system
You are the dungeon master of a text adventure game. The game should involve the following genres and tags:
Surreal, cover art,feelies,highly branching,parser,TADS,TADS 2,TADS2 source available,Xyzzy Awards 1998
gpt
FrobTADS 1.2.3 - A text-only TADS 2.5.17 Interpreter.

Maintained by Nikos Chantziaras <realnc@gmail.com>.

options:
-ctab file    use character mapping table file
-ctab-        do not use any character mapping file
-i file       read commands from file
-o file       write commands to file
-l file       log all output to file
-m size       maximum cache size (in bytes)
-mh size      heap size (default 65535 bytes)
-ms size      stack size (default 512 elements)
-r savefile   restore saved game position from savefile
-s level      set I/O safety level (-s? for help)

-ts size      maximum swapfile size (default: unlimited)
-t+           enable swapping (disabled by default)
-u size       set undo to size (0 to disable; default 60000)

toggle options: add + to enable, - to disable, nothing to toggle cheaptads quit with exit status: 0
human
%
gpt
Rain and mud.

Those are your first solid memories. Rain pouring down on your head, filling your eyes. Mud beneath your feet, filling your shoes. Other details slowly filter in. The trees surrounding you. The leaden skies above. The chill wind cutting through your clothes with ease.

Shelter would be a good beginning.

Losing Your Grip, a Journey in Five Fits

For more information, type "about".

Fit the First: Replevin

"Rain rain on my face/It hasn't stopped raining for days"
-- Jars of Clay

shelter, allowing the stinging rain to pelt you. A grey mist conceals everything past four meters.
human
About yourself
gpt
What you can see of yourself is familiar.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You are empty-handed.
human
You look at trees
gpt
Mostly pine. Their protection is scant comfort in the rain and the wind.
human
Go east
gpt
You strike off in that direction, but soon become disoriented by the rain.

Once the field might have been covered in grass. Now the grass is
but a memory. Mud covers the ground in its place, fed by the constant rain.
Buried almost to its chin in the mud is a human head.

The head's eyes suddenly open, fixing you in place. "Oh, my," he says. "This is a surprise. I certainly never expected to see you in person!"
human
You examine the head
gpt
Other than being buried in mud to his chin, the head is reassuringly normal. His hair and mustache are a matted brown, perhaps from genetics, perhaps from mud. Rivulets of water run down his creased face.

"Come to gloat?" the man says. "Why not? After all, you put me here."
human
You ask head about the head
gpt
"What's to say?" he asks. "I've led a dull life, and now I'm about to have a dull end."

"That's right, try to deny it. If it weren't for you, I'd still be safe." His eyes dart to the northeast for a second, then return to you.
human
You dig the mud
gpt
You kneel and begin scooping mud from around the head with both hands. As fast as you remove the mud, more mud and water return. "Forget it," the man says gruffly. "It's too late now." He seems strangely touched by your attempt, however.

The man laughs softly. "Not long now." He grins sarcastically. "An interesting end, don't you think? Jiminy Cricket never had such an exit scene."
human
You kick the head
gpt
The head's eyes widen as you draw your foot back. "Terry, no, please, oh God you can't--" His cries are cut short as your foot slams into him. With the sound of eggshells cracking, the head fragments into countless pieces which are quickly lost in the mud.
human
Xyzzy
gpt
There is a puff of smoke. Something lands in your hands.

Resignation and more than a little bitterness fill the man's face. "Go on," he says. "You've work to do, pieces to recover." He pauses, then yells, "Go on, I said!" Then, muttered, "You've ignored me too long to do anything about it now."
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a fool.
human
You examine fool
gpt
A tiny doll tricked out in a harlequin's outfit. When you turn it over in your hands, you see that its back is missing, leaving the fool hollow. There is a matching hole where its larynx should be.
human
You take the head
gpt
You grab hold of his ears, but before you can pull, the head says, "It's no good now. I'm done for." His eyes narrow at you. "The least you can do is feel guilty."
human
You ask the head about himself
gpt
"What's to say?" he asks. "I've led a dull life, and now I'm about to have a dull end."
human
You ask the head about yourself
gpt
The man laughs. "Funny, I've spent my life judging you, and now I can't think of a thing to say about you."
human
You ask the head about the mud
gpt
He says, "If only the rain would stop..."
human
Dig
gpt
What do you want to dig in?
human
You dig the mud
gpt
You kneel and begin scooping mud from around the head with both hands. As fast as you remove the mud, more mud and water return. "Forget it," the man says gruffly. "It's too late now." He seems strangely touched by your attempt, however.
human
You search head
gpt
How rude!
human
Kiss head
gpt
The mud coating him makes you think twice.
human
Clean head
gpt
No matter how much you wipe, the man's face is still begrimed. He grimaces. "Thanks," he says.
human
You go to the north-east
gpt
"Good luck," the man whispers as you walk away. The hiss of the rain covers anything else he might have said.

Looming suddenly out of the gloom is a large marble building. Its columns jut skyward, raked by the unending rain. To the north lies its entrance.
human
You examine the building
gpt
The building's white marble is streaked with grime, the rain having no visible effect. Its entrance lies open to the north.
human
You go to the north
gpt
As you walk through the door of the building the sound of the rain stops, as if suddenly turned off.

The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
human
Go north
gpt
Like the foyer, the hallway is marble. Its two-story height
combined with its thinness inspires unease. A walkway runs above you, clinging to the east and west walls. Below the east walkway is a doorway.
human
Go north
gpt
The hallway ends abruptly in a pair of large oak doors. Their intricate carving is barely visible in the leaden light from the windows above you. The doors are flanked by two sweeping staircases to the northeast and northwest. A doorway to the east is mirrored by a closed door to the west.
human
You go to the north
gpt
Your footsteps echo hollowly in the dimly-lit and cavernous hall. Benches line the floor, their rows skewed slightly to focus on the desk at the north end. A clock is set in the wall in plain view of the desk. The south third of the room is covered by a balcony, reducing the height of the hall from two stories to one. A small door to the east and two large doors to the south stand ajar. To one side of the two doors is a light switch.
human
Go south
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.

A section of the air just above your head shimmers. A small pyramid falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
human
You go south
gpt
You can see little through the glare of sun on snow. The building
to the north is just visible, but everything else is a wash of bright white.

You begin to feel the cold seep into you, chilling you.
human
You go north
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
You see a paper pyramid here.

You now feel recovered from your exposure to the cold.
human
You get the pyramid
gpt
The pyramid begins glowing softly. It unfolds like a flower and a feminine voice issues from it, saying, "Doctor! Doctor! Something's wrong with Terry!" When the light dies down, the pyramid is gone.
human
Go northwest
gpt
Shadows crowd the room, strengthened by the unlit ceiling light
which is canted at a strange angle. A scarred mahogany desk is crammed into one corner of the room, facing the doorway and the clock above it. The room is small enough that the light switch beside the door is within arms reach of the desk.
human
You go to the southeast
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
human
You look at the desk
gpt
The dark wood of the desk only serves to make the office more claustrophobic. Deep gouges run from the front of the desk to the back; close examination shows them to be fingernail-shaped. All of the desk drawers have been removed.
human
You examine the gouges
gpt
Gouges scar the once-pristine surface of the desk.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go southeast.
human
You examine the switch
gpt
The switch is currently off.
human
You look at the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 2:59.
human
You examine the ceiling
gpt
It looms above you.
human
You go to the southeast
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
human
Go north
gpt
Like the foyer, the hallway is marble. Its two-story height
combined with its thinness inspires unease. A walkway runs above you, clinging to the east and west walls. Below the east walkway is a doorway.
human
You examine the walkway
gpt
The walkway rings the hall on every side but the south, casting a shadow on the floor.
human
You examine doors
gpt
small door: The closed door leads west.
large wooden doors: The carved doors are made of oak and are twice your height. They stand slightly ajar, leaving enough room for you to enter.
human
You examine carvings
gpt
You peer closely at the door, but are unable to tell what the carving is of in the dim light.
human
Go east
gpt
Metal shelves fill the hall; most are empty and many have succumbed
to rust. The shelves that aren't empty hold broken shards of glass.
The archive continues to the south, and an exit leads west.
human
You look at the glass
gpt
The glass fragments run the gamut from large shards to fine, gritty powder.
human
You take the glass
gpt
You would most surely cut yourself.
human
You look at the shelves
gpt
The shelves cover the room, as if they had multiplied in the same manner coathangers are reputed to. They are covered in broken shards.
human
You go south
gpt
filling rack after rack of shelves, making it difficult to find a place to stand. The room continues to the north. Above the west exit is a clock; beside the exit is a light switch.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 2:25.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...
human
You look at the boxes
gpt
Cardboard boxes, all taped shut. Each one has been labeled with a black magic marker.
human
You read the boxes
gpt
Your eyes roam over their surfaces, taking in their titles. Many are labeled "Memories" with a range of dates following. A few are labeled "Fragments." You feel an odd sense of disorientation as you stare at them.
human
Open boxes
gpt
The tape prevents you from opening the boxes.
human
You go west
gpt
(Opening the small door)
Utility Room
The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. Rickety stairs lead into the depths of the building. To the east is an open door.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east and down.
human
You look at the tank
gpt
The tank is old and somewhat rusty. An orange wire runs past it.
human
You touch the tank
gpt
The tank is cool.
human
Go downwards
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are a rucksack and five balances.
A man stands bent over the tables, jotting things down in a large notebook.

As your footsteps sound on the stairs, the man turns. He looks you over, one eyebrow quirking in surprise. "Hello," he says. "And here I thought I was the last one still around. I'm Frankie."
human
You ask Frankie about the balance
gpt
"Frankly, I don't know what they were for. One of the unsolved mysteries of this place."
human
You examine the balances
gpt
Sitting silent on the tables, the balances are all tarnished brass and pitted steel.
human
You look at the rucksack
gpt
It is made of heavy denim and looks well-used. The rucksack is open.
human
You get the sack
gpt
I don't know the word "t".

Frankie glances over at you as you pick up the rucksack. "You can have it," he says. "It'll do you more good than it will me."
human
You put all in the sack
gpt
fool: Done.
rucksack: You can't put the rucksack in itself!
human
You examine clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 10:02. Next to the clock is a light switch.
human
You ask Frankie about Frankie
gpt
Frankie grins sardonically. "I'm just an archaeologist, nothing more. My team and I were working on unearthing those," he gestures at the pile of spheres by the wall, "until we got word of the avalanche."
human
You ask Frankie about the team
gpt
"I sent my team away when we heard about the avalanche. I couldn't ask them to put themselves in harm's way."
human
You ask Frankie about the avalanche
gpt
Frankie says, "When we heard about it yesterday, we all started rushing about, hither and yon, trying to finish our separate projects. The power going out didn't help things a bit." He sighs heavily. "I only wish someone could have protected my project."
human
You ask Frankie about the project
gpt
"Why, the spheres," he says.
human
You examine the spheres
gpt
The spheres are smooth and translucent, glowing softly from within. Several are caked with mud and dirt, testimony to their recent location. They have been stacked in a tight-fitting pyramid. You feel a strange sense of deja vu as you gaze into them.
human
You touch the spheres
gpt
You reach your hand towards one of the spheres. As you draw nearer, a spark spits from the sphere, rushes up your arm, and then--

Darkness, then light.

You see yourself, a brief memory of driving your father's car alone for the first time, Joe Walsh on the radio, hands ice-slick with the fear of wrecking, pulse pounding, the thrill of being in control--

Light, then darkness.

You are thirteen, on a camping trip with friends, hiding in the dark, playing a game of flashlight tag, who will be the first to find you, or will you find the others first--

With a horrendous wrenching sensation you pull yourself away from the pile of spheres. You glance at Frankie but, absorbed in his notetaking, he has not noticed your momentary distress.
human
You tell Frankie about the spheres
gpt
Frankie says, "They were my project. Well, mine and some colleagues. They'd been buried near here for years." He gazes at the spheres for a minute, then at you. "Makes you wonder why someone would go to all the trouble to bury them."

One of the spheres teeters, then rolls down the pile. It reaches the bottom and breaks, golden smoke issuing from it. As the shards of the sphere melt into the floor, the smoke begins coalescing, solidifying into a Welsh Corgi puppy who barks twice at you.

Frankie glances at the puppy, then at you, smiling at something.
"Looks like you have a new pet," he says. "I'd say the first order of business is to name him."
human
You name the dog bubbles
gpt
You may name something by using NAME OBJECT "NEWNAME".
human
You ask Frankie about the power
gpt
"We put too many demands on the building, tripped every breaker it had, one by one. Thing is, to restart the system you have to reset the breakers in the order in which they were tripped. Too much bother for us, considering our time limit, and what with the breakers being on the outside of the building and all."

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You ask Frankie about the wheels
gpt
Frankie says, "The wheels control the level of this room. I assume that they were installed to keep the balances...well, balanced."

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You look in the sack
gpt
In the rucksack you see a fool.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go up.
human
You look at the heater
gpt
It is an old-fashioned wood-burning heater, standing a few centimeters above the ground on metal legs. Heat pours from it in waves. Its most noticeable feature isn't: it has no smoke stack.
human
You look at the wheels
gpt
south wheel: The spoked metal wheel has a handle at one point of its circumference.
east wheel: The spoked metal wheel has a handle at one point of its circumference.
human
You examine the drain
gpt
The metal drain is a small circle with a grate about ten centimeters in diameter.
human
You open the grate
gpt
I don't know how to open the metal drain.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Pet Bubbles
gpt
You pet Bubbles, whose tail wags mightily in response.
human
You go north
gpt
Bubbles looks at you quizically, head cocked to one side.
human
You fetch the sphere
gpt
Bubbles looks at you quizically, head cocked to one side.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You take Bubbles
gpt
Bubbles gives you a sidelong look. As your hands close around the dog, it swirls like smoke, solidifying just out of your reach.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Go upwards
gpt
The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. Rickety stairs lead into the depths of the building. To the east is an open door.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The hallway ends abruptly in a pair of large oak doors. Their intricate carving is barely visible in the leaden light from the windows above you. The doors are flanked by two sweeping staircases to the northeast and northwest. A doorway to the east is mirrored by an open door to the west.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go north
gpt
Your footsteps echo hollowly in the dimly-lit and cavernous hall. Benches line the floor, their rows skewed slightly to focus on the desk at the north end. A clock is set in the wall in plain view of the desk. The south third of the room is covered by a balcony, reducing the height of the hall from two stories to one. A small door to the east and two large doors to the south stand ajar. To one side of the two doors is a light switch.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south and east.
human
You look around
gpt
Your footsteps echo hollowly in the dimly-lit and cavernous hall. Benches line the floor, their rows skewed slightly to focus on the desk at the north end. A clock is set in the wall in plain view of the desk. The south third of the room is covered by a balcony, reducing the height of the hall from two stories to one. A small door to the east and two large doors to the south stand ajar. To one side of the two doors is a light switch.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 1:43.
human
You look at benches
gpt
They stand to either side of the hall, lined in rows running from east to west. They stop short of the desk, leaving several meters of clear floor.
human
You examine the desk
gpt
More lectern than desk, it is slightly elevated. There is space behind it, presumably for a large chair, and it commands an excellent view of the entire room.
human
You stand behind the desk
gpt
You step behind the desk.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You look under the benches
gpt
There's nothing under the benches.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You examine the balcony
gpt
The balcony stands above you, covering one-third of the hall.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You go to the east
gpt
Small and comfortable after the audience hall, a retreat for whoever once presided to the west. A coatrack, chair, and desk fill the room without crowding it.
Hanging from the coatrack are a pair of gloves and a thin coat.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You get the coat
gpt
Taken.
human
You wear the gloves
gpt
Okay, you're now wearing the heavy gloves.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the coat
gpt
The coat is thin, more of a windbreaker than a coat. White stitching runs down its arms and sides.
human
You examine the stitching
gpt
It runs down the coat's arms and sides. It has begun to unravel.
human
You look in the coat
gpt
Not while you're wearing the coat.
human
You pull the stitching
gpt
You give the stitching a good tug and feel it give slightly.
human
Rip stitching
gpt
The stitching gives further, causing the coat to gape.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Rip stitching
gpt
With a final rip, the stitching tears completely free, leaving only scraps behind.
human
You look at the scraps
gpt
Despite their origin, the scraps now could barely cover one of your arms.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You take the scraps
gpt
You already have some scraps!
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a rucksack, a thin coat, and a pair of gloves (being worn). The rucksack seems to contain a fool.
human
You look in the rucksack
gpt
In the rucksack you see a fool.
human
You examine coat
gpt
The coat is thin, more of a windbreaker than a coat. White stitching runs down its arms and sides.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the desk
gpt
It is large without being overwhelming. An air of disuse hangs about it. Set into its surface are a clock and a radio.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
Its tiny face is turned towards the plush chair, its base affixed to the desk's surface. It has stopped at 1:18.
human
You examine the radio
gpt
The radio is softly playing music. Its only control is a knob on its face.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You look at the knob
gpt
The radio is softly playing music. Its only control is a knob on its face.
human
You turn knob
gpt
You turn the knob, expecting to hear the radio traverse several radio stations. Instead, the same song plays continuously, never deviating.
human
You look around
gpt
Small and comfortable after the audience hall, a retreat for whoever once presided to the west. A coatrack, chair, and desk fill the room without crowding it.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You look at the chair
gpt
The plush chair sits behind the desk.
human
Go west
gpt
Your footsteps echo hollowly in the dimly-lit and cavernous hall. Benches line the floor, their rows skewed slightly to focus on the desk at the north end. A clock is set in the wall in plain view of the desk. The south third of the room is covered by a balcony, reducing the height of the hall from two stories to one. A small door to the east and two large doors to the south stand ajar. To one side of the two doors is a light switch.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go south
gpt
The hallway ends abruptly in a pair of large oak doors. Their intricate carving is barely visible in the leaden light from the windows above you. The doors are flanked by two sweeping staircases to the northeast and northwest. A doorway to the east is mirrored by an open door to the west.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go northeast
gpt
The walkway runs along the east wall of the hallway. A sweeping staircase joins the walkway to the southwest.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine staircase
gpt
The staircase curves as it falls to the floor below.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go south
gpt
foyer. There is a doorway to the east; the walkway continues to the north.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The library is a dimly-lit backwards L curving around the end of the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.
human
You examine sentinel
gpt
A dark metal statue, reminiscent of a prop from Fritz Lang's Metropolis. A stern, angular head sits atop a sexless body seven feet tall. Its arms are straight at its sides.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 10:58.
human
Examine books
gpt
The books resemble case histories from a law library: leather binding, small type on their spines.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You read books
gpt
You pull one off a shelf at random and open it. You read of a dilemma, arguments pro and con, and then of the final decision. As you replace the book, you realize that the entire episode seems oddly familiar.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go west.
human
You look at the shelves
gpt
They are stacked back to back in rows running around the room.
human
Look around
gpt
The library is a dimly-lit backwards L curving around the end of the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You search the shelves
gpt
Don't worry about the wooden shelves.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Kiss sentinel
gpt
Bleah.
human
You turn on the switch
gpt
You turn on the switch, but nothing happens.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You take the books
gpt
You wouldn't know where to begin.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You read books
gpt
You pull one off a shelf at random and open it. You read of a dilemma, arguments pro and con, and then of the final decision. As you replace the book, you realize that the entire episode seems oddly familiar.
human
Go west
gpt
foyer. There is a doorway to the east; the walkway continues to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go north
gpt
The walkway curves to the west; you follow it.

The walkway is just wide enough to accomodate two people turned sideways. Below you spreads the hallway. There is a gaping doorway to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the north
gpt
You have an excellent view of the audience hall from the balcony. Benches, which would look somber from the floor below, look forlorn from here. Metal bolts in the floor indicate where benches once stood.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the bolts
gpt
The metal bolts stud the balcony, making for treacherous footing.
Their spacing and uniformity mark the outlines of the benches they once held.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south.
human
Go south
gpt
The walkway is just wide enough to accomodate two people turned sideways. Below you spreads the hallway. There is a gaping doorway to the north.
human
Go west
gpt
The walkway bends to the south; you follow it.

