ClubFloyd Transcript: Fine Tuned by Dionysius Porcupine
As played on ifMUD on February 24, 2008

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of Fine Tuned, written by Dionysius Porcupine, a nom de plume for Dennis Jerz. Fine Tuned was originally released as part of the 2001 IF Competition, where it took eighteenth place. It was also nominated in that year for two Xyzzy Awards: one for Best Individual PC, and one for Best Setting. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide.

Many thanks to David Welbourn for sitting in for me and saving a transcript on this particular day, as I was away on a business trip. Thanks, David!

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing these games, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played these games, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Save failed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The life of a daredevil adventurer leaves precious little time for
Floyd | rest. There's always wickedness to thwart, innocence to preserve, and
Floyd | honour to uphold.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Type H for help or any other key to begin.]

Floyd |
Floyd | Help -- Commands
Floyd | "Fine-Tuned" is interactive fiction -- a story that unfolds in
Floyd | response to instructions that you give to the main character. Tell the
Floyd | computer (by typing a short command) what you would do if you were the

Floyd | protagonist. In general, try to take everything and try to examine
Floyd | everything.
Floyd |      >enter dynamo
Floyd |      >search dashboard
Floyd |      >fill bucket

Floyd |
Floyd | Since you know thousands of words, and this game only understands a
Floyd | few hundred, you'll have to give very simple orders. Among the more
Floyd | useful commands:
Floyd |      >look (a good way to get your bearings and ideas for what to do
Floyd | next)

Floyd |      >examine [thing] (describe that thing)
Floyd |      >i (inventory; displays what you're carrying)
Floyd |      >go north, go south, etc. (or just the letters 'n', 's', etc.)
Floyd |      >wait (do nothing for one turn)
Floyd |      >help (get a list of help topics)

Floyd |
Floyd | You may also try taking, dropping, opening and closing things; putting
Floyd | things on top of or inside other things; switching things on and off,
Floyd | and using all your senses.
Floyd |
Floyd | [press any key]

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | FINE-TUNED
Floyd | An Auto-mated Romance

Floyd |
Floyd | Copyright (c) 2001, 2002 by Dionysius Porcupine.
Floyd | Release 8 / Serial number 020520 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
Floyd |
Floyd | Chapter 1: The Call of the Open Road
Floyd |

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the House
Floyd | The long driveway stretches east, towards adventure.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo gleams in the dappled sunlight. In the front seat is
Floyd | Aloysius.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You're Troy Sterling, daredevil adventurer. Or you will be, as soon as
Floyd | you master all this technical stuff and get on with the daredeviling

Floyd | part.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Come on, Mr. Sterling... get in!" says Aloysius.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Aloysius Pratt is a brilliant inventor, a patient teacher, and a loyal
Floyd | companion. Scratch his crusty exterior and you will find boundless and
Floyd | inexplicable layers of additional crust. As far as you know, he's

Floyd | crust all the way down.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mr. Sterling, are you finished staring at me?" he says, fidgeting
Floyd | uncomfortably. He gestures down your driveway, towards the east.
Floyd | "There's no time to lose!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | "That's not in my job description, Mr. Sterling!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "This is no time to delay!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Not on foot, Mr. Sterling!" shouts Aloysius, shocked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | "That's not in my job description, Mr. Sterling!"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mr. Sterling, what did you buy the car for if you're not going to get
Floyd | in it?" asks Aloysius.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step up on the running board. The instruments are arranged neatly
Floyd | on the dashboard in front of you. You open the glove compartment,
Floyd | revealing some gloves.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The Pratt Dynamo is Aloysius Pratt's latest, most brilliant invention
Floyd | -- twin six-cylinder motors, an electric starter, hydraulic steering,
Floyd | an on-board heater, and some stuff that has to do with fuel and

Floyd | airflow that you didn't quite catch the last time Aloysius mentioned
Floyd | it.  The body is white with gold trim. On the luggage rack are a tool
Floyd | chest and a crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the front seat are yourself and Aloysius.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Mr. Sterling, we'd better get going," says Aloysius.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Leather, long... still fairly new. Fur-lined.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to wear the motors.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the gloves)

Floyd |
Floyd | "Great," says Aloysius. "Now let's go!"
Floyd |
Floyd | You slip them on. They fit you like... well, like gloves.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not something you can switch.
Floyd |

Floyd | Aloysius watches you, puzzled.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Ever since the time you accidentally put fuel in the radiator and set

Floyd | it on fire, you have pretty much decided to let Aloysius handle all
Floyd | the details of taking care of the Dynamo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push the electrical ignition button. The motors roar to life.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius beams. "Very good, Mr. Sterling! You've been studying!"
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | A big metal tool chest, slightly dented. Aloysius still hasn't

Floyd | forgiven you for backing over it last month.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Aloysius, looking agitated, stops you. "Don't mess with that, Mr.
Floyd | Sterling," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With a horrendous screeching sound, the car lurches forward a little
Floyd | bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Parking brake!" Aloysius shouts. "Release the parking brake!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You release the parking brake.
Floyd |

Floyd | Aloysius watches approvingly. "Good, good," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | But wait -- your hair! It might get messed up!

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   some gloves (being worn)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Just a big wooden crate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | "I don't know what to say about that," he says. He gestures down your
Floyd | driveway, towards the east. "There's no time to lose!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the crate, revealing some bundles of flyers and a loose
Floyd | flyer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Pratt Dynamo is Aloysius Pratt's latest, most brilliant invention
Floyd | -- twin six-cylinder motors, an electric starter, hydraulic steering,
Floyd | an on-board heater, and some stuff that has to do with fuel and
Floyd | airflow that you didn't quite catch the last time Aloysius mentioned

Floyd | it.  The body is white with gold trim. On the luggage rack are a tool
Floyd | chest and a crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the front seat are yourself and Aloysius.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd | It bears an image of your face in profile, and reads as follows:
Floyd |
Floyd | Troy Sterling! (Amazing! Courteous!)

Floyd |
Floyd | Unlike other daredevil would-be role models, Troy always aids the
Floyd | helpless, waves to strangers, and blesses sneezers.
Floyd |
Floyd | Automotive tours. Camping and hiking expeditions. Birthday parties.
Floyd | House-sitting. Pet exercising.

Floyd |
Floyd | Troy Sterling! (Polite! Kind!)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | No little puny "ooga-ooga" squeeze-bulb for you! This baby's a
Floyd | steam-powered calliope, built to your exact specifications by Mr.
Floyd | Aloysius Pratt.
Floyd |

Floyd | The on-board calliope churns out a rousing march rendition of
Floyd | "Greensleeves."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Aloysius fidgets. "Aw, you know how I feel about the automobile, Mr.
Floyd | Sterling."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the House (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | The long driveway stretches east, towards adventure.
Floyd |
Floyd | The instruments are arranged neatly on the dashboard in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Aloysius, an index card, some goggles,

Floyd | your favourite peaked riding cap and a scarf.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Among the notable features of the dashboard are a steering wheel, an

Floyd | electrical ignition button, a parking brake, a horn and a glove
Floyd | compartment (which is open but empty).
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the peaked riding cap)
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius watches incredulously. "At a time like this, you're worried

Floyd | about fashion?"
Floyd | You don your favourite riding cap. The cry, "Huzzah!" escapes your
Floyd | lips.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the scarf)
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius rolls his eyes. "Never mind the threat of darkness looming

Floyd | over your household; paying back your debt to the forces of light can
Floyd | wait until you complete your stylish ensemble!"
Floyd | You throw the scarf around your manly neck, grinning your winningest
Floyd | grin.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the goggles)
Floyd |

Floyd | "Mr. Sterling, whenever you're finished...?" says Aloysius, miming a
Floyd | driving motion, and gesturing east.
Floyd |
Floyd | You snap the goggles jauntily over your head. A little too jauntily,
Floyd | as it turns out. But a headache and blurred vision are a small price
Floyd | to pay for such dramatic flair.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the index card)
Floyd | Taken.
Floyd | Neatly printed on the index card are the following instructions:
Floyd |
Floyd | "To use the patented Pratt Electrical Ignition System, 'push the
Floyd | ignition button'.

Floyd | "To use the parking brake, 'set brake' or 'release brake'.
Floyd | "To drive, simply 'drive [direction]'."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Aloysius points east. "To the other end of the driveway we go!" he
Floyd | shouts....

