gushing in at an alarming rate.

The rest of the hold (and the stairs to the decks above) is aft.

A perturbed-looking gorilla skull hangs from a hook on the wall.

In one corner of the room is a pewter goblet.

A thick book lies close by.

Now the water is up to your thighs.

The book sinks out of sight.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You shoot gorilla
response: You used up your only bullet when you shot that iron strongbox.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.

The goblet is lost in the swirling waters.
action: You shoot gorilla
response: You fire at the skull, which explodes into pieces and is gone forever.

"No! Oh, Charlie!" cries the captain. He looks up at you in disbelief. "What did you do that for?"

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: F.
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You open the cabinet
response: The cabinet's door won't budge. It's locked.

Verdeterre rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I have no idea where the key is. Just forget about it."
action: You shoot the cabinet
response: "Good idea!" Verdeterre shouts, as he gets out of the way. You blast away the lock, and the cabinet door falls open.
action: You look in cabinet
response: In the cabinet are a porcelain plate and a pile of silverware.
action: You take the plate
response: "Where did that come from?" Verdeterre mumbles. "Do you think Blaise was holding out on us?"

You stuff the porcelain plate into the sack.
action: You take the silverware
response: Verdeterre nods in approval as you struggle to pick up every fork, knife, and spoon. For him to assist in any way would be unprofessional.

You stuff the pile of silverware into the sack.
action: You take the violin
response: "Sure was nice of Blaise to leave that behind for us," Verdeterre sniggers.

You stuff the violin into the sack.
action: You get the hardtack
response: Taken.
action: You take the doll
response: "You know," says Verdeterre, "that doll gives me an idea. Better take it along."

You stuff the wooden doll into the sack.

The rising water has reached your ankles.
action: You look in the crate
response: In the smelly crate is a musky grey lump.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You take the lump
response: Captain Verdeterre wrinkles his nose. "What on earth is that thing? I don't like the looks of it."

You hold onto it anyway.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: You go upwards
response: Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You take the locket
response: "Ooh, jewelry! Good eye, Tibert!" says the captain.

You stuff the silver locket into the sack.
action: F.
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You take the handkerchief
response: The captain smiles as you lift up the handkerchief. "Well, boy, I did make a promise, and I keep my promises. The hanky's yours."

You rub the silk between your fingers, and remark by way of expressing your gratitude that it's a very fine prize.

The captain nods. "You're right about that. Actually, it's probably too fine. Yes, you'd better put it in with the other loot so we can sell it later. Good idea."

You stuff the silk handkerchief into the sack.
action: You drop the hardtack
response: Dropped.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

You notice that the waters have just crested over the main deck.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.
action: Sing
response: "Au clair de la lune, something, something..." Hmm.
action: You throw the hardtack at the gull
response: (first taking the piece of hardtack)
You lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment.

You notice that the waters have just crested over the main deck.
action: You give the hardtack to the gull
response: The seagull doesn't seem interested.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.
action: Go downward
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

Your knees are underwater now.

The mirror disappears beneath the waves.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The water rises up around your thighs.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

***
***The return to civilization was a long one, but you both survived, and the long task of liquidating your assets finally began. Now, having dealt with numerous fences, suckers, and a few legitimate businessmen, you take inventory of your priceless treasures and how much they turned out to worth:

A Dutch peg doll which, after some modification and repainting, was sold as an "African fertility idol" for 36 dollars...
A musky grey lump, later identified as a piece of rare ambergris, valued at 179 dollars...
An unremarkable but serviceable violin, sold for 50 dollars...
A plate of fine Japanese porcelain, sold to a heron enthusiast for 160 dollars...
An incomplete set of Verlaine silver worth 90 dollars...
A silk handkerchief, sold for 10 dollars...
A silver locket, sold to a lovesick and desperate young man for 15 dollars...
A medallion of mysterious provenance, sold for 68 dollars...

...For a total of 608 Spanish dollars.

The first mate's share of that came to 38 Spanish dollars.

***
action: You look at the sea
response: It goes on forever: a blue expanse uninterrupted by any island. Who would have thought something so boring could be so deadly?
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: F.
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

An old zither lies in the corner.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You search hammocks
response: Rifling through your old crewmates" hammocks, you find something heavy: a chessboard.