The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. A closed door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 11:30.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You open the door
gpt
Opened.
human
You examine the door
gpt
The open door leads west.
human
You go to the west
gpt
The tiny closet is dank and has a strange smell. It is unfinished;
in many places unadorned sheetrock and insulation show. The only light in the room comes from the open door to the east. Above you hang a bare bulb and a pull cord.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You pull the cord
gpt
You give the cord a firm tug and are rewarded with a click from the lightbulb. Nothing else happens.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You examine the lightbulb
gpt
The bare bulb hangs above you.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You examine the insulation
gpt
Pink and fluffy, it pokes from spots in the closet.
human
You take the insulation
gpt
You rip off a tuft of the insulation.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a rucksack, a thin coat, a pair of gloves (being worn), and a tuft of insulation. The rucksack seems to contain a fool.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You pull the stitching
gpt
You give the stitching a good tug and feel it give slightly.
human
You put the insulation in the stitching
gpt
You can't put anything into the white stitching.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You pull the stitching
gpt
The stitching gives further, causing the coat to gape.
human
You put the insulation in the coat
gpt
Done.
human
You look at the coat
gpt
The coat is thin, more of a windbreaker than a coat. Its white stitching is torn, leaving it open like a huge sack. Stuffed inside the coat you see a tuft of insulation.
human
Wear coat
gpt
As you wear the coat you feel the insulation inside crackling. The coat is somewhat warm.
human
You examine sheetrock
gpt
It has been haphazardly applied to the studs behind it.
human
You move it
gpt
You can't move the sheetrock.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You get the insulation
gpt
You rip off a tuft of the insulation.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You put insulation in the coat
gpt
Not while you're wearing the coat.
human
You put the insulation in the coat
gpt
Done.
human
You examine the coat
gpt
The coat is thin, more of a windbreaker than a coat. Its white stitching is torn, leaving it open like a huge sack. Stuffed inside the coat you see two tufts of insulation.
human
Wear coat
gpt
As you wear the coat you feel the insulation inside crackling. The coat is somewhat warm.
human
You remove the coat
gpt
Okay, you're no longer wearing the thin coat.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. An open door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go south
gpt
The walkway ends to the south in a blank wall. A doorway to the
west and the remainder of the walkway to the north allow egress.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the west
gpt
Rows of filing cabinets divide the room into sections. Metal rises from floor to ceiling. Drawer after drawer stare at you, none of them labelled. The exit to the east is barely visible due to the metal sentinel partially blocking it. The clock above the exit, however, is plainly visible from anywhere in the room, a feat which is nothing short of miraculous.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 11:07.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east.
human
You look at the sentinel
gpt
A dark metal statue, reminiscent of a prop from Fritz Lang's Metropolis. A stern, angular head sits atop a sexless body seven feet tall. Its arms are straight at its sides.
human
You look at the cabinets
gpt
The sheer number of filing cabinets boggles the mind.
human
You open the cabinet
gpt
You try several cabinet drawers. All are locked.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go east
gpt
The walkway ends to the south in a blank wall. A doorway to the
west and the remainder of the walkway to the north allow egress.
human
You go north
gpt
The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. An open door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You go south
gpt
Like the foyer, the hallway is marble. Its two-story height
combined with its thinness inspires unease. A walkway runs above you, clinging to the east and west walls. Below the east walkway is a doorway.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go south
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Wear coat
gpt
As you wear the coat you feel the insulation inside crackling. The coat is somewhat warm.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Go south
gpt
Bubbles begins barking at you fiercely, dancing in front of you and impeding your progress. You nearly have to jump over Bubbles to get past, at which point it lies on the floor, staring mournfully at you as you leave.

You can see little through the glare of sun on snow. The building
to the north is just visible, but everything else is a wash of bright white.

The coat offers limited protection from the wind.
human
Go north
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles sees you and jumps up, barking loudly at your return.
human
Go upwards
gpt
You can go up to the northeast or to the northwest.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go northwest
gpt
The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. An open door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.
human
Go west
gpt
The tiny closet is dank and has a strange smell. It is unfinished;
in many places unadorned sheetrock and insulation show. The only light in the room comes from the open door to the east. Above you hang a bare bulb and a pull cord.
human
You take the insulation
gpt
You rip off a tuft of the insulation.
human
You remove the coat
gpt
Okay, you're no longer wearing the thin coat.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You put the tuft in the coat
gpt
Done.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You take the insulation
gpt
Which insulation do you mean, the tuft of insulation, or the mass of insulation?
human
You look in the coat
gpt
In the thin coat you see three tufts of insulation.
human
Wear coat
gpt
As you wear the coat you feel the insulation inside crackling. The coat is very warm.
human
Go south
gpt
Bubbles begins barking at your rucksack, leaping off the ground in an effort to grab hold of it before you leave. Your momentum, however, carries you out the door before Bubbles is successful.

You can see little through the glare of sun on snow. The building
to the north is just visible, but everything else is a wash of bright white.

The wind beats futilely against your now-warm coat.
human
Go north
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles sees you and jumps up, barking loudly at your return.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a rucksack, a thin coat (being worn), a pair of gloves (being worn), and a tuft of insulation. The rucksack seems to contain a fool.
human
North
gpt
Bubbles looks at you quizically, head cocked to one side.
human
You take the dog
gpt
Bubbles gives you a sidelong look. As your hands close around the dog, it swirls like smoke, solidifying just out of your reach.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You drop the rucksack
gpt
Dropped.
human
You get the rucksack
gpt
Taken.
human
Go north
gpt
Like the foyer, the hallway is marble. Its two-story height
combined with its thinness inspires unease. A walkway runs above you, clinging to the east and west walls. Below the east walkway is a doorway.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You give the sack to Bubbles
gpt
You place the rucksack on the ground next to Bubbles. The dog proceeds to wriggle under the rucksack, then stand.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the rucksack
gpt
It is made of heavy denim and looks well-used. The rucksack is open and seems to contain a fool.
human
You examine Bubbles
gpt
Bubbles resembles a corgi. In fact, it looks like the corgi you begged your father for when you were eight. It walks around on short legs, very much a young puppy. It is wearing the rucksack.
human
Go south
gpt
Bubbles lies down on the floor, waiting for you to return. It places its paws protectively over the rucksack it is guarding.

You can see little through the glare of sun on snow. The building
to the north is just visible, but everything else is a wash of bright white.

The wind beats futilely against your coat.
human
Go north
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles sees you and jumps up, barking loudly at your return.
human
You put the tuft in the rucksack
gpt
Done.
human
You put Bubbles in the sack
gpt
You can't put Bubbles anywhere.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...
human
You take rucksack
gpt
Taken.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You go to the south
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
human
You follow Bubbles
gpt
But Bubbles is right here!

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You get them
gpt
muddy footprints: Don't worry about the muddy footprints.
human
Go northwest
gpt
Shadows crowd the room, strengthened by the unlit ceiling light
which is canted at a strange angle. A scarred mahogany desk is crammed into one corner of the room, facing the doorway and the clock above it. The room is small enough that the light switch beside the door is within arms reach of the desk.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You look at the shadows
gpt
They fill the room. Opaque...no shadows should be so thick.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the light
gpt
It is tilted at an angle, as if someone once tried to pull it down. It vibrates in time to some unheard syncopated beat.
human
You pull light
gpt
It's too far away.
human
You look at the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 2:59.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You pull light
gpt
Despite its precarious-looking hold on the ceiling, you are unable to tear it down.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a thin coat (being worn) and a pair of gloves (being worn).
human
You examine ceiling
gpt
It is tilted at an angle, as if someone once tried to pull it down. It vibrates in time to some unheard syncopated beat.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You feel them
gpt
gouges: Even in the gloves your fingers fit neatly in the gouges.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You look under the desk
gpt
There's nothing under the mahogany desk.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Search sack
gpt
In the rucksack you see a fool and a tuft of insulation.
human
You look at what you're carrying with you
gpt
You have a thin coat (being worn), a pair of gloves (being worn), and a rucksack. The rucksack seems to contain a fool and a tuft of insulation.
human
Look around
gpt
Shadows crowd the room, strengthened by the unlit ceiling light
which is canted at a strange angle. A scarred mahogany desk is crammed into one corner of the room, facing the doorway and the clock above it. The room is small enough that the light switch beside the door is within arms reach of the desk.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
Switch
gpt
What do you want to switch?
human
You examine the switch
gpt
The switch is currently on.
human
You switch it
gpt
You turn on the switch, but nothing happens.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go southeast.
human
You examine the floor
gpt
It lies beneath you.
human
You examine the walkway
gpt
The walkway rings the hall on every side but the south, casting a shadow on the floor.
human
You examine the shadow
gpt
It is cast by the walkway above. Opaque...no shadow should be so thick.
human
Go upwards
gpt
You can't go that way.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You look at the doorway
gpt
The doorway is on the east wall.
human
You go east
gpt
filling rack after rack of shelves, making it difficult to find a place to stand. The room continues to the north. Above the west exit is a clock; beside the exit is a light switch.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the light
gpt
They are cold and dark.
human
You stand
gpt
You're already standing!
human
You read the boxes
gpt
Your eyes roam over their surfaces, taking in their titles. Many are labeled "Memories" with a range of dates following. A few are labeled "Fragments." You feel an odd sense of disorientation as you stare at them.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You read the boxes
gpt
Your eyes roam over their surfaces, taking in their titles. Many are labeled "Memories" with a range of dates following. A few are labeled "Fragments." You feel an odd sense of disorientation as you stare at them.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Open boxes
gpt
The tape prevents you from opening the boxes.
human
You examine the tape
gpt
Strong grey tape, covering every open flap of the boxes.
human
You move the boxes
gpt
You can't move the cardboard boxes.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You look behind the boxes
gpt
There's nothing behind the cardboard boxes.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You go north
gpt
Metal shelves fill the hall; most are empty and many have succumbed
to rust. The shelves that aren't empty hold broken shards of glass.
The archive continues to the south, and an exit leads west.
human
You look at the shelves
gpt
The shelves cover the room, as if they had multiplied in the same manner coathangers are reputed to. They are covered in broken shards.
human
You break the shelves
gpt
Don't worry about the metal shelves.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You examine the shards
gpt
The glass fragments run the gamut from large shards to fine, gritty powder.
human
You search the shelves
gpt
Don't worry about the metal shelves.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You move the shelves
gpt
Don't worry about the metal shelves.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You get the shards
gpt
Though the gloves protect your hands, they render your fingers too clumsy to pick up the shards.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south and west.
human
You look at the doors
gpt
small door: The open door leads west.
large wooden doors: The carved doors are made of oak and are twice your height. They stand slightly ajar, leaving enough room for you to enter.
human
You look at the windows
gpt
The narrow windows are set just below the ceiling. Grey light from outside spills through them.
human
You examine the staircases
gpt
northwest staircase: The staircase curves as it climbs to the walkway above.
northeast staircase: The staircase curves as it climbs to the walkway above.
human
You look at carving
gpt
You peer closely at the door, but are unable to tell what the carving is of in the dim light.
human
You open large doors
gpt
The doors have frozen in position over time. You cannot budge them.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You open the window
gpt
They're too far away.
human
You look at the cobwebs
gpt
The cobwebs are draped over every imaginable surface.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You look at the tank
gpt
The tank is old and somewhat rusty. An orange wire runs past it.
human
You examine the stairs
gpt
The stairs lead down.
human
You get the wire
gpt
Don't worry about the orange cable.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You open tank
gpt
I don't know how to open the hot-water tank.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You feel the tank
gpt
The tank is cool.
human
Go downward
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the windows
gpt
The stairs lead up.

The windows are barely ten centimeters tall and are nearly flush with the ceiling. They are much thicker than you would expect, almost like the glass found on submersibles.
human
You examine the tables
gpt
The tables line the north and west walls. On them you see five balances.

Out of the corner of your eye you notice something under the tables.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 10:02. Next to the clock is a light switch.
human
You open the window
gpt
They're too far away.
human
You look under the tables
gpt
Under the tables you see a junction box.
human
You look at the box
gpt
The junction box has a wire running out of it and a large knife switch on its side. The switch is currently off.
human
You look at the wire
gpt
The wire is large and sheathed in orange. It runs from the box into the northeast corner of the wall.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You examine the switch
gpt
Which switch do you mean, the light switch, or the junction box?
human
You switch it
gpt
You push the large knife switch up. When you release it, however, it slides back to its original position. "Don't waste your time with that," Frankie tells you. "It won't work without power."
human
You ask Frankie about the box
gpt
Frankie asks, "Which box do you mean, the cardboard boxes, or the junction box?"
human
Junction
gpt
Frankie says, "It supposedly powers the fence on the hill above us."
He shrugs. "I've never seen it working."
human
You ask Frankie about the cardboard boxes
gpt
Frankie says, "Another group was working on those, but they never could get them open. Judging from the shards near them, they probably held some of these spheres."

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You ask Frankie about the fence
gpt
Frankie shrugs. "It was on our to-do list. Too bad we never got around to it: it could have protected us from the avalanche."
human
You ask Frankie about the list
gpt
Frankie says, "I think I could use it in my research."
human
You ask Frankie about the shards
gpt
Frankie says, "I'm afraid I won't be much help with that."

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You ask Frankie about the snow
gpt
"Here already? The avalanche can't be far behind."
human
You ask Frankie about the spheres
gpt
Frankie says, "This isn't a good time for repeat questions."

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You ask Frankie about Bubbles
gpt
Frankie shrugs. "You've got me."
human
You ask Frankie about yourself
gpt
Frankie shrugs. "I'd never seen you before you walked down the stairs."
human
Look around
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You examine the drain
gpt
The metal drain is a small circle with a grate about ten centimeters in diameter.
human
You examine clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which stand frozen at 10:02. Next to the clock is a light switch.
human
You open the drain
gpt
I don't know how to open the metal drain.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You look in the drain
gpt
There's nothing in the metal drain.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You turn east wheel cw
gpt
You give the wheel a clockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the north side of the room is higher than it was, the south side lower.
human
Look around
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You examine the balances
gpt
Sitting silent on the tables, the balances are all tarnished brass and pitted steel.
human
You examine spheres
gpt
The spheres are smooth and translucent, glowing softly from within. Several are caked with mud and dirt, testimony to their recent location. They have been stacked in a tight-fitting pyramid. You feel a strange sense of deja vu as you gaze into them.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You take the bubble
gpt
Bubbles gives you a sidelong look. As your hands close around the dog, it swirls like smoke, solidifying just out of your reach.
human
You touch spheres
gpt
Again you reach for the spheres, but cannot draw close. The rush of memories triggered by the spheres was overwhelming the first time.
human
You take the balance
gpt
Don't worry about the five balances.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You hit the sphere
gpt
That would accomplish nothing.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You look at the heater
gpt
It is an old-fashioned wood-burning heater, standing a few centimeters above the ground on metal legs. Heat pours from it in waves. Its most noticeable feature isn't: it has no smoke stack.
human
You touch the heater
gpt
The outside is quite warm in places, scalding in others.
human
You get it
gpt
It is much too heavy.
human
Look around
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You examine Frankie
gpt
Frankie is of middling height, with tousled hair and a sandy brown mustache. He carries a notebook and a sphere. Resting in his shirt pocket are a pair of sunglasses.
human
You turn east wheel cw
gpt
You give the wheel a clockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the north side of the room is higher than it was, the south side lower.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine notebook
gpt
A spiral-bound notebook, dog-eared and worn. You catch occasional glimpses of pages filled with small writing.
human
You examine the sunglasses
gpt
Cheap. Black. Plastic.
human
You ask Frankie about the glasses
gpt
He glances at the sunglasses. "For outside."
human
You ask Frankie for the glasses
gpt
Frankie snaps his fingers. "You know, I'd really appreciate it if you'd do me a favor." He holds up one of the spheres. "I've had trouble cataloguing this one. Information's available upstairs, but I'd lose too much time if I searched for it myself. Would you mind terribly?" Frankie puts the light sphere in your hands before you can answer, then picks up another sphere from the pile.
human
You look at the sphere
gpt
Which sphere do you mean, the light sphere, or the pile of spheres?
human
Light
gpt
A translucent sphere, about the size of an apple.

Something half-remembered intrudes on your thoughts, then is gone.
human
You put it on the balances
gpt
Don't worry about the five balances.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a thin coat (being worn), a pair of gloves (being worn), a rucksack, and a light sphere. The rucksack seems to contain a fool and a tuft of insulation.

A birthday party. You remember a birthday party, although you're not sure whose it was.
human
You get the glasses
gpt
Frankie snaps, "If you want something, why don't you ask for it?" He then sighs heavily. "Sorry. I didn't mean to yell."
human
You ask Frankie for the glasses
gpt
"I told you, I'll help you if you help me." Frankie grins.
human
Light
gpt
You crack the sphere in your hands. A cloud rises from it, a vaguely-familiar smell. The shards evaporate.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a thin coat (being worn), a pair of gloves (being worn), a rucksack, and a light sphere. The rucksack seems to contain a fool and a tuft of insulation.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You kill Frankie
gpt
As you prepare to attack Frankie, he turns and fixes you with a gimlet glare. "Now, now," he says softly.
human
You examine staircase
gpt
The staircase curves as it falls to the floor below.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Go east
gpt
The library is a dimly-lit backwards L curving around the end of the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You look at the shelves
gpt
They are stacked back to back in rows running around the room.
human
Examine books
gpt
The books resemble case histories from a law library: leather binding, small type on their spines.
human
You look at the sentinel
gpt
A dark metal statue, reminiscent of a prop from Fritz Lang's Metropolis. A stern, angular head sits atop a sexless body seven feet tall. Its arms are straight at its sides.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Hi
gpt
You have lost your mind.
human
You examine the arms
gpt
Metal hands, held at the sides of the statue. The arms to which the hands belong are hinged at the elbow.
human
You show the sphere to the sentinel
gpt
The sentinel isn't impressed.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You turn the arms
gpt
Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.

I don't know the word "bend".

After a bout of experimentation you discover that you can raise and lower the sentinel's hands.
human
You raise the hands
gpt
You pull the sentinel's arms, which slowly move up. As they do they come together, until the hands are held cupped in front of the statue.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You put the sphere in the hands
gpt
You place the light sphere in the sentinel's hands. One of the books on the shelves slides out and falls on the floor. The other books close in, eliminating the space left by the defector.
human
You get the book
gpt
Which book do you mean, the shelved books, or the single book?
human
You examine it
gpt
A large, leather-bound volume with the title "Attendance 27914414."
human
You read it
gpt
A long, boring list of back-and-forth arguments about attending a party whose purpose is shrouded in jargon.
human
You look at the shelved books
gpt
The books resemble case histories from a law library: leather binding, small type on their spines.
human
You search them
gpt
shelved books: You find nothing of interest.
human
You get them
gpt
shelved books: You wouldn't know where to begin.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You read them
gpt
shelved books: You pull one off a shelf at random and open it. You read of a dilemma, arguments pro and con, and then of the final decision. As you replace the book, you realize that the entire episode seems oddly familiar.
human
Go north
gpt
The walkway runs along the east wall of the hallway. A sweeping staircase joins the walkway to the southwest.
human
Go down
gpt
The hallway ends abruptly in a pair of large oak doors. Their intricate carving is barely visible in the leaden light from the windows above you. The doors are flanked by two sweeping staircases to the northeast and northwest. A doorway to the east is mirrored by an open door to the west.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You go to the west
gpt
The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. Rickety stairs lead into the depths of the building. To the east is an open door.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The library is a dimly-lit backwards L curving around the end of the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.
In the sentinel's hands you see a light sphere.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You put it in the hands
gpt
You place the light sphere in the sentinel's hands.
human
You go north
gpt
The walkway runs along the east wall of the hallway. A sweeping staircase joins the walkway to the southwest.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
Go east
gpt
The walkway bends to the south; you follow it.

The walkway runs along the east wall of the hallway. A sweeping staircase joins the walkway to the southwest.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go west
gpt
The walkway bends to the south; you follow it.

The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. An open door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go south
gpt
The walkway ends to the south in a blank wall. A doorway to the
west and the remainder of the walkway to the north allow egress.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the west
gpt
Rows of filing cabinets divide the room into sections. Metal rises from floor to ceiling. Drawer after drawer stare at you, none of them labelled. The exit to the east is barely visible due to the metal sentinel partially blocking it. The clock above the exit, however, is plainly visible from anywhere in the room, a feat which is nothing short of miraculous.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You look at the cabinets
gpt
The sheer number of filing cabinets boggles the mind.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You open the cabinets
gpt
You try several cabinet drawers. All are locked.
human
You raise the arms
gpt
You pull the sentinel's arms, which slowly move up. As they do they come together, until the hands are held cupped in front of the statue.
human
You open the drawers
gpt
You try several cabinet drawers. All are locked.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You put the sphere in the hands
gpt
You place the light sphere in the sentinel's hands. A drawer in one of the cabinets silently opens.
human
You examine the drawer
gpt
Which drawer do you mean, the cabinet drawers, or the open drawer?
human
You open
gpt
An open cabinet drawer. In the drawer you see a long list.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You look at the list
gpt
The list is printed on a stack of fanfold paper almost five centimeters thick. On the top sheet is the number "27914414." Below it are a list of words and numbers: "cake 739424  games 598384" and so on.
human
You put the list in the hands
gpt
You place the long list in the sentinel's hands.
human
Describe the surroundings
gpt
Rows of filing cabinets divide the room into sections. Metal rises from floor to ceiling. Drawer after drawer stare at you, none of them labelled, one of them open. The exit to the east is barely visible due to the metal sentinel partially blocking it. The clock above the exit, however, is plainly visible from anywhere in the room, a feat which is nothing short of miraculous.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east.
human
You go to the north
gpt
The walkway curves to the east; you follow it.

