text: [Themes: Fantasy, maze, Mythology]
  
  > look around
  It's you, the food-service peasants, and a long wooden table.
  Your older brother Vasilii is here, busily cleaning the table.
  
  > go south
  You can't go that way. You can leave by going north.
  
  > go north
  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 head caterer is directing his staff through another
  pass-the-plate drill.
  
  > go east
  You can't go that way. Travel by walking north or south.
  
  > Go north
  The forest primeval. The path continues north and south. To the
  east you spy a light shining through the trees.
  The Firebird sees the rice pudding in your hand. "Excellent
  work, young man. May I have my pudding now?"
  You produce the dreadful stuff and happily give it to her.
  "Wonderful," she exclaims, "make sure you have everything on your list, then you can be on your way!"
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > Go north
  The forest primeval. The north-south path branches off to the east.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > Go north
  The forest primeval. Branching off from the main north-south path
  is a small trail to the southwest.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go north
  Deep in a Russian Forest, Under a Large Tree
  You are standing under a large tree.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go north
  You trudge out of the forest. Whether it is a long time or a short time, it matters not. Speedily a tale is spun, with much less speed a deed is done.
  
  You've reached the edge of this grand, untamed forest. A short walk
  to the north are a collection of fawning underlings, waiting to make their daily petitions to you for your continued patronage. The path leads south back into the forest.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > Go north
  of groupies. Although they are all attractive and of good families, you would rather impale yourself on a pike than marry one of them. Fortunately, none of them seem to be around at the moment. The sight of "Dimitri" must have scared them away from this spot for a while. To the north you can see an encampment of underlings; to the south, the primeval forest beckons.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go to the north
  Some days more than a dozen men wait on you to offer their greetings and make their requests. Thankfully, today there are only a few:
  You expect to see your masseur here, but instead there is an awfully goofy-looking fellow fooling with a floppy hat and fiddling with a fake mustache.
  Your allergist is here, reading the latest issue of "Pollen Parade." The page is lying in the grass, illiterate and blissful as he contemplates the sky.
  
  The page and the allergist stand and gawk at the sight of your companion, the Firebird. Dimitri glances up briefly, but that is all the attention he seems willing or able to focus on the event.
  
  > go east
  You can't go that way. You can leave by going north or south.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > Go north
  south with an inn to the north.
  You see a coin here.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > get the coin
  Taken.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > examine it
  It's a small denomination copper coin. Your dad's chin juts forward proudly in profile. He looked just like that the other day when he was signing execution orders for a few dozen thieves. Your dad really approaches his job with gusto, you must give him that!
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > flip the coin
  I don't know how to flip the coin.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > go north
  and Pig. How it ever got the name no one really knows, because they serve no cheese products and no pork products. It's just vodka and manly conversation. To the south is the way back to the encampment. You see a refuse pile here.
  A groom is here tending one of your horses.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > examine the pile
  There's currently nothing on the refuse pile but rotting vegetables, empty bottles, and things too vile for close inspection.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > Search pile
  There's nothing on the refuse pile.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern. A pair of rustic fellows tumble out, each gnawing on a turnip. One says to the other, "Have you heard this one? Once a turnip said: 'I taste very good with honey.' 'Go along, you boaster,' replied the honey, 'I taste good without you.'" His friend claps him on the back and chuckles, "Ah, our amusing national anecdotes!" They toss the turnip greens onto the refuse pile and disappear behind the inn.
  
  > examine the groom
  A rather rough young man, good with horses but not much of a conversationalist.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > ask the groom about the horse
  The groom opens his mouth to reveal he has no tongue. Oh yes, you recall, he was the one who spoke so impertinently to your father last month.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > take the turnip
  Taken.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern. The innkeeper appears at the door and pitches a flask onto the refuse pile. "Brandy indeed!"
  
