text: [Themes: Horror, horror, cat]
  
  > look around
  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.
  
  Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
  
  "Yow?" asks the giant backpack.
  
  > hit the cracks with the hammer
  You take a deep breath and swing. The entire wall rolls over, burying you under foul smelling water and heavy bricks. You're pinned, helpless to do anything but feel your lungs swell with gritty black fluid. Then darkness.
  
  > hit the backpack with the hammer
  That wouldn't be helpful.
  
  The scratching from the minimal giant backpack becomes more insistent.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  You gasp once more.
  
  > 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 catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
  
  The savage cat purrs.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  > Go west
  Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.
  
  You have a pounding headache.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  > Go upward
  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.
  
  There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  > go 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 moldy block of cheese.
  
  The stygian cat licks its paws.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  Hot. Hot. Burning up.
  
  > 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 minimal bloody trail leads to the west.
  
  The cat purrs.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  > 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 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 a leatherbound diary and an arctic gear here.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the notable giant backpack.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > wear arctic gear
  (first taking the arctic gear)
  It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.
  
  You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  Hot. Hot. Burning up.
  
  You shiver uncontrollably once more.
  
  > go upwards
  You can't bring yourself to go out into that weather unless you're properly geared up.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the quality giant backpack.
  
  > wear the jacket
  You put on the hooded jacket combo.
  
  There's something sinister about the outer door.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > Wear arctic
  (first taking the arctic gear)
  It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  Hot. Hot. Burning up.
  
  > Go upwards
  You can't bring yourself to go out into that weather unless you're properly geared up.
  
  Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
  
  > open the outer door
  The door won't budge. The way an airlock works is that you have to close one door before you can open the other.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  You gasp once more.
  
  > close the inner door
  You close the inner door.
  
  You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. After listening to your fever-distorted moans echo through the base for what feels like an eternity, you finally die a lonely death.
  
  > examine the hammer
  A nine-pound hammer. Looks like it might have once been featured in a bluegrass number. Perfect for hitting things with.
  
  The cat rubs against your leg.
  
  There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
  
  You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. After listening to your fever-distorted moans echo through the base for what feels like an eternity, you finally die a lonely death.
  
  > read the note
  "The cat is the carrier. I can't leave this room to tell anybody because the cat is scratching outside. I'm the only one around here who ever paid it any attention and now I'm going to die for it. No gas mask in here, no nothing. Just some lab results like a death warrant."
  
  The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
  
  > Up
  (first getting off the chairs)
  You can't go that way.
  
  > go to the west
  Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.
  
  The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.
  
  The heavenly cat arrives.
  
  You gasp once more.
  
  > Up
  A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.
  
  You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere below.
  
  The cat arrives from below.
  
  > Go north
  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.
  
  There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
  
  The cat arrives.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > go east
  Just a dingy, empty supply room, containing little of note.
  
  Hold on... wasn't there a power generator here before?
  
  There's something sinister about the plug.
  
  The cat arrives from the west.
  
  You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
  
  > examine the walls
  The rocky walls seem pretty normal here.
  
  You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
  
  > look at the plug
  The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > look at the cord
  The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.
  
  Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
  
  Hot. Hot. Burning up.
  
  > 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.
  
  The rhythmic cat arrives from the east.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  You hack once more.
  
  > go west
  Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.
  
  The cat arrives from the east.
  
  Hot. Hot. Burning up.
  
  > 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.
  
  You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
  
  The cat arrives from below.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > Go 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 expectant moldy block of cheese.
  
  The cat arrives from the east.
  
  > 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.
  
  You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
  
  > 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 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 a delicious leatherbound diary and an ticklish arctic gear here.
  
  The cat arrives from the north.
  
  You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. Blindly you reach out and pet the cat with a trembling hand. It licks your fingers. "There there, kitty kitty." You stay that way until the end. Kind of peaceful.
  
  > go west
  (first getting off the chairs)
  
  Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.
  
  The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.
  
  The vibrant cat arrives.
  
  > go upward
  A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.
  
  Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
  
  The cat arrives from below.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > go north
  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.
  
  The cat arrives.
  
  You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
  
  You shiver uncontrollably once more.
  
  > go to the west
  Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.
  
  You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
  
  The cat arrives from the east.
  
  > 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.
  
  There's something sinister about the trap door.
  
  The jaunty cat arrives from below.
  
  > go 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 moldy block of cheese.
  
  The cat arrives from the east.
  
  > 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.
  
  Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
  
  > go south
  The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with droning metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The delightful 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.
  
  A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.
  
  You can also see a leatherbound diary and a arctic gear here.
  
  The cat arrives from the north.
  
  Hot. Hot. Burning up.
  
  > Close inner
  You close the inner door.
  
  The cat climbs into the perturbed giant backpack, digging around for something.
  
  > open outer
  You open the outer door, and are met by a fierce breeze.
  
  This sudden chill makes you feel strangely at ease.
  
  > Close pack
  You close the billowing giant backpack.
  
  There is a rustling, bumping sound coming from the giant backpack.
  
  > wear the jacket
  You put on the hooded jacket combo.
  
  You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
  
  You hear a single, tentative scratching sound from inside the giant backpack.
  
  > Wear arctic
  (first taking the arctic gear)
  You put on the arctic gear.
  
  "Yow?" asks the giant backpack.
  
  > Go upwards
  You stagger out into the frozen waste, blinking in the setting sun. You take a few trudging steps forward before you remember that you don't have enough supplies to make the weeks-long trek back to the dropoff site-and there will be no one there waiting for you, anyway.