text: [Themes: religion, Christianity, Historical]
  
  > look around
  This is about as far from the maddening crowd as you can get, without actually leaving the house. The fig trees provide shade in the daytime, and the air is pleasantly cool; this time of the evening, though, it's rather darker and more shadowy than you care for. The garden itself is to the southeast.
  
  John, the Rabbi's son, lounges sullenly against a tree, hugging a nearly-full jug of wine to himself.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > take jug
  John gives Anna a look that sends her scuttling back behind you.
  "Hands off," he growls.
  
  > eat the locust
  (first taking the plate of honeyed locusts)
  That seems to belong to John.
  
  > give the fig to John
  (first taking the fig trees)
  You pick a fig and eat it. Yum.
  
  > ask Anna about John
  "I think John is Lazarus's brother, but not a close brother. I mean his parents are totally different people. I wish there were a word for brothers and sisters who aren't actually your brothers and sisters, don't you? Anyway, Mary likes to listen to him, and Lazarus likes to argue with him, but Martha says he ought to clean himself up and marry a nice, respectable girl and settle down. She says he lives out in the wilderness and eats honey and locusts every day, which can't be healthy, but I guess he must like it or he wouldn't do it. Or maybe he's so busy talking he forgets to eat -- his father's the same way."
  
  > ask John about the locusts
  "What? I happen to like honeyed locusts. Don't knock 'em till you've tried 'em."
  
  > tell the story to John
  "You don't have to tell me," John snaps. "That old man came to the Jordan to be baptised a couple of months ago, and held up two of my disciples for three days, telling it to them. And the whole thing really didn't take more than four minutes, when they repeated it to me later.
  
  > Go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  This rather large garden supplements the family's table with a few fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Currently, it's about the only peaceful place on the property. The kitchen is back to the southwest, and a passage leads south to the main entryway. There is a stand of fig trees off to the northwest.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > ask Anna about the parents
  Anna looks a little wistful. "I don't know anything about my parents, but I'd bet they were young ... bet they were smart. Bet they collected things like ashtrays and art." She pauses, a little puzzled. "What's an ashtray?"
  
  > go southwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > take the cup
  She'll only drop it, you're sure.
  
  > give the cup to you
  (Little Orphan Anna first taking the cups)
  She'll only drop it, you're sure.
  
  Mary, the bride, is about to take a sip from her cup when a guest comes up to offer his congratulations. Mary puts down her cup to thank the guest and promptly forgets about it.
  
  > put the cup in bucket
  That's hardly helpful.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...could go for another drink right now. I'm not properly drunk yet...."
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, clustered around the venerable old Rabbi.
  The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  The Rabbi is holding court with a crowd of would-be scholars, among whom you recognise Lazarus of Bethany.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > tell the story to Lazarus
  Lazarus of Bethany is rather too involved in the ongoing discussion with the Rabbi to pay much attention to what you have to say.
  
  > tell the story to Mary
  "There was a ship..." you begin, which catches Mary's attention immediately.
  
  "That sounds familiar," she says, giving you her full attention.
  "Isn't it the beginning part of that rather confused story that the mariner outside tells? If you've got it all organised, I'd like to hear it."
  
  > continue
  Mary shudders as you describe the curse that befell the mariner's crew. "How terrible! Should all the people suffer for the sin of one man?"
  
  > keep going
  "What a terrible story!" Mary seems to be hanging on to your every word, nonetheless.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...in the middle of winter.
  Anyway, she was lost and...."
  
  > Keep going
  "And is that how it ends, with the old mariner turning his gaze away from his suffering to these sea snakes? But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  > Keep going
  "But why would the Lord relent for something like that?" Mary looks to you for the moral of the story.
  
  Mary presses you for further details or possibly an explanation for the more inexplicable aspects of the story, but you have to confess that you cannot add to what you have told her. Disappointed, she returns to the Rabbi and his entourage for more erudite discourse.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a pound of flesh, of all things, but then the other gentile's wife pointed out that...."
  
  > ask Mary about Martha
  "My sister means well," she says vaguely.
  
  > Go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...looking for a map of Lutetia and instead discovering that the entire clan...."
  
