text: [Themes: Fantasy, dog, East Asian setting]
  
  Several weeks of travel have brought me to Mount Shanshan. The last ride I was able to get was a goods truck to a small village at the base of the mountain. Then it was a long hike up the mountain along badly maintained roads and footpaths.
  
  The road ends here at an abandoned cable car platform. The cableway leads directly to my destination. I must get it running, somehow.
  
  A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.
  
  The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.
  
  A cable car is docked to the platform.
  
  [Author's Note: My search for the Pattern has brought me to Mount Shanshan. Now it's just a matter of a short cable car ride up to the top.]
  
  > look at the cable car
  The cable car is large enough to comfortably fit about four passengers. The red paint coating is peeling away in large flakes and rust is corroding the body.
  
  It's hard to see through the dirty windows but it seems like there's a simple control panel inside.
  
  A iron bar attaches the car to the platform and at the same time locks the door.
  
  > open door
  The iron bar blocks the door from opening.
  
  > move the bar
  It's attached with large bolts. It can't be removed without tools.
  
  > examine the platform
  The wooden platform serves as a docking and embarkment area for the cable car.
  
  > examine the waterfall
  The waterfall rumbles down the mountainside and raises a cloud of mist where it hits the water.
  
  > Go south
  The wooden shack houses a large diesel generator that moves the cableway. The shack's walls are rotten and patchy. The exit leads back out to the north.
  
  The diesel generator looks like it hasn't been used in quite some while.
  
  > Examine generator
  The diesel generator is currently switched off.
  
  > turn on the generator
  The engine coughs a few times but refuses to start. A quick troubleshooting indicates that the cylinders are so dirty that the engine can't run. They need to be cleaned first.
  
  > Clean cylinders
  (with the shack walls)
  The shack walls isn't suitable for cleaning the cylinders with.
  
  > go north
  A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.
  
  The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.
  
  A cable car is docked to the platform.
  
  > Go east
  I walk the road back to an old hotel I passed on the way here.
  
  I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.
  
  The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.
  
  An angry dog is barking at me behind the gate.
  
  > examine the dog
  The dog is big and menacing, a mutt or perhaps even a Chongqing. He's barking viciously behind the gates. His short fur is filthy and largely covered in dirt.
  
  There must be a way.
  
  (Find a quiet place to MEDITATE.)
  
  > meditate
  The rumbling of the waterfall makes it impossible to meditate here.
  
  > Go south
  The wooden shack houses a large diesel generator that moves the cableway. The shack's walls are rotten and patchy. The exit leads back out to the north.
  
  The diesel generator looks like it hasn't been used in quite some while.
  
  > Go east
  I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.
  
  The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.
  
  An angry dog is barking at me behind the gate.
  
  > Go east
  A scenic hiking path leads back down the mountain. I know it all too well, having walked it up here in the first place. The way back to the hotel is to the west.
  
  Two small stone statues depicting a lion and a dragon are greeting visitors on both sides of the path.
  
  > examine the lion
  The statue is not very tall and is carved from solid black stone. It's set here by the path as a decoration for passersby. This one depicts a lion.
  
  > look at the dragon
  The statue is not very tall and is carved from solid black stone. It's set here by the path as a decoration for passersby. This one depicts a dragon.
  
  > meditate
  cheapglulxe quit with exit status: 1
  
  Several weeks of travel have brought me to Mount Shanshan. The last ride I was able to get was a goods truck to a small village at the base of the mountain. Then it was a long hike up the mountain along badly maintained roads and footpaths.
  
  The road ends here at an abandoned cable car platform. The cableway leads directly to my destination. I must get it running, somehow.
  
  A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.
  
  The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.
  
  A cable car is docked to the platform.
  
  > Go south
  The wooden shack houses a large diesel generator that moves the cableway. The shack's walls are rotten and patchy. The exit leads back out to the north.
  
  The diesel generator looks like it hasn't been used in quite some while.
  
  > meditate
  "What do you seek?"
  
  "I seek the truth, shifu."
  
  She hit me on the fingers with the head of her cane, like many
  times before.
  
  "You say you seek the truth, but only lies come out your own
  mouth. What do you seek?"
  
  The memory fades and the mind is silent.
  
  Meditation revealed the following truth:
  
  (With this information you can CHANGE things INTO their
  counterpart identities. You can also THINK to recall previously learned information.)
  
  > Go west
  I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.
  
  The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.
  
  An angry dog is barking at me behind the gate.
  
