text: [Themes: Historical, Science Fiction, constructed language, prehistory]
  
  > look around
  This is the small Village you seem to lead. It consists of several
  small huts, plus a larger one with no walls the People use as a meeting
  area. The People are there now, in fact, arguing over something. The
  ground slopes down to the north, and a path leads along a ridge to the northwest. A small stream collects here, and follows the slope down to
  the north.
  
  The People are debating loudly amongst themselves in the meeting area.
  
  Your own hut is just to the west, slightly larger than the others.
  
  Chief will come up with something ingenious to defend them.
  
  > tell People to stay the the course
  The People listen to you, then half of them claim that what you said
  supports their side, and the other half claim you supported their side.
  The debate rages on, unimpeded.
  
  You notice one man slip to the edge of the crowd. A few minutes later,
  he seems to be gone.
  
  > follow the man
  But People is right here!
  
  > examine the stream
  The small stream has begun to show life again, although it disappeared
  in the height of summer. There is still more room among the rocks for
  more water, due later in the year.
  
  defensible position.
  
  > Go north
  This path marks the beginnings of a descent down into the local canyon,
  to the northeast. To the west is a small ragged cliff, small enough
  here to scale, but which becomes a more imposing wall as you continue
  your descent into the canyon. A small stream, beginning to show life
  again after the worst of the summer heat, follows its rocky bed here,
  as it continues down into the canyon.
  
  > climb the cliff
  You scramble up the slope and finally make it to the top.
  
  east, as it wends its way amongst the scrub. Your Village is back to
  the southeast.
  
  > go to the northeast
  This spot gives you a breathtaking view of the countryside. A box
  canyon drops away to the east, and another, deeper ridge is to your
  north. Far away, you can see the tiny shimmer of the Stream which
  begins at your Village.
  
  > go north
  Despairing of ever finding a way to outclass the Marauders, the Chief
  of the Village throws himself over the edge of the Cliff, dashing
  himself on the Rocks below. Fortunately for the Village in question,
  this is in an alternate time line, so there's still hope.
  
  > look at the canyon
  The cliff is quite steep, although ragged. The top layer, where you
  are, is a dusty red color. At the base of the canyon, you can see a
  herd of horses.
  
  > Go southwest
  east, as it wends its way amongst the scrub. Your Village is back to
  the southeast.
  
  > Go east
  Considering that discretion is the better part of valor, you carefully
  climb down the cliff.
  
  This path marks the beginnings of a descent down into the local canyon,
  to the northeast. To the west is a small ragged cliff, small enough
  here to scale, but which becomes a more imposing wall as you continue
  your descent into the canyon. A small stream, beginning to show life
  again after the worst of the summer heat, follows its rocky bed here,
  as it continues down into the canyon.
  
  > Go northeast
  You are at the base of a box canyon. Ragged walls tower over you on
  three sides, striated red, black, and tan. The small stream running
  along here dries up in the summer, but is now still active. A crack in
  the north wall of the canyon allows it to pass along its path from the
  Village, back up to the southwest.
  
  A Herd of Horses roam here, grazing on the tough grasses.
  
  > look at Horses
  You haven't paid much attention to the Horses before today, although
  you believe you've seen this Herd around before. These large and
  powerful beasts, fortunately, seem to be vegetarian.
  
  > examine the crack
  The walls provide some shade from the afternoon sun. That and the
  stream must be why the Horses are here.
  
  > look at Stream
  The small stream has begun to show life again, although it disappeared
  in the height of summer. There is still more room among the rocks for
  more water, due later in the year.
  
  > Inventory
  That's a very good idea, but there's no easy way to get onto a Horse's
  back, even if it was likely to let you.
  
  You are carrying:
  Headdress (being worn)
  White Bark (with a picture of Feverleaf)
  Purple Paste
  Bone
  Useful Rock
  Spear
  
  > throw Rock at Horses
  The Herd parts, and Useful Rock lands in the midst of them.
  Unflustered, they move away.
  
  > go north
  The stream from the south cuts through the wall of the canyon here, and
  runs for several paces before cascading down a steep, gravelly slope.
  The sides of the canyon provide a welcome shade from the hot sun, which apparently is also enjoyed by a small grove of Fruit Trees, clustered
  around a wide section of the stream.
  