  > examine table
  (the main table)
  The table is long, much-used, and heavily stained.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...wagon driven by a pack of drunken scoundrels. She was barely more than...."
  
  > Search table
  (the main table)
  There is nothing on the main table.
  
  > take the table
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > Go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > Go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > open well
  (the village well)
  You heave the wooden cover aside.
  
  > Down
  Little Orphan Anna has better things to do.
  
  > put Anna in well
  (the village well)
  That will only get it wet.
  
  > put the bucket in well
  (the village well)
  Oh no, you hauled enough water from the well earlier today, filling up those jars for washing feet. You're not doing this again unless you absolutely have to.
  
  > take the cover
  You carefully reposition the cover over the well.
  
  > go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna, a bridesmaid and an ancient mariner here.
  
  > go to the east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  A few soldiers are hanging about nearby, looking grumpy.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  "Hey, you there!" says one of the soldiers, approaching you. "You're from the house of Clopas, aren't you? Do us a favour. There's this man we're supposed to arrest, one John son of Zechariah. And we know he's at this wedding, but see, we have no idea what he looks like."
  
  "Crazy wild man living in the wilderness, dressed in animal skins," says another, "great description if he were doing his thing over on the Jordan, but here's this wedding and he's probably all cleaned up for it. Probably looks like decent folk. So if you know the guy and could point him out to us, we'd be much obliged."
  
  > follow you
  Come to think of it, you haven't seen the Rabbi's son since that initial uproar over the (bleagh) honeyed locusts. No telling where he is now, and no telling what you don't know.
  
  Little Anna tugs on your sleeve and whispers, "are you sure this is a good idea, sir?"
  
  > go west
  This is where the family keeps the wine and the olive oil. It is a cool, windowless room; the kitchen proper is up some steps to the east.
  
  A rickety set of shelves stands against one wall.
  
  > go to the east
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  > drop the plate
  You carefully set down the plate of ... food.
  
  > go to the south
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  "Hey, mister!" Little Anna trots up to you. "Is it true that there's no more wine? I saw Martha and Amos get into the cart with the donkey and they rode off in such a hurry. Martha said you were going to find a missing jug of wine and maybe that would help. Can I help? Just say the word, sir!"
  
  Heaven help us.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna, a bridesmaid and an ancient mariner here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  A few soldiers are hanging about nearby, looking grumpy.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  "Hey, you there!" says one of the soldiers, approaching you. "You're from the house of Clopas, aren't you? Do us a favour. There's this man we're supposed to arrest, one John son of Zechariah. And we know he's at this wedding, but see, we have no idea what he looks like."
  
  "Crazy wild man living in the wilderness, dressed in animal skins," says another, "great description if he were doing his thing over on the Jordan, but here's this wedding and he's probably all cleaned up for it. Probably looks like decent folk. So if you know the guy and could point him out to us, we'd be much obliged."
  
  > Kiss john
  John looks at you in puzzlement, then sees the approaching soldiers over your shoulder. "Oh, I get it," he says, his brow darkening, "this is some sort of identification signal, isn't it? I thought the house of Clopas understood hospitality a little better than that."
  
  "You can come along with us," says one of the soldiers, all puffed up with officious importance. John puts up no resistance, but gives you a venomous glance over his shoulder as the soldiers lead him away.
  
  You are struck by an inexplicaple sense of déjà vu, as the Gauls put it. At any rate, John the Rabbi's son has been taken away and the soldiers are gone, and the errant jug of wine has been left behind.
  
  > go southwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Success! Well, assuming there actually is enough wine in the jug to hold off everyone's thirst until Martha and Amos get back. How much wine is there in the jug, anyway?
  
  > look in the jug
  The missing wine jug! Unfortunately, it appears to contain nothing but water.
  
  You look up from your inspection of the wine jug in time to see Martha and Amos bustle into the kitchen. You can tell from the looks on their faces that their mission has not been a success. "The only merchant still in the market was a man selling lamp oil," Martha tells you, "he said he'd gotten a very last-minute order for six jars of the stuff, and was hoping there'd be more to come." She sighs and glances at the wine jug. "At least you've been successful. If we water it down a little...."
  