  > change the dog into the flute
  I clear my mind and concentrate on the dog, imagining its counterpart nature. The truth becomes obvious -- a dog is a flute, and a flute is a dog, and there is no difference between the two. Sparkles start flying from all over the dog as the Universe bends to accept the reality I have discovered.
  
  The sparkling stops and where the dog used to stand, there's a small koudi flute lying on the grass.
  
  > take the flute
  The flute is in the garden behind the gate, beyond my reach.
  
  > open gate
  I open the gate.
  
  > Go north
  Weeds have taken over the garden, which seems to have been designed in a distinctly Japanese style. It must have been very beautiful in its heyday.
  
  The hotel entrance is to the north and the gates to the south.
  
  A flute lies on the grass near the gate.
  
  In the center of the garden is a murky pond.
  
  > take flute
  Taken.
  
  > examine the pond
  The pond is full of muddy water, but I can see a fish, probably a koi, swimming around in it.
  
  > look at the koi
  The koi swims around in the pond, looking a bit lonely.
  
  > wash flute in the pond
  I clean the flute the best I can using the water from the pond.
  
  > play the flute
  Remembering what it used to be, I reluctantly put the flute on my lips and blow. The air escapes through the fingerholes. There must be a blockage inside the flute somewhere.
  
  > go north
  The view in the hotel lobby confirms that the establishment has been deserted for a long time. The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.
  
  There's a staircase to the north leading up and a closed door leading east.
  
  A large wardrobe for coats has fallen over near the entrance.
  
  > look at the plants
  The leaves have fallen off the plants and are now only dead branches. They're beyond resuscitation.
  
  > open the wardrobe
  It's fallen over on its door. I can't open it.
  
  > meditate
  "What do you seek?"
  
  "I seek power, shifu."
  
  There is no slap on the fingers this time.
  
  The memory fades and I am ready to learn.
  
  Meditation revealed the following truths:
  
  > Go up
  This is the corridor where the hotel's guest rooms are. There are seven doors in total. To the south the staircase leads back down.
  
  > open the door
  Which do you mean, door 101, door 102, door 103, door 104, door 105, door 106 or door 107?
  
  > open 101
  The door seems to be locked. Brief testing confirms that the same is true for every door here.
  
  > go D
  The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.
  
  There's a staircase to the north leading up and a closed door leading east.
  
  A large wardrobe for coats has fallen over near the entrance.
  
  > go east
  (first opening the door)
  I try the doorknob, but the door is locked.
  
  > change the doorknob into the umbrella
  The doorknob sparkles and turns into an umbrella. The umbrella is now sticking out the door where the knob used to be.
  
  > Go east
  (first opening the door)
  I pull on the umbrella, but it comes loose.
  
  The door's lock mechanism has nothing to support it anymore and falls apart. The door should be unlocked now.
  
  A large dining hall full of empty tables is a sad sight. Some rays of light filter in through the dirty windows.
  
  There's a pair of dumbwaiters on the farthest wall and a hand crank in the space between them.
  
  > examine the dumbwaiter
  Which do you mean, the left dumbwaiter or the right dumbwaiter?
  
  > examine the left dumbwaiter
  The dumbwaiters are an old elevator system for lifting food from the kitchen and then lowering dirty dishes back. They are small wooden compartments running inside the wall and supported by a rope.
  
  The single crank on the wall suggests that they are connected with a common rope and pulley system and lowering one will raise the other.
  
  In the left dumbwaiter is a chopstick.
  
  There's a closed grid door in front of the compartment.
  
  > take chopstick
  I put a finger through one of the holes in the grid door, manage to reach the chopstick and pull it out.
  
  > put the chopstick in the flute
  (clearing the flute with the chopstick)
  Using the chopstick, the wad of dirt that was blocking the flute pops cleanly out. That must be a relief to the dog as well.
  
  [Achievement unlocked: Veterinarian]
  
  (Command ACHIEVEMENTS to see a list of your achievements.)
  
  > open the door
  (the grid door)
  The door is rusted stuck. It's unlikely that I can get it open.
  
  > remember
  Meditation has revealed the following truths:
  
  doorknob equals umbrella
  
  > go to the west
  The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.
  
  There's a staircase to the north leading up and a door leading east to the dining hall.
  
  A large wardrobe for coats has fallen over near the entrance.
  
  > go east
  A large dining hall full of empty tables is a sad sight. Some rays of light filter in through the dirty windows.
  
