Transcript enabled. > about The 9:00 AM Train is always on time by tzbits. Release 1. Serial number 260903. Dialog compiler version 1c/03-dev. Library version 1.2.3. Story IFID: BD5D56F0-E948-4535-A96A-BBB2C281A8D7 A warm thanks to andrewj, Daniel Stelzer, Javier Garza, and rh for testing and giving feedback on this game before it was released. And a warm thanks also to svlin for translating the dialogue to Italian, making ENABLE ITALIAN possible. > help Below are commands you can use to navigate this interactive fiction game. # EXPLORATION EXAMINE / X : Get a detailed description of a specific item or person. EXITS: Display all obvious paths leading away from your current location. INVENTORY / I: List everything you are currently carrying or wearing. LOOK / L: Get a description of your current location. LOOK UNDER : Look under an object to find hidden items. SEARCH : Look inside or around something to find hidden items. TOUCH : Interact with an object through touch. WAIT / Z: Cause time to advance by one turn doing nothing. # MOVEMENT CLIMB : Get on top of something. ENTER : Get inside an object like a vehicle or a room. GO : Move in a compass direction (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, etc.) or UP/DOWN. The one letter shortcuts are: n,s,e,w,u,d. LEAVE / EXIT: Get out of something, off of something, or back to a previous area. SIT ON : Sit on something. # OBJECTS DROP : Place an item you are carrying onto the ground. OPEN / CLOSE : Manipulate doors, containers, or other openable items. TAKE : Pick up an item and add it to your inventory. # INTERACTION TALK TO : Initiate a conversation. ASK ABOUT : Inquire about a specific subject. GIVE TO : Transfer an item to another person. SHOW TO : Allow a character to see an item without giving it to them. # SYSTEM COMMANDS ABOUT: Show version information and credits. HELP: Show game version info and this help screen. QUIT (Q): End the current play session. RESTART: Begin the game again from the very beginning. SAVE / RESTORE: Record your current progress to a file or load a previous state. SCRIPT ON / SCRIPT OFF: Start or stop recording a text transcript of your play session. UNDO: Reverse the very last turn taken. VERSION: Show game version information. > version The 9:00 AM Train is always on time by tzbits. Release 1. Serial number 260903. Dialog compiler version 1c/03-dev. Library version 1.2.3. Story IFID: BD5D56F0-E948-4535-A96A-BBB2C281A8D7 A warm thanks to andrewj, Daniel Stelzer, Javier Garza, and rh for testing and giving feedback on this game before it was released. And a warm thanks also to svlin for translating the dialogue to Italian, making ENABLE ITALIAN possible. > x me Well, there you are: wearing jeans and a blue tourist T-shirt with colorful silk-screen vector-art mountains-at-sunset outlines. > i You have a cell phone. > x phone You don't have any messages. > turn on phone The cell phone can't be switched on. > l Lobby The lower lobby is like a stuffy little carpeted cave. To the south it opens up to the giant atrium. There is a service counter in front of the north wall. Between the counter and the atrium are two benches about 10 feet apart. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the north wall is a mural. > x carpet You're interested in the floor? That's beneath you. It's a maroon low-pile carpet that has been so heavily traveled that the fibers are all mashed together. > * lol > x benches Did you want to examine the bench on the right or the bench on the left? > left It is sturdy and built to withstand the daily beating that comes with being a bench in a train station. > x right bench It is sturdy and built to withstand the daily beating that comes with being a bench in a train station. > x mural The mural fills the whole wall with color and depicts a train traveling through the mountains at sunrise. At the top it says, "The 9:00 AM train," and at the bottom it says, "is always on time!" There is a silly little cartoon guy photo-bombing the lower right side of the mural with a thumbs up and a cheesy smile. > x guy He's smartly dressed and looks a little too happy. > x train The engine is black with a mist around its wheels. The cars being pulled behind it are full of happy passengers. > * nice detail > l Lobby The lower lobby is like a stuffy little carpeted cave. To the south it opens up to the giant atrium. There is a service counter in front of the north wall. Between the counter and the atrium are two benches about 10 feet apart. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the north wall is a mural. > x sign You look at the sign. There's something about the perfect, red letters that say, "Restricted Area". There's something about the four, precisely placed screws that fasten it to the steel door. They contrast sharply with a memory: your brother's bedroom door, the piece of scrap paper pulled out of the trash, taped to the door unevenly, and the crooked, painted, red letters that said, KEEP OUT, which of course functioned precisely as a dare for you to go in. > x counter The counters down here are currently unstaffed. > take sign That's part of the restricted access door. > x door It's a heavy steel door with a sign. A red light by the badge reader indicates it is locked from this side. > b reader (I'm sorry, I didn't understand what you wanted to do.) > x reader It's a black box about the size of a deck of cards with a red light on it. > open it The badge reader doesn't open. > i You have a cell phone. > l Lobby The lower lobby is like a stuffy little carpeted cave. To the south it opens up to the giant atrium. There is a service counter in front of the north wall. Between the counter and the atrium are two benches about 10 feet apart. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the north wall is a mural. > touch reader You have to tap it with a badge, not your finger. > tap reader with phone You can't touch the badge reader with the cell phone. > search counter You find nothing of interest. > look under left bench You find nothing under the bench on the left. > look under right bench Under the bench on the right you see a badge. > take badge You take the badge out from under the bench on the right. > * aha! Glad i checked help > x badge It's an employee badge displaying a lady's face and the printed name, "Ying". > tap reader with badge You scan the badge and the light on the badge reader turns green. You open the restricted access door. You walk west, quietly sneaking through the door before it closes. Lower Restricted Hallway You are not supposed to be in here. Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads back to the lobby. The door swings shut. > x doors They are heavy, sliding metal doors that meet in the middle. > x button It's a button with an up arrow. > w You start to walk west, but just then a gloved hand lands on your shoulder and spins you around. "Jung ner lbh qbvat va urer!" The angry security guard pushes you to the ground. He grabs the badge from you and gets out his walkie-talkie. He presses its button and says in his language, "V'ir tbg n ebthr gbhevfg qbja urer jub fgbyr n onqtr. Fraq onpxhc gb gur ybjre unyy!" GAME OVER Would you like to: UNDO the last move, RESTORE a saved position, QUIT the program, or RESTART from the beginning? > undo Undoing the last turn (w). Lower Restricted Hallway > s There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > l Lower Restricted Hallway Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads back to the lobby. > push button You press the button. After a moment, DING! The doors open. > n You begin to enter the elevator, but just then a gloved hand lands on your shoulder and spins you around. "Jung ner lbh qbvat va urer!" The angry security guard pushes you to the ground. He grabs the badge from you and gets out his walkie-talkie. He presses its button and says in his language, "V'ir tbg n ebthr gbhevfg qbja urer jub fgbyr n onqtr. Fraq onpxhc gb gur ybjre unyy!" GAME OVER Would you like to: UNDO the last move, RESTORE a saved position, QUIT the program, or RESTART from the beginning? > undo Undoing the last turn (n). Lower Restricted Hallway > e (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the east) You open the restricted access door. The elevator doors slide closed. You walk east through the restricted access door. Lobby The lower lobby is like a stuffy little carpeted cave. To the south it opens up to the giant atrium. There is a service counter in front of the north wall. Between the counter and the atrium are two benches about 10 feet apart. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the north wall is a mural. The door swings shut. > w (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the west) You scan the badge and the light on the badge reader turns green. You open the restricted access door. You walk west, quietly sneaking through the door before it closes. Lower Restricted Hallway Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads back to the lobby. The door swings shut. > e (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the east) You open the restricted access door. You walk east through the restricted access door. Lobby The lower lobby is like a stuffy little carpeted cave. To the south it opens up to the giant atrium. There is a service counter in front of the north wall. Between the counter and the atrium are two benches about 10 feet apart. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the north wall is a mural. The door swings shut. > e There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > n There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > look behind coutner (I only understood you as far as wanting to look behind something.) > look behind counter You find nothing behind the lower lobby service counter. > look under counter You find nothing under the lower lobby service counter. > d There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > s You walk south. Atrium The atrium is a wide open space with a ceiling made of glass and a south-facing view of the mountains. A sign here says "Track 1". Another sign says "Track 2" with an arrow pointing east. There is an escalator to the west. Various people with luggage are either milling about or passing through this sunlit area. An employee stands by the window looking out at the view. She has a troubled look on her face. You look at the badge. You look at her again. It's the same person. It's her badge, and the badge says her name is Ying. > x employee She has black hair pulled into a bun and wears a black skirt and white blouse. Her face matches the picture on the badge. > talk to employee You approach the employee. Choose what to say: 1. Did you lose this? 2. This looks like it belongs to you. 3. You're going to need this. > 1 Did you lose this? "Did you lose this?" you say holding up the badge with her picture on it. She looks at it. It's as if she doesn't believe it's real. "Thank you! You don't know how much trouble I was in without that!" She takes it from you. "Now I can get home. Seriously, my day was totally wrecked without this." She holds it up for emphasis. You're not sure what to say at first. You say, "Glad I could help." She turns and looks out at the mountains, and asks, "Have you traveled through here before?" 