text: [Themes: Espionage]
  
  > look at your surroundings
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  The kid shuffles around nearby.
  
  A magpie is perched here.
  
  > give the explore to the kid
  I give the explore intent to the kid, who now intends to explore for somewhere fun to play.
  
  The kid gets completely confused and ends up running right out of the maze.
  
  > go south
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn. A sword cane has been left on it.
  
  The kid runs excitedly into the maze.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The kid runs out of the maze, sees that it's back at the terrace, and sighs sadly.
  
  > give take to the kid
  I give the take intent to the kid, taking the explore intent in exchange. It now intends to take something to play with.
  
  The kid picks up the sword cane and starts swinging it around experimentally.
  
  > give the explore to the kid
  I give the explore intent to the kid, taking the take intent in exchange. It now intends to explore for somewhere fun to play.
  
  The kid runs excitedly into the maze.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  Intentions:
  the take intent
  the block intent
  the wait intent
  the fold intent
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > go south
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  > Go west
  This ballroom is a cavernous hall in which well-dressed humans are attacking the serious business of entertainment, conducting intrigues and little negotiations as they stomp across the parquet floor. A string quartet perched on a loggia running around the hall is tuning
  up as the crowd below them mingles. A breeze from the nearby sea occasionally rustles the curtains around the French doors leading outside to the east, but the room is still stuffy in the summer heat. The hall continues to the north, and the casino floor lies to the
  west.
  
  The musicians are chatting quietly among themselves and setting up for the next piece.
  
  > Go west
  The center floor is a pandemonium of human activity. Machines flash a garish array of lights to beckon them closer, competing with barkers calling out the inscrutable results of their games. Crowds fed from
  the main entrance to the south swarm over the floor, peeling off to join games or just to socialize in the cacophony. A less crowded area of the floor lies to the west, and a hallway leads east.
  
  At the north end of the room, kept apart from the gaming tables, is an imposing door.
  
  The thief watches hopefully for the guard to get distracted.
  
  > Go west
  If the rest of the casino is a place of leisure, this lair is a place of business. Shark-faced humans in formal attire loom over tables playing some incomprehensible card game, accepting both wins and
  losses with aloof detachment. Aside from a desultory appreciative or sympathetic murmur from onlookers following a particularly involved hand, the room has the quiet intensity of an art museum. Whorls of cigarette smoke drift across the glaring lights overhead.
  
  The main area of the of the casino lies to the east.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp is watching the other gamblers.
  
  > get the play
  I extract the play intent from the gambler.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > get clean
  I extract the clean up intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp sizes up its fellow players.
  
  > go east
  This ballroom is a cavernous hall in which well-dressed humans are attacking the serious business of entertainment, conducting intrigues and little negotiations as they stomp across the parquet floor. A string quartet perched on a loggia running around the hall is tuning
  up as the crowd below them mingles. A breeze from the nearby sea occasionally rustles the curtains around the French doors leading outside to the east, but the room is still stuffy in the summer heat. The hall continues to the north, and the casino floor lies to the
  west.
  
  The musicians take the opportunity to drink some water.
  
  > Go east
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  > go north
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  The kid shuffles around nearby.
  
  A magpie is perched here.
  
  > give the play to the kid
  I give the play intent to the kid, who now intends to play around with the sword cane.
  
  The kid swings the cane around wildly, slashing at unseen enemies. After a dramatic charge, it hits a sturdy trunk, hard, and the outer cane shatters, revealing the blade. The kid squeals in excitement.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The kid hacks its way through the maze with the sword, easily cutting
  a way to the north. It excitedly charges in that direction.
  
  > go to the north
  This small garden lies at the center of the hedge maze. Moss grows optimistically through cracks in the mosaic floor, and vines wrap around the columns ringing the open area. A fountain in the center, flowing but full of vegetation and other flotsam, breaks the summer humidity. A torturous path to the south heads back into the maze.
  
  of the area, sparkling with faint spiritual energy.
  
  The kid runs around wildly, swinging the sword. In its enthusiasm, it bumps into the statue, which rocks slightly but does not fall.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The kid runs around wildly, swinging the sword. In its enthusiasm, it bumps into the statue, which rocks quite a bit but does not fall.
  
