text: > look at your surroundings
  You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server.
  
  > look at what you're carrying with you
  You are carrying the defective disk, a dollar coin, the SimulacCam (being worn), an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key.
  
  > Go west
  You head west on Third Street...
  
  Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Court," is less impressive.
  
  A man plods down the street and away from you, carrying an elderly man on his back and a Cabbage Patch doll in his arms.
  
  > show nStick
  You look ridiculous waving the nStick.
  
  > examine nStick
  It's an nStick, a proprietary memory storage device. You haven't seen this particular sort before, and it's not going to fit into any of the usual computer suspects -- your nLap or the servers you manage.
  
  > Go southeast
  Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Court," is less impressive.
  
  > buy the watchmen
  You check all over for Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmena graphic novel you happen to really like, in which a sinister conspiracy is at work in an alternate but recognizable reality -- but there doesn't seem to be a copy anywhere around here. Too bad.
  
  > go to the south
  You head east on Fourth Street...
  
  The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm is southwest. On the northwest corner is an upscale variety store, MarMart.
  You head east on Fourth Street...
  
  The sudden clamor and rush of a crowd sends you helplessly to the ground. With a grinding pull, a battalion in green aprons hurls itself over you and into the structure on the southwest corner. Perhaps you glimpse a pair of stunned figures in black T-shirts inside, shivering behind a counter. Your vision seems to be obscured for a moment by a milky steam.
  
  You stand, finally, unsure about what you seem to have witnessed, unsure about whether or not to hope it was real.
  
  One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners.
  
  A sizable crowd of people wearing tye-dyed bedsheets babbles loudly, running past and away from you.
  You head south on Main...
  
  The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra.
  
  > Go southeast
  The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf.
  
  There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know.
  
  > look at diorama
  Ah, yes. The diorama. There it is.
  
  You notice that it has a brass button on it.
  
  > press the brass button
  That seems like it might do something. But it doesn't.
  
  > Go south
  You head south on Main...
  
  Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner.
  
  You have come to the edge of the plateau on which nTopia is built. Far below, past the railing, is the desert plain, stretching from reddish white to white, scraggled here and there with gray. The sky is lapis lazuli. Some highway stretches far off from east to west, as if it were an imperfect reflection of a line on a map.
  
  > go to the west
  You head west on Back Street...
  
  Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing that bounds the city to the south.
  
  A very important-looking person wearing a green visor speeds by on a golden Sinclair C5.
  
  > Go northwest
  There's some corrugated steel-with-cinderblock-accents thing going on here. The floor ends to the west, where smoke and wailing rise from a pit. And it looks like we also have a double-cup panel lifter.
  
  > Go east
  You head east on Back Street...
  
  Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner.
  
  A gang of perhaps twenty people on souped-up Segways powers past and disappears.
  
  > go north
  You head north on Main...
  
  The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra.
  
  > Go southeast
  The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf.
  
  There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know.
  
  > go southeast
  You head through the door and into the server room.
  
  There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we also have Sophie.
  
  > look at the ceiling
  There's the ceiling. Right up there.
  
  > Go northwest
  You head out through the door.
  
  The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf.
  
  There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know.
  
  > go northwest
  The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra.
  
  A cute little fire truck careers down the street, letting loose an occasional bottle rocket.
  
  > Go north
  You head north on Abalone...
  
  Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment building, The Peachtree, is northwest.
  
  A miniature ambulance pulls up. A bystander is quickly hoisted inside by two people clad in padded suits, and the ambulance drives off.
  
  > Go southwest
  You head into the building and over to the server room.
  
  There are racks and racks, with the usual drop ceiling and raised floor one finds in the upscale server room. And it looks like we also have Wendy.
  
  > Go northeast
  Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment building, The Peachtree, is northwest.
  
  A young couple runs past solemnly, wearing only Nikes and diapers.
  
  > go north
  You head north on Abalone...
  
  The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the northwest.
  
  > go to the east
  You head east on First Street...
  
  The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, to the northwest.
  
  > go to the north
  You head north on Eel...
  
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  > Go north
  nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this main space.
  
  Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Airport's server room.
  
  > Go east
  You head through the door and into the server room.
  
  Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it looks like we also have Nora.
  
  > examine the racks
  Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it looks like we also have Nora.
  
  > Go west
  You head out through the door.
  
  nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this main space.
  
  Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Airport's server room.
  
  > Go south
  You head east on Front Street...
  
  Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north.
  You head east on Front Street...
  
  Front Street continues its run alongside the airport. There is a warehouse on the southwest corner. The mall is under construction to the southeast.
  You head east on Front Street...
  
  The city goes no further north or east. There's just Front Lodge to the southwest.
  You head south on Urchin...
  
  First Lodge is on the northwest corner. The nWare Media Campus is southwest of here, but there's no way onto campus from this intersection.
  You head south on Urchin...
  
  The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town.
  You head south on Urchin...
  
  The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the East Berm.
  
  > Go east
  You head through the door and into the server room.
  
  Much like other server rooms in this world of ours: racks, raised floor, drop ceiling. It seems to have been made a bit more spacious than it needs to be. And it looks like we also have Ester.
  
  > look at the ceiling
  There's the ceiling. Right up there.
  
  > examine the panel
  There's the floor. Right down there.
  
  > go north
  You head north on Urchin...
  
  The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town.
  
  > go to the north
  You head north on Urchin...
  