Floyd | From here, you can only go east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Aloysius points east. "To the other end of the driveway we go!" he
Floyd | shouts....

Floyd |
Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | Your tree-lined driveway leads west. Greenwood Lane runs north into
Floyd | town, and south into the country.
Floyd |
Floyd | The instruments are arranged neatly on the dashboard in front of you.

Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Aloysius.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius spots something. "There it is!" he shouts, pointing at a
Floyd | horse-drawn van, which approaches from the north.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the mailbox.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius starts to get out of the automobile, but hesitates.
Floyd |
Floyd | The horse-drawn van is some distance away, but approaching.
Floyd |

Floyd | Aloysius turns to face you. "You do it, Mr. Sterling," he says,
Floyd | holding out an envelope.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You'd have to be holding it first.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius, looking over his shoulder at the van, waves the envelope at
Floyd | you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good," says Aloysius. "You know what to do!"
Floyd |

Floyd | Indeed! You feel your muscles tingling as you contemplate this, your
Floyd | opportunity to send a message -- one that will pay back your debt,
Floyd | dispel the shadows of night, and restore the forces of light.
Floyd |
Floyd | The horse-drawn van is drawing closer to your driveway.
Floyd | It's stamped, and addressed to the Delinquent Accounts Office, Edison

Floyd | Electric Power & Light Co.
Floyd |
Floyd | The van is almost at your driveway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put the envelope in the mailbox.
Floyd |
Floyd | The horse-drawn van pulls up to your mailbox and stops.

Floyd |
Floyd | The driver peers into the mailbox, takes out the envelope and puts a
Floyd | postcard inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I really wish you were more conscientious about paying your bills on
Floyd | time, Mr. Sterling," says Aloysius. "But I guess it's not my place to

Floyd | say."
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | The horse-drawn van pulls up to your mailbox and stops.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | The driver peers into the mailbox and puts a postcard inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good day to you!" says the mail driver, waving cheerfully.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The driver waves at you again, apparently hoping for a response.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You're not exactly friendly when you're not in front of a paying

Floyd | audience," sniffs the driver.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You wave to the driver. He is exceedingly pleased by your friendly
Floyd | gesture.
Floyd | The driver pulls away, smiling happily.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | It's stamped, and addressed to the Delinquent Accounts Office, Edison

Floyd | Electric Power & Light Co.
Floyd |
Floyd | The postal van disappears around a bend to the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (Aloysius)

Floyd | "No, you keep it," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Good day to you!" says the mail driver, waving cheerfully.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | The driver takes the envelope. "Right you are," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | The driver waves at you again, apparently hoping for a response.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I really wish you were more conscientious about paying your bills on
Floyd | time, Mr. Sterling," says Aloysius. "But I guess it's not my place to
Floyd | say."
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You wave to the driver. He is exceedingly pleased by your friendly
Floyd | gesture.

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's already open.

Floyd |
Floyd | The driver pulls away, smiling happily.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius sighs thoughtfully. "Well, we survived another brush with the
Floyd | Dark Riders of the Postal Service," he says.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | The postal van disappears around a bend to the south.

Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius hops out of the car.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You know, Mr. Sterling, something about those motors just didn't
Floyd | sound right. Shut them off a minute, please."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The postcard the mailman dropped off in your box seems to be another
Floyd | ominous legal statement from the Edison Electric Power & Light Co.

Floyd |
Floyd | Whew! You can rest easy now. Your debt has been paid, and your
Floyd | household will no longer be threatened with darkness. *If* the cheque
Floyd | doesn't bounce, that is.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mr. Sterling, cut the motors, would you?" says Aloysius.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push the electrical ignition button, cutting the motors.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius walks around to the front of the Dynamo, absently patting the
Floyd | frame as he goes. "Let me take a look for a minute," he says, cheerful

Floyd | once again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You take a deep breath. You belt out a few random notes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius tinkers with the motors, whistling happily to himself.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The motors are currently switched off.
Floyd |
Floyd | To the south, a horse-drawn buggy rounds a bend and comes into view.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It's just a little horse-drawn buggy, the kind a well-to-do farmer
Floyd | might take out on a Saturday afternoon, to shop with his wife, or
Floyd | *for* his wife, or for *a* wife, as the case may be.

Floyd |
Floyd | The buggy slows down as it approaches your driveway.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Broken down again, I see," smirks the driver.
Floyd |
Floyd | "There's nothing wrong with this machine, MacDougal," growls Aloysius.

Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal pretends to steer a wheel. "Look at me, I'm an autoist! I am
Floyd | an affront to the laws of man and nature! I catch bugs in my teeth!
Floyd | Haw, haw!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Nothing happens, since the motors aren't on.
Floyd |

Floyd | Aloysius climbs wearily back into the Dynamo. "Just what I needed
Floyd | today," he mutters.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal pretends to steer a wheel. "I sit in a noisy, expensive
Floyd | automobile! When it works, I run people off roads! I make little
Floyd | babies cry! My personal hygiene is appalling! Haw, haw!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push the electrical ignition button. The motors roar to life.
Floyd | MacDougal's horse rears up. "Woah, there!" shouts MacDougal,
Floyd | struggling to keep control.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius bursts out laughing. "Serves you right, you old buzzard!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | (the horn)
Floyd | The on-board calliope churns out an exhilarating percussion rendition
Floyd | of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean."

Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal's horse rears up again.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius's expression changes from delight to shock, as one of the
Floyd | buggy's wheels slips into a drainage ditch, just east of the road.
Floyd | MacDougal -- cursing a blue streak -- struggles to regain control of

Floyd | the horse, as the buggy totters on the edge.

Floyd | ...
Floyd | The buggy drops out of sight, taking the wild-eyed MacDougal along
Floyd | with it.

Floyd |
Floyd | The horse breaks free, and bolts into the woods.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal must have landed hard in the ditch -- nothing seems to be
Floyd | moving down there.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | When still seated in an automobile, horizontal travel is generally
Floyd | best.
Floyd |

Floyd | Aloysius clucks his tongue, looking down into the ditch. "I hope he's
Floyd | not hurt down there... not too much, anyway."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You slip out from behind the wheel. The Dynamo starts to roll...
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius lunges for the instruments. "Parking brake!" he shouts. "Set
Floyd | the parking brake!"

Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius stops the Dynamo from rolling away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Roadside Ditch
Floyd | This is a rather deep roadside ditch. To the west, it ascends back
Floyd | towards the road.

Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal, unconscious, is trapped beneath the buggy.
Floyd |
Floyd | From down here in the ditch, you can just barely see part of the
Floyd | Dynamo.
Floyd |

Floyd | You can also see MacDougal's ragged felt hat and a detached wooden
Floyd | wheel here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Muttering, Aloysius clambers down into the ditch just behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Well, would you look at that," says Aloysius, clucking his tongue.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | His eyes flutter open.
Floyd |

Floyd | MacDougal's groggy eyes suddenly become sharp. "You!" he snaps. "You
Floyd | autoists and your confounded mechanical monsters!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius rolls his eyes. "As you can hear, he's completely unharmed."
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal is still pinned beneath the buggy. "Get me out of here!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | This wooden wheel must have come off the buggy when it flipped over.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Working together, you and Aloysius manage to free MacDougal from under
Floyd | the buggy.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal brushes himself off, looking around unhappily. "Where's my

Floyd | hat?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | MacDougal, grabbing his hat, grunts the tiniest little grunt of
Floyd | thanks.

Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius looks chastened by your good example. "Well, I guess I
Floyd | wouldn't want to see any man trampled dead by his own horse. Not even
Floyd | MacDougal."
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You have so far scored 9 out of a possible 42, in 63 turns.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | MacDougal just rolls his eyes.

Floyd |
Floyd | "My horse is bolted, my buggy's broke, and I'm supposed to be picking
Floyd | up some big-city visitor for Professor Sneedlewood," says MacDougal,
Floyd | growling and whining simultaneously.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Now, now," says Aloysius. "Take it easy, MacDougal. Mr. Sterling here

Floyd | can take care of the visitor."
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | "I'll thank you keep your hands off my belongings," he snaps.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal eyes you suspiciously as he stretches out kinks in his neck.

