All text will now be saved to the script file. Type UNSCRIPT at any time to discontinue scripting. >restore Restored. Storage room This room is barely big enough to hold the time machine. It is full of filing cabinets, old computer equipment, stacks of old ledgers and printouts, and other discards. Fluorescent lighting fixtures flicker overhead. The air is conditioned and cold, almost antiseptic smelling. A door leads east. You see a time machine here. >[Ooookay, that was wacky.] I don't understand the punctuation "[". >enter machine Okay, you're now standing on the time machine platform. >set dial to 1 Okay, it's now turned to 1. >push button You push the big red button. Click! The time machine vibrates and heats up like a toaster oven. A deep red light envelops you. The world around you spins into a wild vortex that suddenly vanishes, leaving you to find yourself in a ... Secret chamber Whether this nondescript room existed before the secret passage was made is unclear to you, but here it is now. It is made of concrete, about thirty feet square, with a fifteen foot ceiling. The floor of room must be at least twenty feet below the ground. The dim amber light, just enough to see by, seems to be coming from the ceiling itself, rather than any kind of recognizable fixture. The only exit that you can see is back up. You see a time machine here. >u (first getting off the platform) Okay, you're no longer on the time machine platform. Secret passage The secret passage is a narrow hallway of sorts, only about twelve feet long and three and a half feet wide. The walls are bare plaster and sheet rock. Various springs and tumblers are connected together in an elegant set of mechanisms to open the doors. A small light bulb hangs from the ceiling, giving the room some gentle illumnation. The short hallway dead-ends at a crudely-carved staircase leading down. There is another door to the west, and you can go out the way you came in. >s (Opening the main door) South of house The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. There is a tiny window high in the wall, about 30 feet up. There is a rope dangling from the window. A little path made by you on your many daily walks leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around your house to the northwest and northeast. A secret door is open to the north. A beautiful, leafy tree is growing here next to the house, right where you always thought it should. >sw Path in the woods This little spot is one of your favorite places to sit and think. A well-trod path winds through a natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way, so the path does an abrupt curve around it. The path leads northeast to your house, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >sw Clearing The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Moonlight streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. Your footpath leaves the clearing to the northeast, heading back to the house. You see a time machine here. Sitting on the time machine platform is a wheelbarrow. >enter machine Okay, you're now standing on the time machine platform. >set dial to 1 Okay, it's now turned to 1. >push button You push the big red button. Click! The time machine vibrates and heats up like a toaster oven. A deep red light envelops you. The world around you spins into a wild vortex that suddenly vanishes, leaving you to find yourself in a ... Forest The woods surround you on all sides, although there is enough space around you to consider it a clearing of sorts. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can hear the soft gurgling of a stream nearby, but the foliage is so rich and dense that the sound of it is dispersed. You aren't sure which from which direction it originates. You can see your usual path through the grove of trees to the northeast. You see a time machine here. Sitting on the time machine platform is a wheelbarrow. The divining rod vibrates, pulling to the northeast. >push wheelbarrow ne (first getting off the platform) Okay, you're no longer on the time machine platform. Path in the woods A natural path made by the stream winds through a natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way, and the stream does an abrupt curve around it. The stream runs from the northeast to the south, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. You see five jugs of miracle-grow and a wheelbarrow here. >g Sloping wood The ground slopes down here, eroded by the nearby stream. Grasses heavy with fresh dew and spring-saturated soil give the area a soft, spongy feel beneath your feet. The stream leads back southwest, and far ahead through the trees to the northeast, you can see a road of some kind. You see a soft spot, a little mound of dirt, and a wheelbarrow here. >g Oakwood drive This pleasant road wanders peacefully through the lush tree growths native to the area. In the intervening years, they'll straighten the road and widen it, cutting down dozens of these thirty- to eighty-year-old live oaks. The road leads north into the old shopping village, and a path winds back into the forest to the southwest. You see a wheelbarrow here. >push wheelbarrow e There is nowhere to go in that direction. >push wheelbarrow n In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a wheelbarrow here. >push wheelbarrow e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. As you enter, the antiques merchant smiles at you and waves you over to the counter. "Something new was just brought in that I thought you might like to see," she says, and retrieves something from behind the counter. It is a long spear of conducting metal. The initials 'WCDW' are imprinted along the shaft. The merchant says, "Ah yes. Let me tell you about this lightning rod. You can't just run down to the local hardware store to find a lightning rod like this one. Assuming there were a local hardware store, that is." She looks it up and down. "Yes, see here, on the shaft? It's the craftsman's initials. This was hand made by a company in Boise, Idaho, that made lifetime guarantees for their lightning rods. Back in the 1940s, they could barely keep up with demand. Cheap, mass-produced lightning rods eventually forced them out of the market. If you really want to protect your house, though, this is the one to get." >ask her about wheelbarrow The merchant says, "Can't say that I have any opinion about that." >ask her about rod The merchant gives it a quick once-over with her expertly trained eyeballs. The merchant shakes her head and says, "Sorry, that isn't something I can consider buying from you." >ask her about lightning The merchant says, "Ah yes. Let me tell you about this lightning rod. You can't just run down to the local hardware store to find a lightning rod like this one. Assuming there were a local hardware store, that is." She looks it up and down. "Yes, see here, on the shaft? It's the craftsman's initials. This was hand made by a company in Boise, Idaho, that made lifetime guarantees for their lightning rods. Back in the 1940s, they could barely keep up with demand. Cheap, mass-produced lightning rods eventually forced them out of the market. If you really want to protect your house, though, this is the one to get." >buy it You can't buy and sell people! >buy lightning Don't waste the merchant's time. You don't have any money. >i You are carrying: a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a package a perfect blue crystal an old pillowcase a library book a car key a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a crowbar a divining rod a can of WD-40 a paper napkin a can-opener a shovel a machete a biology book a cannonball the time machine manual a Herring detector a screwdriver a frisbee a rare book a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a monkey wrench >give all to merchant blue pencil: The merchant rejects the offer. desk lamp: The merchant rejects the offer. tire: The merchant rejects the offer. package: The merchant rejects the offer. newspaper: The merchant rejects the offer. bottle of cheap liquor: The merchant rejects the offer. monkey wrench: The merchant rejects the offer. >get all from package perfect blue crystal: Taken. old pillowcase: Taken. biology book: You've already got your hands full. cannonball: You've already got your hands full. time machine manual: You've already got your hands full. Herring detector: Taken. screwdriver: You've already got your hands full. frisbee: You've already got your hands full. rare book: You've already got your hands full. >give all to merchant blue pencil: The merchant rejects the offer. desk lamp: The merchant rejects the offer. tire: The merchant rejects the offer. package: The merchant rejects the offer. newspaper: The merchant rejects the offer. bottle of cheap liquor: The merchant rejects the offer. monkey wrench: The merchant rejects the offer. perfect blue crystal: The merchant rejects the offer. old pillowcase: The merchant rejects the offer. Herring detector: The merchant rejects the offer. >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. >drop all but pillowcase blue pencil: Dropped. desk lamp: Dropped. tire: Dropped. package: Dropped. newspaper: Dropped. bottle of cheap liquor: Dropped. monkey wrench: Dropped. perfect blue crystal: Dropped. Herring detector: Dropped. >get all from pillowcase library book: Taken. car key: Taken. garage door opener: Taken. #2 pencil: Taken. tourist map: Taken. crowbar: Taken. divining rod: Taken. can of WD-40: Taken. paper napkin: Taken. can-opener: Taken. shovel: You've already got your hands full. machete: You've already got your hands full. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >give all to merchant old pillowcase: The merchant rejects the offer. library book: The merchant rejects the offer. car key: The merchant rejects the offer. garage door opener: The merchant rejects the offer. #2 pencil: The merchant rejects the offer. tourist map: The merchant rejects the offer. crowbar: The merchant rejects the offer. divining rod: The merchant rejects the offer. can of WD-40: The merchant rejects the offer. paper napkin: The merchant rejects the offer. can-opener: The merchant rejects the offer. >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a blue pencil, a desk lamp, a tire, a package, a newspaper, a bottle of cheap liquor, a monkey wrench, a perfect blue crystal, and a Herring detector here. The package seems to contain a biology book, a cannonball, the time machine manual, a screwdriver, a frisbee, and a rare book. >drop all but pillowcase library book: Dropped. car key: Dropped. garage door opener: Dropped. #2 pencil: Dropped. tourist map: Dropped. crowbar: Dropped. divining rod: Dropped. can of WD-40: Dropped. paper napkin: Dropped. can-opener: Dropped. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >get all from pillowcase shovel: Taken. machete: Taken. >show all to merchant old pillowcase: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." shovel: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." machete: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." >i You are carrying: an old pillowcase a shovel a machete >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a blue pencil, a desk lamp, a tire, a package, a newspaper, a bottle of cheap liquor, a monkey wrench, a perfect blue crystal, a Herring detector, a library book, a car key, a garage door opener, a #2 pencil, a tourist map, a crowbar, a divining rod, a can of WD-40, a paper napkin, and a can-opener here. The package seems to contain a biology book, a cannonball, the time machine manual, a screwdriver, a frisbee, and a rare book. >get all blue pencil: Taken. desk lamp: Taken. tire: Taken. package: Taken. newspaper: Taken. bottle of cheap liquor: Taken. monkey wrench: You've already got your hands full. perfect blue crystal: You've already got your hands full. Herring detector: Taken. library book: You've already got your hands full. car key: Taken. garage door opener: You've already got your hands full. #2 pencil: You've already got your hands full. tourist map: You've already got your hands full. crowbar: You've already got your hands full. divining rod: You've already got your hands full. can of WD-40: You've already got your hands full. paper napkin: Taken. can-opener: You've already got your hands full. >put all in pillowcase old pillowcase: You can't put the old pillowcase in itself! shovel: Done. machete: Done. blue pencil: Done. desk lamp: Done. tire: Done. package: Done. newspaper: Done. bottle of cheap liquor: Done. Herring detector: Done. car key: Done. paper napkin: Done. >get all monkey wrench: Taken. perfect blue crystal: Taken. library book: Taken. garage door opener: Taken. #2 pencil: Taken. tourist map: Taken. crowbar: Taken. divining rod: Taken. can of WD-40: You've already got your hands full. can-opener: You've already got your hands full. >put all in pillowcase old pillowcase: You can't put the old pillowcase in itself! monkey wrench: Done. perfect blue crystal: Done. library book: Done. garage door opener: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. #2 pencil: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. tourist map: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. crowbar: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. divining rod: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. >get all can of WD-40: Taken. can-opener: Taken. >put all in pillowcase old pillowcase: You can't put the old pillowcase in itself! garage door opener: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. #2 pencil: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. tourist map: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. crowbar: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. divining rod: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. can of WD-40: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. can-opener: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. >put all in package old pillowcase: You can't put the old pillowcase in the package, because the package is already in the old pillowcase. garage door opener: Done. #2 pencil: Done. tourist map: Done. crowbar: You can't fit that in the package. divining rod: Done. can of WD-40: You can't fit that in the package. can-opener: You can't fit that in the package. >x package It's a little package, addressed to you. >i You are carrying: an old pillowcase a shovel a machete a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a package a biology book a cannonball the time machine manual a screwdriver a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a Herring detector a car key a paper napkin a monkey wrench a perfect blue crystal a library book a crowbar a can of WD-40 a can-opener >get package Taken. >get all from package biology book: Taken. cannonball: Taken. time machine manual: Taken. screwdriver: Taken. frisbee: You've already got your hands full. rare book: You've already got your hands full. garage door opener: You've already got your hands full. #2 pencil: You've already got your hands full. tourist map: You've already got your hands full. divining rod: You've already got your hands full. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >show all to merchant old pillowcase: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." crowbar: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." can of WD-40: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." can-opener: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." package: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." biology book: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." cannonball: The merchant gives the cannonball the once-over with her keen pair of eyeballs. The merchant says, "Say, this cannonball is in good shape. I'll give you $35 for it. Deal?" >yes The merchant tucks the cannonball away into a back room, then returns and hands you the money. The merchant says, "All righty. Here you are. Thank you." time machine manual: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." screwdriver: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." >get all from package frisbee: You've already got your hands full. rare book: You've already got your hands full. garage door opener: You've already got your hands full. #2 pencil: You've already got your hands full. tourist map: You've already got your hands full. divining rod: You've already got your hands full. >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. >drop all but package old pillowcase: Dropped. crowbar: Dropped. can of WD-40: Dropped. can-opener: Dropped. biology book: Dropped. time machine manual: Dropped. screwdriver: Dropped. some money (35 dollars): Dropped. >get all from package frisbee: Taken. rare book: Taken. garage door opener: Taken. #2 pencil: Taken. tourist map: Taken. divining rod: Taken. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >give all to merchant package: The merchant rejects the offer. frisbee: The merchant rejects the offer. rare book: The merchant rejects the offer. garage door opener: The merchant rejects the offer. #2 pencil: The merchant rejects the offer. tourist map: The merchant rejects the offer. divining rod: The merchant rejects the offer. >show all to merchant package: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." frisbee: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." rare book: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." garage door opener: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." #2 pencil: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." tourist map: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." divining rod: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." >[Even the rare book? Suck.] I don't understand the punctuation "[". >give wheelbarrow to merchant You're not carrying the wheelbarrow. >show it to her The merchant gives it a quick once-over with her expertly trained eyeballs. The merchant says, "Say, this wheelbarrow is as ancient as Methuselah. I'll give you $60 for it. Deal?" >yes The merchant pulls the wheelbarrow over to one side of the shop and says, "All righty. Here you are. Thank you." >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see an old pillowcase, a crowbar, a can of WD-40, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. The old pillowcase seems to contain a shovel, a machete, a blue pencil, a desk lamp, a tire, a newspaper, a bottle of cheap liquor, a Herring detector, a car key, a paper napkin, a monkey wrench, a perfect blue crystal, and a library book. >get all old pillowcase: Taken. crowbar: You've already got your hands full. can of WD-40: Taken. can-opener: You've already got your hands full. biology book: You've already got your hands full. time machine manual: You've already got your hands full. screwdriver: You've already got your hands full. >put all in package package: You can't put the package in itself! frisbee: Done. rare book: Done. garage door opener: Done. #2 pencil: Done. tourist map: Done. divining rod: Done. some money (60 dollars): Done. old pillowcase: Done. can of WD-40: Done. >get all crowbar: Taken. can-opener: Taken. biology book: Taken. time machine manual: Taken. screwdriver: Taken. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >i You are carrying: a package a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod some money (60 dollars) an old pillowcase a shovel a machete a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a Herring detector a car key a paper napkin a monkey wrench a perfect blue crystal a library book a can of WD-40 a crowbar a can-opener a biology book the time machine manual a screwdriver >x money Money: You have 60 dollars. >get money from package Taken. >x money Money: You have 60 dollars. >i You are carrying: a package a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod an old pillowcase a shovel a machete a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a Herring detector a car key a paper napkin a monkey wrench a perfect blue crystal a library book a can of WD-40 a crowbar a can-opener a biology book the time machine manual a screwdriver some money (60 dollars) >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a crowbar, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. >w In the bank The bank interior is polished and impeccable. A desk to the south says "New Accounts." A teller window to the north is labeled "Deposits and Withdrawals." A hallway leads west into the bank's back offices. The exit is east. >get money Taken. >i You are carrying: a package a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod an old pillowcase a shovel a machete a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a Herring detector a car key a paper napkin a monkey wrench a perfect blue crystal a library book a can of WD-40 some money (60 dollars) >e In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a crowbar, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a crowbar, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. >undo (Undoing one command) In the bank The bank interior is polished and impeccable. A desk to the south says "New Accounts." A teller window to the north is labeled "Deposits and Withdrawals." A hallway leads west into the bank's back offices. The exit is east. >undo (Undoing one command) In the bank The bank interior is polished and impeccable. A desk to the south says "New Accounts." A teller window to the north is labeled "Deposits and Withdrawals." A hallway leads west into the bank's back offices. The exit is east. >undo (Undoing one command) In the bank The bank interior is polished and impeccable. A desk to the south says "New Accounts." A teller window to the north is labeled "Deposits and Withdrawals." A hallway leads west into the bank's back offices. The exit is east. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a crowbar, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see a crowbar, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see an old pillowcase, a crowbar, a can of WD-40, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. The old pillowcase seems to contain a shovel, a machete, a blue pencil, a desk lamp, a tire, a newspaper, a bottle of cheap liquor, a Herring detector, a car key, a paper napkin, a monkey wrench, a perfect blue crystal, and a library book. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >undo (Undoing one command) In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see an old pillowcase, a crowbar, a can of WD-40, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, a screwdriver, and some money (35 dollars) here. The old pillowcase seems to contain a shovel, a machete, a blue pencil, a desk lamp, a tire, a newspaper, a bottle of cheap liquor, a Herring detector, a car key, a paper napkin, a monkey wrench, a perfect blue crystal, and a library book. >get money Taken. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >show wheelbarrow to merchant The merchant gives it a quick once-over with her expertly trained eyeballs. The merchant says, "Say, this wheelbarrow is as ancient as Methuselah. I'll give you $60 for it. Deal?" >no The mechant says, "Well, whatever. Have a nice day." >show wheelbarrow to merchant The merchant gives it a quick once-over with her expertly trained eyeballs. The merchant says, "Say, this wheelbarrow is as ancient as Methuselah. I'll give you $60 for it. Deal?" >yes The merchant pulls the wheelbarrow over to one side of the shop and says, "All righty. Here you are. Thank you." >i You are carrying: a package a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod some money (95 dollars) >show all to merchant package: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." frisbee: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." rare book: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." garage door opener: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." #2 pencil: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." tourist map: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." divining rod: The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." some money (95 dollars): The merchant says, "I'm not interested in that." >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. You see an old pillowcase, a crowbar, a can of WD-40, a can-opener, a biology book, the time machine manual, and a screwdriver here. The old pillowcase seems to contain a shovel, a machete, a blue pencil, a desk lamp, a tire, a newspaper, a bottle of cheap liquor, a Herring detector, a car key, a paper napkin, a monkey wrench, a perfect blue crystal, and a library book. >get all old pillowcase: Taken. crowbar: You've already got your hands full. can of WD-40: Taken. can-opener: You've already got your hands full. biology book: You've already got your hands full. time machine manual: You've already got your hands full. screwdriver: You've already got your hands full. >put all in package package: You can't put the package in itself! frisbee: Done. rare book: Done. garage door opener: Done. #2 pencil: Done. tourist map: Done. divining rod: Done. some money (95 dollars): Done. old pillowcase: Done. can of WD-40: Done. >get all crowbar: Taken. can-opener: Taken. biology book: Taken. time machine manual: Taken. screwdriver: Taken. >put all in pillowcase package: You can't put the package in the old pillowcase, because the old pillowcase is already in the package. crowbar: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. can-opener: Done. biology book: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. time machine manual: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. screwdriver: You can't fit that in the old pillowcase. >i You are carrying: a package a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod some money (95 dollars) an old pillowcase a shovel a machete a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a Herring detector a car key a paper napkin a monkey wrench a perfect blue crystal a library book a can-opener a can of WD-40 a crowbar a biology book the time machine manual a screwdriver >get money Taken. >w In the bank The bank interior is polished and impeccable. A desk to the south says "New Accounts." A teller window to the north is labeled "Deposits and Withdrawals." A hallway leads west into the bank's back offices. The exit is east. >s New accounts The new accounts area is a clean little area in the corner of the bank. The lobby is back to the north. Laura, a bank employee, is sitting at the new accounts desk. >talk to laura Laura smiles and says, "Good morning. How can I help you?" [To engage in conversation with characters in this story, use the verbs ASK and TELL. ASK [Laura] ABOUT [subject] will prompt her to give you any opinion or information they have about the subject. TELL [Laura] ABOUT [subject] will give herthe chance to react to any information that you might have about the subject that they may not know. If you don't have any special information about the subject, you will get the character's opinion about the topic as if you had ASKed a question. This message will appear only once. ] >ask laura about accounts Laura says, "I'm afraid you'll have to ask someone else." >ask laura about account Laura asks, "Yes, would you care to open a new account?" >yes Laura says, "Okay. We require a minimum deposit of $100 in order to open your account. Is that all right?" >yes "Laura frowns. "I'm sorry, but can't help you if you don't have the money to open a new account," she says. >show money to laura Laura says, "That's not quite enough to open an account, I'm afraid." >l New accounts The new accounts area is a clean little area in the corner of the bank. The lobby is back to the north. Laura, a bank employee, is sitting at the new accounts desk. >e There is nowhere to go in that direction. >n In the bank The bank interior is polished and impeccable. A desk to the south says "New Accounts." A teller window to the north is labeled "Deposits and Withdrawals." A hallway leads west into the bank's back offices. The exit is east. >e In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. >s Oakwood drive This pleasant road wanders peacefully through the lush tree growths native to the area. In the intervening years, they'll straighten the road and widen it, cutting down dozens of these thirty- to eighty-year-old live oaks. The road leads north into the old shopping village, and a path winds back into the forest to the southwest. >sw Sloping wood The ground slopes down here, eroded by the nearby stream. Grasses heavy with fresh dew and spring-saturated soil give the area a soft, spongy feel beneath your feet. The stream leads back southwest, and far ahead through the trees to the northeast, you can see a road of some kind. You see a soft spot and a little mound of dirt here. >ne Oakwood drive This pleasant road wanders peacefully through the lush tree growths native to the area. In the intervening years, they'll straighten the road and widen it, cutting down dozens of these thirty- to eighty-year-old live oaks. The road leads north into the old shopping village, and a path winds back into the forest to the southwest. >x oaks The aging live oaks rise to thirty or forty feet in height at their bushiest. >u There is nowhere to go in that direction. >n In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. >e Antique store Stocked full of knickknacks and ancient collectibles, this shop is pervaded by a rich, musty odor. Taking a look around, you are somewhat ashamed to admit that you really can't tell one item from another. None of it looks any more valuable or rare than the collection you keep heaped in your garage. The only exit is west into the village. You see a lightning rod and a wheelbarrow here. The merchant is here. >buy rod divining rod: That isn't something you can buy. >buy lightning The merchant says, "$25 for it. Deal?" >yes The merchant says, "All righty. Here you are. Thank you." >w In the village The little shopping village looks a lot different than you're used to seeing it. The sandwich shop is there, to the north, but it doesn't look like it's open for business yet. To the west is the bank, which seems like it's always been here and always will. To the east is an antique store, where the public library will be. The road leading back is south. >s Oakwood drive This pleasant road wanders peacefully through the lush tree growths native to the area. In the intervening years, they'll straighten the road and widen it, cutting down dozens of these thirty- to eighty-year-old live oaks. The road leads north into the old shopping village, and a path winds back into the forest to the southwest. >s There is nowhere to go in that direction. >sw Sloping wood The ground slopes down here, eroded by the nearby stream. Grasses heavy with fresh dew and spring-saturated soil give the area a soft, spongy feel beneath your feet. The stream leads back southwest, and far ahead through the trees to the northeast, you can see a road of some kind. You see a soft spot and a little mound of dirt here. >sw Path in the woods A natural path made by the stream winds through a natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way, and the stream does an abrupt curve around it. The stream runs from the northeast to the south, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. You see five jugs of miracle-grow here. >sw You push your way into the clearing, opening your usual path once again. Forest The woods surround you on all sides, although there is enough space around you to consider it a clearing of sorts. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can hear the soft gurgling of a stream nearby, but the foliage is so rich and dense that the sound of it is dispersed. You aren't sure which from which direction it originates. You can see your usual path through the grove of trees to the northeast. You see a time machine here. The divining rod vibrates, pulling to the northeast. >drop money Dropped. >enter machine Okay, you're now standing on the time machine platform. >set dial to 4 Okay, it's now turned to 4. >push button You push the big red button. Click! The time machine vibrates and heats up like a toaster oven. A bright blue light envelops you. The world around you spins into a wild vortex that suddenly vanishes, leaving you to find yourself in a ... Clearing The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can see a construction site through the woods to the northeast. You see a time machine here. >ne (first getting off the platform) Okay, you're no longer on the time machine platform. Woods The smell of freshly-sawed wood wafts through this natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way. A construction site is to the northeast, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >ne South of house You are standing on what will be the south side of your house. The house is currently under construction. The wooden frame has gone up, but apart from that, there's not much to see. The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. A little bare path made by you just now leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around the house to the northwest and northeast. To the east is a dirt road leading to town. You see a sapling here. >nw Behind house You are standing in what will be the back of your house. If you thought it was boring to look at before, you couldn't possibly be less enthusiastic about seeing it now. The wooden frame has gone up, but that is all there is to see. However, there is something new to see, a temporary workshed built by the construction company. The shed sits to the north. You can walk around the house to the northeast and