The walkway is just wide enough to accomodate two people turned sideways. Below you spreads the hallway. There is a gaping doorway to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the north
gpt
You have an excellent view of the audience hall from the balcony. Benches, which would look somber from the floor below, look forlorn from here. Metal bolts in the floor indicate where benches once stood.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the hall
gpt
The benches and desk look forlorn from this height.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You examine the benches
gpt
They stand to either side of the hall, lined in rows running from east to west. They stop short of the desk, leaving several meters of clear floor.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You look at the bolts
gpt
The metal bolts stud the balcony, making for treacherous footing.
Their spacing and uniformity mark the outlines of the benches they once held.
human
You look at the balcony
gpt
The balcony stands above you, covering one-third of the hall.
human
You jump
gpt
Your mild fear of heights overcomes the urge.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south.
human
Look around
gpt
You have an excellent view of the audience hall from the balcony. Benches, which would look somber from the floor below, look forlorn from here. Metal bolts in the floor indicate where benches once stood. Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
Go south
gpt
The walkway is just wide enough to accomodate two people turned sideways. Below you spreads the hallway. There is a gaping doorway to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go down
gpt
You can't go that way.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You go downward
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel. The floor slopes noticeably towards the south.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You give the list to Frankie
gpt
Frankie grins. "Thanks! I think there's more to be found out about that sphere; see what you can find, if you will."

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You give the book to Frankie
gpt
Frankie grins. "Thanks! I think that does it." Frankie takes his sunglasses out of his pocket. "As promised," he says as he hands them to you.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You put them on Bubbles
gpt
sunglasses: Bubbles has no real way of taking that.
human
You wear the glasses
gpt
Everything becomes a little dimmer as you put on the sunglasses.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You have a thin coat (being worn), a pair of gloves (being worn), a rucksack, a light sphere, and a pair of sunglasses (being worn). The rucksack seems to contain a fool and a tuft of insulation.
human
You look around
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner is a tiny drain; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel. The floor slopes noticeably towards the south.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go up
gpt
The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. Rickety stairs lead into the depths of the building. To the east is an open door.
human
Go east
gpt
The hallway ends abruptly in a pair of large oak doors. Their intricate carving is barely visible in the leaden light from the windows above you. The doors are flanked by two sweeping staircases to the northeast and northwest. A doorway to the east is mirrored by an open door to the west.
human
You go south
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You put the sack on Bubbles
gpt
You place the rucksack on the ground next to Bubbles. The dog proceeds to wriggle under the rucksack, then stand.
human
You go south
gpt
Bubbles lies down on the floor, waiting for you to return. It places its paws protectively over the rucksack it is guarding.

The building to the north is now covered with snow. Under your feet
it squeaks with the sound of deep-seated ice. To the northeast and northwest the snow is somewhat thinner, due to the building's protection. Pressed down in the ice and snow are tracks of footprints.

The wind beats futilely against your coat.
human
You wear glasses
gpt
You're already wearing the sunglasses.
human
You look at the snow
gpt
The snow covers everything you see in a fine layer of white. It looks to have been falling for hours.
human
Go northwest
gpt
To the east, the building glitters in the sun. A wind-swept path
runs north and south.
human
You examine the building
gpt
The building's white marble is now covered with snow. Only a few discolored trails indicate where rain recently sluiced over its surface.
human
You go north
gpt
The hill undulates, then rises steeply to the north. A path leads south past the building. A dark line running northeast to southwest mars the pristine white of the ground.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south and east.
human
You examine the line
gpt
You peer down into the dark line and discover a mottled wooden fence lying flat in its depths.
human
You examine the fence
gpt
The fence runs northeast to southwest. It looks to be intact despite the weather. Tied to the fence is a rope.
human
You examine the rope
gpt
Hemp fibers twisted around each other. It is tied to the wooden fence.
human
You pull it
gpt
You give the rope a good tug. The wooden fence goes nowhere.
human
You untie the rope
gpt
You untie the rope.
human
You look at the rope
gpt
Hemp fibers twisted around each other.
human
Go east
gpt
building to the south. A thin path of less-deep snow runs east and west.
human
You go south
gpt
You gently run into the building.
human
Go east
gpt
To the north, the ground suddenly rises into tree-speckled heights.
To the south, the building's shape breaks the smooth white carpet of the ground. Partially buried in the snow is a large post.
human
Examine post
gpt
Its square outline thrusts skywards from the snow. A dark line in the snow runs beside it, northwest to southeast. From the line a cable issues. The cable's twin dangles from the post, then scurries down its length and into the snow on the side of the post opposite the line.
human
You look at the cables
gpt
lower cable: It runs from somewhere in the line in the snow to about thirty centimeters above the snow. Its end is frayed, showing bare wire.
upper cable: It begins partway up the post and is lashed to it. The cable runs over the top of the post, down the other side, then plunges into the snow, heading towards the building. Some of its orange insulation has been stripped, leaving behind a section of bare wire.
human
You pull the cable
gpt
Which cable do you mean, the lower cable, or the upper cable?
human
Lower
gpt
The cable stretches, but remains attached to the fence. When you let go, it relaxes to its former length.
human
You pull upper
gpt
It is too tightly lashed to the post: it goes nowhere.
human
You tie upper to lower
gpt
The two cables are too short to reach each other.
human
Dig
gpt
What do you want to dig in?
human
You examine the line
gpt
You peer down into the dark line and discover a mottled wooden fence lying flat in its depths.
human
You look at the fence
gpt
The fence runs northwest to southeast. It looks to be intact despite the weather. From somewhere near the bottom of it, buried deep, a cable runs.
human
Examine post
gpt
Its square outline thrusts skywards from the snow. A dark line in the snow runs beside it, northwest to southeast. From the line a cable issues. The cable's twin dangles from the post, then scurries down its length and into the snow on the side of the post opposite the line.
human
You examine the upper cable
gpt
It begins partway up the post and is lashed to it. The cable runs over the top of the post, down the other side, then plunges into the snow, heading towards the building. Some of its orange insulation has been stripped, leaving behind a section of bare wire.
human
You go to the south
gpt
The building looms to the west, shadowing the path which leads north and south.
Something on the building catches your eye.

The air just above you begins shimmering. From the disturbance falls a smallish cube.
human
You look at the cube
gpt
A wooden cube, about four centimeters on an edge. Its surface is remarkably polished.
human
You get it
gpt
Something inside the cube softly clicks. Its walls slide open, then flat, and it begins glowing with a warm light. A masculine voice drifts from the cube, saying, "I'm going to try removing the IV. Prep exam room two; I'll round up equipment. Turn the monitors up so we'll hear if anything goes wrong." Then the cube is gone.
human
You look at the building
gpt
The building's white marble is now covered with snow. Only a few discolored trails indicate where rain recently sluiced over its surface. Bolted to its side is a grey box.
human
You open the box
gpt
Opening the box reveals a row of breakers and a list.
human
You look at the list
gpt
1: Box Office                 5: Archives
2: Balance Room               6: Filing Office
3: Audience Hall              7: Storage Closet
4: Preparatory Room           8: Library
human
You examine breakers
gpt
There are eight breakers, arranged in two rows of four.
[You may refer to the individual breakers by " breaker" or
simply by their number.]
human
Flip 2
gpt
You flip the breaker on with a satisfying click.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
The building looms to the west, shadowing the path which leads north and south.
On the side of the building is a grey box.
human
You go south
gpt
The building to the north is now covered with snow. Under your feet
it squeaks with the sound of deep-seated ice. To the northeast and northwest the snow is somewhat thinner, due to the building's protection. Pressed down in the ice and snow are tracks of footprints.
human
Go northeast
gpt
The building looms to the west, shadowing the path which leads north and south. Pressed down in the snow are tracks of footprints.
On the side of the building is a grey box.
human
You go northwest
gpt
Shadows crowd the room, barely dimmed by the lit ceiling light which
is canted at a strange angle. A scarred mahogany desk is crammed into one corner of the room, facing the doorway and the clock above it. The room is small enough that the light switch beside the door is within arms reach of the desk.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You turn on switch
gpt
It's already turned on!

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You look at the light
gpt
It is tilted at an angle, as if someone once tried to pull it down. It vibrates in time to some unheard syncopated beat, sending shards of light dancing on the floor.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the floor
gpt
It lies beneath you.
human
You look at the light
gpt
You're already on the desk.

It is tilted at an angle, as if someone once tried to pull it down. It vibrates in time to some unheard syncopated beat, sending shards of light dancing on the floor.
human
You search it
gpt
You find nothing of interest.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Look around
gpt
Cramped Office, on the mahogany desk
Shadows crowd the room, barely dimmed by the lit ceiling light which
is canted at a strange angle. A scarred mahogany desk is crammed into one corner of the room, facing the doorway and the clock above it. The room is small enough that the light switch beside the door is within arms reach of the desk.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You examine the desk
gpt
The dark wood of the desk only serves to make the office more claustrophobic. Deep gouges run from the front of the desk to the back; close examination shows them to be fingernail-shaped. All of the desk drawers have been removed.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You move the desk
gpt
You can't move the mahogany desk.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You examine the gouges
gpt
Gouges scar the once-pristine surface of the desk.
human
You examine the shadow
gpt
They fill the room. Opaque...no shadows should be so thick.
human
Go east
gpt
You can't go that way.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You go to the northeast
gpt
You can't go that way.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You go outside
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
human
You turn on the switch
gpt
The room's lights turn on in response.
human
You examine the doors
gpt
small door: It stands partially ajar and leads to the east.
large wooden doors: The carved doors are made of oak and are twice your height. They stand slightly ajar, leaving enough room for you to enter.
human
You look at the carving
gpt
You peer closely at the door, but are unable to tell what the carving is of in the dim light.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You examine the clock
gpt
A white-faced clock with numbers and black hands, hands which turn slowly, ticking off seconds, minutes, hours.
human
You take the carving
gpt
Don't worry about the carving.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You go east
gpt
Small and comfortable after the audience hall, a retreat for whoever once presided to the west. A coatrack, chair, and desk, lit by the glow of the ceiling lights, fill the room without crowding it.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the coatrack
gpt
Tall and wooden, it has several branches for coats and hats.
human
You get it
gpt
It is too unwieldy for you to carry.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You look at the chair
gpt
The plush chair sits behind the desk.
human
You get it
gpt
Were you to take it, you would be unable to walk.
human
You describe your surroundings
gpt
Small and comfortable after the audience hall, a retreat for whoever once presided to the west. A coatrack, chair, and desk, lit by the glow of the ceiling lights, fill the room without crowding it.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You look at the radio
gpt
The radio is softly playing music. Its only control is a knob on its face.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You turn the knob
gpt
You turn the knob, expecting to hear the radio traverse several radio stations. Instead, the same song plays continuously, never deviating.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You look at clock
gpt
Its tiny face is turned towards the plush chair, its base affixed to the desk's surface. Its hands turn slowly, ticking off seconds, minutes, hours.
human
Search desk
gpt
There's nothing on the wooden desk.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
Go west
gpt
Your footsteps echo hollowly in the well-lit and cavernous hall. Benches line the floor, their rows skewed slightly to focus on the desk at the north end. A clock is set in the wall in plain view of the desk. The south third of the room is covered by a balcony, reducing the height of the hall from two stories to one. A small door to the east and two large doors to the south stand ajar. To one side of the two doors is a light switch.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Switch junction
gpt
You push the large knife switch up. The box begins a high-pitched humming, the switch fixed in place.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.

A quiet sound catches your attention. Black sludge has begun welling up through the drain, covering it and starting to fill the northwest corner.

Frankie glances down, then swears quietly. "Sam, you son-of-a-bitch," he mutters, scribbling furiously in his notebook. Bubbles barks at the sludge, then begins whining softly.
human
You ask Frankie about Sam
gpt
"Sam was one of my colleagues," Frankie says. "He left mid-afternoon yesterday."
human
You look at sludge
gpt
The black sludge is burgeoning out of what used to be the drain.
human
You ask Frankie about the sludge
gpt
Frankie says, "I don't know. Sam was studying it. He thought it was connected somehow to the spheres. All he was able to discover about it was that it was highly toxic and flammable."
human
You get the sludge
gpt
The thick, viscous stuff surges towards you as you approach. Alarmed, you back away.
human
You put the sphere in the sludge
gpt
You can't put anything into the black sludge.

With a loud blorp, the flow of sludge increases. Noticeably.
human
Look around
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner a river of black sludge is continuously flowing into the room and towards the southwest corner by the stairs; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall.
A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel. The floor slopes noticeably towards the south.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging like mad.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You turn east wheel CCW
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the south side of the room is higher than it was, the north side lower. The flow of sludge alters course, until it is collecting near the middle of the room.
human
You turn east wheel CCW
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the south side of the room is higher than it was, the north side lower.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Turn south wheel cw
gpt
You give the wheel a clockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering and the pyramid of spheres to shaking. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the east side of the room is higher than it was, the west side lower.
human
Describe the surroundings
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner a river of black sludge is continuously flowing into the room; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel. The floor slopes noticeably towards the west. In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging like mad.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You turn east wheel CCW
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the south side of the room is higher than it was, the north side lower.
human
You turn east wheel CCW
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the south side of the room is higher than it was, the north side lower.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
Look around
gpt
A cramped square room, barely lit by windows above you. The north
and west walls are taken up by tables. A clock and a light switch are just visible next to the stairs on the south wall. In the northwest corner a river of black sludge is continuously flowing into the room; in the southeast corner are two large wheels, one on the east wall and one on the south wall. A pile of spheres has claimed part of the east wall beneath the wheel. The floor slopes noticeably towards the northwest.
In the middle of the south wall is a heater.
Sitting on the tables are five balances.
Frankie is here, sorting and cataloging like mad.
Bubbles is curled in a small ball, resting.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You look at the sludge
gpt
The black sludge is burgeoning out of what used to be the drain. It has flowed from the northwest corner to the center of the room.
human
You turn east wheel CCW
gpt
The wheel, stubborn, refuses to turn further in that direction.
human
Turn south wheel cw
gpt
The wheel, stubborn, refuses to turn further in that direction.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
Switch box
gpt
You pull the large knife switch down. The box quietens somewhat.
human
Switch box
gpt
You push the large knife switch up. The box begins a high-pitched humming, the switch fixed in place.

The flow of sludge triples, then triples again. It reaches the pile of spheres, turning them all black, then dissolving them.

"Come on!" Frankie shouts in horror, abandoning his task. He grabs your arm and drags you up the stairs, pulling the trapdoor shut behind him.

The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. A trapdoor in the floor marks where the stairs used to be. To the east is an open door.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
Frankie is here.
human
You ask Frankie about the sludge
gpt
Frankie says, "This isn't a good time for repeat questions."

Bubbles wanders away.

Frankie looks at his hands, surprised to find he is still carrying a sphere. He holds it up to the light; it has turned black as pitch. "The sludge must've hit it," he says. Then he smiles at you, sadly. "It would have been nice to be able to finish." He shrugs resignedly, dropping the sphere. "Ah, well. See you round." He turns and walks into the hallway, but as he does, he separates into thousands of grains, a painting by Seurat. The grains separate, caught in a sudden zephyr, and are gone.
human
You examine the sphere
gpt
Which sphere do you mean, the light sphere, or the dark sphere?
human
Dark
gpt
Unlike its mates, this smooth sphere glows blackly. It feels oddly wrong, almost evil.
human
You get it
gpt
You bend down and pick it up. A sudden tremor seizes your arm muscles, then stops.
human
You get it
gpt
You already have the dark sphere!
human
You go downwards
gpt
The trapdoor prevents you.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You examine the trapdoor
gpt
The trapdoor is closed. It bulges upwards slightly.
human
You open it
gpt
Pressure from the other side opposes you.
human
You go west
gpt
The tiny closet is dank and has a strange smell. It is unfinished;
in many places unadorned sheetrock and insulation show. The only light in the room comes from the bare bulb above you. Dangling from it is a pull cord.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You look at the cord
gpt
It dangles from the lightbulb overhead, just within reach.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You pull it
gpt
You give the cord a firm tug and are rewarded with a click from the lightbulb. The bulb is snuffed out.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Look around
gpt
The tiny closet is dank and has a strange smell. It is unfinished;
in many places unadorned sheetrock and insulation show. The only light in the room comes from the open door to the east. Above you hang a bare bulb and a pull cord.
human
You pull the cord
gpt
You give the cord a firm tug and are rewarded with a click from the lightbulb. The bulb begins glowing harshly.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. An open door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.
human
Go south
gpt
The walkway ends to the south in a blank wall. A doorway to the
west and the remainder of the walkway to the north allow egress.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You go to the west
gpt
Rows of filing cabinets divide the room into sections. Metal rises from floor to ceiling. Drawer after drawer stare at you, none of them labelled, one of them open. The exit to the east is barely visible due to the metal sentinel partially blocking it. The clock above the exit, however, is plainly visible from anywhere in the room, a feat which is nothing short of miraculous.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You put the dark in the hands
gpt
You place the dark sphere in the sentinel's hands. A shudder wracks the sentinel. Its hands lower, dropping the sphere onto the floor.
human
Lower arms
gpt
With a modicum of effort you are able to push the sentinel's arms back down by its sides.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Lower arms
gpt
The sentinel's hands are as low as they will go.
human
You raise the arms
gpt
You pull the sentinel's arms, which slowly move up. As they do they come together, until the hands are held cupped in front of the statue.
human
You get dark
gpt
Which dark do you mean, the sentinel, or the dark sphere?
human
You examine sentinel
gpt
A dark metal statue, reminiscent of a prop from Fritz Lang's Metropolis. A stern, angular head sits atop a sexless body seven feet tall. Its hands are held cupped in front of it.
human
You give it to Bubbles
gpt
Bubbles has no real way of taking that.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
Dark
gpt
Bubbles has no real way of taking that.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Go outside
gpt
The walkway ends to the south in a blank wall. A doorway to the
west and the remainder of the walkway to the north allow egress.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go east
gpt
The library is a harshly-lit backwards L curving around the end of
the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You put the dark in the hands
gpt
You place the dark sphere in the sentinel's hands. The sentinel judders. Its hands lower, dropping the sphere onto the floor.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You get dark
gpt
Which dark do you mean, the sentinel, or the dark sphere?
human
You get the dark sphere
gpt
Taken.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You go south
gpt
Bubbles begins barking at your rucksack, leaping off the ground in an effort to grab hold of it before you leave. Your momentum, however, carries you out the door before Bubbles is successful.

The building to the north is now covered with snow. Under your feet
it squeaks with the sound of deep-seated ice. To the northeast and northwest the snow is somewhat thinner, due to the building's protection. Pressed down in the ice and snow are tracks of footprints.

To the south you see a man striding through the snow. He is completely grey, as if all color had been leeched from him long ago, a black and white image in a world of technicolor. He pauses, stares at you, then continues on until he is lost in the distance. You feel a sudden chill.

The wind beats futilely against your coat.
human
You go south
gpt
The snow is impassable in that direction.

You hear a faint rumbling begin.

The air above you shimmers for a brief moment, during which a metal sphere falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
human
You look at metal sphere
gpt
A shiny metal sphere, dotted all over with tiny holes.
human
You touch it
gpt
It feels just like a metal sphere.
human
You get it
gpt
You reach down and take the sphere. As you straighten up, tiny needles spring from the thousands of holes which dot it. The needles jab through your gloves; with a curse you throw the sphere, now smeared red with your blood, away from you. As it falls it bursts into flame, oily smoke curling from it. From the center of the flame you hear an eerily familiar voice say, "Well. Interesting stunt you've pulled, coming to where I now live. I trust you'll stay for my avalanche." Then the sphere vanishes in a final burst of fire.
human
Go northeast
gpt
The building looms to the west, shadowing the path which leads north and south. Pressed down in the snow are tracks of footprints.
On the side of the building is a grey box.
human
Go north
gpt
To the north, the ground suddenly rises into tree-speckled heights. From those heights you see snow gracefully piling towards you. To the south, the building's shape breaks the smooth white carpet of the ground. Partially buried in the snow is a large post. Pressed down in the snow are many footprints.
human
You examine the cable
gpt
Which cable do you mean, the lower cable, or the upper cable?
human
Lower
gpt
It runs from somewhere near the bottom of the fence to about thirty centimeters above the snow. Its end is frayed, showing bare wire.
human
You touch it
gpt
It feels just like the lower cable.
human
You hold it
gpt
You reach down and grab hold of the bare end of the cable. The wire rasps against your gloves.

