text: > Look around
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  In a faint breath of breeze, the heavier branches of the thicket clack together like dried bones.
  
  > go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a random scatter of dried twigs.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Is it your imagination, or are the thorns larger than they were a minute ago?
  
  > move the twigs
  Nudging the twigs around at random with your toe, you find that you've accidentally formed the shape of the letter V.
  
  > go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a random scatter of dried twigs.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Something is crawling in your hair. You brush it off hurriedly.
  
  > move the twigs
  Nudging the twigs around at random with your toe, you find that you've accidentally formed the shape of the letter R.
  
  You find yourself wondering whether trying to find a path through the thicket might have been a mistake.
  
  > Go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter R.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  A large black fly buzzes straight at your face, then zips away.
  
  > Go east
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Something is crawling on your pants. You brush it off hurriedly.
  
  > go to the east
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a random scatter of dried twigs.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > move the twigs
  Nudging the twigs around at random with your toe, you find that you've accidentally formed the shape of the letter U.
  
  You hear rustling, skittering noises in the depths of the thicket.
  
  > go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a random scatter of dried twigs.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  As you turn this way and that, searching for the right path, a vicious thorn that you hadn't noticed scrapes your forearm, drawing a bead of blood.
  
  > move the twigs
  Nudging the twigs around at random with your toe, you find that you've accidentally formed the shape of the letter W.
  
  You hear rustling, skittering noises in the depths of the thicket.
  
  > go to the south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > go east
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter U.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Your face is itching because of the heat and dust.
  
  > Go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter W.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > Go east
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  The heavy scrawwkkk! of a crow is so loud it makes you jump.
  
  > Go east
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter W.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  You're not entirely sure you haven't lost your sense of direction.
  
  > go to the west
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter U.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > Go north
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter W.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  A snake slithers away into the underbrush.
  
  > go southeast
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter W.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  As you turn this way and that, searching for the right path, a vicious thorn that you hadn't noticed scrapes your forearm, drawing a bead of blood.
  
  > Go southwest
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  You're not entirely sure you haven't lost your sense of direction.
  
  > Go west
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > Go north
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > Go south
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  A snake slithers away into the underbrush.
  
  > go southeast
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  A large black fly buzzes straight at your face, then zips away.
  
  > go to the southeast
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  The heavy scrawwkkk! of a crow is so loud it makes you jump.
  
  > Go southwest
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter R.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Something is crawling in your hair. You brush it off hurriedly.
  
  > go to the west
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Is it your imagination, or are the thorns larger than they were a minute ago?
  
  > go southwest
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  In a faint breath of breeze, the heavier branches of the thicket clack together like dried bones.
  
  > go northeast
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > go northwest
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter W.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Something is crawling on your pants. You brush it off hurriedly.
  
  > Go southeast
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead south, east down the road, and west to the road past the farm.
  
  > Go south
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter P.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  You hear rustling, skittering noises in the depths of the thicket.
  
  > Go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter V.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  Your face is itching because of the heat and dust.
  
  > Go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter R.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  You find yourself wondering whether trying to find a path through the thicket might have been a mistake.
  
  > move the twigs
  Nudging the twigs around at random with your toe, you find that you've accidentally formed the shape of the letter Z.
  
  > Go south
  Stumbling and squirming among the brambles, you find that you've arrived in....
  
  You're in the midst of a tangled thicket of thorny bramble-bushes. You have to edge sideways to avoid being impaled on the long, sharp, vicious-looking thorns, and it's hardly possible to stand up straight for fear you'll tangle your hair in them. Littering the ground is a scatter of dried twigs, which have been loosely nudged into a shape that resembles the letter Z.
  
  Narrow, twisting paths lead off in all directions.
  
  > Go south
  (first opening the boat shed door)
  
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. There's also a narrow catwalk that runs along the west wall, to the southwest from where you're standing. At the end of the catwalk is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof.
  
  Two boats are tied up here - a small rowboat on the west side of the dock and a much bigger and sleeker power boat on the east side. The far wall of the shed is a large door through which the boats must be meant to pass in and out. At the moment the door is closed.
  
  Lydia is standing here.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > show the pouch to Lydia
  "Oh, you found it! I'm so glad! Are there still any of the leaves in it? They must be all dried up by now. If there are any left, we should each eat one."
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > open the pouch
  Opening the little cloth pouch reveals two dry brown leaves.
  
  Lydia says, "I wonder what the world is like now. When we get away, I want you to tell me everything."
  