southeast. >ne North of house You are standing on what will be the north side of your house. The house is currently under construction. The wooden frame has gone up, and the driveway is currently being poured, but apart from that, there's not much to see. A bunch of workers are here, having a lunch break. A temporary workshed is to the west, and you can walk around the house to the southeast and southwest. >u There is nowhere to go in that direction. >undo (Undoing one command) North of house You are standing on what will be the north side of your house. The house is currently under construction. The wooden frame has gone up, and the driveway is currently being poured, but apart from that, there's not much to see. A bunch of workers are here, having a lunch break. A temporary workshed is to the west, and you can walk around the house to the southeast and southwest. >undo (Undoing one command) Behind house You are standing in what will be the back of your house. If you thought it was boring to look at before, you couldn't possibly be less enthusiastic about seeing it now. The wooden frame has gone up, but that is all there is to see. However, there is something new to see, a temporary workshed built by the construction company. The shed sits to the north. You can walk around the house to the northeast and southeast. >undo (Undoing one command) South of house You are standing on what will be the south side of your house. The house is currently under construction. The wooden frame has gone up, but apart from that, there's not much to see. The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. A little bare path made by you just now leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around the house to the northwest and northeast. To the east is a dirt road leading to town. You see a sapling here. >undo (Undoing one command) Woods The smell of freshly-sawed wood wafts through this natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way. A construction site is to the northeast, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >undo (Undoing one command) Clearing (on the time machine platform) The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can see a construction site through the woods to the northeast. You see a time machine here. >undo (Undoing one command) Forest (on the time machine platform) The woods surround you on all sides, although there is enough space around you to consider it a clearing of sorts. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can hear the soft gurgling of a stream nearby, but the foliage is so rich and dense that the sound of it is dispersed. You aren't sure which from which direction it originates. You can see your usual path through the grove of trees to the northeast. You see a time machine and some money (70 dollars) here. >set dial to 5 Okay, it's now turned to 5. >push button You push the big red button. Click! The time machine vibrates and heats up like a toaster oven. A blinding purple light envelops you. The world around you spins into a wild vortex that suddenly vanishes, leaving you to find yourself in a ... Clearing The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Moonlight streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. Your footpath leaves the clearing to the northeast, heading back to the house. You see a time machine here. >ne (first getting off the platform) Okay, you're no longer on the time machine platform. Path in the woods This little spot is one of your favorite places to sit and think. A well-trod path winds through a natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way, so the path does an abrupt curve around it. The path leads northeast to your house, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >ne South of house The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. There is a tiny window high in the wall, about 30 feet up. There is a rope dangling from the window. A little path made by you on your many daily walks leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around your house to the northwest and northeast. A secret door is open to the north. A beautiful, leafy tree is growing here next to the house, right where you always thought it should. >nw Behind house The back of your house is pretty non-descript, except for some really nice trees that make up for the lack of landscaping in the front. The spout of your drainpipe comes down here from the roof. A gravel path extends northeast and southeast. >ne North of house The north side of your house is dominated by your garage door. The garage door is open. A scaled stone wall runs up the side of the house. The driveway extends east, and a small path leads southeast to the front of the house and southwest to the back. >u You climb gingerly up the stone wall. North roof This is the north end of the roof. Beautiful, brown metal shingle tiles, the ultimate in roof shingling -- durable, weatherproof, and fancy! -- are laid out in row after glistening row. Someone obviously took the time and care to do this roof job right. A gutter trap, clogged with leaves, runs along the length of the west side of the house. The roof itself continues south. The stone wall, which turns out to be the outside of your chimney, leads back down. >s South roof The shingles are in even better shape on this end of the house. The ground is a long way down from the peak here, at least 30 feet. The gutter trap is to the west and continues up to the north end of the house. You can see the top opening of the drainpipe in the clogged leaves. The only exit is north. >attach rod to roof There's no obvious way to do that. >x rod Superstition has it divining rods can find water. To you, it looks like an ordinary stick, with a kind of forked end. >attach lightning to roof The proper place to attach the lightning rod would be to the peak of the south roof, not the lightning rod. >attach lightning to peak You are unequipped to properly attach the lightning rod to the roof. It requires a set of the proper tools and equipment, such as a baseplate, safety braces, bolts, a 40-foot grounding wire, and some old-fashioned know-how, none of which are in your possession. >n North roof This is the north end of the roof. Beautiful, brown metal shingle tiles, the ultimate in roof shingling -- durable, weatherproof, and fancy! -- are laid out in row after glistening row. Someone obviously took the time and care to do this roof job right. A gutter trap, clogged with leaves, runs along the length of the west side of the house. The roof itself continues south. The stone wall, which turns out to be the outside of your chimney, leads back down. >n You will fall off the roof if you go in that direction. >d You climb gingerly down the stone wall. North of house The north side of your house is dominated by your garage door. The garage door is open. A scaled stone wall runs up the side of the house. The driveway extends east, and a small path leads southeast to the front of the house and southwest to the back. >sw Behind house The back of your house is pretty non-descript, except for some really nice trees that make up for the lack of landscaping in the front. The spout of your drainpipe comes down here from the roof. A gravel path extends northeast and southeast. >se South of house The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. There is a tiny window high in the wall, about 30 feet up. There is a rope dangling from the window. A little path made by you on your many daily walks leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around your house to the northwest and northeast. A secret door is open to the north. A beautiful, leafy tree is growing here next to the house, right where you always thought it should. >sw Path in the woods This little spot is one of your favorite places to sit and think. A well-trod path winds through a natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way, so the path does an abrupt curve around it. The path leads northeast to your house, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >sw Clearing The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Moonlight streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. Your footpath leaves the clearing to the northeast, heading back to the house. You see a time machine here. >enter machine Okay, you're now standing on the time machine platform. >set dial to 2 Okay, it's now turned to 2. >push button You push the big red