  > wait a while
  Time passes.
  
  The kid runs around wildly, swinging the sword. In its enthusiasm, it bumps into the statue, which rocks precariously but does not fall.
  
  > check your inventory
  Intentions:
  the clean up intent
  the explore intent
  the take intent
  the block intent
  the wait intent
  the fold intent
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > put the block on kid
  I give the block intent to the kid, taking the play intent in
  exchange. It now vaguely intends to block.
  
  > put the take on kid
  I give the take intent to the kid, taking the block intent in
  exchange. It now intends to take something to play with.
  
  The kid picks up the sword cane and starts swinging it around experimentally.
  
  > put the clean up on the kid
  I give the clean up intent to the kid, taking the take intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to clean up.
  
  > put the explore on kid
  I give the explore intent to the kid, taking the clean up intent in exchange. It now intends to explore for somewhere fun to play.
  
  The kid wanders off to the south.
  
  > look at kid
  One of those young humans there seem to keep being more of. I wouldn't normally expect to see one in a place like this, but perhaps away from the actual gambling humans deem it appropriate.
  
  The kid is holding the clean up intent and a sword cane.
  
  > CLEAN
  up.
  
  > get clean up
  I extract the clean up intent from the kid.
  
  > Inventory
  Intentions:
  the clean up intent
  the take intent
  the block intent
  the play intent
  the explore intent
  the wait intent
  the fold intent
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > Go south
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  A magpie is perched here.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The magpie hops up and flies off to the south.
  
  > go south
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  A magpie is perched here.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The magpie hops up and flies off to the east.
  
  > go east
  This cobblestone trail runs from the casino to the hotel on the complex. Box trees flank the path, interspersed with a variety of colorful ornamental plants I don't recognize. The hotel it leads to is a sprawling villa of orange bricks with towers sprouting around its perimeter. A stone archway leads east into the hotel, and the trail winds to the west.
  
  A tarnished silver mirror hangs over the archway leading east.
  
  On the silver mirror is some holly.
  
  A magpie is perched here.
  
  > get explore
  I extract the explore intent from the magpie.
  
  > give take to the magpie
  I give the take intent to the magpie, who now intends to take
  something shiny.
  
  The magpie perches across from the archway, but it doesn't see
  anything shiny enough to attract its interest.
  
  > go east
  As I try to pass through the archway, I bump my nonexistent head on a nonexistent wall. Looking around in confusion, I find the culprit: There's a sprig of holly on the mirror over the archway.
  
  Humans have a lot of folk tales about fending off my kind (and, perversely, attracting agents from the Other Side). Most of it is superstitious nonsense. The folklore about holly's keeping demons
  away, though, actually is true (footnote 3). It's embarrassing to admit, but something as simple as bit of holly over a doorway does in fact create a barrier that's difficult for demons to pass through. The effect is like running into a glass door, except that I can pass effortlessly through closed doors, so it's more like running into an archway that has holly stuck onto it.
  
  I'm not very good with metaphors. The point is that the holly is going to prevent me from passing through the archway as long as it's up there.
  
  The magpie perches across from the archway, but it doesn't see
  anything shiny enough to attract its interest.
  
  > go north
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  > Go north
  This small garden lies at the center of the hedge maze. Moss grows optimistically through cracks in the mosaic floor, and vines wrap around the columns ringing the open area. A fountain in the center, flowing but full of vegetation and other flotsam, breaks the summer humidity. A torturous path to the south heads back into the maze.
  
  of the area, sparkling with faint spiritual energy.
  
  The kid shuffles around nearby.
  
  > put the explore  on kid
  I give the explore intent to the kid, who now intends to explore for somewhere fun to play.
  
  The kid wanders off to the south.
  
  > Go south
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  The kid gets completely confused and ends up running right out of the maze.
  
  > go south
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  The kid runs excitedly into the maze.
  
  > put the clean up on the kid
  I give the clean up intent to the kid, taking the explore intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to clean up.
  
  > East
  Our carefully negotiated treaties with the Other Side prohibit me from talking directly to humans.
  