  You confess that, as far as you know, watering down the wine is not going to be an issue. Martha groans. "I'll go tell Clopas," she says, "and see if I can distract the other guests somehow. I don't know what else I can do." Taking a deep breath, she marches out into the courtyard like a brave little Maccabean.
  
  Amos, who really should have been the one to inform Clopas, fidgets distractedly and finally pulls out a bowl of dough and proceeds with the baking for the morrow.
  
  > ask Anna about the jesus
  "Oh, I know him, he's a friend of Lazarus's. He's visited us at Bethany a couple of times."
  
  That was odd, now you think about it. John didn't seem at all drunk, and he couldn't possibly have finished off the whole jug by himself. What actually happened to the wine?
  
  > go to the south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, clustered around the venerable old Rabbi.
  The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  The Rabbi is holding court with a crowd of would-be scholars, among whom you recognise Lazarus of Bethany.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > ask Mary about the jesus
  "Oh, he's dreadfully wise. You've just got to listen a while and you'll understand."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...his mother-in-law, would you believe it? Of course he never quite forgave...."
  
  > ask Lazarus about the jesus
  Lazarus of Bethany is rather too involved in the ongoing discussion with the Rabbi to pay much attention to what you have to say.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a wine jug
  
  > go to the southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Clopas reaches for his cup just as a guest decides to offer his congratulations. Clopas sets down his cup again, reluctantly, to do the polite thing and exchange some small talk with the guest.
  
  > fill the jug
  If it's not wine, it doesn't belong in the jug.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...looking for a map of Lutetia and instead discovering that the entire clan...."
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, clustered around the venerable old Rabbi.
  The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  The Rabbi is holding court with a crowd of would-be scholars, among whom you recognise Lazarus of Bethany.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You notice Mary of Bethany in deep conversation with one of the guests. Or rather, the guest is talking and Mary is listening intently. As the guest moves on towards the main courtyard area, Mary follows along behind, still listening intently and apparently not noticing the change of location.
  
  > go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  Mary of Bethany is listening as one of the guests spills his life story to her.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  The guest, continuing his story, strolls off towards the bridal table. Mary of Bethany follows after, still hanging on to his every word.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...had this dream about the butcher's late wife, so they called off the wedding...."
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  Mary of Bethany is listening as one of the guests spills his life story to her.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  The guest concludes his story and disappears into the crowd. Mary nods thoughtfully, then suddenly notices the distinct lack of learned discourse nearby. She even looks a little embarrassed as she hurries back to the west wall.
  
  > ask Anna about the guest
  (the crowd of guests)
  Little Anna has entirely too much to say about that, none of it even remotely useful.
  
  Clopas reaches for his cup just as a guest decides to offer her congratulations. Clopas sets down his cup again, reluctantly, to do the polite thing and exchange some small talk with the guest.
  
  > ask Anna about Mary of Bethany
  "I think our Mary is the best of all. She always listens when I have a story to tell. Martha says she spends too much time listening and not enough time doing but I think Martha does enough for everybody.
  Anyway, Mary says that all stories mean something if you take the time to listen properly, but a lot of the time she also wants a Rabbi or someone like that to come explain things to her. I think she just likes having people tell her things."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...honour one's father and mother. Say what you like, he's always done his duty by her...."
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the sort of disciple no prophet ever wants.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, clustered around the venerable old Rabbi.
  The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  The Rabbi is holding court with a crowd of would-be scholars, among whom you recognise Lazarus of Bethany.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > look at wall
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, clustered around the venerable old Rabbi.
  The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  > examine the lamps
  Several oil lamps light up the courtyard this evening, making it almost as bright as day.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...wouldn't believe a word of it. So I said to Thomas, I said...."
  
  > take the lamp
  You went through a lot of trouble setting these lamps up earlier today, and you're not about to take them down now. And anyway, they're out of reach.
  
  > ask Mary about the guest
  (the crowd of would-be scholars)
  Mary listens attentively, but has little to tell you.
  