button. Click! The time machine vibrates and heats up like a toaster oven. A dull orange light envelops you. The world around you spins into a wild vortex that suddenly vanishes, leaving you to find yourself in a ... Clearing The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can see a construction site through the woods to the northeast. You see a time machine here. >ne (first getting off the platform) Okay, you're no longer on the time machine platform. Woods The smell of freshly-sawed wood wafts through this natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way. A construction site is to the northeast, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >ne South of house You are standing on what will be the south side of your house. The house is currently under construction. The wooden frame has gone up, but apart from that, there's not much to see. The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. A little bare path made by you just now leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around the house to the northwest and northeast. To the east is a dirt road leading to town. You see a sapling here. >n Inside house You finally step into your house. Not much of a victory, given the circumstances. Just a lot of planks and rafters. A temporary work ladder is nailed into the structure, and leads up to the second floor. >u Second floor The description 'second floor' is misleading, because the floor up here isn't actually finished, so watch your step. From up here you see a nice view of the town square down the road. There is a fancy blueprint of the house sitting on a temporary workdesk. The only exit is down. Sitting on the workdesk is a blueprint. The architect is here. >give rod to architect He's too busy to notice your offer. >give lightning to architect He says, "Hmmm. You really have a good memory for details. Normally, the installation of a lightning rod is more your personal business as the owner of the house than it is mine." He pauses and rubs his eyes blearily. "However, I suppose that since you're handing me a lightning rod, I will tell the men to attach it after they finish the roofing. It is a safety concern, especially when that tree at the south of the house grows up. If it gets big enough, it'll be its own lightning rod, after all." He takes the lightning rod from you and tosses it down to a passing worker below, hollering a few instructions. Then he settles into his chair and goes back to work. [ Your score just went up by 4 points. ] >d Inside house You finally step into your house. Not much of a victory, given the circumstances. Just a lot of planks and rafters. A temporary work ladder is nailed into the structure, and leads up to the second floor. >s South of house You are standing on what will be the south side of your house. The house is currently under construction. The wooden frame has gone up, but apart from that, there's not much to see. The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. A little bare path made by you just now leads southwest into the woods. You can walk around the house to the northwest and northeast. To the east is a dirt road leading to town. You see a sapling here. >sw Woods The smell of freshly-sawed wood wafts through this natural grove of cedar and live oak trees. A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way. A construction site is to the northeast, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >sw Clearing The woods part in a marvelous natural clearing here. Light streams prettily through the canopy of leaves above. The ground is hard and flat and clean. You can see a construction site through the woods to the northeast. You see a time machine here. >enter machine Okay, you're now standing on the time machine platform. >set dial to 5 Okay, it's now turned to 5. >push button You push the big red button. Click! The time machine vibrates and heats up like a toaster oven. A blinding purple light envelops you. The world around you spins into a wild vortex that suddenly vanishes, leaving you to find yourself in a ... Clearing The clearing here is desolate, giving the distinct impression that all natural life has left this area. The ground is hard and overgrown by weedy grass. There are no trees any more, but there are some stumps where once they stood. Your old footpath is nowhere to be seen. You do see your house to the northeast, but it too looks abandoned. You see a time machine here. >ne (first getting off the platform) Okay, you're no longer on the time machine platform. At the rock A large rock juts up out of the ground right in your way, a familiar landmark in an otherwise unfamiliar landscape. Once nestled along a wooded path, it now is the sole feature of an eerily empty landscape, distorting your perceptions of scale and distance. The broken remains of dark glass bottles lie around the base. To the northeast is your house, and a clearing is visible to the southwest. >ne South of house The house is older and sagging, with long ruts where splinters have broken off, but it otherwise looks the way you remember it. The ground slopes down slightly here, and the wall of the house looms an extra story high because of it. The tiny window high in the wall has been crudely boarded shut. A large and sagging tree grows here, leaning its bulky canopy toward the house. A large branch has snapped from the middle of its trunk and lies in the mud. To the southwest is the old rock and, farther, the clearing. You can walk around your house to the northwest and northeast. A secret door is open to the north. >x branch It has snapped off from the tree and lies dead on the ground. >get it It is too large and heavy to move. >n Secret passage The secret passage is a narrow hallway of sorts, only about twelve feet long and three and a half feet wide. The walls are bare plaster and sheet rock. Various springs and tumblers are connected together in an elegant set of mechanisms to open the doors. A small light bulb hangs from the ceiling, but it was left on and burned out long ago. The only light in the passage is from the open door. The short hallway dead-ends at a crudely-carved staircase leading down. There is another door to the west, and you can go out the way you came in. >w Master bedroom This is your bedroom, the one you've been longing all night to get back to. Unfortunately, there is no place to sleep here, even if you could close your eyes to the general nightmare that your house has become. The bed is missing. The large dresser that used to stand in the southeast corner of the room has been toppled over, and its spilled contents have been thoroughly looted, leaving nothing behind but some soiled linens. Ratty curtains are open to the west side of the house, letting some amount of somber, muted light in. The dimensions of the room look slightly smaller than you remember. Perhaps it is a trick of the eyes due to the unsettling damage. The foyer is north through the hallway, and the master bathroom is to the east. A secret door is open to the southeast. >n Downstairs hallway The hallway is dark and feels cramped due to the collected refuse that has built up along the wall. Graffiti covers every flat surface, as usual. There is no sign of the photographs that used to hang here. The foyer is north, and a doorway into the living room is west. The master bedroom is to the south. A small door leads east into a half bathroom. >n Foyer The entryway to your home has been used as a dumping ground for trash and broken bottles. The tiled floor has been scuffed and scarred, and swirled with what looks suspiciously like tire treads. Open doorways lead to various areas of the house. A broken staircase leads up to the second floor. The front door is east. A hallway leads south, and the dining room is through a doorway to the west. >u You ascend the staircase. Upstairs hallway You are in the upstairs hallway, but it has been desecrated nearly beyond recognition. The once pristine white carpeting has been stained and burned, and a section of it has been torn up, revealing the shredded matting underneath. The walls have been spraypainted with unreadable graffiti, shocking swirls of black and silver paint. A fist sized hole has been smashed into the east wall, and the light fixture in the ceiling has been torn out, leaving gangly dangling wires and a darkness that oppresses. The hatch ladder leads back up into the attic. A rickety staircase leads down to