text: [Themes: Adventure, Fallen London]
  
  > look at your surroundings
  Elevator Shaft (in the cage-elevator)
  You are deep in the earth.
  
  The elevator rushes north, past what looks like a shelf carved into
  the side of the shaft.
  
  > look at the cage
  A rickety cage-elevator on a chain. It won't fall, but you can't be
  sure of that.
  
  > Go outside
  The shaft is just wide enough to fit the elevator. You can't get out.
  
  The elevator rushes south.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The elevator stops in a vast cavern, far south of the ground.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The elevator rushes north, past what looks like a shelf carved into
  the side of the shaft.
  
  > look at the shelf
  A niche in the side of the elevator shaft. Something wooden is inside.
  
  The elevator screeches to a halt at the top of the shaft.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The elevator screeches to a halt at the top of the shaft.
  
  > take the shelf
  Taken.
  
  The elevator rushes south.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a shelf
  a brass key
  a bell
  a pickaxe
  the theoretical location of a hideout
  a rusty lamp
  a detective's fedora (being worn)
  the spare towel
  a knapsack (open but empty)
  a compelling note
  
  The elevator stops in a vast cavern, far south of the ground.
  
  > examine the shelf
  A niche in the side of the elevator shaft. Something wooden is inside.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a brass key
  a bell
  a pickaxe
  the theoretical location of a hideout
  a rusty lamp
  a detective's fedora (being worn)
  the spare towel
  a knapsack (open but empty)
  a compelling note
  
  The elevator screeches to a halt at the top of the shaft.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The elevator rushes south.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The elevator stops in a vast cavern, far south of the ground.
  
  > Go outside
  You get out of the cage-elevator.
  
  The room is a vast, yawning cavern, a secret warehouse south of the
  ground. Fiery glyphs set into the walls illuminate deep pools and pits
  of ivory foam around you, and the scent of ammonia is thick in the
  air. North is an elevator shaft leading out, and east is an altar.
  
  A metal cage-elevator is here, attached to a chain.
  
  > look at the glyphs
  Letters in the impossible language of above, spitting small
  showers of sparks into the room below. You don't even try to read
  them. They weren't intended for you.
  
  > examine the pools
  A foamy white substance sits in pits and pools here. You might call it
  snow if you didn't know any better, but you do know better, so you
  call it lacre. Better not get too close.
  
  > go to the east
  Here in a broad cavern, across a sea of foamy pits, is a stone altar.
  West is a cage-elevator, situated on a flat stone clearing. A
  stairwell south leads even further into the bowels of the earth.
  
  A large pail rests next to the altar.
  
  > look at the altar
  A large stone altar, about your size. Some writing has been carved
  into it.
  
  > read the writing
  One part lacre, one part shape. Add shape to lacre, combine in
  pail. Wait. Enjoy.
  
  themselves. They say the snow-foam likes that. You don't have a knife,
  but theoretically, any 'aspect of the self' will do.
  
  > examine the pail
  An old metal pail. The bottom is crusted with a snowy residue.
  
  > go south
  A passageway running north-south through the rock. The scent of
  ammonia wafts in from the north, and to the south, the tunnel gets
  darker.
  
  > go north
  Here in a broad cavern, across a sea of foamy pits, is a stone altar.
  West is a cage-elevator, situated on a flat stone clearing. A
  stairwell south leads even further into the bowels of the earth.
  
  > go west
  The room is a vast, yawning cavern, a secret warehouse south of the
  ground. Fiery glyphs set into the walls illuminate deep pools and pits
  of ivory foam around you, and the scent of ammonia is thick in the
  air. North is an elevator shaft leading out, and east is an altar.
  
  A metal cage-elevator is here, attached to a chain.
  
  > go to the north
  You are in an elevator shaft. A great chain is here, spanning north to
  south.
  
  > Go north
  You are in an elevator shaft. A great chain is here, spanning north to
  south.
  