The rumbling you heard earlier has grown in volume. It sounds very close.
human
You hold the upper
gpt
You reach up and grab hold of the bare end of the cable. The wire writhes in your grasp as a surge of electricity passes through you and into the ground and the cable in your other hand. Through a blue haze you see snow fly as the fence raises up, forming a caret on the hillside above the building.

The avalanche bears down upon it, then is shunted to either side of the building. A sense of peace fills you even as you jerk in a Saint Vitus' dance.

[Press a key to continue]
human
You look at the mirror
gpt
The west wall is mostly mirror, reflecting the chair and the bright light over it.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have medical leads (being worn).
human
You look at leads
gpt
Round, cold; used for monitoring heartbeat and other vital functions. The leads are attached by wires to the monitors on one end and you on the other.
human
About yourself
gpt
What you can see of yourself is familiar.
human
You look at the monitors
gpt
The monitors are stacked next to the chair, facing it. Lights play across their surfaces, and a bright spot traces a jagged heartbeat across a square screen. Running from one of the monitors are several wires, leads attached to their other ends.

You feel hot, then cold several times in succession.
human
You examine the door
gpt
The door has a knob with which it can be locked or unlocked. It is currently open.
human
You examine iv
gpt
Hanging from the stand is a bag filled with a clear liquid--the nicotine antiaddiction drug. A needle hangs from the bag.
human
You look at the needle
gpt
Pointed, sharp. Liquid glistens from its tip.
human
Xyzzy
gpt
Nothing happens.
human
You leave
gpt
Not while you are attached to the monitors.
human
You remove the leads
gpt
With a slight sucking sound the leads come free from your temples and from your wrists. The monitors immediately begin shrilling loudly, the screen tracing out a flat line. Startled, you drop the leads.
human
Go west
gpt
You can't go that way.

You hear footsteps outside the theatre, followed by Dr. Boozer's entrance. His eyes, crinkled with concern, relax when he sees you awake. "Thank God," he says. "I thought I'd heard you flatline." You begin to crumple but Dr. Boozer moves to support you, surreptitiously taking your pulse. "Are you recovered?" he asks worriedly.

You glance down, staring past your trembling hands. You find you don't know how to answer.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 13 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
About yourself
gpt
What you can see of yourself is familiar.

You feel hot, then cold several times in succession.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have medical leads (being worn).
human
You look at leads
gpt
Round, cold; used for monitoring heartbeat and other vital functions. The leads are attached by wires to the monitors on one end and you on the other.
human
You look at the monitors
gpt
The monitors are stacked next to the chair, facing it. Lights play across their surfaces, and a bright spot traces a jagged heartbeat across a square screen. Running from one of the monitors are several wires, leads attached to their other ends.
human
You look at the mirror
gpt
The west wall is mostly mirror, reflecting the chair and the bright light over it.
human
You look in the mirror
gpt
You spend several moments gazing at your reflection and its haggard, sunken eyes.
human
You remove the leads
gpt
With a slight sucking sound the leads come free from your temples and from your wrists. The monitors immediately begin shrilling loudly, the screen tracing out a flat line. Startled, you drop the leads.

Your hands begin twitching uncontrollably. You fight to keep them still.
human
You remove the leads
gpt
Taken.

You hear footsteps outside the theatre, followed by Dr. Boozer's entrance. His eyes, crinkled with concern, relax when he sees you awake. "Thank God," he says. "I thought I'd heard you flatline." You begin to crumple but Dr. Boozer moves to support you, surreptitiously taking your pulse. "Are you recovered?" he asks worriedly.

You glance down, staring past your trembling hands. You find you don't know how to answer.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 13 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You look at the stand
gpt
Hanging from the stand is a bag filled with a clear liquid--the nicotine antiaddiction drug. A needle hangs from the bag.

Your hands begin twitching uncontrollably. You fight to keep them still.
human
You put the needle in the arm
gpt
Wincing slightly in anticipation, you jab the needle into a prominent vein. Your summer job in the hospital pays off: the needle slides home on the first try.

Ice cold, the drug races up your arm and through your chest, numbing you. Fire hot, the next wave of the drug invades your system. The walls around you blur, fade away as the world runs in technicolor streaks...

With a snap, the vision ends. You are lying prostrate on the ground, the ceiling whirling above you. Next to you, you hear Dr. Boozer's voice. "Thank God we found you in time," he says.

"Must be deranged," he whispers to the nurse who is with him. Even in your fevered state, you hear every word. "Poor kid put the IV back in." Then you drift away, the rest of Dr. Boozer's words lost.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 13 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You turn off the monitors
gpt
You turn off the monitors.
human
You remove the leads
gpt
With a slight sucking sound the leads come free from your temples and from your wrists. You drop them, leaving them dangling from the monitors.
human
Go north
gpt
The hallway runs west to east; the east end of the hall curves south towards reception. An open door lies to the south, a closed door to the north.
human
North door
gpt
It's locked.
human
You look at the north door
gpt
The door has a small keyhole beneath its knob. The door is currently closed and locked.
human
You go east
gpt
You begin walking east, then realize that that way lies reception. You quickly retrace your steps.

The fever and chills return, accompanied by a fierce pain behind your eyes.
human
Go west
gpt
The hallway bends here, running north and east. To the south is a closed door.
human
You examine the door
gpt
The door has a small keyhole beneath its knob. The door is currently closed.
human
You go south
gpt
window on its east wall. Several chairs face it.
human
You look at the window
gpt
The east wall contains a window which looks into the operating theatre where you awoke.
human
You look at chairs
gpt
The chairs, plastic and wheeled, face the glass window.
human
You go to the north
gpt
The hallway bends here, running north and east. To the south is an open door.
human
Go north
gpt
The hallway ends to the north. Doors lead north and east. A cord hangs from an outlined rectangle in the ceiling.

A cramp doubles you over, as if you were hit in the stomach. It takes all of your control to straighten up against the pain.
human
You look at the rectangle
gpt
The rectangle is outlined in the ceiling above.
human
You open the north door
gpt
It's locked.
human
You open the east door
gpt
Opened.
human
Go east
gpt
The walls of the room are lined with shelves, all of which are
neatly stocked with supplies. An open door is set in the west wall.
human
You look at the supplies
gpt
Nearly random supplies, such as needles and latex gloves. Part of the supplies are still in crates, piled high near the northeast corner.
human
Examine crates
gpt
The crates are stacked almost to the ceiling by the northeast corner, leaving a small cubby behind them.

A particularly violent spasm throws you to the floor. You stand again with some effort.
human
You enter the cubby
gpt
You hunker down behind the crates. They are just tall enough to hide you.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You are empty-handed.
human
You examine the arm
gpt
Your arms dangle from your shoulders.
human
Go west
gpt
The hallway ends to the north. Doors lead north and east. A cord hangs from an outlined rectangle in the ceiling.
human
Go south
gpt
The hallway bends here, running north and east. To the south is an open door.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The hallway runs west to east; the east end of the hall curves south towards reception. An open door lies to the south, a closed door to the north.
human
You go south
gpt
The operating theatre is dominated by a padded chair in its center,
a light just above it. On the north wall, just to the left of the door, is a bank of monitors. The west wall is mostly mirror.
Standing next to the padded chair is an IV stand, its needle
dangling from it.
Hanging from the monitors are several medical leads.

All of your symptoms attack at once: fever, chills, cramps, pain. Your vision dims as you slump to the floor. Time passes without you noticing.

The feel of cool air brings you back around. Above you, blue sky streaks by. A face intrudes, looking down at you and mouthing words you cannot hear. A glance down shows you strapped to a gurney. When you look up again, the sky has been cut off by the roof of an ambulance. You close your eyes, succumbing to a dark tide.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 13 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You turn off the monitors
gpt
You turn off the monitors.

You feel hot, then cold several times in succession.
human
You remove the leads
gpt
With a slight sucking sound the leads come free from your temples and from your wrists. You drop them, leaving them dangling from the monitors.
human
You open the door
gpt
It's already open.
human
Go north
gpt
The hallway runs west to east; the east end of the hall curves south towards reception. An open door lies to the south, a closed door to the north.
human
Go west
gpt
The hallway bends here, running north and east. To the south is a closed door.
human
You go to the north
gpt
The hallway ends to the north. Doors lead north and east. A cord hangs from an outlined rectangle in the ceiling.
human
You go to the east
gpt
(Opening the east door)
Supplies Room
The walls of the room are lined with shelves, all of which are
neatly stocked with supplies. An open door is set in the west wall.
human
You close the door
gpt
Closed.

Your hands begin twitching uncontrollably. You fight to keep them still.
human
You enter the cubby
gpt
You hunker down behind the crates. They are just tall enough to hide you and the IV stand.
human
You put the needle in the arm
gpt
Wincing slightly in anticipation, you jab the needle into a prominent vein. Your summer job in the hospital pays off: the needle slides home on the first try.

Ice cold, the drug races up your arm and through your chest, numbing you. Fire hot, the next wave of the drug invades your system. The walls around you blur, fade away as the world runs in technicolor streaks...

Fit the Second: Revisit

"play of light/a photograph/the way I used to be
some half-forgotten stranger/doesn't mean that much to me"
-- Rush

A familiar green hallway embraces you. As the world ceases its unnatural spin, you find you recognize the east-west hall. You're in Green area of the hospital where you volunteered for three months one summer.

No, not volunteered. It was coercion. You were going to be a doctor, just like father wanted, so you had to help out at a local hospital. "Looks good on your resume," everyone told you.

Three months of hell. This place cemented your desire to avoid med school.

Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.
human
You look at the woman
gpt
The woman in the wheelchair is ancient, her parchment skin deeply wrinkled and folded. Alert eyes peer from behind large octagonal glasses, eyes which follow every movement in the room.
human
You examine the wheelchair
gpt
The woman in the wheelchair is ancient, her parchment skin deeply wrinkled and folded. Alert eyes peer from behind large octagonal glasses, eyes which follow every movement in the room.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. You are fixated by the sight of their faces, or rather by their lack of ones. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Hello
gpt
"Oh, hello!" she says excitedly. Then a look of puzzled concentration crosses her face. "Have we met before?" she asks.
human
You ask the woman about herself
gpt
The old woman says, "Me? Oh, my, no sense in boring you to tears!"
human
You go east
gpt
As you walk east, the hall lengthens. With each step everything blurs, vanishing into a grey mist. Your sense of balance is lost; you stumble back the way you came.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Go west
gpt
The hall enters from the east and bends to the southwest. A small
door leads north and an open doorway graces the south wall.
human
You look at the door
gpt
The open door leads north. A plastic plaque mounted on it reads "G7."
human
You go to the north
gpt
bed in its center. There is a window, its curtains closed, on the north wall. A door leads south.

Movement at the edge of your vision causes you to whirl around. Before you complete the motion grey hands have grabbed you and dragged you backwards. You have time to register the sight of a white-haired head--familiar, but from where?--next to the bed before you are pulled from the room.

The hall enters from the east and bends to the southwest. A small
door leads north and an open doorway graces the south wall.
A grey man stands over you, grinning.

"You've been very busy," the grey man says. "Very, very busy." His voice is like a stick of butter squeezed through a fist. "Don't you even know why you're here?"
human
No
gpt
The grey man laughs at you, a horrible sound.

"No guesses?" Eyebrows lift in mock surprise. He points down the hall at the old woman in the wheelchair. "To help idiots like her, perhaps? You weren't successful the first time."

You turn away, your cheeks glowing. The time you spent volunteering at the hospital was far from enjoyable. When you look back, the grey man has vanished.
human
You go to the north
gpt
You'll have to open the small door first.
human
You open the door
gpt
It's locked.
human
Go south
gpt
The operating room is dim and smoky, lit by kerosene lamps and
candles. Through the haze you make out exits to the north, south, and west.
A group of doctors fills the room, milling about a patient.
human
You examine the patient
gpt
The poor man is enduring what passes for medical care in this room.

One of the doctors takes a glass cup from its stand over a candle and applies it to the patient's skin, making the man writhe.
human
You look at the cup
gpt
Various pieces of medical equipment lie scattered about the room and held in doctors' hands.
human
You look at the patient
gpt
The poor man is enduring what passes for medical care in this room.
human
You go south
gpt
A nondescript hall leading east to northwest. To the north is an
open doorway. The ever-present stripe changes color to the east, just beyond a sign.
human
You look at the sign
gpt
The sign hangs from the ceiling to the west. It reads, "Leave Green/Enter Purple" in the appropriate colors.
human
Go south
gpt
You can't go that way.

From further down the hall you hear the familiar squeak of a gurney. A faceless man in blue scrubs is pushing it. A shape on the gurney is completely covered by the white sheet draped over it. The shape occasionally writhes, as if in terrible pain. You watch until you can no longer see them.
human
Go east
gpt
The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The doors are locked.
human
Go north
gpt
An east-south bend in the hall. To the south are several stairs.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east and south.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign.
human
You go south
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
An attendant is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles, upon seeing you, cocks its head at you as it stands. The dog is quite a bit larger than it was before.
human
You examine the dog
gpt
Bubbles resembles a corgi. In fact, it looks like the corgi you begged your father for when you were eight. It has recently grown out of early puppyhood.
human
You examine the attendant
gpt
Glancing at her, you feel a shock of recognition. It's Linda, the woman you disliked most while working here. With her flaming red hair and her patronizing attitude towards anyone younger than she, she was hated by many in the hospital.

Bubbles growls softly, baring teeth at Linda. Linda glares back at the dog. "Don't you let that mutt bite me," she tells you.
human
You look at Linda
gpt
Linda has fiery red hair and long black fingernails. She has made a career of being angry.
human
Attack
gpt
What do you want Bubbles to attack?
human
You look at what you're carrying with you
gpt
You are empty-handed.

Bubbles growls softly, baring teeth at Linda. Linda glares back at the dog. "Don't you let that mutt bite me," she tells you.
human
You examine the doors
gpt
The doors are spring-loaded so as to close automatically.
human
You open the doors
gpt
The doors are locked.
human
You look
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
Linda is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You examine magazines
gpt
The magazines are all years out of date.
human
You read the magazines
gpt
You pick one up and leaf through it. All of its pages are slate grey, completely empty.
human
Go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
There is a nurse here, talking with a patient.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the south.

The nurse, satisfied, wheels the gurney through the swinging doors to the north. The remaining patients call after her.

From further down the hall you hear the familiar squeak of a gurney. A faceless man in blue scrubs is pushing it. A shape on the gurney is completely covered by the white sheet draped over it. The shape occasionally writhes, as if in terrible pain. You watch until you can no longer see them.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south, east, and west.
human
You go to the west
gpt
An east-south bend in the hall. To the south are several stairs.
human
You go east
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
human
Go east
gpt
Two doors, one on the north wall and one on the south, flank this east-west hall. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west.
human
Go west
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
There is a nurse here.

The nurse moves to the patient at the head of the line and begins taking a history.
human
You go south
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
Linda is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, staring at you with soulful eyes.
human
You examine the counter
gpt
The counter is next to the north hallway. It is pushed nearly against the east wall, leaving little room for the attendant behind it. Signs dot its front surface.
human
You examine the signs
gpt
The signs are all ones you remember from your time here: "Payment expected at time of treatment unless prior arrangements are made," "No pets, guide dogs excepted," and your personal favorite, "No smoking." Someone has raked ashes across the last sign.
human
Go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
There is a nurse here, talking with a patient.

The nurse, satisfied, wheels the gurney through the swinging doors to the north. The remaining patients call after her.
human
You follow you
gpt
Bubbles gets up and trots over to you.

Bubbles growls softly, baring teeth at Linda. Linda glares back at the dog. "Don't you let that mutt bite me," she tells you.
human
Go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the south.

The nurse reenters the hallway from the north, wheeling a gurney covered in a fine coating of ash. She pushes the gurney west, then returns a few seconds later empty-handed.
human
Go east
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.

From further down the hall you hear the familiar squeak of a gurney. A faceless man in blue scrubs is pushing it. A shape on the gurney is completely covered by the white sheet draped over it. The shape occasionally writhes, as if in terrible pain. You watch until you can no longer see them.
human
Go north
gpt
A sterile white room, bereft of any humanizing touches. A bed surrounded by medical equipment is the sole piece of furniture in the room. Judging from its rumpled condition, this room is occupied.
human
You look at the bed
gpt
A hospital bed, designed for utility rather than comfort.
human
You go east
gpt
An east-west hall with an orange strip coloring the wall just below
the ceiling. There is an open door in the south wall.
human
You go to the east
gpt
As you walk east, the hall lengthens. With each step everything blurs, vanishing into a grey mist. Your sense of balance is lost; you stumble back the way you came.
human
You go south
gpt
In the center of the room, a bed. In the bed, a huddled shape.
Beside the bed, murmuring equipment. To the north is a door.
Lying on a shelf is a strangely-glowing globe.
human
You take the globe
gpt
As your hands close around the globe, you feel a tingling in your fingers. The tingling quickly grows, becomes horrendous pain. You jerk back your hands; the feeling of having dipped them in lava fades.

The shape under the bed sits up, startling you. A withered hand grabs you, leaving streaks of blood on your arm. The man is trying to say something, a violent exercise which makes his head shake with effort. He finally points to the globe on the shelf, making a horrible keening noise, before collapsing back under the sheets.
human
You examine man
gpt
The shape underneath the covers is barely recognizable as a man. Tubes snake around and through his body; what skin he still owns he wears poorly. The rise and fall of his chest are uneven.
human
You examine the globe
gpt
Its borders are nebulous; it gives off a faint glow.
human
You take the globe
gpt
As your hands close around the globe, you feel a tingling in your fingers. The tingling quickly grows, becomes horrendous pain. You jerk back your hands; the feeling of having dipped them in lava fades.
human
You look at the box
gpt
The gunmetal-grey box is attached to the side of the building, marring its otherwise smooth surface. Its cover is open, revealing a row of breakers inside and a list taped to the box door.
human
You look at the breakers
gpt
There are eight breakers, arranged in two rows of four.
human
You look at the first breaker
gpt
The breaker is currently on.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a thin coat (being worn), a pair of gloves (being worn), a light sphere, a pair of sunglasses (being worn), a length of rope, and a rucksack. The rucksack seems to contain a fool and a tuft of insulation.
human
You put all in the rucksack
gpt
fool: The fool is already in the rucksack!
tuft of insulation: The tuft of insulation is already in the rucksack! thin coat: (Taking off the thin coat first)
Done.
heavy gloves: (Taking off the gloves first)
Done.
light sphere: Done.
sunglasses: (Taking off the sunglasses first)
Done.
rope: Done.
rucksack: You can't put the rucksack in itself!
human
You turn the east wheel clockwise
gpt
The wheel refuses to turn further in that direction.
human
You turn east wheel CCW
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the south side of the room is higher than it was, the north side lower.

With a loud blorp, the flow of sludge increases. Noticeably.
human
Continue
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the south side of the room is higher than it was, the north side lower.
human
Keep going
gpt
The wheel, stubborn, refuses to turn further in that direction.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You look at the heater
gpt
It is an old-fashioned wood-burning heater, standing a few centimeters above the ground on metal legs. Heat pours from it in waves. Its most noticeable feature isn't: it has no smoke stack.
human
You turn south wheel ccw
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the west side of the room is higher than it was, the east side lower.
human
You turn south wheel ccw
gpt
You give the wheel a counterclockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the west side of the room is higher than it was, the east side lower. The flow of sludge alters course, until it is collecting near the northeast corner.
human
You ask Frankie about the sludge
gpt
Frankie says, "I don't know. Sam was studying it. He thought it was connected somehow to the spheres. All he was able to discover about it was that it was highly toxic and flammable."

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You turn east wheel cw
gpt
You give the wheel a clockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the north side of the room is higher than it was, the south side lower.
human
Turn south wheel cw
gpt
You give the wheel a clockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering and the pyramid of spheres to shaking. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the east side of the room is higher than it was, the west side lower. The flow of sludge alters course, until it is collecting near the middle of the room.
human
You turn east wheel cw
gpt
You give the wheel a clockwise spin. As you do, a groaning, shuddering sound emanates from beneath your feet. The floor tilts alarmingly, sending the balances to chattering. The pyramid of spheres shakes but stays together. Frankie spares you a glance; Bubbles looks surprised. When you are done the north side of the room is higher than it was, the south side lower. The flow of sludge alters course, until it is collecting near the entrance.

