text: [Themes: Cave crawl, Zorkian, fantasy, zorkian, alchemy, spells, old school]
  
  The Meteor, The Stone And A Long Glass Of Sherbet
  
  Another day wasted as guest of the Empress, a wretchedly long tour of
  the breath-taking Boreal Falls, conducted as ever by the Lady Amilia.
  As if she weren't bad enough, an honour guard of soldiers, their
  breast-plates red in the setting sun, march ahead of the procession
  and protect you from seeing anything unrehearsed. It's a dog's life
  being an Ambassador.
  
  The Meteor, the Stone and a Long Glass of Sherbet
  The Interactive Memoirs of a Diplomat
  
  (Please type "help" if you would like instructions.)
  
  Standard interpreter 1.0
  
  Watling Street (in the cushioned basket)
  The ancient paved road stretches for miles to the south, turning very
  slowly to the northeast along a mossy stone wall. From up here on your elephant's wickerwork basket, you're just level with the branches of
  the old Imperial hunting woods inside the wall.
  
  day for a fortnight, you're just desperate to get away.
  
  The procession of elephants shuffles on, their enormous soles slapping
  onto the flagstones with a dull, regular boom.
  
  [Author's Note: Another day wasted as guest of the Empress, a wretchedly long tour of the breath-taking Boreal Falls, conducted as ever by the Lady Amilia. As if she weren't bad enough, an honour guard of soldiers, their breast-plates red in the setting sun, march ahead of the procession and protect you from seeing anything unrehearsed. It's a dog's life being an Ambassador.]
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a fedora hat (being worn)
  a hand telescope
  
  "I'm sure I've told you the scandal with the new Lord Chamberlain?..."
  
  > look at Amilia
  The terrifying thing about the Lady Amilia, a young woman who would
  grace any court ball, is that even after an entire day like this she
  shows no sign whatever of being bored. Even now she is reading the
  guide book with apparent concentration, though you can't ever remember
  her turning a page.
  
  "...such a disappointment for all concerned, quite honestly..."
  
  > examine the hat
  (Amilia's hat)
  Amilia is wearing a simply fatuous hat, a light summer shade which
  would look quite presentable if it weren't for the waxwork grapes,
  apples, plums, damsons and so on around the brim.
  
  > look at your hat
  (Amilia's hat)
  Amilia is wearing a simply fatuous hat, a light summer shade which
  would look quite presentable if it weren't for the waxwork grapes,
  apples, plums, damsons and so on around the brim.
  
  "...which only means one thing..."
  
  > examine fedora
  A broad-brimmed light summer hat, ideal for shading your face from the
  setting sun.
  
  A silken boy runs up from the rear of the procession, hands you each a
  glass of sherbet and then allows himself to be caught up again before
  boarding the last carriage at the rear of the elephant-train.
  
  > show the fedora to Amilia
  Lady Amilia is unimpressed.
  Amilia fans herself with the guide book.
  
  > get book
  Those seem to belong to Lady Amilia.
  
  > throw the glass at Amilia
  Oh, if only you could. A pity that the resulting incident could plunge
  an entire continent into war, with the mighty Empire crushing your
  tiny Duchy.
  
  > examine the woods
  The walls do seem very secure. Surely a minor local law would have
  been enough to keep the local peasants away?
  
  But then, by now you're quite sure it isn't just an ordinary hunting
  estate. A pity this will probably be the closest you'll ever be
  allowed to get...
  
  > examine the elephant
  The magnificent grey beast is wrinkled and has a wise look (but then,
  after an entire day of Amilia's conversation, your average potato
  would have a wise look). His two great ears flap a little up at the
  front sides of the basket, his trunk curls and pokes at the air.
  
  "Have I told you the rumour about the Empire's best racing donkey?..."
  
  > look at the basket
  The basket has the usual complement of cushions, but if there were
  anything among them you'd have bumped into it hours ago.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a glass of sherbet
  a fedora hat (being worn)
  a hand telescope
  
  "...such a terribly exciting moment for everybody..."
  