  A discrete casket is here, nestled into a shelf carved into the rock.
  
  > look at the casket
  A plain casket, made from cheap wood. On its hinged lid, the phrase
  "SOOTHE & COOPER" is stencilled.
  
  > open it
  You open the discrete casket, revealing a heartmetal disc.
  
  > look at the disc
  A milky lump of silvery metal, about the size of a heart and quite
  smooth. You've never seen anything like this before, but there's no
  doubt it's valuable.
  
  > go north
  You are at the top of an elevator shaft. It continues to the south,
  and the land agency is back to the west.
  
  > go west
  The land agency of Penstock, a heptagon realtor with better things to
  do than man his own shop. The air in here is still and dusty. A door
  to the west leads back out to the bazaar, and an elevator shaft is to
  the east.
  
  > Go west
  If you remember correctly, the garbage bin you found your trophy case
  in is somewhere around here. Sigils that hurt to look at gleam on the
  walls, and the alley exits to the east.
  
  > examine the sigils
  They say that huge, fiery entities exist - not north, but
  above your fragile world. They say the stars have their own
  language, and that it looks something like this. But this is just
  graffiti, a cheap imitation of the real thing. Either way, it's enough
  to set a part of your shirt on fire. You pat it out.
  
  > take the bin
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > Open case
  You open the trophy case, revealing a horse statue and a lump of
  friendly amber.
  
  > put the disc in the case
  The heartmetal disc fits perfectly.
  
  > Close case
  You close the trophy case.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a pail
  a brass key
  a bell
  a pickaxe
  the theoretical location of a hideout
  a rusty lamp
  a detective's fedora (being worn)
  the spare towel
  a knapsack (open but empty)
  a compelling note
  
  > Go west
  You've got an excellent view of the stolen river, which is accessible
  to the south. The shuttered palace looms in the west, the entrance to
  the university is north, and east is a series of broad streets.
  
  > examine river
  The former Thames is still a fixture of London life, and it still
  regularly spits up muddy garbage. It's just that now it spits up dead
  people, too. They say it runs straight through hell.
  
  > Go west
  The palace is shuttered, and its windows are boarded up. That's really
  all there is to say on the matter. The road you are on continues
  around the palace to the north and south. The Stolen River's banks are
  to the east. The palace looms in the west, but two gates prevent you
  from going any further.
  
  > Go west
  The gates stop you.
  
  > examine the gates
  Wrought-iron gates. Only a miracle could get you through the tight
  bars, and you don't think one is forthcoming.
  
  > go south
  You are south of the palace. A red brick wall extends from the palace
  floor and continues south for a while. You could follow it, if you
  wanted.
  
  > look at the wall
  A sturdy looking wall made from red bricks. It clashes violently with
  the smooth limestone of the palace.
  
  > go south
  A red brick wall to your west comes from the shuttered palace, far to
  the north, and ends in a large mass of rock to your immediate south.
  East, you recognize the distant ruins of the Forgotten Quarter, which
  are at least less empty than this place.
  
  > look at the wall
  A sturdy looking wall made from red bricks. It goes on for quite a
  while.
  
  > Go south
  The mass of rock is too wide to be easily bypassed.
  
  > hit the wall with the pickaxe
  The wall resists your attempts to dig through it.
  
  > Go north
  You are north of the palace, past the roof. You get the feeling that
  Her Most Circular Majesty doesn't particularly care for warmth,
  because all the chimneys have been covered up. The palace's front
  gates are east, and its more discreet back entrance is west. A barrier
  to the south keeps you away from the shingles.
  
  > look at the barrier
  A spiked, wrought-iron fence.
  
  > go to the west
  You are west of the palace, where the back entrance to the building is
  located. North is the roof, and to the south, you can see a basalt
  wall.
  
  > look at the back entrance
  This is the door the servants use - the ones that don't live in the
  palace, anyway. It is locked.
  
