text: [Themes: Historical, vehicle]
  
  > Go downwards
  You can't go that way.
  
  The main stairway leads down. A passageway leads east, and a bedroom is west.
  
  > go to the west
  The front hall stretches south towards the foyer. The dining room is west, a plain door is east, and a flight of stairs curls around to the northeast.
  
  A tiny space; really just the beginning of a hallway leading north. The Parlor is back to the west, and the professor's study is east. The front yard is to the south.
  
  The walls are heavy with green and maroon hangings. Some photographs are arranged on the wall, above an old upright piano. The foyer is visible to the east.
  
  > examine the photos
  One photograph shows a shambles of masonry which might once have been a burial pyramid. In the foreground are two men -- one man is Professor Sneedlewood, as he might have appeared thirty years ago. The other is apparently a colleague, but his face is entirely in shadow.
  
  The rest of the photographs show different scenes from what appears to be the same archeological site.
  
  > drink the tea
  A spot of tea might be refreshing under ordinary circumstances -- but today seems less and less ordinary every minute.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a letter opener
  a handkerchief
  a programme
  a manuscript
  an artifact
  some newspaper clippings
  a loose flyer
  a coin
  a small sign
  a purse (which is open but empty)
  
  > read markings
  Those can't contain things.
  
  If the professor is right, and the strange patterns on the artifact have something to do with music, then they aren't like any kind of musical notation you've seen before.
  
  > read the clippings
  Some of the headlines read:
  "Sweet's Amazing Voice Stuns Paris with Olympia's Aria" ..."Understudy will Sing Olympia in 'Les Contes' -- Sweet 'Indisposed'"
  
  > read the clippings
  Some of the headlines read:
  "Lilly McCoy is 'Sweet Enough' for Olympia, Say Critics" ..."Opera Debutante Sweet Found Babbling in Subway"
  
  > Keep going
  Some of the headlines read: "McCoy Leads Milan in Ovation for Stricken Sweet" ..."Rehearsal Breakdown Derails Sweet's Comeback; McCoy Recalled from Moscow"
  
  > read clippings
  Some of the headlines read:
  "Student Almost Sings Chords, Fibonacci Claims" ..."Fibonacci's Star Pupil Intrigues London"
  
  > sing manuscript
  You try out the first few bars of the haunting, almost hypnotic
  
  > sing low low low low G
  theme... but towards the middle of the manuscript, the notes climb until they are completely out of your range. The professor must have a great deal of faith in you, or must be completely ignorant of the physiological characteristics of the human voice, if he expects you to be able to sing this all the way through.
  
  For some reason, that got mixed up in your head. (Try a synonym, or a different strategy.)
  
  > Go south
  A tiny space; really just the beginning of a hallway leading north. The Parlor is back to the west, and the professor's study is east. The front yard is to the south.
  
  This rural setting is certainly peaceful, but this far from the big city crowds, you can't help feeling a little isolated at the same time. A garden path leads east. A wooded hill rises to the south. The professor's front door is to the north.
  
  > go east
  This garden path leads from the front of the house to the west, towards the guest cottage to the east. It also forks northeast into a side yard.
  
  Dry leaves and twigs rustle under your feet.
  
  > Go east
  Thick woods surround this small forest clearing. Down the path leading west, you can glimpse part of the main house. A yard is to the north.
  
  A rustic cottage lies on the eastern edge of the clearing. The simple wooden door is closed.
  
  > open door
  You open the door to the cottage.
  
  > go east
  This is a small alcove. A small salon is north, and the exit is back west.
  
  A simple tin pot hangs on the wall, below an iron pump.
  
  > look at the pot
  The tin pot has a smooth wooden handle.
  
  > Pump water
  You pump vigorously a few times. Water gushes from the spout.
  
  The water trickles away and disappears.
  
  > fill the pot from the pump
  You pump vigorously a few times. Water gushes from the spout.
  
  > Oops spout
  You fill the tin pot.
  
  Sorry, that can't be corrected.
  
  > put the brick in the pot
  You put the artifact into the tin pot.
  
  > go north
  The Parlor has been converted into a cozy-looking studio, with a nice little wood stove. The only exit is back south.
  
  You can see a small white trunk here.
  
