OPENING THE WEST WALL OF THE LIVING ROOM (Back Half) FUZZY CHAMBER You are inside a chamber that is shaped like a perfect cube. The height of the chamber is only slightly taller than you are. The floor, ceiling, and walls are covered with a thick fleece-like lining that is white and fuzzy. A large round hole is beneath you, leading to the laundry room. Black spots about the size of dinner plates are dyed into the fuzzy lining in the other directions. To the north you see three spots, looking up you see six spots, to the south you see four spots, to the west you see two spots, and to the east you see five spots. >x eye tile The eye tile looks something like a Mah Jong tile. It has a picture of one eye. The words on the tile say "Imagination Reveals Possibilities". >down You climb down into the laundry room and get off the dryer. The watch beeps as you enter the laundry room... ------------- Press space bar to continue ----------------- LAUNDRY ROOM A washing machine is on the north wall and a dryer is on the west wall. On the south wall is a glass shelf that appears to have something etched into the glass. To the east you see the laundry room door, which is currently closed. >x shelf Etched into the glass shelf is a picture of an empty bathtub. Nothing else is currently on the shelf. >open dryer The dryer regards you with disdain and refuses to open for you. Perhaps you should try again later when you are wearing matching socks. >stand on dryer You're now standing on the dryer. >u FUZZY CHAMBER >put eye tile in sack As you put the eye tile into the sack, the gold thread begins to vibrate. Then, the tiny fuzzy dice on the gold thread emit a brief flash of blue light. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be beneath you, is now to the east. You hear a thump coming from the south wall. Then you hear a grinding noise receding from the south wall, while at the same time you hear a grinding noise approaching the ceiling. This is followed by a thump coming from the ceiling. >take ear tile As you take the ear tile out of the sack, the gold thread begins to vibrate. Then, the tiny fuzzy dice on the gold thread emit a short high-pitched whistling sound. You hear a thump coming from the ceiling. Then you hear a grinding noise receding from the ceiling, while at the same time you hear a grinding noise approaching the south wall. This is followed by a thump coming from the south wall. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the east, is now beneath you. You manage not to fall through the hole by keeping to the side. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be beneath you, is now to the west. >x ear tile The ear tile looks something like a Mah Jong tile. It has a picture of two ears. The words on the tile say "Compassion Summons Understanding". >w RACHEL'S BEDROOM Although it's clear that Rachel hasn't lived in this room for several years, you can still sense her presence here. It's almost as if her vibrant personality still resides in the furniture and the few personal items that she has behind. Painted across the walls is a colorful mural that continues from wall to wall In a corner of the room you see a rather large birdcage. The birdcage is empty. The bedside table and the dresser appear to be a matched set. Both pieces are stylishly curved with sort of an art deco look. There's a flower vase on the dresser. On the east wall is a glass shelf that appears to have something etched into the glass. The outer edges of the east wall look like an ordinary wall, but in the middle of the wall is a large fuzzy white cube that stands a little taller than you are. The fuzzy cube has a large round hole in it. On the glass shelf you see a sketchbook. >x mural The mural is a bizarre collection of images arranged in an almost surrealistic fashion. None of the painted images is particularly detailed in its own right, and yet they seem full of meaning despite the simplicity of their rendering. You see a snake seizing hold of its own tail, encircling a shining golden egg. The light shining off of the golden egg looks like the sun in a child's drawing. Jumping over the snake is a messenger wearing winged sandals. He's carrying a paper bag labeled as containing a Wednesday lunch special with extra mustard. There's a court jester in curly-toed shoes who's juggling items that include a salt shaker, a light bulb with a glowing filament, and a banana. The muscled arm of a blacksmith rises to strike an iron hammer against an anvil, forging a battle sword amid red-hot sparks. Rising from the ocean foam under an early evening sky is a bewitchingly beautiful woman, her green eyes flashing like a goddess and her arms adorned by copper bracelets. She wears a necklace of seashells, and in the center of her forehead is a bright shining star. Twin boys chase each other around her legs, one boy holding a glittering diamond in his hand and the other holding a stick with a burnt marshmallow. Looking as if he has walked off the movie set of the Wizard of Oz, you see the Tin Man. He's pounding on his hollow chest and you can imagine the thundering clash and echoing rumble that this would produce. The handle of his axe bears the symbol of five lightening bolts on a field of midnight blue. Two helium balloons rise into the sky, heading toward a silver crescent moon. The balloons seem exhilarated by the sense of freedom and yet frightened to be going on a journey so high above where they have ever been before. They rise away from an old man in a black hooded robe, who carries an hourglass and a plumb line pulled taut by the lead weight tied at its