  First Lodge is on the northwest corner. The nWare Media Campus is southwest of here, but there's no way onto campus from this intersection.
  
  > Go west
  You head west on First Street...
  
  The main north-south path of the nWare Media Campus meets Octopus on the south side. Roy's, a favorite hacker hangout and supplier of takeout, is on the northwest corner. The mall is under construction to the northeast.
  
  > Go north
  You head north on Octopus...
  
  Front Street continues its run alongside the airport. There is a warehouse on the southwest corner. The mall is under construction to the southeast.
  
  > go southwest
  The warehouse isn't open to the public, or to you.
  
  A woman hurries by, loudly reciting art criticism by John Ashbery and occasionally making some sort of nonhuman primate sound.
  
  > Go west
  You head west on Front Street...
  
  Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north.
  
  > go to the west
  You head west on Front Street...
  
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  > go to the southeast
  The visitor center is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten.
  
  A man plods down the street and away from you, carrying an elderly man on his back and a Cabbage Patch doll in his arms.
  
  > examine the airport
  Upon further inspection, the only things that stand out are the tall, rectangular nature of the arch, and the fact that it is topped with red flashing lights.
  
  > examine the lights
  Upon further inspection, the only things that stand out are the tall, rectangular nature of the arch, and the fact that it is topped with red flashing lights.
  
  Two modified Segways, driven by school children, scream past each other at top speed, missing by inches. Then they career off.
  
  > go north
  Your intimate friends at airport security recognize you, find that you still lack a boarding pass, and look at you with concern. You do not get to go in.
  
  > look at the kiosk
  Nice kiosk.
  
  > go south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, to the northwest.
  
  You think you catch a glimpse of someone down the street leaping out a window and deploying a parachute, but a second glance finds nothing out of the ordinary going on.
  
  > Go northeast
  The Gap is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten.
  
  You've barely noticed it, thanks to the way the streetlights have gradually filled in for the departing sun, but night has fallen.
  
  > examine MuseRoom
  Cultural hub of nTopia, this peripheral building holds both the city's museum and the only library. Like the Medical and Professional Center across from it, it is radially symmetric. While lacking colored stripes, it does have the shape of an alien chesspiece and a facade entirely made of rose-colored glass. Someone very famous designed it and cackled gleefully when it was completed.
  
  > Go northwest
  The MuseRoom is not open right now. Looks like it opens at nine.
  
  One guy on Rollerblades and one in a racing wheelchair whisper past, both with hockey sticks.
  
  > Go southwest
  The Medical Center Plaza is not open right now. Looks like it opens at nine.
  
  There's a loud and sudden microphone-tapping sound, followed by the shriek of feedback.
  
  ATTENTION, this is not an emergency. But there will be a demonstration of a project involving new technologies in just a few minutes. It may possibly result in some unusual irregularities. Don't be alarmed. Thank you.
  
  The civil alert system crackles back into silence.
  
  A bald man runs screaming past you, pants on fire, pursued by a man without pants whose hair is on fire. They disappear around a corner.
  
  > go to the south
  You head south on Abalone...
  
  Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment building, The Peachtree, is northwest.
  
  > go south
  You head south on Abalone...
  
  A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the final corner is a Starbucks.
  
  A warning shriek sounds, almost inside your head -- it's the helmet. "OVERLOAD," a stupidly calm voice says. The SimulacCam splits right down the middle, along the line of your nose, and falls, shattering on the ground.
  
  A coming screams across the sky.
  
  All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all over the ants. The round is world.
  
  Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does not last.
  
  > go south
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  There seems to be no trace of whatever sand was blowing all around, unless some of the buildings now have a slightly glossier finish.
  
  > examine the helmet
  Some of the most difficult things to look at are those that are currently enclosing your head.
  
  > examine the helmet
  Ah, yes. The SimulacCam. There it is.
  
  > examine the panels
  The video panels display cheerful promotional views of nTopia.
  
  > ask the woman about nTopia
  "Lovely place we live in," she replies.
  
  > ask the woman about the help
  "I wish I could help, but if I could, I'd probably have a messy job like yours and would regret it," she says.
  
  > ask the woman about the demo
  "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just stand here and smile," she tells you.
  
  > go to the west
  You head west on Front Street...
  
  Front Street is wide here, at the edge of nTopia. The airport is north, while two indistinguishable warehouses flank Abalone Street to the south.
  
  > Go south
  You head south on Abalone...
  
  The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the northwest.
  
  > go to the northwest
  The swelling space of the MuseRoom is flooded with light from above and ringed with hypermodern paintings. A stairway curls along the far wall, leading up to the library on the second floor.
  
  > look at the paintings
  They are pixorealist paintings that look like beautiful backgrounds you could use on your desktop.
  
  > Up
  A large, circular room forms the library, radiating with shelves and lit by sunlights. The floor seems to be a grating, allowing light to filter to the gallery below.
  
  > examine the shelves
  Unsurprisingly, the shelves have books on them.
  
  > examine the floor
  There's the floor. Right down there.
  
  > Examine books
  You pick a book off the shelf and read for a bit.
  
  ... The head and in frontal attack on an English writer that the character of this point is therefore another method for the letters ...
  
  Then you replace it.
  
  > Examine books
  You pick a book off the shelf and read for a bit.
  
  ... The quench and in aye attack on some obtain writer that the sign of this point is therefore another bite for the restore ...
  
  Then you replace it.