text: [Themes: Surreal]
  
  > go south
  The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
  tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
  There is an older boy here, carving his name in the oak tree.
  
  Bubbles comes trotting after you.
  
  > examine the oak
  The oak tree towers above you, its bole wider than your arms can span. You spent a long time one summer trying to climb it, only to break your arm in the process. Since then, someone has hacked 'BRANDN' in its trunk, tried to scratch out the letters (with little success), then carved 'BRANDON' just below the first letters.
  
  Bubbles wanders away.
  
  > examine the cane
  The cane is white with a red tip. Its grip is worn with use.
  
  > examine the ash
  Thinner than its neighboring oak tree, the trunk of the ash gracefully sways in a gentle breeze.
  
  > climb the ash
  It is too thin to climb.
  
  Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
  
  > take the boots
  As you remove the boots, you hear your footsteps once more.
  
  > wear boots
  You pull the boots on, muffling your footsteps.
  
  > examine the knife
  It is a thin knife with only one blade, currently open. The blade has held its edge, despite its assault on the oak tree.
  
  > take the knife
  The boy rests the point of the knife on the middle of your chest.
  "Want this?" You step back; he laughs before turning again to the tree.
  
  Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
  
  > ask the boy about the knife
  "I'm busy," he says, wood shavings falling at his feet. "'less you want me to notice you."
  
  > Rub stone
  You rub your hand over the stone, feeling it warm in your grasp.
  
  > hit the boy with the stone
  It's not very effective to attack with the shiny stone.
  
  Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
  
  > Kick boy
  Your kick catches him by surprise. He slips and nicks his finger with his knife.
  
  "Stupid kid!" he shouts, whirling around. A struggle ensues, with you taking the worse of it. At some point, as he is banging your head against the ground, his knife slides into your chest. Your vision, none too good after the beating you've endured, dims further. You feel the boy's knee lift from your stomach, then hear him running away.
  
  You turn your head, numbness spreading through your chest. The rough ground beneath your cheek smooths, becomes a pillow. You feel the sheets of a hospital bed enfold you before the numbness reaches your head.
  
  --=== Your journey is over ===--
  
  You have achieved a score of 38 points out of a possible 100.
  
  You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
  
  > Attack boy
  Bubbles looks at you, then at the boy carving his initials in the tree. Lips pull back from teeth, a growl begins deep in the throat; Bubbles leaps at the boy.
  
  Surprised, the boy turns just enough for Bubbles to bury teeth in his arm. "AaaaaAAAA!" he shrieks, dropping his knife. He shakes his arm, but Bubbles hangs on tenaciously.
  
  Finally, the dog lets go and drops to the forest floor. The boy grabs his arm, blood dripping around his hand. He stares at you, white rimming the pupils of his eyes. "You!" he says. He staggers back. "You!" he repeats, before turning and running through the forest.
  
  Bubbles turns to you and grins, tongue hanging from its mouth.
  
  > look at the knife
  It is a thin knife with only one blade, currently open. The blade has held its edge, despite its assault on the oak tree.
  
  "Oww! Woo! Whoo!" The voice is deep and booming, coming from somewhere above your head. You look around, but see no one. "That smarts!"
  
  You suddenly notice the oak tree wiggling in time to the voice. You peer at the tree, then jump back as some of its branches bend towards you. "Oh, MAN, that's gonna be tender." One branch tenderly traces the carvings in the tree, then jerks away. "Wooh. Thanks for the help, Terry."
  
  The tree must see the puzzled look on your face, because he begins laughing. "Surprised, huh? I bet. We don't talk to many people these days, do we, Phil?"
  
  You get another shock when the ash tree next to the oak waves its branches. "Wmmf fmm," the ash tree says.
  
  "Anyway, lissen. You ever need anything, you let me know. Okay?"
  
  "Pffth yrmm," agrees the ash tree.
  
  > ask the oak about the staff
  The oak tree says, "It's been a long time since I've made a staff for someone."
  
  > ask the oak about the oak
  The oak tree's branches wave in an approximation of a shrug. "I dunno, Terry. Sorry."
  
  > ask the oak about Phil
  The oak tree replies, "Oh, me and Phil have been around a while, right, bud?"
  
  "Gbbbz," the ash tree agrees.
  
  Bubbles wanders away.
  
  > ask the oak for the staff
  "Oh?" the tree asks. Then, "oh," he says knowingly. "Well, I did say anything." There is the sound of rustling branches, then a particularly large one comes hurtling to the ground in front of you.
  "I hope you're not plannin' on going after that dragon, though."
  
  > ask the oak about the pixie
  The oak tree says, "Yeah, he comes by and talks to us sometimes."
  
  > ask the ash about the laurel
  "Prrrm rfth wlft, zrm thmn lffm. Thrf nbbr wrm brrmlm."
  
  Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
  
  > ask the ash for the laurel
  The ash tree is silent for a second. Finally, the ash tree bends over and deposits a circle of ash branches at your feet. "Blggg," he says.
  
  > examine Bubbles
  Bubbles resembles a corgi. In fact, it looks like the corgi you begged your father for when you were eight.
  
  Bubbles curls up in a small ball, resting.
  
  > Thank the oak
  The tree shrugs. "I dunno if you should thank me or not, 'specially if you're gonna use that ta see the dragon."
  
  Bubbles wanders away.
  
  > Thank the ash
  The ash bows slightly. "Glm pffffwb wb."
  
  > examine the laurel
  It is just wide enough to fit your head.
  
  Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
  
  > take off the laurel
  You remove the ash laurel.
  
  Bubbles wanders away.
  
  > Go south
  The forest growth pauses here, leaving room for a ring of mushrooms
  and toadstools. Due to the spacious arrangement of trees, paths exist north and west.
  
  > knock on the door
  The pixie opens his door and comes out, beaming. "Welcome back!" he says, "Welcome back!"
  
  > ask the pixie about the blood
  "I've nowt to say of that," the pixie says.
  
  Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
  
  > show the laurel to the pixie
  The pixie says, "Dipped in the blood of another and worn, it will mask your sight from beasts."
  
  The pixie polishes one of the toadstools, removing stray debris.
  
  > show the staff to the pixie
  The pixie says, "No fire will harm you while you hold an oak staff."
  
  > ask the pixie about scent
  The pixie claps a hand to his mouth, then grimaces. "Smell! I forgot to tell how to mask your smell!" A red flush creeps up his green-tinged face. "Apologies. Find a stone rubbed smooth by a stream. When rubbed enough, the stone will release scent to mask your," he sniffs mightily, "noticeable odor."
  
  > Thank the pixie
  There is no need.
  
  Bubbles wanders away.
  
  The pixie wipes dirt from his door.
  
  > go west
  provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.
  
  > go north
  Hardwood trees stand close together, choking off light and
  preventing you from seeing far. You can, however, see a hill rising to the west. You can walk through the trees and underbrush to the east and south.
  
  > Go south
  provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.
  
  Bubbles comes running toward you, barking loudly. Upon seeing you, however, Bubbles calms down and trots nonchalantly up to you.
  
  > Go west
  Trees stop to the west, forming a remarkably straight line,
  corralled by some feature of the land. To the east the trees thicken once again.
  
  Bubbles comes trotting after you.
  
  > go west
  You stand at the road in front of your house. The dirt road leads north and south, with no other houses visible for miles. On the east side of the road opposite your house, the forest looms.
  
  Bubbles comes trotting after you.
  
  > cut the dad with knife
  Your father grabs your hand. "That is it!" he shouts, backhanding you across the face. You stagger back, but not fast enough to avoid the second slap. Your head slams into the door jamb.
  
  You fall down, tumbling head-first into a hospital bed. You gaze around in confusion, taking in the hospital room, empty of people except for you. Then the lump on your head starts hurting, and you begin thinking about how nice it would be to sleep for a while, and soon you are.
  
  --=== Your journey is over ===--
  
  You have achieved a score of 43 points out of a possible 100.
  
  You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
  
  > give the knife to the dad
  Without a second thought, your father grabs the open pocketknife. "Shit!" he exclaims, dropping the knife. He grabs his hand, blood welling around his fingers. "You stupid--" He stops, a pained expression on his face. "I can't--" and then, "Blood--" Your father never could stand the sight of blood. He races up the stairs, yelling, "Stay right there!"
  
  > put the laurel in the blood
  The blood vanishes, absorbed by the laurel. For a brief instant, the laurel glows.
  
  A section of the air just above your head shimmers. A small pyramid falls from the disturbance to the ground below.
  
  > take the pyramid
  The pyramid begins glowing softly, then flares brighter. You can hear something coming from the pyramid, but it is more like the absence of sound than anything audible. As the non-sound ends the pyramid flakes into ash and is gone.
  
  > take the syrup
  Karo syrup is best kept in the bottle until used.
  
  > go to the east
  You stand at the road in front of your house. The dirt road leads north and south, with no other houses visible for miles. On the east side of the road opposite your house, the forest looms.
  Bubbles is lying on the ground, staring at you with soulful eyes.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a four-leaf clover, a metal box, a flyer, a mason jar, a rucksack, a pair of elf boots (being worn), a shiny stone, an ash laurel, an oak staff, and a bottle of Karo syrup. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, and a length of rope.
  
  > Go east
  Trees stop to the west, forming a remarkably straight line,
  corralled by some feature of the land. To the east the trees thicken once again.
  
