text: [Themes: Espionage, Science Fiction, science fiction, sidekick NPC]
  
  > Look around
  The path runs north and south alongside a deep ditch, which is to
  the west. The road lies to the south.
  Your boss Mr. Teeterwaller is here.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > go north
  The path veers toward the ditch, then slopes down along a terrace cut into the ditch's bank until it reaches the bottom of the ditch.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  > Go south
  The path ascends a terrace cut into the ditch's bank back to the top of the bank.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  > go west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Road, near car
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  > go to the west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road continues east and west. To the east you can just make out Teeterwaller's car. It's too dark to see much to the west, although you remember from having driven this stretch that there's nothing for a long ways.
  
  > go west
  Teeterwaller stops you. "We just came from this direction," he says. "There's nothing this way for at least twenty miles."
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller starts telling you some office gossip, but stops, a little disappointed, when he realizes you don't know the people involved in the embarrassing parts.
  
  > go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Road, near car
  The road stretches off into the dim moonlight to the east and west.
  Mr. Teeterwaller's car sits in the shoulder, parked just slightly off the road.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  A gravel driveway leads away from the road to the north. The road continues east and west. To the west you can just make out Mr. Teeterwaller's car; it's too dark to see much to the east.
  
  > Go northeast
  It's too dangerous to attempt to travel the off-road terrain on foot in this darkness.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road continues east and west, rising slightly as it crosses a
  deep ditch. Metal guard rails run alongside the road on both sides to prevent vehicles from running into the ditch; a narrow foot path leads northeast from the end of the north rail. In the darkness, you can't see far down the road in either direction.
  
  > Go north
  The path veers toward the ditch, then slopes down along a terrace cut into the ditch's bank until it reaches the bottom of the ditch.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  the ditch. The path to the south climbs a narrow terrace cut into the ditch's bank. You can't go any further north, but the tenuous ledge hugging the bank to the southwest looks passable; without something to light the way, though, it would be too dangerous.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > turn on the flashlight
  You switch on the flashlight.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller watches you expectantly.
  
  > Go southwest
  It's difficult, but since you have enough light to see what you're doing, you manage to make your way further along the ledge.
  
  "Wait for me!" your boss cries from behind. You shine the light back for him, and he nervously negotiates the narrow ledge.
  
  The ditch passes through a tunnel under the road. The path is wide
  and straight here, continuing alongside the ditch to the north and south.
  
  > go to the south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path continues north and south along the ditch. To the north,
  you can just barely make out the road crossing over the ditch. To the south, you see some faint lights in the distance.
  
  > Go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Ditch, north of fence
  The ditch is deep here--the banks are perhaps twenty feet high. A chain-link fence runs above the top of the ditch to the south, below which is a gate made of closely-spaced steel bars; the gate covers the full width of the ditch, and blocks travel to the south.
  
  > look at the gate
  The gate is made of vertical steel bars, spaced about six inches apart. Rails at either side guide the gate so that it can slide up and down, and a pair of cables attached to the top of the gate are connected to a winch high above. The gate is immersed in the water and covers the full width of the ditch; it completely blocks travel to the south.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > examine the cables
  The cables connect the gate to a winch above the gate.
  
  > Down
  You can't go that way.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller starts telling you some office gossip, but stops, a little disappointed, when he realizes you don't know the people involved in the embarrassing parts.
  
  > press the button
  "Click."
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  Teeterwaller tells you about the latest episode of his favorite TV show, "Shadow Man." You never liked the show very much--too much silly conspiracy theory stuff--but you listen politely.
  
  > look at the garage
  (the garage opener button)
  You presumably push the button to transmit a radio signal to open a garage door somewhere.
  
  > examine the switches
  Eight tiny slide switches are lined up next to each other. On the side of each switch, eight small notches show the possible positions; each switch can be set to a number from 0 to 7. Currently, the switches are in the following positions: 55567562. Just above the switches, someone has written "55567562".
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > Search gate
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > go east
  The bank is too steep to climb.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  > examine the winch
  It's high above; you can't see any detail from here.
  
  > examine the rails
  The rails guide the gate so that it can move up and down.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > open gate
  You brace yourself and pull the bars as hard as you can, but the gate is much too heavy to move.
  
  > set the switches to 20300273
  You carefully manipulate the tiny switches into the new positions.
  