Floyd | "I can't say as I'd want to force anyone to ride in that tin-plated
Floyd | corpse-generator of yours... but here." He fishes into his pocket.
Floyd | "Your victim -- I mean, your passenger -- will be looking for this at
Floyd | the train station."
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal produces a hand-lettered sign.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Listen here, Sterling. The professor says this visitor is very
Floyd | important," says MacDougal. "Try to keep that damned contraption of
Floyd | yours from killing her."
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius raises an eyebrow. "'Her'?"

Floyd | ...
Floyd | "That's right," says MacDougal. "Her name's Melody Sweet."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A small, hand-lettered sign that reads, "Miss Sweat". (The "a" is
Floyd | squeezed in as an afterthought.)
Floyd |
Floyd | What unaccompanied female wouldn't immediately trust the bearer of

Floyd | this particular sign to pick her up in the train station and drive her
Floyd | to Professor Sneedlewood's estate, north of town?
Floyd |
Floyd | "I was headed to the train station to pick her up. Supposed to drive
Floyd | her up north, to the professor's place," says MacDougal.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Whom do you want to say the goodbye to?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | He grumbles dismissively. "Too busy fer that."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a horse to catch," says MacDougal.
Floyd | He climbs back up out of the ditch, and exits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius examines the buggy with an expert eye.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Guess I'll get my tools. You can just run along as usual and try to
Floyd | impress the ladies," says Aloysius. "At least I'm good at what *I*
Floyd | do!"
Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius climbs back up out of the ditch, and exits.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You climb back up out of the ditch.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox

Floyd | Your tree-lined driveway leads west. Greenwood Lane runs north into
Floyd | town, and south into the country.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is here, its motors humming.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can also see Aloysius here.

Floyd |
Floyd | Aloysius carries his tool chest down into the ditch, muttering to
Floyd | himself: "Someday I gotta get *me* a faithful mechanic sidekick."
Floyd |
Floyd | The weather is perfect for a little jaunt into town. How fortunate
Floyd | that the arrival of this Miss Sweet affords you this opportunity to be

Floyd | heroic and dashing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step up on the running board. The instruments are arranged neatly

Floyd | on the dashboard in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You release the parking brake.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push the electrical ignition button, cutting the motors. You
Floyd | switch the motors off.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push the electrical ignition button. The motors roar to life.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Your Driveway -- Near the Mailbox (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | Your tree-lined driveway leads west. Greenwood Lane runs north into

Floyd | town, and south into the country.
Floyd |
Floyd | The instruments are arranged neatly on the dashboard in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Aloysius would hardly appreciate having to tow the Dynamo out of the
Floyd | ditch.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | In the rear-view mirror, you glimpse the earnest wholesomeness of your
Floyd | grinning, lantern-jawed face as you motor along. What a day to
Floyd | celebrate progress -- a man and his machine, together.

Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You are on a pleasant stretch of Greenwood Lane, which winds north
Floyd | towards the town (some distance away) and south to your estate (a
Floyd | short drive away).
Floyd |

Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You are on a pleasant stretch of Greenwood Lane, which winds north
Floyd | towards the town (some distance away) and south to your estate (a
Floyd | short drive away).
Floyd |

Floyd | In the distance, you see a boy riding a pony towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You ease up a little on the gas -- but just a little.
Floyd |
Floyd | You are coming up on the boy fast. He stares in wonderment at the
Floyd | Dynamo.

Floyd |
Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You ease up a little on the gas -- but just a little.
Floyd |
Floyd | The boy dismounts and leads the pony off of the road, in order to let
Floyd | you pass.
Floyd |
Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You wave at the boy.

Floyd |
Floyd | The boy breaks out into a smile, and waves enthusiastically as you
Floyd | zoom past.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)

Floyd | You are on a hilly stretch of Greenwood Lane, which winds north
Floyd | towards the town and south towards your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old, beaten-up bucket, lying in the middle of the road, spoils the
Floyd | area's rustic charm.
Floyd |

Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the car door)
Floyd | Better not push your luck with the gods of automotive technology.
Floyd | Aloysius knows far more about such things than you do.

Floyd |
Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're coming up fast on the old tin bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With a horrible grinding noise, the vehicle comes to a screeching
Floyd | halt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the car door)
Floyd | A modern, twentieth-century man would gain little from such a display
Floyd | of savage behaviour.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You slip out from behind the wheel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pick up the bucket, restoring the natural beauty to this idyllic
Floyd | stretch of country road.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It's just a tin bucket. There's no obvious hole in the bucket (which
Floyd | eliminates the need for a side quest to mend it).

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | All 69,105 leaves have said "yoho" and disappeared down a 2-inch slit
Floyd | -- along with some cheese, a bowl of sodden Cheerios, losers named
Floyd | Mercury and BVE sniveling under a bridge, and a bunch of other lame
Floyd | rec.arts.int-fiction in-jokes. [Let's stick to one adventure at a
Floyd | time, okay?] ;-)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | All 69,105 leaves have said "yoho" and disappeared down a 2-inch slit
Floyd | -- along with some cheese, a bowl of sodden Cheerios, losers named
Floyd | Mercury and BVE sniveling under a bridge, and a bunch of other lame
Floyd | rec.arts.int-fiction in-jokes. [Let's stick to one adventure at a
Floyd | time, okay?] ;-)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You release the parking brake.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first getting into the Dynamo)
Floyd | You step up on the running board.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)

Floyd | You are on a curvy stretch of Greenwood Lane, which winds north
Floyd | towards the town and south to your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | A small, colourful shape catches your eye by the side of the road,
Floyd | just beneath a tree. It seems to be a twitterpated hatchling.
Floyd |

Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The twitterpated hatchling is rather small, and shivering. It looks

Floyd | longingly up into the branches of the tree.
Floyd |
Floyd | The road flows by at an exhilarating pace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You're coming up fast on the twitterpated hatchling, which is moving
Floyd | jerkily and flapping stubby little wings.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With a horrible grinding noise, the vehicle comes to a screeching
Floyd | halt.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You slip out from behind the wheel.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You gingerly pick up the twitterpated hatchling. It chirps and wiggles
Floyd | pathetically.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | (the tree)
Floyd | You easily grab one of the lower branches, and hoist yourself up.
Floyd |

Floyd | Lower Branches
Floyd | You are sitting on one of the lower branches of the sprawling tree,
Floyd | shaded by the upper branches.
Floyd |
Floyd | Down below, through the branches, you have an excellent view of the
Floyd | Dynamo.

Floyd |
Floyd | A worried-looking mother bird fusses about inside her nest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You gingerly place the hatchling in its nest.
Floyd |
Floyd | The mother bird wraps her wings around her recovered baby. Her joyous
Floyd | song of maternal bliss is all the reward you need. Although another
Floyd | point would be nice, too.
Floyd |

Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You really shouldn't disturb this blissful scene.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane

Floyd | You are on a curvy stretch of Greenwood Lane, which winds north
Floyd | towards the town and south to your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is here, its motors humming.
Floyd |
Floyd | A particularly large tree stands by the side of the road here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step up on the running board.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You release the parking brake.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You pull into the center of town, and find an excellent parking place

Floyd | right near the train station...
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Center of Town (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | The familiar buildings and side streets look cheerful in the bright
Floyd | sunlight. The train station is to the east, and a livery stable is to
Floyd | the west. Greenwood Lane runs north towards the Sneedlewood Mansion

Floyd | (some distance away), and south towards your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | A group of excited children swarms around the Dynamo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to save.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The children smile and wave excitedly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Children run around the Dynamo, waving and cheering. "It's Troy
Floyd | Sterling!" they shout.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Just a big wooden crate.
Floyd |
Floyd | More children emerge from the sidestreets. "Blow the horn!" one of
Floyd | them shouts.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | In the crate are some bundles of flyers.
Floyd |

Floyd | All the children are now chanting, "Blow the horn! Blow the horn!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | crate: There's certainly no need to take a whole crate of promotional

Floyd | flyers!
Floyd | bundles of flyers: There's no need to take so many.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Blow the horn! Blow the horn!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | There are none at all available!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The on-board calliope churns out an exhilarating percussion rendition
Floyd | of the overture to "William Tell."
Floyd |
Floyd | The children cheer wildly.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The bundles are neatly tied up, waiting for you to distribute at your
Floyd | next big engagement.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hey fellas," says one of the taller boys, "let's go wait for the
Floyd | train at the overpass."
Floyd |

Floyd | As the children scamper off, one collides with a short man on his way
Floyd | to the train station.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Excuse me," says the child, startled.
Floyd |
Floyd | The man smiles through clenched teeth. "Quite alright," he says,

Floyd | awkwardly patting the child's head.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You slip out from behind the wheel.

