text: > Describe the surroundings
  Trickling through the forest is a small, clear stream.
  
  "OK, can you tell us about one of the places you've visited from this section?" Leslie asks.
  
  > tell Leslie about by a stream
  "Ah, perfect! Analyzing Blast Site now..."
  
  "Great, we have that room now. That should help. Re-calibrating..."
  
  "Ah, perfect! Analyzing By a Stream now..."
  
  Another beam of green light hits you and your load feels a bit heavier. "There you go!" Leslie says. "I've sent you another attachment that should help."
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a power pack
  a lesser mantid head
  Every Child's Almanac of Lunar Conspiracy
  a house key
  water bottle, which contains water, and a tadpole
  a backpack (open)
  a flashlight
  detangler base (with a trigger and a focuser attached.)
  a sheet
  
  > attach the power pack to the base
  With a click and a pop, you permanently attach the power pack to the detangler base.
  
  > Fire base
  You pull the trigger and are immediately knocked down by the force of the static charge erupting from the detangler. It flies from your hand, hits the floor, and the power pack gets knocked off. With a sigh, you retrieve both parts and put them back together.
  
  "Wow, sorry about that," says Leslie, "I guess you'll need a stabilizer, too. I hope there are more sections to this place."
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a lesser mantid head
  Every Child's Almanac of Lunar Conspiracy
  a house key
  water bottle, which contains water, and a tadpole
  a backpack (open)
  a flashlight
  detangler base (with a trigger, a focuser and a power pack
  attached.)
  a sheet
  
  > go east
  The forest presses around this narrow throughway leading west to east.
  
  > go southeast
  The trees have been cut back to make room for this tall device. Looking up at it, you see that it looks like...a phallus? Oh wait, it's a missile. Kind of the same thing, but instead of a little death there's great big death.
  
  A cheerful-looking man in a black two-piece suit and black horn-rimmed glasses stands nearby studying the huge device.
  
  You can also see some rope and a shovel here.
  
  > Shovel
  rope: The industrial-purpose rope far too heavy for you to lift. shovel: The man stops you, saying, "Here now, does that belong to you?"
  
  > look at the man
  This guy looks like an insurance salesman from the 50s!
  
  > look at the missile
  It's sixty feet tall and gleaming white! An American flag and skull and bones are painted on one side.
  
  > ask the man about himself
  He says, "The name is McWiggy."
  
  > ask McWiggy about the missile
  He says, "It's a fine, fine missile, isn't it? If you saw the blast site to the west, well, that was this fella's little brother's work! Did a beautiful job!"
  
  > show the head to the man
  He says, "You didn't find anything alive there, did you?" His eyes twinkle behind the thick lenses. "If you did there'd be something seriously wrong! When one of our missiles land on something, it's completely gone! In fact, if you did find anything alive there, I don't know what I'd do!"
  
  "No thank you," he says, patting his missile. "This here is all I need to be happy."
  
  > show the tadpole to McWiggy
  (first taking the tadpole)
  The mouth of the bottle is too narrow to stick your fingers in.
  
  > tell the man about the yellow
  He looks at it a bit nervously. "Ew, life," he says. "At least you didn't find that in the blast site! That would be tragic." He shudders.
  
  This provokes no reaction.
  
  > take the shovel
  He says, "Tut tut! Can't have any more life than necessary, can we? That's why I'm here."
  
  The man stops you, saying, "Here now, does that belong to you?"
  
  > Yes
  He grins. "Carry on, then!"
  
  > get the shovel
  You already have that.
  
  > ask McWiggy for the shovel
  The cheerful man has better things to do.
  
  > Dig
  You dig for a few minutes, turning up an old helmet!
  
  > examine the helmet
  The standard army helmet is dirty and cracked. A strange green film is on the inside of it.
  
  > go southeast
  The trees have been cut back to make room for this tall device. Looking up at it, you see that it looks like...a phallus? Oh wait, it's a missile. Kind of the same thing, but instead of a little death there's great big death.
  
  A cheerful-looking man in a black two-piece suit and black horn-rimmed glasses stands nearby studying the huge device.
  
  You can also see some rope here.
  