the bottom floor. To the east is the upstairs bathroom, and a bedroom is to the south. A smaller bedroom is north. >s Upstairs bedroom The larger of the two upstairs bedrooms has been looted, but the mattress and bedframe remain. The graffiti on the walls is sadistic and nasty. A pile of random debris clogs the northern corner of the room. The hallway is to the north. >n Upstairs hallway You are in the upstairs hallway, but it has been desecrated nearly beyond recognition. The once pristine white carpeting has been stained and burned, and a section of it has been torn up, revealing the shredded matting underneath. The walls have been spraypainted with unreadable graffiti, shocking swirls of black and silver paint. A fist sized hole has been smashed into the east wall, and the light fixture in the ceiling has been torn out, leaving gangly dangling wires and a darkness that oppresses. The hatch ladder leads back up into the attic. A rickety staircase leads down to the bottom floor. To the east is the upstairs bathroom, and a bedroom is to the south. A smaller bedroom is north. >u You climb the ladder into the attic. Attic This is a little attic space, barely tall enough for you to stand in. Thick boards run in parallel lines along the floor, with pink insulation laid out in between. A thick brass pipe passes up from the floor next to the window and continues up through the ceiling. A tiny window to the south has been boarded up. A ladder attached to a hatch leads down into the darkened house below. >full In a total of 888 turns, you have achieved a score of 108 points out of a possible 151, which means you are an experienced adventurer. You have earned the following: 5 points for finding the armrest compartment 4 points for climbing onto the roof the first time 10 points for getting to the end of the junk in the garage 5 points for stepping onto the platform the first time 5 points for arriving in the far past the first time 5 points for arriving in the past the first time 5 points for arriving in the future the first time 4 points for giving the bad shingle to the architect 3 points for cleaning out the drainpipe 4 points for making it through the maze to the stream 6 points for planting the acorn in the hole 2 points for fixing the wheel with the screwdriver 3 points for pouring a second jug of miracle-gro 5 points for pouring a fifth jug of miracle-gro 10 points for leaping to the attic 5 points for giving a piping hot sandwich to the architect 5 points for entering the secret passage the first time 4 points for installing the lightning rod 18 points for finding various items >x pipe It looks like it burst open and broke. Sections are missing from the middle, and the ends are sharp jags of splayed metal. >search it You find nothing of interest. >l Attic This is a little attic space, barely tall enough for you to stand in. Thick boards run in parallel lines along the floor, with pink insulation laid out in between. A thick brass pipe passes up from the floor next to the window and continues up through the ceiling. A tiny window to the south has been boarded up. A ladder attached to a hatch leads down into the darkened house below. >x insulation I don't see any insulation here. >[Ah, a misplaced object.] I don't understand the punctuation "[". >d You descend the hatch ladder. Upstairs hallway You are in the upstairs hallway, but it has been desecrated nearly beyond recognition. The once pristine white carpeting has been stained and burned, and a section of it has been torn up, revealing the shredded matting underneath. The walls have been spraypainted with unreadable graffiti, shocking swirls of black and silver paint. A fist sized hole has been smashed into the east wall, and the light fixture in the ceiling has been torn out, leaving gangly dangling wires and a darkness that oppresses. The hatch ladder leads back up into the attic. A rickety staircase leads down to the bottom floor. To the east is the upstairs bathroom, and a bedroom is to the south. A smaller bedroom is north. >d You descend the staircase. Foyer The entryway to your home has been used as a dumping ground for trash and broken bottles. The tiled floor has been scuffed and scarred, and swirled with what looks suspiciously like tire treads. Open doorways lead to various areas of the house. A broken staircase leads up to the second floor. The front door is east. A hallway leads south, and the dining room is through a doorway to the west. >n Kitchen The kitchen has been looted and trashed, as if anger had been vented upon it once its supplies ran out. Every cabinet and drawer has been opened, and some of the drawers are heaped in a broken pile on the floor. The refrigerator is wide open and full of disgusting green stains and patterns of blackening mold. The stove has been dented and shows evidence of muddy footprints having stood on top of it and kicked it. The small kitchen table has been overturned in the western corner of the room. Windows look out west and east to the back and front yards. The dining room is west, and the foyer is to the south. A back door leads north into the garage. >n In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >ask fred about lightning Fred mutters, "I don't know nothin' about that. Go away." >ask fred about drinking Fred mutters, "I don't know nothin' about that. Go away." >ask fred about alcohol Fred mutters, "I don't know nothin' about that. Go away." >show liquor to fred Fred isn't impressed. >give it to him Fred glares at you with sunken, bloodshot eyes. "I knew it! Stay out of my stuff, you thief!" He grabs the bottle from you and takes a long suck at it. "And stay outta my house!" Emitting a smelly belch, he shambles off, out the back door into the garage. >undo (Undoing one command) In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >give it to him Fred glares at you with sunken, bloodshot eyes. "I knew it! Stay out of my stuff, you thief!" He grabs the bottle from you and takes a long suck at it. "And stay outta my house!" Emitting a smelly belch, he shambles off, out the back door into the garage. >[into the garage?] I don't understand the punctuation "[". >x fred Which fred do you mean, the Fred, or Fred? >either Fred: Fred is no longer here. >x fred Which fred do you mean, the Fred, or Fred? >both Fred: Fred is no longer here. Fred: Fred looks haggard and unruly. His always-friendly smile is gone, replaced by a largely toothless sneer. His got a pudgy frame now has a gigantic, round gut, and his once dark eyebrows are a twizzled grey. He hasn't shaved in a long time, and the twinkle behind his eyes has gone dark. >[Woo!] I don't understand the punctuation "[". >undo (Undoing one command) In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >undo (Undoing one command) In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >undo (Undoing one command) In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >undo (Undoing one command) In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >undo (Undoing one command) In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >i You are carrying: a package a frisbee a rare book a garage door opener a #2 pencil a tourist map a divining rod an old pillowcase a shovel a machete a blue pencil a desk lamp a tire a newspaper a bottle of cheap liquor a Herring detector a car key a paper napkin a monkey wrench a perfect blue crystal a library book a can-opener a can of WD-40 a crowbar a biology book the time machine manual a screwdriver >use herring on liquor Not a red herring. >use herring on tire Not a red herring. >x tire It's a black rubber tire, suitable for swinging. >n North of house The north side of your house is dominated by your garage door, just the way you remember it. It looks somewhat weathered, as if no one had tended to it for ten years, but is otherwise normal. The garage door is open. The driveway extends east, and a small path leads southeast to the front of the house and southwest to the back. A scaled stone wall runs up the side of the house. >u You climb gingerly up the stone wall. North roof This is the north end of the roof. The shingles are in good shape, even after twenty years of weather. Someone obviously took the time and care to do this roof job right. A gutter trap, clogged with leaves, runs along the length of the west side of the house. The roof itself continues south. The stone wall, which turns out to be the outside of your chimney, leads