  > press the button
  "Click."
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > Inventory
  You have your temporary ID card, a map, a garage opener, a jacket, a Project Tyche manual, a DUFON journal, a battery, a flashlight (providing light), a Blottnian textbook, a hand pump, a dog harness, a portable hand-held scanner, and a looseleaf page.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > throw the harness at the winch
  It's too far away.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > climb the cables
  It's too far away.
  
  > look at the rails
  The rails guide the gate so that it can move up and down.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller watches you expectantly.
  
  > Go south
  The gate is blocking the way.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > Go north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path continues north and south along the ditch. To the north,
  you can just barely make out the road crossing over the ditch. To the south, you see some faint lights in the distance.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > go north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The ditch passes through a tunnel under the road. The path is wide
  and straight here, continuing alongside the ditch to the north and south.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > go to the north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  the ditch. The path to the south climbs a narrow terrace cut into the ditch's bank. You can't go any further north, but the tenuous ledge hugging the bank to the southwest looks passable; you may be able to find your way with something to light the way.
  
  > Go south
  The path ascends a terrace cut into the ditch's bank back to the top of the bank.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path runs north and south alongside a deep ditch, which is to
  the west. The road lies to the south.
  
  > go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road continues east and west, rising slightly as it crosses a
  deep ditch. Metal guard rails run alongside the road on both sides to prevent vehicles from running into the ditch; a narrow foot path leads northeast from the end of the north rail. In the darkness, you can't see far down the road in either direction.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The main road leads east and west here. A smaller intersecting road leads south.
  
  > Go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road runs north and south. In both directions, you can see
  nothing but darkness.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > Go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road ends at the gated entrance to a huge industrial complex sprawling over the foggy landscape to the south. A tall chain-link fence surrounds the complex; the fence is interrupted only by a sliding section of fence that serves as a gate (currently closed) across the road. Narrow paths run along the outside of the fence east and west of the road. The road continues into the darkness to the north.
  
  > look at the gate
  The gate is merely a separate section of the fence that slides across the road. It's currently closed.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  fence, creating this path. The road is just to the west, and the enormous plant complex is beyond the fence to the south. The terrain slopes up to the east.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The terrain is considerably elevated above the road, which lies some distance to the west. Scrubby bushes grow almost up to the fence here, making it too difficult to travel further to the east. The elevation gives you a clear view of the road through the vegetation. The sprawling plant complex lies to the south, beyond the fence, and the path leads west along the fence.
  
  > go west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  fence, creating this path. The road is just to the west, and the enormous plant complex is beyond the fence to the south. The terrain slopes up to the east.
  
  > Go west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road ends at the gated entrance to a huge industrial complex sprawling over the foggy landscape to the south. A tall chain-link fence surrounds the complex; the fence is interrupted only by a sliding section of fence that serves as a gate (currently closed) across the road. Narrow paths run along the outside of the fence east and west of the road. The road continues into the darkness to the north.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > Go west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path ends abruptly to the west with a wall of tall, thorny
  bushes growing out of a deep ditch. The road is just to the east, and the plant complex is on the other side of the fence to the south.
  A metal framework under the fence inside the ditch is visible
  through the bushes.
  
  > look at the framework
  The framework is inside the ditch, under the fence, so you can't easily see the whole thing through the bushes. Two vertical rails, one on each side of the ditch, are connected at the top by a crossbar. A winch is in the center of the crossbar, and a pair of cables lead down from the winch.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > look at the winch
  It looks like a heavy-duty winch capable of lifting an extremely large load.
  
  Next to the winch is a small black box.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > Examine box
  You shine the flashlight on the black box, which gives you enough light to make out some detail. Several wires run from the box to the winch, and a short antenna sticks up out of the top of the box. On the side of the box is a white adhesive label with what looks like a bar code printed on it.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > scan the bar code
  (with the portable hand-held scanner)
  Which bar code do you mean, the looseleaf page bar code, or the black box bar code?
  
  > scan the black box bar code
  (with the portable hand-held scanner)
  You point the scanner at the bar code and pull the trigger.
  Pencil-thin lines of red light vibrate across the bar code for a few moments, then the scanner emits a short bip, and the display lights up to show: 4.71.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > 71
  What do you want to look up it in?
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You have your temporary ID card, a map, a garage opener, a jacket, a Project Tyche manual, a DUFON journal, a battery, a flashlight (providing light), a Blottnian textbook, a hand pump, a dog harness, a portable hand-held scanner, and a looseleaf page.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > Go north
  You can't go that way.
  
