text: > Go down
  This room is garishly appointed with the hunting trophies Dashing must have scavenged throughout the world: hulking bears and moose from the Americas, lions from Africa, elephants from the Orient, and a menagerie of creatures even I barely recognize. While I obviously don't approve of his vicious little hobby, I have to admit that he at least has a healthy respect for nature.
  
  Exits lead north, west, and east (the last being through a heavy metal door), and a spiral staircase elegantly winds upward.
  
  I can see a display case (which contains a cudgel and a harpoon) here.
  
  > go west
  What a dreary conglomeration of stainless steel and Bakelite! There are enormous cabinets set into the walls, with a long metal counter on top. Most of the equipment here is sadly of the physical rather than life science variety, but I do recognize a terrarium here. There is an exit to the east.
  
  I can see a terrarium (which contains a gecko) and a metal enclosure (which is closed) here.
  
  > put the card in the slot
  The card clicks in the slot, and the metal enclosure swings open.
  
  > examine the enclosure
  A rough metal cabinet, about the size of a bookcase. It's open to reveal a large red lever.
  
  > pull the lever
  The lights here flicker for a moment, then dim. The constant background noise of airship machinery has quiet down too. The ship must have shifted over to emergency power.
  
  > Answer line 2
  You switch back to Dirk on line 2.
  
  Now I stand in the master suite. A monument to OPULENCE and SOPHISTICATION, such as the world has never seen! Well-balanced Doric columns, gilt everywhere, and crimson walls that say, "Here sleeps one such as the world has never seen!" Mirrors line the walls and ceiling, drawing the eye to a magnificent painting of Rex Dashing! And the bed! It's ENORMOUS! As much as I hate Dashing, I have to admit that he's got style. The exit to port leads back to the main deck.
  
  > Port
  (first opening the reinforced lead-lined door)
  It appears to be locked.
  
  > pull the lever
  The lever doesn't budge. It can only be used in an EMERGENCY---a nuclear meltdown, for example.
  
  > answer the line one
  You switch back to Amelia on line 1.
  
  What a dreary conglomeration of stainless steel and Bakelite! There are enormous cabinets set into the walls, with a long metal counter on top. Most of the equipment here is sadly of the physical rather than life science variety, but I do recognize a terrarium here. There is an exit to the east.
  
  I can see a terrarium (which contains a gecko) and a metal enclosure (which is open and contains a large red lever) here.
  
  > Go up
  The beautiful open sky is around me here on the top deck of the ship. It's a pleasant setting; a high railing even protects me from most of the wind. The view is spoiled somewhat by a garish metal structure to the west, but there are smaller rooms to the north and east. A gangway leads down to the lower decks.
  
  There is a horde of robots here clunkily performing the latest dances from the American jazz clubs. At least they don't seem to notice me, or at least they're too absorbed in dancing to care about me.
  
  I can also see an orange striped lever here.
  
  [Your fee has just gone up by $1 million.]
  
  > unlock door
  What do you want to unlock the reinforced lead-lined door with?
  
  > unlock the door with the lockpicks
  As I approach the reactor, the robots swarm around it, blocking me from getting any closer. It would appear that one artificial, mechanical abomination is protecting another.
  
  My stars, that's him! That's Dirk Radon! Have at you!
  
  Ha! That was easy. A simple kick to the sciatic nerve, a bit of quick strangulation, and he's gone down like that. There's one rotter who---
  
  Oh, I say, his helmet seems be be beeping. It's getting a bit hot, too. I wonder if---
  
  You hear an explosion, followed by static. It seems you may not be getting paid this time around.
  
  > go upward
  Sure, let me just---hang on a moment. There's a swarm of robots at the top of the gangway. I might be able to slip past them if I just---
  
  No, it's no good. I can't get through.
  
  > look at the harpoon
  A harpoon with a cruelly sharp tip.
  
  > examine the cudgel
  A large bludgeon. Totally unsuitable for a safari, but I wouldn't trust Captain Dashing to realize that.
  
