text: > Describe the surroundings
  You have reached the lowest extent of the stair, and stand on what might best be described as a small balcony. The surface of the water is still some distance below you.
  
  Perhaps to deal with predicaments such as that in which you now find yourself, a pulley mechanism has been installed at this level.
  
  On the pulley is a perfect icosahedron.
  
  You taste bitter pride. Determination is, in the end, more valuable than any other conceivable commodity.
  
  > examine icosahedron
  An icosahedron made of glass, on the surface of which are etched fishes of all kinds, branching coral, dolphins and whales; ships swollen with wind, merfolk, sunk treasure... all the lustre of the surface of the sea, and all the mystery of its depth.
  
  > take the icosahedron
  As you remove the burden, the chain shifts again and, with a rattle, comes off the pulley, leaving only the pulley itself, but no hook.
  
  As for the icosahedron, it tingles in your hand--
  
  > About yourself
  Later, water again: the women washing your mother's body. A voice: "You're going to have to make a decision. What do you want to do now? The convent will take you, if you wish, or you could go into service..."
  
  But you buried your face, and the decisions were made on your behalf.
  Then you come back to yourself, your face still wet.
  
  > About yourself
  You're you.
  
  > touch yourself
  The boundaries of yourself still exist, in a fashion.
  
  > U,E,U,U
  This is the rim of a great cistern, which is built of bricks and lined with plaster, and must be very old. Along the inside of the cistern, a spiral stair descends towards the surface of the water, more than a full story below you.
  
  The walls themselves are painted with images of the vast unsociable ocean: of the broad empty water, the clustering clouds, the thin and distant crust that is the beginning of the New World.
  
  Tower, Bottom
  You stand at the bottom of a stone tower. Doorways open in each of the cardinal directions, except for the north; there, a spacious niche contains the statue of a woman, skillfully executed in white marble.
  
  The center of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase, but one made of such slender and delicate supports that it obscures neither light nor view.
  
  The silvery door to the south stands open.
  
  Tower, Mid-level
  A midpoint in the tower, with doorways east and west, lit from above. The south wall is occupied by a deep niche, in which is a statue of a young man in the Greek mode.
  
  The walls have been sheathed with a variety of fine materials, all exceptionally costly: sheets of beaten gold, squares of lapis lazuli, placards of ruby and adamant.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  Up there, cogs and wheels are moving at great speed. You don't dare try to climb up.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > take the sturdy key
  You pull the key lightly out of the statue's grasp. It is warm and familiar in your hand.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > look at the sturdy key
  A sturdy key of golden metal, with precisely-cut teeth.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > Up
  Up there, cogs and wheels are moving at great speed. You don't dare try to climb up.
  
  > Down
  Enter saved game to store: Ok.
  
  > touch the statue
  The marble has been given a high degree of polish, taking on almost a soapy quality under your touch.
  
  > take the mirror
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > go to the south
  Against the rough north wall of the cavern lies a moon-shaped landing of white stone, with a pair of shallow steps down to the glass-black surface of the lake. A Moorish archway leads away to the north.
  
  The only furniture is an ornate metal pole, branching at the top, with dozens of bells hung from the branches.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  some slippers (enlarged)
  a needle (enlarged and made of stone)
  a ball of yarn (enlarged)
  a magnifying glass
  a tube (enlarged and made of metal)
  a workbox
  two keys:
  a sturdy key
  a delicate key (enlarged and made of metal) (which opens the
  silvered door)
  
  > throw tube at the machinery
  That doesn't make much sense.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > turn the statue
  You are unable to.
  
  > put the tube in the machinery
  That doesn't make much sense.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > Ascend
  Up there, cogs and wheels are moving at great speed. You don't dare try to climb up.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > listen
  It's quiet.
  
  > look at the walls
  The squares of precious substances have cut with the greatest care, so that their surfaces are smoothly polished and bevelled. You are unable to determine by what means they have been attached to the stone beneath.
  
  There is one sheet of coppery metal that seems to be coming loose, however.
  
  > take sheet
  It is still (though barely) attached to the wall.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > pull the sheet
  You succeed in freeing the copper placard: it clatters to the ground, opening a dark hole in the wall protected by a sort of lockable grate.
  
  > examine the grate
  Made of sturdy iron bars interlaced.
  
  > Unlock grate
  (with the sturdy key)
  The key is too large to fit the lock.
  
  > unlock the grate with the gold key
  The key is too large to fit the lock.
  
  > put the sturdy key in the hourglass
  You put the sturdy key into the contraption; predictably, it squinches down, passes through the narrow neck, and emerges from the other end smaller than it was when it went in.
  
  > E,N,U
  A straight white light comes through the hole in the ceiling, but it is soon after twisted and bent: mirrors cast it from angle to angle; crystal divides it; glass stains it.
  
  East and west, low corridors lead into shadow.
  
  The silvery door to the north stands open.
  
  Tower, Bottom
  You stand at the bottom of a stone tower. Doorways open in each of the cardinal directions, except for the north; there, a spacious niche contains the statue of a woman, skillfully executed in white marble.
  
  The center of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase, but one made of such slender and delicate supports that it obscures neither light nor view.
  