  Teeterwaller tells you about the latest episode of his favorite TV show, "Shadow Man." You never liked the show very much--too much silly conspiracy theory stuff--but you listen politely.
  
  > go to the east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road ends at the gated entrance to a huge industrial complex sprawling over the foggy landscape to the south. A tall chain-link fence surrounds the complex; the fence is interrupted only by a sliding section of fence that serves as a gate (currently closed) across the road. Narrow paths run along the outside of the fence east and west of the road. The road continues into the darkness to the north.
  
  > go north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  A light fog hangs over the road in the still night air. The road continues into the darkness to the north. To the south, distant lights glow weakly through the fog.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > go to the north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road runs north and south. In both directions, you can see
  nothing but darkness.
  
  > go to the north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The main road leads east and west here. A smaller intersecting road leads south.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > go west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road continues east and west, rising slightly as it crosses a
  deep ditch. Metal guard rails run alongside the road on both sides to prevent vehicles from running into the ditch; a narrow foot path leads northeast from the end of the north rail. In the darkness, you can't see far down the road in either direction.
  
  > Go north
  It's too dangerous to jump into the ditch from here.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > Go west
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  A gravel driveway leads away from the road to the north. The road continues east and west. To the west you can just make out Mr. Teeterwaller's car; it's too dark to see much to the east.
  
  > go to the north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The driveway ends at an open roll-up metal door in a large,
  windowless building to the north. The door looks like it belongs on a one-car garage. Bolted to the side of the building is a heavy steel chain. The driveway leads south, back to the road.
  A huge dog is here, happily puttering around.
  
  > Go north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  This cavernous space is broken up only by a few vertical steel beams supporting the roof high above. A diffuse yellow glow from pale lights suspended from above filters down through the thick dust hanging in the air.
  Rows of drab gray metal desks extend off in all directions,
  separated by just enough space to form aisles. On each desk is a ragged pile, several feet high, of assorted papers, and a small machine of some kind. Some of the piles of paper are narrow, precariously balanced columns, others are mounds; a few have fallen over, scattering papers across the floor.
  A large door (currently open) to the south leads out of the
  building. The area near the door, where you're standing, is clear of desks, and instead is mostly open, except for a huge workbench.
  Several huge burlap sacks full of envelopes are piled alongside the workbench.
  
  > take the cards
  Taken.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > 71
  (in the deck of punched cards)
  The cards are sorted, so you easily flip through the deck to where 4.71 should be. You find a card that looks like this:
  
  42325515        4.71
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > set switches to 42325515
  You carefully manipulate the tiny switches into the new positions.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > go to the east
  It's too dangerous to attempt to travel the off-road terrain on foot in this darkness, even with the flashlight.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road continues east and west, rising slightly as it crosses a
  deep ditch. Metal guard rails run alongside the road on both sides to prevent vehicles from running into the ditch; a narrow foot path leads northeast from the end of the north rail. In the darkness, you can't see far down the road in either direction.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  > Go north
  The path veers toward the ditch, then slopes down along a terrace cut into the ditch's bank until it reaches the bottom of the ditch.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  the ditch. The path to the south climbs a narrow terrace cut into the ditch's bank. You can't go any further north, but the tenuous ledge hugging the bank to the southwest looks passable; you may be able to find your way with something to light the way.
  
  > Go southwest
  It's difficult, but since you have enough light to see what you're doing, you manage to make your way further along the ledge.
  
  "Wait for me!" your boss cries from behind. You shine the light back for him, and he nervously negotiates the narrow ledge.
  
  The ditch passes through a tunnel under the road. The path is wide
  and straight here, continuing alongside the ditch to the north and south.
  
  > go to the south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path continues north and south along the ditch. To the north,
  you can just barely make out the road crossing over the ditch. To the south, you see some faint lights in the distance.
  
  > Go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Ditch, north of fence
  The ditch is deep here--the banks are perhaps twenty feet high. A chain-link fence runs above the top of the ditch to the south, below which is a gate made of closely-spaced steel bars; the gate covers the full width of the ditch, and blocks travel to the south.
  