  > look at the stove
  It's a typical barrel-shaped cast-iron stove, with a pipe extending up through the ceiling, and a heavy firebox below.
  
  > Light stove
  This dangerous act would achieve little.
  
  > look at the firebox
  It's just the compartment where fuel is supposed to go.
  You can't see inside, since the firebox is closed.
  
  > open the firebox
  You open the firebox, revealing some dark coals.
  
  > examine the pot
  The tin pot has a smooth wooden handle.
  
  In the tin pot are an artifact and some water.
  
  > look at coals
  The coals are dark.
  
  > put clippings on the coals
  A flash of flame and rush of sparks quickly consume the newspaper clippings.
  
  > Go south
  This is a small alcove. A small salon is north, and the exit is back west.
  
  You can see a pump here.
  
  > Go west
  Thick woods surround this small forest clearing. Down the path leading west, you can glimpse part of the main house. A yard is to the north. To the south, a gap in the bushes leads into a thicket.
  
  The cottage door lies open to the east.
  
  > go west
  This garden path leads from the front of the house to the west, towards the guest cottage to the east. It also forks northeast into a side yard.
  
  Dry leaves and twigs rustle under your feet.
  
  An unseen songbird chirps melodiously.
  
  > get the twigs
  You already have those.
  
  > Go north
  This is a grassy stretch just east of the vine-covered house. A clearing lies south, a garden path leads southwest, and another path leads northwest, behind the house.
  
  A birdbath stands in the middle of the yard.
  
  To the west is a narrow door, nearly hidden by a rose trellis.
  
  > examine the birdbath
  The birdbath is a statue of a woman holding a shallow brass basin.
  
  An unseen songbird chirps melodiously.
  
  > look at the trellis
  The trellis is firmly attached to the wall, and climbs upwards towards the roof.
  
  > look at the bird
  (the melodious songbirds)
  You can't really get a good look at any of the melodious songbirds.
  
  > climb the trellis
  Climbing around the garden like a schoolgirl is hardly the way to retain the professor's respect for you.
  
  > Sing
  Inspired by the voices of birds in the treetops, you extemporise a little tune to amuse yourself. The birds sing along cheerfully.
  
  An unseen songbird chirps melodiously.
  
  > open the door
  It seems to be locked.
  
  > look at the door
  The door, fronted by a few modest flagstones, would seem to lead to the professor's study. The old iron lock is a prominent feature.
  
  > go northwest
  You are standing behind the house, in the shade of a lovely tree. A path leads southeast past the back porch, back towards the side yard.
  
  On the back porch is a rubbish bin (which is closed).
  
  You can see a stack of firewood (on which is a cat) here.
  
  The cat licks itself languidly.
  
  > get the cat
  As you approach the firewood, the cat hisses at you viciously. It's clearly not interested in giving up its perch this easily.
  
  The cat licks itself languidly.
  
  > look at the cat
  Big and orange. It seems to keep one predatory eye open at all times, scanning the yard.
  
  The cat yawns and stretches, scanning the yard with sleepy green eyes.
  
  > open bin
  You open the rubbish bin.
  
  The cat shifts position on top of the log pile.
  
  > look in the bin
  The rubbish bin is empty.
  
  Nearby, a bird sings. The cat sits up and looks around eagerly. Seeing only you, it yawns disdainfully, and flops back onto the logs.
  
  > Sing
  But the professor has prepared the cozy little salon for you. The least you can do for the good professor is to keep his artifact safe there, while you experiment with it.
  
  The cat yawns and stretches, scanning the yard with sleepy green eyes.
  
  > Whistle
  You chime in with a few wordless bars of music.
  
  The cat licks itself languidly.
  
  > sing manuscript
  You try out the first few bars of the haunting, almost hypnotic theme... but towards the middle of the manuscript, the notes climb until they are completely out of your range. The professor must have a great deal of faith in you, or must be completely ignorant of the physiological characteristics of the human voice, if he expects you to be able to sing this all the way through.
  
  The cat shifts position on top of the log pile.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  some leaves and twigs
  a tin pot
  an artifact
  some water
  a letter opener
  a handkerchief
  a programme
  a manuscript
  some newspaper clippings
  a loose flyer
  a coin
  a small sign
  a purse (which is open but empty)
  
  The cat shifts position on top of the log pile.