"Hey, where'd that come from?" Verdeterre asks.

"It was in one of the hammocks," you answer.

"Yeah, I meant before that."

"Oh. I don't know. Sorry."

"It's okay," says Verdeterre.

You stuff the chessboard into the sack.
action: You shoot zither
response: You shoot the zither, and it explodes in a wild display of chipped wood and popping strings.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a commodious sack
a chessboard
a flintlock pistol
action: You search hammocks
response: Verdeterre shoos you away from the hammocks. "I think we already looked there."
action: You get the hammocks
response: Before you can start pulling down a hammock, Verdeterre clicks at you.

"Don't bother. We'll find something for you to sleep in. Or under. Leave it to me," he says.
action: You take the zither
response: You point at the zither, and the captain says "Yeah, sure. It's out of tune, though."

You lift the instrument from the floor. "How do you know?"

"I don't, but it stands to reason, right?"

You stuff the zither into the sack.
action: Search boat
response: The life boat is empty.
action: Go upwards
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You climb the bowsprit
response: You climb out to hang precariously from the bowsprit.

From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.

Around her neck is a string of pearls.
action: Kiss figurehead
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You take the necklace
response: You pull one hand free from the bowsprit to snatch up the necklace, and nearly lose your grip.

"Careful down there!" Verdeterre cries. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you lost any of our stuff. You should probably toss the necklace up to me so you don't drop it. Or I guess just put it in the bag."

You stuff the pearl necklace into the sack.

You notice that the waters have just crested over the main deck.
action: You look at the figurehead
response: From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.
action: Go downward
response: Very, very carefully, you climb back from the bowsprit to the relative safety of the fo'c'sle.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.
action: You look around
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

The captain eyes you expectantly.
action: Go downwards
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

Your knees are underwater now.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

***
***The return to civilization was a long one, but you both survived, and the long task of liquidating your assets finally began. Now, having dealt with numerous fences, suckers, and a few legitimate businessmen, you take inventory of your priceless treasures and how much they turned out to worth:

A zither, origins unknown, sold to a musical enthusiast for 40 dollars...
A cheap hand mirror, worth 12 dollars to a man who thought his soul was trapped inside...
A small brass crown, which Verdeterre refused to even consider selling...
A gold watch, used as bait in a grift that netted 160 dollars...
An ivory chessboard worth 28 dollars...
An extremely fine pearl necklace, sold to a "Bavarian princess" for 186 dollars...

...For a total of 426 Spanish dollars.

The first mate's share of that came to 26 Spanish dollars and 5 reales.

***
action: You get the cup
response: "That one, for sure," says the captain. "People will pay all kinds of money for fancy chalices like that."

You stuff the pewter goblet into the sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}
action: You get the skull
response: The captain smiles at the skull. "Good old Charlie! What a spirited guy. If I had the chance, I think I'd shoot him again."

You stuff the gorilla skull into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: You open the strongbox
response: You yank on the lid of the strongbox, but it's locked tight.

"Oh, shoot," says Verdeterre. "I forget where I left the key. Knowing me, it's probably hidden extremely well. But I can't remember what was in there, either, so it's not a big loss."

The water closes over your head. You might have time to do one last thing before you drown...
action: You get the skull
response: The captain smiles at the skull. "Good old Charlie! What a spirited guy. If I had the chance, I think I'd shoot him again."

You stuff the gorilla skull into the sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a thick book (closed)
a commodious sack
a gorilla skull
a flintlock pistol
action: You take the lump
response: Captain Verdeterre wrinkles his nose. "What on earth is that thing? I don't like the looks of it."

You hold onto it anyway.
action: You take the box
response: You are unable to pick up the flag box, as it has been securely attached to the cabin floor. In retrospect, that wasn't a great idea.
action: You look around
response: This was the map room originally, and then it became a kind of general storage space, and then it was picked almost clean by various deserters.

The captain strokes his tail thoughtfully.

The flag box stands nearby.

In the center of the room is the map table; sitting on top is a sextant.