  > show the helmet to McWiggy
  He stares at the item, his cheer quickly turning into horror. He says, "What is this?! If you found this helmet in the blast site, and the tadpole was in the helmet, then that means...something was left alive! The missile was a failure? I don't believe it! I refuse to believe it!"
  
  The man starts running in circles! He's lost his mind!
  
  > take the missile
  You can't, because suddenly the man runs at you, making you jump backwards! You land on the coil of rope!
  
  "So sorry," he says, and pulls out a something that looks like a large cellphone. "I know what to do now. If this missile is fired and destroys its target, then we'll know that the last failure was just a fluke, right?"
  
  > get the rope
  The industrial-purpose rope far too heavy for you to lift.
  
  After pressing a few buttons, the man looks up at the missile. "System check is okay!" he says, then turns to you, "I suggest you leave. The blast from the rocket engine will kill everyone in this area!"
  
  > hit man
  Violence isn't the answer to this one.
  
  The man says, "Level B checks clear! Begin firing sequence!" Then he notices you again, "I thought I told you to go! This is a holy launch and you have no right to be here!"
  
  > throw the rope at the man
  (first taking the rope)
  The industrial-purpose rope far too heavy for you to lift.
  
  The missile starts making a humming sound, and steam begins blowing out of the base. "It's about to fire!" he yells at you. "I guess there's no helping it, if you really need to stay. Bask in the glory with me!"
  
  > Bask
  What do you want to ask the upset man for?
  
  > shoot the detangler
  (the detangler base)
  With some trepidation, you fire the detangler again, but nothing happens.
  
  Suddenly the missile roars and flame and smoke shoot out of the base. The heat is becoming unbearable! The man chortles madly. "Success! Success! Off you go to wreak havoc my boy!"
  
  As it lifts off you and the man and everything around are consumed in flame!
  
  > look
  The trees have been cut back to make room for this tall device. Looking up at it, you see that it looks like...a phallus? Oh wait, it's a missile. Kind of the same thing, but instead of a little death there's great big death.
  
  An upset-looking man stands here pale and terrified, madly hitting buttons on something like a cellphone.
  
  You can also see some rope here.
  
  After pressing a few buttons, the man looks up at the missile. "System check is okay!" he says, then turns to you, "I suggest you leave. The blast from the rocket engine will kill everyone in this area!"
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a shovel
  a lesser mantid head
  Every Child's Almanac of Lunar Conspiracy
  a house key
  water bottle (empty)
  a backpack (open)
  a flashlight
  detangler base (with a trigger, a focuser and a power pack
  attached.)
  a sheet
  
  After pressing a few buttons, the man looks up at the missile. "System check is okay!" he says, then turns to you, "I suggest you leave. The blast from the rocket engine will kill everyone in this area!"
  
  > attach the rope to the detangler
  (the detangler base)
  That doesn't seem to fit.
  
  After pressing a few buttons, the man looks up at the missile. "System check is okay!" he says, then turns to you, "I suggest you leave. The blast from the rocket engine will kill everyone in this area!"
  
  > tie the rope to man
  A valiant attempt.
  
  After pressing a few buttons, the man looks up at the missile. "System check is okay!" he says, then turns to you, "I suggest you leave. The blast from the rocket engine will kill everyone in this area!"
  
  > go to the northwest
  You're tangled in the rope! You can't walk anywhere!
  
  The man says, "Level B checks clear! Begin firing sequence!" Then he notices you again, "I thought I told you to go! This is a holy launch and you have no right to be here!"
  
  > remove the rope
  (first taking the rope)
  The industrial-purpose rope far too heavy for you to lift.
  
  The missile starts making a humming sound, and steam begins blowing out of the base. "It's about to fire!" he yells at you. "I guess there's no helping it, if you really need to stay. Bask in the glory with me!"
  
  > Fire detangler
  (the detangler base)
  With some trepidation, you fire the detangler again, but nothing happens.
  
  Suddenly the missile roars and flame and smoke shoot out of the base. The heat is becoming unbearable! The man chortles madly. "Success! Success! Off you go to wreak havoc my boy!"
  
  As it lifts off you and the man and everything around are consumed in flame!
  
