text: [Themes: Espionage, male protagonist, library]
  
  > look around
  School Lane is a relatively short street running north up to the junction with Church Street and south to Cornwallis Avenue. It's mainly residential, but the primary school you attended is on this street; its playground is just to the east.
  
  She stands staring at you.
  
  You can also see a small flat metal key here.
  
  "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that button for me or aren't you?"
  
  > look at the grey box
  It's rectangular in shape, with a big red button and a small keyhole.
  
  "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that button for me or aren't you?"
  
  > take grey box
  You already have that.
  
  > drop it
  Emma looks mildly vexed, but picks up the box and hands it back to you. "Careful!" she admonishes you.
  
  > throw it
  Emma looks vaguely annoyed, but picks up the box and hands it back to you. "Clumsy!" she admonishes you.
  
  > eat it
  That's plainly inedible.
  
  > break it
  You smash the box against the ground, bursting open its case. She watches bemused as you rip out its wires, and then stamp the remains of the thing underfoot.
  
  "No! No!" she cries, "What have you done? You've ruined everything! You - you of all people - you have betrayed me!"
  
  With a demented shriek, she runs off into the night, leaving you momentarily dazed and alone, until you collect yourself and hurry off after her.
  
  The junction where the High Street crosses Mandlebury Road is generally reckoned to be the central point of the city. From here the High Street runs north up past your office and south towards Preston Bridge and the ring road, while Mandlebury Road runs east towards the police station and west towards the river. Most of the buildings on the junction are closed up, but the supermarket on the northeast corner is partly lit, and lights are blazing from Morgans Bank to the southwest.
  
  The night is just turning to dawn and you hear the sound of distant birdsong. Soon the city will be bustling with life once more; the bomb disposal people are already at work and it should be safe for people to start returning this afternoon. You have saved the city.
  
  You couldn't save her. You caught up with her just in time to see her throw herself into the river. You tried looking for her; you jumped in where you thought you'd seen her go under, and swam around for as long as you could, but you never found her, so eventually you gave up.
  
  Perhaps it's better that way, for now at last she is at peace.
  
  And you? You feel quite strange, as if you'd suddenly woken up on an alien world that was both like and unlike home. Your idol has been shattered: she was not what you thought; for all her brilliance and beauty, she was not worthy of the pedestal you put her on. But then, perhaps no human being should be worshipped. In any case, now she's gone you can at last move on. It's time to start living your life without her. You look around you and decide that from now on your life is probably best lived elsewhere - this city holds too many memories for you. But before you go you know there is one last task you must perform.
  
  You must put some fresh flowers on Kate's grave.
  
  > look at her
  (Emma)
  She is tall, slender, and to your eyes, utterly beautiful, but the moonlight makes her look a little ghostlike, exaggerating both the palor of her skin and the darkness of her hair. She's carrying a chocolate box.
  
  "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that button for me or aren't you?"
  
  > stab Emma with the knife
  Which do you mean, the steak knife or the sharp kitchen knife?
  
  > press the button
  (the big red button)
  You push the button, but nothing happens.
  
  "It won't work without the key. Put the key in the keyhole and turn it," Emma tells you.
  
  > put the key in the box
  Which do you mean, the small flat metal key, the large iron key, the large car key, the small brass key or the office key?
  
  > Flat key
  (the small grey box)
  (first taking the small flat metal key)
  "Good!" Emma declares, as you fit the key into its hole, "Now just turn it and push the button!"
  
  "What are you waiting for?" she demands, "Are you going to press that button for me or aren't you?"
  
  > turn the key
  (the small flat metal key)
  You turn the key through 180 degrees.
  
  "Good!" she declares, "Now press the button. Will you do that?"
  
  > press button
  (the big red button)
  You push the button, but nothing obvious happens.
  
  Well, something obvious happens. She laughs out loud and punches the air in triumph, shouting, "Yes!" Beaming at you fondly she continues, "Dear David, I always knew you were my truest friend, the one person I could always rely on. That's why I had to share this with you. Would you like to kiss me? Yes, I can see in your eyes you would. Go on - kiss me - I know you've always been dying to, and now you're about to die with me!"
  
  She smiles at your mild bemusement, then goes on, "I'm afraid someone tipped them all off -- I suppose it must have been Danny, he was the only one who knew enough -- so they all got away, and I really wanted to take them all with me. Still, David, you stayed behind for me, and that's good because you're the only one who never rejected me, so you mustn't reject me now -- me or my nightfall."
  
  "Emma, what are you talking about?" you ask sadly.
  
  "We're about to reach Nightfall: final, ultimate, wonderful nightfall! This whole city is about to become a pile of radioactive ash!" she declares brightly, as if this were the best possible thing imaginable, "You have just detonated my bomb, bless you! So, you deserve to share in my triumph! At last I've achieved something that no one can ignore! This place never did value me properly, I've suffered far too many rejections! You do understand, don't you? I tried - I really tried - I always did my best, but other people kept stealing the prizes. That's why I had to kill Kate, of course - and why I have to destroy this city! Don't look so upset, David -- death is the most loving gift I have to give, and you of all people deserve my best! Just think what I'm sharing with you! I know you've always fancied me, and now I know I love you madly, so go on, take me: hug me, kiss me, make mad passionate love to me; I'm yours till death us do part!"
  
  > kill her
  (Emma)
  In sudden fury, you lash out at her with your fists. She's momentarily taken off guard, so you land one punch on her jaw, but then she dodges out of your range, saying, "Really, David, that's no way for a gentleman to behave!"
  
  "Death, destruction, decay, these three things abide," she says, "but the greatest of these... Hang on. It's late!" She frowns momentarily, then relaxes into a smile, "I should not be so impatient - any moment now! Just give me one last kiss while you still can!"
  
  > stab her with the kitchen knife
  (Emma with the sharp kitchen knife)
  In sudden fury, you stab Emma through the heart, crying "You murderous bitch!"
  
  She stares at you in astonishment, then sinks slowly to the ground.
  You turn and walk away, leaving her to die alone. Whether you'll confess to killing her is something you can leave to tomorrow -- you suspect no one will blame you if you tell the story in the right way. Right now you just want to walk and walk, and ponder the salvation of a city and the death of a dream.