text: > Look around
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  > Kiss lazarus
  Keep your mind on the game.
  
  > Go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...his mother-in-law, would you believe it? Of course he never quite forgave...."
  
  > examine table
  (the main table)
  The table is long, much-used, and heavily stained.
  
  > jump
  You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.
  
  > hide
  You can run, but you can't hide.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...walked straight up to the high priest without glancing back. They say this means...."
  
  > Smash table
  Violence isn't the answer to this one.
  
  Clopas reaches for his cup just as a guest decides to offer her congratulations. Clopas sets down his cup again, reluctantly, to do the polite thing and exchange some small talk with the guest.
  
  > look at the curtain
  It's not exactly Persian, but it's a heavy, good-looking piece of material.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...could go for another drink right now. I'm not properly drunk yet...."
  
  > East
  Little Orphan Anna has better things to do.
  
  > go to the north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > take the dough
  That seems to belong to Amos.
  
  > go to the north-east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  This rather large garden supplements the family's table with a few fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Currently, it's about the only peaceful place on the property. The kitchen is back to the southwest, and a passage leads south to the main entryway. There is a stand of fig trees off to the northwest.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > take the jars
  Even when empty, they're quite heavy; and either way they're dreadfully unwieldy. Best leave them where they are.
  
  > fill the bucket
  You transfer the water from the jug to the bucket. It doesn't exactly help, but at least the water has gone to a better place.
  
  > look at water
  Cool, clear water, with a vaguely mineral aftertaste.
  
  > Drink water
  You take a refreshing sip.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...not very bright, but he found the missing animal all the same...."
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a bucket
  a wine jug
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...so the diplomat grabbed the elephant's ear, and...."
  
  > Drink water
  You take a refreshing sip.
  
  > examine bucket
  This is the bucket used to carry water from the village well to the house. It's larger than average, but at least that means not having to make quite so many trips back and forth when filling up all those jars in the entryway. Currently, the bucket is full of water, and very heavy.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  > ask Lazarus about the water
  (Clean water)
  Lazarus of Bethany doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  > give the water to Lazarus
  (first taking Clean water)
  That seems to be a part of the bucket.
  
  > ask Mary about Martha
  "My sister means well," she says vaguely.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...looking for a map of Lutetia and instead discovering that the entire clan...."
  
  > ask Mary about the locusts
  "You'll have to ask Martha, I think," Mary says vaguely.
  
  > find Martha
  She's somewhere about, surely.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  This is about as far from the maddening crowd as you can get, without actually leaving the house. The fig trees provide shade in the daytime, and the air is pleasantly cool; this time of the evening, though, it's rather darker and more shadowy than you care for. The garden itself is to the southeast.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  This rather large garden supplements the family's table with a few fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Currently, it's about the only peaceful place on the property. The kitchen is back to the southwest, and a passage leads south to the main entryway. There is a stand of fig trees off to the northwest.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna, a bridesmaid and an ancient mariner here.
  
  "There was this albatross ... did I mention the albatross?"
  
  "Yes," says the bridesmaid, barely concealing a yawn, "yes you did."
  
  "Well, there was this albatross, see, and I thought...."
  
  > go south
  You don't have any business in town.
  
  The old sailor describes in lurid detail how two hundred men just dropped dead on the deck of a ship. The bridesmaid looks like she's ready to drop dead, herself.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna, a bridesmaid and an ancient mariner here.
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about story
  Unfortunately, the ancient mariner appears to have the bridesmaid's whole and unwilling attention.
  
  > ask the mariner about the story
  Little Orphan Anna has better things to do.
  
  The old sailor seems to break off in the middle of his narrative to describe some beautiful water snakes. The bridesmaid doesn't seem to notice.
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > ask Anna about John
  "I think John is Lazarus's brother, but not a close brother. I mean his parents are totally different people. I wish there were a word for brothers and sisters who aren't actually your brothers and sisters, don't you? Anyway, Mary likes to listen to him, and Lazarus likes to argue with him, but Martha says he ought to clean himself up and marry a nice, respectable girl and settle down. She says he lives out in the wilderness and eats honey and locusts every day, which can't be healthy, but I guess he must like it or he wouldn't do it. Or maybe he's so busy talking he forgets to eat -- his father's the same way."
  
  > Go southwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a terrible snob, but you won't find a more honest man...."
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  > ask Lazarus about Rabbi
  "What? He's a wise and learned man, from a fine priestly family."
  
  > tell Lazarus about wine
  It seems unlikely that you could get much help there, and anyway it's really not your place to intrude.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...such a temper. Their mother's ambitious, though, and won't rest until...."
  