  > check your inventory
  Intentions:
  the explore intent
  the block intent
  the play intent
  the wait intent
  the fold intent
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > put the fold on kid
  I give the fold intent to the kid, taking the clean up intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to fold.
  
  > put the block on kid
  I give the block intent to the kid, taking the fold intent in
  exchange. It now vaguely intends to block.
  
  > get the block
  I extract the block intent from the kid.
  
  > Examine bar
  Presumably it's intended to make the room feel larger. Humans have a thing for illusions.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  > give the clean up to the bartender
  I give the clean up intent to the bartender, who now vaguely intends
  to clean up.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  > give the explore to the waiter
  I give the explore intent to the waiter, who now intends to explore
  the casino in search of work to do.
  
  The waiter walks purposefully off to the south.
  
  > Go south
  This ballroom is a cavernous hall in which well-dressed humans are attacking the serious business of entertainment, conducting intrigues and little negotiations as they stomp across the parquet floor. A string quartet perched on a loggia running around the hall is tuning
  up as the crowd below them mingles. A breeze from the nearby sea occasionally rustles the curtains around the French doors leading outside to the east, but the room is still stuffy in the summer heat. The hall continues to the north, and the casino floor lies to the
  west.
  
  The musicians are chatting quietly among themselves and setting up for the next piece.
  
  I can see the waiter here.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The musicians look through their sheet music.
  
  The waiter walks purposefully off to the east.
  
  > Go east
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  The kid shuffles around nearby.
  
  I can also see the waiter here.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The waiter walks purposefully off to the east.
  
  > Go east
  This cobblestone trail runs from the casino to the hotel on the complex. Box trees flank the path, interspersed with a variety of colorful ornamental plants I don't recognize. The hotel it leads to is a sprawling villa of orange bricks with towers sprouting around its perimeter. A stone archway leads east into the hotel, and the trail winds to the west.
  
  A tarnished silver mirror garlanded with holly hangs over the archway leading east.
  
  The magpie perches across from the archway, but it doesn't see
  anything shiny enough to attract its interest.
  
  I can also see the waiter here.
  
  > put the clean up on the waiter
  I don't have the clean up intent in my possession. I last saw it in
  the bartender's possession.
  
  > get explore
  I extract the explore intent from the waiter.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  The magpie perches across from the archway, but it doesn't see
  anything shiny enough to attract its interest.
  
  > go to the west
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  The kid shuffles around nearby.
  
  > go to the west
  This ballroom is a cavernous hall in which well-dressed humans are attacking the serious business of entertainment, conducting intrigues and little negotiations as they stomp across the parquet floor. A string quartet perched on a loggia running around the hall is tuning
  up as the crowd below them mingles. A breeze from the nearby sea occasionally rustles the curtains around the French doors leading outside to the east, but the room is still stuffy in the summer heat. The hall continues to the north, and the casino floor lies to the
  west.
  
  The musicians rosin their bows.
  
  > go north
  The casino's bar is a lively retreat for the dancers in the ballroom, with a steady stream of patrons drifting in and out. The bar itself is a giant mahogany beast with a bewildering array of decanters, bottles, and vials set against the mirror behind it. Floor-length windows fill the room with orange light.
  
  The ballroom is south of here.
  
  The bartender stands behind the bar.
  
  > get clean up
  I extract the clean up intent from the bartender.
  
  > go east
  This cobblestone trail runs from the casino to the hotel on the complex. Box trees flank the path, interspersed with a variety of colorful ornamental plants I don't recognize. The hotel it leads to is a sprawling villa of orange bricks with towers sprouting around its perimeter. A stone archway leads east into the hotel, and the trail winds to the west.
  
  A tarnished silver mirror garlanded with holly hangs over the archway leading east.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  The magpie perches across from the archway, but it doesn't see
  anything shiny enough to attract its interest.
  
  > put the clean up on the waiter
  I give the clean up intent to the waiter, who now intends to clean up the general area.
  
  The waiter, noticing the state of the silver mirror, applies some silver polish and elbow grease. Soon, the mirror is shiny again.
  
  The magpie, seeing the mirror reflecting light onto the holly, immediately swoops down and grabs it in its talons. Yanking hard on
  it, it dislodges the holly and flies off with it back towards the terrace.
  