The flow of sludge triples, then triples again. There is a loud sizzle as it engulfs the heater, extinguishing it. The flow reaches the pile of spheres, turning them all black, then dissolving them.

"Come on!" Frankie shouts in horror, abandoning his task. He grabs your arm and drags you up the stairs, pulling the trapdoor shut behind him.

The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. A trapdoor in the floor marks where the stairs used to be. To the east is an open door.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
Frankie is here.
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

Frankie looks at his hands, surprised to find he is still carrying a sphere. He holds it up to the light; it has turned black as pitch. "The sludge must've hit it," he says. Then he smiles at you, sadly. "It would have been nice to be able to finish." He shrugs resignedly, dropping the sphere. "Ah, well. See you round." He turns and walks into the hallway, but as he does, he separates into thousands of grains, a painting by Seurat. The grains separate, caught in a sudden zephyr, and are gone.
human
You look at the sphere
gpt
Which sphere do you mean, the dark sphere, or the light sphere?
human
You pull the arm
gpt
After a bout of experimentation you discover that you can raise and lower the sentinel's hands.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You examine the hands
gpt
Metal hands, held cupped in front of the statue. The arms to which the hands belong are hinged at the elbow.
human
You put the dark in the hands
gpt
You can't put the sentinel anywhere.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You are empty-handed.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Go west
gpt
The room is hot and stifling; cobwebs drip from every surface. A hot-water tank crouches in one corner. A trapdoor in the floor marks where the stairs used to be. To the east is an open door.
You see a dark sphere here.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You take the dark
gpt
You bend down and pick it up. A sudden tremor seizes your arm muscles, then stops.
human
You put dark sphere in the hands
gpt
You place the dark sphere in the sentinel's hands. A shudder wracks the sentinel. Its hands lower, dropping the sphere onto the floor.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You take the dark sphere
gpt
Taken.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go east
gpt
The walkway ends to the south in a blank wall. A doorway to the
west and the remainder of the walkway to the north allow egress.
human
You go to the north
gpt
The walkway runs along the west wall of the hallway. To the
southeast, a sweeping staircase meets the hallway from below. An open door is to the west. Above the door is a clock.
human
You go west
gpt
The tiny closet is dank and has a strange smell. It is unfinished;
in many places unadorned sheetrock and insulation show. The only light in the room comes from the bare bulb above you. Dangling from it is a pull cord.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You put the light sphere in the hands
gpt
You place the light sphere in the sentinel's hands.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Go south
gpt
The walkway runs east and west here.
human
Go east
gpt
The walkway bends to the south; you follow it.

The walkway runs along the east wall of the hallway. A sweeping staircase joins the walkway to the southwest.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go south
gpt
foyer. There is a doorway to the east; the walkway continues to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go east
gpt
The library is a harshly-lit backwards L curving around the end of
the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You raise the arms
gpt
The sentinel's hands will move no further.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You put the light sphere in the hands
gpt
You place the light sphere in the sentinel's hands.
human
Go east
gpt
The library is a harshly-lit backwards L curving around the end of
the building. Shelves filled with books take up much of the room; the rest is inhabited by stacks of books. A metal sentinel guards the west exit; on the other side of the exit is a light switch. There is a clock above the sentinel.
In the sentinel's hands you see a light sphere.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You take the light sphere
gpt
Taken.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You go to the south
gpt
Bubbles begins barking at you fiercely, dancing in front of you and impeding your progress. You nearly have to jump over Bubbles to get past, at which point it lies on the floor, staring mournfully at you as you leave.

You can see little through the glare of sun on snow. The building
to the north is just visible, but everything else is a wash of bright white.

Through the glare you can make out a man striding through the snow to the south. He is completely grey, as if all color had been leeched from him long ago, a black and white image in a world of technicolor. He pauses, stares at you, then continues on until he is lost in the distance. You feel a sudden chill.

You begin to feel the cold seep into you, chilling you.
human
You go south
gpt
The snow is impassable in that direction.

You hear a faint rumbling begin.

The air above you shimmers for a brief moment, during which a metal sphere falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
human
You take the metal sphere
gpt
You fumble around blindly in the snow, but cannot find what you seek.

The cold is becoming worse, making your fingers slow to work.
human
Go north
gpt
The two-story height of the foyer is channelled into a narrower
hallway to the north. On the north wall to the west of the hallway's beginning is an open doorway. The building's entrance to the south is reflected in the marble floor.
Tracked across the marble floor are muddy footprints.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles sees you and jumps up, barking loudly at your return.

Your hands are working again, albeit a little stiffly.

The metal sphere rolls towards you. When it is less than a meter away it stops, waiting.
human
You take the metal sphere
gpt
You reach down and take the sphere. As you straighten up, tiny needles spring from the thousands of holes which dot it. With a curse you throw the sphere, now smeared red with your blood, away from you. As it falls it bursts into flame, oily smoke curling from it. From the center of the flame you hear an eerily familiar voice say, "Well. Interesting stunt you've pulled, coming to where I now live. I trust you'll stay for my avalanche." Then the sphere vanishes in a final burst of fire.
human
You go south
gpt
Bubbles begins barking at you fiercely, dancing in front of you and impeding your progress. You nearly have to jump over Bubbles to get past, at which point it lies on the floor, staring mournfully at you as you leave.

You can see little through the glare of sun on snow. The building
to the north is just visible, but everything else is a wash of bright white.
human
Go west
gpt
The snow is impassable in that direction.

The cold is becoming worse, making your fingers slow to work.
human
You wait awhile
gpt
Time passes...

The rumbling you heard earlier has grown in volume. It sounds very close.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

Your eyelids are becoming gummed. It is now a struggle to keep moving.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

Strangely enough, you are no longer cold. The enveloping warmth you now feel is soothing.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

You sink to the ground, lassitude overcoming you. Just a rest, you think, and then onward.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 13 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You look at the sack
gpt
It is made of heavy denim and looks well-used. The rucksack is open and seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a thin coat, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a length of rope, a dark sphere, and a light sphere.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You go to the south
gpt
Bubbles begins barking at you fiercely, dancing in front of you and impeding your progress. You nearly have to jump over Bubbles to get past, at which point it lies on the floor, staring mournfully at you as you leave.

The building to the north is now covered with snow. Under your feet
it squeaks with the sound of deep-seated ice. To the northeast and northwest the snow is somewhat thinner, due to the building's protection. Pressed down in the ice and snow are tracks of footprints.

To the south you see a man striding through the snow. He is completely grey, as if all color had been leeched from him long ago, a black and white image in a world of technicolor. He pauses, stares at you, then continues on until he is lost in the distance. You feel a sudden chill.

You begin to feel the cold seep into you, chilling you.
human
You go northeast
gpt
The building looms to the west, shadowing the path which leads north and south. Pressed down in the snow are tracks of footprints.
On the side of the building is a grey box.

You hear a faint rumbling begin.

The air above you shimmers for a brief moment, during which a metal sphere falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
human
You take the metal sphere
gpt
You reach down and take the sphere. As you straighten up, tiny needles spring from the thousands of holes which dot it. With a curse you throw the sphere, now smeared red with your blood, away from you. As it falls it bursts into flame, oily smoke curling from it. From the center of the flame you hear an eerily familiar voice say, "Well. Interesting stunt you've pulled, coming to where I now live. I trust you'll stay for my avalanche." Then the sphere vanishes in a final burst of fire.
human
Go north
gpt
To the north, the ground suddenly rises into tree-speckled heights. From those heights you see snow gracefully piling towards you. To the south, the building's shape breaks the smooth white carpet of the ground. Partially buried in the snow is a large post. Pressed down in the snow are many footprints.

The cold is becoming worse, making your fingers slow to work.
human
Examine post
gpt
Its square outline thrusts skywards from the snow. A dark line in the snow runs beside it, northwest to southeast. From the line a cable issues. The cable's twin dangles from the post, then scurries down its length and into the snow on the side of the post opposite the line.
human
You take the upper cable
gpt
You reach up and grab hold of the bare end of the cable. The wire writhes in your grasp as a surge of electricity passes through you and into the ground. Sparks leap gleefully between your rigid fingers, between you and the post, between you and the lower cable. For a moment, improbably, you are a living Jacob's ladder. You begin to lose consciousness as your clothes smoulder, then burst into flames.

The pain is mercifully brief.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 13 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You take the lower cable
gpt
You reach down and grab hold of the bare end of the cable. The wire rubs against your hand.
human
You go north
gpt
The hallway runs west to east; the east end of the hall curves south towards reception. An open door lies to the south, a closed door to the north.

You feel hot, then cold several times in succession.
human
You close the door
gpt
Closed.
human
You enter the cubby
gpt
You hunker down behind the crates. They are just tall enough to hide you and the IV stand.
human
You put the needle in the arm
gpt
Wincing slightly in anticipation, you jab the needle into a prominent vein. Your summer job in the hospital pays off: the needle slides home on the first try.

Ice cold, the drug races up your arm and through your chest, numbing you. Fire hot, the next wave of the drug invades your system. The walls around you blur, fade away as the world runs in technicolor streaks...

Fit the Second: Revisit

"play of light/a photograph/the way I used to be
some half-forgotten stranger/doesn't mean that much to me"
-- Rush

A familiar green hallway embraces you. As the world ceases its unnatural spin, you find you recognize the east-west hall. You're in Green area of the hospital where you volunteered for three months one summer.

No, not volunteered. It was coercion. You were going to be a doctor, just like father wanted, so you had to help out at a local hospital. "Looks good on your resume," everyone told you.

Three months of hell. This place cemented your desire to avoid med school.

Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.
human
You go northwest
gpt
A U-shaped hall, entering from the northeast. The floor slopes
gently down as it rounds the curve towards the southeast. Directly across from you is a doorway leading east.
human
You go to the southeast
gpt
A nondescript hall leading east to northwest. To the north is an
open doorway. The ever-present stripe changes color to the east, just beyond a sign.

A man passes by, dressed in blue scrubs. Where his face should be there is nothing. He is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.
human
You go to the east
gpt
The operating room is mildly clean; evidently Lister's ideas have
begun to catch on, though they are applied haphazardly. There are exits to the north, south, and west.
A group of doctors fills the room, milling about a patient.
human
Go east
gpt
The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.

A patient slowly makes her way down the hall, pushing an IV stand. She has no face--her head is featureless. She continues down the hall and out of sight.
human
You go to the north
gpt
Shiny and clean. The only feature which breaks the sterility of the room is a pile of crates stacked in the northeast corner. There are exits to the north, south, and west.
A group of doctors and nurses is milling about a patient on a
gurney.

The doctors cover the now-dead patient and wheel him out. One nurse lingers for a moment, fingering a glass vial. She absentmindedly places it on the crates while exiting to the north.
human
You look at the vial
gpt
The glass vial has a rubber top and is partially filled with a clear liquid. A label wraps around it.
human
You take the vial
gpt
The vial turns out to be wet; it slips between your fingers and hits the floor. It doesn't break, thankfully, but it does roll under the crates and out of view.
human
You read the label
gpt
"Novocaine."
human
You look under the crate
gpt
You can barely see something at the far end of the gap.
human
You enter the gap
gpt
The space is much too small for you.
human
You look at the gap
gpt
The gap is barely wide enough for your arm and is very deep. It is too dark for you to make out any other details.
human
You put the arm in gap
gpt
You reach in the gap. Your hand encounters nothing, no matter how hard you strain.
human
You go north
gpt
bed in its center. There is a window, its curtains closed, on the north wall. A door leads south.
Coiled on the floor where it was carelessly dropped is a blood
pressure cuff.
human
You look at the cuff
gpt
The blood pressure cuff has a dial and an inflation bulb.
human
You open the curtains
gpt
Opening the curtains, instead of revealing the green lawn which surrounds this hospital, reveals a grey mist which clings to the window. It is translucent, admitting a diffuse light but no glimpse of what's beyond.
human
You close the curtains
gpt
You draw the curtains against the grey mist.
human
Go south
gpt
The hall enters from the east and bends to the southwest. A small
door leads north and an open doorway graces the south wall.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. You are fixated by the sight of their faces, or rather by their lack of ones. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Go south
gpt
Shiny and clean. The only feature which breaks the sterility of the room is a pile of crates stacked in the northeast corner. There are exits to the north, south, and west.
Sitting on the crates you see a glass vial.
human
You go west
gpt
A U-shaped hall, entering from the northeast. The floor slopes
gently down as it rounds the curve towards the southeast. Directly across from you is a doorway leading east.
human
You look at the sign
gpt
The sign hangs from the ceiling to the west. It reads, "Leave Purple/Enter Green" in the appropriate colors.
human
You go northwest
gpt
A U-shaped hall, entering from the northeast. The floor slopes
gently down as it rounds the curve towards the southeast. Directly across from you is a doorway leading east.

A man passes by, dressed in a white coat. Where his face should be there is nothing. He is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.
human
Go east
gpt
Shiny and clean. The only feature which breaks the sterility of the room is a pile of crates stacked in the northeast corner. There are exits to the north, south, and west.
Sitting on the crates you see a glass vial.
human
You go north
gpt
bed in its center. There is a window, its curtains closed, on the north wall. A door leads south.
human
You go east
gpt
The doors are locked.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Go north
gpt
The doors will not budge for you. As you push harder, a squirt of grey smoke escapes from behind them.

The nurse reenters the hallway from the north, wheeling a gurney covered in a fine coating of ash. She pushes the gurney west, then returns a few seconds later empty-handed.
human
Go east
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.

A patient slowly makes her way down the hall, pushing an IV stand. She has no face--her head is featureless. She continues down the hall and out of sight.
human
You examine the north plaque
gpt
It reads "O7."
human
You examine the south plaque
gpt
It reads "O6."
human
You look at the ceiling sign
gpt
The sign hangs from the ceiling to the west. It reads, "Leave Orange/Enter Purple" in the appropriate colors.

From further down the hall you hear the familiar squeak of a gurney. A faceless man in blue scrubs is pushing it. A shape on the gurney is completely covered by the white sheet draped over it. The shape occasionally writhes, as if in terrible pain. You watch until you can no longer see them.
human
Go west
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.

The nurse reenters the hallway from the north, wheeling a gurney covered in a fine coating of ash. She pushes the gurney west, then returns a few seconds later empty-handed.
human
You examine the sign
gpt
The sign hangs from the ceiling to the west. It reads, "Leave Purple/Enter Orange" in the appropriate colors.

The nurse moves to the patient at the head of the line and begins taking a history.
human
You go to the south
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
An attendant is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles, upon seeing you, cocks its head at you as it stands. The dog is quite a bit larger than it was before. It is wearing the rucksack and, you would swear, grinning at you.
human
You examine the dog
gpt
Bubbles resembles a corgi. In fact, it looks like the corgi you begged your father for when you were eight. It has recently grown out of early puppyhood. It is wearing the rucksack.
human
You take the rucksack
gpt
Taken.

Bubbles growls softly, baring teeth at the attendant. The attendant glares back at the dog. "Don't you let that mutt bite me," she tells you.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a blood pressure cuff and a rucksack. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a thin coat, a pair of gloves, a length of rope, a dark sphere, a light sphere, and a pair of sunglasses.
human
Look around
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
An attendant is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
Go south
gpt
You push open the glass doors that lie between you and the outside. As you do, a grey mist begins pouring through the door. You can't see a thing outside. You're not even sure if there _is_ an outside. You let the doors swing shut in front of you.
human
You go to the north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
There is a nurse here, talking with a patient.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the south.

The nurse, satisfied, wheels the gurney through the swinging doors to the north. The remaining patients call after her.
human
You go south
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
An attendant is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, staring at you with soulful eyes.
human
You go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
You examine the sign
gpt
The sign hangs from the ceiling to the west. It reads, "Leave Purple/Enter Orange" in the appropriate colors.

The nurse reenters the hallway from the north, wheeling a gurney covered in a fine coating of ash. She pushes the gurney west, then returns a few seconds later empty-handed.
human
Go north
gpt
The doors will not budge for you. As you push harder, a squirt of grey smoke escapes from behind them.

The nurse moves to the patient at the head of the line and begins taking a history.
human
You go south
gpt
The unoccupied room is an oddity in this hospital. Like other
hospital rooms, it sports a bed and an excess of medical equipment. Leaning in a corner is a white cane.
human
You examine the cane
gpt
The cane is white with a red tip. Its grip is worn with use.
human
Go east
gpt
An east-west hall with an orange strip coloring the wall just below
the ceiling. There is an open door in the south wall.

A patient slowly makes her way down the hall, pushing an IV stand. She has no face--her head is featureless. She continues down the hall and out of sight.
human
You examine the globe
gpt
Its borders are nebulous; it gives off a faint glow.

The shape under the bed sits up, startling you. A withered hand grabs you, leaving streaks of blood on your arm. The man is trying to say something, a violent exercise which makes his head shake with effort. He finally points to the globe on the shelf, making a horrible keening noise, before collapsing back under the sheets.
human
You take the globe
gpt
As your hands close around the globe, you feel a tingling in your fingers even through the gloves. The tingling quickly grows, becomes horrendous pain. You jerk back your hands; the feeling of having dipped them in lava fades.
human
You ask the man about the globe
gpt
The man's eyes pop open, fever bright. His lips move soundlessly; exhausted from the effort, he sinks further into his bed.
human
You go north
gpt
An east-west hall with an orange strip coloring the wall just below
the ceiling. There is an open door in the south wall.

A man passes by, dressed in blue scrubs. Where his face should be there is nothing. He is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.
human
You go to the east
gpt
As you walk east, the hall lengthens. With each step everything blurs, vanishing into a grey mist. Your sense of balance is lost; you stumble back the way you came.
human
You go west
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
There is a nurse here, talking with a patient.
human
You look at the stairs
gpt
Four steps leading south.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east and south.
human
Go east
gpt
The doors are locked.

A woman passes by, dressed in blue scrubs. Where her face should be there is nothing. She is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.
human
You take the vial
gpt
The vial turns out to be wet; it slips between your gloved fingers and hits the floor. It doesn't break, thankfully, but it does roll under the crates and out of view.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a blood pressure cuff, a rucksack (being worn), a white cane, and a pair of gloves (being worn). The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a thin coat, a length of rope, a dark sphere, a light sphere, and a pair of sunglasses.
human
You open the curtains
gpt
Behind the curtains and the window, the grey mist remains.
human
You examine the mist
gpt
It has a greasy look to it; it rubs against the window, leaving tracks of moisture.
human
You go east
gpt
A hospital hall running east-west. A green stripe just below the ceiling decorates the otherwise-bland walls. The hum of fluorescent lighting is barely audible.
Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.

A patient slowly makes his way down the hall, pushing an IV stand. He has no face--his head is featureless. He continues down the hall and out of sight.
human
Go north
gpt
bed in its center. There is a window, its curtains open, on the north wall. A door leads south.
human
You examine the equipment
gpt
Through the long months you worked here you never discovered their purpose.
human
You look under the bed
gpt
You find some dust, which you take.
human
Go east
gpt
A hospital hall running east-west. A green stripe just below the ceiling decorates the otherwise-bland walls. The hum of fluorescent lighting is barely audible.
Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.

From further down the hall you hear the familiar squeak of a gurney. A faceless man in blue scrubs is pushing it. A shape on the gurney is completely covered by the white sheet draped over it. The shape occasionally writhes, as if in terrible pain. You watch until you can no longer see them.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east and west.
human
You go to the east
gpt
As you walk east, the hall lengthens. With each step everything blurs, vanishing into a grey mist. Your sense of balance is lost; you stumble back the way you came.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a blood pressure cuff, a rucksack (being worn), a white cane, a pair of gloves, and some dust. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a thin coat, a length of rope, a dark sphere, a light sphere, and a pair of sunglasses.
human
You look at the cuff
gpt
The blood pressure cuff has a dial and an inflation bulb.
human
You look at the gap
gpt
The gap is barely wide enough for your arm and is very deep. By straining your eyes, you can just make out the shadow of something deep within the gap.
human
Go south
gpt
A nondescript hall leading east to northwest. To the north is an
open doorway. The ever-present stripe changes color to the east, just beyond a sign.