  > go south
  You are south of the shuttered palace, following a basalt wall in the
  east. Further to the south, the wall disappears into a large mass of
  rock. Here, the wall has a small crack in it.
  
  > look at the crack
  A minor weakness in the wall. It's not nearly large enough to fit
  yourself through, but it's a good place to start.
  
  > hit the crack with the pickaxe
  With a few well-placed swings, you reduce this section of the wall to
  rubble.
  
  > Go west
  You are south of the shuttered palace, following a basalt wall in the
  east. Further to the south, the wall disappears into a large mass of
  rock.
  
  A hole in the wall reveals a tunnel to the east.
  
  > go north
  You are west of the palace, where the back entrance to the building is
  located. North is the roof, and to the south, you can see a basalt
  wall.
  
  > Go north
  You are north of the palace, past the roof. You get the feeling that
  Her Most Circular Majesty doesn't particularly care for warmth,
  because all the chimneys have been covered up. The palace's front
  gates are east, and its more discreet back entrance is west. A barrier
  to the south keeps you away from the shingles.
  
  > go east
  The palace is shuttered, and its windows are boarded up. That's really
  all there is to say on the matter. The road you are on continues
  around the palace to the north and south. The Stolen River's banks are
  to the east. The palace looms in the west, but two gates prevent you
  from going any further.
  
  > go east
  You've got an excellent view of the stolen river, which is accessible
  to the south. The shuttered palace looms in the west, the entrance to
  the university is north, and east is a series of broad streets.
  
  > go north
  the university lawn. Paths to the south and east both lead back into
  the city. North is the entrance to the only public library in the
  city, and what looks like an engineering building is situated to the
  west.
  
  > Go north
  You are at the library's front desk, to which a sign has been taped.
  The exit is in the south wall. A forest of bookshelves is accessible
  to the north.
  
  A librarian sits at the front desk, ignoring you.
  
  > examine the sign
  FOOD IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE LIBRARY, the sign reads. BUT YOU MAY:
  ASK ABOUT DIRECTIONS
  CHECK OUT A BOOK
  STUDY QUIETLY
  
  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU COME TO THE LIBRARY WITH AN IDEA AS TO WHAT
  YOU SEEK, the sign adds, OR YOU MAY BE HERE A WHILE.
  
  > ask the librarian about the third dimension
  The librarian shrugs. "Check geometry. Five hundred and ten."
  
  > go north
  A long path, walled in by shelves, goes from west to east, and the
  exit is to the south. All around you are bookshelves.
  
  > examine the bookshelves
  Stars and a copy of On Gravity.
  
  > read Stars
  Most of the book is scorched beyond recognition. The parts you can
  read claim that not only do celestial beings beyond comprehension
  exist, but that their language has the power to 'substantially alter'
  a person's biology. It goes on to claim that those aspects of their
  language can be reproduced by ordinary shapes, with sufficiently
  powerful materials and a knowledge of what to write.
  
  You shut the book, tired of hearing more unsubstantiated claims by the
  honey-addled and the delusional. And afraid for your clothing, which
  tends to catch fire when you think about that sort of thing too hard.
  
  > read Gravity
  "By a Law of Nature with us, there is a constant attraction to the
  South; and, although in temperate climates this is very slight-yet the
  hampering effect of the southward attraction is quite sufficient to
  serve as a compass in most parts of our earth. Moreover, the rain
  (which falls at stated intervals) coming always from the North, is an
  additional assistance; and in the towns we have the guidance of the
  houses, which of course have their side-walls running for the most
  part North and South, so that the roofs may keep off the rain from the
  North." - Edwin A. Abbott.
  
  Most of this has remained true even after London's change, though the
  rain comes from somewhere else now.
  
  > Go west
  A long path, walled in by literature, goes from west to east. All
  around you are bookshelves, packed with books.
  
  > Examine books
  In the bookshelves are a copy of Cults And Rituals: A History
  and a copy of On The Politics of London.
  