  > get clean up
  I extract the clean up intent from the waiter.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  > go north
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  The magpie perches in a rough nest of holly, looking for something shiny to abscond with.
  
  > get take
  I extract the take intent from the magpie.
  
  > Go south
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  The kid stands off to one side, looking bored.
  
  > Go east
  This cobblestone trail runs from the casino to the hotel on the complex. Box trees flank the path, interspersed with a variety of colorful ornamental plants I don't recognize. The hotel it leads to is a sprawling villa of orange bricks with towers sprouting around its perimeter. A stone archway leads east into the hotel, and the trail winds to the west.
  
  A shiny silver mirror hangs over the archway leading east.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  > Go east
  The detector blinks briefly, indicating that I've moved into a new region of the compound.
  
  I'm at the hotel's reception, a small entryway with a gleaming marble floor and lamps made of dark green glass. The reception desk itself is a massive thing of oak, with a plush red carpet in front of it and a few potted chrysanthemums on top of it making it more inviting. A safe has been set into the wall behind it. A ceiling fan slowly spins above a passage farther into the hotel to the east. The exit from the hotel, flanked by ferns in massive clay pots, lies to the west.
  
  A hotel clerk stands behind the desk.
  
  A wealthy dowager is sitting in a plush leather chair.
  
  > Spin detector
  The detector produces one low thud, indicating one unattained codebook in this specific location, and two high whistles, indicating two additional unattained codebooks in this region of the compound.
  
  > examine clerk
  A harried-looking human, dressed neatly in hotel livery.
  
  > examine the dowager
  An elderly human, dressed in the conspicuous finery of one who has
  more money than taste.
  
  > look at the desk
  It's a massive thing, at least by human standards. These things are de rigueur in hotels, though I don't know why. Perhaps they're a mystery of human behavior that, like hats, will forever remain unsolved.
  
  > examine safe
  A standard, unimpressive hotel desk safe. It's good enough for the sorts of ordinary valuables humans care about, I suppose. As for actually valuable valuables, I notice that the safe is glowing with spiritual energy.
  
  The safe is mystically sealed, presumably to protect its contents from the opposition. The barrier is also keeping me from accessing its contents, a jewel collection and a secret codebook, as long as it's closed.
  
  > Inventory
  Intentions:
  the take intent
  the clean up intent
  the explore intent
  the block intent
  the fold intent
  the play intent
  the wait intent
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > examine the livery
  I don't see the valets here. They were at Casino Entrance.
  
  > put the take on the dowager
  Some odd freezing, feathery barrier stops me, like an angry swan made of ice is getting in my way. I haven't encountered this sort of obstacle before, and it's clearly spiritual in nature. While I try be reasonably au fait with security measures in the field myself, my division has an entire research branch devoted to unusual and cutting-edge technology. I've worked with them before, and I even know one of their top scientists. The best option here would be for me to give my friend Whiptail a call and ask him if he knows anything about this apparently new bit of technology. Due to the abruptness of my assignment here, I don't have any sophisticated means of contacting headquarters. Instead, I'll have to fall back on the old standby of a bell, book, and candle.
  
  > examine the chrysanthemums
  Poofy yellow flowers. They're nice, I suppose, if you like flowers. I do not.
  
  > look at the fan
  As befitting a place used by the Other Side, the ceilings fans here go around in circles without accomplishing much.
  
  > Go upwards
  From here, I can only go east and west.
  
  > go east
  At the center of the hotel is this wide atrium, a plaza of orange
  brick dotted with flowerboxes and ornamental bushes. The ceiling of
  the lobby is made of glass, and so the sunset outside gives an unnatural hue to the hibiscus vines adorning the open doors to the south. Despite the location, it's mostly quiet here. Even the rattan chairs overlooking the garden to the east are empty.
  
  The hotel reception is to the west, and a corridor to the north leads deeper into the hotel.
  
  A gigantic ice sculpture of a swan sits prominently on a pedestal.
  
  A thermostat is located unobtrusively in a corner.
  
  A bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  A guest complains to no one in particular about the temperature of the room and looks meaningfully at the thermostat.
  