  > give the leaf to Lydia
  (first taking the dry brown leaf from the little cloth pouch)
  Lydia takes the leaf from you gratefully and nibbles at it, then stuffs it into her mouth and chews. "I haven't had anything to eat in a really long time," she says indistinctly. "This tastes sooo good!"
  
  > eat the leaf
  (first taking the dry brown leaf from the little cloth pouch)
  You cram the leaf into your mouth and chew vigorously, nearly choking on the dry, dusty, bitter taste. You suffer a momentary spasm of fear - you don't really know Lydia at all. What if she's trying to poison you? But it's too late now, and anyway you feel you can trust her.
  You swallow the last bits and cough to clear your throat.
  
  Lydia gazes over at the big engine in the stern of the power boat and purses her lips thoughtfully. "I'm trying to remember something. Be quiet for a minute. Oh, that's what it was! Listen, listen, this is incredibly important! The first time, all those years ago, when I almost got away, what happened was, they came after me in a motorboat and brought me back, and you know what happened after that. It wasn't this boat, this one is a lot bigger and shinier, but the same thing will happen again if we don't do something.
  
  "Isn't there anything you can think of? Maybe we could chop a hole in the bottom of it so it would sink."
  
  You tell her you don't have an axe. "Anyway," you add, "chopping a hole would make a lot of noise. Somebody would be bound to hear."
  
  "Well, there just has to be some way to do it! You're much cleverer than I am. You've got to think."
  
  > look at the boat
  Which boat do you mean, the power boat, or the rowboat?
  
  > Power boat
  The power boat is freshly painted red and white, and is about twenty feet long, with a muscular-looking outboard motor mounted at the stern. The boat sits high in the water, its bow pointed south, toward the big door. You could probably scramble up into it from the dock.
  
  > close the door
  You close the boat shed door.
  
  > go south
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia moves out onto the dock beside you and peers curiously into the boats.
  
  > enter the motor boat
  In the Boat Shed (standing in the power boat)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. The dock is to the west from here.
  
  The power boat rocks gently. The controls on the dashboard in front of you are gleaming and incomprehensible. At the rear of the boat is mounted a large outboard motor.
  
  Lydia is standing on the dock.
  
  > look at the motor
  The outboard motor is as big as a small refrigerator. It's mounted on the rear of the boat (which you have a vague idea is called the stern). On one side of the motor is a round chrome-covered cap about three inches in diameter. If you had to guess, you'd say it's the gas cap.
  
  > open the gas cap
  You unscrew the gas cap, revealing a round opening that must be the fuel intake pipe. The gas cap is attached to the motor by a short chain, from which it now dangles.
  
  > fill bucket
  (first taking the wooden bucket from the burlap sack)
  You fill the bucket from the swamp.
  
  > look at the pipe
  The gas intake pipe is a small round opening that leads down into the innards of the outboard motor. It smells strongly of gasoline.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying a burlap sack (which contains a teaspoon, a juice glass, some faded photographs, a flashlight, a croquet hoop, a partially crumbled piece of burnt toast, a bad fuse, a sketchbook, a stone bracelet, a gold locket, an old shovel, the key to Cabin One, a screwdriver, a brown envelope, a fishing pole (to which a fish hook has been tied), and a poker), a cigar box, some fire tongs, a map of the swamp, a compass, a shiny key, a laptop computer (providing light), a little cloth pouch, a pill bottle, and a wooden bucket (which contains some water). You're wearing your clothes.
  
  > put the toast in the pipe
  (first taking the partially crumbled piece of burnt toast from the burlap sack)
  You can't put that in the gas intake pipe.
  
  > put toast in the sack
  Which sack do you mean, the little cloth pouch, or the burlap sack?
  
  > search pipe
  The gas intake pipe seems to be empty.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying a burlap sack (which contains a teaspoon, a juice glass, some faded photographs, a flashlight, a croquet hoop, a bad fuse, a sketchbook, a stone bracelet, a gold locket, an old shovel, the key to Cabin One, a screwdriver, a brown envelope, a fishing pole (to which a fish hook has been tied), a poker, and a partially crumbled piece of burnt toast), a cigar box, some fire tongs, a map of the swamp, a compass, a shiny key, a laptop computer (providing light), a little cloth pouch, a pill bottle, and a wooden bucket (which contains some water). You're wearing your clothes.
  
  > examine the power boat
  The power boat is freshly painted red and white, and is about twenty feet long, with a muscular-looking outboard motor mounted at the stern. The boat sits high in the water, its bow pointed south, toward the big door. The power boat rocks gently. The controls on the dashboard in front of you are gleaming and incomprehensible. At the rear of the boat is mounted a large outboard motor.
  
  > look at the controls
  The dashboard of the power boat looks about as easy to operate as the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. There are more dials and knobs than you can count.
  
