text: [Themes: Science Fiction, Espionage, sidekick NPC]
  
  > look at your surroundings
  The Toyunchknisk Piglet was imported from Blottnya during the brief period between the fall of the old iron-fisted regime and the ethnic unrest that divided the tiny country into several even tinier countries whose names you can't recall, since the press lost interest several years ago. The car is almost comically spartan, so it's just like your boss to own one. The only amenity the dashboard offers is a glove compartment; no radio, no air conditioner, no console armrest, no cup-holders.
  You're sitting in the rather uncomfortable passenger's seat. The driver's door is open, and your door is open.
  Sitting on the back seat is a Project Tyche manual and a DUFON
  journal. The ignition seems to contain a car key.
  Your boss Mr. Teeterwaller is here.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > get manual and the journal
  Project Tyche manual: Taken.
  DUFON journal: Taken.
  
  > Go outside
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  Road, near car
  The road stretches off into the dim moonlight to the east and west.
  Mr. Teeterwaller's car sits in the shoulder, parked just slightly off the road.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > examine the car
  The small economy car is parked in the shoulder just off the road. The driver's door is open, and the passenger's door is open.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > ask the boss about the map
  "Excellent idea," Teeterwaller says. The two of you unfold the map and inspect it.
  
  You find state route 142 on the map. You don't know exactly how far you are from Bakerton, but you'd guess that it's at least fifty miles west, which puts you in this big empty expanse out in the valley. The nearest city is Conners City, which is perhaps twenty miles east. The map shows a couple of crossroads that could be a short distance to the east; it doesn't depict any businesses, but it's possible that one of the crossroads has a service station or at least someone with a phone.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  A gravel driveway leads away from the road to the north. The road continues east and west. To the west you can just make out Mr. Teeterwaller's car; it's too dark to see much to the east.
  
  > Go north
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The driveway ends at a closed roll-up metal door in a large,
  windowless building to the north. The door looks like it belongs on a one-car garage. Bolted to the side of the building is a heavy steel chain, attached to which is a dog harness. The driveway leads south, back to the road.
  A huge dog chained to the side of the building eyes you warily.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > look at the dog
  The dog is bigger than you are. You don't recognize the breed; he has tall, pointy ears, a long muzzle, a long bushy tail, and a body like a bear. His hair is light brown, with a few darker markings. He has a harness around his chest, which is attached to a chain.
  
  "I saw a television program where they explained that guard dogs are usually trained using German commands," Teeterwaller says. "I think you just have to say `aus,' which is German for `out,' to call off an attack."
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > press the button
  You press the button. A moment later, you hear a thunk, and the door starts opening. The door slowly rolls up its tracks, and finally stops when fully open.
  
  > enter garage
  (the garage opener button)
  I don't know how to enter the garage opener button.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller starts telling you some office gossip, but stops, a little disappointed, when he realizes you don't know the people involved in the embarrassing parts.
  
  > go to the north
  The dog jumps into your path, snarling and growling, refusing to let you pass.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  > Pet dog
  The dog is acting too menacing to pet him right now.
  
  Teeterwaller tells you about the latest episode of his favorite TV show, "Shadow Man." You never liked the show very much--too much silly conspiracy theory stuff--but you listen politely.
  
  > Aus
  The dog rears up on his hind legs and barks angrily at you.
  
  Teeterwaller practically jumps into the air at the barking and runs back a ways further from the dog. "I guess this must not be a German dog," he says.
  
  The dog gradually calms down again, and resumes his guarding posture.
  
  > ask Dog,  to go outside
  The dog just snarls at you menacingly.
  
  > sit
  What do you want the huge dog to sit on?
  
  > Down
  The dog just snarls at you menacingly.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > examine the chain
  It's about ten feet long and made of heavy steel links. One end is bolted to the wall of the building; at the other end is a clip, which is attached to the dog harness.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > unclip the chain
  The dog tenses up as you approach and snarls menacingly. You decide to keep at a safe distance.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > look at the harness
  The harness goes around a dog's chest. Even though it's meant for a dog, this one seems like it's big enough for a bear. At the top of the harness is a ring that's used to attach the harness to a chain or leash; it's currently attached to the chain.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > look at ring
  The harness goes around a dog's chest. Even though it's meant for a dog, this one seems like it's big enough for a bear. At the top of the harness is a ring that's used to attach the harness to a chain or leash; it's currently attached to the chain.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > eat Teeterwaller
  The dog just snarls at you menacingly.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > Inventory
  You have your temporary ID card, a map, a garage opener, a jacket, a Project Tyche manual, and a DUFON journal. The garage opener compartment seems to contain a battery.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  > throw jacket at the dog
  You miss.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  > Go east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The road continues east and west, rising slightly as it crosses a
  deep ditch. Metal guard rails run alongside the road on both sides to prevent vehicles from running into the ditch. You can't see anything through the darkness to the west, but to the east you can see some dimly flashing lights.
  
  > go to the east
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  A set of wooden barricades, painted with orange stripes and topped
  with flashing orange lights, stand blocking the road to the east to vehicles, and "Detour" signs point to the intersecting road leading south. Beyond the signs, trucks and construction machinery sit idle on the road, presumably awaiting the return of workers in the morning.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  > get the lights
  You can't have the barricade.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller mumbles something to himself.
  
  > examine the ditch
  It's a deep ditch, running north and south under the road.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller looks around.
  
  > Search ditch
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller starts telling you some office gossip, but stops, a little disappointed, when he realizes you don't know the people involved in the embarrassing parts.
  
  > examine the rail
  The guard rails are heavily dented from years of collisions. At the right end of the rail on the north side of the road, you notice a narrow foot path leading northeast.
  
  > Go northeast
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  The path runs north and south alongside a deep ditch, which is to
  the west. The road lies to the south.
  
  > examine ditch
  The ditch runs north and south alongside the path. The banks are steep here.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller seems to be lost in thought.
  
  > enter ditch
  The bank is too steep to climb down here.
  
  A corner of the sky glows briefly with a lightning flash.
  
  > go to the north
  The path veers toward the ditch, then slopes down along a terrace cut into the ditch's bank until it reaches the bottom of the ditch.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  the ditch. The path to the south climbs a narrow terrace cut into the ditch's bank. You can't go any further north, but the tenuous ledge hugging the bank to the southwest looks passable; without something to light the way, though, it would be too dangerous.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > look at the terrace
  It's just wide enough to accommodate the path.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > take the battery
  Behind the battery, you find a diagram showing the proper way to install the battery, and a bank of tiny switches.
  
  Taken.
  
  A lightning flash momentarily lights up the sky in the distance.
  
  > look at the water
  The ditch runs north and south.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller watches you expectantly.
  
  > examine the switches
  Eight tiny slide switches are lined up next to each other. On the side of each switch, eight small notches show the possible positions; each switch can be set to a number from 0 to 7. Currently, the switches are in the following positions: 55567562. Just above the switches, someone has written "55567562".
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller starts telling you some office gossip, but stops, a little disappointed, when he realizes you don't know the people involved in the embarrassing parts.
  
  > examine diagram
  The diagram shows the correct way to install the battery.
  
  Lightning flashes for a moment on the horizon.
  
  Teeterwaller looks around purposefully.
  
  > go to the north
  You can't go that way.
  
  Teeterwaller looks through his pockets for something.
  
  > Go south
  The path ascends a terrace cut into the ditch's bank back to the top of the bank.
  
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.
  
  In the distance, a flash of lightning glows in the sky.
  
  > go south
  Mr. Teeterwaller comes with you.