  > look at the guest
  Wearing shorts and a gaudy-print t-shirt.
  
  > WARM
  itself up.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest complains to no one in particular about the temperature of the room and looks meaningfully at the thermostat.
  
  > get warm
  Some odd freezing, feathery barrier stops me, like an angry swan made of ice is getting in my way. I don't think I'll be able to do much about this problem myself.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest shivers exaggeratedly.
  
  > look at the bellhop
  It's wearing a red uniform with one of those ridiculous hats.
  
  > DEFEND
  the sculpture.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest shivers exaggeratedly.
  
  > examine the sculpture
  It is very big, and surprisingly good at not melting. (The unusually low room temperature is probably a contributing factor.) At this close distance, I can feel some sort of numinous field radiating from it that's blocking my ability to manipulate these humans.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest looks pointedly at the thermostat.
  
  > examine the thermostat
  It's currently set to an unusually low temperature.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest complains to no one in particular about the temperature of the room and looks meaningfully at the thermostat.
  
  > Go north
  The hotel's lounge is a maze of overstuffed leather chairs. Next to each one is a narrow table with an ashtray and an occasional discarded newspaper or magazine on it. A trolley with drinks sits at the ready against the far wall. Passages lie in all four cardinal directions. In addition, an ornate, sweeping staircase leads upward into the part of the hotel for guests. While the human guests are of little interest,
  my predecessor also kept a room here on one of the upper floors.
  
  A drunk burps loudly.
  
  > look at drunk
  The drunk has disheveled, stained clothes and an unpleasant odor. I'm not sure how it's managed to avoid getting kicked out of here by some sort of respectable environment operative.
  
  The drunk is holding a bottle of vodka.
  
  > DRINK
  from a bottle of vodka.
  
  The drunk burps loudly.
  
  My editor has informed me that for legal reasons, I'm supposed to
  refer to the drunk human as "tired and emotional." I don't get it, but you can't argue with lawyers.
  
  > get the drink
  (the drink intent)
  Some odd freezing, feathery barrier stops me, like an angry swan made of ice is getting in my way. I don't think I'll be able to do much about this problem myself.
  
  The tired and emotional human exhales contentedly.
  
  I have informed my editor that demons don't care about human laws, and humans can't sue Hell anyway. Besides, if we had to defend our case, there's no shortage of lawyers here. I'm going to keep referring to
  the drunk human as a drunk.
  
  > go south
  At the center of the hotel is this wide atrium, a plaza of orange
  brick dotted with flowerboxes and ornamental bushes. The ceiling of
  the lobby is made of glass, and so the sunset outside gives an unnatural hue to the hibiscus vines adorning the open doors to the south. Despite the location, it's mostly quiet here. Even the rattan chairs overlooking the garden to the east are empty.
  
  The hotel reception is to the west, and a corridor to the north leads deeper into the hotel.
  
  A gigantic ice sculpture of a swan sits prominently on a pedestal.
  
  A thermostat is located unobtrusively in a corner.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest complains to no one in particular about the temperature of the room and looks meaningfully at the thermostat.
  
  > Go west
  I'm at the hotel's reception, a small entryway with a gleaming marble floor and lamps made of dark green glass. The reception desk itself is a massive thing of oak, with a plush red carpet in front of it and a few potted chrysanthemums on top of it making it more inviting. A safe has been set into the wall behind it. A ceiling fan slowly spins above a passage farther into the hotel to the east. The exit from the hotel, flanked by ferns in massive clay pots, lies to the west.
  
  The hotel clerk stands behind the desk.
  
  The wealthy dowager is sitting in a plush leather chair.
  
  > examine the dowager
  An elderly human, dressed in the conspicuous finery of one who has
  more money than taste.
  
  > go to the west
  The detector blinks briefly, indicating that I've moved into a new region of the compound.
  
  This cobblestone trail runs from the casino to the hotel on the complex. Box trees flank the path, interspersed with a variety of colorful ornamental plants I don't recognize. The hotel it leads from is a sprawling villa of orange bricks with towers sprouting around its perimeter. A stone archway leads east into the hotel, and the trail winds to the west.
  