back down. >s South roof The shingles are in good shape, even after twenty years of weather. The ground is a long way down from here, at least 30 feet. The gutter trap is to the west and continues up to the north end of the house. The only exit is north. >[Hey, I should be able to see the lightning rod.] I don't understand the punctuation "[". >x lighting The sky is overcast, a solid sheet of iron gray and pallid white. The moon is a silver sliver barely visible through the clouds near the horizon. The sun is a white circle nearing the opposite horizon. >x lighting rod I don't see any lighting rod here. >n North roof This is the north end of the roof. The shingles are in good shape, even after twenty years of weather. Someone obviously took the time and care to do this roof job right. A gutter trap, clogged with leaves, runs along the length of the west side of the house. The roof itself continues south. The stone wall, which turns out to be the outside of your chimney, leads back down. >d You climb gingerly down the stone wall. North of house The north side of your house is dominated by your garage door, just the way you remember it. It looks somewhat weathered, as if no one had tended to it for ten years, but is otherwise normal. The garage door is open. The driveway extends east, and a small path leads southeast to the front of the house and southwest to the back. A scaled stone wall runs up the side of the house. >e Driveway Your driveway looks much the same, a thankful sight after the ruin your house has become. The road to town still lies to the east. Your front door is to the southwest. >e Sidewalk After the shocking sight of your house, this once-familiar sidewalk is a calming surprise. Someone must have recently repoured the walk, as it is smooth and free of flaws. The sidewalk wanders east-west alongside the road from your house into the nearby strip mall. You see a mailbox here. >x mailbox The mailbox is closed. >open it Opened. >look in it There's nothing in the mailbox. >e Strip mall The walk to town is much shorter, because progress seems to have brought the town to you. Where there used to be some nice trees and bushes is a concrete strip-mall. The old village square with the library, bank, and sandwich shop seems to have been mowed down to make way for this thing. In fact, a sign here makes you think even this strip mall isn't long for this world. Even the bank is gone, replaced by an impersonal automated teller machine (ATM). In the strip mall you see a number of vacant offices. The only shop that seems to be open for business is an alabaster little store labelled "Locksmith," which is directly to the north. The sidewalk leads back west. >x atm The automated teller machine has a slot, a display, and a numeric keypad. >x sign I don't see any sign here. >['a sign here makes you think... I don't understand the punctuation "[". >x offices The strip mall is full of small offices that are all alike, empty and unused. >n Locksmith shop A sign inside says, "Going out of business - Free stuff." Most everything has been taken already. The only exit is south. You see a motorized grinder here. The motorized grinder seems to contain a blank. >x grinder The device is pretty simple: you put a master key and a blank into the grinder, turn it on, and the lathe cuts the blank into a duplicate. A black, heavy-duty electrical cord with a plug at the end trails out the back. The thick black cord is plugged into the socket. In the motorized grinder you see a blank. >use herring on grinder Not a red herring. >s Strip mall The walk to town is much shorter, because progress seems to have brought the town to you. Where there used to be some nice trees and bushes is a concrete strip-mall. The old village square with the library, bank, and sandwich shop seems to have been mowed down to make way for this thing. In fact, a sign here makes you think even this strip mall isn't long for this world. Even the bank is gone, replaced by an impersonal ATM. In the strip mall you see a number of vacant offices. The only shop that seems to be open for business is an alabaster little store labelled "Locksmith," which is directly to the north. The sidewalk leads back west. >w Sidewalk After the shocking sight of your house, this once-familiar sidewalk is a calming surprise. Someone must have recently repoured the walk, as it is smooth and free of flaws. The sidewalk wanders east-west alongside the road from your house into the nearby strip mall. You see a mailbox here. >w Driveway Your driveway looks much the same, a thankful sight after the ruin your house has become. The road to town still lies to the east. Your front door is to the southwest. >w North of house The north side of your house is dominated by your garage door, just the way you remember it. It looks somewhat weathered, as if no one had tended to it for ten years, but is otherwise normal. The garage door is open. The driveway extends east, and a small path leads southeast to the front of the house and southwest to the back. A scaled stone wall runs up the side of the house. >s In the garage This room is a total mess, in a totally new and horrible way than the total mess you were used to. A soiled mattress is lumped into one corner, surrounded by filth and discarded bottles. There's a garage door button on the wall. A door leads south into the kitchen. The garage door to the north is open. You see a wall opener button here. Fred is here, sitting on a soiled mattress. >ask fred about key Fred mutters, "I don't know nothin' about that. Go away." >e There is nowhere to go in that direction. >n North of house The north side of your house is dominated by your garage door, just the way you remember it. It looks somewhat weathered, as if no one had tended to it for ten years, but is otherwise normal. The garage door is open. The driveway extends east, and a small path leads southeast to the front of the house and southwest to the back. A scaled stone wall runs up the side of the house. >e Driveway Your driveway looks much the same, a thankful sight after the ruin your house has become. The road to town still lies to the east. Your front door is to the southwest. >s There is nowhere to go in that direction. >sw Front of house This is the front of your house. It looks somewhat weathered, as if no one had tended to it for ten years, but is otherwise normal. Sopping mounds of rotting leaves that have collected along the edges and corners indicate years of neglect. A pool of dirty yellow water trickles down from the driveway and collects, full of black silt, near the front door. The driveway is to the northeast, and a clearing is visible far to the southwest. The front door is to the west. >x rocks I don't see any rocks here. >x stone I don't see any stone here. >x leaves Sopping mounds of rotting leaves have collected along the edges and corners of your house, indicating years of neglect. >search leaves You find nothing of interest. >x silt I see nothing special about the black silt. >search it You find nothing of interest. >score In a total of 934 turns, you have achieved a score of 108 points out of a possible 151, which means you are an experienced adventurer. >about First Things First was the first game I started writing in TADS, way back in 1996. My brother had just purchased TADS, then available only as shareware. We both sat down to write a quick game to test it out. A couple of days later, he had finished his one-room demo. I had already built about twenty rooms and had invented the basic plot and one or two puzzles. A year later, I was still working on it. Now, five years later, it's finally ready for release. Interactive Fiction has evolved since I first started. However it seems fitting, given the storyline, that this adventure should present intact both my naive 1996-era and my matured 2000-era imaginings, as well as the progessive steps in between. This game is free, but if you would like to make a shareware donation in support of it, please visit http://jrwdigitalmedia.com/ftf/ and use one of the PayPal links to do so. And feel free to drop me an email at ftf@jrwdigitalmedia.com. Thank you for playing First Things First. I hope you enjoy it. >save Saved. >quit In a total of 934 turns, you have achieved a score of 108 points out of a possible 151, which means you are an experienced adventurer. Do you really want to quit? (YES or NO) > y Thank you for playing First Things First.