  > tell the jesus about the wine
  You tell Joshua how dry the party is getting, but he only shrugs. "Not my problem, really. Clopas doesn't really need any more wine to have a good party, does he?"
  
  > Go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...must be starving! So I left a platter of her favourite sweetmeats...."
  
  > tell Clopas about the wine
  Clopas seems rather pre-occupied with all the complicated business of being a newlywed. It would be a shame to disturb him.
  
  > Go east
  You can't go that way.
  
  Mary, the bride, is about to take a sip from her cup when a guest comes up to offer his congratulations. Mary puts down her cup to thank the guest and promptly forgets about it.
  
  > go to the north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go to the northeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna, a bridesmaid and an ancient mariner here.
  
  > throw the water at the mariner
  (first taking Clean water)
  That seems to be a part of the bucket.
  
  "There passed a weary time ... a weary time! a weary time!" the old sailor mumbles.
  
  "I can well imagine," mutters the bridesmaid, with a glazed and weary eye.
  
  > take mariner
  I don't suppose the ancient mariner would care for that.
  
  "There was a ship," quoth the mariner.
  
  "We've been through this," says the bridesmaid, a trifle desperately.
  
  > talk to the mariner
  Little Orphan Anna has better things to do.
  
  "...the dead men rose up, but don't be alarmed ... it was a troop of blessed spirits...."
  
  The bridesmaid, however alarmed she might have been the first time around, takes this "revelation" with not much more than a resigned sigh.
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go southwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...wagon driven by a pack of drunken scoundrels. She was barely more than...."
  
  > ask Lazarus about the mariner
  Lazarus of Bethany doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...walked straight up to the high priest without glancing back. They say this means...."
  
  > tell Mary about the mariner
  Mary listens attentively, but has little to tell you.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...his mother-in-law, would you believe it? Of course he never quite forgave...."
  
  > tell Mary about the wine
  "I'm sorry to hear it," Mary says sympathetically. "I wish there were something I could do to help."
  
  > ask Joshua for the wine
  Mary of Bethany has better things to do.
  
  > ask Mary about Joshua
  "Oh, he's dreadfully wise. You've just got to listen a while and you'll understand."
  
  > give jug to Mary
  Er, maybe it would be best if you don't do that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > ask Mary about the story
  "Perhaps you can tell me."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a pound of flesh, of all things, but then the other gentile's wife pointed out that...."
  
  > go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...had this dream about the butcher's late wife, so they called off the wedding...."
  
  > Go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > ask Amos about the recipe
  Amos spends a minute or so nattering on about the finer points of his experiments. "But it's still missing something, I think."
  
  > ask Amos about the honey
  "Hmm ... I suppose I could make up another batch with that," says Amos.
  
  Before long, Amos has filled up a tray with honey-flavoured bikkie dough ready for the oven.
  
  > examine the tray
  Amos calls them "bakies" or "bikkies" (Hebrew unclear - SD) because they're supposed to be baked. These are less than half-baked, being raw, but look no less delicious and full of honey-flavoured goodness.
  
  > take the tray
  Taken.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a tray of bikkies
  a bucket
  a wine jug
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > give the bikkies to Lazarus
  Lazarus of Bethany doesn't seem interested.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...looking for a map of Lutetia and instead discovering that the entire clan...."
  
  > give tray to Joshua
  Joshua's eyes light up as he takes a bikkie and breaks it into four quarters. "Thanks," he says, after muttering a quick blessing over the bikkie quarters and popping one into his mouth. "I love these things."
  
  > ask Joshua for the wine
  (Joshua first taking the wine jug)
  Joshua has better things to do.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...rhubarb. Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb. Rhubarb...?"
  
  > ask Joshua about the wine
  You tell Joshua how dry the party is getting, but he only shrugs. "Not my problem, really. Clopas doesn't really need any more wine to have a good party, does he?"
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a tray of bikkies
  a bucket
  a wine jug
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...thankfully managed to work around their language differences and got the medicine for...."
  
  > give the tray to Joshua
  Joshua's eyes light up as he takes a bikkie and breaks it into four quarters. "Thanks," he says, popping one into his mouth. "I love these things."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...his mother-in-law, would you believe it? Of course he never quite forgave...."
  
  > show tray to Joshua
  Joshua's eyes light up as he takes a bikkie and breaks it into four quarters. "Thanks," he says, popping one into his mouth. "I love these things."
  
  > go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > put the tray on the table
  You put the tray of bikkies on the main table.