text: > look at your surroundings
  This part of the station has been roped off for members of Hogg's entourage and guests only. The entrance to the train is to the east.
  
  Cornelia Hogg's attendant, a tall and commanding woman, is blocking the entrance to the train.
  
  > say the greetings
  You give a small bow, letting her see your professor costume. "I've made a study of luxury rail cars, and I've heard that this one is the jewel of the west. May I observe it?"
  
  "Very well, Professor," she says. "You will be permitted to visit Ms. Hogg's observation car. The following are prohibited: solicitation, disorderly behavior, religious proselytising, sales pitches, unlicensed scientific research, fireworks, poking the parrot, and wearing disguises."
  
  "Of course, ma'am. I wouldn't think of it," you say. The attendant beckons you to follow her into the train to the east.
  
  > Go east
  The attendant goes before you. You walk through an ornate but unimportant hallway before emerging into the Observation Car. You can feel the train starting to move.
  
  You step into Cornelia Hogg's sumptuous private observation car. The room is illuminated by the sunlit windows and the floor is covered in vivid chartreuse carpeting. A door to the south leads to freedom, once you're finished here.
  
  Cornelia Hogg is here as always, furiously scribbling. Horus, the parrot you have come to despise, is on his perch at her side. The Viscount, a frequent passenger who is clearly wearing a disguise, is perusing a magazine.
  
  Ah, there it is! The Gavinchian Rose, jewel of jewels, sitting on Hogg's lapel. It's so close, you could reach out and take it. Is it just that simple?
  
  The conductor peeks in.
  
  You and the Viscount wave your tickets at the conductor, and he takes them. With a salute at the attendant, the conductor leaves the room.
  
  [New topic for Cornelia Hogg - Introductions]
  [New topic for the parrot - Hello]
  [New topic for the Viscount - Familiar]
  
  > examine the parrot
  Horus is an underfed, ornery-looking green parrot.
  
  > Poke parrot
  As you reach out your finger, everyone in the room turns to you at once.
  
  "No!" screams the attendant.
  
  "Stop!" cries Hogg.
  
  Horus looks on with gleaming eyes, watching the finger approach. Your poke lands.
  
  Hogg leaps at you in absolute fury, punching you with nasty jab-right cross combination. The attendant clings to your back, repeatedly kneeing your kidney.
  
  You are muscled out the room and down the hallway. The attendant throws open the door and Hogg tosses you violently from the train.
  
  As the train rushes past your limp body, you can hear a faint voice:
  
  "Never! Poke! The parrot!"
  
  > examine hogg
  Cornelia Hogg is a weathered, wiry old woman with a sharp gleam in her eye. Her attention is entirely devoted to the papers she is reviewing while occasionally clucking her tongue. Hogg is dressed in a perfectly-tailored pin-striped pantsuit. Her brow is perpetually furrowed, and she has a thick head of silver hair.
  
  The Gavinchian Rose, the object of your desire, is prominently displayed on her lapel. A pet grooming kit lies on her lap.
  
  A photographer enters the room and snaps a few pictures. You move discreetly out of the way. You notice the Viscount pulling his hat over his eyes. The photographer takes a couple more and departs.
  
  > look at Viscount
  The Viscount is a perennial passenger in Hogg's observation car, although he never seems to speak. He is wearing a wide hat, a heavy scarf, and a fake beard. You could recognize him from his pungent odor alone, though.
  
  > Smell viscount
  The Viscount has a nasty sort of chemical smell, sickly-sweet and pungent.
  
  The server stalks in, punctual as usual, and carrying his tray of drinks. He stands, slouched, staring at the floor, waiting for someone to grab a beverage. You can see quite a few drinks on the tray. Cornelia smacks her lips, glancing at the tray of drinks but not stopping her work or concentration.
  
  > examine the beard
  The Viscount's heavy beard is impressive, but a trained professional like you can easily tell it's attached with spirit gum. The right solvent could wipe it right off.
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  The server blinks in the bright sunlight streaming through the windows. He goes to pull the shades, but the attendant says, "No, no, no, only authorized staff can close the shades."
  
