text: [Themes: Horror]
  
  > Look around
  A small shack rises out of the overgrowth in a clearing at the end of the winding path. It looks quite old, but has not fallen into disrepair, as has the coach house and the other small buildings on the church grounds. Along the front is a wooden door, and a small square window to its right, which flickers with a pale yellow light issuing from within.
  
  The caretaker is here, looking uncertain.
  
  You can also see a wooden door here.
  
  > Go west
  The caretaker nods and says, "Goodbye, then."
  Winding Path
  Running between the coach house and a small shack to the east, this path is lined on both sides by tall brush and bracken, which block your view elsewhere.
  
  > Go west
  The coach house is quite old, and indeed once served to house a horse-driven coach. It has since been converted for use by automobiles. There are shelves lining the walls containing various items one would expect to find in a garage. Access to the driveway is to the west, through the main entrance, and a small exit leads east.
  
  > examine the shelves
  They are covered with years of grime and debris. The items on them are useless to you.
  
  > Go west
  Here is where parishioners must have parked their vehicles, be they wagon or automobile, before proceeding north to the church building.
  A gravel road leads north past the front of the church. To the south, a rain-slicked road leads off into the dark distance. East of here is a wooden coach house.
  
  > go north
  The gravel path you are on passes by a plot of manicured land upon which resides a small church building. It is fashioned of dark river stone, stained all the darker from the downpour. Its steeple rises suddenly into the gloom, so that the belfry up top is partially obscured. Through the barred windows a glimmer of yellow light issues, flickering like candlelight. The front entrance is to the east, while the path continues south.
  
  > go to the north
  An iron-wrought gate lies askew on rusted hinges, no longer able to prevent external access to the churchyard during late hours. The muddy path leading past them and southwards into the church grounds is being churned by the heavy rain, but not quite enough to completely obscure a faint impression therein.
  
  Standing alone a little to the west is a small gatehouse, its narrow entrance and a pane-less window little more than dark smudges in the prevailing gloom.
  
  > go west
  There is just enough room in this tiny hut to sit and keep watch--were there still a chair upon which to sit. Presently, nothing remains but a cramped space to stand while one gains a moment's respite from the ceaseless downpour outside. The exit leads east to the gateway.
  
  A shallow desk is built into the wall under the window.
  
  > examine the desk
  It must have been used by the attendant for whatever paperwork might have been required of him. Just what sort of paperwork that might be escapes you. And for that matter, the need for a cemetery attendant at all gives rise to question. There is a small drawer set into the desk, which appears locked.
  
  > open it
  The small drawer is thoroughly locked, however a determined tug on your part wrenches the locking mechanism completely free of the splintering wood. There is a brass key within.
  
  > take the key
  Taken.
  
  > go east
  An iron-wrought gate lies askew on rusted hinges, no longer able to prevent external access to the churchyard during late hours. The muddy path leading past them and southwards into the church grounds is being churned by the heavy rain, but not quite enough to completely obscure a faint impression therein.
  
  Standing alone a little to the west is a small gatehouse, its narrow entrance and a pane-less window little more than dark smudges in the prevailing gloom.
  
  You reach up to the back of your head and you scratch fiercely, trying to attend to a sudden and intense itch. As you bring your hand away, you discover a clump of dry, withered hair clenched in your claw-like fist. Shuddering inwardly, you cast it away, not wanting to look at it any longer.
  
  > Go south
  The gravel path you are on passes by a plot of manicured land upon which resides a small church building. It is fashioned of dark river stone, stained all the darker from the downpour. Its steeple rises suddenly into the gloom, so that the belfry up top is partially obscured. Through the barred windows a glimmer of yellow light issues, flickering like candlelight. The front entrance is to the east, while the path continues south.
  
  > Go east
  The heavy oaken doors of the church loom before you, presenting a sensation of disorientation that you did not experience from a distance. Great brass handles present you with a means of access to shelter from the torrential weather. There are curious inscriptions and bas-relief carvings worked into the wood.
  
  > unlock the door with the key
  You unlock the church doors.
  
  > open the door
  You open the church doors.
  
  > Go east
  The entryway to the church leads north to the nave. You can see the entire ground floor of the church from here: North of the nave is the chancel and east of the nave is an alcove.
  
  You are distracted by a maddening itch in your throat, your mouth, your tongue. This thirst...if only you could quench it...
  
  > Go north
  The nave is where parishioners would gather to sit in the pews and hear the preached message. The walls are paneled with aged cedar and the high, vaulted ceiling fades away into darkness above. An altar stands at the front of the room, before a raised area called the chancel. Arched stained-glass windows line the east and west walls. Access to the chancel is north of the nave and south leads to the entryway. To the east is a small alcove containing an organ. A narrow doorway up by the chancel leads to the northwest.
  
  > examine the organ
  A heavily scaled-down version of the "Mighty Wurlitzer," circa 1924. Covered with dust, it has not seen active duty for a long time.
  
