text: [Themes: Mystery, ocean, boat, mystery]
  
  > Go downward
  Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
  either side of the stateroom, and a dresser. The north door to the aft head is open. A short ladder leads up to the open south door.
  
  > Up
  boat. A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to the engines. On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light perched atop it like a squat bird. The door leading down into the aft stateroom yawns widely. Small windows flank the door. Tied to a cleat on the port side is a line. To the northeast and northwest is the remainder of the boat.
  Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
  Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
  
  As you clear the aft stateroom, you see a flash of color over the rail. You can't quite tell, but it looks like a rag.
  
  > examine rag
  You can't quite see the rag--it's hung on something about a meter down, just above the water. You're surprised it hasn't been washed away.
  
  > go to the northwest
  You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
  stateroom. Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the roof and then to the flying bridge. Beside the ladder, windows open into the stateroom. To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel between you and the cerulean water. The boat runs beneath your feet from the north to the southeast.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You have a pill bottle, a portable radio, a pair of wires, and a screwdriver.
  
  > tie the wires to nine-volt
  You attach the battery to the pair of wires with a few quick turns of each wire.
  
  > tie the wires to the contacts
  You touch the wires to the contacts. Motors whir as the safe springs open, its regular locking mechanism bypassed.
  
  > GET KEY, NOTE, PICTURES, LETTERS
  small key: Taken.
  note: Taken.
  pictures: Taken.
  letters: Taken.
  
  > examine the key
  Unremarkable, even as small metal keys go.
  
  > examine the pictures
  The pictures are of Carl and some woman other than Ashleigh in very compromising positions.
  
  > examine the letters
  The letters are from Carl to Thom.
  
  > read the letters
  Reading them, you quickly figure out that Thom was blackmailing Carl.
  
  > Up
  The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its small size. The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp. Across from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom. Also on the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar. Across from it is a dinette bench. Windows are at each of the cardinal directions. The west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
  Ashleigh is here, standing pensively.
  
  > show the pictures to Bill
  Bill stares at the pictures in confusion. "Uh, so?" he says.
  
  > show the letters to Bill
  Bill stares at the letters in confusion. "Uh, so?" he says.
  
  > Go southeast
  Above you and to port rises the flying bridge, casting a cold
  shadow across you. Also to port are the curtained windows which afford you a glimpse into the forecastle. At your feet lies a closed compartment. The boat continues to the northwest and south.
  
  > unlock compartment with the key
  Unlocked.
  
  > open it
  Opening the compartment reveals a long pole.
  
  > look at the pole
  The wooden pole is about two meters long and terminates in a curved hook. No doubt Thom used it for retrieving things he dropped in the water.
  
  > get rag with the pole
  It takes you a few seconds to snag the rag, but once you have it, dragging it on deck is almost anticlimactic. Now that it's on deck, you can tell that the rag is actually a shirt.
  
  > examine shirt
  If this shirt doesn't belong to Bill, it's certainly a dead ringer for the one he had on earlier. The right sleeve is torn and slightly blood-stained.
  
  > examine the blood
  The stain looks a lot like blood.
  
  > look
  boat. A large access panel in the deck has been opened for access to the engines. On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light perched atop it like a squat bird. The door leading down into the aft stateroom yawns widely. Small windows flank the door. Tied to a cleat on the port side is a line. To the northeast and northwest is the remainder of the boat.
  Lying on the deck is Thom's body.
  Carl is peering in the engines, pondering possibilities.
  
  > show the shirt to Carl
  Carl waves you away. "I don't need to see that," he tells you.
  
  > tell Carl about the shirt
  "Yeah, ok, ok," Carl says.
  
  > look at the stern light
  The stern light stares balefully back at you, the sun reflecting off of its clear plastic case.
  
  > Swim
  What do you want to swim in?
  
  > show the picture to Carl
  Carl turns away, then back to you. "Ok, yes, Thom had pictures taken of me and...Carol." He runs one hand through his hair. "It was a fling a month ago or so. Thom's been blackmailing me since." He glares at you. "But I wasn't the one who killed him! I swear!"
  
  > show the pictures to Carl
  "What are you trying to do, torture me?" he hisses at you.
  
  > examine the body
  No matter how often you hated Thom for one thing or another, you certainly didn't want to see him dead like this. His face is a strange purple color. Along one side of his head, just under his now-dry hair, is a nasty bruise, slowly darkening. One of his hands is clenched tight, tight enough to drive his fingernails into his palm. Looped complexly around his leg is a length of line.
  