  > Fore
  I'm in the robot command area of the ship, its innermost cortex from which Dashing directs MY automata. Pfaugh! The lout! The electromechanical computation engine seems to be in recent repair, fortunately. Ah, and there's the bookshelf, where the technical manuals and programmer's notes are meant to be stored. The aft exit leads back to the main deck.
  
  The light bulbs around the computation engine are dim, and the protective glass box attached to the engine sits defenselessly open.
  
  I can also see an aquamarine punch card here.
  
  > answer the line one
  You switch back to Amelia on line 1.
  
  I'm standing at the edge of a vast tank, above which a cage is suspended. Fortunately, I'm no longer in the cage. I know you're already aware of that fact; I just like repeating it. There is a prominent red button on the wall, and an exit leads south. There's also a trapdoor high overhead.
  
  I can see a steel cage here.
  
  > go south
  This room is garishly appointed with the hunting trophies Dashing must have scavenged throughout the world: hulking bears and moose from the Americas, lions from Africa, elephants from the Orient, and a menagerie of creatures even I barely recognize. While I obviously don't approve of his vicious little hobby, I have to admit that he at least has a healthy respect for nature.
  
  Exits lead north, west, and east (the last being through a heavy metal door), and a spiral staircase elegantly winds upward.
  
  I can see a display case (which contains a cudgel and a harpoon) here.
  
  > Go upwards
  The beautiful open sky is around me here on the top deck of the ship. It's a pleasant setting; a high railing even protects me from most of the wind. The view is spoiled somewhat by a garish metal structure to the west, but there are smaller rooms to the north and east. A gangway leads down to the lower decks.
  
  Motionless robots litter the deck. Even deactivated, they're still imposing.
  
  I can also see an orange striped lever here.
  
  [Your fee has just gone up by $1 million.]
  
  > open the door with lockpicks
  Just a moment, Owl. I think the door has some countermeasures on it. I'm sure I can open it, but it might set off an alarm.
  
  > open the door with the lockpicks
  Done. That sound you hear in the background, Owl, is an alarm going off. I trust you have something in mind; I'm not going to be useful as a sneak-thief if I can't sneak around.
  
  [Your zeta-wave transmitter system abruptly switches to line
  2.]
  What is that accursed noise? It must be the reactor alarm, but how could... No matter, time for ACTION! Just a moment, Owl, I'm going to run up to the main deck and take a look at the reactor.
  
  What, can it be?! AMELIA DERRINGER, you vile leech! The time has come at last for you to DIE!
  
  Aaargh, my eyes! You think you're a pugilist, eh? Well, have a taste of my ATOMIC death ray!
  
  Oh no! It's gone critical! It's going to blow! No! Get off me! I need to vent the---
  
  You hear an explosion, followed by static. It seems you may not be getting paid this time around.
  
  > Go upward
  The beautiful open sky is around me here on the top deck of the ship. It's a pleasant setting; a high railing even protects me from most of the wind. The view is spoiled somewhat by a garish metal structure to the west, but there are smaller rooms to the north and east. A gangway leads down to the lower decks.
  
  Motionless robots litter the deck. Even deactivated, they're still imposing.
  
  I can also see an orange striped lever here.
  
  > answer the line two
  You switch back to Dirk on line 2.
  
  I'm in the robot command area of the ship, its innermost cortex from which Dashing directs MY automata. Pfaugh! The lout! The electromechanical computation engine seems to be in recent repair, fortunately. Ah, and there's the bookshelf, where the technical manuals and programmer's notes are meant to be stored. The aft exit leads back to the main deck.
  
  The light bulbs around the computation engine are dim, and the protective glass box attached to the engine sits defenselessly open.
  
  I can also see an aquamarine punch card here.
  
  > Aft
  I'm on the main deck of my ship---MY ship, not Dashing's. The deck is made of the finest, technologically advanced materials, and a tall railing runs around its perimeter. There is the reassuring sight of an ATOMIC REACTOR to port, and there are also smaller rooms fore and starboard. A gangway leads belowdecks.
  
  My deactivated robots are stationed around the deck.
  
  I can also see an orange striped lever here.