text: > Look around
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  On the main table is a tray of bikkies.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Clopas reaches for his cup just as a guest decides to offer her congratulations. Clopas sets down his cup again, reluctantly, to do the polite thing and exchange some small talk with the guest.
  
  > take the tray
  Taken.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...such a temper. Their mother's ambitious, though, and won't rest until...."
  
  > give the tray to Anna
  "Oh, may I?" Anna takes a bikkie before you can answer, pops it into her mouth, and begins chewing happily.
  
  > go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...could go for another drink right now. I'm not properly drunk yet...."
  
  > Go northeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Anna finally unsticks all the bikkie dough from her teeth, and unfortunately returns to her chatterbox ways.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna, a bridesmaid and an ancient mariner here.
  
  "There was this albatross ... did I mention the albatross?"
  
  "Yes," says the bridesmaid, barely concealing a yawn, "yes you did."
  
  "Well, there was this albatross, see, and I thought...."
  
  > give the tray to the mariner
  The ancient mariner absently takes a bikkie and begins munching on it. But when he tries to continue his story, the sticky bikkie dough proves too much for his old jaws, and he is reduced to silence. The bridesmaid seizes her chance. She leaps to her feet, thanks the mariner very nicely for sharing his story with her, and hurries into the house. The mariner stares sadly after her, then helps himself to another bikkie and hobbles off down the street.
  
  > go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and a bridesmaid here.
  
  "Thank you," says the bridesmaid, "I didn't think the old man would ever stop talking, and somehow I just couldn't stop listening to him. It's not that his story was all that long and terrible; it's actually not bad, once you've put the pieces together. But he would insist on jumping around at random, and repeating some bits over and over." She sighs and turns to enter the courtyard. "Well, ask me about the story sometime, if you want to know what it was all about, and I'll tell it to you so that it makes sense. For now, I'm just going to go and enjoy what's left of the party."
  
  > go to the southwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about the story
  "There was a ship...." the bridesmaid describes the voyage of the mariner's ship, which seems mundane enough. "But that's only the beginning," she says.
  
  > Continue
  The bridesmaid continues the story, describing a curse which befalls the mariner and his crew.
  
  > continue
  The bridesmaid continues the story, describing the nightmarish fate of the mariner's crew and the terrible visions that plagued him.
  
  > Continue
  The bridesmaid tells of how the mariner's adventures ended, rather inexplicably, when he stops to admire some sea creatures.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...must be starving! So I left a platter of her favourite sweetmeats...."
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about moral
  The bridesmaid doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...saved the bridge, though if you ask me he should never have wandered off in the first place...."
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  "There was a ship..." you begin, which catches Mary's attention immediately.
  
  "That sounds familiar," she says, giving you her full attention.
  "Isn't it the beginning part of that rather confused story that the mariner outside tells? If you've got it all organised, I'd like to hear it."
  
  > continue
  Mary shudders as you describe the curse that befell the mariner's crew. "How terrible! Should all the people suffer for the sin of one man?"
  
  > Continue
  "What a terrible story!" Mary seems to be hanging on to your every word, nonetheless.
  
  > Continue
  "And is that how it ends, with the old mariner turning his gaze away from his suffering to these sea snakes? But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...rhubarb. Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb. Rhubarb...?"
  
  > give the wine jug to Mary
  Er, maybe it would be best if you don't do that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...wouldn't believe a word of it. So I said to Thomas, I said...."
  
  > tell the story to Lazarus
  It seems unlikely that you could get much help there, and anyway it's really not your place to intrude.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...thankfully managed to work around their language differences and got the medicine for...."
  
  > show the wine jug to Mary
  Er, maybe it would be best if you don't do that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...must be starving! So I left a platter of her favourite sweetmeats...."
  
  > Go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...his mother-in-law, would you believe it? Of course he never quite forgave...."
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  Mary frowns. "I hope you know a little more about it than you did the last time." She listens as you quickly go over the initial part of the story again.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  "Wait up," says Mary of Bethany, trailing after you, "we're not finished yet!"
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers nearby, her attention focussed on you.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...honour one's father and mother. Say what you like, he's always done his duty by her...."
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  You repeat the part about the curse that befell the mariner's crew. Mary nods thoughtfully, still searching your words for any grain of meaning she might have missed the first time around.
  
  > Go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  "Wait up," says Mary of Bethany, trailing after you, "we're not finished yet!"
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers nearby, her attention focussed on you.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  "Wait up," says Mary of Bethany, trailing after you, "we're not finished yet!"
  
  This is where the family keeps the wine and the olive oil. It is a cool, windowless room; the kitchen proper is up some steps to the east.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers nearby, her attention focussed on you.
  