  > examine the line
  The line is tough, easily able to withstand the rigors of marine life. One end of it is tied to a cleat. The other end is looped around one of Thom's ankles.
  
  > examine the cleat
  The cleat is a t-shaped piece of metal with two shafts attached to the boat, and is used in lashing lines. In fact, a line is tied to it now. An odd reddish stain mars its surface.
  
  > go north
  Above you and to port rises the flying bridge, casting a cold
  shadow across you. Also to port are the curtained windows which afford you a glimpse into the forecastle. At your feet lies an open compartment. The boat continues to the northwest and south.
  
  > ask Bill about shirt
  "Oh, um, I had to change. The other shirt was chafing me."
  
  > look at panel
  The large access panel can be opened in order to repair or service the engines which power the boat. Right now the panel is open, giving a view of the engines.
  
  > Go upward
  From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
  view of the waters in any direction. The wind whispers around the canopy's poles and past you on its journey. Beyond the helm, through the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat. Further away is land, quite some distance away to the northeast. A chair sits in front of the helm. Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
  
  > look through the windscreen
  You can see the bow of the boat and Bill standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  > go to the east
  The forward head sports a small toilet, a sink, and a miniscule shower. In the floor is a small drain; above the sink, a mirror and medicine cabinet. An open door leads west.
  
  > look at the sink
  The sink is a semi-circle with a single handle attached to it.
  
  > examine the cabinet
  It is bolted to the wall just above the sink. It is made of strong plastic, and is closed.
  
  > examine shower
  The shower is almost more for decoration than utility. It takes up one corner of the head.
  
  > open the pill bottle
  Opening the pill bottle reveals five little pills.
  
  You are rudely interrupted by the explosion of the *Bellerophon*. As you are flung into the air, you find yourself futilely wondering who caused the explosion.
  
  >> You have died <<
  
  You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current command.
  
  > go to the west
  (Opening the door)
  Forward Stateroom
  Compact yet liveable, the fore stateroom has two v-berths that meet near the nose of the ship. On the port wall is a hanging locker, and across from it is the door to the forward head, standing open. A small ladder to the south leads up to a door.
  Sitting on the left v-berth is a pill bottle.
  
  > Go west
  The flying bridge rises above you, its canopy rippling slightly in
  the wind. To the east, an open door flanked by windows leads into the forecastle. To the northeast you can see the foredeck; to the south are the aft sections of the boat.
  Carl, hands in pockets, is standing here, obviously on his way to somewhere else.
  
  Bill arrives from the south.
  
  Carl leaves to the east.
  
  > examine Bill
  Bill Leveritt has been Thom's partner in their architectural firm for as long as you've known Thom. Bill's thatch of thinning gray hair and round glasses make him look older than his forty-two years. He tries to dress flamboyantly but often fails, as demonstrated today by his long-sleeved blue oxford shirt. He's extremely good at what he does, but he is very unassuming; Thom is the talker of the firm.
  
  Bill leaves to the east.
  
  Ashleigh arrives from the south.
  
  > go to the east
  The forecastle of the boat is surprisingly comfortable despite its small size. The helm controls, including the wheel, are mounted on the fore wall, next to a chest-of-drawers which sports a lamp. Across from the chest and beside the west entrance is the galley; between the galley and the helm is a companionway to the fore stateroom. Also on the port wall, aft of the entrance, is a small bar. Across from it is a dinette bench. Windows are at each of the cardinal directions. The west entranceway is open, as is the companionway to the north.
  Sitting on the small bar is a drink tray.
  Bill slumps here quietly.
  Carl is seated on the dinette bench.
  
  Bill wanders over to the drink tray and picks up the whiskey bottle. From somewhere around the bar, he scrounges up a slightly-clean glass. With a deft flick of his wrist, he pours himself a shot of the whiskey and replaces the bottle. "I've always, er, liked whiskey," he comments.
  
  Ashleigh arrives from the west.
  
  > ask Bill about the whiskey
  "I, uh, don't really know anything about it," Bill says.
  
  Ashleigh sits down next to Carl and whispers something to him. He grins slightly in response.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a pill bottle. The pill bottle seems to contain five little pills.
  
  > ask Bill about thom
  Bill says, "I, uh, I'm really not sure how much longer I can take his attitude. He's been really, ah, annoying lately."
  
  > ask Carl about Thom
  Carl grimaces. "I dunno," he says, "he just really pisses me off some times."
  
  > open the bottom
  Opening the bottom drawer reveals a portable radio.
  