  > Go southwest
  You can't go that way. The only obvious exit leads west, back to the dock.
  
  > Go west
  The boat sways as you lever yourself up over the side and out onto the dock.
  
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is standing here.
  
  > Go southwest
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the threshold of the boat shed; east, back to the power boat; and west.
  
  > enter it
  In the Boat Shed (in the rowboat)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. The dock is to the east from here.
  
  The rowboat rocks and sways in a way that makes you feel just slightly ill. The boat has oarlocks on the sides. A pair of oars is lying in the bottom of the boat.
  
  You see some oars here.
  
  Lydia is standing on the dock.
  
  Lydia climbs into the rowboat with surprising grace - it rocks only a little - and sits down beside you.
  
  > examine the oars
  The oars are lying in the bottom of the boat. They're made of wood, and look pretty much the way you'd expect oars to look.
  
  > Go east
  The boat sways as you clamber up onto the dock.
  
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  "I think I'll stay here and wait," Lydia says. "You won't be too long, will you?"
  
  > go to the north
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. There's also a narrow catwalk that runs along the west wall, to the southwest from where you're standing. At the end of the catwalk is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof.
  
  Two boats are tied up here - a small rowboat on the west side of the dock and a much bigger and sleeker power boat on the east side. The far wall of the shed is a large door through which the boats must be meant to pass in and out. At the moment the door is closed.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > Go north
  (first opening the boat shed door)
  
  A large shed is built out over the waters of the swamp at this spot. The planks of the shed are weathered to a grayish color and the paint is peeling, but the shed looks solidly built, and there's a shiny new lock on the door.
  
  You can go southwest around the side of the shed, northeast to the area between the cabins, and north or northwest to an open area behind the western row of cabins. The door of the shed is directly to the south, and a stretch of swampy shore lies to the east.
  
  > look at the stuff
  Bits of wood carvings, crumpled junk-food wrappers, small complicated metal gadgets that look like they came from disassembled cars and were disassembled further after they got here - it's all pretty depressing.
  
  > search the junk
  Poking around in the junk, you spot a length of rubber hose.
  
  > Go south
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. There's also a narrow catwalk that runs along the west wall, to the southwest from where you're standing. At the end of the catwalk is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof.
  
  Two boats are tied up here - a small rowboat on the west side of the dock and a much bigger and sleeker power boat on the east side. The far wall of the shed is a large door through which the boats must be meant to pass in and out. At the moment the door is closed.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia kneels and dips her fingers in the water. "Ick!"
  
  > Go east
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the front of the boat shed; south, to the dock; and southwest.
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > go southeast
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the front of the boat shed; south, to the dock; and southwest.
  
  Lydia says, "I wonder what the world is like now. When we get away, I want you to tell me everything."
  
  > enter the power boat
  The power boat is too far away.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > Go south
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  "There must be a way to open the door so the boats can go in and out," Lydia says. "Can you figure it out?"
  
  > go east
  You scramble up over the side of the big power boat and thump down into it.
  
  In the Boat Shed (standing in the power boat)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. The dock is to the west from here.
  
  The power boat rocks gently. The controls on the dashboard in front of you are gleaming and incomprehensible. At the rear of the boat is mounted a large outboard motor.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  "I hope we're almost ready to go," Lydia says. "What are we waiting for?"
  
  > put the hose in the pipe
  You feed one end of the hose down into the gas tank.
  
  Lydia kneels and dips her fingers in the water. "Ick!"
  
  > suck the hose
  You've never tried to siphon gas from a tank before, but there's a first time for everything. You suck vigorously on the hose and then pull your mouth out of the way. No gas flows forth. You try again, and this time almost get a mouthful of gas. A little splashes on your sneakers before you can stick the hose out over the side of the boat.
  
  Gas gurgles out for almost a minute before it stops. With any luck, the tank is now empty, or almost.
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > take the hose
  You pull the hose out of the gas intake pipe.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > go west
  The boat sways as you lever yourself up over the side and out onto the dock.
  
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia says, "I wonder what the world is like now. When we get away, I want you to tell me everything."
  
  > examine the door
  Which door do you mean, the boat shed door, or the big door?
  
  > Big
  The big door at the south end of the shed is made of horizontal metal strips, probably aluminum. An overhead track suggests that the door can be rolled up to allow boats to go in and out - and indeed, there's a drum-shaped mechanism at the south end of the catwalk from which a chain extends up and back along the track.
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > close the shed door
  The boat shed door is too far away.
  
  Lydia kneels and dips her fingers in the water. "Ick!"
  