  > ask Mary about Rabbi
  Mary listens attentively, but has little to tell you.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...could go for another drink right now. I'm not properly drunk yet...."
  
  > ask Rabbi about the story
  The would-be scholars notice the wine jug in your hands, and obligingly let you through to the Rabbi.
  
  The Rabbi has entirely too much to say about ... some esoteric, metaphysical aspect of whatever it is you were talking about, because you lost it somewhere between the philosophy and the theology.
  
  > ask Rabbi about the jesus
  "That boy is entirely to smart for his own good."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...down on the Jordan. Surprised to see him here at all, though of course he's disappeared...."
  
  > ask Rabbi about John
  "I take the trouble to pull the boy out of the wilderness and clean him up so he can be presentable, and what happens? He disappears into the garden to sulk. I know, I know, he's practically a prophet, but sometimes I think it would be better if he'd just been a nice little craftsman of some sort instead."
  
  > tell Rabbi about John
  "He what?" the old Rabbi stares at you, goggle-eyed, and throws up his hands in horror. "Then what am I still here talking theology for? Shoo, get out of the way, I got to go do something about my boy. You, Joshua, you're in charge! The rest of you, stay out of trouble!"
  
  Old Zechariah hustles out of the house with all the speed his old bones can muster, leaving his former entourage to murmur among themselves at this turn of events.
  
  > ask Lazarus about the jesus
  "Joshua's one of my best friends. I like to think that I'm like Jonathan to his David."
  
  > ask Lazarus for jesus
  (Lazarus of Bethany first taking Joshua)
  Lazarus of Bethany has better things to do.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...and I'll be writing to Theophilus about that, naturally. He'll be interested to hear...."
  
  > examine the jesus
  You don't know the guy very well. Most of the guests are relative strangers, and this one is stranger than most: he's supposed to be a carpenter, or so you've heard, but apparently he was already teaching the priests and the Levites their own craft when he was ten. Which makes you kind of glad that you didn't know him way back then.
  
  > ask Joshua about the wine
  "All right, maybe I did have something to do with that. I'm just looking out for my brother and his promises here." You tell Joshua how dry the party is getting, but he only shrugs. "Not my problem, really. Clopas doesn't really need any more wine to have a good party, does he?"
  
  > ask Joshua about the water
  (Clean water)
  Joshua doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  > ask Joshua for the wine
  (Joshua first taking the wine jug)
  Joshua has better things to do.
  
  Anna leans in close to you and says, "I was wondering, do you think maybe Joshua would help if someone else asked him to, sir? Mary says sometimes that Martha would get a lot more help in the kitchen if she wouldn't nag so -- not that you were nagging at all, sir, but I think sometimes it matters who is doing the asking."
  
  > ask Joshua for the wine
  Lazarus of Bethany has better things to do.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...such a temper. Their mother's ambitious, though, and won't rest until...."
  
  > ask Joshua about John
  "John is a great man. If you haven't been baptised by him, you should."
  
  > ask Joshua about the carpentry
  Joshua doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > ask Joshua for the wine
  Little Orphan Anna has better things to do.
  
  > examine Joshua
  You don't know the guy very well. Most of the guests are relative strangers, and this one is stranger than most: he's supposed to be a carpenter, or so you've heard, but apparently he was already teaching the priests and the Levites their own craft when he was ten. Which makes you kind of glad that you didn't know him way back then.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...rhubarb. Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb. Rhubarb...?"
  
  > go to the east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > examine amos
  Amos is tall, dark and lanky; there's a fair bit of Ethiopian and Egyptian in his blood. He's been appointed head steward for the wedding, though you know that his first love is really the bakery. He has this idea for tiny little bite-sized matzah that he claims are going to make him famous one of these days, once he perfects the recipe.
  
  > ask Amos about the food
  "Well, that part went wonderfully. But I guess we should have paid more attention to the wine, eh? At least the honeyed locusts appear to be gone, even if making up that dish has left us with more leftover honey than I know what to do with."
  
  > ask Amos about honey
  "Hmm ... that could work, I suppose," says Amos.
  
  Before long, Amos has filled up a tray with honey-flavoured bikkie dough ready for the oven.
  