There's a barrel over in the corner.
action: F.
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You shoot the cabinet
response: "Good idea!" Verdeterre shouts, as he gets out of the way. You blast away the lock, and the cabinet door falls open.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You open the cabinet
response: That has been taken care of.
action: You take the silverware
response: Verdeterre nods in approval as you struggle to pick up every fork, knife, and spoon. For him to assist in any way would be unprofessional.

You stuff the pile of silverware into the sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: You take the plate
response: "Where did that come from?" Verdeterre mumbles. "Do you think Blaise was holding out on us?"

You stuff the porcelain plate into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: You take the violin
response: "Sure was nice of Blaise to leave that behind for us," Verdeterre sniggers.

You stuff the violin into the sack.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a musky grey lump
a commodious sack
a gold medallion
a violin
a porcelain plate
a pile of silverware
a tapestry of Saint Incertus
a crystal ball
a gorilla skull
a flintlock pistol
action: F.
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

Now the water is up to your shins.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You go upwards
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The main deck keeps on sinking.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You climb bowsprit
response: You climb out to hang precariously from the bowsprit.

From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.

Around her neck is a string of pearls.

There might be about a foot of water over the main deck now.
action: You take necklace
response: You pull one hand free from the bowsprit to snatch up the necklace, and nearly lose your grip.

"Careful down there!" Verdeterre cries. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you lost any of our stuff. You should probably toss the necklace up to me so you don't drop it. Or I guess just put it in the bag."

You stuff the pearl necklace into the sack.

The deck below is still sinking.
action: Go down
response: Very, very carefully, you climb back from the bowsprit to the relative safety of the fo'c'sle.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: Go downwards
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The water is up to your chest.

{A friendly reminder: Substantial resources have been invested in
the research and implementation of this game's Nautical Vocabulary Notes. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you very much.}

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

The waves close over your shoulders.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You search hammocks
response: Rifling through your old crewmates" hammocks, you find something heavy: a chessboard.

"Hey, where'd that come from?" Verdeterre asks.

"It was in one of the hammocks," you answer.

"Yeah, I meant before that."

"Oh. I don't know. Sorry."

"It's okay," says Verdeterre.

You stuff the chessboard into the sack.

The water reaches your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

" you ask.

"Shut up," Verdeterre snaps. But then his eyes open, and he scurries over to you with an unfamiliar expression on his face.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I owe all of this to you. I owe a lot of it to you, anyway. But I've never thanked you."

He touches your hand with his paw. "Thank you, Tibert. Thank you for joining my crew. Thank you for not abandoning me like every single other jerk I ever hired did. And thank you for making me so incredibly rich."

You can't think of anything to say. Verdeterre turns around to survey his money again.

"Yeah. Yes," he says. "I am going to buy a polar bear."
action: Go downward
response: A lot of the things kept in the hold are just ballast, but there are a few items of interest. Fore from here is the rest of the hold, and stairs lead up to the lower deck.

Roughly in the center of the space is an iron strongbox.

The waters have reached your chin. You're having trouble keeping your footing.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: Unlock strongbox
response: (with the iron key)
You unlock the iron strongbox.

The water is in your mouth now.
action: You open the box
response: You open the flag box, revealing a red and yellow flag.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.
action: You take flag
response: You pull the flag out of the box and unfold it: the design is a yellow cross on a red field. "Whose flag is this?" you ask your captain.

"I dunno. I think Denmark? Anyway, it's useless. Toss it."

You nod, and throw the flag somewhere where it won't get in the way.

The flag that was underneath is striped.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: F.
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: You take plate
response: "Where did that come from?" Verdeterre mumbles. "Do you think Blaise was holding out on us?"

You stuff the porcelain plate into the sack.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: You take the silverware
response: Verdeterre nods in approval as you struggle to pick up every fork, knife, and spoon. For him to assist in any way would be unprofessional.

You stuff the pile of silverware into the sack.

Now the water is up to your thighs.
action: You take the violin
response: "Sure was nice of Blaise to leave that behind for us," Verdeterre sniggers.