  The silvery door to the south stands open.
  
  Tower, Mid-level
  A midpoint in the tower, with doorways east and west, lit from above. The south wall is occupied by a deep niche, in which is a statue of a young man in the Greek mode.
  
  The walls have been sheathed with a variety of fine materials, all exceptionally costly: sheets of beaten gold, squares of lapis lazuli, placards of ruby and adamant. There is a dark, square hole in the north wall where one of these sheets has been removed.
  
  You can see a placard here.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > unlock the grate with the sturdy key
  The key seems as though it would go in the lock, but it is slightly too small.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > D,S,W
  Tower, Bottom
  You stand at the bottom of a stone tower. Doorways open in each of the cardinal directions, except for the north; there, a spacious niche contains the statue of a woman, skillfully executed in white marble.
  
  The center of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase, but one made of such slender and delicate supports that it obscures neither light nor view.
  
  The silvery door to the south stands open.
  
  A straight white light comes through the hole in the ceiling, but it is soon after twisted and bent: mirrors cast it from angle to angle; crystal divides it; glass stains it.
  
  East and west, low corridors lead into shadow.
  
  The silvery door to the north stands open.
  
  A long, vaulted room, lined with cages of filigree and jewels. All of the animals are motionless and still, perhaps through the art of a taxidermist. In one cage is an elephant, so short that he reaches only to your knee; you easily could lift him under one arm and carry him away. In another cage, a giant mouse lies, curled as though slumbering, his paws folded in the semblance of prayer.
  
  Mounted on a swivel on the wall is what looks like an irregular hourglass, one bulb larger than the other. There is no sand within -- nor could there be, since the contraption is open at each end. At the moment the larger end is uppermost.
  
  > put the sturdy key in the hourglass
  You put the sturdy key into the contraption; predictably, it squinches down, passes through the narrow neck, and emerges from the other end larger than it was when it went in.
  
  > E,N,U
  A straight white light comes through the hole in the ceiling, but it is soon after twisted and bent: mirrors cast it from angle to angle; crystal divides it; glass stains it.
  
  East and west, low corridors lead into shadow.
  
  The silvery door to the north stands open.
  
  Tower, Bottom
  You stand at the bottom of a stone tower. Doorways open in each of the cardinal directions, except for the north; there, a spacious niche contains the statue of a woman, skillfully executed in white marble.
  
  The center of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase, but one made of such slender and delicate supports that it obscures neither light nor view.
  
  The silvery door to the south stands open.
  
  Tower, Mid-level
  A midpoint in the tower, with doorways east and west, lit from above. The south wall is occupied by a deep niche, in which is a statue of a young man in the Greek mode.
  
  The walls have been sheathed with a variety of fine materials, all exceptionally costly: sheets of beaten gold, squares of lapis lazuli, placards of ruby and adamant. There is a dark, square hole in the north wall where one of these sheets has been removed.
  
  > unlock the grate with the sturdy key
  You unlock the grating and swing it open.
  
  > Go north
  You're going to need your hands free if you want to crawl in there.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > drop all
  sturdy key: Dropped.
  slippers: Dropped.
  needle: Dropped.
  ball of yarn: Dropped.
  magnifying glass: You set the magnifying glass down gently.
  tube: Dropped.
  workbox: Dropped.
  delicate key: Dropped.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > Go north
  You take a deep breath and enter, suppressing your distaste.
  
  You're crouched in a square crawlspace, barely broader than the width of your shoulders. The absence of light makes things particularly unpleasant.
  
  There's a ferocious rumbling at the northernmost (and lowest) end of the crawlspace, where, you imagine, something very large is rotating.
  
  > listen
  It sounds as though something very large is in motion nearby.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > listen
  It sounds as though something very large is in motion nearby.
  
  > examine the wall
  (the walls)
  You don't see anything particularly exciting.
  
  > go to the west
  There's no room in that direction.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > examine the machinery
  (the celestial clockwork)
  You can barely see anything at all.
  
  > enter the machinery
  (the celestial clockwork)
  That's not something you can enter.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > Down
  There's no room in that direction.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > go south
  Tower, Mid-level
  A midpoint in the tower, with doorways east and west, lit from above. The south wall is occupied by a deep niche, in which is a statue of a young man in the Greek mode.
  
  The walls have been sheathed with a variety of fine materials, all exceptionally costly: sheets of beaten gold, squares of lapis lazuli, placards of ruby and adamant. There is a dark, square hole in the north wall where one of these sheets has been removed.
  
  You can see a workbox (which is empty), a tube (which is empty), a magnifying glass, a ball of yarn, a needle, some slippers, a placard and two keys (a delicate key and a sturdy key) here.
  
  "There's no glory in needless martyrdom." The priest again, leaning in the doorway while you scrubbed the floor. "You can come away from here."
  
