Start of a transcript of Untold Riches An Interactive Fiction by Jason Ermer Release 1 / Serial number 150927 / Inform 7 build 6L38 (I6/v6.33 lib 6/12N) Identification number: //76B0B06B-B1D1-4FAE-8B1B-AEFB6046ACBC// Interpreter version 1.2.9 / VM 3.1.2 / Library serial number 080126 Standard Rules version 3/120430 by Graham Nelson Hidden Items version 2 by Krister Fundin ProgIF Library version 1/150323 by Jason Ermer Adaptive Hints version 7 by Eric Eve Simplified Commands version 1/150316 by Jason Ermer Senses version 1/150319 by Jason Ermer >l Lantern Room This room is at the very top of the island's lighthouse. The walls of this octagonal room are all made of glass, and you have a panoramic view. From here you can see that this island is just one of many that make up an archipelago. You notice a ship several miles away sailing in and out of sight among the many islands. In the center of the room is the lantern: a high-powered electric lamp nested inside a set of massive rotating lenses. Underneath the lens array, on the lantern's support pedestal, is a large power button. >transcript Transcripting is already on. >search What do you want to search? >smell me You smell nothing from yourself. >lick me I didn't understand that sentence. >touch me You feel nothing unexpected. >l Lantern Room This room is at the very top of the island's lighthouse. The walls of this octagonal room are all made of glass, and you have a panoramic view. From here you can see that this island is just one of many that make up an archipelago. You notice a ship several miles away sailing in and out of sight among the many islands. In the center of the room is the lantern: a high-powered electric lamp nested inside a set of massive rotating lenses. Underneath the lens array, on the lantern's support pedestal, is a large power button. >smell button You smell nothing from the button. >lick button I didn't understand that sentence. >touch button You feel nothing unexpected from the button. >down Cavern The yellow light of the emergency beacon reflects wetly off the irregular, black walls of the cave. Drips of water echo from some dank corner through the chilly underground air. A path exits this chamber to the east, and a rusty iron gate leads west. A long ladder stretches up, past the limit of the beacon's weak light and into the darkness. >w Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >w You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >i You are carrying: a tub of grease a shovel the beacon (providing light) a waterproof case (open) the map the silver whistle (being worn) >x grease This tub contains a thick, black grease used to lubricate the gears of the mechanism that causes the bright beam of the lighthouse to sweep across the night sky. (Of course, that only happens if it's nighttime and if the lighthouse is operational, neither of which is currently the case.) The grease is applied using the paintbrush whose bristles are stuck in the goo. >close case You close the waterproof case. >l Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >n Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >x head The monolithic sculpture, made of pitted red stone, is in the shape of an enormous head with a long nose. The statue's eyes, two bright copper plates embedded in the stone, gaze southeast over the waving grasses. >l Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >w You wander through the grasses for a while, but find nothing of interest. The key feature in this plain is the monolithic sculpture. >m I didn't understand that sentence. >n You wander through the grasses for a while, but find nothing of interest. The key feature in this plain is the monolithic sculpture. >e Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. "Crab snack?" asks the parrot. >w Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >e Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. >e Beach You are on a deserted beach, alone except for the salty breeze, the waves splashing rhythmically on the sand, and a single palm tree that provides very little shade from the harsh sun. The beach extends to the southeast, and a path to the west leads into the rainforest. The flat husk of a once-inflatable lifeboat has washed up nearby. >se Tide Pool This part of the beach probably floods completely when the tide comes in: all the sand has been washed away and only large rocks remain. Their many pockets and indentations are filled with pools of seawater. The beach becomes more sandy to the northwest and to the west, a large crack in the rocks leads down into a dark cave. A reddish-brown crab scuttles from pool to pool, its pointy legs clicking faintly on the stones. >take crab The crab snaps at your fingers with its sharp little claws. You back away, aware that your hands are completely unprotected. >i You are carrying: a tub of grease a shovel the beacon (providing light) a waterproof case (closed) the silver whistle (being worn) >take crab with shovel I couldn't understand your entire command, although the first part matched the action take the crab. >put crab on shovel (first taking the crab) The crab snaps at your fingers with its sharp little claws. You back away, aware that your hands are completely unprotected. >hit crab with shovel I couldn't understand your entire command, although the first part matched the action hit the crab. >x shovel The shovel has a metal blade and a wooden handle. >take shovel apart I couldn't understand your entire command, although the first part matched the action take the shovel. >break shovel That kind of violence is not necessary in this story. >x blade The shovel has a metal blade and a wooden handle. >x handle The shovel has a metal blade and a wooden handle. >hit crab That kind of violence is not necessary in this story. >dig crab I couldn't understand your entire command, although the first part matched the action dig. >dig The ground here is too rocky for digging. You'd need a pickaxe or something to even make a dent, and you haven't seen one of those since the professor had you chip through the floor of the Biblioteca di San Barnaba on a hunch that it would uncover a secret passage. He was wrong, of course, and had to pay the library big bucks