  There's a pair of dumbwaiters on the farthest wall and a hand crank in the space between them.
  
  > go south
  Weeds have taken over the garden, which seems to have been designed in a distinctly Japanese style. It must have been very beautiful in its heyday.
  
  The hotel entrance is to the north and the gates to the south.
  
  In the center of the garden is a murky pond.
  
  > change the koi into the tornado
  The fish starts to sparkle under the water. It soon disappears and a tall water spout forms in its place. The spout makes it out of the pond and manages to travel a meter or two before dissipating and releasing the water as a rain on the garden, getting my clothes wet.
  
  I look in the now almost empty pond and see a glint of metal. There seems to be a key stuck in the mud. Some hotel guest must have dropped it there by accident.
  
  > Unlock 101
  (with the room key)
  That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
  
  > Unlock 102
  (with the room key)
  I unlock door 102.
  
  > examine the key
  A wooden key fob is attached to the key. Water has turned it almost illegible but I can still make out the number "102".
  
  > Open 102
  I open door 102.
  
  > Inside
  The hotel room is spartan, with only the most necessary furniture. The scene through the window is beautiful, though. There's a direct view to the waterfall I saw earlier.
  
  I can see a bedside table (on which are a sanitary napkin and a tube of lipstick) here.
  
  > take all
  sanitary napkin: Taken.
  lipstick: Taken.
  
  > meditate
  "The Universe has shown you some of its secrets," she says,
  casually turning a flower into a guitar, as if to underline a point. "But the key to true enlightenment is to observe the Pattern and to understand it."
  
  Finally I push aside the distracting memories.
  
  Meditation revealed the following truth:
  
  > remember
  Meditation has revealed the following truths:
  
  doorknob equals umbrella
  sanitary napkin equals monkey wrench
  
  > examine the bed
  The bed is made and a layer of dust is on the covers.
  
  > leave
  This is the corridor where the hotel's guest rooms are. There are seven doors in total, of which I've unlocked door 102. To the south the staircase leads back down.
  
  > go south
  I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.
  
  The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.
  
  > play the flute
  The flute has a low, dark sound to it.
  
  > drop the flute
  Dropped.
  
  > close the gate
  I close the gate.
  
  > turn the flute into the Dog
  The flute sparkles and is soon changed back into the dog, who resumes barking after noticing me.
  
  [Achievement unlocked: Clean Dog]
  
  > Examine pad
  The sanitary napkin is, thankfully, unused.
  
  > turn the pad into the wrench
  The sanitary napkin sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a monkey wrench.
  
  > remove the bar
  The iron bar is attached to the cable car and to the platform with large bolts.
  
  > turn the bolts with the wrench
  I put the monkey wrench on a bolt, adjust it to fit and turn. The bolt snaps with a cloud of rust flakes and starts to turn free. The nut on the other side turns with the bolt. I try to hold the nut still but can't get a good grip; I need a glove or something.
  
  > check your inventory
  I am carrying:
  a monkey wrench (which equals sanitary napkin)
  a tube of lipstick
  a room key
  a chopstick
  an umbrella (which equals doorknob)
  
  I have some information about the nature of the universe.
  
  > turn wrench into the pad
  The monkey wrench sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a sanitary napkin.
  
  > Clean the generator with the pad
  The sanitary napkin would be perfect for cleaning the cylinders, but the grit is too sturdily stuck. I need something to soften it first.
  
  > Wet pad
  What do you want to wet the sanitary napkin with?
  
  > Waterfall
  The waterfall is too far away.
  
  > turn the Dog into the flute
  The dog sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a flute.
  
  > open gate
  I open the gate.
  
  > go north
  Weeds have taken over the garden, which seems to have been designed in a distinctly Japanese style. It must have been very beautiful in its heyday.
  
  The hotel entrance is to the north and the gates to the south.
  
  In the center of the garden is a murky pond.
  
  I can also see a flute here.
  
  > Wet pad with water
  There's still enough water in the pond to wet the sanitary napkin. It's now soaked with muddy pond water.
  
  > Clean generator with the pad
  The dirt is stuck to the parts too hard. I need something stronger than water to clean it.
  
  > look at the crank
  The crank is placed so that it's evidently used to raise and lower the dumbwaiters.
  
  > turn the crank
  The crank seems to be stuck and after applying some more force it snaps off into my hand. I place it down and curse my bad luck.
  
  > look at the crank
  The crank was apparently used to raise and lower dumbwaiters in the dining hall. Now it's broken.
  