You stuff the violin into the sack.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: You twist the dagger
response: {It is politely requested that you respect the orientation of the curved dagger.}

Jacqueline undoes 236 times.
Jacqueline undoes 405 times.
action: You get the dagger
response: [Previous turn undone.]

You pull on the handle of the dagger, but it remains stuck in the mast.

"Hey, that was Saad's, right?" Verdeterre asks. "What happened to him?"

"I think you told him you were going to kill him, so he ran away," you say.

He frowns. "Man, I think you're right. Wow. I shoulda been nicer."

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.
action: You get the dagger
response: You pull again. You're almost there. You can feel the dagger's resolve fading.

Now the water is up to your shins.
action: You get the dagger
response: With a mighty tug, you wrench the dagger from the mast. "All right, cool; put it in the bag," says Verdeterre.

You stuff the curved dagger into the sack.

Now the water is up to your shins.
action: F.
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

Your knees are underwater now.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Go upward
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

There might be about a foot of water over the main deck now.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You climb the bowsprit
response: You climb out to hang precariously from the bowsprit.

From this position you can look right in the figurehead's face. She seems entirely too calm, given the circumstances.

Around her neck is a string of pearls.

The deck below is still sinking.
action: You take the necklace
response: You pull one hand free from the bowsprit to snatch up the necklace, and nearly lose your grip.

"Careful down there!" Verdeterre cries. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you lost any of our stuff. You should probably toss the necklace up to me so you don't drop it. Or I guess just put it in the bag."

You stuff the pearl necklace into the sack.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: Go down
response: Very, very carefully, you climb back from the bowsprit to the relative safety of the fo'c'sle.

The sea continues to bury the main deck, inching its way toward you.
action: You go downward
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The waves close over your shoulders.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

" you ask.

"Shut up," Verdeterre snaps. But then his eyes open, and he scurries over to you with an unfamiliar expression on his face.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I owe all of this to you. I owe a lot of it to you, anyway. But I've never thanked you."

He touches your hand with his paw. "Thank you, Tibert. Thank you for joining my crew. Thank you for not abandoning me like every single other jerk I ever hired did. And thank you for making me so incredibly rich."

You can't think of anything to say. Verdeterre turns around to survey his money again.

"Yeah. Yes," he says. "I am going to buy a polar bear."
action: Go upwards
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold, and in fact actually smells somewhat pleasant. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

{This game includes Nautical Vocabulary Notes for your
edification. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you.}

The captain scurries along after you.

Ah, open air. The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.

You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.

You can't move in that direction from here. {The available
directions are displayed in the status bar above.}

You can't move in that direction from here. {The available
directions are displayed in the status bar above.}
action: Go downwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.

This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

Your life boat is hanging from the davits here.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: F.
response: The crew's quarters were never intended to be welcoming or well-appointed. The walls are lined with hammocks. The exit is aft.

An old zither lies in the corner.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You get fid
response: The bowsprit extends from the prow here, and below that is the figurehead. Down the stairs abaft is the capstan.

A fid is lying on the deck.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.

"Do we need this?" you ask your captain, indicating the fid.

He says, "I kinda doubt it, but you might as well."

You pick up the fid.
action: You look at rigging
response: To any experienced sailor, navigating a ship's labyrinthine web of rigging is as simple as walking down the street, and to you it is only slightly more difficult. You've been working on it.
action: You throw the fid at the rigging
response: Futile.
action: Climb rigging
response: You scramble back down to the deck.

The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

A hand mirror is lying on the floor.

HOW DID THIS GET HERE. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. REPORT A BUG PLEASE.
.
action: Up
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: You listen
response: You do hear music. It's coming from a narrow tunnel that somebody gnawed in the planks.
action: You look in the tunnel
response: You reach in as far as your arm will go, but you don't manage to get ahold of anything.

"Hey, what are you doing over there? What do you want with that hole?" Verdeterre asks, yanking your hand out of the tunnel. "Don't stick your flat little nose where it doesn't belong. If there's something to be gotten out of a rat tunnel, I'll get it out. Hold on, and don't
be screwing around up here while I'm away."

The captain disappears into the tunnel.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

"Ha! Ha ha!" The captain emerges from the tunnel, dragging a tiny wooden chest behind him. "Can you believe this? It's my music box! It must have turned itself on when you hit the reef!"