  > examine Tree
  an ideal environment in which to thrive. Although not exactly laden
  with fruit, there is a fair amount of Fruit on the trees.
  
  > take the Fruit
  (the Piece of Fruit)
  You choose the ripest Piece of Fruit you can find, and pluck it from a low-swung branch.
  
  > examine Fruit
  Which do you mean, Fruit Trees, the remaining Fruit or the Piece of
  Fruit?
  
  > examine Piece of the Fruit
  Fruit looks delicious!
  
  > take the Fruit
  (the remaining Fruit)
  Since this is the only grove of Fruit Trees in the area, you decide to
  use what you have before picking more.
  
  > go south
  You are at the base of a box canyon. Ragged walls tower over you on
  three sides, striated red, black, and tan. The small stream running
  along here dries up in the summer, but is now still active. A crack in
  the north wall of the canyon allows it to pass along its path from the
  Village, back up to the southwest.
  
  A Herd of Horses roam here, grazing on the tough grasses.
  
  One of the Horses moves out of the herd towards you, sniffing.
  
  > show the Fruit to the Horse
  Cautiously, Horse approaches you, sniffing. Gingerly, he plucks the
  fruit from your hand, and trots a few paces away, where he drops it
  again and begins to eat it.
  
  Horse noisily munches Fruit.
  
  > get on the Horse
  That's a very good idea, but there's no easy way to get onto Horse's
  back, even if he was likely to let you.
  
  Horse noisily munches Fruit.
  
  > Pet Horse
  Horse isn't letting you near enough to touch him.
  
  Horse noisily munches Fruit.
  
  > take the Fruit
  You move towards Horse, who shies away, allowing you to pick up Fruit.
  
  > Go southwest
  This path marks the beginnings of a descent down into the local canyon,
  to the northeast. To the west is a small ragged cliff, small enough
  here to scale, but which becomes a more imposing wall as you continue
  your descent into the canyon. A small stream, beginning to show life
  again after the worst of the summer heat, follows its rocky bed here,
  as it continues down into the canyon.
  
  Horse follows you, sniffing and snorting loudly.
  
  > Go south
  This is the small Village you seem to lead. It consists of several
  small huts, plus a larger one with no walls the People use as a meeting
  area. The People are there now, in fact, arguing over something. The
  ground slopes down to the north, and a path leads along a ridge to the northwest. A small stream collects here, and follows the slope down to
  the north.
  
  The People are debating loudly amongst themselves in the meeting area.
  
  Your own hut is just to the west, slightly larger than the others.
  
  Horse shies away from so many people, and trots off back down the path.
  
  Two men get in a heated argument, which almost comes to blows before
  it's stopped.
  
  > Up
  You scramble up the slope and finally make it to the top.
  
  east, as it wends its way amongst the scrub. Your Village is back to
  the southeast.
  
  Horse watches you climb the cliff, snorts in disgust, then canters back
  down to his herd.
  
  > Up
  You scramble up the slope and finally make it to the top.
  
  east, as it wends its way amongst the scrub. Your Village is back to
  the southeast.
  
  Horse finishes Fruit, and with a whinny, trots back to join the herd.
  
  > go north
  Even here, the walls are too steep to go directly in that direction.
  
  > go to the north
  You are at the base of a box canyon. Ragged walls tower over you on
  three sides, striated red, black, and tan. The small stream running
  along here dries up in the summer, but is now still active. A crack in
  the north wall of the canyon allows it to pass along its path from the
  Village, back up to the southwest.
  
  A Herd of Horses roam here, grazing on the tough grasses.
  
  The stream from the south cuts through the wall of the canyon here, and
  runs for several paces before cascading down a steep, gravelly slope.
  The sides of the canyon provide a welcome shade from the hot sun, which apparently is also enjoyed by a small grove of Fruit Trees, clustered
  around a wide section of the stream.
  
  > take the Fruit
  (the Piece of Fruit)
  You choose the ripest Piece of Fruit you can find, and pluck it from a low-swung branch.
  
  > go south
  You are at the base of a box canyon. Ragged walls tower over you on
  three sides, striated red, black, and tan. The small stream running
  along here dries up in the summer, but is now still active. A crack in
  the north wall of the canyon allows it to pass along its path from the
  Village, back up to the southwest.
  