  > Inside
  The hotel room is spartan, with only the most necessary furniture. The scene through the window is beautiful, though. There's a direct view to the waterfall I saw earlier.
  
  I can see a bedside table here.
  
  > examine the waterfall
  The waterfall rumbles down the mountainside and raises a cloud of mist where it hits the water.
  
  > check your inventory
  I am carrying:
  a crank
  a flute (which equals dog)
  a sanitary napkin (which equals monkey wrench)
  a tube of lipstick
  a room key
  a chopstick
  an umbrella (which equals doorknob)
  
  I have some information about the nature of the universe.
  
  > play the flute
  The flute has a low, dark sound to it.
  
  > look at the window
  There's a view of the waterfall through the window.
  
  > examine the dust
  There's a layer of dust on every surface.
  
  > look at the lipstick
  It's a tube of red lipstick, a bit too bright shade for my tastes.
  
  > examine the wardrobe
  A wardrobe, presumably meant for storing casual visitors' coats, has fallen over.
  
  A single leather glove has been pinned under the top corner of the wardrobe.
  
  > take the glove
  The glove is pinned under the wardrobe. I can't get it loose.
  
  > meditate
  Meditation revealed the following truth:
  
  > change the glove into the cantaloupe
  I concentrate and focus on changing the glove. There's more resistance than usual, but finally the glove gives in. A cantaloupe appears in its place and half of it is immediately squashed under the wardrobe.
  
  > take all
  cantaloupe: Taken.
  
  > change the cantaloupe into the glove
  The cantaloupe sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a glove.
  
  > examine the glove
  A part of the glove is cut off, but most of it is still intact. Wearing it won't be very fashionable, though.
  
  > Wear glove
  I put on the glove.
  
  > examine the bolt
  Large bolts attach the iron bar to the platform.
  
  > turn the bolt with the wrench
  The sanitary napkin sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a monkey wrench.
  
  With the gloved hand holding the nuts opposite the bolts in place I am able to unscrew the bolts and free the car.
  
  > look at the car
  The cable car is large enough to comfortably fit about four passengers. The red paint coating is peeling away in large flakes and rust is corroding the body.
  
  It's hard to see through the dirty windows but it seems like there's a simple control panel inside.
  
  > open the door
  I open the cable car.
  
  > enter car
  I get into the cable car.
  
  A control panel has been set to the wall opposite the door. It has a lever that most likely gets the thing moving.
  
  > examine panel
  A control panel has been set to the wall opposite the door. It has a lever that most likely gets the thing moving.
  
  > pull the lever
  Nothing happens. I must get the engine that moves the cableway running first.
  
  > leave
  I get out of the cable car.
  
  A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.
  
  The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.
  
  A cable car is docked to the platform.
  
  > put the lipstick on the pad
  (applying the lipstick to the sanitary napkin)
  There's no real reason to smear the lipstick on the sanitary napkin.
  
  > turn the glove into the cantaloupe
  The glove sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a cantaloupe.
  
  > examine the cantaloupe
  The other half of the cantaloupe has been crushed by a wardrobe, after it had already been toppled. Deep.
  
  > go north
  The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.
  
  There's a staircase to the north leading up and a door leading east to the dining hall.
  
  > examine the wardrobe
  A wardrobe, presumably meant for storing casual visitors' coats, has fallen over.
  
  > go east
  A large dining hall full of empty tables is a sad sight. Some rays of light filter in through the dirty windows.
  
  There's a pair of dumbwaiters on the farthest wall.
  
  > examine the dumbwaiters
  Which do you mean, the left dumbwaiter or the right dumbwaiter?
  
  > examine right dumbwaiter
  The dumbwaiters are an old elevator system for lifting food from the kitchen and then lowering dirty dishes back. They are small wooden compartments running inside the wall and supported by a rope.
  
  The single crank on the wall suggested that they are connected with a common rope and pulley system and lowering one will raise the other.
  
  The right dumbwaiter is lowered beyond reach.
  
  > fix the crank
  The crank is beyond repair.
  
  > examine the left dumbwaiter
  The dumbwaiters are an old elevator system for lifting food from the kitchen and then lowering dirty dishes back. They are small wooden compartments running inside the wall and supported by a rope.
  
  The single crank on the wall suggested that they are connected with a common rope and pulley system and lowering one will raise the other.
  
  The left dumbwaiter is empty.
  
  There's a closed grid door in front of the compartment.
  