  > take the flask
  Taken.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > examine flask
  Scrawled on a dirty label pasted to the flask are the words "l'eau de vie." You know it from your French master's tutelage to be the word for "brandy." This phrase translates literally as "the water of life." You doubt, however, that it is brandy. In small print is the warning, which translated reads "for external use only."
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > examine the turnip
  It looks like an ordinary bunch of turnip greens to me.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern. Two peasants saunter up to the tavern. The one says to the other, "I was at that wedding too. I drank beer and mead; they flowed down my beard but did not go into my mouth."
  
  > Go inside
  Inspecting the inside of the inn is not worth getting a beating from that burly bunch. Let the peasants have their fun in privacy.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > examine the horse
  It's a sleek stallion, fast and powerful. You notice something odd written on the horse's rump. It says, "Jesus saves, and so should you." You wonder what that must mean.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > look at the list
  THINGS TO TAKE:
  
  ( ) a matchbook
  (x) a coin
  
  Glancing over the list, you see you still need to pick up 1 thing.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern. A farmer tells his comrade a story. "Two old beggars, husband and wife, were walking along a road and approached a village. The old man said: 'I will ask for some milk.' His wife answered: 'And I will crumb some bread into the milk.' The man seized her and began to beat her, saying: 'Don't crumb bread into the milk, it will get sour; don't crumb bread into the milk, it will get sour.' But when they came to the village no one gave them milk."
  The two farmers have a hearty laugh at the exploits of the beggars.
  [2] Their chortles are heard long after they disappear from sight behind the tavern.
  
  > Note 2
  [2]: Is this perhaps funnier with a snoot full of vodka?
  
  > Go south
  south with an inn to the north.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > look at the page
  One of your father's pages. A young boy with a cherubic face.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > ask the page about the matchbook
  You won't glean much information asking the page about the matchbook.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > ask the page about Firebird
  You won't glean much information asking the page about the Firebird.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a bow, a quiver, a mask (being worn), a comfy blanket, an ambiguous utensil, a mysteriously transformed fork, a shovel, a shield, a bucket, a sword, a message from your father, a sledgehammer, a gold nugget, a list, a corned beef sandwich, a flicker sandwich, a coin, a bunch of turnip greens, and a white flask. The quiver seems to contain an arrow.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > give the flask to the page
  The page rejects the offer.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > ask the allergist about the matchbook
  You won't glean much information asking the allergist about the matchbook.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > look at flicker sandwich
  The meat from your prey makes such a small sandwich that it is served on a saltine cracker.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > ask Dimitri about the matchbook
  "I don't know much about that."
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > Examine magazine
  Some days more than a dozen men wait on you to offer their greetings and make their requests. Thankfully, today there are only a few:
  You expect to see your masseur here, but instead there is an awfully goofy-looking fellow fooling with a floppy hat and fiddling with a fake mustache.
  Your allergist is here, reading the latest issue of "Pollen Parade." The page is lying in the grass, illiterate and blissful as he contemplates the sky.
  The Firebird is here.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  I don't see any magazine here.
  