  > look through the telescope
  You must say what to look at through the telescope.
  
  "...just as my Mother always warned me..."
  
  > search amilia
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  Amilia fans herself with the guide book.
  
  At a whistle from the soldiers up ahead, the procession comes to an
  ungainly halt.
  
  Customs Post (in the cushioned basket)
  As the road passes around the corner of the woods and turns east, it
  also passes a customs post. You're ten feet up, and the tasseled
  pennant flag flutters down from the pole to curl around the basket in
  the light breeze.
  
  The whole procession of elephants and carts is halted, and there is
  much commotion.
  
  > look at Amilia through the telescope
  Lady Amilia is too close to you to make that worthwhile.
  
  > look at the flag through the telescope
  The pennant flag is too close to you to make that worthwhile.
  
  "Have I told you how I couldn't get a single pair of shoes to fit,
  last week?..."
  
  > look at the forest through the telescope
  You raise the brass telescope expertly to your eye, a dashing gesture
  which never fails to make Amilia clap her hands with pleasure.
  Somehow, though, Amilia also manages to nudge your arm so that you
  can't get a clear look at the woods.
  
  "Don't fret," says Amilia, "we're only stopping a moment, it's just a
  silly old routine I suppose, I mean they can see we aren't smugglers
  or anything..."
  
  > look at Amilia
  The terrifying thing about the Lady Amilia, a young woman who would
  grace any court ball, is that even after an entire day like this she
  shows no sign whatever of being bored. Even now she is reading the
  guide book with apparent concentration, though you can't ever remember
  her turning a page.
  
  The procession sluggishly resumes, taking some time to accelerate
  again. You dread to imagine what a hill start would be like.
  
  Watling Street (in the cushioned basket)
  The ancient highway stretches east as far as the eye can see, running
  parallel with the mossy stone wall enclosing the hunting woods to the
  south. The wall appears unbroken. To the north, vast meadowlands sweep
  into a lush, cultivated valley.
  
  The procession of elephants shuffles on, their enormous soles slapping
  onto the flagstones with a dull, regular boom.
  
  "...such a dreadful shame, all things considered..."
  
  > examine wall
  (the mossy wall)
  The walls do seem very secure. Surely a minor local law would have
  been enough to keep the local peasants away?
  
  But then, by now you're quite sure it isn't just an ordinary hunting
  estate. A pity this will probably be the closest you'll ever be
  allowed to get...
  
  > look at the wall through the telescope
  (the mossy wall through the hand telescope)
  The mossy wall is too close to you to make that worthwhile.
  
  The procession runs over a small culvert bridge, which presents no
  problem to the elephants. You glance down, and can't help thinking
  something's wrong somewhere.
  
  "...I expect somebody was sorry, really..."
  
  > ask Amilia about the wall
  What Amilia doesn't know would fill a whole game in itself.
  
  Amilia fans herself with the guide book.
  
  Just for a moment, you catch a flickering glimpse of a bird up in the
  higher branches of the woods.
  
  > examine the bird
  It's too far away to make out at all clearly, and it keeps moving.
  
  > look at the bird through the telescope
  You raise the brass telescope expertly to your eye, a dashing gesture
  which never fails to make Amilia clap her hands with pleasure.
  Although you only get one clear glimpse of the bird, its distinctive
  speckled green and blue feathers must make it one of the legendary
  Birds of Paradise.
  
  "I'm sure I've told you my mother's recipe for rhubarb pudding?..."
  
  > tell Amilia about the bird
  "Is that so? Heavens!"
  
  "...such a charming face, that's what I say..."
  
  > Drink sherbet
  You sip at the fine sherbet, careful not to drink it all at once. It
  has been chilled in a wooden cask of ice, and is the best news all
  day.
  
  Giggling nervously, for she has been waiting for you to take a sip,
  Amilia downs her sherbet with a quick snort (unfortunately literally,
  and she sneezes).
  
  > say eww
  [To address somebody, please type "name, what you want to say". For
  example: "amilia, hello".]
  
  > Eww
  Amilia is baffled, but then she so often is.
  