  > examine the altar
  It appears to be made of gopher wood.
  
  You are thirsty...so very thirsty.
  
  > Go east
  A small recess where the church organ is kept. It affords a clear view of the nave and the chancel. The nave is west of the alcove, and a small exit leads north.
  
  > play the organ
  You cautiously press Middle C. Nothing happens. Not surprising, really.
  
  > Go north
  This tall, narrow hallway extends from the alcove and ends in a creaky set of steps leading upwards. The walls are painted white, and somewhat smudged. The floor is covered with a red carpet.
  
  > Go upward
  This small area is rather featureless and dark. The bare floorboards creak under your weight. A set of stairs leads down to the narrow hallway and a white door leads north.
  
  You can see a white door here.
  
  > open it
  That's already open.
  
  Everything around you begins to blur as your eyesight fades. You are desperately thirsty and your flesh is crying out for replenishment. With a vicious shake of your head, you manage to coerce your vision to return.
  
  > Go north
  A large desk standing against the west wall furnishes this otherwise empty room. The bare floor is in good condition, suggesting that this office was not used very often. A window in the north wall looks out into the wet darkness beyond. Above the desk against the western wall is a portrait.
  
  You can see a white door here.
  
  > examine the portrait
  A rendition of an elderly man, perhaps the founder of this church. It is dusty and covered in cobwebs.
  
  Your stomach begins to cramp badly and you are forced to pause as you double over in pain. After some time, the pain fades and you are able to move again.
  
  > move portrait
  It is fixed in place.
  
  > open the door
  That's already open.
  
  > Clean portrait
  You achieve nothing by this.
  
  You notice that you need to turn your head to look to the left or the right. It seems that your eyeballs will not turn in their sockets, as though they have been sealed in place due to a lack of moisture.
  
  > close the door
  You close the white door.
  
  > look at the door
  You see nothing special about the white door.
  
  You are thirsty...so very thirsty.
  
  > open it
  You open the white door.
  
  You reach up to the back of your head and you scratch fiercely, trying to attend to a sudden and intense itch. As you bring your hand away, you discover a clump of dry, withered hair clenched in your claw-like fist. Shuddering inwardly, you cast it away, not wanting to look at it any longer.
  
  > examine the desk
  Fashioned of rich cherry wood, it sports a broad desktop and a number of drawers. Where its legs meet the floor there appears to be a few scratch marks on the otherwise polished surface.
  
  > open the drawers
  There's no need to open the desk drawers. They are all sitting open, revealing their stark emptiness.
  
  Your stomach begins to cramp badly and you are forced to pause as you double over in pain. After some time, the pain fades and you are able to move again.
  
  > Search drawers
  The desk drawers are empty.
  
  > examine the panel
  Set flush into the surface of the wall, it has a small emblem in the shape of a griffin embossed onto its surface. Compared to the polished finish of the rest of the panel, the griffin seems a little dull.
  
  > open the panel
  That's not something you can open.
  
  You are momentarily overtaken by a coughing spell, your lungs rattling dryly deep inside your chest...
  
  > Rub griffin
  You achieve nothing by this.
  
  A cold shudder runs up and down your back. Your insides feel as though they are curling inward upon themselves, crumbling and withering for lack of moisture.
  
  > examine the griffin
  It seems a little worn, as if through use.
  
  You are distracted by a maddening itch in your throat, your mouth, your tongue. This thirst...if only you could quench it...
  
  > look at safe
  A standard gray metal faceplate with a numbered dial squarely in the center.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a brass key
  a lug wrench
  a rubber tire
  
  > open safe
  It seems to be locked.
  
  > examine the dial
  It is a standard combination lock. In order to open it you have to turn the dial to three different numbers: first to the right, then to the left, and then to the right again.
  
  > examine the desk
  Fashioned of rich cherry wood, it sports a broad desktop and a number of drawers. Where its legs meet the floor there appears to be a few scratch marks on the otherwise polished surface.
  
  > look in drawers
  Fashioned of rich cherry wood, it sports a broad desktop and a number of drawers. Where its legs meet the floor there appears to be a few scratch marks on the otherwise polished surface.
  
  Your throat feels as though it were on fire, so desperate is your need to find something to drink.
  
  The desk drawers are empty.
  
  Everything around you begins to blur as your eyesight fades. You are desperately thirsty and your flesh is crying out for replenishment. With a vicious shake of your head, you manage to coerce your vision to return.
  
  > examine floor
  You see nothing special about the floor.
  
  You stagger and drop to your knees, the strength fleeing your body. For several long moments, your body shudders in silent spasms before you are finally able to collect your wits and struggle back to your feet.
  
  > look at the window
  It looks down onto the cemetery. From here, during an occasional flash of lightning, you can see outlined in stark relief the open grave by which you awoke.