  A broken set of shelves lies shattered and scattered across the floor.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  "But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  > Keep going
  "But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  Mary presses you for further details or possibly an explanation for the more inexplicable aspects of the story, but you have to confess that you cannot add to what you have told her. Disappointed, she returns to the Rabbi and his entourage for more erudite discourse.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > ask Anna about the story
  "I've overheard a little bit of the story that the old mariner outside has been telling, sir, and it's really quite amazing, only it's all jumbled up when he tells it. That old mariner seems to have rather an amazing imagination, sir. Or do you think it could all be real? I mean, I hear that a lot of awful things happen at sea, that's why I'm glad I'm not from the tribe of Zebulun. Lazarus told me all about Jacob's blessing on Zebulun, sir. They're supposed to be great sailors, and one imagines that it would be terribly romantic, to be out on the sea with water all around and the sky arching across overhead, but after listening to a bit of the old mariner's story, I think I'd much rather stay on land."
  
  > go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > ask Joshua about the zebulun
  Joshua doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a pound of flesh, of all things, but then the other gentile's wife pointed out that...."
  
  > go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > open the cover
  You heave the wooden cover aside.
  
  > pour the water in the well
  Which do you mean, the village well or the well water?
  
  > Village
  (Clean water in the village well)
  I think you've got this backwards.
  
  > pour the well water in the bucket
  No sense in making a mess here, especially since you're the one who'll have to clean it up afterwards.
  
  > fill the bucket
  Oh no, you hauled enough water from the well earlier today, filling up those jars for washing feet. You're not doing this again unless you absolutely have to.
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Close well
  (the village well)
  You carefully reposition the cover over the well.
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > pour the water into the jars
  You pour the water into one of the jars. It isn't quite full to the top, and there are five more to go....
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...saved the bridge, though if you ask me he should never have wandered off in the first place...."
  
  > examine Joshua
  You don't know the guy very well. Most of the guests are relative strangers, and this one is stranger than most: he's supposed to be a carpenter, or so you've heard, but apparently he was already teaching the priests and the Levites their own craft when he was ten. Which makes you kind of glad that you didn't know him way back then.
  
  > ask Joshua about the feet
  Joshua doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...wouldn't believe a word of it. So I said to Thomas, I said...."
  
  > talk to Joshua
  You might get further if you tried either asking or telling Joshua about something specific.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...had this dream about the butcher's late wife, so they called off the wedding...."
  
  > tell Joshua about the mariner's story
  Joshua doesn't seem to have anything to add to what you tell him.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...rhubarb. Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb. Rhubarb...?"
  
  > ask Anna about the story
  You don't want to hear that long rigmarole again.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  Mary frowns. "I hope you know a little more about it than you did the last time." She listens as you quickly go over the initial part of the story again.
  
  > tell story to Mary
  You repeat the part about the curse that befell the mariner's crew. Mary nods thoughtfully, still searching your words for any grain of meaning she might have missed the first time around.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...thankfully managed to work around their language differences and got the medicine for...."
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  "But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...saved the bridge, though if you ask me he should never have wandered off in the first place...."
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  "But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  Mary presses you for further details or possibly an explanation for the more inexplicable aspects of the story, but you have to confess that you cannot add to what you have told her. Disappointed, she returns to the Rabbi and his entourage for more erudite discourse.
  
  > examine Joshua
  You don't know the guy very well. Most of the guests are relative strangers, and this one is stranger than most: he's supposed to be a carpenter, or so you've heard, but apparently he was already teaching the priests and the Levites their own craft when he was ten. Which makes you kind of glad that you didn't know him way back then.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...could go for another drink right now. I'm not properly drunk yet...."
  
  > ask Mary for Joshua
  (Mary of Bethany first taking Joshua)
  Mary of Bethany has better things to do.
  
  > ask Mary about the jug
  Mary listens attentively, but has little to tell you.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...had this dream about the butcher's late wife, so they called off the wedding...."
  
  > ask Joshua about sailor
  Joshua doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...in the middle of winter.
  Anyway, she was lost and...."
  
  > tell Joshua about the story
  Joshua doesn't seem to have anything to add to what you tell him.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...looking for a map of Lutetia and instead discovering that the entire clan...."
  
  > ask Mary about Joshua
  "Oh, he's dreadfully wise. You've just got to listen a while and you'll understand."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...so the diplomat grabbed the elephant's ear, and...."
  
  > listen to Joshua
  "...down on the Jordan. Surprised to see him here at all, though of course he's disappeared...."
  
  > keep going
  "...had this dream about the butcher's late wife, so they called off the wedding...."
  
  > look
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...rhubarb. Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb. Rhubarb...?"
  
  > Nazareth
  "A relative of your master's, I think? I think I met her earlier in the evening ... a quiet woman, very dignified. You've got to admire a woman who can keep calm in the midst of wedding preparations."
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about the mariner
  The bridesmaid makes a face. "That man just would not shut up. It would be one thing if he could tell his story straight, but he would insist on messing it all up. I could tell it better than he does; I mean, I've heard it at least five times over by now, backwards, forwards and sideways."
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about John
  "Rabbi Zechariah's son." She smirks a little. "I don't think there's anyone who doesn't know about his preaching out on the Jordan. I can't imagine what his father must think."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...looking for a map of Lutetia and instead discovering that the entire clan...."
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about Rabbi
  "A very fine and learned man, I'm sure, and a pillar of the community. All the same, I think I'll keep my distance: he bores me to tears."