  > go to the north
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. There's also a narrow catwalk that runs along the west wall, to the southwest from where you're standing. At the end of the catwalk is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof.
  
  Two boats are tied up here - a small rowboat on the west side of the dock and a much bigger and sleeker power boat on the east side. The far wall of the shed is a large door through which the boats must be meant to pass in and out. At the moment the door is closed.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  "There must be a way to open the door so the boats can go in and out," Lydia says. "Can you figure it out?"
  
  > close the shed door
  Closed.
  
  "I hope we're almost ready to go," Lydia says. "What are we waiting for?"
  
  > lock it
  That is not something you can lock.
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > go to the south
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > look at drum
  The drum-shaped mechanism is out at the southwest end of the catwalk.
  
  Lydia says, "I wonder what the world is like now. When we get away, I want you to tell me everything."
  
  > Go southwest
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the threshold of the boat shed; east, to the power boat; and west, to the rowboat.
  
  "I hope we're almost ready to go," Lydia says. "What are we waiting for?"
  
  > look at the big door
  The big door at the south end of the shed is made of horizontal metal strips, probably aluminum. An overhead track suggests that the door can be rolled up to allow boats to go in and out - and indeed, there's a drum-shaped mechanism at the south end of the catwalk from which a chain extends up and back along the track.
  
  "There must be a way to open the door so the boats can go in and out," Lydia says. "Can you figure it out?"
  
  > examine the mechanism
  The drum-shaped mechanism is out at the southwest end of the catwalk.
  
  Lydia kneels and dips her fingers in the water. "Ick!"
  
  > go to the southwest
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the threshold of the boat shed; east, to the power boat; and west, to the rowboat.
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > go to the north
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. There's also a narrow catwalk that runs along the west wall, to the southwest from where you're standing. At the end of the catwalk is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof.
  
  Two boats are tied up here - a small rowboat on the west side of the dock and a much bigger and sleeker power boat on the east side. The far wall of the shed is a large door through which the boats must be meant to pass in and out. At the moment the door is closed.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > go to the southwest
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the catwalk)
  The interior of the shed is dimly lighted by sunlight coming in through the single small window set high in the west wall. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Two boats are moored at the dock, but you can't reach them from here. At the south end of the catwalk, near the big door that forms the south wall of the shed, is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the northeast.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  "There must be a way to open the door so the boats can go in and out," Lydia says. "Can you figure it out?"
  
  > Go south
  You can't go that way. The only obvious exit leads northeast to the threshold of the boat shed.
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > go to the south-west
  You can't go that way. The only obvious exit leads northeast to the threshold of the boat shed.
  
  "I hope we're almost ready to go," Lydia says. "What are we waiting for?"
  
  > examine the drum
  The mechanism is shaped like a large metal drum. A chain extends up from the drum and, by a series of pulleys, back along an overhead track. A small but strong-looking metal tab with a round hole in it extends out from one end of the drum.
  
  Lydia kneels and dips her fingers in the water. "Ick!"
  
  > turn the tab
  There's no obvious way to do that.
  
  Lydia says, "I wonder what the world is like now. When we get away, I want you to tell me everything."
  
  > put the poker in the hole
  (first putting the fire tongs in the burlap sack to make room, then taking the poker from the burlap sack)
  You put the poker in the tab.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > turn the tab
  You throw your weight against the metal rod. It's quite a job, but as you rotate the drum mechanism the big door groans and bit by bit inches upward. At last it's done - the door is open, revealing the sunlit waters of the swamp!
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > take the poker
  Taken.
  
  "I hope we're almost ready to go," Lydia says. "What are we waiting for?"
  
  > go to the northeast
  The interior of the shed is bathed in shifting light. Watery reflections spill through the big door to the south, which has been raised. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. There's also a narrow catwalk that runs along the west wall, to the southwest from where you're standing. At the end of the catwalk is a large cylindrical mechanism from which a chain runs up toward the roof.
  
  Two boats are tied up here - a small rowboat on the west side of the dock and a much bigger and sleeker power boat on the east side. The far wall of the shed is a large door through which the boats must be meant to pass in and out. At the moment the door is standing wide open.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > Go south
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is bathed in shifting light. Watery reflections spill through the big door to the south, which has been raised. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > go to the east
  You scramble up over the side of the big power boat and thump down into it.
  
  In the Boat Shed (standing in the power boat)
  The interior of the shed is bathed in shifting light. Watery reflections spill through the big door to the south, which has been raised. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. The dock is to the west from here.
  
  The power boat rocks gently. The controls on the dashboard in front of you are gleaming and incomprehensible. At the rear of the boat is mounted a large outboard motor.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia says, "I wonder what the world is like now. When we get away, I want you to tell me everything."
  
