text: > Go downward
  Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.
  
  > Go east
  The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.
  
  The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.
  
  More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.
  
  You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
  
  > Author
  Scene 6, "The Best Untold", was written by Joey Jones.
  
  > Smell
  You smell nothing unexpected.
  
  You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
  
  > go to the south
  Something squeaks and shuffles in the dark of the Hidey Hole, and you are still unnerved by the other things you saw in the base. Better not go in there.
  
  You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
  
  > listen
  You hear nothing unexpected.
  
  You hack once more.
  
  > examine cable
  The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.
  
  You have a pounding headache.
  
  > look at the cable
  The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.
  
  You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
  
  > Go west
  The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.
  
  The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.
  
  More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.
  
  > go to the west
  Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.
  
  You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
  
  > look at the television
  You can't see any such thing.
  
  You can't see any such thing.
  
  > Go north
  The floor is wet with grimy black water. This used to be a storage room until the leaking began. Apathy kind of sets in on a base this remote, so no one ever bothered sealing the cracks.
  
  You cough once more.
  
  > examine the cracks
  You could probably smash through if you had some kind of tool.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a vibrant hooded jacket combo
  a strange device
  a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
  some select survival supplies (running low)
  a collapsible tent (closed)
  
  There's something sinister about the cracks.
  
  > examine supplies
  MREs, granola bars, a small propane stove and a bowl for making soup with melted snow. Nothing glamorous, and there's almost nothing left.
  
  > examine the jacket
  A plain breathable jacket and trousers, with many other layers besides.
  
  > go south
  The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.
  
  The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.
  
  More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.
  
  You gasp once more.
  
  > go south
  Something squeaks and shuffles in the dark of the Hidey Hole, and you are still unnerved by the other things you saw in the base. Better not go in there.
  
  > Go upwards
  Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.
  
  > go to the west
  Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.
  
  On the kitchen counter is a off-kilter moldy block of cheese.
  
  There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
  
  > get the cheese
  You can hardly bring yourself to come near it.
  
  > go to the southeast
  You can't go that way.
  
  You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
  
  You wheeze once more.
  
  > Go south
  (first opening the depressed inner door)
  
  The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.
  
  The cat is here. She blinks at you contently.
  
  A disconcerting red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.
  
  You can also see an arctic gear here.
  
  The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
  
  > get the cat
  She jumps out of your arms with practiced elegance.
  
  > look at the backpack
  Tall, sturdy, and probably 50 pounds completely empty.
  
  In the giant backpack are a cat, some survival supplies, and a collapsible tent.
  
  Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
  
  > go north
  Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The quality bloody trail leads to the west.
  
  > Go northeast
  Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.
  
  On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.
  
  There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
  
  The cat licks its paws.
  
  The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
  
  > examine cat
  This is a mangy, tortoiseshell cat. Rips poke through her fur, and she limps slightly. However, her yellow eyes are clean and aware. She wears no collar or other identifying marks.
  
  You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
  
  > put the cat in the backpack
  (first taking the rippling cat)
  
  She jumps out of your arms with practiced elegance.
  
  You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
  
  > Pet cat
  Youch! The squeezeable cat is hot to the touch.
  
  You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
  
  You gasp once more.
  
  > Attack cat
  Animal cruelty was never your forte.
  
  > eat the cat
  (first taking the cat)
  She jumps out of your arms with practiced elegance.
  
  There's something sinister about the cat.
  
  > go southwest
  Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.
  
  The cat arrives from the northeast.
  
  > go south
  The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the undulating outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.
  
  A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.
  
  You can also see an arctic gear here.
  
  The rhythmic cat arrives from the north.
  
  > examine the gear
  The arctic gear lies in a damp creased pile.
  
  The cat paces back and forth in the airlock, seemingly testing the air. Suddenly, she darts underneath the ecstatic airlock stairs and starts chewing on something. After a while she comes to the conclusion that it isn't edible, and starts lapping at the melted snow.
  
  > Search gear
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere to the north.
  
  You shiver uncontrollably once more.