  > examine the film
  You can't make out what it is.
  
  The missile starts making a humming sound, and steam begins blowing out of the base. "It's about to fire!" he yells at you. "I guess there's no helping it, if you really need to stay. Bask in the glory with me!"
  
  > Wear helmet
  (first taking the helmet)
  That seems to belong to the upset man.
  
  The missile starts making a humming sound, and steam begins blowing out of the base. "It's about to fire!" he yells at you. "I guess there's no helping it, if you really need to stay. Bask in the glory with me!"
  
  > touch the film
  You feel nothing unexpected.
  
  Suddenly the missile roars and flame and smoke shoot out of the base. The heat is becoming unbearable! The man chortles madly. "Success! Success! Off you go to wreak havoc my boy!"
  
  As it lifts off you and the man and everything around are consumed in flame!
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a shovel
  a lesser mantid head
  Every Child's Almanac of Lunar Conspiracy
  a house key
  water bottle (empty)
  a backpack (open)
  a flashlight
  detangler base (with a trigger, a focuser and a power pack
  attached.)
  a sheet
  
  The missile starts making a humming sound, and steam begins blowing out of the base. "It's about to fire!" he yells at you. "I guess there's no helping it, if you really need to stay. Bask in the glory with me!"
  
  > hit the man
  Violence isn't the answer to this one.
  
  Suddenly the missile roars and flame and smoke shoot out of the base. The heat is becoming unbearable! The man chortles madly. "Success! Success! Off you go to wreak havoc my boy!"
  
  As it lifts off you and the man and everything around are consumed in flame!
  
  > examine man
  This guy looks like an insurance salesman from the 50s!
  
  Suddenly the missile roars and flame and smoke shoot out of the base. The heat is becoming unbearable! The man chortles madly. "Success! Success! Off you go to wreak havoc my boy!"
  
  As it lifts off you and the man and everything around are consumed in flame!
  
  > ask Leslie about the missile
  Please give one of the answers above.
  
  > look at the rope
  It's a coil of very large-diameter rope, maybe three inches. On one end is a hook.
  
  After pressing a few buttons, the man looks up at the missile. "System check is okay!" he says, then turns to you, "I suggest you leave. The blast from the rocket engine will kill everyone in this area!"
  
  > tie the hook to missile
  You throw it at the missile! It sticks on! The man yells at you, "You better not have scratched that!"
  
  The man says, "Level B checks clear! Begin firing sequence!" Then he notices you again, "I thought I told you to go! This is a holy launch and you have no right to be here!"
  
  > pull the rope
  Nothing obvious happens.
  
  The missile starts making a humming sound, and steam begins blowing out of the base. "It's about to fire!" he yells at you. "I guess there's no helping it, if you really need to stay. Bask in the glory with me!"
  
  > climb the rope
  I don't think much is to be achieved by that.
  
  Suddenly the missile roars and flame and smoke shoot out of the base. The heat is becoming unbearable! The man chortles madly. "Success! Success! Off you go to wreak havoc my boy!"
  
  It lifts off, with the hook, the rope, and yourself being pulled along! The man yells, "What do you think you're doing?! You altered the trajectory! It's going straight up!"
  
  As he falls away below, the man is waving his arms, "Hold your breath! Hold your breath!"
  
  The missile is roaring towards space, with you in tow! Air and clouds whip by you and the earth below is getting smaller and smaller.
  
  You hang onto the rope for dear life!
  
  > hold the breath
  You inhale mightily and begin holding your breath.
  
  You would scream in terror, but you're trying to hold your breath!
  
  > examine the earth
  Everything down there is getting smaller and smaller...
  
  As the rocket shoots straight up, the air seems to be getting thinner!
  
  You courageously continue holding your breath.
  
  > examine the clouds
  They whip buy too fast to see!
  
  Hang on! The missile seems to be nearing the end of earth's atmosphere!
  
  You courageously continue holding your breath.
  
  > Author
  Scene 3, "End of the World", was written by Ricardo Dague.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The missile will enter outer space in just a moment!
  
  You courageously continue holding your breath.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  You fly out into outer space!
  
