text: [Themes: Travel, Slice of life, complex NPC, nature]
  
  > Look around
  Homestead (on the oak rocking chair)
  The years have not been kind to this remnant of the past, although the obviously recent repairs hide the worst of the scars. An old-fashioned log cabin occupies an opening in the woods, door swung open onto the wide front porch. The single window looks out onto the clearing, alert and watchful, with a country plaid curtain that flutters in the breeze. A trail leaves to the south and continues around the cabin to the north.
  
  On the porch is an oak rocking chair.
  
  You can see Bob here, sanding a handmade rocking chair.
  
  Bob gives the worn chair a thorough look, as if deciding where to start. "Yep, I love this old chair," he says to you. "Built by my grandpa just before I was born. Gave it to my mother, he did, and she rocked me to sleep many many times."
  
  > go north
  You'll have to get off the oak rocking chair first.
  
  Bob slowly starts with the sandpaper on one of the arms, working carefully to remove the finish.
  
  > stand
  You get off the oak rocking chair.
  
  The years have not been kind to this remnant of the past, although the obviously recent repairs hide the worst of the scars. An old-fashioned log cabin occupies an opening in the woods, door swung open onto the wide front porch. The single window looks out onto the clearing, alert and watchful, with a country plaid curtain that flutters in the breeze. A trail leaves to the south and continues around the cabin to the north.
  
  On the porch is an oak rocking chair.
  
  You can see Bob here, sanding a handmade rocking chair.
  
  Bob finds an area that seems particularly stubborn, and sands a little harder in that spot.
  
  > go north
  The north side of the cabin is plain and unpretentious; not even a window provides a view in. A stone chimney forms most of the wall of the cabin. In the clearing here is a traditional antique outhouse, complete with a crescent moon. A wooden shed sits off to the side and a garden lies west. To the north through the trees, you can see the double tracks of an overgrown roadway.
  
  > look at the shed
  The same hands that built the log cabin also made the shed, from the looks of it, but the timbers are of even more uneven cut. Leftovers from the bigger project, probably. The door, if there ever was one, is missing. A large paper wasp nest fills the upper left corner of the door to the shed, active and buzzing with insects.
  
  > enter it
  You take a step towards the door of the shed, but the angry buzzing of the wasps inside and around the nest brings back memories of painful stings.
  
  > Search shed
  Through the guarded door of the shed, you can see shelves and other objects, but it's too dark inside to see more details.
  
  > examine the nest
  A large paper wasp nest fills the upper left corner of the door to the shed, active and buzzing with insects.
  
  > examine the chimney
  Made of pink granite from the nearby mountain, this stone fireplace is the best-preserved part of the old cabin. Set into its base is a black iron door no more than 10 inches square. The door is closed.
  
  > Go south
  The years have not been kind to this remnant of the past, although the obviously recent repairs hide the worst of the scars. An old-fashioned log cabin occupies an opening in the woods, door swung open onto the wide front porch. The single window looks out onto the clearing, alert and watchful, with a country plaid curtain that flutters in the breeze. A trail leaves to the south and continues around the cabin to the north.
  
  On the porch is an oak rocking chair.
  
  Bob looks up from his sanding and nods as you approach.
  
  "I do really enjoy this kind of work," he says to you with a wink.
  
  > Nest
  "Dippers put their nests in the strangest places."
  
  > Wasp
  "Are those wasps back? I'll have to smoke them out again."
  
  > Smoke
  What do you want to smoke?
  
  > go inside
  "Make yourself at home," Bob calls to you as you step through the door, "but I sure think it's nicer out here."
  
  The inside of Bob's cabin is spartan but comfortable. A stone fireplace forms the north wall of the single room, and to the side stands a tall cabinet. One corner serves as a kitchen. South, a four-pane window looks out into the forest, the doorway open beside it.
  
  > examine the cabinet
  Exquisitely handmade of quarter-sawn oak, this cabinet is taller than you. It fills a corner of the cabin.
  
  > search the fireplace
  In the fireplace are a pile of ashes.
  
  > open the cabinet
  You open the tall cabinet, revealing an assortment of Bob's things.
  
  Bob comes in from outside and goes to the cabinet. "Need another piece of sandpaper," he says as he takes one from the shelf.
  
  > get ashes
  You scoop the ashes out of the fireplace and onto the ground, soiling your fingers. In the ashes, you discover a sooty matchbook, which you take.
  
  Bob turns to you as he prepares to leave, and gives you an odd look. "It's nicer outside, my dear."
  
  > look at the things
  There are so many things in the cabinet, you're not sure what to look at first. They belong to Bob, anyway. Don't you think you should leave them alone?
  
  "Come on out with me, dear. This old chair is special to me," he says, as he goes out the door of the cabin.
  
  > Close cabinet
  You close the tall cabinet.
  
  > examine the matchbook
  Through the gray smudges you can read a short advertisement for "Anything You Want!" at Alice's Restaurant.
  
  > open it
  That's already open.
  
  > Burn cabin
  The log cabin starts to catch fire, then goes out.
  
  > Leave
  The years have not been kind to this remnant of the past, although the obviously recent repairs hide the worst of the scars. An old-fashioned log cabin occupies an opening in the woods, door swung open onto the wide front porch. The single window looks out onto the clearing, alert and watchful, with a country plaid curtain that flutters in the breeze. A trail leaves to the south and continues around the cabin to the north.
  
  On the porch is an oak rocking chair.
  
  Bob looks up from his sanding as you emerge from his cabin.
  
  Bob goes to work on the support for the rocker's arm. Sanding all four sides, he moves from top to bottom.
  
  > Burn bob
  He avoids your clumsy attempt, and you can see the sadness in his eyes. "Please don't do that," he smiles. "If you want to be mean, I'd rather you just went away."
  
  > Kiss bob
  He's a little surprised by your forwardness.
  
  The match burns out and crumbles into ashes.
  
  > BOB, KISS YOURSELF, YOU FOOL
  Bob just looks at you and rubs his chin. You're not sure he understood.
  
  > search the matchbook
  In the matchbook are two matches.
  
  Bob works on the right legs of the chair. "Sanding's hard work," he remarks.