  > go south
  The gate is blocking the way.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > press the button
  "Click."
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  > Go north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path continues north and south along the ditch. To the north,
  you can just barely make out the road crossing over the ditch. To the south, you see some faint lights in the distance.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > put the battery in the opener
  You install the battery, making sure to align it in the correct direction according to the diagram.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > go to the south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Ditch, north of fence
  The ditch is deep here--the banks are perhaps twenty feet high. A chain-link fence runs above the top of the ditch to the south, below which is a gate made of closely-spaced steel bars; the gate covers the full width of the ditch, and blocks travel to the south.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > press the button
  From above, you hear the winch make a loud humming noise. The cables become tense, then the gate starts slowly rising. It lifts up out of the water, then continues sliding up the rails for a few feet. When it reaches the top of the rails, it stops, and the winch becomes silent.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > Go south
  You have to bend down slightly to move past the gate. Mr. Teeterwaller cautiously joins you, looking up to make sure the gate isn't going to come crashing down on him as he passes underneath. As you cross under the fence, the ditch changes to a concrete-lined canal.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Vertical concrete walls line this deep canal. A chain-link fence crosses over the top of the canal above; under the fence, a steel gate hangs several feet above the water, allowing passage through a low opening under the gate. To the south, the canal stops at a concrete wall perforated by an array of pipes.
  A ladder is set into the west wall.
  
  "Wonderful job!" Teeterwaller says excitedly. "We're inside the complex! Now we just need to find the trucks."
  
  > look at the pipes
  The pipes vary in size; most are about a foot in diameter, but many are only a few inches and a few are two feet wide. The pipes all open into the canal, and most are dripping slightly.
  
  Something deep inside a large rusty pipe catches your eye.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > look at rusty
  The pipe is over two feet in diameter and is very rusty, whereas most of the other pipes look clean and new. You can see something inside the pipe, but you can't tell what it is from here; it's too far inside the pipe for you to reach it.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > put harness in pipe
  You don't want to put anything into the pipe; it would just get all covered with slime.
  
  > hit the pipe
  Which pipe do you mean, the array of pipes, or the rusty pipe?
  
  > hit rusty
  I don't know how to attack the rusty pipe.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > ask Teeterwaller about the trucks
  "You probably know as much as I do."
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > Rusty
  I don't know how to enter the rusty pipe.
  
  A bolt of lightning streaks down from the sky and strikes the ground a short distance to the west.
  
  > kick rusty
  I don't know how to attack the rusty pipe.
  
  A lightning bolt flashes through the sky a short distance to the north.
  
  > Go upwards
  You cautiously climb up the rungs. It's quite a ways up and you feel a little anxious about the height, but you reach the top and peer over the edge to see if there are any guards about. You can't see anyone, so you pull yourself over the edge.
  
  You motion to Teeterwaller to join you. He nervously climbs the ladder, looking down several times.
  
  A deep, concrete-lined canal is to the east; metal rungs are set
  into the wall, forming a ladder down into the canal. A tall fence topped with razor wire is to the north.
  Pipes and conduits are everywhere, packed so tightly together that
  they form walls. Narrow openings in the pipes allow travel to the southeast and southwest. To the west, a cylindrical tower rises up out of the pipes and looms several stories overhead; a spiral stairway encircling the tower leads up. The ground is replaced by a metal grating for the ten feet around the tower.
  
  > Go west
  You cross the grating, and climb the gentle slope of the stairway through one revolution around the tower.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Landing, two stories up
  A short landing, about two stories above the ground on the east side
  of the tower, interrupts the steady spiral of the stairs, which continue up and down. The canal is visible in the distance below, and the tower looms overhead.
  Sitting above you, on top of the grating of the stairs one level up, you see a yellow hard-hat and a white hard-hat.
  
  > take the hats
  yellow hard-hat: That's on the other side of the grating.
  white hard-hat: That's on the other side of the grating.
  
  > Go up
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Landing, four stories up
  The stairs end at this landing, and go no further up. This landing
  is nearly at the top of the tower, around four stories above the ground, and on the east side of the tower.
  A closed rounded metal door is set into the tower wall to the west.
  A large wheel is in the center of the door.
  Through the grating below, you see a yellow hard-hat and a white hard-hat on the stairs one level down.
  
  > examine the wheel
  It's a big metal wheel, about a foot in diameter, in the middle of the door.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > Turn wheel
  The wheel is hard to move, but you manage to turn it a couple of revolutions clockwise, where it stops. A hissing sound escapes from the door for a few moments, then fades away.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > open the door
  As soon as you start to move the door, a thick, acrid vapor oozes out of the opening, and your eyes and lungs start burning. You quickly shut the door again.
  
  A bolt of lightning streaks down from the sky and strikes the ground a short distance to the west.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.