  > read the Cults
  The book is rather dry, but perhaps you'll get something out of it.
  
  According to this book, a small cult in the fourth city once chose to
  break off from the doctrines laid out for them by the circle, instead
  worshipping "third-dimensional beings", in clear defiance of
  scientific fact. When gathering, these cults would often perform
  elaborate rituals in attempts to summon these entities, though none
  have of these have been proven to work. In the year 1796, such a cult
  attempted an elaborate ritual, but they were massacred by fourth city
  authorities, and their ritual site reduced to ash.
  
  As you read, a set of instructions falls out from between the pages.
  
  > examine instructions
  The instructions to some kind of rite, in shaky writing.
  
  1. The shape the sacred shape never more never less always eight the
  sacred shape LIGHT THEM.
  2. Ring the bell to get the audience's attention
  3. Repeat after me.
  
  On the back is an incantation, though much of the ink is smudged.
  
  > examine incantation
  The instructions are written in the queen's english, but the
  incantation is written in mongolian - the language of the fourth city.
  But it's not really the right time for mongolian conjuring, so you
  decide not to.You don't understand a word of it. Maybe if you did
  you'd be able to read it out loud.
  
  > examine Politics
  This "book" is nothing more or less than a series of rants about
  London's mayoral elections, which the author claims are both rigged
  and pointless. London, the author argues, is controlled by the
  chiropteran beasts that abducted London in the first place, not by
  some democratically elected mascot. Not to mention, Her Most Circular
  Majesty ought to be in charge, even if she did sell the city to them
  in a kind of elaborate devil's paw scenario.
  
  You shut the book with disgust. Monarchists.
  
  > Go west
  A long path, walled in by literature, goes from west to east. All
  around you are bookshelves, packed with books.
  
  > look at the books
  and a copy of A Dream I Had Last Saturday.
  
  > look at the shapes
  "Soldiers and the lowest classes of workmen are isosceles triangles.
  The middle class consists of equilateral triangles. Professional men
  and gentlemen are squares and pentagons. Next above these come the
  nobility, of whom there are several degrees, beginning at hexagons,
  and from thence rising in the number of their sides till they receive
  the honourable title of polygonal, or many-sided. Finally when the
  number of the sides becomes so numerous, and the sides themselves so
  small, that the figure cannot be distinguished from a circle, he is
  included in the circular or priestly order; and this is the highest
  class of all." - Edwin A. Abbott
  
  You shut the encyclopedia. You knew all this already.
  
  > look at Dream
  nonsense. In it, the author describes a dream they had about a
  dimension of straight, one-dimensional lines. He was apparently
  invisible to them, and was unable to explain the existence of the
  second dimension. That's the only part of the book you can make out,
  anyway. Censorship seems to have hit it hard, and more than half of
  the book is torn out or covered up. Shame.
  
  > Go west
  A cozy-looking study nook is at the end of a long corridor of books to
  the east.
  
  > Examine books
  Medicinal Uses.
  
  > look at the chess
  You crack open your copy of The Devil Went South To London: How To
  Win At Chess Against Immortal Entities.
  
  Renowned correspondant and chessmaster Letitia P. Eaglethorpe claims
  to have beaten Death at chess, not once but several times. She claims
  that anyone can do the same, provided they follow these instructions,
  with the first taking precedence over the last.
  
  1. The circle is a powerful opponent, but pointless. Use something
  sharp.
  2. The ideas and constructs of civilization can always be brought low
  by the wild animal's grand designs.
  3. A stops B and B stops C. All things shall return to me.
  4. Infinity stopped with a shot from a gun. To hinder a catspaw, move
  into a- *the ink is smudged too badly to read*
  5. If all else fails, go north, into the edge and the black.
  
  > Examine books
  Squid-Creature Servant.
  