  > examine the drinks
  This tray contains complimentary drinks, a grudging concession towards hospitality by the usually stingy Hogg.
  
  In the tray full of drinks are a glass of grape juice, a glass of water, a glass of soda, and a glass of vodka.
  
  > examine waiter
  While you can't see it inside the suitcase, you remember what it looks like.
  
  You managed to find one of these in your size on a previous trip.
  
  The server stomps out of the room.
  
  > say the introductions
  "Good afternoon, Ms. Hogg."
  
  She looks at you skeptically. "Good afternoon, Mister..."
  
  "Professor Spinwater, at your service."
  
  "And just what are you a professor of, Mr. Spinwater?"
  
  "Philosophy, Ms. Hogg. My thesis was on the Stoics, who believed that, with effort, one can become resistant to emotional distress and all other misfortunes of life. I've been experimenting on my theories, you know. In any case, I've been looking forward to spending some time in your company!"
  
  > look at the kit
  This is a small, transparent plastic pouch.
  
  In the grooming kit are some tweezers, an emery board, and a toy mouse.
  
  The train passes under a tunnel, plunging the room into darkness.
  
  Cornelia tuts. "We really ought to get better lighting in here," she says.
  
  It is now pitch dark in here!
  
  > examine the suitcase
  You remember that the suitcase contains a banker costume, a waiter costume, a maintenance uniform, and a pet groomer costume.
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  > Radiator
  Your first word had a typo or is one I'm not familiar with. Try a different word.
  
  > look at the radiator
  It's too dark to tell if what you typed is here.
  
  > Topics
  [Topics with an asterisk (*) have already been discussed.]
  
  Things to say to the attendant:
  *Greetings - A small bow towards the attendant.
  Things to say to the parrot:
  Hello - "Hello, pretty boy!"
  Things to say to Cornelia Hogg:
  *Introductions - "Good afternoon, Ms. Hogg."
  Things to say to the Viscount:
  Familiar - "You seem familiar, sir. Have we met?"
  
  You can see just the topics for one person at a time by TALKing TO that person.
  
  > say hello
  It's hard to tell who's here in the darkness with you. Better to wait.
  
  The train exits the tunnel, and sunlight streams in once more.
  
  > say hello
  "Hello, pretty boy!" you say. "How are we today?"
  
  Horus cocks his head at you and says, "Hello! Hello! Horus demands a cracker!"
  
  [New topic for the parrot - Snack]
  [New topic for the parrot - Reject]
  
  > say the snack
  "Would you like a cracker, my feathered friend?" you ask.
  
  Horus bobs his head up and down, and says, "Cracker! Horus will perform for a cracker."
  
  An official-looking woman enters with a document for Hogg to sign. Hogg scrawls on the line without looking up and the woman leaves.
  
  [New topic for the parrot - Performance]
  
  The server stalks in, carrying his tray of drinks. He stands, slouched, staring at the floor, waiting for someone to grab a beverage. You can see quite a few drinks on the tray. Cornelia smacks her lips, glancing at the tray of drinks but not stopping her work or concentration.
  
  > take the soda
  You grab the glass of soda from the server's tray. He grunts in acknowledgment and continues to stare at the floor.
  
  > give the soda to Hogg
  The attendant snaps at you. "Let the servants attend to Ms. Hogg, sir."
  
  Hogg murmurs, "If only you weren't such a ninny." The attendant flushes.
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  > look at the attendant
  The attendant is a towering, stern woman with tightly pulled-back hair, a starched blouse, and a frock coat. A nametag says "Beatrice Foxtrot."
  
  A stubborn woman, you've learned from experimentation, who never leaves Hogg's side. But her poor eyesight makes your use of costumes all the better.
  
  The server stomps out of the room.
  
  > say the performance
  "Horus my friend, will you perform for me?" you ask, crouching down to look Horus in the eye.
  
  Horus says, "Horus is blessed with an abundance of grace. Dance, music and rhetoric are all in my power."
  