end. Above most of the rest of the mural you see a curved line that seems to represent the concept of the medieval celestial dome. Beyond the dome are seven "planets" (including the sun and moon), moving in circular orbits. On the inside of the dome you see a lady scientist wearing wire-rim glasses and a white lab coat (with a test tube, a thermometer, and a weekly calendar planner in her pocket). The scientist pushes her hand through the dome, breaking through to reach for that which lies beyond. >x dresser The dresser has a shiny black lacquer finish with a contrasting white top. Painted on the top of the dresser are six circles arranged in a loop. There is a seventh circle in the middle. The circles are all exactly the same size, packed tightly together so that their borders are touching each other. Each of the six circles is in contact with two other circles, and also with the seventh circle at the center. Starting with the top circle and then going clockwise, the circles are painted gold, silver, red, yellow, blue, and green. The seventh circle is black. A flower vase is on the black circle. >x bedside table The bedside table has a shiny black lacquer finish, with a contrasting white glass top. Black lines divide the top of the table into 3-by-3 grid, like a tic-tac-toe pattern. Written on the grid are numbers. The grid reads: "74" "29" "50" "26" "80" "47" "79" "11" "82" A bright light is shining up through the "11". You carefully examine the sides of the table. There are no obvious drawers or doors, but on one side you discover the edges of what might be a secret compartment! However, you can't see any way to get it open. There must be some sort of trick to it. >x shelf Etched into the glass shelf is a picture of a fireplace. On the shelf you see a sketchbook. >take sketchbook You take the sketchbook off of the glass shelf. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from top to bottom. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from top to bottom. You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube. Then there are some faint grinding noises and then another muffled thump. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from left to right. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. ------------- Press space bar to continue ----------------- The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from left to right. You see a large round hole in the side of the fuzzy cube that is now facing you. Looking though the hole you can see a little bit of the inside of the fuzzy chamber. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from left to right. You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube. Then there are some faint grinding noises and then another muffled thump. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn clockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. ------------- Press space bar to continue ----------------- The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn clockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn clockwise. You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube. Then there are some faint grinding noises and then another muffled thump. The same side of the cube is still facing you. >x sketchbook The first page of the sketchbook shows a chalk drawing of a campfire at night. The dark shadows surrounding suggest tall trees and a man cooking something over the fire. The man looks like Martin's father, although his features are unclear. But mostly the drawing seems to be a celebration of flames and fire, brilliantly wild in every color imaginable. >turn page You turn some pages until you are in the middle of the sketchbook. >x sketchbook On this page in the middle of the sketchbook you see an ink wash drawing of a woman dancing. It looks like Martin's mother, demonstrating a turn to a young student in front of a dance studio mirror. The angle of the perspective is off- center, so most of what you can see is shown backwards in the reflection of the mirror. >turn page You turn some more pages until you are near the end of the sketchbook. >x sketchbook As you look at this page near the end of the sketchbook you suddenly are gripped with a sharp pain inside your head and an overwhelming feeling of nausea that forces you to double over and squeeze your eyes tightly shut. You are fairly certain that the page is blank. But at the same time you can't help thinking that you also experienced the possibility of a drawing of Martin sitting on an oriental rug, playing with a tiger-striped kitten! You find the uncertainty extremely uncomfortable, so you force yourself not to think about it right now. After a while you begin to feel better, so you straighten up and open your eyes again. >turn page You turn back to the first page. >put sketchbook on shelf The sketchbook is now on the glass shelf. You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube. Then there are some faint grinding noises and then another muffled thump. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. ------------- Press space bar to continue ----------------- You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube. Then there are some faint grinding noises and then another muffled thump. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from right to left. You see a large round hole in the side of the fuzzy cube that is now facing you. Looking though the hole you can see a little bit of the inside of the fuzzy chamber. >put ear in sack As you put the ear tile into the sack, the gold thread begins to vibrate. Then, the tiny fuzzy dice on the gold thread emit a short low buzzing sound. >e FUZZY CHAMBER >take ear tile As you take the ear tile out of the sack, the gold thread begins to vibrate. Then, the tiny fuzzy dice on the gold thread emit a short high-pitched whistling sound. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. You struggle to keep your footing as the floor makes a quarter turn beneath you. When the movement stops, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the west, is now to the north. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. You struggle to keep your footing as the floor makes a quarter turn beneath you. When the movement stops, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the north, is now to the east. >e SHORT HALL On the glass shelf you see a white pawn. >take pawn You take the white pawn off of the glass shelf. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from left to right. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from left to right. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from left to right. You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube and slightly above. Then the iris device on the west side of the pillar opens. There are grinding noises as metal cylinder emerges from the open iris device and extends towards the socket in the fuzzy cube. The cylinder enters the socket, and then you hear a thump as the cylinder locks into the socket. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. ------------- Press space bar to continue ----------------- The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. It has a metal cylinder attached to its center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise. The same side of the cube is still facing you. It has a metal cylinder attached to its center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise. You hear a thump coming from the socket in the fuzzy cube. Then there are grinding noises as the metal cylinder pulls away from the cube, revealing a round metal socket in the center of the cube. The cylinder recedes into the pillar. When the cylinder is completely inside the pillar, the iris device closes. Then you hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube and slightly south. The same side of the cube is still facing you. It has a metal cylinder attached to its center. >put pawn on shelf The white pawn is now on the glass shelf. You hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube and slightly south. Then the iris device on the west side of the pillar opens. There are grinding noises as metal cylinder emerges from the open iris device and extends towards the socket in the fuzzy cube. The cylinder enters the socket, and then you hear a thump as the cylinder locks into the socket. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn clockwise The same side of the cube is still facing you. It has a metal cylinder attached to its center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn clockwise The same side of the cube is still facing you. It has a metal cylinder attached to its center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn clockwise The same side of the cube is still facing you. It has a metal cylinder attached to its center. ------------- Press space bar to continue ----------------- You hear a thump coming from the socket in the fuzzy cube. Then there are grinding noises as the metal cylinder pulls away from the cube, revealing a round metal socket in the center of the cube. The cylinder recedes into the pillar. When the cylinder is completely inside the pillar, the iris device closes. Then you hear a muffled thump coming from the general direction of the fuzzy cube and slightly above. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from right to left. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from right to left. The side of the cube now facing you looks like a fuzzy white square with a round metal depression in the center. The fuzzy cube rotates a quarter turn from right to left. You see a large round hole in the side of the fuzzy cube that is now facing you. Looking though the hole you can see a little bit of the inside of the fuzzy chamber. >w FUZZY CHAMBER >take mouth As you take the mouth tile out of the sack, the gold thread begins to vibrate. Then, the tiny fuzzy dice on the gold thread squirt something into the air. You catch a hint of it in your mouth and it tastes quite sweet. You hear a thump coming from the ceiling. Then you hear a grinding noise receding from the ceiling, while at the same time you hear a grinding noise approaching the south wall. This is followed by a thump coming from the south wall. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the east, is now beneath you. You manage not to fall through the hole by keeping to the side. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be beneath you, is now to the west. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the west, is now above you. You hear a thump coming from the south wall. Then you hear a grinding noise receding from the south wall, while at the same time you hear a grinding noise approaching the east wall. This is followed by a thump coming from the east wall. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be above you, is now to the north. >x mouth tile The mouth tile looks something like a Mah Jong tile. It has a picture of four mouths. The words on the tile say "Curiosity Tastes Adventure". >n BALCONY A low railing surrounds the balcony. To the east you see a black dome surrounded by a ledge on all sides. If you don't mind risking a small leap you could probably get over to the dome ledge by going east. To get to the courtyard you could jump down, but you wouldn't be able to climb back up. The south wall is made of the same white adobe surface as the rest of the house. However, there is something unusual about this wall. In the middle of the wall you see a large fuzzy white cube that stands a little taller than you are. The fuzzy cube has a large round hole in it. On the south wall is a glass shelf that appears to have something etched into the glass. >x shelf Etched into the glass shelf is a picture of a palm tree. Nothing else is currently on the shelf. >s FUZZY CHAMBER >put mouth in sack As you put the mouth tile into the sack, the gold thread begins to vibrate. Then, the tiny fuzzy dice on the gold thread squirt something into the air. You catch a hint of it in your mouth and it tastes rather sour. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the north, is now above you. You hear a thump coming from the east wall. Then you hear a grinding noise receding from the east wall, while at the same time you hear a grinding noise approaching the south wall. This is followed by a thump coming from the south wall. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be above you, is now to the west. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be to the west, is now beneath you. You manage not to fall through the hole by keeping to the side. Suddenly the fuzzy chamber changes its orientation. The quarter flip pulls the floor out from under you, and you fall over. After you regain your footing, you see that the large round hole, which used to be beneath you, is now to the east. You hear a thump coming from the south wall. Then you hear a grinding noise receding from the south wall, while at the same time you hear a grinding noise approaching the ceiling. This is followed by a thump coming from the ceiling. >e SHORT HALL On the glass shelf you see a white pawn. >take pawn You take the white pawn off of the glass shelf. >s SECOND FLOOR LANDING >w PHONE BOOTH, by the second floor landing You hear the computerized voice tell you (somewhat faintly since the receiver is hanging down on its cord) ... "Press "1" to be enlightened. Press "3" to be cleansed. Press "4" to be uplifted. Press "7" to be moved. Press "9" to be returned. If you do not have access to a touch tone phone, please remain on the line and an operator will assist you." >press "9" You pick up the receiver. You press "9". You hear the sound of a motor grinding, the door slams closed, and the phone booth suddenly drops very quickly. Then, just as suddenly, the phone booth comes to a screeching halt. The door opens and you see the kitchen. PHONE BOOTH, in the pantry You see the kitchen to the east. You see Agador-Spartacus in the kitchen. He's lying down. You hear the computerized voice tell you... "Press "1" to be enlightened. Press "3" to be cleansed. Press "4" to be uplifted. Press "7" to be moved. Press "9" to be transmogrified. If you do not have access to a touch tone phone, please remain on the line and an operator will assist you." >e You drop the receiver. KITCHEN You see an envelope, a large stack of catalogs, a phone bill, a gold key, "The Bedtime Story Book", "The Boy Who Had No Words", a yellow feather, a small phone book, a short blue sock, a long black sock, a handwritten note, and a bath robe here. Agador-Spartacus is lying down here. >s The blue birds suddenly become alive. They fly off of the china cabinet doors and begin to flit about, making you feel as if you should sing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah". Then the blue birds land back on the china cabinet doors and grow still. DINING ROOM (by the china cabinet) Agador-Spartacus enters the dining room by the china cabinet from the kitchen. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >sw DINING ROOM (by the west end of the table) On the west end of the table you see a plate, a fork, a knife, a spoon, and a glass. Agador-Spartacus enters the dining room by the west end of the table from the dining room by the china cabinet. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >w You go through the strands of beads. LIVING ROOM (front half) You see three empty boxes, three ordinary cans of spam, and a magic carpet (rolled) here. Agador-Spartacus enters the front half of the living room from the dining room by the west end of the table. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >n LIVING ROOM (back half) On the music stand you see some sheet music. You see three empty boxes, two ordinary cans of spam, and a magic carpet (rolled) here. Agador-Spartacus enters the back half of the living room from the front half of the living room. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >push bust nose Beethoven's nose goes "Beep!" The bust of Beethoven suddenly makes a quarter turn to the left. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >push bust ear Beethoven's ear goes "Honk!" The bust of Beethoven suddenly makes a quarter turn to face backward. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >push bust forehead Beethoven's forehead makes a sound like an old-fashioned fire engine siren, "Ree-rrr-ree-rrr!" The bust of Beethoven suddenly makes a quarter turn to the right. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably. >push bust chin Beethoven's lips splutter, giving you a "Br-rr-rrr-p!" The bust of Beethoven suddenly makes a quarter turn to face forward. The west wall behind the piano disappears into the ceiling, revealing a dance studio. Agador-Spartacus stands before you, wagging his tail affably.