  > examine the dough
  Amos always resorts to baking when he's troubled by something or other. Lately, his recipes seem to taste better (to you, anyway) before they're baked than after; quite fortunately Amos never begrudges you a sample of his experiments.
  
  > ask Amos about the dough
  "I'll get this recipe right one of these days. So if you have any suggestions as to what I can put in this, go ahead and tell me about them."
  
  > taste the dough
  You taste nothing unexpected.
  
  Amos, satisfied that the bikkies are ready for the oven, takes the tray and deposits its contents into the oven, then goes back to mixing up another batch of dough.
  
  > look
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a wine jug
  
  > go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  This is where the family keeps the wine and the olive oil. It is a cool, windowless room; the kitchen proper is up some steps to the east.
  
  A rickety set of shelves stands against one wall.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Anna takes a step back and points up to the top of the shelves. "Look, there's a jug up there! Maybe there's some wine in it!" You tell her not to be silly, you know for a fact.... but Anna's already begun clambering up the front of the shelves. As might be expected, the shelves creak alarmingly and begin to sway forward as Anna reaches the top....
  
  > get Anna
  You snatch Little Anna away from the toppling shelves, and not a moment too soon. The shelves and their precious contents smash into the floor and shatter into pieces. Clopas will have your head in the morning, assuming he's not too hungover then (fat chance of that, all things considered) but in the meantime, Anna just stares wide-eyed at the mess she's caused. "Ooh," she says, "I guess I shan't be trying that again...."
  
  Amos pops his head into the winery, takes one good look at the mess, then rubs his head and returns to his baking, muttering that he sees nothing and knows nothing.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > Go northeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  This rather large garden supplements the family's table with a few fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Currently, it's about the only peaceful place on the property. The kitchen is back to the southwest, and a passage leads south to the main entryway. There is a stand of fig trees off to the northwest.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  This is about as far from the maddening crowd as you can get, without actually leaving the house. The fig trees provide shade in the daytime, and the air is pleasantly cool; this time of the evening, though, it's rather darker and more shadowy than you care for. The garden itself is to the southeast.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > take the figs
  You pick a fig and eat it. Yum.
  
  > go to the south-west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...so the diplomat grabbed the elephant's ear, and...."
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  > ask Lazarus about the figs
  Lazarus of Bethany doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...saved the bridge, though if you ask me he should never have wandered off in the first place...."
  
  > ask Lazarus about the poison
  Lazarus of Bethany doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...not very bright, but he found the missing animal all the same...."
  
  > go northeast
  You can't go that way.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...must be starving! So I left a platter of her favourite sweetmeats...."
  
  > go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go north
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > ask Amos about the locusts
  "Well, that particular experiment went well. I'm not trying it again, though I don't know what I'm going to do with the leftover honey.
  Thank goodness there aren't any leftover locusts, anyway."
  
  > ask Amos about the wine
  Amos waves you away. "We're doomed, Micah. I've accepted that. So just leave me to my baking, okay?"
  
  > follow you
  Amos has better things to do.
  
  > ask Amos about Martha
  "I can't think why a woman like that isn't already the matriarch of some ever-growing clan. If I weren't a lowly servant --" Amos stops himself and turns back to his baking.
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  This is about as far from the maddening crowd as you can get, without actually leaving the house. The fig trees provide shade in the daytime, and the air is pleasantly cool; this time of the evening, though, it's rather darker and more shadowy than you care for. The garden itself is to the southeast.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > Go southeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like Raphael following Tobias, but with significantly less divine intent.
  
  This rather large garden supplements the family's table with a few fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Currently, it's about the only peaceful place on the property. The kitchen is back to the southwest, and a passage leads south to the main entryway. There is a stand of fig trees off to the northwest.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go southwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna and Amos here.
  
  > go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > examine the lamps
  Several oil lamps light up the courtyard this evening, making it almost as bright as day.
  
  > take the lamp
  You went through a lot of trouble setting these lamps up earlier today, and you're not about to take them down now. And anyway, they're out of reach.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...wagon driven by a pack of drunken scoundrels. She was barely more than...."