to repair the tile. >w Cavern The yellow light of the emergency beacon reflects wetly off the irregular, black walls of the cave. Drips of water echo from some dank corner through the chilly underground air. A path exits this chamber to the east, and a rusty iron gate leads west. A long ladder stretches up, past the limit of the beacon's weak light and into the darkness. >dig The ground here is too rocky for digging. >w Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >w You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >dig You'll need to study the mysterious symbols on the map to help you narrow down your search. Otherwise, you could dig a hundred holes without any success. It would be like that time you dug for weeks in the Valley of the Benevolent Spirits, only to realize the professor had mistranslated the runes and you should have been digging in the Valley of the Bloodthirsty Spirits, just over the ridge, the whole time. >n Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >dig You'll need to study the mysterious symbols on the map to help you narrow down your search. Otherwise, you could dig a hundred holes without any success. >e Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. >x station The device has a glass dome on top and a single button labeled ON/OFF. At the base, thick electrical cables snake both southwest and southeast (up the slope). The parrot scratches at the ribbon tied to its leg. >push button You press the button on the power station, but nothing happens. >s The tall cliff blocks your way in the that direction. >l cliff The steep cliff is taller than the tallest rainforest trees. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. A trail toward the top of the cliffs rises steeply to the southeast. >up Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station. >down Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. >sw Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >x station The device has a glass dome on top and a single button labeled ON/OFF. At the base, thick electrical cables snake both northeast and east (under the waterfall). >e You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >x cable You can't see any such thing. >w You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >ne Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. Aziz blinks at you. "Crab?" >up Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station. >x station The device has a glass dome on top and a single button labeled ON/OFF. At the base, thick electrical cables snake northwest (down the slope). >push button You press the button on the power station, but nothing happens. >x dome The device has a glass dome on top and a single button labeled ON/OFF. At the base, thick electrical cables snake northwest (down the slope). > No command given. >l Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station. >l Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station. >open case You open the waterproof case, revealing the map. >take map Taken. >x map The sheet of yellowing parchment shows the outline of an island, hand-drawn in black ink. Most of the terrain is just sketched in, but the northwest region is mapped out in great detail and shows some unusual red symbols. >x symbols The symbols in the northwest region of the map are drawn in red ink. (At least, you think it's red ink?) They depict a face looking directly west at a seven-pointed star. >x symbols The symbols in the northwest region of the map are drawn in red ink. (At least, you think it's red ink?) They depict a face looking directly west at a seven-pointed star. >put map in case You roll up the treasure map slide it into the tube. >close case You close the waterproof case. >l Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station. >nw Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. The brass key catches the sunlight as the parrot scoots along the banana leaf. >w Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >w You wander through the grasses for a while, but find nothing of interest. The key feature in this plain is the monolithic sculpture. >x w You see nothing unexpected in that direction. >l w You see nothing unexpected in that direction. >hint > How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? > How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? > How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? > How do I turn on the lighthouse? How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? > How do I turn on the lighthouse? How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? > How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? > How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? 1/5: The crab will pinch you, unless your hands are protected. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. 1/5: The crab will pinch you, unless your hands are protected. 2/5: The first step is to explore the workshop. Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint. How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? > How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? How do I find the treasure? How do I get off the island? How do I turn on the lighthouse? > How do I pick up the crab? How do I know where to dig? Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >w You wander through the grasses for a while, but find nothing of interest. The key feature in this plain is the monolithic sculpture. >s Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >w From here, you can go north, northeast, and east. >e You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >l Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >x machinery The machinery in this chamber includes the enormous water wheel, the track along the wall, the crank, and the control panel. These components interact as follows: turning the crank moves the water wheel along the track (toward, or away from, the waterfall). >x wheel The water wheel is enormous: it reaches almost all the way to the ceiling, and its blades are wider than your armspan. It is spinning fast as its blades are struck by the immense force of the falling water. >i You are carrying: a tub of grease a shovel the beacon (providing light) a waterproof