He leans against the case and wipes his brow. "Good job finding it," he says.

Did he just say "good job"Verdeterre clicks loudly, dispelling your reverie. "Hey. Put this in the bag," he demands.

You stuff the music box into the sack.
action: Go upwards
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

There might be about a foot of water over the main deck now.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: You listen
response: You do hear music. It's coming from a narrow tunnel that somebody gnawed in the planks.

The deck below is still sinking.
action: You look in the tunnel
response: You reach as far into the hole as your arm will go, but you don't manage to get ahold of anything.

Captain Verdeterre looks back up at you from the waters rising on the main deck. "Uh, I don't think we have time for that right now," he says. "We should probably get to the lifeboat pretty soon." You withdraw your arm.

By now the main deck is under about three feet of water.
action: Go upwards
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The main deck keeps on sinking.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: You look in the tunnel
response: You reach as far into the hole as your arm will go, but you don't manage to get ahold of anything.

Captain Verdeterre looks back up at you from the waters rising on the main deck. "Uh, I don't think we have time for that right now," he says. "We should probably get to the lifeboat pretty soon." You withdraw your arm.

There might be about a foot of water over the main deck now.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: Go upwards
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

Your chance to return to the main deck is almost gone.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: Go upward
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You look in tunnel
response: You reach as far into the hole as your arm will go, but you don't manage to get ahold of anything.

Captain Verdeterre looks back up at you from the waters rising on the main deck. "Uh, I don't think we have time for that right now," he says. "We should probably get to the lifeboat pretty soon." You withdraw your arm.

The main deck keeps on sinking.
action: Go upwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

The water glides over the decks and soon it is up to your ankles.

The captain scurries along after you.

You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You look in the tunnel
response: You reach as far into the hole as your arm will go, but you don't manage to get ahold of anything.

Captain Verdeterre looks back up at you from the waters rising on the main deck. "Uh, I don't think we have time for that right now," he says. "We should probably get to the lifeboat pretty soon." You withdraw your arm.

The main deck keeps on sinking.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: F.
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You look in the tunnel
response: You reach in as far as your arm will go, but you don't manage to get ahold of anything.

"Hey, what are you doing over there? What do you want with that hole?" Verdeterre asks, yanking your hand out of the tunnel. "Don't stick your flat little nose where it doesn't belong. If there's something to be gotten out of a rat tunnel, I'll get it out. Hold on, and don't
be screwing around up here while I'm away."

The captain disappears into the tunnel.
action: Go downwards
response: You'd better not. Captain Verdeterre said no screwing around.
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.
action: You examine the mainmast
response: The mainmast is the tallest and most important mast of the ship. Someone has wedged a dagger in it.
action: You shoot up
response: You must name something more substantial.
action: Yes
response: cheapglulxe quit with exit status: 0
action: You take the sextant
response: "I hate those things," says the captain. "Nobody will build one that's small enough for us to use."

You stuff the sextant into the sack.
action: F.
response: The lower deck is quite a bit homier than the hold. The galley is fore, and the map room is aft. Stairs lead down to the hold and up to the main deck.

A portrait of your captain hangs on one wall.

Lying on the floor is a wooden doll.

There's a large wooden crate here, because there was no room for it anywhere else.

The rising water has reached your ankles.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: F.
response: This room used to be the domain of Blaise, the ship's cook. Now the cabinets are empty, and the room is in a state of rapidly sinking disrepair.

On top of one cabinet is a piece of hardtack.

Hanging on the wall is an old violin.

Now the water is lapping at your shins.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You shoot the cabinet
response: "Good idea!" Verdeterre shouts, as he gets out of the way. You blast away the lock, and the cabinet door falls open.

Your knees are covered by the rising waves.
action: You take silverware
response: Verdeterre nods in approval as you struggle to pick up every fork, knife, and spoon. For him to assist in any way would be unprofessional.

You stuff the pile of silverware into the sack.

You wince as the waters climb up around your hips.
action: Go upward
response: You have often stood here, at the stern of the vessel, with a steady hand on the ship's wheel, wondering where you were going. Right now you are not going anywhere.