  > look at the maze map
  So the geometer stood at the ready, pacing nervously around his
  study. Soon, he'd been promised, it would all be complete. Even if
  he'd contacted them first, he hadn't expected them to actually
  respond, and he couldn't be more anxious if he tried. Not Eating,
  barely sleeping, even, in case the chiropterans wanted to make the
  exchange at night. Whether or not they could even give him what he'd
  asked for was unclear as well. Such Entities as them were not to be
  taken lightly, if they really wanted his entire city in exchange - and
  that was another thing. What he'd promised them he didn't own, and if
  they discovered they'd been tricked, they might not uphold their end
  of the bargain. Euclid shuddered at the thought.
  
  You shut the book. That's not a map at all. Must have been an error at
  the printer's.
  
  > look at the Servant
  ACT I, SCENE III
  PRINCESS: Here to clean my chambers? I certainly hope your
  tentacles will be up to the task. My chambers are quite large, you
  see.
  SQUID-CREATURE: Hrshbrglargh.
  PRINCESS: Oh my. Do you think you could polish... this?
  SQUID-CREATURE: Blathrgthlgle.
  PRINCESS (Blushing): Well.
  
  > Go east
  to the west.
  
  A missing library card is here, neglected and crumbled up.
  
  > examine the card
  This library card belonged to Allen Rutherford, a pentagon in his 20s.
  Now it belongs to you.
  
  > ask the librarian about card
  The librarian glances at the library card. "Yup, that looks like one
  of our students." She gives you a shrug. "If I were you, I'd try to
  return it to its owner. Maybe they'll give you something nice."
  
  > Go south
  the university lawn. Paths to the south and east both lead back into
  the city. North is the entrance to the only public library in the
  city, and what looks like an engineering building is situated to the
  west.
  
  > go west
  In London, as it is everywhere else, the whole world is evenly lit
  during the day with little regard to walls or veils. The rules seem to
  be different here, and the whole room is like night apart from a
  gaslight on the wall. West is a door leading to a hallway, and east is
  the way back to the quad.
  
  > examine gaslight
  A bright, flickering thing. Mounted to the wall.
  
  > take it
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > go west
  A long hallway extends from a door to the east, and continues west for
  a while. A wall-mounted torch illuminates the room.
  
  > take the torch
  It is firmly attached to the wall.
  
  > Go west
  A long hallway continues through a patch of darkness in the east, and
  ends in a door to the west labelled "TESTING LAB". A dull light flows
  out from the muddled glass windows of the door.
  
  > go west
  (first opening the testing lab door)
  
  here. A few small fires can be seen, and the scent of gasoline is
  heavy in the air. The exit is a nondescript door to the east. Welcome
  to the Laboratory of Manufactured Light.
  
  A pentagon sits in the lab, looking distressed.
  
  > examine pentagon
  The pentagon - A.R. according to his name tag - probably shouldn't
  have all that oil-stained clothing so close to an open flame. But you
  won't tell.
  
  > talk to pentagon
  The pentagon turns to greet you. "It's hopeless," he says. "My
  academic career, completely down the drain."
  
  > give the card to pentagon
  Allen thanks you profusely. "Finally, I can check out books again." He
  digs around in his pockets for a bit before pulling something out.
  "Here," he says. "I found this in the lab the other day. You can have
  it." He hands you a stone.
  
  > look at the stone
  A smooth, jagged rock, about the size of a small pebble. A hole has
  been bored in its center.
  
  > ask Allen about the stone
  (the sharp stone)
  "Flint, I think. It must have fallen off one of my inventions.
  Whatever. It's yours now."
  
  > ask Allen about the academic career
  "I've been working on something," the pentagon explains. "A
  comprehensive analysis of fire that's sure to get me published. Only
  thing is, I need a particular compendium from the library.
  And the library's way too far away."
  
  > ask Allen about the compendium
  "Fire And Its Medicinal Uses", the pentagon says fondly. "Oh,
  I can just see the title now."
  