case (closed) the silver whistle (being worn) >light What do you want to light? >light room You can't see any such thing. >light beacon That's already on. >x machinery The machinery in this chamber includes the enormous water wheel, the track along the wall, the crank, and the control panel. These components interact as follows: turning the crank moves the water wheel along the track (toward, or away from, the waterfall). >l Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >x furniture The cramped workshop includes a drafting desk, stool, and a sleeping cot. >x cot The cot is just a piece of rough canvas stretched across a wooden frame. It doesn't look very comfortable to sleep on. >sleep on cot I couldn't understand your entire command, although the first part matched the action sleep. >sleep Sleeping is not necessary in this story. >x desk The desk is tall and has a single drawer. Some papers are scattered across its surface. >open desk You open the drawer, revealing some gloves. >x desk The desk is tall and has a single drawer. Some papers are scattered across its surface. >x paper The papers show engineering sketches for an electrical network which connects five structures on the island. The design shows a cable starting at the water wheel, running through three intermediate power stations, and terminating at the top of the lighthouse. >take gloves Taken. >wear gloves Wow, do you wish you'd had a pair of gloves like these that night all the donkeys got sick while you were trekking down into the Canyon of the Drunken Knights. You told the professor not to let them eat so many blackberries, but he wouldn't listen. Anyhow, you put on the gloves. >score There is no score in this story. >score anyway I couldn't understand your entire command, although the first part matched the action score. >w You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >n Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >e Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. >e Beach You are on a deserted beach, alone except for the salty breeze, the waves splashing rhythmically on the sand, and a single palm tree that provides very little shade from the harsh sun. The beach extends to the southeast, and a path to the west leads into the rainforest. The flat husk of a once-inflatable lifeboat has washed up nearby. >se Tide Pool This part of the beach probably floods completely when the tide comes in: all the sand has been washed away and only large rocks remain. Their many pockets and indentations are filled with pools of seawater. The beach becomes more sandy to the northwest and to the west, a large crack in the rocks leads down into a dark cave. A reddish-brown crab scuttles from pool to pool, its pointy legs clicking faintly on the stones. >take crab You pick up the crab. It pinches away at you furiously, but the thick canvas gloves protect your hands. >w Cavern The yellow light of the emergency beacon reflects wetly off the irregular, black walls of the cave. Drips of water echo from some dank corner through the chilly underground air. A path exits this chamber to the east, and a rusty iron gate leads west. A long ladder stretches up, past the limit of the beacon's weak light and into the darkness. >e Tide Pool This part of the beach probably floods completely when the tide comes in: all the sand has been washed away and only large rocks remain. Their many pockets and indentations are filled with pools of seawater. The beach becomes more sandy to the northwest and to the west, a large crack in the rocks leads down into a dark cave. >nw Beach You are on a deserted beach, alone except for the salty breeze, the waves splashing rhythmically on the sand, and a single palm tree that provides very little shade from the harsh sun. The beach extends to the southeast, and a path to the west leads into the rainforest. The flat husk of a once-inflatable lifeboat has washed up nearby. >w Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Perched on the thick-stemmed leaf of a nearby banana tree sits Aziz, the professor's parrot. His blue and yellow feathers contrast brightly with the green forest backdrop. >give crab to aziz "CRAB SNACK!" the parrot caws with joy. Aziz jumps off the banana leaf and sails toward the crab, wings and talons outstretched. Before you know it, the bird has snapped its claws around the crab and started flapping up into the canopy of the rainforest. You hear a soft, metallic thump on the ground nearby, and then the parrot is gone. >l Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. You can also see the brass key here. >take key If you had a dollar for each little key you've had to keep track of over the years. In fact, Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City recently requested to borrow the professor's key collection for a public exhibition. That's been put on hold, however, until the professor can find the key to the safe in which he keeps his key collection. Anyhow, you pick up the key. >x key The brass key is about as long as your finger. Professor d'Squarius was sure this key would grant you access to the vast riches he spoke so vaguely about. >w Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. >x head The monolithic sculpture, made of pitted red stone, is in the shape of an enormous head with a long nose. The statue's eyes, two bright copper plates embedded in the stone, gaze southeast over the waving grasses. >x grass When the wind blows, the long stalks whisper and sway in waves like a huge, pale-green ocean. >x nose The monolith's long nose sticks out like a handle. >push nose When you apply force to the nose, the statue rotates! To turn the scuplture so that it faces a particular direction, use the command 'turn sculpture to direction'. >turn sculpture to west By pushing on the its long nose you are able to turn the statue so that it faces west. >x sculpture The monolithic sculpture, made of pitted red stone, is in the shape of an enormous head with a long nose. The statue's eyes, two bright copper plates embedded in the stone, gaze west over the waving grasses. >x eyes The monolith's copper eyes catch and focus the bright sun. Together they project a brilliant beam of light on the ground to the