  A Herd of Horses roam here, grazing on the tough grasses.
  
  One of the Horses moves out of the herd towards you, sniffing.
  
  > Go southwest
  This path marks the beginnings of a descent down into the local canyon,
  to the northeast. To the west is a small ragged cliff, small enough
  here to scale, but which becomes a more imposing wall as you continue
  your descent into the canyon. A small stream, beginning to show life
  again after the worst of the summer heat, follows its rocky bed here,
  as it continues down into the canyon.
  
  Horse follows you, sniffing and snorting loudly.
  
  > Go upward
  You scramble up the slope and finally make it to the top.
  
  east, as it wends its way amongst the scrub. Your Village is back to
  the southeast.
  
  At the bottom of the cliff, Horse noisily munches fruit, oblivious to
  you.
  
  > jump
  Throwing caution to the wind, you leap off the cliff, hurtling down
  towards the path below.
  
  Horse, busily munching away at the bottom of the hill, never even sees
  you coming. With a WHUMP, you land square on his back! You drop all
  your possessions as Horse rears, whinnies, and begins to run!
  
  Streaking Across the Countryside (on Horse)
  The view is almost a blur around you, as Horse runs frantically, trying
  to get you off his back. Every so often, you notice some feature of the landscape, but, unsurprisingly, most of your attention is on Horse, and
  your bumpy ride.
  
  Horse turns sharply, and your arms spin wildly, trying to compensate
  and keep your balance.
  
  The ride is unsettling you, and you feel yourself start to slip.
  
  > grab Horse
  Using both hands, you grab hold of the streaming Mane.
  
  Feeling your grip on his neck, Horse stops twisting and turning, and
  takes off in a new direction, going even faster.
  
  > pull Horse
  You'll need to be more specific. Do you want to pull it back? To the
  right or left?
  
  Ahead and to the left, you can see a cliff wall approaching.
  
  > pull Horse right
  You pull Mane to the right.
  
  The cliff grows as Horse approaches it at an angle.
  
  You steer Horse a little more directly towards the cliff.
  
  > pull right
  What do you want to pull to the right?
  
  > pull Mane right
  You pull Mane to the right.
  
  You and Horse are almost upon the cliff! It looms above you to the
  left.
  
  You steer Horse a little more directly towards the cliff.
  
  > pull Mane right
  You pull Mane to the right.
  
  Just before Horse runs into cliff, he veers sharply to the right,
  causing your weight to shift to the left. Too far left, in fact.
  Rolling off to the left, your fingers tear from Mane as you fall.
  
  Horse whinnies with delight, and disappears across the countryside. You
  pick yourself up, and make your way back to the Village.
  
  This is the small Village you seem to lead. It consists of several
  small huts, plus a larger one with no walls the People use as a meeting
  area. The People are there now, in fact, arguing over something. The
  ground slopes down to the north, and a path leads along a ridge to the northwest. A small stream collects here, and follows the slope down to
  the north.
  
  The People are debating loudly amongst themselves in the meeting area.
  
  Your own hut is just to the west, slightly larger than the others.
  
  > pull Horse back
  You pull back on Mane. Unfortunately, Horse doesn't seem to slow
  perceptibly.
  
  The cliff grows as Horse approaches it at an angle.
  
  > pull Mane left
  You pull Mane to the left.
  
  You and Horse are almost upon the cliff! It looms above you to the
  left.
  
  You steer Horse a little more directly towards the cliff.
  
  > pull Mane right
  You pull Mane to the right.
  
  Just before Horse runs into cliff, he veers sharply to the right,
  causing your weight to shift to the left. Too far left, in fact.
  Rolling off to the left, your fingers tear from Mane as you fall.
  
  Horse whinnies with delight, and disappears across the countryside. You
  pick yourself up, and make your way back to the Village.
  
  This is the small Village you seem to lead. It consists of several
  small huts, plus a larger one with no walls the People use as a meeting
  area. The People are there now, in fact, arguing over something. The
  ground slopes down to the north, and a path leads along a ridge to the northwest. A small stream collects here, and follows the slope down to
  the north.
  
  The People are debating loudly amongst themselves in the meeting area.
  
  Your own hut is just to the west, slightly larger than the others.