  The missile is shooting toward the moon with you right behind! There's deathly silence here in outer space.
  
  You courageously continue holding your breath.
  
  > examine the moon
  It is great big and rock-colored!
  
  Terrifyingly, you fly along!
  
  You courageously continue holding your breath.
  
  > look at the stars
  They twinkle silently.
  
  Oh no, you're about to hit the moon!
  
  You courageously continue holding your breath.
  
  > examine moon
  It is great big and rock-colored!
  
  With a huge crash, the rocket hits the moon! How you have survived, you don't know.
  
  Though stunned momentarily, you slowly open your eyes and stand up...
  
  Wow you've landed on the moon! Gray, rocky, dusty, airless landscape stretches all around.
  
  A double line of suspicious footprints leads to the crater's center.
  
  Holding your breath is becoming difficult!
  
  > enter
  You make an attempt on the crater walls, but they're just too steep. There does seem to be an easier climb to the north, however.
  
  You can't hold your breath much longer!
  
  > go to the north
  You stand on the lip between two overlapping lunar craters; the one into which you crash-landed is dwarfed by the immense, ancient crater before you. Far below you on the crater floor, you can make out patches of green; beyond that, a sprawling silvery mass, many kilometres to the north, that can only be the secret Atlantean lunar base. First, however, you have to find some way of getting down this cliff.
  
  You can't hold your breath much longer!
  
  > Author
  Scene 4, "The Great Lunar Conspiracy", was written by Sam Kabo Ashwell.
  
  > breathe
  You remember that the moon's supposed lack of atmosphere is, in fact, yet another scientific hoax. You hadn't realised how deeply the education system had planted lies in your psyche.
  
  You breathe out. Hahhhhh.
  
  > examine the footprints
  You look to the south, toward the crater in which you crash-landed. In addition to your own tracks, a set of footprints reach a patch of smooth ground at the crater's centre, then double back.
  
  > look up the moon in Almanac
  Why does the moon coincidentally look exactly the same size as the sun? Why did all ancient civilisations venerate a Moon deity? Why do the Freemasons have no lodges in Antarctica? If you're not convinced by now, there's clearly no hope for you.
  
  Leslie contacts you once more. "Good job! Another section. Get me another room and an object to analyze, and I can send you a stabilizer.
  
  > go south
  Wow you've landed on the moon! Gray, rocky, dusty, airless landscape stretches all around.
  
  A double line of suspicious footprints leads to the crater's center.
  
  > Dig
  You thrust the shovel into the dust and excavate mightily.
  It's not long before you've uncovered a large wooden crate.
  
  > Examine crate
  Ha! You always knew that Australian wines were really lunar in origin, and here is undeniable evidence!
  
  > Open crate
  You open the crate of wine, revealing some wine bottles.
  
  > examine the wine
  (the crate of wine)
  Ha! You always knew that Australian wines were really lunar in origin, and here is undeniable evidence!
  
  > tell Leslie about crate
  "Aha! Got it! Analyzing now..."
  
  "Perfect! OK, we've noted the crate of wine as characteristic of this section, which should help us get a bead on your location.
  
  > take the crate
  Even in lunar gravity, the crate is too heavy for a mere Earth-human to lift.
  
  "OK, can you tell us about one of the places you've visited from this section?" Leslie asks.
  
  > tell Leslie about the crater
  "Dave, you already visited that room in the last section. I need a new room for this section if I'm going to be able to lock on to your location properly."
  
  > look at the wine bottle
  (the delicious wine)
  A bottle of Wachawoomagoo Slope, a perfectly respectable if little-known pinot noir from the Ibn Battuta vinyards.
  
  > tell Leslie about the overlook
  "Ah, perfect! Analyzing Scenic Overlook now..."
  
  "Great, we have that room now. That should help. Re-calibrating..."
  
  > tell Leslie about the wine bottle
  (the delicious wine)
  "Aha! Got it! Analyzing now..."
  
  Another beam of green light hits you and your load feels a bit heavier. "There you go!" Leslie says. "I've sent you another attachment that should help."
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a stabilizer
  a delicious wine
  a shovel
  a lesser mantid head
  Every Child's Almanac of Lunar Conspiracy
  a house key
  water bottle (empty)
  a backpack (open)
  a flashlight
  detangler base (with a trigger, a focuser and a power pack
  attached.)
  a sheet
  
  > tell Leslie about the crater
  "Thanks, but you told me about that room already."
  