  [New topic for the parrot - Dance]
  [New topic for the parrot - Music]
  [New topic for the parrot - Rhetoric]
  
  > say dance
  Horus squawks and hops from one foot to the other.
  
  You hear the whistle blow.
  
  > say the music
  Horus stretches tall and begins to sing a bespoke adaptation of The Charge of the Light Brigade. It seems it will go on for quite some time.
  
  Wonderful. That should help mask the sound of your footsteps when you take the Rose.
  
  An official-looking woman enters with a document for Hogg to sign. Hogg scrawls on the line without looking up and the woman leaves.
  
  Horus is currently singing at the top of his lungs.
  
  > talk parrot
  That's not something you can say.
  
  There is a murmur of voices in the outside corridor, but it subsides.
  
  Horus is currently singing at the top of his lungs.
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  The train passes under a tunnel, plunging the room into darkness.
  
  It is now pitch dark in here!
  
  > take Rose
  It's too dark to tell if what you typed is here.
  
  > Topics
  [Topics with an asterisk (*) have already been discussed.]
  
  Things to say to Beatrice:
  *Greetings - A small bow towards the attendant.
  Things to say to the parrot:
  Rhetoric - "Speech! Speech!"
  *Music - "Sing for me?"
  *Dance - "Dance, Horus!"
  *Performance - "Horus, will you perform for me?"
  Reject - "No crackers for you, dear."
  *Snack - "Would you like a cracker?"
  *Hello - "Hello, pretty boy!"
  Things to say to Cornelia Hogg:
  *Introductions - "Good afternoon, Ms. Hogg."
  Things to say to the Viscount:
  Familiar - "You seem familiar, sir. Have we met?"
  
  You can see just the topics for one person at a time by TALKing TO that person.
  
  > say familiar
  It's hard to tell who's here in the darkness with you. Better to wait.
  
  Horus is currently singing at the top of his lungs.
  
  > wait for a while
  You bide your time.
  
  [You can skip directly to the next time the train goes under the bridge by typing SKIP.].
  
  Horus is currently singing at the top of his lungs.
  
  You can hear the server stomping into the room, carrying a tray of drinks, although you cannot see him.
  
  Horus stops singing and preens his feathers. He seems eager to sing again.
  
  [Renewed topic for the parrot - Music]
  
  The train exits the tunnel, and sunlight streams in once more.
  
  > say familiar
  "You seem familiar, sir. Have we met?" you ask pointedly.
  
  "You must be mistaken," answers the Viscount in a gruff tenor. "I rarely travel from my estate."
  
  "Of course, your estate. A pleasant one, I suppose, as you are the Viscount of...?" you press.
  
  The Viscount shakes his head. "It's a new one, you wouldn't have heard of it."
  
  "Ah, such modesty. It's surprising, though. Only three viscountcies were granted this year, and I am personally acquainted with two of them. I suppose that you, then, are the Viscount Upton Snodsbury."
  
  The Viscount says, "Oh! Yes, yes. Upton Snodsbury."
  
  The server blinks in the bright sunlight streaming through the windows. He goes to pull the shades, but Beatrice says, "No, no, no, only authorized staff can close the shades."
  
  > give the soda to the attendant
  Beatrice shakes her head. "No thanks."
  
  > talk to the attendant
  To speak with Beatrice, choose a topic from below and SAY [the topic] TO BEATRICE.
  
  Things to say to Beatrice:
  Greetings
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  The server stomps out of the room.
  
  > say the greetings to the attendant
  You've already discussed this with Beatrice.
  
  [You can REMEMBER or RECALL a topic to remind yourself about previous conversations.]
  
  > talk to Hogg
  To speak with Cornelia Hogg, choose a topic from below and SAY [the topic] TO CORNELIA HOGG.
  
  Things to say to Cornelia Hogg:
  Introductions
  
  > say the introductions
  You've already discussed this with Cornelia Hogg.
  
  [You can REMEMBER or RECALL a topic to remind yourself about previous conversations.]
  
  > Topics
  [Topics with an asterisk (*) have already been discussed.]
  