  > check your inventory
  I am carrying:
  a cantaloupe (which equals glove)
  a sanitary napkin (which equals monkey wrench)
  a crank
  a flute (which equals dog)
  a tube of lipstick
  a room key
  a chopstick
  an umbrella (which equals doorknob)
  
  I have some information about the nature of the universe.
  
  > put the flute in the left dumbwaiter
  I put the flute into the left dumbwaiter.
  
  > change the flute into the Dog
  The flute sparkles and turns back into the dog. The dog seems a bit confused, but before he can orient himself his weight pushes the dumbwaiter down and the right dumbwaiter rises. There's a sausage on a plate and a bottle in the revealed compartment.
  
  I can hear the dog barking somewhere below.
  
  > take all
  bottle of gin: Taken.
  plate: Taken.
  sausage: Taken.
  
  > examine the gin
  There's still some gin left in the bottom of the bottle.
  
  > examine the plate
  The plate is tastefully decorated with a flower theme.
  
  > meditate
  It's some kind of long salami-style sausage. Salt has preserved it comparably well, but it's still rancid enough to not be edible.
  
  The barking of the dog makes it impossible to meditate here.
  
  > change the Dog into the flute
  The dog is in the left dumbwaiter, which is out of my reach at the moment.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  I am carrying:
  a sausage
  a plate
  a bottle of gin
  a cantaloupe (which equals glove)
  a sanitary napkin (which equals monkey wrench)
  a crank
  a tube of lipstick
  a room key
  a chopstick
  an umbrella (which equals doorknob)
  
  I have some information about the nature of the universe.
  
  > pour the gin on the pad
  I squeeze the water out of the sanitary napkin and pour what's left of the gin on it. It soaks it all up.
  
  > Clean cylinder with pad
  Cleaning the generator is hard work, but after a while the moving parts look clean enough. After spending some considerable amount of additional tinkering the generator starts to look like it could work again.
  
  > turn on the generator
  The generator makes some suspicious noises but then comes to life. The cableway starts moving again.
  
  > Go north
  A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below. The cableway is moving.
  
  The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.
  
  A cable car is docked to the platform.
  
  > Go inside
  (inside the cable car)
  I get into the cable car.
  
  A control panel has been set to the wall opposite the door. It has a lever that most likely gets the thing moving.
  
  > pull the lever
  The mechanism on top of the car latches on to the cableway and the car jolts on moving.
  
  After a brief but scenic ride the car stops.
  
  Mountain top (in the cable car)
  The cable car has reached its destination.
  
  > Go outside
  (first opening the cable car door)
  I step out the cable car and see the shrine a short way from the platform. To my surprise the Master is sitting cross-legged in front of the shrine.
  
  "Shifu," I greet and bow deep.
  
  "Welcome, apprentice," she says. "Have you learned the Pattern?"
  
  1) Everything has both good and evil in them
  2) Things can be turned into their exact opposites
  3) Reality is an illusion
  4) There is no pattern
  5) I don't know the answer
  
  ?
  
  > 3
  She swings her cane faster than I can react and hits me hard on my left shin.
  
  "Did that feel like an illusion? What is the Pattern?"
  
  1) Everything has both good and evil in them
  2) Things can be turned into their exact opposites
  3) Reality is an illusion
  4) There is no pattern
  5) I don't know the answer
  
  ?
  
  > 4
  "I really don't know," I say. "I turned a dog into a flute, and a fish into a tornado, and a sanitary pad into a monkey wrench, and I just can't see what the pattern is. There's nothing that connects them, it's as if it's all completely random. Anything can be changed into anything and..."
  
  The Master closes her eyes and nods.
  
  Understanding comes to me. "Anything can be changed into anything."
  
  At that moment I am enlightened.
  
  > Achievements
  You have unlocked the following achievements:
  
  Clean Dog: Washed the dog.
  Veterinarian: Cured the dog.
  
  These achievements are still unlocked:
  
  - Art Collector
  - Clown Dog
  - First Guess
  - Full Belly
  - Not a Drop
  - Ride with a Friend
  - Wet Dog
  
  Unlock all achievements for a bonus extended ending.
  
  Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command or list your ACHIEVEMENTS?
  
  > enter the car
  [Please answer with a number between 1 and 5]
  
  ?
  
  > 5
  She closes her eyes. "You do know the answer. Try again."
  
  1) Everything has both good and evil in them
  2) Things can be turned into their exact opposites
  3) Reality is an illusion
  4) There is no pattern
  5) I don't know the answer
  
  ?