A patient slowly makes his way down the hall, pushing an IV stand. He has no face--his head is featureless. He continues down the hall and out of sight.
human
You look at attendant
gpt
Glancing at her, you feel a shock of recognition. It's Linda, the woman you disliked most while working here. With her flaming red hair and her patronizing attitude towards anyone younger than she, she was hated by many in the hospital.
human
You give the dust to Linda
gpt
Linda rejects the offer.
human
You ask Linda about Linda
gpt
"I don't have time for stupid questions." She rolls her eyes in exasperation.
human
Go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A line of patients on gurneys fills the hallway.
There is a nurse here.

A sudden scream from further down the line. Both you and the nurse jump; she runs to the patient, then returns, wheeling him at high speed. She holds out a horrible-smelling sac filled with a black substance. "Here!" she snaps. "Colostomy bag. Take it, quick!" You remember why you chose not to go to med school.
human
You take the bag
gpt
It slithers warmly in your grasp.

The nurse looks at you gratefully as she wheels the patient north. As she and the patient pass through the doors, one of the blank-faced men slips past her and into the hall. He takes the colostomy bag from you and reenters the north doors. It takes a moment for you to realize the bag is really gone, another to realize that you are now covered in a light sheen of sweat.
human
Go north
gpt
The doors will not budge for you. As you push harder, a squirt of grey smoke escapes from behind them.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
You go south
gpt
world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
Linda is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, staring at you with soulful eyes.
human
You wear the glasses
gpt
Everything becomes a little dimmer as you put on the sunglasses.
human
Go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign. A few patients on gurneys line the hallway.
There is a nurse here.

The nurse begins talking to a patient, but is brought up short by something. She turns and sees you. She beams. "Terry, glad you're still here. I'm missing my BP cuff--must've dropped it somewhere in Green. Go get it for me, will you?" She hands you a hall pass. "In case someone harasses you," she says with a wink before turning back to another patient.
human
You take the cuff
gpt
You already have the blood pressure cuff!
human
You give the cuff to the nurse
gpt
The nurse thanks you as she applies the BP cuff to a patient and takes a reading.
human
You examine the pass
gpt
The hall pass is a laminated card with colors around its edges to show what areas the bearer is authorized to enter. This one is edged in purple and green stripes.

The nurse, satisfied, wheels the gurney through the swinging doors to the north.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a rucksack (being worn), a white cane, a pair of gloves, some dust, a pair of sunglasses (being worn), and a hall pass. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a thin coat, a length of rope, a dark sphere, and a light sphere.
human
You put the dust in the sack
gpt
Done.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Go north
gpt
Shiny and clean. The only feature which breaks the sterility of the room is a pile of crates stacked in the northeast corner. There are exits to the north, south, and west.
human
Go east
gpt
A hospital hall running east-west. A green stripe just below the ceiling decorates the otherwise-bland walls. The hum of fluorescent lighting is barely audible.
Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.
human
Go east
gpt
As you walk east, the hall lengthens. With each step everything blurs, vanishing into a grey mist. Your sense of balance is lost; you stumble back the way you came.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the old woman's chin nods towards her chest. Shortly after the chin has completed its journey, soft snores begin floating from her.
human
You remove the glasses
gpt
You remove the sunglasses.
human
You look at the pass
gpt
The hall pass is a laminated card with colors around its edges to show what areas the bearer is authorized to enter. This one is edged in purple and green stripes.

The old woman begins humming to herself. She rolls to the south.
human
You go south
gpt
The hall enters from the east and bends to the southwest. A small
door leads north and an open doorway graces the south wall.
Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.

From behind you, you hear humming. Surprised, you turn around to see the old woman humming "Amazing Grace" to herself. When she notices your scrutiny she stops, her cheeks coloring slightly.
human
You ask the woman about the wheelchair
gpt
The old woman says, "Me? Oh, my, no sense in boring you to tears!"

The old woman in the wheelchair rolls up to you. "You know, seeing you reminds me of when John and I went to Paris. Have you ever been to Paris?" she asks.
human
Yes
gpt
"Ooh, I'm so glad!" she replies.

From further down the hall you hear the familiar squeak of a gurney. A faceless man in blue scrubs is pushing it. A shape on the gurney is completely covered by the white sheet draped over it. The shape occasionally writhes, as if in terrible pain. You watch until you can no longer see them.
human
You ask woman about the paris
gpt
"I've been to Paris!" she tells you excitedly. "You must go and see it some time. It's lovely!"
human
You ask the woman about John
gpt
The old woman says, "Have you seen John?" Her eyes light up. "He's been on a business trip."

"I wonder where my son got off to," says the old woman. She rolls to the east.
human
Go east
gpt
A hospital hall running east-west. A green stripe just below the ceiling decorates the otherwise-bland walls. The hum of fluorescent lighting is barely audible.
Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.
human
You ask the woman about the son
gpt
"Have you seen him?" she asks you excitedly. "He's getting married soon, you know," she adds in a conspiratorial whisper.
human
You ask the woman about the son
gpt
"My son's visiting me for his birthday. Did you know that he'll be seven today?"
human
You go to the south
gpt
You can't go that way.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the old woman's chin nods towards her chest. Shortly after the chin has completed its journey, soft snores begin floating from her.
human
You describe your surroundings
gpt
A hospital hall running east-west. A green stripe just below the ceiling decorates the otherwise-bland walls. The hum of fluorescent lighting is barely audible.
Slumped in a wheelchair, asleep, is an old woman.
human
Go west
gpt
The hall enters from the east and bends to the southwest. A small
door leads north and an open doorway graces the south wall.

A woman passes by, dressed in blue scrubs. Where her face should be there is nothing. She is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.
human
Wear coat
gpt
As you wear the coat you feel the insulation inside crackling. The coat is very warm.

Bubbles's tail hits the ground softly.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You have a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses (being worn), a hall pass, and a thin coat (being worn).
human
You go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the south.

A woman passes by, dressed in a white coat. Where her face should be there is nothing. She is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.
human
You follow the dog
gpt
But Bubbles is right here!
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You have a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses (being worn), a hall pass, and a thin coat (being worn).
human
You examine the cane
gpt
The cane is white with a red tip. Its grip is worn with use.
human
You show the linda hall pass
gpt
Linda grimaces. "Okay, so you can come and go as you please. Big deal." But she looks distinctly unhappy. You hear what sounds remarkably like snickering coming from Bubbles.
human
You show the cane to Linda
gpt
"You think I've got nothing better to do than look at that?" she asks you.
human
You go to the north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign.
human
You take the sack
gpt
Taken.

Bubbles's tail hits the ground softly.
human
You put it in the sack
gpt
Okay, you're no longer wearing the thin coat.

A woman passes by, dressed in a white coat. Where her face should be there is nothing. She is soon out of sight, hidden by a turn in the hall.

Done.
human
You take the chair
gpt
How rude!
human
You give the pass to the woman
gpt
With a start, the old woman wakes up. "Yes? Yes?" she asks querulously.
human
Keep going
gpt
She waves you off. "No, no, I don't need that," she says.
human
You look at the stripe
gpt
A stripe of green running just below the ceiling.
human
You look at the sign
gpt
The sign hangs from the ceiling to the west. It reads, "Leave Green/Enter Purple" in the appropriate colors.
human
You take the sign
gpt
It's too far away.
human
You go east
gpt
The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Go east
gpt
As you walk east, the hall lengthens. With each step everything blurs, vanishing into a grey mist. Your sense of balance is lost; you stumble back the way you came.

Down the hall, a shapeless, faceless patient in a white gown shuffles towards you. You cannot guess the sex of wraith-like person, even when he (she?) is merely feet away. You watch the patient until you can no longer see the white gown.
human
You go south
gpt
The unoccupied room is an oddity in this hospital. Like other
hospital rooms, it sports a bed and an excess of medical equipment.
human
Go north
gpt
The doors will not budge for you. As you push harder, a squirt of grey smoke escapes from behind them.
human
You go to the south
gpt
You can't go that way.

The old woman in the wheelchair rolls up to you. "You know, seeing you reminds me of when John and I went to Paris. Have you ever been to Paris?" she asks.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
You look at the doors
gpt
The doors are spring-loaded so as to close automatically. In one of them is a keyhole in which a key is thrust.
human
You unlock the doors with the key
gpt
Unlocked.
human
You go east
gpt
You push past the doors, which shut behind you.

world. Chairs are strewn about at random; on several there are magazines. A counter guards the hall leading north. Above it is a speaker. To the west are a set of wide double doors labeled "Deliveries." South is the hospital exit.
Linda is here, sitting behind the counter.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, staring at you with soulful eyes.
human
Go west
gpt
You push past the doors, which shut behind you on Linda's startled exclamation.

The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.
human
Go east
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign.

Down the hall, a shapeless, faceless patient in a white gown shuffles towards you. You cannot guess the sex of wraith-like person, even when he (she?) is merely feet away. You watch the patient until you can no longer see the white gown.
human
You examine man
gpt
The shape underneath the covers is barely recognizable as a man. Tubes snake around and through his body; what skin he still owns he wears poorly. The rise and fall of his chest are uneven.
human
You ask the woman about the man
gpt
The woman says, "Oh, dear, I really can't help you with that."

The old woman begins humming to herself. She rolls to the north.
human
Go north
gpt
An east-west hall with an orange strip coloring the wall just below
the ceiling. There is an open door in the south wall.
Seated in a wheelchair is an old woman.
human
You look at the woman
gpt
The woman is ancient, her waxy skin draped loosely about her.

A doctor, notable for his unmissing face, walks by the door. He is back in seconds, striding into the room. Leaning over the old woman, he shakes her. "I'm Doctor John; can you hear me? Ma'am?" Her lack of response prompts him to lean out into the hall and shout: "Woman down, unresponsive; crash cart to Orange 7." He returns to the woman, placing two fingers to her throat and a palm to her forehead. He tilts her head back, extending her neck, and huffs twice into her mouth. He then motions. "You." He nods at the woman's chest. "Begin compressions."
human
You begin compressions
gpt
You link fingers, one hand on top of the other, and watch as your hands drift to a dimly-remembered position. Then you are pumping as hard as you can, the woman's sternum creaking beneath your weight.
human
Again
gpt
You are already performing CPR on the woman.

You have slipped into a once-familiar rhythm: five compressions, then the doctor breathes, then five compressions.
human
You look at the woman
gpt
The woman is ancient, her waxy skin draped loosely about her.

A gang of white-garbed doctors, all of whom lack faces, pour into the room. Several of them slide away from the door, revealing the gurney and crash cart they have brought with them.

Dr. John nods at them and their cargo. He waves you away from the old woman and motions the others closer. "On my mark: one, two, three," and they have lifted the woman up and onto the gurney.
human
You examine john
gpt
His face is scrunched in concentration, his thin glasses dangling from his ears.

Dr. John nods at the ECG readout. "She's in VFib." He snatches up the defibrillator paddles and says to you, "Charge to 200."
human
You look at the defibrillator
gpt
You always found it ironic that shocking someone violently, normally a prescription for stopping the heart, is the only way known to restart the heart. Its dial, marked from 200 J to 400 J, currently points at 320.
human
You set the dial to 200
gpt
The dial clicks as you turn it to 200.

"Clear!" A push of buttons; the woman's body arcs and recollapses.
Dr. John rubs the paddles together, smearing paste, while he glances at the ECG. "Give me 260."
human
You set the dial to 200
gpt
The dial is already set to 200.
human
You set the dial to 260
gpt
The dial clicks as you turn it to 260.

Again Dr. John says, "Clear!" Again the woman's body leaps into the air. Dr. John takes another look at the ECG, saying, "Give me 360."
human
You set the dial to 360
gpt
The dial clicks as you turn it to 360.

The woman's body jumps once more as Dr. John discharges his paddles. When he looks at the ECG this time, his brow furrows. "PEA," he mutters. "Intubate; give me a 1 mg epinephrine push." He resumes breathing for the woman while one of his faceless helpers performs chest compressions.
human
You give the epinephrine to Doctor
gpt
Which doctor do you mean, Doctor John, or the faceless doctors?
human
You examine the cart
gpt
The crash cart appears only when someone is in great distress. It contains plenty of medication, an ECG machine, a syringe, and a defibrillator.

Dr. John notices you during a pause between breaths. "Thanks," he says. "We have it under control." Breath. "You can go." Then his attention is focussed on the woman. "Pulse back, breathing again. 60 mg lidocaine." Two of the faceless doctors usher you, not unkindly, through the door. As you leave, the door closes behind you, snicking shut.

Two doors, a closed one on the north wall and one on the south,
flank this east-west hall. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west.
human
You take the wheelchair
gpt
You try to lift it, but find it improbably heavy.

Dr. John notices you during a pause between breaths. "Thanks," he says. "We have it under control." Breath. "You can go." Then his attention is focussed on the woman. "Pulse back, breathing again. 60 mg lidocaine." Two of the faceless doctors usher you, not unkindly, through the door. As you leave, the door closes behind you, snicking shut.

Two doors, a closed one on the north wall and one on the south,
flank this east-west hall. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west.
human
You take the syringe
gpt
Taken.

Dr. John notices you during a pause between breaths. "Thanks," he says. "We have it under control." Breath. "You can go." Then his attention is focussed on the woman. "Pulse back, breathing again. 60 mg lidocaine." Two of the faceless doctors usher you, not unkindly, through the door. As you leave, the door closes behind you, snicking shut.

Two doors, a closed one on the north wall and one on the south,
flank this east-west hall. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a white cane, a pair of gloves (being worn), a pair of sunglasses (being worn), a hall pass, a rucksack, some dust, and a syringe. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a length of rope, a dark sphere, a light sphere, and a thin coat.
human
You enter the gap
gpt
The space is much too small for you.
human
You examine the chairs
gpt
Plastic chairs, grouped in small sets of three or four. They are surprisingly empty; when you worked here, they were always in use. Magazines decorate a few of them.

Bubbles's tail hits the ground softly.
human
Hello
gpt
"Bark! Bark!"
human
You look at the speaker
gpt
When you first worked here, only muzak issued from the speaker. Now, however, it is playing songs in their original versions.
human
You go north
gpt
The corridors of the hospital join in a T-junction. The arms of the
T lie east and west, while the base runs south. A pair of swinging doors crowns the top of the T, to the north. Over the east corridor is a sign.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the south.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
Go north
gpt
The doors will not budge for you. As you push harder, a squirt of grey smoke escapes from behind them.
human
Go west
gpt
You push past the doors, which shut behind you on Linda's startled exclamation.

The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the north.
human
You tie the rope to Bubbles
gpt
You must be holding the rope in your hands before you can tie it to anything.
human
You tie the rope to Bubbles
gpt
You tie the rope to Bubbles. Bubbles wriggles a bit, but submits to being leashed.
human
Go west
gpt
You push past the doors, which shut behind you on Linda's startled exclamation.

The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.

Bubbles is dragged behind you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He looks as if he is about to take action, but then he notices your sunglasses and cane. Realizing what has happened, you inspiredly begin tapping the cane on the ground. The man, satisfied, continues on his way.
human
You get the vial
gpt
Bubbles looks at you for a moment, then begins wiggling into the space between crates. Shortly after its tail has vanished into the space you hear excited barking, followed by the reemergence of Bubbles. Bubbles then trots to you and drops the glass vial at your feet.

Bubbles strains at the rope, then stares back at you.
human
You take the vial
gpt
Taken.

A section of the air just above your head shimmers. A small pyramid falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
human
You take the pyramid
gpt
The pyramid begins glowing softly. It unfolds like a flower and a feminine voice issues from it, saying, "Oh!" The voice is fainter than before. "Dr. Boozer! In here, behind the crates!" When the light dies down, the pyramid is gone.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a white cane, a pair of gloves (being worn), a pair of sunglasses (being worn), a hall pass, a rucksack, some dust, a syringe, a length of rope (tied to Bubbles), and a glass vial. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, and a thin coat.
human
You put all in rucksack
gpt
fool: You cannot put the fool anywhere without holding it.
tuft of insulation: You cannot put the tuft of insulation anywhere without holding it.
dark sphere: You cannot put the dark sphere anywhere without holding it.
light sphere: You cannot put the light sphere anywhere without holding it.
thin coat: You cannot put the thin coat anywhere without holding it. white cane: Done.
heavy gloves: (Taking off the gloves first)
Done.
sunglasses: (Taking off the sunglasses first)
Done.
hall pass: Done.
dust: Done.
syringe: You refrain for fear of snapping off the end of the needle. rope: Not while the rope is tied to anything.
glass vial: Done.

Bubbles strains at the rope, then stares back at you.
human
You untie the rope
gpt
You untie the rope.
human
You go to the south
gpt
A nondescript hall leading east to northwest. To the north is an
open doorway. The ever-present stripe changes color to the east, just beyond a sign.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A group of doctors and interns appears in the hall, headed towards you. They, too, are faceless. Their heads nearly touch; they are obviously in conference, though you can hear nothing. They pass you and are gone.
human
You go east
gpt
The hall jogs west to north, interrupted by several stairs to the north. A sign hangs from the ceiling to the west, delineating where the stripe of color changes from purple to green. A set of doors leads east.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

A faceless man in blue scrubs appears from further down the hall. He starts to walk past, then pulls up short next to Bubbles. He turns his head towards you, then ushers Bubbles to the north.
human
You follow you
gpt
Bubbles gets up and trots over to you.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a syringe and a glass vial.
human
You inject the hand with syringe
gpt
You stick the syringe into your hand and depress the plunger. A shock of cold runs through you as your hand grows numb.
human
You take the globe
gpt
You pick up the globe with your numbed hand. Your fingers feel warm, but the novocaine blocks any pain.
human
You examine the globe
gpt
Its borders are nebulous; it gives off a faint glow.
human
You give the globe to the man
gpt
When you press the globe to the man's chest, his eyes snap open. The glow suffuses his face and he smiles, revealing gaps once inhabited by teeth. The glow fades, leaving behind a lead sphere. The man's muscles relax, allowing the sphere to fall to the floor. His whole face sags; his breathing stops.

Numbness begins creeping up your arm. You look down to find your hand turning black, beginning to suppurate. Horror, you think, I should be feeling horror. But you are as numb to your growing disfigurement as your hand is to pain.
human
You examine sphere
gpt
A dull lead sphere, devoid of any distinguishing marks.

Your hand cracks and bleeds, the white pus running from it turning red. You stumble back against a wall, holding your arm away from you. You close your eyes against the sight, amazed that you still feel no pain. Then you make the mistake of trying to flex your hand.

Pain, unending pain, until you can bear no more, until...



The ceiling above you looms, fluorescent lights glaring down at you. You've been strapped to a gurney and reattached to monitors. Ambulance workers run alongside you, occasionally bending over to check your condition. Your ill-fated IV has been brought along for the ride, its needle bouncing against your hand from time to time.
human
You look at IV
gpt
It has been attached to the gurney, most likely for the hospital staff to analyze the drug.

One of the workers bends down and shines a light in your left eye.
Your reflexive blink seems to take forever.
human
You look
gpt
You've been strapped down on a gurney and covered in a blanket.
Around you, ambulance workers run along side, guiding you to the ambulance. Your IV is attached to the side of the gurney, the needle occasionally bouncing against your hand.
human
You look at IV
gpt
It has been attached to the gurney, most likely for the hospital staff to analyze the drug.

Two of the medical workers confer over your head, their lips moving slowly. No sound reaches you.
human
You look at the blanket
gpt
It covers you, keeping you uncomfortably warm.

Ahead of you, the clinic exit creeps closer.
human
You put the needle in the arm
gpt
You can't reach your arm to put the needle in it.

You are wheeled outside and into an ambulance, its roof cutting off the light of the sun. Blackness descends, and you fall into a dreamless sleep.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 33 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You put the needle in the hand
gpt
By a series of excruciating contortions, you can just reach the needle and jab it in your hand. The familiar waves of heat and cold race through your body. The lights overhead approach and recede, light and dark, light and dark, blending into...

Fit the Third: Renascence

"When I was a child/I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye"
-- Pink Floyd

You are lying on your bed, staring up at the ceiling. The sun
streams through the window blinds and falls in stripes across your face.

But it's not the bed in your apartment. It's your childhood bedroom, upstairs in the house you lived in until shortly after your Mom died.

Judging from the room's neatness, your Mom must have died not too long ago; you remember cleaning your room compulsively after she died in the hopes that it would bring her back. You also remember being sent to your room this day for some unexplained infraction of your father's rules.