  Things to say to Beatrice:
  *Greetings - A small bow towards the attendant.
  Things to say to the parrot:
  Rhetoric - "Speech! Speech!"
  Music - "Sing for me?"
  *Dance - "Dance, Horus!"
  *Performance - "Horus, will you perform for me?"
  Reject - "No crackers for you, dear."
  *Snack - "Would you like a cracker?"
  *Hello - "Hello, pretty boy!"
  Things to say to Cornelia Hogg:
  *Introductions - "Good afternoon, Ms. Hogg."
  Things to say to the Viscount:
  *Familiar - "You seem familiar, sir. Have we met?"
  
  You can see just the topics for one person at a time by TALKing TO that person.
  
  > Parrot speech
  Your sentence had too many words; you can try typing just the part where you wanted to do something to the parrot.
  
  > say the parrot speech
  Your sentence had too many words; you can try typing just the part where you wanted to say the parrot.
  
  > talk to the parrot
  To speak with the parrot, choose a topic from below and SAY [the topic] TO THE PARROT.
  
  Things to say to the parrot:
  Rhetoric
  Music
  Dance
  Performance
  Reject
  Snack
  Hello
  
  > say the rhetoric
  Horus strikes a majestic pose and says, "Fortune favors the brave!"
  
  You hear the whistle blow.
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  > open the suitcase
  You take a quick peek inside the suitcase.
  
  You remember that the suitcase contains a banker costume, a waiter costume, a maintenance uniform, and a pet groomer costume.
  
  You close the suitcase.
  
  > take the uniform
  You take off the professor costume and put it in the suitcase, then pull out the maintenance uniform. The jumpsuit is an easy fit. You adopt an attitude of confidence in yourself and indifference to those around you.
  
  You close the suitcase.
  
  [Renewed topic for Cornelia Hogg - Introductions]
  
  [Renewed topic for Beatrice - Greetings]
  
  [Renewed topic for the Viscount - Familiar]
  
  [You can introduce yourself to Hogg, the Viscount and/or the attendant once per costume.]
  
  The train exits the tunnel, and sunlight streams in once more.
  
  The Viscount turns and looks at your new disguise, then goes back to his magazine. He seems to be the only one who's noticed.
  
  > close the shades
  You pull down the shades. Beatrice says, "Leave those alone, you--" but cuts off when she sees your maintenance uniform.
  
  You notice that your shadow has disappeared. That should make it easier to grab the Rose.
  
  The server stomps out of the room.
  
  > say the greetings
  You make a slight bow towards Beatrice. She seems completely oblivious to your presence.
  
  An official-looking woman enters with a document for Hogg to sign. Hogg scrawls on the line without looking up and the woman leaves.
  
  The radiator rattles and hisses.
  
  > look at the radiator
  The radiator provides heat to the car with steam power. It has a small knob that can be turned to increase or decrease the temperature.
  
  > Talk
  [Topics with an asterisk (*) have already been discussed.]
  
  Things to say to Beatrice:
  *Greetings - A small bow towards the attendant.
  Things to say to the parrot:
  *Rhetoric - "Speech! Speech!"
  Music - "Sing for me?"
  *Dance - "Dance, Horus!"
  *Performance - "Horus, will you perform for me?"
  Reject - "No crackers for you, dear."
  *Snack - "Would you like a cracker?"
  *Hello - "Hello, pretty boy!"
  Things to say to Cornelia Hogg:
  Introductions - "Good afternoon, Ms. Hogg."
  Things to say to the Viscount:
  Familiar - "You seem familiar, sir. Have we met?"
  
  You can see just the topics for one person at a time by TALKing TO that person.
  
  > turn the knob
  You turn the knob, heating up the observation car significantly.
  
  The Viscount is sweating profusely. He unwinds the heavy scarf and stows it away out of sight, revealing a short, tanned neck.
  
  "Awful hot, isn't it?" says the Viscount.
  
  The Viscount retreats from you towards the wall and attempts to be less conspicuous.
  
  You hear the whistle blow.