  > ask Allen about the fire
  "Yeah, that's the one I'm talking about."
  
  > go east
  Moloch Street, where shapes who have traded away their mortal souls
  begin their journeys towards hell. North is the entrance to the
  Labyrinth of Tigers, and west is the university. South, the street
  becomes less menacing.
  
  An old house with a brass-plated door stands in the east, passing
  judgement on everyone it sees.
  
  > Go west
  here. A few small fires can be seen, and the scent of gasoline is
  heavy in the air. The exit is a nondescript door to the east. Welcome
  to the Laboratory of Manufactured Light.
  
  A pentagon sits in the lab, looking distressed.
  
  > give the fire to Allen
  The pentagon takes the book from you. "My research is saved," he says.
  "This is truly a great day for science. Why don't you take this as
  payment?" He hands you some kind of experimental device.
  
  > examine the device
  A metal device resembling an open-ended safety pin. One of its points
  has a metal disc screwed onto it, and one of its points is empty -
  it's missing something. When you click the ends together, nothing
  happens.
  
  > ask Allen about device
  "What, that?" The pentagon shrugs. "Part of a new invention I'm
  working on. The power of fire, at the tip of your fingertips. Or I
  guess the power of sparks."
  
  > put the flint on the device
  You slide the flint into place on the flint-and-steel lighter.
  
  > talk to Allen
  Allen ignores you. He's busy reading not one but three books.
  
  > Go south
  What was once the river Thames cuts through the middle of the city,
  depositing the dead and detritus alike on its muddy banks. The river
  itself is immediately south. The street is north, and the beach
  stretches on for a while to the west.
  
  > examine river
  The former Thames is still a fixture of London life, and it still
  regularly spits up muddy garbage. It's just that now it spits up dead
  people, too. They say it runs straight through hell.
  
  > examine the object
  A small, hard-to-make-out item, dripping with mud. You think you can
  catch the gleam of brass, but beyond that, you can't identify it
  through the muck.
  
  > clean it
  What do you want to clean the lumpy object with?
  
  > Towel
  You make short work of the mud, revealing a brass ring. Your towel,
  however, is ruined.
  
  > Clean towel
  What do you want to clean the spare towel with?
  
  > look at the ring
  A shiny brass ring, of the kind often given by devils to their human
  admirers. Valuable, though perhaps not the sort of thing to be seen
  flaunting.
  
  > examine the mud
  that makes it impossible to go around. If you want to get anywhere in
  this mud field, you're forced to let it splatter against one of your
  sides. Circles, you hate mud.
  
  > read the maze
  So the geometer stood at the ready, pacing nervously around his
  study. Soon, he'd been promised, it would all be complete. Even if
  he'd contacted them first, he hadn't expected them to actually
  respond, and he couldn't be more anxious if he tried. Not Eating,
  barely sleeping, even, in case the chiropterans wanted to make the
  exchange at night. Whether or not they could even give him what he'd
  asked for was unclear as well. Such Entities as them were not to be
  taken lightly, if they really wanted his entire city in exchange - and
  that was another thing. What he'd promised them he didn't own, and if
  they discovered they'd been tricked, they might not uphold their end
  of the bargain. Euclid shuddered at the thought.
  
  You shut the book. That's not a map at all. Must have been an error at
  the printer's.
  
  > go to the south
  You kick and thrash, trying to keep the muddy water from filling your
  lungs.
  
  > Go south
  You can't go that way.
  
  The water stings your eyes and burns your throat. Every breath you
  take just brings you closer to the river. If you can't get out now,
  it's over for you.
  
  > Leave
  But you aren't in anything at the moment.
  
  As the waves take you, the last thing you hear is the roar of water.
  
  A slow boat drifts down a silent river. Your surroundings are dark,
  but you can see everything with awful clarity. You can see the far
  shore in the distance, out of reach.
  
  A skeleton in robes sits at the front of the boat, guiding it along
  down the river.
  