Your dresser leans against the north wall and a closed door leads east. There is a window in the west wall.
Sitting on the dresser you see a book of mythology and a book of faeries.
human
About yourself
gpt
What you can see of yourself is familiar.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You are empty-handed.
human
You examine the mythology
gpt
In the third grade you became enamored with Greek mythology, scouring the 000-010 section of your school library. This book by Edith Hamilton is a remnant of that time.
human
You look at the faeries
gpt
Shortly after your interest in mythology waned, you became interested in faeries. At this age your nascent research had not yet taken over the top of your dresser, as this lone oversized book can attest.
human
You read the mythology
gpt
You flip through the book, remembering different stories which caught your attention: Perseus and Medusa, the rivers lethe and mnemosyne, Zeus visiting Leda in the guise of a swan.
human
You read the faeries
gpt
As you skim through the book, several facts jump out: how faeries are driven away by church bells, how they change homes on Quarter Days, how you shouldn't eat faerie food, how a four-leaf clover will let you see them.
human
You open the dresser
gpt
You pull open a few drawers and look at the rows of neatly-folded clothes before closing the drawers once more.
human
You examine the window
gpt
The window is closed and looks out on the rolling hills behind your house; without looking directly through the window, the details are hard to make out. You can just see your backyard one story beneath you.
human
You look in the window
gpt
It's closed.
human
You take the books
gpt
book of mythology: Taken.
book of faeries: Taken.
human
You look through the window
gpt
You see the hills behind your house and your backyard. Your father called that region "Big Country," and he used to tell you stories of heroes who walked Big Country in search of adventures. Though he stopped telling you those stories after your mom died, the dreams stay with you.
human
You go to the west
gpt
The fall would kill you.
human
You take the sheet
gpt
You pull the bedsheet free, unmaking the bed in the process.
human
You look at the bed
gpt
The bed was large enough for you through your tenth birthday. It has been unmade and its bedsheet removed.
human
Tie sheet to bed
gpt
You loop the sheet around your bed and tie it.
human
You examine the door
gpt
It is closed.
human
You open the door
gpt
Your father would see you come out of your room if you left via this door, and the punishment to follow would be painful.
human
You climb out the window
gpt
You realize that it is impossible to hold onto the bedsheet and anything as large as the oversized books at the same time if you intend to reach the ground safely.
human
You drop the books
gpt
book of mythology: Dropped.
book of faeries: Dropped.
human
You throw it through the window
gpt
You throw the book of mythology through the window. It vanishes to the ground below.
human
You throw it through the window
gpt
You throw the book of faeries through the window. It vanishes to the ground below.
human
You climb out the window
gpt
You grab hold of the bedsheet tightly and lower yourself out the open window. You shimmy down the sheet, old skills returning. A few feet above the ground your sheet runs out, but the shock of the drop is easily absorbed by your young legs.

The backyard ends to the south and west in a chain-link fence which fetches up against your house. Grass covers the ground in a remarkably even carpet.
You see a book of mythology and a book of faeries here.
human
You take the books
gpt
book of mythology: Taken.
book of faeries: Taken.
human
You search the grass
gpt
There is too much of it for you to search indiscriminately.
human
You examine the grass
gpt
It thickly covers the ground. A rogue patch of clover has established a beachhead in the sea of grass. Your father will no doubt rip it out at the first opportunity, restoring the backyard to its former glory.
human
You look at the clover
gpt
The patch of clover huddles together in solidarity against the encroaching grass.
human
You search the clover
gpt
You get on hands and knees and begin carefully examining each clover individually. After a moment you are rewarded with a pristine four-leaf clover, which you take.
human
You look at the faeries
gpt
Shortly after your interest in mythology waned, you became interested in faeries. At this age your nascent research had not yet taken over the top of your dresser, as this lone oversized book can attest.
human
You look
gpt
The backyard ends to the south and west in a chain-link fence which fetches up against your house. Grass covers the ground in a remarkably even carpet.
human
Go east
gpt
The house is in the way.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, and a four-leaf clover.
human
Go north
gpt
The fence paces you to the west, then angles north to block further progress. To the east is the old tool shed your father built. The thick mat of grass leads back south.

From somewhere around your feet you hear a tiny voice pipe up: "Top o' the mornin' to ya!" You look down and see a small faerie just on this side of the fence. He is joined by two others, though you can't see where they came from.

One of the others replies, "And the rest of the day to yerself!"
human
You examine the faerie
gpt
Which faerie do you mean, the book of faeries, or the small faeries?
human
You examine small faeries
gpt
There are three of them, small faeries with gnarled faces and red stubbly beards.
human
Hi
gpt
The faeries do not notice you.

From the house you hear, "Terry! TERRY!"

Your father. He's found your open window.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south and east.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
The fence paces you to the west, then angles north to block further progress. To the east is the old tool shed your father built. The thick mat of grass leads back south.
Three faeries are conversing near your feet.

One of the faeries says to the other two, "Shall we be returnin'? The king wanted us back quick as possible."

"Aye."

"But we're without a padfoot. How to get back?"

"I've a way," responds the third faerie. "'Tis in the shed." The faeries move to the east.
human
Go east
gpt
Light filters through chinks in the roof, dimly illuminating empty shelves and forgotten tools. The structure smells of mildew and rot. Seated on a shelf is a metal box.
A yellowed flyer is curled on the floor.
Three faeries are conversing near your feet.
human
You take the flyer
gpt
Taken.

One of the faeries pulls several over-sized white hats from under a pile of dirt. Despite their earthy storage they are pristine white.
He hands them to the others. Then he wears his hat, saying, "I'm off!" In a flash, he zips out the door and into the air.

The two remaining faeries don their hats. "I'm after!" "I'm after!" Both are caught up in the air and are gone.

In their wake, a lone white hat drifts to the floor of the shed, forgotten.
human
You wear the hat
gpt
As you wear the hat, a tingle runs the length of your body.
human
Examine flyer
gpt
The flyer extols the virtues of the SchimTek Sonic Cavity Analyzer.
The picture on the flyer shows a rectangular box with a large grip handle on one end, reminiscent of an old geiger counter. Your father was eternally collecting gadgets like the Sonic Cavity Analyzer.

Your father comes into the tool shed, looking around. He is in his late thirties, a vigorous man who shows no sign of the cancer which will steal his life in thirteen years. His face darkens when he sees you, and he walks stiffly towards you. "_There_ you are," he says, grabbing your ear and pulling firmly. You skip after him, pain burgeoning across your head.

Your father punctuates each phrase with a twist of your ear, causing sparks to burst across your vision. "You were supposed"--twist--"to stay"--twist--"in your room"--twist.

The final twist overcomes you; your vision dims. The throbbing in your head worsens as you fall back.

A hospital bed catches you, supporting you. A quick glance shows you a sterile hospital room. No one else is here; the room is yours alone. Then a black tide washes over you, carrying you away....

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 33 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You go east
gpt
Light filters through chinks in the roof, dimly illuminating empty shelves and forgotten tools. The structure smells of mildew and rot. Seated on a shelf is a metal box.
A yellowed flyer is curled on the floor.
human
You take the box
gpt
Taken.

From outside the shed you hear, "Terry! TERRY!"

Your father. He's found your open window.
human
You take the flyer
gpt
Taken.

Three small faeries slip into the shed.
human
Examine box
gpt
The box is made of seamless metal, marred only by a large handle and a display with a needle. Its underside is crisscrossed with a strange pattern, giving it the look of granite. The display is marked from 0 millimeters to 20000; the needle is currently pointing at 0.
human
Examine flyer
gpt
The flyer extols the virtues of the SchimTek Sonic Cavity Analyzer.
The picture on the flyer shows a rectangular box with a large grip handle on one end, reminiscent of an old geiger counter. Your father was eternally collecting gadgets like the Sonic Cavity Analyzer.

One of the faeries pulls several over-sized white hats from under a pile of dirt. Despite their earthy storage they are pristine white.
He hands them to the others. Then he wears his hat, saying, "I'm off!" In a flash, he zips out the door and into the air.

The two remaining faeries don their hats. "I'm after!" "I'm after!" Both are caught up in the air and are gone.

In their wake, a lone white hat drifts to the floor of the shed, forgotten.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, a flyer, and a tri-cornered hat (being worn).
human
You look
gpt
The cave encloses you, reflecting the sound of your breathing. It
is dry and illuminated, though you cannot find the source of the light. Rough stairs are cut into one part of the cave, leading nowhere. The cave widens to the north.
human
You examine the stairs
gpt
They are carved into one of the cave walls.
human
You go north
gpt
Everywhere you look in this hall you find another source of light.
They come in all shapes and forms: candles, lamps, crystals. The light bounces about the room, illuminating the throne at the north end of the hall. A thick carpet runs from the throne to the south exit, passing by a banquet table.
Sitting on the throne you see a faerie king.
To either side of you stands a faerie guard.
Off to one side of the throne, True Thomas idly sits.
Beside the king stands his queen.
Faeries stand all around you, watching you with a disturbing
intensity.

The king looks at you, his eyes glinting strangely. "A human child? It's been an age since one visited." While he speaks, the other faeries slowly circle you. A sibilant whisper rises from the gathering. "Guards, retake what is ours." One of the guards reaches over and plucks the white hat from you.
human
You look at true thomas
gpt
He is an old man, with snow-white hair and a creased face. He holds a stringed instrument which he absentmindedly strums from time to time.

"We've naught to offer to incipient royalty such as yourself," the king continues mockingly. He pauses for a moment, stroking his beard. His queen leans over and whispers to him, causing him to grin. There is nothing human in his expression. "Perhaps there is something you can offer us instead," he says.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, and a flyer.

The other faeries stop circling and point at you. You feel a tingle running up and down your spine. "We'd have from you a story, but one already fills that role." The king gestures at True Thomas, who glances uncomfortably at you. "No, for you I think harvesting would suit." The faeries begin running, flying, hopping around you, a writhing mass of flesh. The guards to either side of you take one step back.
human
You turn the handle
gpt
Turning the metal box doesn't have any effect.

"Hold!" shouts Thomas. The assemblage halts, many in mid-air. As one they turn and focus unnaturally-bright eyes on Thomas, who blanches. Nevertheless, he continues. "King, could this child not fetch for you some new light?" As Thomas finishes, the silence deepens. Sweat begins to run down his face.
human
You examine table
gpt
The sturdy table has seen much use in its time. It is covered with heavy scars. On its surface you see some food.

"A fine suggestion!" the king finally says. Thomas sways somewhat, as if released from a painful grip. From the horde of faeries an excited buzz arises.
human
You look at the king
gpt
He is one of the tallest faeries you have yet met. His beard is red and reaches to his waist. Other than his clothes of rough cloth, he wears a gold circlet around his head, sign of his kingship.

"My hall is lit by light stolen from many a source," the king explains. At the snap of a finger, one of the faeries brings forward a bright glint cupped in his hands. "Taken from one of Judas' silver pieces, that was," says the king. Another faerie brings forward a dancing flame. The flame radiates cold you can feel from feet away. "At the heart of every pawnbroker's diamond is a flame like this," says the king. "And you'll be fetching me the light of a dragon's flame."
human
You look at the jar
gpt
The mason jar is made of thick glass.

"Return with the dragon fire and we will reward you." As the king finishes speaking, the two guards lead you back out of the hall.

The cave encloses you, reflecting the sound of your breathing. It
is dry and illuminated, though you cannot find the source of the light. Rough stairs are cut into one part of the cave, leading to a thin exit above.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go up.
human
Up
gpt
The exit closes behind you.

The hill curves away from this spot, crowned on top by a gnarled
thorn tree. Paths curve down the hill to the west and south. Far to the north is a small white church.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, waiting for you.

Bubbles, upon seeing you, cocks its head at you and stands. The dog has now reached full adulthood. On its back is the rucksack.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south and west.
human
You examine the tree
gpt
It curves and stoops, as if shielding itself from the sky.
human
You examine the church
gpt
The church you attended until your mother fell ill. You can hear music floating from it; it must be revival week.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You go north
gpt
The hill drops too steeply for you in that direction.
human
You climb tree
gpt
There is a reason it is called a thorn tree. You scratch yourself horribly in the attempt.
human
You go to the west
gpt
The hill drops off sharply to the west, overlooking a rocky tumble
to a kill below. A worn path leads up to the east and down to the southeast.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, a flyer, a mason jar, and a rucksack. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, and a length of rope.
human
You look at the kill
gpt
The kill makes its slow, flowing way among rocks dislodged from the hill where you stand, victims of time and erosion.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east and southeast.
human
Go west
gpt
The slope is too rocky.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You look at the rock
gpt
They lay scattered along the length of the kill.
human
You go southeast
gpt
The south side of a gently-sloping hill. Scrub grass clings tenaciously to its side. A path from the east divides here and crawls up the hill to the north and northwest.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You examine the scrub
gpt
It covers the hill in patches.
human
You take the scrub
gpt
Don't worry about the scrub grass.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go east
gpt
Hardwood trees stand close together, choking off light and
preventing you from seeing far. You can, however, see a hill rising to the west. You can walk through the trees and underbrush to the east and south.
human
You examine the trees
gpt
Mixed hardwood trees, clustering tightly.
human
You search trees
gpt
You find nothing of interest.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go south, east, and west.
human
Go east
gpt
The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
There is an older boy here, carving his name in the oak tree.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.

The boy very carefully carves a large 'R' in the oak tree.
human
Hello
gpt
"Shove off, squirt," he says.

The boy hacks another initial in the oak tree.
human
You examine boy
gpt
He lived (lives?) somewhere around here. You can remember the delight he took in tormenting you over the years. The three-year age difference was enough to give him the edge.

Wielding his knife like a cleaver, the boy manages to carve an 'N' in the oak tree.
human
You examine oak
gpt
The oak tree towers above you, its bole wider than your arms can span. You spent a long time one summer trying to climb it, only to break your arm in the process. Since then, someone has hacked 'BRAN' in its trunk.

Shavings fall from the oak tree as the boy carves a 'D' into its trunk.
human
You examine the ash
gpt
Thinner than its neighboring oak tree, the trunk of the ash gracefully sways in a gentle breeze.

Bubbles wanders away.

With a flourish, the boy finishes carving an 'N' in the oak tree. He steps back to admire his handiwork.
human
You examine the oak
gpt
The oak tree towers above you, its bole wider than your arms can span. You spent a long time one summer trying to climb it, only to break your arm in the process. Since then, someone has hacked 'BRANDN' in its trunk.

The boy's eyes widen, and he mumbles to himself under his breath. With several sweeps of the knife he tries to obliterate his previous effort, then carve another 'B' in the oak tree just below the first letters.
human
Hello
gpt
"Shove off, squirt," he says.

The boy carves an 'R' in the oak tree.
human
You go north
gpt
A small hill within the forest. A cave entrance opens in a rock outcropping to the east. Charred and trampled grass leads up to the cave.
human
You examine the mushrooms
gpt
The ring of mushrooms and toadstools is ragged in places, as if no longer cared for. One toadstool in particular stands out from its brethren.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the toadstool
gpt
Which toadstool do you mean, the solitary toadstool, or the ring of mushrooms?
human
You examine the solitary toadstool
gpt
It is the tallest of the fungi gathered here. Set in its side is a small door.
human
You examine the small door
gpt
The small door is painted a bright green and is closed. You are surprised that you never saw it before.
human
You knock on the door
gpt
The door swings open, revealing a tiny pixie. He looks at your knees, then up, then further up. His eyes widen. "You see me?" he asks unnecessarily. He steps out, closing the door. "A visitor! Well, an you can see me, let us visit whilst I clean my yard," he says, bustling about. "Have you questions on the forest? I have been here for many whiles." Before you can answer, he begins scuffing dirt.
human
You ask the pixie about the dragon
gpt
The pixie says, "Be cautious of the dragon."
human
You ask the pixie about the pixie
gpt
The pixie says, "What you see is all I am...now."
human
You ask the pixie about the cave
gpt
"I've nowt to say of that," the pixie says.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.

The pixie swirls one of his hands, and a tiny cyclone carries away some leaves.
human
You ask the pixie about the brandon
gpt
The pixie says, "He's a stropping one, always stomping about with those great boots."
human
You ask the pixie about the oak tree
gpt
The pixie's eyes slide away from yours. "There's nowt I have to say about the tree."
human
You ask the pixie about the ring
gpt
The pixie asks, "Which ring do you mean, the ring of keys, or the ring of mushrooms?"
human
Mushrooms
gpt
The pixie glances at the ring. "'Twas our home for many a year. Now it is mine only."

The pixie wipes dirt from his door.
human
You ask the pixie about the queen
gpt
The pixie looks away. "Ask me not about the faerie court."
human
You ask the pixie about the kill
gpt
"I've nowt to say of that," the pixie says.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.

The pixie rearranges some of the dirt in the middle of the faerie ring.
human
You ask the pixie about the light
gpt
The pixie asks, "Which light do you mean, the light sphere, or the sources of light?"
human
Sources
gpt
The pixie grins sardonically. "So you have seen our vaunted king's collection, have you?" He lowers his voice. "Yet it cannot be complete 'til someone captures the dragon's fire for him. Thank your luck you have not been chosen to bear the king's jar to the dragon's lair."
human
You show the jar to the pixie
gpt
The pixie says, "So...the king has at last found someone to fetch for him the light of the dragon." He cocks his head and peers up at you. "And he did mention the precautions?"

When you shake your head, he leaps into the air, hovering for a second. "No word of the wards?" He mutters, then runs into his home. There is the sound of rummaging, things being thrown about, before he emerges holding a pair of boots.

"You must have wards, lest the dragon sense you. You must be silent, you must be invisible, you must be without scent." He squints at you, then adds as an afterthought, "Also fireproof.

"A laurel of ash dipped in the blood of another will make you invisible to animals. These boots," he hands the boots to you, "are elfin and will muffle your steps. An oak staff will protect you from the dragon's flame."

The pixie walks to his toadstool and opens the door. "I needs must work indoors for a time," he says by way of explanation before going inside.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, a flyer, a mason jar, a rucksack, and a pair of elf boots. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, and a length of rope.
human
You wear boots
gpt
You pull the boots on, muffling your footsteps.
human
You look
gpt
The forest growth pauses here, leaving room for a ring of mushrooms
and toadstools. Due to the spacious arrangement of trees, paths exist north and west.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You go west
gpt
provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You look at the stream
gpt
It lies a short distance to the south. You can occasionally feel its spray on your cheeks.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Down
gpt
Water burbles past rocks worn smooth over time, running east to
west. Across the stream the forest continues. Behind you a path leads up.
One shiny stone in particular stands out from its brothers.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go up.
human
You examine the stone
gpt
It shines gently, as if rubbed until it glowed.
human
Go south
gpt
The stream is too wide and too deep to ford.
human
You check what you're carrying
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, a flyer, a mason jar, a rucksack, a pair of elf boots (being worn), and a shiny stone. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, and a length of rope.
human
You read the flyer
gpt
"Find the flaws hidden deep beneath the surface! A must have for any structural engineer! Accurate to within plus or minus three millimeters."
human
Examine flyer
gpt
The flyer extols the virtues of the SchimTek Sonic Cavity Analyzer.
The picture on the flyer shows a rectangular box with a large grip handle on one end, reminiscent of an old geiger counter. Your father was eternally collecting gadgets like the Sonic Cavity Analyzer.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
You examine the stream
gpt
The water is shockingly clear, clearer than you had remembered.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You examine the trees
gpt
Mixed hardwood trees, clustering tightly.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go east and west.
human
You go west
gpt
You stand at the road in front of your house. The dirt road leads north and south, with no other houses visible for miles. On the east side of the road opposite your house, the forest looms.

A breeze wanders along the road, carrying with it a hint of music.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You listen
gpt
You can hear music.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
You go north
gpt
A rural dirt road. Though no one has passed by in some time, a haze
of dust still hangs in the air.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go to the north
gpt
You walk for a while, but the Baptist church you know is ahead never comes into view.

A rural dirt road. Though no one has passed by in some time, a haze
of dust still hangs in the air.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
Go south
gpt
A rural dirt road. Though no one has passed by in some time, a haze
of dust still hangs in the air.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You go west
gpt
Your home once held nothing but good memories; it was a place where
you were happy, where you felt safe. But after Mom died you felt your life escaping your control. Now the very sight of the first floor entrance, its walls and stairs, the table by the entrance, gives you pause. Leaning against the bottom stair is a briefcase and coat. Sitting on the small table you see a bottle of Karo syrup.

You hear heavy footsteps on the stairs and look up to see your father descending, an avatar of righteous wrath. "Terry!" he shouts. "You stay right there!"

Then he is beside the stair, shaking you. "I told you to stay in your room!" He stops, looks you over. "I see you hiding something! What have you got in your hands?" He stretches his hand out and waits.
human
Go south
gpt
Your house moves further to the north, but you seem to make no progress.