  You flung dirty water on his shadow, and scowled.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a placard
  some slippers (enlarged)
  a needle (enlarged and made of stone)
  a ball of yarn (enlarged)
  a magnifying glass
  a tube (enlarged and made of metal)
  a workbox
  two keys:
  a sturdy key (shrunken) (which opens the grating)
  a delicate key (enlarged and made of metal) (which opens the
  silvered door)
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > drop all
  placard: Dropped.
  slippers: Dropped.
  needle: Dropped.
  ball of yarn: Dropped.
  magnifying glass: You set the magnifying glass down gently.
  tube: Dropped.
  workbox: Dropped.
  sturdy key: Dropped.
  delicate key: Dropped.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > take the tube
  Taken.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > put the tube in the hole
  You put the tube into the dark hole.
  
  > go north
  There's not going to be room while the tube is in there.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > get tube
  Taken.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  > drop the tube
  Solid, even stone.
  
  The grumbling of machinery catches your attention.
  
  Dropped.
  
  > Go north
  You take a deep breath and enter, suppressing your distaste.
  
  You're crouched in a square crawlspace, barely broader than the width of your shoulders. The absence of light makes things particularly unpleasant.
  
  There's a ferocious rumbling at the northernmost (and lowest) end of the crawlspace, where, you imagine, something very large is rotating.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > go south
  Tower, Mid-level
  A midpoint in the tower, with doorways east and west, lit from above. The south wall is occupied by a deep niche, in which is a statue of a young man in the Greek mode.
  
  The walls have been sheathed with a variety of fine materials, all exceptionally costly: sheets of beaten gold, squares of lapis lazuli, placards of ruby and adamant. There is a dark, square hole in the north wall where one of these sheets has been removed.
  
  You can see a tube (which is empty), two keys (a delicate key and a sturdy key), a workbox (which is empty), a magnifying glass, a ball of yarn, a needle, some slippers and a placard here.
  
  > Go north
  You take a deep breath and enter, suppressing your distaste.
  
  You're crouched in a square crawlspace, barely broader than the width of your shoulders. The absence of light makes things particularly unpleasant.
  
  There's a ferocious rumbling at the northernmost (and lowest) end of the crawlspace, where, you imagine, something very large is rotating.
  
  > throw the tube at the hole
  The tube bounces and falls harmlessly to the ground.
  
  > wear the slippers
  (first taking the slippers)
  You put them on, but they slip off again.
  
  > take the slippers
  You already have those.
  
  > D,S,E
  Tower, Bottom
  You stand at the bottom of a stone tower. Doorways open in each of the cardinal directions, except for the north; there, a spacious niche contains the statue of a woman, skillfully executed in white marble.
  
  The center of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase, but one made of such slender and delicate supports that it obscures neither light nor view.
  
  The silvery door to the south stands open.
  
  A straight white light comes through the hole in the ceiling, but it is soon after twisted and bent: mirrors cast it from angle to angle; crystal divides it; glass stains it.
  
  East and west, low corridors lead into shadow.
  
  The silvery door to the north stands open.
  
  An orchard of glass trees: trunks slender and orderly as the columns of the Alhambra, foliage iridescent and frail. No wind stirs, and yet, from time to time, a leaf casts free of its branch and drifts to the ground. The whole floor of the cavern is deep with them.
  
  At the center of this is a clearing where a monstrous furnace stands -- shaped like a coiled dragon.
  
  > put the slippers in the hourglass
  You put the slippers into the contraption; predictably, it squinches down, passes through the narrow neck, and emerges from the other end smaller than it was when it went in.
  
  > ask N,  to ascend
  Tower, Bottom
  You stand at the bottom of a stone tower. Doorways open in each of the cardinal directions, except for the north; there, a spacious niche contains the statue of a woman, skillfully executed in white marble.
  
  The center of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase, but one made of such slender and delicate supports that it obscures neither light nor view.
  
  The silvery door to the south stands open.
  
  Tower, Mid-level
  A midpoint in the tower, with doorways east and west, lit from above. The south wall is occupied by a deep niche, in which is a statue of a young man in the Greek mode.
  
  The walls have been sheathed with a variety of fine materials, all exceptionally costly: sheets of beaten gold, squares of lapis lazuli, placards of ruby and adamant. There is a dark, square hole in the north wall where one of these sheets has been removed.
  
  You can see a tube (which is empty), two keys (a delicate key and a sturdy key), a workbox (which is empty), a magnifying glass, a ball of yarn, a needle and a placard here.
  
  > put the slippers in the machinery
  (the celestial clockwork)
  (first taking them off)
  
  That's not possible in so confined a space.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > enter the clockwork
  That's not something you can enter.
  
  "There's no glory in needless martyrdom." The priest again, leaning in the doorway while you scrubbed the floor. "You can come away from here."
  
  You flung dirty water on his shadow, and scowled.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > enter the clockwork
  That's not something you can enter.
  
  From somewhere nearby comes a low rumbling.
  
  > kick machinery
  (the celestial clockwork)
  That's not possible in so confined a space.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > feel the stone
  Rough under your fingers.
  
  > Smell
  You smell nothing unexpected.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > touch the clockwork
  You're not foolish enough to try to put your hands on the moving mechanism.
  
  The undressed stone of the walls scrapes at you as you move, which is an extremely unpleasant and distracting sensation.
  
  > Hit mechanism
  Unlikely that would achieve anything.