text: [Themes: Fantasy, Western]
  
  > Look around
  This small jail was not designed for the comfort of its occupants. It is impossible to stand without hunching over and you can touch any two walls at the same time. The only relief from the crumbling stucco walls is the iron-barred door to the north.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  > pry the door with the bar
  Trying to pry the jail door is futile.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  The half-rotting sheriff walks up to the jail cell and unlocks the door and mumbles,
  
  "Now you be watchin' yerself now. I ain't goin' to put up with yer doins no more."
  
  The sheriff hobbles down Main Street, losing the better part of his left leg during the journey.
  
  > open the door
  You open the jail door.
  
  > Examine bar
  It's a five foot long iron bar with a pointed end.
  
  > go north
  The musty smell of rotting wood greets your arrival at this rather dark dry goods store. An empty wood and glass counter parallel to the east wall displays mere remnants of the grains, sugar, fruit, and candy once plentiful in each of the adjacent bins. The shelves behind the counter are now only a repository for dust and a framework for countless cobwebs. The wooden floorboards, once sanded and polished, are now buckled and decrepit. A pair of broken doors leads out to the south and an open screen door leads to the west.
  
  One of the floorboards squeaks when you step on it.
  
  On the shelves are a stack of gum base and a box (in which is a dozen or so sugar cubes).
  
  > put the bar in the hole
  (the iron bar in the hole)
  The hole is too small for that.
  
  > take something with the bar
  (the window bars)
  Taken.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a silver spoon
  an iron bar
  a cube of sugar
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a couple kernels of corn
  a pitchfork
  a match
  a pan
  some brown slurry
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a ship wheel
  a cauldron
  a match
  a crumpled note
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots
  a dull knife
  
  > Examine bar
  (the window bars)
  The bars are thick and unremovable.
  
  > pry the hole with the bar
  (the window bars)
  
  Trying to pry the hole is futile.
  
  > examine iron bar
  It's a five foot long iron bar with a pointed end.
  
  > pry the floor with the iron bar
  Trying to pry the floor is futile.
  
  > take the iron bar
  You already have that.
  
  > put the iron bar in the hole
  The hole is too small for that.
  
  > Go east
  The main part of town seems to be to the west and the trail out of town is to the south. There is a barn-like structure to the north.
  
  > move the rail with the bar
  Using the iron bar as a lever, you move the broken rail back into place, restoring the integrity of the tracks.
  
  > Go east
  The tracks continue east-west here through thick scrub brush and an occasional patch of cactus. There is a short section of track running parallel to, and eventually joining, the main track to form a spur.
  
  There is a rusted old handcar on the track spur.
  
  > Oil handcar
  What do you want to oil the handcar with?
  
  > Oil handcar with oil can
  You carefully oil everywhere there's a moving surface.
  
  > get in the handcar
  You get into the handcar.
  
  > pull the lever
  You move the lever to the aft position.
  
  > pull the lever
  The lever is as far aft as it can go.
  
  > Keep going
  (the handle)
  The handcar slowly begins to move...
  
  Broken Track (in the handcar)
  The heat is stifling at this barren strip of track seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Even the ever present weeds have given up this area as hopeless and only a few cacti have managed to gain a foothold in the constantly shifting sand. The tracks here look to be in good shape despite the shifting sand.
  
  > Continue
  (the handle)
  The handcar slowly begins to move...
  
  Narrow Ravine (in the handcar)
  The tracks gradually turn southwest here through a tight ravine cut into the sandy soil. Thick brush once again lines the tracks limiting passage only along the tracks themselves.
  
  The tracks through the ravine are littered with rattlesnakes.
  
  > Continue
  (the handle)
  The handcar slowly begins to move...
  
  Numerous snakes strike at the wheels of the handcar.
  
  End of the Line (in the handcar)
  Your makeshift railroad comes to an end here as several feet of sand cover the tracks. Right next to the tracks to the south is a small sod structure with a faded sign on top.
  
  > examine the sign
  The sign reads:
  "Danger Explosives R&L RailRoad"
  
  > examine the structure
  This old shack has all but lost the battle against the elements. The roof, sagging from its own weight, looks as if it will collapse at any moment. The mud walls are weed-ridden and crumbling. All in all, this looks like a great place to kill some time.
  
  > go south
  You'll have to get out of the handcar first.
  
  > go outside
  You get out of the handcar.
  
  Your makeshift railroad comes to an end here as several feet of sand cover the tracks. Right next to the tracks to the south is a small sod structure with a faded sign on top.
  
  There is a rusted old handcar on the track spur.
  
  > open the door
  It seems to be locked.
  
  > examine the door
  No mud in this door, just solid wood. In fact, it's your everyday solid wood door with an oval peg extending from the center.
  
  > put the wheel on the peg
  The wheel fits snugly on the peg.
  
  > Turn wheel
  You can turn the wheel right or left.
  
  > Turn wheel left
  You hear a muted "click" within the door.
  
  > Turn wheel left
  You hear a subtle "click" within the door.
  
  > Turn wheel right
  "THUNK!"
  
  > open the door
  You open the door.
  
  > Go south
  The inside of the shack smells quite musty and there is dust everywhere. Narrow shafts of light from the decaying roof highlight the dark dirt floor. There is a door to the north.
  
  You can see a metal strongbox (which is closed) here.
  
  > Examine box
  The metal container is made from polished brass and is about the size of a shoe box. On the front face of the box is small keyhole.
  
  > get the box
  The strongbox is way too heavy to be lifted.
  
  > pry the box with the bar
  Trying to pry the metal strongbox is futile.
  
  > dig the floor
  What do you want to dig the floor with?
  