  > Go west
  You can't go that way. You can leave by going north or south.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > ask Firebird about the chip
  The Firebird rejects the offer.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  You won't glean much information asking the Firebird about the chip.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > ask Firebird about the feather
  You won't glean much information asking the Firebird about the feather.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > examine large chip
  It's just a figure of speech! Must you examine everything?
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > Go south
  of groupies. Although they are all attractive and of good families, you would rather impale yourself on a pike than marry one of them. Fortunately, none of them seem to be around at the moment. The sight of "Dimitri" must have scared them away from this spot for a while. To the north you can see an encampment of underlings; to the south, the primeval forest beckons.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go south
  You've reached the edge of this grand, untamed forest. A short walk
  to the north are a collection of fawning underlings, waiting to make their daily petitions to you for your continued patronage. The path leads south back into the forest.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > Go south
  Deep in a Russian Forest, Under a Large Tree
  You are standing under a large tree.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > Go east
  You have stepped into a clearing from a path to the west. A fire
  burns steadily outside of a small thatched hut.
  A baba yaga is sitting by the fire, a magical bag in her lap.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > put the flask in the bag
  The baba yaga yawns. "I think you would find that a rather boring and unproductive transformation."
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a bow, a quiver, a mask (being worn), a comfy blanket, an ambiguous utensil, a mysteriously transformed fork, a shovel, a shield, a bucket, a sword, a message from your father, a sledgehammer, a gold nugget, a list, a corned beef sandwich, a flicker sandwich, a coin, a bunch of turnip greens, and a white flask. The quiver seems to contain an arrow.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > put the greens in the bag
  The baba yaga yawns. "I think you would find that a rather boring and unproductive transformation."
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > put the coin in the bag
  The baba yaga yawns. "I think you would find that a rather boring and unproductive transformation."
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > put the flicker sandwich in the bag
  The baba yaga yawns. "I think you would find that a rather boring and unproductive transformation."
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > put Firebird in the bag
  The baba yaga chides you for your attempt. "Do not try to put a living person in the bag. The experience would drive them to madness!"
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > put the hammer in the bag
  "Certainly this weapon is powerful enough for your purposes," says the baba yaga, pulling the bag away from you.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > take the feather
  Her sharp talons give you pause. Better to trap her in something that will protect you from them.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  > give the feather to you
  "I'm sorry, I can't do that."
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  > Go north
  You can't go that way. You can leave by going east or west.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  > Go east
  "This is where we part company for now, young man."
  You're astonished. "But I thought you were going to show me who was stealing my father's golden apples!"
  "You'll figure that out. You don't need me tagging along. You'll
  just need your own good sense," she plucks out a long tail feather, "and one of my feathers."
  "Is it magical?" you ask as you examine it. It gives off a
  pleasant orange glow.
  "Hardly. But it is luminescent. Never poo-poo the practicality of
  a light source."
  You skeptically look first at the feather, then at the Firebird. "I have no idea what I'm going off to find, you know," you protest.
  "I know." The Firebird smiles at you with great confidence. "We'll meet up again later. Until then, have faith in yourself and in those who offer help along the way." She gives you a peck on the cheek and takes flight out of sight.
  
  For better or worse, you plunge into the deep, dark forest alone.
  
  The forest primeval. A mulched path leads northeast. Return to the north-south path by walking west.
  Your feather illumines the face of the wizened old man sitting here. "Ah, I imagine you now think you are ready to embark on a journey. You are going in the right direction, but all the same you will never reach your destination."
  "Why not?" you ask.
  "Because," the old man answers, "you must first pass three rivers.
  At each river is a ferry, and the price each ferryman asks is a great one; the first will strike off your right hand, the second your left foot, and the third your head."
  You gravely consider his words. "A man can only die once," you
  decide; you thank him and prepare to begin your journey to the northeast.
  The old man stops you. "You are brave and courteous and perhaps you will cross the three rivers. If you do, go on straight to the east until you reach a high mountain, on which you will find the four palaces of Katschei the wizard. If you are looking for something precious, it is very likely that he has stolen it."
  
  *** Your score just went up by 3 points. ***
  
  > examine the list
  THINGS TO TAKE:
  
  ( ) a matchbook
  (x) a coin
  
  Glancing over the list, you see you still need to pick up 1 thing.
  
  > look at the fellow
  Dimitri is your eldest brother but that does not mean that he is wiser or more experienced than you. Perhaps there is some wisdom to his world-view, but it would take much enlightenment on your part to see it.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  > go to the north
  south with an inn to the north.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  > go north
  and Pig. How it ever got the name no one really knows, because they serve no cheese products and no pork products. It's just vodka and manly conversation. To the south is the way back to the encampment. You see a refuse pile here.
  A groom is here tending one of your horses.
  
  The Firebird follows you.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > ask the groom about the horse
  The groom opens his mouth to reveal he has no tongue. Oh yes, you recall, he was the one who spoke so impertinently to your father last month.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > Point at tavern
  What do you want to aim?
  