Floyd |
Floyd | The child stares at the man for a moment, and then darts after the
Floyd | rest of the children. "Hey! Wait for me!"
Floyd |
Floyd | As the children run off, you can hear their breathless chatter.
Floyd |

Floyd | The short stranger goes east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | What do you want to lock the Pratt Dynamo with?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the ceiling)
Floyd | That isn't available.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an old bucket
Floyd |   a small sign
Floyd |   a detached wooden wheel
Floyd |   a postcard
Floyd |   an index card

Floyd |   some goggles (being worn)
Floyd |   a scarf (being worn)
Floyd |   your favourite peaked riding cap (being worn)
Floyd |   a loose flyer
Floyd |   some gloves (being worn)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The glove compartment is empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Which do you mean, the front seat or the back seat?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put the old bucket into the glove compartment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Train Station

Floyd | There's really not much to the local train station; just a roofed
Floyd | platform and a long bench. The only exit is back west.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a short stranger here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear the train approaching. It will be here in a moment if you

Floyd | wait.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | His shiny black hair is slicked back over his head. Upon noticing your

Floyd | gaze, he makes what appears to be an honest attempt at a smile, but he
Floyd | looks away quickly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The train -- a two-boiler, 450-litre Douglas Special, in all its
Floyd | mechanical glory, pulls into the station, belching steam and soot.
Floyd |

Floyd | The passengers will be exiting soon.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Hello," he says, shyly avoiding your eyes.

Floyd |
Floyd | From the train pours forth a spectacle of businessmen with folded
Floyd | newspapers, a blossom of ladies in floral hats, and a fountain of
Floyd | youths scratching at their travel clothes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Soon, the businessmen have shaken hands and parted; the ladies have

Floyd | claimed the arms and ears of their beaux, and the youths have endured
Floyd | many "welcome home" kisses.
Floyd |

Floyd | In a moment, the crowd clears, and the platform is empty once
Floyd | more...or almost empty.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's now a young woman sitting on the bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You look ridiculous waving the small sign.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | She takes the small sign and winces.
Floyd |
Floyd | She gets up from the bench. "I'm Melody Sweet. I'm pleased to meet
Floyd | you. Thank you for coming."

Floyd |
Floyd | The train engineer pokes his head out of the locomotive. "Look, boys!
Floyd | Sterling's at it again!" he shouts, and withdraws his head from view
Floyd | again.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I packed as lightly as I could, but I'm afraid my trunk has gotten

Floyd | rather heavy," says Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Her icy glare stops you in your tracks. And a good thing, too -- such

Floyd | an affront would hardly help your reputation.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'd be ever so grateful for your assistance," Miss Sweet continues,
Floyd | gesturing towards her trunk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | She is a smallish, red-haired young woman, with high cheekbones and
Floyd | bright, intense eyes. She carries herself with the confident bearing
Floyd | of a performer -- someone who is used to being seen and heard. She is
Floyd | carrying a small sign and a purse.

Floyd |
Floyd | Upon noticing your gaze, she holds her shoulders a bit more erect, and
Floyd | tosses her head a little farther back.
Floyd |
Floyd | Neaby is a small, white trunk.
Floyd |

Floyd | Sighing dramatically, Miss Sweet opens her purse. "Perhaps you will
Floyd | help me now?" she asks, flashing a coin at you.
Floyd |
Floyd | A passing porter changes course in mid-stride, and heads for Miss
Floyd | Sweet.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | The porter tips his hat stiffly. "I'll be off then," he says, and
Floyd | dashes away.

Floyd | The trunk is heavier than it looks -- but not too heavy for you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet smiles politely. "Would you be so kind as to take me to
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood now? I will follow you."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | In the Center of Town
Floyd | The familiar buildings and side streets look cheerful in the bright
Floyd | sunlight. The train station is to the east, and a livery stable is to

Floyd | the west. Greenwood Lane runs north towards the Sneedlewood Mansion
Floyd | (some distance away), and south towards your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is here, its motors humming.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet follows you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the small white trunk in the small white trunk)
Floyd | You can't put something inside itself.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I really shan't be able to relax for a moment -- not until we are
Floyd | safely on our way," says Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the small white trunk in the Dynamo)
Floyd | That can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the small white trunk in the luggage rack)
Floyd | You heft the trunk onto the luggage rack, where it settles in
Floyd | securely.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Thank you," says Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "So this is the famous Pratt Dynamo," says Miss Sweet. She stands near
Floyd | it, hand extended, palm down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Professor Sneedlewood is a professor of Central American Antiquities,
Floyd | although he seems to fancy himself something of a musical historian as

Floyd | well," says Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet raises her hand a little higher.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Miss Sweet permits you to hand her into the Dynamo. "Thank you," she
Floyd | says.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You step up on the running board.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet settles herself in for the ride.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Excuse me, but the professor has informed me that his house is north
Floyd | of town," says Miss Sweet.
Floyd |

Floyd | "I believe I shall enjoy the ride to the professor's residence," says
Floyd | Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | As soon as you start moving, the train in the station lurches forward.
Floyd | You and the engineer make eye contact briefly. His steely glare is all
Floyd | the challenge you need....
Floyd |

Floyd | As you make your way through the narrow streets, the train pulls ahead
Floyd | of you; but you start making up ground rapidly once you make it out
Floyd | onto...
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor

Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along
Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is trailing the caboose.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Among the notable features of the dashboard are a steering wheel, an

Floyd | electrical ignition button, a parking brake, a horn and a glove
Floyd | compartment (which is open).
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is trailing the caboose.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Dynamo catches up to the caboose with little trouble.
Floyd |

Floyd | Miss Sweet watches in amazement. "What a remarkable automobile," she
Floyd | says.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor
Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along
Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Dynamo is even with the caboose.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Dynamo passes the caboose and works its way towards the front of

Floyd | the train.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor
Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along
Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | Far up ahead, you notice a slow-moving surrey.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is even with a freight car.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | But the slow-moving surrey is blocking your progress!
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo falls behind the freight car.

Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet watches in dismay. "I had expected much more from the
Floyd | driver of the famous Pratt Dynamo, that's for sure," she sighs.
Floyd |
Floyd | The driver of the surrey has positioned himself directly in the middle
Floyd | of the road, making it impossible to pass.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is even with the caboose.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the horn)
Floyd | The on-board calliope churns out a peppy dog-bark rendition of "Ave
Floyd | Maria." Miss Sweet can't help but to join in, and finishes off with a
Floyd | fancy flourish.
Floyd |

Floyd | The horse (harnessed to the surrey) rears up in alarm... The horse
Floyd | pulls the surrey off the road, where it careens through the brush.
Floyd |
Floyd | The road leading north is now clear.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is even with the caboose.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Dynamo passes the caboose and works its way towards the front of
Floyd | the train.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)

Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor
Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along
Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.
Floyd |

Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is even with a freight car.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Dynamo pulls even with a passenger coach.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Very impressive," says Miss Sweet.

Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor
Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along

Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is even with a passenger coach.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The Dynamo passes the coaches and pulls even with the locomotive, from
Floyd | which you can see the engineer's fist shaking in rage.
Floyd |

Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor
Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along
Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.

Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is even with the locomotive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The Dynamo pulls ahead of the locomotive.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet turns to watch the locomotive recede behind you. "I've
Floyd | never seen an automobile perform so admirably," she says,

Floyd | breathlessly.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road on the way to Professor
Floyd | Sneedlewood's estate, just north of town.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the rails which parallel the road, the Douglas Special tears along
Floyd | northwards, steam and sparks flying.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is leading the locomotive.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The locomotive falls behind, out of view.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | to the town.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | You catch Miss Sweet watching you intently. She immediately looks

Floyd | away, with a hint of a smile.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo continues to hurtle along.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | to the town.
Floyd |

Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, three children emerge from the bushes, and dart recklessly
Floyd | in front of the Dynamo's path!

