Start of a transcript of JIGSAW An Interactive History Copyright (c) 1995 by Graham Nelson Release 3 / Serial number 951129 / Inform v1600 Library 6/1 Standard interpreter 1.1 Interpreter 1 Version C / Library serial number 951024 >x grid "Nec deus intersit nisi dignus vindice nodus inciderit" 1 2 3 4 +----------------------------------------------------+ |............. ooooooooooooo| a |. Mould Park o| |......o...... oooooo.oooooo| |ooooooooooooo...... ...... .............| b |o Invalid .. Dunes .. Snow .| |oooooo.oooooo............. . ...... ......| |.............oooooo.oooooo............. | c |. Glass .. Carriage oo Train .. | |.............ooooooooooooo............. | | . o . | d | | | | +----------------------------------------------------+ >turn off alarm The latch on the clock is now off. >set clock to 59 The clock starts, silently and slowly, and the jigsaw board pulses with a flickering amber light, warm and erratic as though from an oil lamp. >press b2 The piece at b2 presses in smoothly, like a button, then releases. You are sucked up once again into the time vortex. As you slow down, you briefly make out the front page of The Times during the 1909 Budget crisis and then everything begins to change... [Press SPACE to continue.] Chapter Five - 59 Seconds, 852 Feet Big Kill Devil Hill You stand on the brow of the largest of the four Kill Devil Hills, sand dunes on the North Carolina coastline. A few miles due north is the tiny village of Kitty Hawk, and just below you down the slope is some kind of wooden railing. It's a cold, windy day, and the great expanse of the Atlantic (to the east, of course) is combed by the waves swept back. A paper dart lies nose down in the sand, ruffling in the wind. >x device A highly curious device, like a wood-mounted gimballed compass, with dials and swinging arrows, inscribed "tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis". The main feature is a white button. The easiest arrow to read points to 03. >undo Big Kill Devil Hill [Previous turn undone.] >save Ok. >get dart Taken. >x it Newsprint folded up into a crude paper dart, the kind which stalls rather than glides. >open it You unfold the paper dart into a copy of the Cincinnati Herald. >read it The December 12th, 1903, edition, which is laceratingly cruel about the second hopeless failure of Dr Langley's so-called flying machine "Aerodrome", which crashed into a canal yards from take-off despite all the money the Smithsonian and the U.S. Government could put in. Dr Langley, it seems, blames his $50000 launching ramp and is confident the machine is sound. The "Herald" begs to differ. >e Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. A bottle, containing a rolled-up message, bobs away out on the waves, not far from the shore. >get bottle The bottle is too far out to reach. The bottle washes a little closer to you, but it's still some way off. >get bottle The bottle is too far out to reach. The bottle eases closer yet, bobbing on the waves. >get bottle You just manage to reach the bottle without falling in, and pull out the message: "Couldn't face putting troubles in their way - both such nice boys, trying so hard. Perfect weather conditions today and they still wouldn't fly, because it was the Sabbath! Anyway, it's too cold to hang around." A signature seems superfluous. You bury the Coke bottle, just in case, though it hardly seems much of an anachronism. >n Little Hill Looking north, there's nothing but miles of sand-bank and bicycle tracks to Kitty Hawk. South, the ground falls to the valley, and east to the beach. >s Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. >s By the Railing On the shallower northern slopes of Big Kill Devil Hill, thirty yards or so to the west of a wooden hut. A single wooden rail runs along the ground and slightly downhill to the north for some sixty feet or so. >s Big Kill Devil Hill You stand on the brow of the largest of the four Kill Devil Hills, sand dunes on the North Carolina coastline. A few miles due north is the tiny village of Kitty Hawk, and just below you down the slope is some kind of wooden railing. It's a cold, windy day, and the great expanse of the Atlantic (to the east, of course) is combed by the waves swept back. >e Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. >w Just as you approach the hut, men heave an early biplane out of the hangar and towards the west. There seems to be quite some activity over there now, whereas it's deserted here. Hangar A one-storey wooden hut, with a tacked-down tar pitched roof, about twelve yards by five, serves here as a hangar. The western wall has been opened up like a garage door and stands on three stilts. A bicycle track runs down the dune northwest, and footsteps in the sand trail away east to the beach, but the hangar really faces the rails to the west. A signal flag is flying. A Richard's anemometer lies among coffee mugs on a table on the "porch" of the hangar. A lump of corn bread is all that remains of breakfast. >w By the Railing On the shallower northern slopes of Big Kill Devil Hill, thirty yards or so to the west of a wooden hut. Wilbur is tightening the wire-pulls to the wing warping. Orville is adjusting the engine. The "Flyer", a flimsy but expertly-made biplane, is mounted on the rail. A small crowd of spectators and witnesses from Kitty Hawk has gathered here and is looking on with some interest. They have no objection to your joining their number. A single wooden rail runs along the ground and slightly downhill to the north for some sixty feet or so. The brothers shake hands as Orville climbs into the "Flyer", lying flat on his face on the bottom wing. >undo Hangar [Previous turn undone.] >get anemometer Taken. >x it The wind speed is now 7mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. >get bread Taken. >x it You see nothing special about the lump of corn bread. >x flag That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game. >nw Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >w West Hill is not a very exciting place. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >se Hangar A one-storey wooden hut, with a tacked-down tar pitched roof, about twelve yards by five, serves here as a hangar. The western wall has been opened up like a garage door and stands on three stilts. A bicycle track runs down the dune northwest, and footsteps in the sand trail away east to the beach, but the hangar really faces the rails to the west. A signal flag is flying. >undo Dune Valley [Previous turn undone.] >z Time passes. From above, the "Flyer" is launched along the rail, and the engine carries it just stable above the sand dunes. But after ten seconds or so, Wilbur grazes the ground with a wingtip and comes to rest not far from where you're standing. >wilbur, hello "Excuse me, but there's work to do, and we'd get along a little quicker without your questions." Wilbur shakes his head. "Not enough lift, that's the trouble." >x anemometer The wind speed is now 23mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Orville and the spectators arrive from up-hill to help drag the "Flyer" back to the rail. >x anemometer The wind speed is now 29mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >x anemometer The wind speed is now 28mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >x anemometer The wind speed is now 23mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. From above, the "Flyer" is launched along the rail, and the engine carries it just stable above the sand dunes. But after ten seconds or so, Orville grazes the ground with a wingtip and comes to rest not far from where you're standing. >x anemometer The wind speed is now 20mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Orville shakes his head. "Not enough lift, that's the trouble." >x anemometer The wind speed is now 24mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Wilbur and the spectators arrive from up-hill to help drag the "Flyer" back to the rail. >x anemometer The wind speed is now 28mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >x anemometer The wind speed is now 28mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >x anemometer The wind speed is now 25mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. From above, the "Flyer" is launched along the rail, and the engine carries it just stable above the sand dunes. But after ten seconds or so, Wilbur grazes the ground with a wingtip and comes to rest not far from where you're standing. >x anemometer The wind speed is now 20mph, if "Richard's" are to be believed. Wilbur shakes his head. "Not enough lift, that's the trouble." >show anemometer to wilbur Wilbur is unimpressed. Orville and the spectators arrive from up-hill to help drag the "Flyer" back to the rail. >w West Hill is not a very exciting place. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >s By the Railing On the shallower northern slopes of Big Kill Devil Hill, thirty yards or so to the west of a wooden hut. Orville is adjusting the engine. Wilbur is tightening the wire-pulls to the wing warping. The "Flyer", a flimsy but expertly-made biplane, is mounted on the rail. A small crowd of spectators and witnesses from Kitty Hawk has gathered here and is looking on with some interest. They have no objection to your joining their number. A single wooden rail runs along the ground and slightly downhill to the north for some sixty feet or so. The brothers shake hands as Orville climbs into the "Flyer", lying flat on his face on the bottom wing. >n Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. From above, the "Flyer" is launched along the rail, and the engine carries it just stable above the sand dunes. But after ten seconds or so, Orville grazes the ground with a wingtip and comes to rest not far from where you're standing. >n Little Hill Looking north, there's nothing but miles of sand-bank and bicycle tracks to Kitty Hawk. South, the ground falls to the valley, and east to the beach. >n Kitty Hawk is four miles away! >s Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >w West Hill is not a very exciting place. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >s By the Railing On the shallower northern slopes of Big Kill Devil Hill, thirty yards or so to the west of a wooden hut. Orville stands by the launch rails, watching his brother in the "Flyer". The "Flyer", a flimsy but expertly-made biplane, is mounted on the rail. Wilbur Wright is lying flat, harnessed to the bottom wing. A small crowd of spectators and witnesses from Kitty Hawk has gathered here and is looking on with some interest. They have no objection to your joining their number. A single wooden rail runs along the ground and slightly downhill to the north for some sixty feet or so. Orville runs downhill, dragging the "Flyer" along the rail, until the engine carries it just above the sand dunes. Wilbur doesn't get far, though, and after ten seconds or so the "Flyer" grazes the ground with a wingtip and comes to rest in the valley. >w You can't go that way. Orville shakes his head sadly. "Head-wind speed too low again," he laments. >show anemometer to orville Orville is unimpressed. Orville and the spectators go and drag the "Flyer" back uphill to the rail. >s Big Kill Devil Hill You stand on the brow of the largest of the four Kill Devil Hills, sand dunes on the North Carolina coastline. A few miles due north is the tiny village of Kitty Hawk, and just below you down the slope is some kind of wooden railing. It's a cold, windy day, and the great expanse of the Atlantic (to the east, of course) is combed by the waves swept back. >w You could lose yourself in the sand dunes for hours, but that would be exhausting and pointless. >nw You could lose yourself in the sand dunes for hours, but that would be exhausting and pointless. >d By the Railing On the shallower northern slopes of Big Kill Devil Hill, thirty yards or so to the west of a wooden hut. Wilbur stands by the launch rails, watching his brother in the "Flyer". A small crowd of spectators and witnesses from Kitty Hawk has gathered here and is looking on with some interest. They have no objection to your joining their number. A single wooden rail runs along the ground and slightly downhill to the north for some sixty feet or so. Wilbur shakes his head sadly. "Head-wind speed too low again," he laments. >se Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. >sw You can't go that way. >nw Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >e Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. >w Hangar A one-storey wooden hut, with a tacked-down tar pitched roof, about twelve yards by five, serves here as a hangar. The western wall has been opened up like a garage door and stands on three stilts. A bicycle track runs down the dune northwest, and footsteps in the sand trail away east to the beach, but the hangar really faces the rails to the west. A signal flag is flying. >u Big Kill Devil Hill You stand on the brow of the largest of the four Kill Devil Hills, sand dunes on the North Carolina coastline. A few miles due north is the tiny village of Kitty Hawk, and just below you down the slope is some kind of wooden railing. It's a cold, windy day, and the great expanse of the Atlantic (to the east, of course) is combed by the waves swept back. >ne Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. >w Hangar A one-storey wooden hut, with a tacked-down tar pitched roof, about twelve yards by five, serves here as a hangar. The western wall has been opened up like a garage door and stands on three stilts. A bicycle track runs down the dune northwest, and footsteps in the sand trail away east to the beach, but the hangar really faces the rails to the west. A signal flag is flying. >sw Big Kill Devil Hill You stand on the brow of the largest of the four Kill Devil Hills, sand dunes on the North Carolina coastline. A few miles due north is the tiny village of Kitty Hawk, and just below you down the slope is some kind of wooden railing. It's a cold, windy day, and the great expanse of the Atlantic (to the east, of course) is combed by the waves swept back. >ne Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. >w Hangar A one-storey wooden hut, with a tacked-down tar pitched roof, about twelve yards by five, serves here as a hangar. The western wall has been opened up like a garage door and stands on three stilts. A bicycle track runs down the dune northwest, and footsteps in the sand trail away east to the beach, but the hangar really faces the rails to the west. A signal flag is flying. >climb roof You can't see any such thing. >n Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >w West Hill is not a very exciting place. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >sw You can't go that way. From above, the "Flyer" is launched along the rail, and the engine carries it just stable above the sand dunes. But after ten seconds or so, Wilbur grazes the ground with a wingtip and comes to rest not far from where you're standing. >ne Atlantic Beach Down at sea level, the sand is wet and an effort to wade through. The slope rises to the west, where a path winds up to a wooden hut. The vast ocean is choppy and boatless. Regular gusts of wind blow up great waves. >w Hangar A one-storey wooden hut, with a tacked-down tar pitched roof, about twelve yards by five, serves here as a hangar. The western wall has been opened up like a garage door and stands on three stilts. A bicycle track runs down the dune northwest, and footsteps in the sand trail away east to the beach, but the hangar really faces the rails to the west. A signal flag is flying. >n Dune Valley A valley among the dunes. A bicycle track runs north for some way in the direction of Kitty Hawk, rising to the south. The hills are as lifeless as the moon; spars of old trees, broken by frequent storms, break surface here and there; pools of water have frozen in the sand; cold wind comes and goes in gusts. Up on the hill, the brothers are checking out the "Flyer". >nw You can't go that way. Up on the hill, one of the brothers gets into the "Flyer". >n Little Hill Looking north, there's nothing but miles of sand-bank and bicycle tracks to Kitty Hawk. South, the ground falls to the valley, and east to the beach. >