  > ask the groom about matchbook
  The groom opens his mouth to reveal he has no tongue. Oh yes, you recall, he was the one who spoke so impertinently to your father last month.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern. Another two peasants approach the tavern, the one regaling the other with an anecdote: "A peasant bought a quart of wine, drank it, and felt no effects. He bought a pint, and still he was not drunk. He drank a half-pint and became drunk. Then he began to feel sorry for himself: 'Why did I buy the quart and the pint? I should have bought the half-pint to begin with. That would have done the job!'" The other nearly chokes on a swig from his flask as he tries to control his amusement. He deposits the flask onto the refuse pile and joins his brother in the tavern.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a bow, a quiver, a mask (being worn), a comfy blanket, an ambiguous utensil, a mysteriously transformed fork, a shovel, a shield, a bucket, a sword, a message from your father, a sledgehammer, a gold nugget, a list, a corned beef sandwich, a flicker sandwich, a coin, a bunch of turnip greens, and a white flask. The quiver seems to contain an arrow.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > get the flask
  Taken.
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > check your inventory
  You have a bow, a quiver, a mask (being worn), a comfy blanket, an ambiguous utensil, a mysteriously transformed fork, a shovel, a shield, a bucket, a sword, a message from your father, a sledgehammer, a gold nugget, a list, a corned beef sandwich, a flicker sandwich, a coin, a bunch of turnip greens, a white flask, and a black flask. The quiver seems to contain an arrow.
  
  The Firebird notes with disgust that she has a chip in her talon polish.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern. A solitary man emerges from the tavern. He lights his pipe, tosses a matchbook onto the refuse pile, and disappears behind the tavern.
  
  > get the matchbook
  Taken.
  
  The Firebird is whistling the greatest hits of Stravinsky.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > examine the black flask
  The flask seems to have passed through many hands. On its grimy label are written the words "l'eau de mort," which you translate as "the water of death." Like its sister flask, it warns you that it is for external use only.
  
  The Firebird preens her feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > look at list
  THINGS TO TAKE:
  
  (x) a matchbook
  (x) a coin
  
  It looks like you're done!
  
  The Firebird buffs her polished talons with the tip of her wing feathers.
  
  Peasants parade in and out of the tavern.
  
  > go to the east
  You can't go that way. The old man redirects you. "Go west or northeast," he says.
  
  > Go northeast
  You make your way ahead on a path to adventure.
  
  Before you go any further, you consider saying a prayer to preserve your salvation against the perils ahead.
  
  > look at the man
  He's a big, menacing cyclops.
  
  > ask the man about the boat
  "You want to ride, you pay the fare. That's all we need to talk about," says the ferryman through a grimace.
  
  > Pay fare
  By the ferryman's code of conduct, he should have to ferry you across the river before demanding any payment.
  
  > enter the boat
  You demand that the ferryman take you across the river.
  "Will you pay me my price?" asks the huge ferryman.
  "Time enough to talk of price when you have done me your service,"
  you reply.
  
  The ferryman pushes off from shore with his giant stick. He gives you a disgusted look as he makes powerful movements that set the ferry gliding across the river.
  
  > Swim
  What do you want to swim?
  
  > In water
  Which water do you mean, the water of life, or the water of death?
  
  > Swim river
  The ferryman blocks you before you can dive into the river. "Oh, no you don't, bub," he growls. "Union rules say you have to use the ferry. And if you think I'M unpleasant, you should see my union boss!"
  
  You ignore the ferryman's menacing glance as you gaze out at the river and plan a strategy for when you land. You notice that the ferryman keeps glancing at the coin you're carrying. He seems to be fascinated by it.
  
  > examine the coin
  It's a small denomination copper coin. Your dad's chin juts forward proudly in profile. He looked just like that the other day when he was signing execution orders for a few dozen thieves. Your dad really approaches his job with gusto, you must give him that!
  
