text: [Themes: Fantasy, maze, Russia, male protagonist, silly, fairy tale]
  
  > Go downwards
  You squirm down the dark passage and emerge outside the wall.
  
  Behold your handiwork! You have replaced the freshly dug flower bed with an even more freshly dug tunnel, which leads down under the wall. You can also walk around the wall to the northeast or northwest.
  
  > go south
  The forest primeval. The north-south path branches off to the east.
  
  You hear muffled sobs from inside the blanket.
  
  > Go east
  The forest primeval. A mulched path leads northeast. Return to the north-south path by walking west.
  A wizened old man is here, his long beard flowing onto the ground.
  He is sitting on a stone counting the leaves covering the forest floor. He looks up at you and says, "Greetings, young man. Are you here to shirk a task or to find one?"
  You answer that you are looking to gain your father's tsardom. "You are on the right path, but you are not ready yet for this part of your quest," says the old man. "Perhaps there are some other dark recesses of the forest you have not explored fully, hmmm?"
  
  > put Firebird in bag
  You can't do that to the Firebird without freeing her. It's taking all your strength just to keep her in the blanket.
  
  > Free Firebird
  You gently place the blanket containing the Firebird on the ground.
  The Firebird flaps her wings and frees herself. Standing and stretching, she thanks you for your mercy. She is true to her word: "Now, young man, I will tell you a secret. It's true that I have stolen your father's golden apples. But I am not the cause of the problem, only the agent. I promise you I will now help you find the real culprit."
  
  "
  
  > Yes
  a list of necessities. You scribble them down and stow the list on your person.
  "Before you embark on your adventure, you will need to take along provisions," the Firebird counsels. "Lead the way to the caterers, please!"
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > examine the list
  THINGS TO TAKE:
  
  ( ) a matchbook
  ( ) a coin
  
  Glancing over the list, you see you still need to pick up 2 things.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > Go west
  east. You pick out the outlines of a hut just beyond it. Return to the forest path by walking west.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go south
  You can't go that way. You can leave by going east or west.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > go to the west
  The forest primeval. The path continues north and south. To the
  east you spy a light shining through the trees.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go south
  The Firebird stops and whispers to you, "Ivan, I cannot follow you into the clearing. Vasilii is there. If he sees me, he may kill you in order to claim my capture for himself. Just have some sandwiches made; get anything you like. And have them send along some rice pudding.
  It's my favorite, and I haven't had it in so long."
  As you make your way south, the Firebird calls out after you, "Ivan,
  if you find anything on your list there, be sure to bring it back. You might not want to go back again."
  
  Sigh! Everyday existence is so tiresome. The regal catering
  service has readied a sumptuous feast for you here at the edge of the forest. Dozens of gleaming silver chafing dishes await your inspection, but the smell of hot food sickens you. A massive copper samovar holds freshly brewed coffee. Golden serving pieces have been splendidly arrayed before you, but you know you could never be allowed to pick them up and serve yourself. If only your station in life allowed you to pack a lunch. A roast beef sandwich and a cup of coffee eaten alone in the woods would be ideal. Ugh, those peasant serving girls. So crass. Always cracking their gum and calling you "Hon."
  You can turn north back into the forest.
  The caterer responds promptly to your request for provisions. Too promptly really, because he whisks you to the table before you can say, "And don't assign me Flo..."
  
  It's you, the food-service peasants, and a long wooden table.
  Your older brother Vasilii is here, busily cleaning the table.
  An older serving woman appears at your right elbow. "I hear you actually bagged some game today. What did you do, read it your own poetry until it coughed up its innards?"
  This is the caterer's most senior serving wench, Flo. She's known
  you as long as the caterer has, and she never lets you forget it. She has an opinion about everything you ever have or haven't done in your whole life. You've wanted to send her away many a time for the beating you think she deserves as the impudent peasant she is, but your father has always forbidden it. He thinks some honest criticism is good for you, and he's never been in disagreement with Flo's opinions. Oh, it would be good to be tsar and take a switch to her.
  You keep your cool for now. "Wench, I am embarking on a long
  journey. I require these provisions: two sandwiches, one roast beef on rye, one sprout and avocado on whole grain. (You assume the Firebird is a vegetarian.)  Also, bring me some rice pudding."
  Flo raises an eyebrow. "Rice pudding? I have never known you to
  ask for rice pudding!" she screeches.
  Vasilii pricks up his ears as he labors nearby. "He's ALLERGIC to
  rice pudding," he thinks, eyeing you suspiciously.
  As insulting as Flo can be, she would never disobey you. In a few minutes, Flo places some provisions into your hands. As she leaves, she wishes you godspeed on your journey.