  An ancient chess set is tucked away in a far corner of the boat.
  
  > look at the chess
  A battered chess set. The pieces are made of what looks like crystal.
  
  > play the chess
  The boatman looks at you inquisitively, and you think you see
  something glint in his empty eyes. "Would you care for a game of
  chess?"
  
  > Yes
  The boatman moves a rook to F2. He grins, saying nothing.
  
  It's your turn.
  
  1: Circle to B7
  2: Bishop to A8
  3: Catspaw to D5
  
  > 2
  It's clear that the boatman has you at a disadvantage. It's as though
  he's playing 3D chess.
  
  The boatman moves a catspaw to B6. His moves are smooth, confident.
  
  It's your turn.
  
  1: Circle to B2
  2: Catspaw to A1
  3: Bishop to E5
  
  sharp."
  2. The ideas and constructs of civilization can always be brought low by the wild animal's grand designs."
  
  > 2
  You've got him on the ropes with that last move, you're sure of it.
  
  The boatman moves a circle to H2. His moves are smooth, confident.
  
  It's your turn.
  
  1: Square to D3
  2: Bishop to B2
  3: Flint to E6
  
  3. A stops B and B stops C. All things shall return to me."
  4. Infinity stopped with a shot from a gun. To hinder a catspaw, move into a- *the ink is smudged too badly to read*" 5. If all else fails, go north, into the edge and the black."
  
  > 1
  You watch passively as the boatman captures several of your pieces.
  
  The boatman moves a flint to B4. His moves are smooth, confident.
  
  It's your turn.
  
  1: Rook to C5
  2: Bishop to E4
  3: Square to A2
  
  > 3
  You knock another of the boatman's pieces from the board triumphantly.
  He sighs.
  
  of one who's done it a thousand times. "You never had a chance," he
  hisses. "I've only ever lost once to a Londoner. Strange woman," the
  boatman muses. "I think she actually wrote a book about the
  experience." His gaze lingers on you for a moment, before turning back
  to the river. "We've arrived, by the way. You might as well get out."
  
  > leave
  The sound of waves becomes louder and louder, until it is almost
  deafening. Just like that, you return to yourself.
  
  What was once the river Thames cuts through the middle of the city,
  depositing the dead and detritus alike on its muddy banks. The river
  itself is immediately south. The street is north, and the beach
  stretches on for a while to the west.
  
  Your whole body aches. You must have washed onto the beach - they do
  say that the stolen river takes a trip through hell. Your brain is on
  fire. But at least you're alive.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a brass ring
  a flint-and-steel lighter
  a maze map
  a set of ritual instructions
  a pail
  a brass key
  a bell
  a pickaxe
  the theoretical location of a hideout
  a rusty lamp
  a detective's fedora (being worn)
  the spare towel
  a knapsack (open but empty)
  a compelling note
  
  > examine the house
  A grandiose old home, with a brass-plated door and boarded up windows.
  As far as you can tell, the only people that have been here in the
  last ten years have been squatters.
  
  > go to the east
  (first opening the brass-plated door)
  It seems to be locked.
  
  > unlock door with the key
  You unlock the brass-plated door.
  
  > go east
  (first opening the brass-plated door)
  
  The house abandoned. Locked or not, anything of any real value has
  been long since ransacked. A door to the west leads outside.
  
  An unspeakably hideous painting is still here - there's not a looter
  in London that would be caught dead with that thing.
  
  > look at the painting
  The wild asymmetry in the devil's face is bad enough. Together with
  the threatening swarm of crows in the background and the way the
  painting manages to suggest that Her Most Circular Majesty is a whore,
  this is by far the worst painting you've ever seen. The employment of
  lead-based paints means it's not even good kindling. No, the only way
  this painting might ever be useful would be as some sort of theft
  deterrent, placed in front of your chiefest treasures to ensure no one
  ever comes near them.
  
  > take painting
  Nothing obvious happens.