  The ferryman brings the boat up to a dock on the other side of the river. You both disembark from the craft, and he demands payment.
  Your Plan A (escape) seems to have been foiled: the ferryman's vigilant eye monitors your every move.
  You ask nonchalantly, "What is there to pay?"
  "Stretch forth your right hand," growls the ferryman as he draws his sword.
  
  You're on the east side of the first river. To the east is further adventure.
  
  > show the coin to the man
  You show the coin to the ferryman, who salivates at the sight of it. "You wouldn't be willing to part with that, would you?" he asks.
  
  > put the coin in the hand
  Which hand do you mean, your right hand, or your left hand?
  
  > go north
  You can't go that way. A path leads east; the river lies to the west.
  
  > Go east
  The ferryman spies you with his one eye. You're not going anywhere until you pay your fare.
  
  > give the right hand to man
  The ferryman raises his sword and very happily brings it down upon your right hand. He picks up the hand and eats it with relish.
  
  > give the coin to the ferryman
  You offer the coin to the ferryman, who greedily takes it for his own close inspection. He's hypnotized by the copper in the thing and appears to be distracted for now.
  
  > attack the man with the sword
  You whip out your own blade and smote the ferryman with a blow that cleaves through the copper plates of his armor. He topples to the ground at your feet.
  
  *** Your score just went up by 3 points. ***
  
  > look at man
  He's a dead man, taking up gigantic amounts of horizontal rather than vertical space. He may still be carrying some of your stuff.
  
  > go east
  You make your way ahead on a path to adventure.
  
  You've reached the second of three rivers. A large ferry is tied to
  a rickety dock. The path back to the first river is to the west.
  Here is a second ferryman, lying in wait for his next fare. Even
  more gigantic than the first man, he is armed with an even larger sword. His silver armor protects him as he stares you down with two big eyes.
  
  > Go east
  Ferrymen's Union rules dictate that you use the ferry to take you across the river.
  
  > ask the man about the ferry
  "You want to ride, you pay the fare. That's all we need to talk about," says the ferryman through a grimace.
  
  > go north
  You can't go that way. Travel either by walking west or getting on the ferry.
  
  > enter the ferry
  You demand that the ferryman take you across the river.
  "Will you pay me my price?" asks the huge ferryman.
  "Time enough to talk of price when you have done me your service,"
  you reply.
  
  The ferryman pushes off from shore with his giant stick. He gives you a disgusted look as he makes powerful movements that set the ferry gliding across the river.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes...
  
  You ignore the ferryman's menacing glance as you gaze out at the river and plan a strategy for when you land. You notice that the ferryman keeps glancing at the ambiguous utensil you're carrying. He seems to be fascinated by it.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The ferryman brings the boat up to a dock on the other side of the river. You both disembark from the craft, and he demands payment.
  Your Plan A (escape) seems to have been foiled: the ferryman's vigilant eyes monitor your every move.
  You ask nonchalantly, "What is there to pay?"
  "Stretch forth your left foot," growls the ferryman as he draws his sword.
  
  You're on the east side of the second river. To the east is further adventure.
  
  > give left FOOT to the man
  The ferryman raises his sword and very happily brings it down upon your left foot. He picks it up and shouts, "Just what I needed, a ruler! Get it? ONE FOOT!" Just what YOU need right now, a punster.
  
  > show the fork to the man
  "Who wants that?" The ferryman points to the ambiguous utensil instead. "Now that is something worth looking at!"
  
  > show the utensil to the man
  You show the ambiguous utensil to the ferryman, who salivates at the sight of it. "You wouldn't be willing to part with that, would you?" he asks.
  
  > give the utensil to man
  You offer the ambiguous utensil to the ferryman, who greedily takes it for his own close inspection. He's hypnotized by the silver in the thing and appears to be distracted for now.
  
  > attack man
  What do you want to attack him with?
  