  > look at what you're carrying with you
  You are carrying:
  a silver spoon
  an iron bar
  a cube of sugar
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a couple kernels of corn
  a pitchfork
  a match
  a pan
  some brown slurry
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a cauldron
  a match
  a crumpled note
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots
  a dull knife
  
  > Go north
  Your makeshift railroad comes to an end here as several feet of sand cover the tracks. Right next to the tracks to the south is a small sod structure with a faded sign on top.
  
  There is a rusted old handcar on the track spur.
  
  On the peg is a ship wheel.
  
  > get on the car
  You get into the handcar.
  
  > pull the lever
  You move the lever to the aft position.
  
  > Keep going
  (the handle)
  The handcar slowly begins to move...
  
  Broken Track (in the handcar)
  The heat is stifling at this barren strip of track seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Even the ever present weeds have given up this area as hopeless and only a few cacti have managed to gain a foothold in the constantly shifting sand. The tracks here look to be in good shape despite the shifting sand.
  
  > keep going
  (the handle)
  The handcar slowly begins to move...
  
  Track Crossing (in the handcar)
  A set of well-worn railroad tracks crosses the north-south trail here. The wooden ties have all but disintegrated and the rails are thick with bright red rust. The weed ridden-tracks run east-west.
  
  > pull the lever
  The lever is as far aft as it can go.
  
  > get off the handcar
  You get out of the handcar.
  
  A set of well-worn railroad tracks crosses the north-south trail here. The wooden ties have all but disintegrated and the rails are thick with bright red rust. The weed ridden-tracks run east-west.
  
  There is a rusted old handcar on the track spur.
  
  > go to the east
  You are in a flat grassy area surrounded by scrub pines and large granite boulders. Purple and yellow wildflowers flourish in this area and the attendant bees are laden full with pollen and nectar. A lightly traveled path winds west through the rocks.
  
  > Go north
  A set of well-worn railroad tracks crosses the north-south trail here. The wooden ties have all but disintegrated and the rails are thick with bright red rust. The weed ridden-tracks run east-west.
  
  There is a rusted old handcar on the track spur.
  
  > go to the east
  You are standing atop a large knoll which apparently served as a cemetery at some point in time. Remains of a picket fence lie strewn about the hillside and most of the gravestones have disintegrated beyond recognition. One granite marker at the head of a grassless plot, however, remains intact.
  
  There is a Tombstone Jay here standing on top of the grave marker.
  
  > Go east
  The only way off the hill is down to the west.
  
  > go to the south
  The only way out of the clearing is to the west.
  
  > search the car
  The ore car is empty.
  
  > untie the rope
  Nice try, but it will hardly contribute to your score.
  
  > go north
  The path here follows the bottom of a deep ravine, but more notably, is thickly covered with long-needle cacti. To the south, the path widens at the base of a large hill. To the northeast, the path heads towards a grove of trees.
  
  > Go north
  As you proceed up the hill, your bones start to hurt and you feel like you're....
  
  "I'm too old for this nonsense" is your first thought after a brief journey over the crest of the hill to this dirt outcropping on the north side. Momentarily ignoring your aching joints and brief memory lapses, you spot a trail heading south up the hill. Oddly, the trail shows signs of fresh footprints.
  
  > go north
  The path to the south looks like your only sure bet.
  
  > go south
  As you return back, the spring returns to your step and you again feel like your youthful self again.
  
  The whole valley is revealed to you as you approach the summit. To the east, you see the largely decaying town of Deadeye Gulch, and just further, the small knoll known as Boot Hill. To the south, the dusty valley floor unfolds, divided by a small tree-lined creek. Large snowy mountains abut the hill to the north while endless badlands reach out seemingly forever to the west. The main trail continues around the hill to the west and down to the southwest, whereas a faint side trail heads towards the crest to the north.
  
  > go west
  Wisps of steam rise off of the charred timbers of what was once a fair-sized building. Small flames flare up occasionally producing a deep crackling sound. Paper-thin pieces of ash float hither and yon. An odd-shaped sign lies on the ground.
  
  George is here staring at the charred remains of his gum factory.
  
  There is a brass key hanging on George's belt.
  
  You can also see a burned sketch here.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a silver spoon
  an iron bar
  a cube of sugar
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a couple kernels of corn
  a pitchfork
  a match
  a pan
  some brown slurry
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a cauldron
  a match
  a crumpled note
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots (being worn)
  a dull knife
  
  > give the green note to George
  (first taking the green note)
  "Thank you kindly ma'am, but I ain't interested in none of your stuff."
  
  > wear the balm
  (some balm)
  You put on some balm.
  
  > Go south
  A small stream flowing from the west is only slightly hampered here by a deteriorating beaver dam which has formed a large deep pool of crystal clear water. Chokecherry bushes line the perimeter of the pool confining access to the pool to the area in which you are standing. The air is thick with mosquitos and gnats.
  
  There is a flat-faced rock here, protruding just above the surface of the pool.
  
  On the chokecherry bushes is a small bunch of berries.
  
  The mosquitos and gnats don't want anything to do with that smelly stuff you're wearing.
  
  > sharpen the knife on the rock
  You work the knife over the gritty surface of the stone until the blade is as sharp as a scalpel.
  
  The mosquitos and gnats don't want anything to do with that smelly stuff you're wearing.
  
  > eat the berries
  The berries taste a little tart but quickly bring back memories of long summer days and fall canning. As these memories progress, you start to envision Dehlila picking berries from these very same bushes. Suddenly she is startled and rubs a locket hanging from her neck, and disappears!
  
  The mosquitos and gnats don't want anything to do with that smelly stuff you're wearing.