ORDERING FOOD OR DRINK FROM THE BLACK BOX

BY THE FLAT ROCK

There is a large flat rock here.   

To the south you see the back wall of the house, containing a 
window that is currently closed.   

Narrow pathways lead northeast and northwest through thorny 
bushes.  You could also go southeast, slipping around to the side of 
the house.  The bushes block travel in all other directions.   

>se

BY THE RASPBERRY BUSH

You see Agador-Spartacus in the area by the flat rock.  He's 
wagging his tail.   

>s

OUTSIDE THE BACK DOOR

>w

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, a bath robe, a pair of brown shoes, a short brown 
sock, a short black sock, some ballet slippers, a fake can of spam, a 
white pawn, a mug of black coffee, a plucked daisy, a plucked tulip, 
two short white socks, a small Phillips screwdriver, some brightly 
colored machine tools, a copper key, a small tape recorder, a large 
towel, and a basket here.   

>swing watch
(first taking the watch out of the pocket) 
The watch swings back and forth hypnotically.  It's difficult to see 
the watch while it's swinging, but for a moment you think that you 
see the misty image of a train conductor on the cover of the watch.  
The conductor seems confused and looks as if he needs you to tell 
him what time it is.   

>say "1:45" to conductor
You say "1:45" to the train conductor.  The conductor smiles and 
nods his head briefly before his image fades and disappears. 

Then the watch stops swinging and pops open. 

Archimedes' arms now show the time as 1:45.   

On the video screen you see a large square with a thick black 
border.   

There is nothing in the square.   

Below the square you see a glass of root beer.   

>put watch in pocket
(first closing the watch) 
The pocket watch is now in one of the trouser pockets.   

You hear some rumbling and clattering noises coming from inside 
the Black Box.   

On the video screen you see a large square with a thick black 
border.   

In the square you see a tray containing a glass of root beer.   

There is nothing below the square.   

>swing watch
(first taking the watch out of the pocket) 
The watch swings back and forth hypnotically.  It's difficult to see 
the watch while it's swinging, but for a moment you think that you 
see the misty image of a train conductor on the cover of the watch.  
The conductor seems confused and looks as if he needs you to tell 
him what time it is.   

>say "1:09" to conductor
You say "1:09" to the train conductor.  The conductor smiles and 
nods his head briefly before his image fades and disappears. 

Then the watch stops swinging and pops open. 

Archimedes' arms now show the time as 1:09.   

On the video screen you see a large square with a thick black 
border.   

In the square you see a tray containing a glass of root beer.   

Below the square you see a picture of a waiter carrying a tray.   

>put watch in pocket
(first closing the watch) 
The pocket watch is now in one of the trouser pockets.   

The sound system makes a noise that reminds you of someone 
snapping his fingers.   

The watch beeps twice.   

The lid of the Black Box opens.  A robotic hand lifts a tray 
containing a glass of root beer from inside the box and places it on 
the platform above the box.  Then the hand withdraws into the box 
and the lid closes.   

On the video screen you see a large square with a thick black 
border.   

There is nothing in the square.   

There is nothing below the square.