text: > Look around
  Surrounded by granite cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide this low, a marine terrace to the southwest lies exposed and accessible. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through the headland.
  
  Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge of the surf at a quarter of the way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the cliffs -- a warning of the sea's intentions.
  
  > examine the seaweed
  Ripped from their holdfasts during heavy seas, the long strands of seaweed are pushed along by wind and tides until they are at last flung up upon the shore. There they form tangled mophead heaps, a haven for the small flies, crabs, and the like who feed upon the decaying fronds.
  
  The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea.
  
  > Go southwest
  With the tide low, you are able to walk out across the narrow sand bar and clamber up onto the rock.
  
  Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
  
  A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
  
  The leading edge of the storm clouds reaches the cove, blotting out the sun.
  
  > look up
  You first look up, then all about...
  
  Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
  
  A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
  
  A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the clouds.
  
  > look at the tide pools
  You crouch down and peer into the closest one. Though its opening is no larger than a dinner plate, it is surprisingly deep, with many nooks and crannies for small creatures to hide in. Near the bottom are several sea anemones clustered together like undersea flowers, and a spiney sea urchin. Closer to the surface of the pool is a small clump of mussels and an assortment of limpets. Clinging to the side of the rock is an orange sea star.
  
  > examine the anemone
  Looking like an exotic flower, the anemone's numerous inch long tenticles move almost imperceptably beneath the still water of the tide pool.
  
  > examine the mussels
  Gray near the base, turning black at the tips, the mussles are actually quite pretty... as well as being very tasty.
  
  > examine the urchin
  You find it hard to believe that something so spiny can actually be alive.
  
  Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of each other.
  
  > examine the star
  It has five fat legs and a central core nearly as wide as your palm.
  
  A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach and flies off into the clouds.
  
  > search the mussel
  You find you haven't the heart to pester the mussels.
  
  Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of each other.
  
  > say Xyzzy
  Whom do you want to say that to?
  
  > Exits
  The only obvious exit is to the east.
  
  > Open purse
  You loosen the shimmering gold cord, opening the purse. Inside the open purse you see a faded white rose bud.
  
  > look at the bud
  It was as white as snow when you slipped it from the bouquet six years ago, though it soon dried to a dingy yellow brown and became so brittle that you had to tuck it away in a cigar box for safe keeping. There it laid, alone and forgotten, until today when you pulled it out and placed it in your purse, unwilling to leave it behind, no room remaining to put it anywhere else.
  
  A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach below.
  
  > take the star
  You pull the sea star off the rocks and hold it gently in your hand.
  
  > throw the star
  You toss the sea star into the sea, where it quickly sinks below the surface.
  
  > remember the sea
  Your voice trails off after saying you were wanting to remember.
  
  > go to the east
  You climb over the edge and scramble across the sandbar to the beach, apparently just in time as a particularly large wave crashes into the terrace sending a foot of water shooting all the way across its surface.
  
  Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide half in, the marine terrace to the southwest is beginning to take on water. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through the headland.
  
  Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge of the surf at about half way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the cliffs; a warning of the sea's intentions.
  
  The clouds close ranks overhead, blotting out the sun completely and turning the sea from blue to gray. Outside the cove the wind is beginning to kick up whitecaps and push the swells up even further up the shore.
  
  > remember
  Your memories are of happy times, of playing in the sea and on the sand. All happy times, save one. You swallow hard and push those thoughts away. Your time here is too short, too precious, to spend it on things you can not change, whether they be in the past or in the future.
  
  > Go southwest
  Raising your skirt to your knees, you wade through the shallow water that now covering the sand bar and gingerly step up onto the terrace. Moments later a large wave crashes over its northern end, sending you scurrying back up on the beach as the entire rock briefly disappears under a thick layer of foam and water.
  
  You hear, more than feel, the first few hesitant drops of rain as they strike against the stones and create tiny craters in the sand. Moments later the storm catches its stride and it begins to rain in earnest.