  A shiny silver mirror hangs over the archway leading east.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  > look at the villa
  The hotel sits comfortably out of the glare of the lights from within the casino.
  
  The waiter loafs in the corner.
  
  > go west
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  The kid stands off to one side, looking bored.
  
  > put the explore on kid
  I give the explore intent to the kid, who now intends to explore for somewhere fun to play.
  
  The kid runs excitedly into the maze.
  
  > Go north
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  The kid gets completely confused and ends up running right out of the maze.
  
  The magpie is sitting in a nest made of holly.
  
  > put the play on the kid
  I give the play intent to the kid, taking the explore intent in exchange. It now intends to play around with the sword cane.
  
  The kid hacks its way through the maze with the sword, enlarging the way to the north. It excitedly charges in that direction.
  
  > go north
  This small garden lies at the center of the hedge maze. Moss grows optimistically through cracks in the mosaic floor, and vines wrap around the columns ringing the open area. A fountain in the center, flowing but full of vegetation and other flotsam, breaks the summer humidity. A torturous path to the south heads back into the maze.
  
  of the area, sparkling with faint spiritual energy.
  
  The kid runs around, swinging the sword frantically. Apparently spotting a mighty foe in the form of the statue, it takes a powerful swing. The statue falls over and shatters into a thousand pieces, revealing a codebook.
  
  The kid looks around sheepishly. Seeing no one, it resumes its play.
  
  > get the codebook
  I pick up the confidential codebook and page through it. The cipher on the communiqu�� is at a much higher classification level than the confidential codebook, but I can still decipher some of its header information and basic format. The cipher is apparently one used by high-level angelic operatives; it's something that the Other Side reserves for particularly sensitive missions involving particularly important assets. Each five-digit number corresponds to a word or phrase; 12345, for example, could mean anything from "demon" to "eliminate" to "next Thursday afternoon." The association is also one-to-many, so the same plaintext word or phrase could have (and, if it's a common one, certainly does have) multiple ciphertext numbers corresponding to it. In short, this isn't something I can break by myself.
  
  This codebook contains a portion of the code, at least the part of it that's available at the confidential classification level. With it, I can start to decrypt some of the communiqu��:
  
  42734 72880 of 46480 44946 04845 62628 73048 74615 in the 47576 45953 40297 62029 31368 02666 and 63211 79260 67549 07135 14066 43999 is 03659 31802 08678 65629 67043 24095 85994
  
  The kid swings the sword around, carefully avoiding stepping on the shattered statue pieces.
  
  > Go south
  meticulously cut into a network of crisscrossing channels. Presumably the effect is disorienting to humans, but I have no trouble making out the open area to the north, nestled in the center of the maze. The gravel pathways snake around it, warm in the heavy evening air.
  
  The rest of the casino grounds lie to the south.
  
  The magpie is sitting in a nest made of holly.
  
  > Go west
  The maze is uninteresting to me, either as a diversion or as an obstacle. I might as well just walk through the hedges to the north or south.
  
  > go south
  This small area at the edge of the casino empties out onto a large, well-kept lawn. Decorative urns and uninspired statuary flank the casino entrance to the west, but the lawn is empty except for a few stands of bay trees. After the incessant commotion of the casino, it's remarkable in its unremarkableness. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it looks pretty.
  
  east. To the north, at the far end of the lawn, is a cluster of
  hedges.
  
  A marble bench sits near the edge of the lawn.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  Intentions:
  the explore intent
  the take intent
  the clean up intent
  the block intent
  the fold intent
  the wait intent
  
  Codebooks:
  one confidential codebook
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > get clean up
  I extract the clean up intent from the musicians.
  
  The musicians look through their sheet music.
  
  > Go north
  This small garden lies at the center of the hedge maze. Moss grows optimistically through cracks in the mosaic floor, and vines wrap around the columns ringing the open area. A fountain in the center, flowing but full of vegetation and other flotsam, breaks the summer humidity. A torturous path to the south heads back into the maze.
  
  The kid swings the sword around, carefully avoiding stepping on the shattered statue pieces.
  
  > get the play
  I extract the play intent from the kid.