  > attach the stabilizer to the detangler
  (the detangler base)
  With a click and a pop, you permanently attach the stabilizer to the detangler base.
  
  > Fire detangler
  (the detangler base)
  Holding your breath and closing your eyes, you fire the detangler. Click. You open your eyes. You're still where you were before. You pull the trigger again. Click. Nothing. "Leslie?" you ask, "did something go wrong? The detangler won't fire."
  
  "What? Oh, no! The power pack must be drained. Grar; I'll send you a recharger. I've used up the lock on this section, though; you'll have to go somewhere else and do it all again." With a sigh, you pack the detangler away again.
  
  > Go north
  You stand on the lip between two overlapping lunar craters; the one into which you crash-landed is dwarfed by the immense, ancient crater before you. Far below you on the crater floor, you can make out patches of green; beyond that, a sprawling silvery mass, many kilometres to the north, that can only be the secret Atlantean lunar base. First, however, you have to find some way of getting down this cliff.
  
  > examine the lunar base
  A sprawling silvery mass, yes. And filled, no doubt, with treachery.
  
  > jump
  The cliffs look too steep to climb easily. Even in lunar gravity, the fall could be fatal. Well... probably. You don't really feel brave enough to find out.
  
  > look at the green
  Tiny patches of green dot the otherwise harsh landscape far below. If only you could find some way to explore that verdant Eden...
  
  > jump
  You peer over the side. It doesn't really look that dangerous. Still, it might be better if you were a little more lubricated first, or had some protection.
  
  > Go west
  The crater walls are too steep in that direction.
  
  > go to the south
  Wow you've landed on the moon! Gray, rocky, dusty, airless landscape stretches all around.
  
  A double line of suspicious footprints leads to the crater's center.
  
  You can also see a crate of wine (in which are some wine bottles) here.
  
  > Go south
  You make an attempt on the crater walls, but they're just too steep. There does seem to be an easier climb to the north, however.
  
  > drink the wine
  (the wine bottles)
  Glancing around to make sure you are unobserved, you snaffle a bottle of delicious wine.
  
  Normally you wouldn't drink this much, what with the lunar oxygen saturation and everything...
  
  This time your throw is distinctly wobbly, and the bottle barely makes it over the horizon. Your sense of self-preservation feels somewhat dulled, too.
  
  > jump
  With a silent invocation to the Cosmic Overlords, you close your eyes and fling yourself off the cliff.
  
  Thanks to lunar gravity and the relaxing effects of pinot noir, you avoid being splattered like a ripe tomato. And would a true hero be slowed down by a fractured arm? Hardly!
  
  Ah, the sun-kissed slopes of Jules Verne Crater, where the grape grows and the wallabies frolic. Presumably. You've yet to see any wallabies, but there are certainly grapevines aplenty.
  
  You can see a big craggy moon rock here.
  
  > sit on the rock
  You get onto the big craggy moon rock.
  
  "OK, you've moved on. You look for a room and object, and I'll get you a recharger." Leslie sounds a bit haggard, but hopeful.
  
  > take the rock
  Uuuugh! Nope, you can't lift it.
  
  > take the grapes
  That's hardly portable.
  
  Around the edge of a nearby trellis wanders a heretofore unseen wombat.
  
  Wait. Wombat?! Wombats don't exist. They're like... wallabies. And kangaroos. And walaroos. And Tasmanian devils. And dingoes who eat babies. They're all made up, mythical creatures from the fictional continent of Australia...
  
  You rub your eyes in disbelief, but when you look again, the wombat is still there. Upon seeing you, he stops, cocks his head, then narrows his eyes and wrinkles his hairy snout. He appears to be... snarling. It's all a bit of a farce, really - something so little and adorable as a wombat trying to look threatening.
  
  What was it you heard about Wombats, anyway? They're herbivores... right?
  