west of the statue. >dig You dig at the precise location where the light from the monolith's eyes hits the ground. After a few minutes of working, your shovel clanks hard against stone! A few minutes later you have cleared off a mysterious stone circle in midst of the grassy sea. >x circle The circular stone reminds you of a manhole cover. Its surface is engraved with a seven-pointed star. >x star The circular stone reminds you of a manhole cover. Its surface is engraved with a seven-pointed star. >take stone (the monolithic sculpture) You can't take the monolithic sculpture. >take star The stone circle is just scenery and can't be taken. >open star You are able to pry the stone loose and open it just like a manhole in the street. When you do, a gasp of stale air escapes the chamber beyond. It smells ancient, like the air inside the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, a necropolis guarded by the Terra Cotta Army, which you and the professor entered in your search for an intricately-carved jade funeral urn containing the ashes of Qin Shi Huang. (You couldn't find it.) >down You lower yourself through the circular hole and drop to the floor. It's not a long drop (you can easily climb back out) but your impact kicks up a cloud of dust that has been undisturbed for a long time. Vault You are in a cylindrical chamber. The floor and curved walls of this subterranean room have been lined with smooth stones. Light falls in through the circular opening in the low ceiling, glinting off the specks of dust that drift in the air. In the center of the room squats a wooden chest wrapped in iron bands. >x chest The wooden chest and its rounded lid are striped with bands of iron. An ornamental key plate surrounds an oblong keyhole. Adventuring with the professor has landed you in front of many treasure chests just like this one. You recall one that contained a huge hoard of Aztec gold, and another that contained nothing but a single platinum teaspoon (which, rumor had it, once belonged to Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar). The fact that this chest looks exactly like all the others makes you that much more curious about what's inside. >open chest It seems to be locked. >unlock chest (with the brass key) The brass key clicks perfectly into place and turns with a gentle twist of your wrist. You've done a lot to get here, and only one simple step stands between you and the professor's amazing treasure (whatever it is). >open chest Gingerly you open the chest, revealing its contents. Inside, you behold an object so magnificent it defies description. No wonder Professor d'Squarius didn't get into detail about this amazing treasure! It's too incredible for words. >l Vault You are in a cylindrical chamber. The floor and curved walls of this subterranean room have been lined with smooth stones. Light falls in through the circular opening in the low ceiling, glinting off the specks of dust that drift in the air. In the center of the room squats a wooden chest wrapped in iron bands. >x chest The wooden chest and its rounded lid are striped with bands of iron. An ornamental key plate surrounds an oblong keyhole. >take treasure You carefully remove the object from its container. It is certainly a piece that curators and collectors from the British Museum to Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum will be clamoring for. Plus, the professor (if he's still alive) would be immensely proud of you for finding it. None of that matters, though, if you can't get off the island. So, onward! >what is it I didn't understand that sentence. >i You are carrying: the amazing treasure the brass key some gloves (being worn) a tub of grease a shovel the beacon (providing light) a waterproof case (closed) the silver whistle (being worn) >x amazing treasure It resembles the lost treasure of Nuuk'ta, although obviously smaller and not lost. >x amazing treasure You study all the interlocking pieces, each one more delicate than the last... When you snap out of it, you're not sure how much time as gone by. >x amazing treasure It's amazingly lifelike. Except for the number of feet, of course. >x amazing treasure It stirs up a complex set of emotions in you, the way only true art can. You find yourself simultansously drawn to it and repulsed by it. >x amazing treasure It seems oddly perfect that the candle holder on the left is so much more countoured than the other five. >x amazing treasure You want to examine it more and more closely, but part of you is worried you'd knock all the scales out of alignment (or maybe those are feathers). >x amazing treasure It's as though a blind jeweler carved it based on a poet's description. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what an amazing treasure it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what a remarkable object it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what a stunning piece it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what an incredible artifact it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what a marvelous item it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what an awesome treasure it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what a wonderful object it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what an amazing piece it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what a remarkable artifact it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what a stunning item it is. >x amazing treasure There really are few words to describe what an incredible treasure it is. >hate myself I didn't understand that sentence. >l Vault You are in a cylindrical chamber. The floor and curved walls of this subterranean room have been lined with smooth stones. Light falls in through the circular opening in the low ceiling, glinting off the specks of dust that drift in the air. In the center of the room squats a wooden chest wrapped in iron bands. >up You pull yourself up through the circular hole in the ceiling. Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. In the ground, under the watching eyes of the statue, is the stone circle. >l Grassy Plain The dense forest thins and becomes a wide plain. There are no trees here. Instead, this whole area is covered with coarse grasses as tall as your waist. Trails east and south lead back into the jungle. Standing alone in the center of the wide plain is an enormous stone head. In the ground, under the watching eyes of the statue, is the stone circle. >w You wander through the grasses for a while, but find nothing of interest. The key feature in this plain is the monolithic sculpture. >e Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. >switch power You press the button on the power station, but nothing happens. >sw Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. >switch power You press the button on the power station. With a puff of ozone, the glass dome flickers with green light and the device begins to emit a low hum. You have a brief flashback to that time in Philadelphia when the professor found, and then cranked up, Ben Franklin's original lightning machine. The main difference this time is that the power station doesn't explode. >ne Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. >switch power You press the button on the power station. With a puff of ozone, the glass dome flickers with green light and the device begins to emit a low hum. >se Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station. >switch power You press the button on the power station. With a puff of ozone, the glass dome flickers with green light and the device begins to emit a low hum. >hooray I didn't understand that sentence. >jump You jump. >jump You jump. >jump You jump. >dance I didn't understand that sentence. >clap I didn't understand that sentence. >l Lighthouse You are on a rocky point that rises up through the canopy of the trees. Steep cliffs drop into the rainforest in every direction except to the northwest, where a steep path leads down. From this high perch you can see many of the other small islands that make up the archipelago. A tall, cylindrical lighthouse rises into the sky next to you, overlooking the ocean and the jungle below. Snug up against the curved stone wall is a power station, its glass dome glowing green. >n The only safe path down is to go back the way you came, to the northwest. >down Rainforest The dense canopy of leaves breaks up the sunlight. The ground is covered with a spongy layer of moss and ferns. The humid air smells of both flowering and decaying plants. Trails to the west and southwest meander through the trees, and the way back to the beach is east. A steep cliff rises up directly to the south, and to the southeast you see a steep climb that goes up towards its summit. A power station is poking out from among the ferns. Its glass dome is glowing with green light, and it is humming quietly. >sw Waterfall You are in a lush rainforest clearing, surrounded by steep cliffs. Clinging vines snake their way up the rocky wall, here and there dangling long chains of magenta flowers. Trails lead north and northeast. A large waterfall to the east roars and churns up a dense cloud of mist. A power station is poking out from among the dense foliage beside the waterfall. Its glass dome is glowing with green light, and it is humming quietly. >w From here, you can go north, northeast, and east. >e You walk through the curtain of water, getting pelted and soaked in the process. Workshop This cave has been turned into a small workshop with an assortment of furniture on one side and an array of machinery on the other. Everything in the room is damp from the constant mist churned up by the cascade of falling water at the cave's entrance, which lies to the west. There is a rusty iron gate in the eastern wall. Among the machinery is the room's most impressive feature: a massive water wheel, which is attached to a long horizontal track in the wall. At the near end of the track you see a crank and a kind of display panel. >e Cavern The yellow light of the emergency beacon reflects wetly off the irregular, black walls of the cave. Drips of water echo from some dank corner through the chilly underground air. A path exits this chamber to the east, and a rusty iron gate leads west. A long ladder stretches up, past the limit of the beacon's weak light and into the darkness. >up Lantern Room This room is at the very top of the island's lighthouse. The walls of this octagonal room are all made of glass, and you have a panoramic view. From here you can see that this island is just one of many that make up an archipelago. You notice a ship several miles away sailing in and out of sight among the many islands. In the center of the room is the lantern: a high-powered electric lamp nested inside a set of massive rotating lenses. Underneath the lens array, on the lantern's support pedestal, is a large power button. >switch lamp You flip the lamp's switch and the room is immediately filled with the brightest light your eyes have ever squinted to avoid seeing. It shines out from the lighthouse and soon attracts the attention of the passing ship. Fortunately, it is Captain Atlee's ship and within an hour or two, you find yourself safely back among her crew. You also find yourself reunited with Professor d'Squarius! "You found it!" he cries when he sees you holding the amazing treasure. "Fascinating," he says as he studies the piece. "I had read about it having handles. But why would it need so many?" Back in his cabin, the professor tucks the amazing treasure into a padded crate and tells the story of how, after the lifeboat deflated, he got caught in a current that carried him away from the island. At some point he was spotted and scooped from the sea by Atlee, who had managed to escape the pirates with her skillful maneuvering. "While you were away, I had a look at that." He gestures to one of several maps piled up on the table. The parchment shows a maze of twisty little passages, all alike. "Seems like there's loads of good stuff squirreled away in there." The story of what happens next -- your confusing trek through that network of caves, the unlikely method by which you slay the fearsome dragon, the clever way you recover the priceless (but impossibly delicate) Ming vase -- is a story that must wait for another day. *** The End *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, or UNDO the last command? > quit