From here you can see the vast stretches of sea you crossed to reach this point—they look much like the stretches of sea you can see in every other direction. Downstairs is the main deck.

A bronze statuette is lying on the boards.

The captain scurries along after you.

For a second there, you could swear you heard music.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

The water continues to rise down on the main deck.

"Ha! Ha ha!" The captain emerges from the tunnel, dragging a tiny wooden chest behind him. "Can you believe this? It's my music box! It must have turned itself on when you hit the reef!"

He leans against the case and wipes his brow. "Good job finding it," he says.

Did he just say "good job"Verdeterre clicks loudly, dispelling your reverie. "Hey. Put this in the bag," he demands.

You stuff the music box into the sack.
action: Go downwards
response: The sea stretches out in all directions. There is no land in sight.

You can worry about that later, though. Fore is the mainmast, aft is the captain's quarters, upstairs is the quarterdeck, and downstairs is the lower deck.

A silk handkerchief hangs from the aft bulkhead.

There's a silver locket lying on the deck.

Your knees are underwater now.

The silver locket sinks out of sight.

The captain rushes ahead of you, since coming here was his idea.
action: F.
response: The mainmast is lodged in the deck here, near the middle of the ship. It's somewhat like the ship's belly button. Fore is the capstan, aft are the stairs to the lower deck, and up at the top of the mainmast is the top.

The point of an exotic-looking dagger is lodged in the mast.

The water rises up around your thighs.

The captain darts ahead to take stock of the situation.
action: You take the dagger
response: You pull on the handle of the dagger, but it remains stuck in the mast.

"Hey, that was Saad's, right?" Verdeterre asks. "What happened to him?"

"I think you told him you were going to kill him, so he ran away," you say.

He frowns. "Man, I think you're right. Wow. I shoulda been nicer."

Now the water reaches your hips.
action: Keep going
response: The captain sighs as you yank on the dagger. "It's not coming out," he says.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.
action: You take the dagger
response: With a mighty tug, you wrench the dagger from the mast. "All right, cool; put it in the bag," says Verdeterre.

You stuff the curved dagger into the sack.

The rising waves climb up to your waist.
action: F.
response: This end of the deck is home to the capstan. The crew's quarters are fore and the mainmast is aft. Up a short flight of stairs is the fo'c'sle.

The life boat, still connected to the davits, is also floating on the rising water.

The water is up to your chest.

The captain scurries along after you.
action: You take the chessboard
response: Taken.

The water is in your mouth now. It tastes salty.

{A friendly reminder: Substantial resources have been invested in
the research and implementation of this game's Nautical Vocabulary Notes. If you would like to enable Nautical Vocabulary Notes, please enter the command "ENABLE NAUTICAL VOCABULARY NOTES". Thank you very much.}
action: Y.
response: You shove off with all due haste.

***
***The return to civilization was a long one, but you both survived, and the long task of liquidating your assets finally began. Now, having dealt with numerous fences, suckers, and a few legitimate businessmen, you take inventory of your priceless treasures and how much they turned out to worth:

The skull of an African gorilla, sold for 70 Spanish dollars to a credulous fellow already possessing the incomplete skeleton of an orangutan...
A flawless crystal ball worth 60 dollars...
A musky grey lump, later identified as a piece of rare ambergris, valued at 179 dollars...
A plate of fine Japanese porcelain, sold to a heron enthusiast for 160 dollars...
An incomplete set of Verlaine silver worth 90 dollars...
A broken sextant, which cost 20 dollars to fix before being sold for 68 dollars, for a total profit of 48 dollars...
A remarkably well-preserved tapestry of Saint Incertus the Audacious, worth 160 dollars to the monks of his order...
A Yemeni jambiya, with a handle of rhinoceros horn, worth 276 dollars...
A medallion of mysterious provenance, sold for 68 dollars...
An ivory chessboard worth 28 dollars...
A slightly chipped nautilus shell, sold to a British dandy for 49 dollars...
An extraordinary Genevese music box worth 300 dollars...

...For a total of 1488 Spanish dollars.

The first mate's share of that came to 93 Spanish dollars.

***