Floyd |
Floyd | "LOOK OUT!" Miss Sweet shrieks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press on the accelerator. The motors roar murderously....

Floyd |
Floyd | The children are frozen in terror!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss sweet grabs at the wheel in a desperate attempt to alter your
Floyd | course, sending the vehicle into a wild spin, which ejects you from
Floyd | your seat.

Floyd |
Floyd | Just before your face becomes intimate with a tree trunk, you catch a
Floyd | glimpse of your vehicle rolling over into a ditch.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * You have died. * * *
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 14 out of a possible 42, in 143 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the horn)
Floyd | The on-board calliope churns out the trademark Sterling oom-pah
Floyd | rendition of "London Bridge Is Falling Down."

Floyd |
Floyd | The children cheer wildly.
Floyd |
Floyd | The children are frozen in terror!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss sweet grabs at the wheel in a desperate attempt to alter your

Floyd | course, sending the vehicle into a wild spin, which ejects you from
Floyd | your seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just before your face becomes intimate with a tree trunk, you catch a
Floyd | glimpse of your vehicle rolling over into a ditch.
Floyd |

Floyd | * * * You have died. * * *
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 14 out of a possible 42, in 144 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,

Floyd | give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With a horrible grinding noise, the vehicle comes to a screeching

Floyd | halt.
Floyd |
Floyd | The children are frozen in terror!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss sweet grabs at the wheel in a desperate attempt to alter your
Floyd | course, sending the vehicle into a wild spin, which ejects you from

Floyd | your seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just before your face becomes intimate with a tree trunk, you catch a
Floyd | glimpse of your vehicle rolling over into a ditch.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * You have died. * * *

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 14 out of a possible 42, in 144 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the detached wooden wheel)

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | The children are frozen in terror!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss sweet grabs at the wheel in a desperate attempt to alter your
Floyd | course, sending the vehicle into a wild spin, which ejects you from

Floyd | your seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just before your face becomes intimate with a tree trunk, you catch a
Floyd | glimpse of your vehicle rolling over into a ditch.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * You have died. * * *

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 14 out of a possible 42, in 144 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?

Floyd | >
Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | Please give one of the answers above.
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (When you're ready to drive, just type the direction you want to go.)
Floyd |
Floyd | The children are frozen in terror!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss sweet grabs at the wheel in a desperate attempt to alter your
Floyd | course, sending the vehicle into a wild spin, which ejects you from

Floyd | your seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | Just before your face becomes intimate with a tree trunk, you catch a
Floyd | glimpse of your vehicle rolling over into a ditch.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * You have died. * * *

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 14 out of a possible 42, in 144 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You press on the accelerator. The motors roar murderously....

Floyd |
Floyd | The children are frozen in terror!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss sweet grabs at the wheel in a desperate attempt to alter your
Floyd | course, sending the vehicle into a wild spin, which ejects you from
Floyd | your seat.

Floyd |
Floyd | Just before your face becomes intimate with a tree trunk, you catch a
Floyd | glimpse of your vehicle rolling over into a ditch.
Floyd |
Floyd | * * * You have died. * * *
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | In that game you scored 14 out of a possible 42, in 143 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move,
Floyd | give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The terrified children freeze in their tracks. You manage to avoid
Floyd | hitting them, but the Dynamo spins off the road and into the trees...
Floyd | The Dynamo's motors cut off with a horrible grinding sound.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hooray for Troy Sterling!" shout the children, scampering off into
Floyd | the woods.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | Steam is escaping from the radiator.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | But you can't drive the Dynamo unless the motors are on!
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet avoids your eyes. "I hope it's not too serious, Mr.

Floyd | Sterling," she says. "I guess I'll just wait here, while you fix it...
Floyd | if you can, that is."
Floyd |
Floyd | To the south, you can hear the Douglas Special approaching.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Huzzah!" you shout.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet looks around in a vaguely apprehensive manner.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Douglas Special thunders up from the south. The engineer blows his
Floyd | whistle insolently as the engine screams past you. Passengers lean out
Floyd | of the windows, jeering, as the train rumbles past.
Floyd |
Floyd | The train disappears around the bend ahead of you.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | But you're already in the Pratt Dynamo.
Floyd |
Floyd | The steam coming from the radiator is much lighter now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | No, no... Aloysius would be beside himself in rage if he ever learned
Floyd | you drove the Dynamo in its present condition! You'd better fix the
Floyd | radiator first.

Floyd |
Floyd | The steam cloud dissipates.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You slip out from behind the wheel.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The radiator is gleaming and shiny. There are hardly any dead bugs in
Floyd | it, thanks to Aloysius's careful ministerings. There is no water in
Floyd | it, leaving the car undriveable.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet puts her hand to her temple and sighs.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are unable to.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | Greenwood Lane
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | to the town.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo gleams in the dappled sunlight. In the front seat is Miss

Floyd | Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet hums a little something to herself.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You hear nothing unexpected.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | But there's no road in that direction!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You feel nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Actually, you're much closer to town. It would make more sense to walk
Floyd | south instead.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | But there's no road in that direction!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put one foot in front of the other, making slow progress, the

Floyd | old-fashioned way...
Floyd |
Floyd | Walking on Greenwood Drive
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | towards the town.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is still visible some distance to the north, on the side of
Floyd | the road, crippled.
Floyd |

Floyd | Around a bend to the south comes the slow-moving surrey. The driver is
Floyd | glowering, and the apple-cheeked blonde is sulking, sitting as far
Floyd | away from the driver as she can get.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | He's too far away for that.
Floyd |
Floyd | The surrey continues to approach from the south.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Get a horse!" shouts the driver.
Floyd |
Floyd | The apple-cheeked blonde giggles, and slips her hand through the
Floyd | driver's arm.
Floyd |
Floyd | The surrey continues on up the road, passes the Dynamo without slowing

Floyd | down, and disappears around the corner.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put one foot in front of the other, making slow progress, the
Floyd | old-fashioned way...

Floyd |
Floyd | In the Center of Town
Floyd | The familiar buildings and side streets look cheerful in the bright
Floyd | sunlight. The train station is to the east, and a livery stable is to
Floyd | the west. Greenwood Lane runs north towards the Sneedlewood Mansion

Floyd | (some distance away), and south towards your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Livery Stable

Floyd | You are in front of the livery stable, in the old commercial sector of
Floyd | town. The center of town is east.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some old men sit around in the shade, playing checkers and generally
Floyd | passing the time.
Floyd |

Floyd | A rusty iron pump stands next to a watering trough.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pump vigorously. Water gushes from the spout and soon fills the

Floyd | watering trough.
Floyd |
Floyd | From the woods, MacDougal emerges, leading his nervous horse.
Floyd |
Floyd | Some of the old men greet MacDougal; others continue playing without
Floyd | interruption.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an old bucket

Floyd |   a detached wooden wheel
Floyd |   a postcard
Floyd |   an index card
Floyd |   some goggles (being worn)
Floyd |   a scarf (being worn)
Floyd |   your favourite peaked riding cap (being worn)

Floyd |   a loose flyer
Floyd |   some gloves (being worn)
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal eyes you with disdain. "I didn't hear your God-awful
Floyd | contraption ride up. Ya didn't break down already, did ya? Haw, haw."
Floyd |

Floyd | A low chuckle rises from the group of old men, who elbow each other
Floyd | and smirk at you from beneath their hats.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (MacDougal)
Floyd | That would hardly be polite.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal glances over his shoulder at the old men. One or two are
Floyd | watching with amusement.
Floyd |

Floyd | MacDougal pats his horse's flank. "This here's a horse. H-O-R-S-S.
Floyd | It's kinda of like an automobile, except it works! Haw, haw!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (transferring water from the watering trough)
Floyd | You fill the old bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal pretends to throw a scarf around his neck, and shows his
Floyd | grizzled profile. "Look here, I'm Troy Sterling!" he shouts. "Haw,
Floyd | haw!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (MacDougal)
Floyd | (first taking the water)

Floyd | Taken. MacDougal gasps. "The Great Troy Sterling done picked up an old
Floyd | bucket! Whatever can this mean? Haw, haw!"
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal prances about. "I eat all my vegetables! I do everything my
Floyd | mother tells me! That's why I have no friends except for my machines
Floyd | and my paid help! Haw haw!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (MacDougal)

Floyd | You heft the bucket in the air and dump it ceremoniously over
Floyd | MacDougal's head.
Floyd |
Floyd | The water trickles away and disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | In a series of jerky motions that seem to call for a total lack of

Floyd | coordination, MacDougal staggers backwards all the way to the water
Floyd | trough, and somehow manages to fall in.
Floyd |
Floyd | The old men look up from their checkerboards. "That MacDougal don't
Floyd | know when to quit," says one of them, amused. The others murmur their
Floyd | assent.