  > put all in the sack
  fool: The fool is already in the rucksack!
  tuft of insulation: The tuft of insulation is already in the rucksack! dark sphere: The dark sphere is already in the rucksack!
  light sphere: The light sphere is already in the rucksack!
  thin coat: The thin coat is already in the rucksack!
  white cane: The white cane is already in the rucksack!
  heavy gloves: The heavy gloves are already in the rucksack! sunglasses: The sunglasses are already in the rucksack!
  hall pass: The hall pass is already in the rucksack!
  dust: The dust is already in the rucksack!
  rope: Done.
  book of mythology: Done.
  book of faeries: Done.
  four-leaf clover: Done.
  metal box: Done.
  flyer: Done.
  mason jar: Done.
  rucksack: You can't put the rucksack in itself!
  elf boots: You will have to remove the elf boots first.
  shiny stone: Done.
  ash laurel: Done.
  oak staff: It won't fit.
  bottle of Karo syrup: Done.
  
  > check your inventory
  You have a rucksack, a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel, a four-leaf clover, and a mason jar. The rucksack seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, a length of rope, a book of mythology, a book of faeries, a flyer, and a bottle of Karo syrup.
  
  > wear the laurel
  You feel subtly different when you wear it.
  
  > go east
  provided by a nearby stream. Mossy rocks lead down to the stream, and the underbrush allows passage to the north, east, and west.
  
  > take off the laurel
  You remove the ash laurel.
  
  > Go north
  The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
  tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel, a four-leaf clover, and a mason jar.
  
  > wear the laurel
  You feel subtly different when you wear it. Bubbles cocks its head, then begins sniffing until Bubbles locates you and is satisfied.
  
  > Rub stone
  You rub your hand over the stone, feeling it warm in your grasp.
  
  > Rub stone
  You rub your hand over the stone, feeling it warm in your grasp. A nearly-invisible cloud rises from the stone and settles about you, making you sneeze.
  
  > Rub stone
  The stone turns rough in your hands and your fingers halt. Seconds later, the stone smooths again.
  
  > Go east
  The cave flares open into a large space. Most of the space is
  filled with dragon, tons and tons of dragon. The air is heavy with the smell of sulfur.
  
  The dragon shifts his head from side to side, tongue testing the air. After a minute he settles down.
  
  > look at the dragon
  The dragon's bulk fills the cave. His head swings from side to side; occasionally a forked tongue flicks out, testing the air.
  
  > Exits
  You can go west.
  
  > touch the dragon
  You creep forward and poke the dragon hard before skipping backwards. He bellows, filling the cave with noxious gas. The dragon spews fire all about the cave, though none of it directly at you. Occasionally a tongue of flame licks over you, but the oak staff is more than enough protection. One tongue of flame caresses the mason jar, which swallows the flame and glows in response.
  
  > Go west
  A small hill within the forest. A cave entrance opens in a rock outcropping to the east. Charred and trampled grass leads up to the cave.
  
  The air just above you begins shimmering. From the disturbance falls a smallish cube.
  
  > take cube
  Something inside the cube softly clicks. Its walls slide partway open, then stop. A non-sound issues from the cube, an absence of sound which you can paradoxically hear. As the non-sound ends the cube melts into a puddle, then evaporates.
  
  A nearly-invisible cloud rises from you and disperses into the air.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel (being worn), a four-leaf clover, and a mason jar.
  
  > examine the jar
  The mason jar is made of thick glass. It glows with an angry red light.
  
  > go south
  The trees are grouped less tightly here, allowing space for an oak
  tree and a lone ash tree. The two trees leave room for passage to the north, south, and west.
  
  > Go west
  Hardwood trees stand close together, choking off light and
  preventing you from seeing far. You can, however, see a hill rising to the west. You can walk through the trees and underbrush to the east and south.
  
  > Go west
  The south side of a gently-sloping hill. Scrub grass clings tenaciously to its side. A path from the east divides here and crawls up the hill to the north and northwest.
  
  > Go west
  Bubbles is lying on the ground.
  
  > take the syrup
  Karo syrup is best kept in the bottle until used.
  
  > examine the rucksack
  It is made of heavy denim and looks well-used. The rucksack is open and seems to contain a fool, a tuft of insulation, a dark sphere, a light sphere, a thin coat, a white cane, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, a hall pass, some dust, a length of rope, a book of mythology, a book of faeries, and a flyer.
  
  > take off the laurel
  You remove the ash laurel.
  
  > follow you
  Bubbles gets up and trots over to you.
  
  Bubbles takes a running fit, tearing around as fast as possible on short legs.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a pair of elf boots (being worn), an oak staff, a metal box, a shiny stone, an ash laurel, a four-leaf clover, a mason jar, and a bottle of Karo syrup.
  
  Bubbles comes over, sniffs at your legs, then wanders off again.