  > look up the wombat in Almanac
  Deceptively adorable, these mythical creatures from the fictional continent of Australia are about a meter long, with a very short tail. A favorite prey of the Tasmanian devil (also mythical), wombats are generally thought to be shy herbivores. Legend holds, however, that they possess sharp teeth and claws, can run at 40 km/hr, and have been known to kill the (equally mythical) dingo. They have even been known to exist in vinyards. That is, if they're actually real, which they're not. But if they were  real, it would also be interesting to note that their scat is cubical.
  
  > look up the wombat in Almanac
  Deceptively adorable, these mythical creatures from the fictional continent of Australia are about a meter long, with a very short tail. A favorite prey of the Tasmanian devil (also mythical), wombats are generally thought to be shy herbivores. Legend holds, however, that they possess sharp teeth and claws, can run at 40 km/hr, and have been known to kill the (equally mythical) dingo. They have even been known to exist in vinyards. That is, if they're actually real, which they're not. But if they were  real, it would also be interesting to note that their scat is cubical.
  
  Before you can make a move, the deceptively adorable wombat leaps forward and tries to eviscerate you with his mighty digging claws! You're able to tear away from his vicious teeth just in time...
  
  You might want to keep track of how you're doing by diagnosing yourself.
  
  > look up the australia in Almanac
  A weighty appendix, which constitutes about three-quarters of the book's actual weight, details the histories of such fictional continents as Atlantis, Lemuria, Mu and Australia. Despite their technical non-existence, cultural belief in them sustains their para-existence in the collective subconscious, better known as the moon.
  
  > Author
  Scene 5, "Night of the Wombat", was written by Jacqueline A. Lott.
  
  > hit Wombat
  You jump to the side just as the wombat comes at you, and turn to jab him in the side as he goes by!
  
  That was a pretty good hit, but it'll take more than that to put the little blighter in line.
  
  > hit Wombat
  You jump to the side just as the wombat comes at you, and turn to jab him in the side as he goes by!
  
  The wombat seems to have lost some of the spring in its step.
  
  > hit Wombat
  You take a short running kick at the wombat, and it connects! The wombat goes flying!
  
  The wombat is doesn't look quite so agile anymore. I think you could probably finish the little bugger off.
  
  > hit Wombat
  You put everything you have in a solid roundhouse kick, and the wombat shuffles away, yelping!
  
  That final blow proved to be too much for the wombat - it lies down, rolls over onto its back, its little furry feet wiggle for a few seconds, and then the marsupial goes limp.
  
  Looking down upon its adorable frame, you feel a twinge of remorse.
  "It was trying to kill me," you think to yourself. "I had no choice but to strike..." You feel a sudden, odd desire to pet the poor misguided creature. As you reach out, however, the body starts to shimmer, then fade. Soon, it is gone altogether.
  
  > diagnose yourself
  You hear a whisper from behind you. It says, "You have proven yourself worthy."
  
  You turn around to see a shimmering face suspended in the air at eye level. It is the most beautiful face you have ever seen; being in its presence fills you with a mixture of both fear and awe. "Are you... one of the Cosmic Overlords?" you stammer.
  
  The face smiles at you benevolently. "Yes. The marsupial was... a test. It is difficult to bring oneself to strike such a fluffy, adorable creature. Some are so entranced by its fluffiness that they can never bring themselves to attack it - even if it means their own death. Through your skill and bravery in Wombat Combat, you have proven yourself worthy of our cause. You will fight the Atlanteans, who in their perfidiousness will use many tricks in an attempt to stay your hand. Do not fall victim to their beguiling ways.
  
  "But... I'm hurt. How can I be of any use?" you whine.
  
  The Cosmic Overlord rolls its eyes, sighs heavily, and says to you, "Okay, we're not supposed to help you out this much, but just this once we will..." There is a tingling sensation in your arm... you feel... fantastic. And your arm seems to have healed.
  
  "Gee, thanks, Overlord. Say, not to sound ungrateful or anything - because I'm certainly very grateful indeed - but... is there anyway you could help me get to the Atlantean Base?"
  
  The Overlord narrows its eyes at you. "Okay, fine, but really, this is the last time we're helping you.
  
  > examine Overlord
  "Like, really."