  > break the controls with the poker
  Smashing the dashboard would almost certainly make too much noise. Someone would be bound to hear you.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > go west
  The boat sways as you lever yourself up over the side and out onto the dock.
  
  In the Boat Shed (standing on the dock)
  The interior of the shed is bathed in shifting light. Watery reflections spill through the big door to the south, which has been raised. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. Standing on the dock, you can step into the power boat that's tied up on the east side, or into the rowboat on the west side. The threshold of the shed and the door by which you entered are to the north.
  
  Lydia is sitting in the rowboat.
  
  Lydia kneels and dips her fingers in the water. "Ick!"
  
  > go west
  You scramble down into the rowboat, which sways alarmingly but doesn't tip over.
  
  In the Boat Shed (in the rowboat)
  The interior of the shed is bathed in shifting light. Watery reflections spill through the big door to the south, which has been raised. Water laps gently against the walls, and there's no floor at all, only a dock that juts out to the south from a narrow platform near the door. The dock is to the east from here.
  
  The rowboat rocks and sways in a way that makes you feel just slightly ill. The boat has oarlocks on the sides. A pair of oars is lying in the bottom of the boat.
  
  You see some oars here.
  
  Lydia is sitting here.
  
  Lydia gazes out the big door at the swamp. "What a horrible place," she says.
  
  > take the oars
  (first putting the little cloth pouch in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the pill bottle in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the map of the swamp in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the compass in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the shiny key in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the cigar box in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the laptop computer in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the rubber hose in the burlap sack to make room, then putting the poker in the burlap sack to make room)
  Taken.
  
  Lydia whispers, "Hurry, hurry! I thought I heard something!"
  
  > Row boat
  There are no oars in the oarlocks.
  
  Lydia gazes around nervously at the gloomy interior of the boat shed.
  
  > put oars in the oarlocks
  Done.
  
  Lydia gazes out the big door at the swamp. "What a horrible place," she says.
  
  > look at the map
  The piece of paper is creased and dog-eared. One edge is badly charred. The map is crudely drawn. The network of squiggles and scribbled legends seems to show the locations of a number of bayous, islands, and sandbars. Near one edge is an irregular little square marked "Eternal Springs." In another corner is a circle with an arrow pointing upward out of it; the arrow is marked "N."
  
  Lydia gnaws on a fingernail.
  
  > Row boat
  As you work the oars, the rowboat glides out through the big doors into the steaming sunlit swamp. Rowing is hard work, especially when an oar gets caught in an underwater snag, so you and Lydia take turns. Using the map, you're able to find what you hope is the right route among the tricky waterways. You steer a course that should lead to a public boat landing a couple of miles away.
  
  A long time passes, and you worry that you're lost in the swamp, but Lydia keeps saying, "Don't you dare give up on me! We're almost there." The sun sets, turning the sky to blood and then to ash. As the dusk thickens the gnarled trees look more and more sinister - as if they're reaching out to grab you. But then you spy the cheerful glint of lights. The landing dock is just ahead. "There it is," you say, pointing.
  
  "Yes, yes! See, I told you!" Lydia hugs you, which causes the boat to rock dangerously, but you're able to avoid capsizing. A few minutes later you climb up on the dock at the landing. Three men are standing there, including, miraculously, one in the uniform of a county sheriff. You babble out your story about being kidnapped and threatened by cultists. The sheriff asks you to slow down, but he seems to take your account seriously.
  
  When you mention how Hank was shot, the sheriff nods soberly. "That's why I'm out here. Stevie Ray here found a body floatin' about an hour ago. Reckon it'll be the fella you're talkin' about. Well, I'll radio this in to headquarters. We'll send some squad cars out there and take 'em all into custody. You say one of 'em's your aunt? That's hard to believe."
  
  Suddenly your teeth are chattering. You hug yourself hard, and somebody finds a blanket to wrap around you. "You can believe it," you tell him. "She brought me down here so they could k-k-kill me."
  
  The sheriff shakes his head sadly. "What's the world comin' to? You got any other kin?"
  
  You tell him no, and add that Lydia doesn't either. You don't feel it's worth mentioning that that's because she died in 1934. If you tell him that part, he'll start thinking you made the whole thing up.
  
  "Well, all right, then," he says. "You girls hop into my car and I'll take you into town, get you settled with one of the ladies in the department until tomorrow. Get you some supper, too. You look all in."
  
  You stammer your thanks. "Don't think nothin' of it," the sheriff says. "Everything's gonna be all right now. You'll see."
  
  And as it turns out, he's absolutely right.