A rural dirt road. Though no one has passed by in some time, a haze
of dust still hangs in the air.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
Oops rucksack
gpt
fool: The fool is already in the rucksack!
tuft of insulation: The tuft of insulation is already in the rucksack! dark sphere: The dark sphere is already in the rucksack!
light sphere: The light sphere is already in the rucksack!
thin coat: The thin coat is already in the rucksack!
white cane: The white cane is already in the rucksack!
heavy gloves: The heavy gloves are already in the rucksack! sunglasses: The sunglasses are already in the rucksack!
hall pass: The hall pass is already in the rucksack!
dust: The dust is already in the rucksack!
rope: Done.
book of mythology: Done.
book of faeries: Done.
four-leaf clover: Done.
metal box: Done.
flyer: Done.
mason jar: Done.
rucksack: You can't put the rucksack in itself!
elf boots: You will have to remove the elf boots first.
shiny stone: Done.
human
You give the rucksack to Bubbles
gpt
You place the rucksack on the ground next to Bubbles. The dog proceeds to wriggle under the rucksack, then stand.
human
You take off the boots
gpt
As you remove the boots, you hear your footsteps once more.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You put the boots in the rucksack
gpt
Done.
human
You go west
gpt
Your home once held nothing but good memories; it was a place where
you were happy, where you felt safe. But after Mom died you felt your life escaping your control. Now the very sight of the first floor entrance, its walls and stairs, the table by the entrance, gives you pause. Leaning against the bottom stair is a briefcase and coat. Sitting on the small table you see a bottle of Karo syrup.

You hear heavy footsteps on the stairs and look up to see your father descending, an avatar of righteous wrath. "Terry!" he shouts. "You stay right there!"

Then he is beside the stair, shaking you. "I told you to stay in your room!" He then marches you up the stairs, which begin to dissolve as you climb them. As they fade away they tilt, until you are lying on them. The last remnants of their stair-hood vanish, leaving you in a hospital bed. Then sleep claims you, a deep, dreamless sleep.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 38 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You go south
gpt
The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
There is an older boy here, carving his name in the oak tree.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the oak
gpt
The oak tree towers above you, its bole wider than your arms can span. You spent a long time one summer trying to climb it, only to break your arm in the process. Since then, someone has hacked 'BRANDN' in its trunk, tried to scratch out the letters (with little success), then carved 'BRANDON' just below the first letters.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You examine the cane
gpt
The cane is white with a red tip. Its grip is worn with use.
human
You examine the ash
gpt
Thinner than its neighboring oak tree, the trunk of the ash gracefully sways in a gentle breeze.
human
You climb the ash
gpt
It is too thin to climb.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You take the boots
gpt
As you remove the boots, you hear your footsteps once more.
human
You wear boots
gpt
You pull the boots on, muffling your footsteps.
human
You examine the knife
gpt
It is a thin knife with only one blade, currently open. The blade has held its edge, despite its assault on the oak tree.
human
You take the knife
gpt
The boy rests the point of the knife on the middle of your chest.
"Want this?" You step back; he laughs before turning again to the tree.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You ask the boy about the knife
gpt
"I'm busy," he says, wood shavings falling at his feet. "'less you want me to notice you."
human
Rub stone
gpt
You rub your hand over the stone, feeling it warm in your grasp.
human
You hit the boy with the stone
gpt
It's not very effective to attack with the shiny stone.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Kick boy
gpt
Your kick catches him by surprise. He slips and nicks his finger with his knife.

"Stupid kid!" he shouts, whirling around. A struggle ensues, with you taking the worse of it. At some point, as he is banging your head against the ground, his knife slides into your chest. Your vision, none too good after the beating you've endured, dims further. You feel the boy's knee lift from your stomach, then hear him running away.

You turn your head, numbness spreading through your chest. The rough ground beneath your cheek smooths, becomes a pillow. You feel the sheets of a hospital bed enfold you before the numbness reaches your head.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 38 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
Attack boy
gpt
Bubbles looks at you, then at the boy carving his initials in the tree. Lips pull back from teeth, a growl begins deep in the throat; Bubbles leaps at the boy.

Surprised, the boy turns just enough for Bubbles to bury teeth in his arm. "AaaaaAAAA!" he shrieks, dropping his knife. He shakes his arm, but Bubbles hangs on tenaciously.

Finally, the dog lets go and drops to the forest floor. The boy grabs his arm, blood dripping around his hand. He stares at you, white rimming the pupils of his eyes. "You!" he says. He staggers back. "You!" he repeats, before turning and running through the forest.

Bubbles turns to you and grins, tongue hanging from its mouth.
human
You look at the knife
gpt
It is a thin knife with only one blade, currently open. The blade has held its edge, despite its assault on the oak tree.

"Oww! Woo! Whoo!" The voice is deep and booming, coming from somewhere above your head. You look around, but see no one. "That smarts!"

You suddenly notice the oak tree wiggling in time to the voice. You peer at the tree, then jump back as some of its branches bend towards you. "Oh, MAN, that's gonna be tender." One branch tenderly traces the carvings in the tree, then jerks away. "Wooh. Thanks for the help, Terry."

The tree must see the puzzled look on your face, because he begins laughing. "Surprised, huh? I bet. We don't talk to many people these days, do we, Phil?"

You get another shock when the ash tree next to the oak waves its branches. "Wmmf fmm," the ash tree says.

"Anyway, lissen. You ever need anything, you let me know. Okay?"

"Pffth yrmm," agrees the ash tree.
human
You ask the oak about the staff
gpt
The oak tree says, "It's been a long time since I've made a staff for someone."
human
You ask the oak about the oak
gpt
The oak tree's branches wave in an approximation of a shrug. "I dunno, Terry. Sorry."
human
You ask the oak about Phil
gpt
The oak tree replies, "Oh, me and Phil have been around a while, right, bud?"

"Gbbbz," the ash tree agrees.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
You ask the oak for the staff
gpt
"Oh?" the tree asks. Then, "oh," he says knowingly. "Well, I did say anything." There is the sound of rustling branches, then a particularly large one comes hurtling to the ground in front of you.
"I hope you're not plannin' on going after that dragon, though."
human
You ask the oak about the pixie
gpt
The oak tree says, "Yeah, he comes by and talks to us sometimes."
human
You ask the ash about the laurel
gpt
"Prrrm rfth wlft, zrm thmn lffm. Thrf nbbr wrm brrmlm."

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You ask the ash for the laurel
gpt
The ash tree is silent for a second. Finally, the ash tree bends over and deposits a circle of ash branches at your feet. "Blggg," he says.
human
You examine Bubbles
gpt
Bubbles resembles a corgi. In fact, it looks like the corgi you begged your father for when you were eight.

Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
human
Thank the oak
gpt
The tree shrugs. "I dunno if you should thank me or not, 'specially if you're gonna use that ta see the dragon."

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Thank the ash
gpt
The ash bows slightly. "Glm pffffwb wb."
human
You examine the laurel
gpt
It is just wide enough to fit your head.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You take off the laurel
gpt
You remove the ash laurel.

Bubbles wanders away.
human
Go south
gpt
The forest growth pauses here, leaving room for a ring of mushrooms
and toadstools. Due to the spacious arrangement of trees, paths exist north and west.
human
You knock on the door
gpt
The pixie opens his door and comes out, beaming. "Welcome back!" he says, "Welcome back!"
human
You ask the pixie about the blood
gpt
"I've nowt to say of that," the pixie says.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
You show the laurel to the pixie
gpt
The pixie says, "Dipped in the blood of another and worn, it will mask your sight from beasts."

The pixie polishes one of the toadstools, removing stray debris.
human
You show the staff to the pixie
gpt
The pixie says, "No fire will harm you while you hold an oak staff."
human
You ask the pixie about scent
gpt
The pixie claps a hand to his mouth, then grimaces. "Smell! I forgot to tell how to mask your smell!" A red flush creeps up his green-tinged face. "Apologies. Find a stone rubbed smooth by a stream. When rubbed enough, the stone will release scent to mask your," he sniffs mightily, "noticeable odor."
human
Thank the pixie
gpt
There is no need.

Bubbles wanders away.

The pixie wipes dirt from his door.
human
You go west
gpt
provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.
human
You go north
gpt
Hardwood trees stand close together, choking off light and
preventing you from seeing far. You can, however, see a hill rising to the west. You can walk through the trees and underbrush to the east and south.
human
Go south
gpt
provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.

Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
human
Go west
gpt
Trees stop to the west, forming a remarkably straight line,
corralled by some feature of the land. To the east the trees thicken once again.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You go west
gpt
You stand at the road in front of your house. The dirt road leads north and south, with no other houses visible for miles. On the east side of the road opposite your house, the forest looms.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You cut the dad with knife
gpt
Your father grabs your hand. "That is it!" he shouts, backhanding you across the face. You stagger back, but not fast enough to avoid the second slap. Your head slams into the door jamb.

You fall down, tumbling head-first into a hospital bed. You gaze around in confusion, taking in the hospital room, empty of people except for you. Then the lump on your head starts hurting, and you begin thinking about how nice it would be to sleep for a while, and soon you are.

--=== Your journey is over ===--

You have achieved a score of 43 points out of a possible 100.

You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
human
You give the knife to the dad
gpt
Without a second thought, your father grabs the open pocketknife. "Shit!" he exclaims, dropping the knife. He grabs his hand, blood welling around his fingers. "You stupid--" He stops, a pained expression on his face. "I can't--" and then, "Blood--" Your father never could stand the sight of blood. He races up the stairs, yelling, "Stay right there!"
human
You put the laurel in the blood
gpt
The blood vanishes, absorbed by the laurel. For a brief instant, the laurel glows.

A section of the air just above your head shimmers. A small pyramid falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
human
You take the pyramid
gpt
The pyramid begins glowing softly, then flares brighter. You can hear something coming from the pyramid, but it is more like the absence of sound than anything audible. As the non-sound ends the pyramid flakes into ash and is gone.
human
You take the syrup
gpt
Karo syrup is best kept in the bottle until used.
human
You go to the east
gpt
You stand at the road in front of your house. The dirt road leads north and south, with no other houses visible for miles. On the east side of the road opposite your house, the forest looms.
Bubbles is lying on the ground, staring at you with soulful eyes.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, a flyer, a mason jar, a rucksack, a pair of elf boots (being worn), a shiny stone, an ash laurel, an oak staff, and a bottle of Karo syrup. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, and a length of rope.
human
Go east
gpt
Trees stop to the west, forming a remarkably straight line,
corralled by some feature of the land. To the east the trees thicken once again.
human
You put all in the sack
gpt
fool: The fool is already in the rucksack!
tuft of insulation: The tuft of insulation is already in the rucksack! dark sphere: The dark sphere is already in the rucksack!
light sphere: The light sphere is already in the rucksack!
thin coat: The thin coat is already in the rucksack!
white cane: The white cane is already in the rucksack!
heavy gloves: The heavy gloves are already in the rucksack! sunglasses: The sunglasses are already in the rucksack!
hall pass: The hall pass is already in the rucksack!
dust: The dust is already in the rucksack!
rope: Done.
book of mythology: Done.
book of faeries: Done.
four-leaf clover: Done.
metal box: Done.
flyer: Done.
mason jar: Done.
rucksack: You can't put the rucksack in itself!
elf boots: You will have to remove the elf boots first.
shiny stone: Done.
ash laurel: Done.
oak staff: It won't fit.
bottle of Karo syrup: Done.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You have a rucksack, a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel, a four-leaf clover, and a mason jar. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, a length of rope, a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a flyer, and a bottle of Karo syrup.
human
You wear the laurel
gpt
You feel subtly different when you wear it.
human
You go east
gpt
provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.
human
You take off the laurel
gpt
You remove the ash laurel.
human
Go north
gpt
The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel, a four-leaf clover, and a mason jar.
human
You wear the laurel
gpt
You feel subtly different when you wear it. Bubbles cocks its head, then begins sniffing until Bubbles locates you and is satisfied.
human
Rub stone
gpt
You rub your hand over the stone, feeling it warm in your grasp.
human
Rub stone
gpt
You rub your hand over the stone, feeling it warm in your grasp. A nearly-invisible cloud rises from the stone and settles about you, making you sneeze.
human
Rub stone
gpt
The stone turns rough in your hands and your fingers halt. Seconds later, the stone smooths again.
human
Go east
gpt
The cave flares open into a large space. Most of the space is
filled with dragon, tons and tons of dragon. The air is heavy with the smell of sulfur.

The dragon shifts his head from side to side, tongue testing the air. After a minute he settles down.
human
You look at the dragon
gpt
The dragon's bulk fills the cave. His head swings from side to side; occasionally a forked tongue flicks out, testing the air.
human
Exits
gpt
You can go west.
human
You touch the dragon
gpt
You creep forward and poke the dragon hard before skipping backwards. He bellows, filling the cave with noxious gas. The dragon spews fire all about the cave, though none of it directly at you. Occasionally a tongue of flame licks over you, but the oak staff is more than enough protection. One tongue of flame caresses the mason jar, which swallows the flame and glows in response.
human
Go west
gpt
A small hill within the forest. A cave entrance opens in a rock outcropping to the east. Charred and trampled grass leads up to the cave.

The air just above you begins shimmering. From the disturbance falls a smallish cube.
human
You take cube
gpt
Something inside the cube softly clicks. Its walls slide partway open, then stop. A non-sound issues from the cube, an absence of sound which you can paradoxically hear. As the non-sound ends the cube melts into a puddle, then evaporates.

A nearly-invisible cloud rises from you and disperses into the air.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel (being worn), a four-leaf clover, and a mason jar.
human
You examine the jar
gpt
The mason jar is made of thick glass. It glows with an angry red light.
human
You go south
gpt
The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
human
Go west
gpt
Hardwood trees stand close together, choking off light and
preventing you from seeing far. You can, however, see a hill rising to the west. You can walk through the trees and underbrush to the east and south.
human
Go west
gpt
The south side of a gently-sloping hill. Scrub grass clings tenaciously to its side. A path from the east divides here and crawls up the hill to the north and northwest.
human
Go west
gpt
Bubbles is lying on the ground.
human
You take the syrup
gpt
Karo syrup is best kept in the bottle until used.
human
You examine the rucksack
gpt
It is made of heavy denim and looks well-used. The rucksack is open and seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, a length of rope, a book of mythology, a book of faeries, and a flyer.
human
You take off the laurel
gpt
You remove the ash laurel.
human
You follow you
gpt
Bubbles gets up and trots over to you.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
Inventory
gpt
You have a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel, a four-leaf clover, a mason jar, and a bottle of Karo syrup.

Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.
human
Go downwards
gpt
The cave encloses you, reflecting the sound of your breathing. It
is dry and illuminated, though you cannot find the source of the light. Rough stairs are cut into one part of the cave, leading to a thin exit above. The cave widens to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Go north
gpt
Someone has rearranged the hall with a heavy set of boots. The
light sources have been smashed, the throne broken, the table overturned. Mud has been tracked across the carpet.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine the sources
gpt
Someone has smashed them all.
human
You examine the throne
gpt
The throne lies in ruins, its wood snapped, the ivy which once decorated it torn and tossed atop the wreckage.
human
You examine the mud
gpt
Mud has ruined the carpet's once-pristine surface.
human
You examine table
gpt
The table is cracked in the center. It now leans at a drunken angle.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You look
gpt
Someone has rearranged the hall with a heavy set of boots. The
light sources have been smashed, the throne broken, the table overturned. Mud has been tracked across the carpet.
Bubbles is wandering around, sniffing at things.
human
You look at the boots
gpt
They are light and supple.
human
You look at the flyer
gpt
The flyer extols the virtues of the SchimTek Sonic Cavity Analyzer.
The picture on the flyer shows a rectangular box with a large grip handle on one end, reminiscent of an old geiger counter. Your father was eternally collecting gadgets like the Sonic Cavity Analyzer.
human
You go to the south
gpt
The cave encloses you, reflecting the sound of your breathing. It
is dry and illuminated, though you cannot find the source of the light. Rough stairs are cut into one part of the cave, leading to a thin exit above. The cave widens to the north.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
Up
gpt
The hill curves away from this spot, crowned on top by a gnarled
thorn tree. Paths curve down the hill to the west and south. A passage gapes in the side of the hill, leading down. Far to the north is a small white church.
A grey man stands over you, grinning.

The grey man reaches out and grabs you before you can run.

Bubbles comes trotting after you.
human
You examine man
gpt
There is no color to him, an Edward Gorey sketch come to life. His jet-black eyes glitter to either side of an aquiline nose and above an outthrust chin.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.

"Why, Terry, what a pleasant surprise!" The arm gripping you twists slightly, pinning you against the grey man. He squints down at you, blinks several times, discomforted by the mild sunlight. He lashes out smoothly with one foot, catching Bubbles by surprise. Bubbles yipes and runs. "You've been oh so naughty, and your father has sent me to punish you."

You suddenly realize where you had heard the voice from the needled sphere. Your father's voice, nearly choked by his cancer.
human
You ask the man about the father
gpt
The grey man tightens his grip on you, preventing you from moving or drawing much breath.

The grey man tightens his arm across your chest. "Come along, come along, I have something special planned!" He drags you down the hill.

The hill drops off sharply to the west, overlooking a rocky tumble
to a kill below. A worn path leads up to the east and down to the southeast.
The grey man holds you tightly with one arm.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

The grey man nods towards the sharp drop-off. "My, that water looks mighty cold," he says, not noticing that his hold on you has loosened.
human
You look at the rucksack
gpt
It is made of heavy denim and looks well-used. The rucksack is open and seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, a length of rope, a book of mythology, a book of faeries, and a flyer.

Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
human
You go west
gpt
You see a pocketknife here.
human
Go south
gpt
The cave encloses you, reflecting the sound of your breathing. It
is dry and illuminated, though you cannot find the source of the light. Rough stairs are cut into one part of the cave, leading to a thin exit above. The cave widens to the north.
human
You go upwards
gpt
The hill curves away from this spot, crowned on top by a gnarled
thorn tree. Paths curve down the hill to the west and south. A passage gapes in the side of the hill, leading down. Far to the north is a small white church.
A grey man stands over you, grinning.

The grey man reaches out and grabs you before you can run.
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

"Why, Terry, what a pleasant surprise!" The arm gripping you twists slightly, pinning you against the grey man. He squints down at you, blinks several times, discomforted by the mild sunlight. "You've been oh so naughty, and your father has sent me to punish you."

You suddenly realize where you had heard the voice from the needled sphere. Your father's voice, nearly choked by his cancer.
human
You wait awhile
gpt
Time passes...

The grey man tightens his arm across your chest. "Come along, come along, I have something special planned!" He drags you down the hill.

The hill drops off sharply to the west, overlooking a rocky tumble
to a kill below. A worn path leads up to the east and down to the southeast.
The grey man holds you tightly with one arm.
human
You attack the man with the knife
gpt
With all your strength you drive the blade of the pocketknife deep into the grey man's thigh. He screams, a high-pitched, reedy sound. In pain, the grey man stumbles over the edge of the bluff. With one hand he claws at the ground; with the other he drags you with him. In desperation you pry his hand free, but not before you have slid after him.

fingernails. Your wild descent has been arrested by an iron cage which is caught in some roots. The grey man has not been so lucky: his body lies folded in the kill below. The top of the bluff is a good ten feet above you.
human
You examine the cage
gpt
The iron cage is nearly two meters square. A cloth has been placed on the bottom of the cage. Faeries are crammed into it, trying desperately to avoid the sides of the cage.

Below you, you glimpse faeries fluttering about the confines of their cage. One notices you. "Please!" he pleads. "Help us!"
human
You open the cage
gpt
You lean over the cage and pull open its door. In an instant, a rush of faeries flies past you. The sudden shift of weight inside the cage dislodges it from its perch, sending it tumbling. You find your hands slipping from the tree roots until you fall after the cage, ignored by all the faeries.

All but one. She glances down, then pauses her upward flight. She gestures and your fall slows. A bright glow surrounds you, cushioning you. You feel your head strike a rock sharply, laying bare your skull. Pain and muzziness vie for control of your attention. The faerie frowns in concentration. She gestures again, and the glow brightens, blinding you.



White surrounds you, envelops you. In front of you your father, now an old man, sits before a chess board. He looks up from contemplating his next move and glances at you. He looks back to the board and tips a pawn over with deliberation. Then you are falling, the white closing in.

Interlude, Again

The white ceiling slowly recedes, eventually settling down to a reasonable distance. Mindful of a disorienting dizziness, you turn your head slowly from side to side, taking in the sight of a hospital room. The room is dim, its only light the sunlight leaking through the window whose curtains are thrown wide. Equipment surrounds your bed in the center of the room.