  > Go south
  Squeezed inside the aft stateroom are two single berths, one on
  either side of the stateroom, and a dresser. The north door to the aft head is open. A short ladder leads up to the open south door.
  
  From somewhere outside you hear Bill yell, "Oh, my God! Quick! Everyone to the cockpit deck! It's Thom!"
  
  > go up
  boat. A large access panel in the deck allows for any necessary engine maintenance. On the stern, a flagstaff juts skyward, the stern light perched atop it like a squat bird. The door leading down into the aft stateroom yawns widely. Small windows flank the door. Tied to a cleat on the port side is a line. To the northeast and northwest is the remainder of the boat.
  Bill is tugging with all his might on the line.
  
  > pull the line
  You tug on the line as hard as you can, but something is weighing it down. Glancing over the rail, you see a dark shape in the water.
  
  Carl arrives from the northwest.
  
  Ashleigh arrives from the northwest.
  
  > open the radio
  Opening the portable radio reveals a nine-volt battery.
  
  Carl grabs hold of the line and strains in concert with Bill. You slide in between them and put your back into the effort, but to no avail. After a few seconds, Carl stops, swearing.
  
  Bill says, "The four of us won't be able to drag Thom on board while we're, uh, moving."
  
  Ashleigh nods in agreement. "We've got to cut the engines." You find yourself wondering just who this "we" are--you surely don't want to monkey around with Thom's boat. Not that he's going to care now, but habits are hard to break.
  
  > take nine-volt
  Taken.
  
  Carl finally convinces himself that he won't be able to drag Thom onboard. You would have been glad to explain it to him, but no doubt that would have taken one minute shy of eternity. He glances at the three of you.
  
  "C'mon," he says, "I need you three on the flying bridge. I'll explain up there, right?"
  
  > Go northwest
  You stand on the deck of the boat, just to port of the aft
  stateroom. Its roof curves across the boat, and a ladder leads to the roof and then to the flying bridge. Beside the ladder, windows open into the stateroom. To starboard is the rail, standing sentinel between you and the cerulean water. The boat runs beneath your feet from the north to the southeast.
  
  Bill arrives from the southeast.
  
  Carl arrives from the southeast.
  
  Ashleigh arrives from the southeast.
  
  > Go upward
  From up here, the skipper of the boat has an almost unobstructed
  view of the waters in any direction. The wind whispers around the canopy's poles and past you on its journey. Beyond the helm, through the windscreen, you can see the bow of the boat. Further away is land, quite some distance away to the northeast. A chair sits in front of the helm. Towards the stern, a ladder leads down.
  
  Bill arrives, climbing up the ladder.
  
  Carl arrives, climbing up the ladder.
  
  Ashleigh arrives, climbing up the ladder.
  
  > tie the wires to nine-volt
  You attach the battery to the pair of wires with a few quick turns of each wire.
  
  Bill says, "Um, ok, Carl, what now?"
  
  Carl looks at the controls. "I'd best man the anchor." He looks at you, then at Bill. Finally, "Bill, I want you to go to the cockpit deck and take care of the line Thom's attached to. I want you," he turns to Ashleigh, "to relay my instructions to Bill, and I want you," he turns to you, "to throttle back when I say so. Look over the helm." He makes a few adjustments to the helm, then nods to himself.
  
  > ask Carl about the helm
  Carl says, "Hmm, can't tell you too much about that!"
  
  Bill climbs down the ladder and is gone.
  
  Carl climbs down the ladder and is gone.
  
  > look through windscreen
  You can see the bow of the boat. Further out is land.
  
  > Continue
  You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  From below, Carl yells at you, "Pull the throttle back to idle."
  
  > look through the windscreen
  You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  > continue
  You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  Carl yells, "Ok, reverse the engines!"
  
  > pull the clutch
  You pull the clutch back. You hear the engines drop into neutral.
  
  > pull the clutch
  You pull the clutch back. You hear the engines begin to turn in reverse.
  
  > Keep going
  You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  Carl shouts up at you, "Push the throttle to one-quarter."
  
  > continue
  You push the throttle forward to one-quarter speed. You hear the engines rev up to a higher pitch.
  
  > Continue
  You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  Carl yells, "Ok, I need you to shut off the...oh, screw it. Ash, kill the engines! And tell Bill to try pulling Thom in now."
  
  Ashleigh moves to the helm, leaving you to yell Carl's instructions to Bill. "Oh, er, right!" he yells back.
  
  > Continue
  You can see the bow of the boat and Carl standing on the bow. Further out is land.
  
  Ashleigh climbs down the ladder and is gone.