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (transferring water from the watering trough)
Floyd | You fill the old bucket.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal drags himself out of the trough, water streaming from his
Floyd | clothes. "I'll get you, Sterling!" he shouts. "By this time next year,
Floyd | automobiles will be outlawed, all across the country!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Huzzah!" you shout.
Floyd |

Floyd | "The days of the automotive menace are numbered, Troy Sterling!
Floyd | Farmers and their animals will once again be safe on the roads!"
Floyd | shouts MacDougal, mounting his horse.
Floyd |
Floyd | Unfortunately for MacDougal, and for the dramatic scene he has so far
Floyd | managed to create, the jittery horse runs out from beneath him,

Floyd | sending him sprawling on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pour on the charm, but don't get much of a reaction.
Floyd |
Floyd | MacDougal, understandably upset, runs after his horse. "Come back
Floyd | here!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The horse disappears into the woods, with MacDougal close behind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Getting yourself wet might be fun, but would hardly accomplish

Floyd | anything useful.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You swallow a few sips.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | In the Center of Town

Floyd | The familiar buildings and side streets look cheerful in the bright
Floyd | sunlight. The train station is to the east, and a livery stable is to
Floyd | the west. Greenwood Lane runs north towards the Sneedlewood Mansion
Floyd | (some distance away), and south towards your estate.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put one foot in front of the other, making slow progress, the
Floyd | old-fashioned way...
Floyd |

Floyd | Walking on Greenwood Drive
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | towards the town.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo is still visible some distance to the north, on the side of
Floyd | the road, crippled.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put one foot in front of the other, making slow progress, the
Floyd | old-fashioned way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane

Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | to the town.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.
Floyd |

Floyd | The Dynamo gleams in the dappled sunlight. In the front seat is Miss
Floyd | Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Oh, there you are. I was growing worried," says Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | water: You pour the water into the radiator. That should hold it until
Floyd | Aloysius can take care of the problem.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's already closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step up on the running board.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Greenwood Lane (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | You're on a lovely stretch of country road that leads north towards
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood's estate. The road stretches south some distance
Floyd | to the town.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rails run north and south, parallel to the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push the electrical ignition button. The motors roar to life.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With a horrendous screeching sound, the car lurches forward a little
Floyd | bit.
Floyd |
Floyd | Miss Sweet averts her eyes.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You release the parking brake.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | The wheel is pulling a little to the left, but otherwise, the vehicle
Floyd | seems fine, as you arrive at...
Floyd |
Floyd | Sneedlewood's Driveway (in the Pratt Dynamo)
Floyd | The rustic charm of Sneedlewood's estate provides an excellent
Floyd | backdrop for a daring and exciting motoring jaunt. The driveway curves

Floyd | southwest, towards the street. The professor's front door is to the
Floyd | north.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the Pratt Dynamo you can see Miss Sweet.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tweedy, bespectacled, balding man emerges from the house.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Miss Sweet, I presume?" he says. "I didn't expect you to arrive in
Floyd | the famous Pratt Dynamo."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm happy to have arrived at all," says Miss Sweet, in a perfectly
Floyd | innocent tone, but casting you a significant look.

Floyd |
Floyd | The Dynamo has started to steam again.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You have so far scored 18 out of a possible 42, in 186 turns.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | She takes the loose flyer and reads it. Her eyebrows climb. "My. You
Floyd | have a very... interesting profession, Mr. Sterling."
Floyd | Miss Sweet hesitates slightly, but responds with a gracious nod.
Floyd |

Floyd | "You'd better get that vehicle back to your friend, Mr. Pratt," says
Floyd | the professor. "It looks like it needs his attention."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Mr. Sterling," says Miss Sweet. "The right engine sounds about half a
Floyd | tone higher than the left engine. That may be why your automobile was
Floyd | pulling to the left as you came up the driveway."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Miss Sweet shakes her head. "My specialty is music, Mr. Sterling, not
Floyd | automotive mechanics."

Floyd |
Floyd | "I didn't know you were so mechanically inclined, Miss Sweet," says
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood, stroking his beard with bemusement.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm not," she says, and sings two notes, which sound exactly alike to
Floyd | you. "Couldn't you hear it? The dissonance was giving me a headache.

Floyd | It's my curse, I guess... I hear music in everything."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course," says Professor Sneedlewood. "That's precisely why I sent
Floyd | for you, my dear."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | "Goodbye," she replies, showing good manners.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Please, Miss Sweet, let us sit down for a cup of tea," says

Floyd | Sneedlewood.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'd be delighted, professor." she replies. On her way back inside,
Floyd | she turns around to nod politely in your direction. "Good day, Mr.
Floyd | Sterling."
Floyd |

Floyd | Sneedlewood grabs one handle of the trunk and drags it inside the
Floyd | doorway.
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor goes inside and shuts the door.

Floyd | ...
Floyd | Now you and the Dynamo are alone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your outburst achieves little.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | But you're already in the Pratt Dynamo.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | As you turn the Dynamo towards the open road once again, you ponder
Floyd | your next step. The motors roar thrillingly...
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Chapter 2: A Melodious Accompaniment
Floyd |
Floyd | The lopsided sound of Mr. Sterling's automobile recedes into the
Floyd | distance.
Floyd |
Floyd | After a chance to change and refresh yourself, you're enjoying a nice

Floyd | cup of tea with the professor, in his...
Floyd |
Floyd | Front Parlor
Floyd | The walls are heavy with green and maroon hangings. Some photographs
Floyd | are arranged on the wall, above an old upright piano. The foyer is
Floyd | visible to the east.

Floyd | ...
Floyd | The professor smiles at you from across the tea table.

Floyd |
Floyd | "I hope you'll forgive me for lodging you in the guest cottage, Miss
Floyd | Sweet. My man Montgomery insisted the upstairs rooms are suitable only
Floyd | for old bachelors," he says. "I'm delighted that you accepted my
Floyd | invitation, vague as it was."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You're Melody Sweet, the world-renowned opera singer. You're feeling
Floyd | more impatient than usual, but otherwise you're holding up well. You
Floyd | are carrying a loose flyer, a coin, a small sign and a purse.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I am honoured to entrust you with information very precious,

Floyd | concerning an artifact of ancient origin," the professor continues,
Floyd | his eyes gleaming. "Because of your vocal accomplishments, and your
Floyd | ancestral relationship to the indigenous peoples of Central America, I
Floyd | am convinced me that *you* are the key to the riddle of the Nisnoc Siw
Floyd | people."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | A small, hand-lettered sign that reads, "Miss Sweat". (The "a" is
Floyd | squeezed in as an afterthought.)

Floyd |
Floyd | How charmingly, authentically rustic.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Only one of my colleagues has ever believed my theories about the
Floyd | Nisnoc Siw. Unfortunately, he went mad fifteen years ago," says the
Floyd | professor, with a rueful smile. "Many still debate whether his faith

Floyd | caused the madness, or vice versa."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | "At any rate, I've found my life's work to be unpublishable. If I were
Floyd | less well-mannered, this is probably the point where I would shake my

Floyd | fist and shout, 'Fools! I shall crush them all!'"
Floyd |
Floyd | Sneedlewood heaves a heart-rending sigh. "But instead..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "One moment, and I shall retrieve the artifact for you," says
Floyd | Sneedlewood, leaping to his feet. "I think you'll find it

Floyd | fascinating."
Floyd |
Floyd | Prof. Sneedlewood goes east.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | One photograph shows a shambles of masonry which might once have been
Floyd | a burial pyramid. In the foreground are two men -- one man is
Floyd | Professor Sneedlewood, as he might have appeared thirty years ago. The
Floyd | other is apparently a colleague, but his face is entirely in shadow.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rest of the photographs show different scenes from what appears to
Floyd | be the same archeological site.

Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | A spot of tea might be refreshing under ordinary circumstances -- but
Floyd | today seems less and less ordinary every minute.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing middle C.
Floyd |

Floyd | The professor enters from the foyer and settles back into his seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | He is carrying his precious artifact.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Something like a slender brick. Its surface is pitted and flaky, like
Floyd | some kind of shale. Some strange markings are barely visible, running
Floyd | around all the edges.

Floyd |
Floyd | The professor holds the rock-like object up to the light.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I found this in an Aztec ruin. But these inscriptions aren't Aztec --
Floyd | they're some kind of musical notation, dating from a much older
Floyd | culture -- most likely the Nisnoc Siw, although without additional

Floyd | evidence, I am unlikely to convince my colleagues. My guess is that
Floyd | this particular item was acquired by the Aztecs in trade, or perhaps
Floyd | unearthed by Aztec archeologists -- amateurs, of course."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

 DavidW | Emerald says (to Floyd), "sing" / Floyd | (warming up) / Floyd | You sing middle C.

Floyd | If the professor is right, and the strange patterns on the artifact
Floyd | have something to do with music, then they aren't like any kind of
Floyd | musical notation you've seen before.
Floyd |

Floyd | "This artifact has enabled me to identify the Nisnoc Siw with the
Floyd | legendary music-makers of quite a number of indigenous cultures across
Floyd | the Americas," says the professor. "But aside from the music-making
Floyd | mythologies we can cobble together, this artifact, with its
Floyd | inscriptions, is all we know of the Nisnoc Siw."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | "So the photographs from my past intrigue you? Shortly after these

Floyd | were taken, my closest colleague and I had something of a falling
Floyd | out," says the professor. "We've recently gotten back in touch,
Floyd | despite my reservations, in connection with the opening of the new
Floyd | Central American antiquities exhibit at my university, you see.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I keep this little display as a memento of better times... and also a

Floyd | reminder of what madness can do to a man's soul."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Take it, Miss Sweet," he says, gazing lovingly at the artifact.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Ah, yes... My old friend, the dastardly Count Catastrophe," mutters
Floyd | the professor, momentarily troubled. "Never mind him. We've more
Floyd | important matters to tend to."
Floyd |

Floyd | The professor holds the artifact out to you, his eyes brimming with
Floyd | gratitude, his face a trembling mask.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | As you take the artifact, the professor beams. "It is yours, Miss
Floyd | Sweet," he says. "Use it, to bring to life the music that has been
Floyd | silent for thousands of years."
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor leans forward excitedly. "On my first trip to Central
Floyd | Mexico, our native guide sang a few bars of something he remembered

Floyd | his grandmother singing whenever she boiled water. His cousin
Floyd | remembered a similar tune; she called it the 'stone-soup song'."
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "Quite, quite," says the professor, ever agreeable, if occasionally
Floyd | inattentive.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I later found parts of the same tune in a Brazilian goatherd song, a

Floyd | Chilean lullaby, and even a hymn written by a Carmelite nun who spent
Floyd | thirty years as a missionary among the Navaho. This tune must be
Floyd | deeply imbedded in the collective memory of the native peoples of
Floyd | America."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Calling forth your most eager, attentive expression, you await the
Floyd | professor's next words.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Using the variations in the folk tune as a kind of Rosetta stone, I

Floyd | managed to work out a basic musical notation system," says the
Floyd | professor. "It matches the markings on that artifact surprisingly
Floyd | well. I've come to believe that the artifact describes a long-lost
Floyd | musical composition of great ritualistic value."
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor grasps his lapels, a distant look in his eye, and slips

Floyd | into lecture mode: "Determining the exact nature of the connection is
Floyd | a matter of mapping a strange and wondrous landscape, interpreting and
Floyd | applying information from a wide variety of arcane and incomplete
Floyd | reference materials, completing side-quests in order to gain the trust
Floyd | of assorted simple-minded characters who just so happen to be posted
Floyd | at various important junctures, recording and cross-referencing a

Floyd | large number of unfamiliar symbols, and determining the meaning of
Floyd | each through a rigorous process of inductive reasoning."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Calling forth your most eager, attentive expression, you await the
Floyd | professor's next words.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Of course, I performed all that tedious legwork years ago as a
Floyd | graduate student," says the professor, winking playfully at you. "I'll
Floyd | be happy to share all my findings with you -- just as soon as I finish

Floyd | my tea."
Floyd |
Floyd | He raises his cup. "To success!"

Floyd | ...
Floyd | The professor swallows heartily.
Floyd |
Floyd | Suddenly, he slumps forward, groaning. One hand clutches frantically

Floyd | at his heart, the other slams the table.

Floyd | ...
Floyd | He throws his head back, revealing an ashen face, his eyes wide with
Floyd | terror.

Floyd | ...
Floyd | He draws a raspy, painful breath. His lips part, as he strains -- with
Floyd | gut-wrenching effort -- to divulge some utterance of vital importance.

Floyd | ...

Floyd | *Bu-u-r-p!*

Floyd | ...

Floyd | "Excuse me, Miss Sweet," he says, tapping himself in the chest. "Bit
Floyd | of heartburn."
Floyd |
Floyd | He cheerfully reaches under the tea table and produces a
Floyd | heavily-annotated copybook. "It's all written down here for you."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | A diva's temper, while fearsome when unleashed, wouldn't be helpful in
Floyd | this situation.

Floyd |
Floyd | The professor slides his copybook over towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the copybook)
Floyd | You take the copybook. The professor smiles benevolently. "Good,
Floyd | good!"

Floyd | As you open the copybook, some newspaper clippings fall out into your

Floyd | hands...
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor's copybook is carefully lettered, in a blocky, masculine
Floyd | hand.
Floyd |
Floyd | Each page is divided up into two columns -- ordinary musical notation

Floyd | on the right, and a strange set of symbols on the left. Together, they
Floyd | form a simple and effective tutorial (somewhat marred by rather long
Floyd | stretches of dry academic commentary) illustrating the Nisnoc Siw's
Floyd | system for depicting pitch, duration, rests, and tempo.
Floyd |
Floyd | Thanks to the professor's tutorial, you have at least a basic

Floyd | knowledge of how to sing Nisnoc Siw musical symbols.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Something like a slender brick. Its surface is pitted and flaky, like
Floyd | some kind of shale. Some strange markings are barely visible, running
Floyd | around all the edges.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | If the professor is right, and the strange patterns on the artifact
Floyd | have something to do with music, then they aren't like any kind of
Floyd | musical notation you've seen before.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The professor leans forward excitedly. "I hope the tutorial in the
Floyd | copybook was clear enough," he says. "These symbols describe a

Floyd | five-tone octave, with seven beats per measure -- two pairs, followed
Floyd | by one group of three." He reaches over to point to one prominent
Floyd | symbol. "That's a C sharp."
Floyd |
Floyd | You manage to pick out a short musical passage inscribed on the
Floyd | artifact, including one featuring a musical tension between low,

Floyd | repetitive clusters and longer, higher notes. But almost as soon as
Floyd | you grasp the sense of the notes, you lose it, trailing off
Floyd | uncertainly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "An excellent attempt, Miss Sweet," says the professor, a bit hastily.
Floyd | "You may be more comfortable playing it on the piano, at this point."

Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |

Floyd | Hmm. There seems to be a manuscript of some sort, propped on the
Floyd | piano...
Floyd |

Floyd | It's just an ordinary piano, with a simple matching bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The manuscript is labeled "Stone Soup Folk Melody" in blocky masculine
Floyd | lettering. There appear to be seven beats per measure, which is odd
Floyd | enough... but the score also shows a strange sequence of notes,

Floyd | ranging from a low C to a high E. Surely the professor knows this is
Floyd | out of your range. And that D! How does he expect anyone to sing it
Floyd | for eight full measures?
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor is grinning like a schoolboy. What's the matter with
Floyd | him? Playing this on the piano is one thing -- but singing it? Doesn't

Floyd | he know this is impossible?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You play a few random chords on the piano. It sounds a little tinny,

Floyd | but is reasonably well tuned.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Thanks to the professor's excellent primer, you manage to translate

Floyd | the ancient notes inscribed on the artifact, and play them reasonably
Floyd | well. The tune is most curious.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact -- but the sound fades almost
Floyd | immediately.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You manage to pick out a short musical passage inscribed on the
Floyd | artifact, including one featuring a musical tension between low,

Floyd | repetitive clusters and longer, higher notes. But almost as soon as
Floyd | you grasp the sense of the notes, you lose it, trailing off
Floyd | uncertainly.
Floyd |
Floyd | "An excellent attempt, Miss Sweet," says the professor, a bit hastily.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Thanks to the professor's excellent primer, you manage to translate
Floyd | the ancient notes inscribed on the artifact, and play them reasonably
Floyd | well. The tune is most curious.