  > Kiss amilia
  Thank heavens, an Ambassador's duties only go so far.
  
  "...I expect somebody was sorry, really..."
  
  > Yes
  That was a rhetorical question.
  
  > Sleep
  You aren't feeling especially drowsy.
  
  Amilia fans herself with the guide book.
  
  > look
  Watling Street (in the cushioned basket)
  The ancient highway stretches east as far as the eye can see, running
  parallel with the mossy stone wall enclosing the hunting woods to the
  south. The wall appears unbroken. To the north, vast meadowlands sweep
  into a lush, cultivated valley.
  
  A bird seems to be darting about in the tree-tops, vaguely following
  the procession.
  
  The procession of elephants shuffles on, their enormous soles slapping
  onto the flagstones with a dull, regular boom.
  
  > ask Amilia about the guide book
  What Amilia doesn't know would fill a whole game in itself.
  
  "Surely I can't be the first to tell you about those scandalous
  goings-on at the Royal Farm?..."
  
  > give the telescope to Amilia
  "Super!"
  
  She squints into the telescope, but picks the wrong end, and then
  hands it back with a half-puzzled look. "Marvellous invention, what?"
  
  > ask Amilia for the guide book
  "It's a jolly super guide book!" says Amilia gratuitously, as she
  kindly passes it over. Fortified by years of training in the
  diplomatic service, you thank her.
  
  "...such a horrid way to spend a Wednesday in the season..."
  
  > stand
  It wouldn't be safe to dismount while the procession is under way.
  
  "...a nod's as good as a wink, after all..."
  
  > look at the bird through the telescope
  Amilia thinks she disapproves of that.
  
  > take the guide book
  Enormously detailed with the useless and irrelevant, the Empress gave
  it to you hoping you'd waste time studying it in detail. You have
  vowed never to do so, but it's still handy for passing the odd dull
  moment by looking up some specific local feature.
  
  You already have that.
  
  > look up the bird in the book
  The Northland Empire supports a rich and varied avian life.
  
  > look up the bird of the paradise in Book
  The Guide Book has a lovingly detailed section on birds of paradise,
  which there is no time to read now. Apart from the plumage, it seems
  these birds are distinguished by their mating call, a chirrup followed
  by a coo. They live to be twenty years old, always return to their
  first nest in midsummer and steal each others' eggs, but nobody knows
  why.
  
  > Chirrup
  Amilia hangs her head half on one side and flutters her eyelids,
  puzzled.
  
  > Coo
  Amilia really is bewildered now. But your mating call does seem to
  have done the trick! The bird of paradise flutters down over the wall
  to dance eagerly around your basket.
  
  Although clearly peeved by the lack of a significant other here, the beautifully-plumed bird does (to your immense satisfaction) begin
  pecking away at the wax fruit on the Lady Amilia's hat.
  
  > look through the telescope at the forest
  You raise the brass telescope expertly to your eye. Somehow, though,
  Amilia also manages to nudge your arm so that you can't get a clear
  look at the woods.
  
  Amilia hisses at the bird, without effect.
  
  > look
  Watling Street (in the cushioned basket)
  The ancient highway stretches east as far as the eye can see, running
  parallel with the mossy stone wall enclosing the hunting woods to the
  south. The wall appears unbroken. To the north, vast meadowlands sweep
  into a lush, cultivated valley.
  
  The Bird of Paradise is still worrying away at Amilia's hat, so for
  once your tour guide has her eyes off you.
  
  The procession of elephants shuffles on, their enormous soles slapping
  onto the flagstones with a dull, regular boom.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  The Guide For Travellers To The Lower Northlands and Surrounding
  Provinces
  a glass of sherbet
  a fedora hat (being worn)
  a hand telescope
  
  Amilia hisses at the bird, without effect.
  
  > examine the elephant
  The magnificent grey beast is wrinkled and has a wise look (but then,
  after an entire day of Amilia's conversation, your average potato
  would have a wise look). His two great ears flap a little up at the
  front sides of the basket, his trunk curls and pokes at the air.