  > Sword
  The ferryman easily deflects your blow, just missing your left foot in the process. If only you could distract that one roving eye...
  
  > Inventory
  You have a bow, a quiver, a mask (being worn), a comfy blanket, a mysteriously transformed fork, a shovel, a shield, a bucket, a sword, a message from your father, a sledgehammer, a gold nugget, a list, a corned beef sandwich, a flicker sandwich, a bunch of turnip greens, a white flask, a black flask, a matchbook, a feather (providing light), and a coin. The quiver seems to contain an arrow.
  
  > give the coin to the man
  Taking advantage of the ferryman's distraction, you pass the coin to him, whispering soothingly, "This has silver on it too." Mesmerized, the ferryman seizes the coin and searches for signs of silver anywhere on the thing. You seem to have succeeded in distracting another of the ferryman's eyes.
  
  > Sword
  You whip out your own blade and smote the ferryman with a blow that cleaves through the silver plates of his armor. He topples to the ground at your feet.
  
  *** Your score just went up by 3 points. ***
  
  > search man
  You thoroughly search the dead ferryman and reclaim an ambiguous utensil and a coin.
  
  > Go east
  You make your way ahead on a path to adventure.
  
  You've reached the third of three rivers. A huge ferry is tied to a rickety dock. The path back to the second river is to the west.
  A third ferryman is here, a wild man, as tall as a giant and as
  thick as a haystack, with a shield, helmet, and breastplate all of gold, and with an oak club in his hand. Behind the wisps of thinning hair on his forehead, you glimpse a third eye, which is most certainly focused right on you.
  
  > examine man
  He's an immense, club-wielding triclops!
  
  > enter the ferry
  You demand that the ferryman take you across the river.
  "Will you pay me my price?" asks the huge ferryman.
  "Time enough to talk of price when you have done me your service,"
  you reply.
  
  The ferryman pushes off from shore with his giant stick. He gives you a disgusted look as he makes powerful movements that set the ferry gliding across the river.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  You ignore the ferryman's menacing glance as you gaze out at the river and plan a strategy for when you land. You notice that the ferryman keeps glancing at the gold nugget you're carrying. He seems to be fascinated by it.
  
  > show the nugget to the man
  You really should let him ferry you across the river before you give him anything.
  
  The ferryman brings the boat up to a dock on the other side of the river. You both disembark from the craft, and he demands payment.
  Your Plan A (escape) seems to have been foiled: the ferryman's vigilant eyes monitor your every move.
  You ask nonchalantly, "What is there to pay?"
  "Stretch forth your neck," growls the ferryman as he brandishes his
  oak club.
  
  You're on the east side of the third river. To the east is further adventure.
  
  > show the nugget to the man
  You show the gold nugget to the ferryman, who salivates at the sight of it. "You wouldn't be willing to part with that, would you?" he asks.
  
  > give the nugget to man
  You offer the gold nugget to the ferryman, who greedily takes it for his own close inspection. He's hypnotized by the gold in the thing and appears to be distracted for now.
  
  > give the utensil to the man
  Taking advantage of the ferryman's distraction, you pass the ambiguous utensil to him, whispering soothingly, "This has gold on it too." Mesmerized, the ferryman seizes the ambiguous utensil and searches for signs of gold anywhere on the thing. You seem to have succeeded in distracting another of the ferryman's eyes.
  
  > give the coin to the man
  Taking advantage of the ferryman's distraction, you pass the coin to him, whispering soothingly, "This has gold on it too." Mesmerized, the ferryman seizes the coin and searches for signs of gold anywhere on the thing. You seem to have succeeded in distracting another of the ferryman's eyes.
  
  > attack the man with the sword
  You whip out your own blade and smote the ferryman with a blow that cleaves through the gold plates of his armor. He topples to the ground at your feet.
  
  *** Your score just went up by 3 points. ***
  
  > search man
  You thoroughly search the dead ferryman and reclaim a gold nugget, an ambiguous utensil, and a coin.