Floyd |
Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact -- but the sound fades almost
Floyd | immediately.

Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You sing the note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You manage to play the "Stone Soup" score without much trouble,
Floyd | although -- as Maestro Fibonacci is fond of saying -- your piano
Floyd | playing is rather leaden.

Floyd |
Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact. But it vanishes almost
Floyd | immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Something like a slender brick. Its surface is pitted and flaky, like
Floyd | some kind of shale. Some strange markings are barely visible, running
Floyd | around all the edges.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Which do you mean, the opera or the manuscript?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You try out the first few bars of the haunting, almost hypnotic
Floyd | theme... but towards the middle of the manuscript, the notes climb
Floyd | until they are completely out of your range. The professor must have a
Floyd | great deal of faith in you, or must be completely ignorant of the

Floyd | physiological characteristics of the human voice, if he expects you to
Floyd | be able to sing this all the way through.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Excellent try, Miss Sweet," says the professor, a bit too hastily.
Floyd |
Floyd | [Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The manuscript is labeled "Stone Soup Folk Melody" in blocky masculine
Floyd | lettering. There appear to be seven beats per measure, which is odd
Floyd | enough... but the score also shows a strange sequence of notes,
Floyd | ranging from a low C to a high E. Surely the professor knows this is
Floyd | out of your range. And that D! How does he expect anyone to sing it
Floyd | for eight full measures?

Floyd |
Floyd | The professor is grinning like a schoolboy. What's the matter with
Floyd | him? Playing this on the piano is one thing -- but singing it? Doesn't
Floyd | he know this is impossible?
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor reaches over and takes your hand. "I can't begin to tell

Floyd | you how much your presence here means to me."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The manuscript is labeled "Stone Soup Folk Melody" in blocky masculine

Floyd | lettering. There appear to be seven beats per measure, which is odd
Floyd | enough... but the score also shows a strange sequence of notes,
Floyd | ranging from a low C to a high E. Surely the professor knows this is
Floyd | out of your range. And that D! How does he expect anyone to sing it
Floyd | for eight full measures?
Floyd |

Floyd | The professor is grinning like a schoolboy. What's the matter with
Floyd | him? Playing this on the piano is one thing -- but singing it? Doesn't
Floyd | he know this is impossible?
Floyd |
Floyd | "Now, if you don't mind, I believe I shall retire to my room for my
Floyd | customary nap. I've sent my man, Montgomery, out on an errand -- but

Floyd | he should be back shortly. He's been instructed to get you whatever
Floyd | you may need.
Floyd |
Floyd | "It has been a great pleasure to meet you, Miss Sweet," says the
Floyd | professor. "I have little choice but to trust you perfectly with the
Floyd | artifact, Miss Sweet, since you're the only one who can make use of

Floyd | it. But would you please give me the copybook? I wouldn't want it to
Floyd | fall into the wrong hands."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor waits patiently for the copybook.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You need to be holding the manuscript before you can put it on top of
Floyd | something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | The professor, looks somewhat puzzled.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The professor accepts it gratefully. "I'll put this in a safe place,"
Floyd | he says.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Now if you'll excuse me, Miss Sweet," he says.
Floyd |
Floyd | He strolls out of the room, humming something to himself -- something
Floyd | very strange, and very old.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   some newspaper clippings
Floyd |   an artifact
Floyd |   a loose flyer

Floyd |   a coin
Floyd |   a small sign
Floyd |   a purse (which is closed)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put the artifact on the upright piano.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A monetary unit, in the form of a small metallic disc.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Some of the headlines read:
Floyd | "Student Almost Sings Chords, Fibonacci Claims" ..."Fibonacci's Star
Floyd | Pupil Intrigues London"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the purse, revealing a programme and a handkerchief.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Only something animate can respond to that action.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | For some reason, that got mixed up in your head. (Try a synonym, or a
Floyd | different strategy.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It's the programme from Les Contes d'Hoffmann. A keepsake from your
Floyd | Paris debut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It's the programme from Les Contes d'Hoffmann. A keepsake from your
Floyd | Paris debut.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You manage to play the "Stone Soup" score without much trouble,
Floyd | although -- as Maestro Fibonacci is fond of saying -- your piano
Floyd | playing is rather leaden.
Floyd |

Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact. But it vanishes almost
Floyd | immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It's just one of your handkerchiefs.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to hum.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Thanks to the professor's excellent primer, you manage to translate
Floyd | the ancient notes inscribed on the artifact, and play them reasonably
Floyd | well. The tune is most curious.
Floyd |
Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact -- but the sound fades almost

Floyd | immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You chime in with a few wordless bars of music.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can hardly play that on the piano.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | It's just an ordinary piano, with a simple matching bench.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You see nothing special about the piano bench.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You aren't feeling especially drowsy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | For some reason, that got mixed up in your head. (Try a synonym, or a
Floyd | different strategy.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing middle D.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing middle E.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You sing the note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Something like a slender brick. Its surface is pitted and flaky, like
Floyd | some kind of shale. Some strange markings are barely visible, running
Floyd | around all the edges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | That note's too high for you, even on your best days.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing middle F.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing middle G.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing high A.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The manuscript is labeled "Stone Soup Folk Melody" in blocky masculine
Floyd | lettering. There appear to be seven beats per measure, which is odd
Floyd | enough... but the score also shows a strange sequence of notes,
Floyd | ranging from a low C to a high E. Surely the professor knows this is

Floyd | out of your range. And that D! How does he expect anyone to sing it
Floyd | for eight full measures?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing high B.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | You sing the note.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (warming up)
Floyd | You sing high C.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You've warmed up about as high as you can go.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You manage to pick out a short musical passage inscribed on the
Floyd | artifact, including one featuring a musical tension between low,
Floyd | repetitive clusters and longer, higher notes. But almost as soon as
Floyd | you grasp the sense of the notes, you lose it, trailing off
Floyd | uncertainly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You try out the first few bars of the haunting, almost hypnotic
Floyd | theme... but towards the middle of the manuscript, the notes climb
Floyd | until they are completely out of your range. The professor must have a

Floyd | great deal of faith in you, or must be completely ignorant of the
Floyd | physiological characteristics of the human voice, if he expects you to
Floyd | be able to sing this all the way through.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | For some reason, that got mixed up in your head. (Try a synonym, or a
Floyd | different strategy.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The professor's tea things are serviceable, but not terribly
Floyd | interesting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A spot of tea might be refreshing under ordinary circumstances -- but
Floyd | today seems less and less ordinary every minute.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You manage to play the "Stone Soup" score without much trouble,
Floyd | although -- as Maestro Fibonacci is fond of saying -- your piano
Floyd | playing is rather leaden.

Floyd |
Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact. But it vanishes almost
Floyd | immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd | Front Parlor (on the chair)
Floyd | The walls are heavy with green and maroon hangings. Some photographs

Floyd | are arranged on the wall, above an old upright piano. The foyer is
Floyd | visible to the east.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the upright piano are an artifact and a manuscript.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | artifact: You take the artifact in your hands. It feels like some kind
Floyd | of stone, although it is oddly warm.
Floyd | manuscript: You take the manuscript.

Floyd | programme: Taken.
Floyd | handkerchief: Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You sing the note.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | For some reason, that got mixed up in your head. (Try a synonym, or a
Floyd | different strategy.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You manage to play the "Stone Soup" score without much trouble,
Floyd | although -- as Maestro Fibonacci is fond of saying -- your piano
Floyd | playing is rather leaden.

Floyd |
Floyd | As the tinny sounds of the piano fade, you hear a strange, muffled
Floyd | resonance emanating from the artifact. But it vanishes almost
Floyd | immediately.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Something like a slender brick. Its surface is pitted and flaky, like
Floyd | some kind of shale. Some strange markings are barely visible, running
Floyd | around all the edges.

Floyd |
Floyd | >