1. Yes 2. No 3. Maybe > 2 No "No." "Ah, beginner mind. I envy you. The view from this atrium is amazing, but I've seen it so many times." She looks out the window and sighs. You search for something to say to keep the conversation flowing. 1. Do you work here? 2. Where are you going? > 1 Do you work here? "Do you work here?" "No, not at this station, at another one. Today I'm just a passenger heading home... which is actually right on the other side of those mountains, over the border, there." She points. You look in the direction she's pointing. "I'm going that way too, but much further south after the border," you shift your weight on your feet, "which reminds me, if you don't mind me asking, passenger to passenger, where do I pick up my ticket?" "Try upstairs." After those abrupt two words you wonder, is this conversation over? Should you keep talking? No. That would be impolite. She's clearly done. Don't offend her. You nod. In appreciation. "Safe travels." "You too!" She gives you a kind smile, holds up her badge, and says, "Thanks again!" Then she walks away. Atrium The atrium is a wide open space with a ceiling made of glass and a south-facing view of the mountains. A sign here says "Track 1". Another sign says "Track 2" with an arrow pointing east. There is an escalator to the west. Various people with luggage are either milling about or passing through this sunlit area. > x ceiling You can see blue sky and white puffy clouds beyond the glass. > x mountain You look south through the giant windows and see the beautiful snow-capped mountains that are so numerous, it's almost overwhelming. > x sign (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x sign 1 (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x track (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x signs (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > l Atrium The atrium is a wide open space with a ceiling made of glass and a south-facing view of the mountains. A sign here says "Track 1". Another sign says "Track 2" with an arrow pointing east. There is an escalator to the west. Various people with luggage are either milling about or passing through this sunlit area. > x escalator The escalator is there to the west: an engineering marvel of moving and disappearing steps. > u There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > w You walk west. Bottom of the escalator The escalator chugs along here, offering to carry you up to the mezzanine. The atrium is to the east. > e You walk east. Atrium The atrium is a wide open space with a ceiling made of glass and a south-facing view of the mountains. A sign here says "Track 1". Another sign says "Track 2" with an arrow pointing east. There is an escalator to the west. Various people with luggage are either milling about or passing through this sunlit area. > u There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > n You walk north. Lobby The lower lobby is like a stuffy little carpeted cave. To the south it opens up to the giant atrium. There is a service counter in front of the north wall. Between the counter and the atrium are two benches about 10 feet apart. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the north wall is a mural. > s You walk south. Atrium The atrium is a wide open space with a ceiling made of glass and a south-facing view of the mountains. A sign here says "Track 1". Another sign says "Track 2" with an arrow pointing east. There is an escalator to the west. Various people with luggage are either milling about or passing through this sunlit area. > x people Like any place offering public transportation, there's a wide variety of people: some young, some old, some waiting, some in a hurry, some traveling for business, some for pleasure. > x luggage Most people just have a shoulder bag or a roller bag. Some people on big trips or in large groups have bags piled up on luggage carts. > e The 9:00 AM train leaves from Track 1 not Track 2. > s There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > w You walk west. Bottom of the escalator The escalator chugs along here, offering to carry you up to the mezzanine. The atrium is to the east. > x escalator An engineering marvel of moving and disappearing steps. > w There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > u You ride up. Top of the escalator The escalator chugs along here, offering to carry you down into the atrium. The mezzanine is to the east. > e You walk east. Mezzanine You are in the mezzanine. A rail along its south edge separates it from the atrium, where there's a stunning view of endless white-capped mountains. To the north is the upper lobby. > x rail It's a simple tubular steel railing painted eucalyptus-green. Standing at the rail, looking down, you see the floor of the atrium some 20 feet below. > x floor You go to the rail and look down into the atrium. Like any place offering public transportation, there's a wide variety of people: some young, some old, some waiting, some in a hurry, some traveling for business, some for pleasure. > n You walk north. Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The train station is built into the side of a mountain, and the service counter here doubles as a boarding gate for Track 1. The right half of the north wall is an accordion wall that is currently closed. > x mountain (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x gate (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x wall The accordion wall is a type of partition wall with tracks on the top and bottom that allow it to slide closed and open, folding and unfolding like an accordion. > open wall Only the service employees can open it. DING! Your cell phone vibrates a couple times in your pocket. > x phone A text message from your brother: "Are you at the train station yet?" Choose a response to type: 1. "yes" 2. "wrong number" 3. "what train station?" > 1 "yes" You type: "yes" He replies: "did you see the headlines?" Choose a response to type: 1. "not yet I'll check later" 2. "all news is fake" 3. "where are you?" > 1 "not yet I'll check later" You type: "not yet I'll check later" He replies: "no check now. war starting. make sure you get on the 9:00 AM train" Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. > x chairs There are many chairs here that are empty. Only a few are occupied. > x coutner (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x coutner (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x counter The counter up here is currently unstaffed. You are starting to feel anxious: you don't have your ticket yet. > look behind counter You find nothing behind the upper lobby service counter. Suddenly, three security guards enter the upper lobby. They grab you by the shoulders and escort you down the escalator to the lower level. One guard takes post in front of the escalator. For some reason the people with authority are kicking passengers out of the upper level now. Bottom of the escalator The escalator is disabled and no longer carrying anyone to the upper level. A guard stands in front of it. > x guard A stone-faced person of authority. A badge that displays his face hangs on a lanyard around his neck. > talk to guard You say, "I need to pick up my ticket. Where can I pick up my ticket?" He says, "Gur havzcbegnag ner ab ybatre nyybjrq ba yriry 2!" You don't speak his language. > l Bottom of the escalator The escalator is disabled and no longer carrying anyone to the upper level. A guard stands in front of it. > e You walk east. An announcement comes over the PA system. "Attention passengers: The 9:00 AM train has been canceled for passengers who are not important." "If you are not already ticketed to board, please see an agent at the service counter in the lower lobby to reschedule or refund your ticket." Atrium The atrium is a wide open space with a ceiling made of glass. Many people with luggage are passing through this sunlit area to get to the lower lobby. Occasionally, someone important-looking goes toward the escalator. > n You walk north. Lobby A useful employee behind the counter is servicing passengers one-at-a-time from a long line that has formed in front of one of the counters. On the west wall there is a large steel door with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". > x employee The useful employee behind the counter wears a lanyard with a badge and an expression on her face that says, "I don't want to be here right now." > talk to employee You start to talk to the employee behind the counter, but various angry passengers start yelling, "Hey! Get in line! Wait your turn!" "Do you think you're important or something?" "There's a line here if you didn't notice!" A confused-looking security guard comes in from the atrium, opens the restricted door with a badge, and goes in. > w You walk west, quietly sneaking through the door before it closes. Lower Restricted Hallway Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads back to the lobby. The door swings shut. > w You walk west. Bottom of Stairwell Stairs lead up from here. There is an exit to the east. > u You climb up. Top of Stairwell Stairs lead down from here. There is an exit to the east. > e You walk east. Upper Restricted Hallway You are not supposed to be in here. Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads to the lobby. > e (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the east) You open the restricted access door. You walk east through the restricted access door. Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? The door swings shut. > x employee The employee looks at you and says with her eyes: you are not supposed to be here; don't try talking to me; don't put me in a situation where I have to call you out. > talk to employee The employee looks at you and says with her eyes: you are not supposed to be here; don't try talking to me; don't put me in a situation where I have to call you out. > look behind counter Behind the upper lobby service counter you see a ticket employee. > x people They are dressed well and look important. They are waiting for the accordion wall to open. > talk to people There is no reply. > open wall Only the service employees can open it. > l Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > x clock The time is approaching 9:00 AM. > move clock You apply a bit of force to the clock, but it doesn't budge. > take clock You can't take the clock. > look under chairs You find nothing under the chairs. > search chairs You find nothing of interest. > look behind counter Behind the upper lobby service counter you see a ticket employee. > search counter You find a ticket employee behind the upper lobby service counter. > search employee The ticket employee might not like that. > i You have a cell phone. > i You have a cell phone. > l Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > e There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > x people They are dressed well and look important. They are waiting for the accordion wall to open. > search people You find nothing of interest. > x wall The accordion wall is a type of partition wall with tracks on the top and bottom that allow it to slide closed and open, folding and unfolding like an accordion. > search wall You find nothing of interest. > look behind wall You find nothing behind the accordion wall. > look under wall You find nothing under the accordion wall. > push wall Pushing on your surroundings has no effect. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > call brother It seems you have no connectivity right now. > x phone You try to check the headlines on your phone, but the news app just shows a spinning circle. It seems you have no connectivity now. > l Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > ask employee about clock The employee looks at you and says with her eyes: you are not supposed to be here; don't try talking to me; don't put me in a situation where I have to call you out. > ask people about ticket Did you want to ask the people about the ticket employee or the upper lobby service counter? > employee There is no reply. > ask employee about employee The employee looks at you and says with her eyes: you are not supposed to be here; don't try talking to me; don't put me in a situation where I have to call you out. > x coutner (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x coutner (I only understood you as far as wanting to examine something.) > x counter The employee looks at you and says with her eyes: you are not supposed to be here; don't try talking to me; don't put me in a situation where I have to call you out. > search counter You find a ticket employee behind the upper lobby service counter. > go behind counter (I'm sorry, I didn't understand what you wanted to do.) > w (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the west) The door is securely locked. > s You walk south. Mezzanine You are in the mezzanine. A rail along its south edge separates it from the atrium, where there's a stunning view of endless white-capped mountains. To the north is the upper lobby. > x rail It's a simple tubular steel railing painted eucalyptus-green. Standing at the rail, looking down, you see the floor of the atrium some 20 feet below. > x floor You go to the rail and look down into the atrium. Like any place offering public transportation, there's a wide variety of people: some young, some old, some waiting, some in a hurry, some traveling for business, some for pleasure. > e There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > n You walk north. Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > take clock You can't take the clock. > x clock The time is approaching 9:00 AM. > fix clock You can't find anything wrong with the clock. > take clock You can't take the clock. > l Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > Come again? > i You have a cell phone. > help Below are commands you can use to navigate this interactive fiction game. # EXPLORATION EXAMINE / X : Get a detailed description of a specific item or person. EXITS: Display all obvious paths leading away from your current location. INVENTORY / I: List everything you are currently carrying or wearing. LOOK / L: Get a description of your current location. LOOK UNDER : Look under an object to find hidden items. SEARCH : Look inside or around something to find hidden items. TOUCH : Interact with an object through touch. WAIT / Z: Cause time to advance by one turn doing nothing. # MOVEMENT CLIMB : Get on top of something. ENTER : Get inside an object like a vehicle or a room. GO : Move in a compass direction (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, etc.) or UP/DOWN. The one letter shortcuts are: n,s,e,w,u,d. LEAVE / EXIT: Get out of something, off of something, or back to a previous area. SIT ON : Sit on something. # OBJECTS DROP : Place an item you are carrying onto the ground. OPEN / CLOSE : Manipulate doors, containers, or other openable items. TAKE : Pick up an item and add it to your inventory. # INTERACTION TALK TO : Initiate a conversation. ASK ABOUT : Inquire about a specific subject. GIVE TO : Transfer an item to another person. SHOW TO : Allow a character to see an item without giving it to them. # SYSTEM COMMANDS ABOUT: Show version information and credits. HELP: Show game version info and this help screen. QUIT (Q): End the current play session. RESTART: Begin the game again from the very beginning. SAVE / RESTORE: Record your current progress to a file or load a previous state. SCRIPT ON / SCRIPT OFF: Start or stop recording a text transcript of your play session. UNDO: Reverse the very last turn taken. VERSION: Show game version information. > s You walk south. Mezzanine You are in the mezzanine. A rail along its south edge separates it from the atrium, where there's a stunning view of endless white-capped mountains. To the north is the upper lobby. > climb rail It's not possible to get onto the rail. > d There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > w You start to walk toward the escalator, but notice a security guard standing at the top. You turn back and try not to draw attention to yourself. > e There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > s There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > n You walk north. Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > w (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the west) The door is securely locked. > n There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > e There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > s You walk south. Mezzanine You are in the mezzanine. A rail along its south edge separates it from the atrium, where there's a stunning view of endless white-capped mountains. To the north is the upper lobby. > n You walk north. Lobby The upper lobby has a single service counter and more comfortable chairs for waiting. Like the lower lobby, there is a large steel door on the west wall with a sign that reads: "Restricted Area". On the left side of the north wall is a clock. The service counter is now staffed by an employee. There are many nicely dressed, important-looking people waiting in here now. Are these people all diplomats or something? > w (first attempting to open the restricted access door to the west) The door is securely locked. > u There doesn't appear to be an exit in that direction. > show phone to people Showing things to the people has no effect. > show phone to employee The ticket employee doesn't appear to be interested. > sit You look for a place to sit, and notice Ying is here. You sit down next to her. She is silent out of caution. It is clear to her (and everyone else) that you, in your tourist T-shirt, are not supposed to be up here. She is pretending not to know you. But you catch eye contact and whisper, "Will you help me get on this train?" She stares at you for a moment, considering her decision. Then she slowly nods yes. She looks away, partly not to draw attention, and partly to reconcile herself with this decision. She knows that she herself would not be up here if you hadn't helped her by returning her badge. Then, subtly, she gestures that you should approach the service counter with her. > approach coutner (I only understood you as far as wanting to approach something.) > approach counter You go to the counter. Ying gives the employee a nod. The employee sees it, but hesitates. Then she hands you something strange. You take it and go sit back down with Ying. "How do these tickets work?" you ask her, sorting through the spidery web of strips of paper that the employee gave you. "You have to read the sentence that is in your language," Ying says. You look through the long thin strips. Where's the one in English?! You saw it--you know you did--but now it is gone. Is this one in English? No, Chinese. This one? No, Arabic. You frantically pull strips out of the tangle, examining each one. "Here's one in German; I know German," you say. The next thing you know you're brought to a woman on the other side of the lobby. She has reddish hair and tired-looking skin. Her clothes are expensive. Her necklace glitters. Ying whispers in her ear. The woman turns to you. She asks, in German, "Are you from Germany?" You reply, "No, but my mother was a German, and she taught me the language." The tilt of her eyebrow shows a deep understanding, an understanding that your mother is now deceased, and that the spoken German resurfaces your grief. But just then, Ying grabs you by the shoulder. The moment of empathy evaporates. Personnel with authority are coming in. They're powerful, and they have belts and uniforms. And walkie-talkies. Quickly, brand new friends of yours quietly direct you to go through the steel door there on the nearby wall. Ying discreetly opens it with her badge, pushes you in, and remains outside. You hide behind the door. You peek out. The authorities are talking to people and making their way toward the door. You gently let it close. Upper Restricted Hallway Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads to the lobby. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > z A moment slips away. > w You walk west. Top of Stairwell Stairs lead down from here. There is an exit to the east. You hear the security personnel entering the upper restricted hallway, their walkie-talkies squawking. > e A guard shouts, "Gurer ur vf!" Four guards trample you to the floor. They roll you onto your stomach, pull your hands behind you, and handcuff you. And while you are spending your time as an abused captive, the 9:00 AM train, like always, soon leaves on time. GAME OVER Would you like to: UNDO the last move, RESTORE a saved position, QUIT the program, or RESTART from the beginning? > undo Undoing the last turn (e). Top of Stairwell > d You climb down. Bottom of Stairwell Stairs lead up from here. There is an exit to the east. > e You walk east. Lower Restricted Hallway Elevator doors are to the north. There is a button on the wall beside them. To the west is a stairwell. East leads back to the lobby. You hear security personnel entering the stairwell. > push button You press the button. You have to wait. You hear boots stomping down steps in the stairwell. They are getting louder and growing closer. > n (first attempting to open the elevator doors to the north) You try to pry the doors open with your fingers, but they won't budge. > n (first attempting to open the elevator doors to the north) You try to pry the doors open with your fingers, but they won't budge. DING! The doors open. Ying is there. She waves you in. You hesitate. You look toward the lobby. The weight of all the things you cannot control hits you, and then one thought haunts you: all of those people in the lower lobby will not be getting on this train. Time slows. Ying seems to be circling her hands in slow motion to bring you in. "Hurry!" she demands as she prevents the doors from closing. > n You cross the threshold. Security personnel flood into the hallway from both the stairwell and secure door. The elevator doors slowly close, turning their commotion into a strange silence. The elevator brings you upstairs, and the two of you run to the upper lobby. The clock on the wall reads 8:58 AM. To the right of the clock, the accordion wall has been folded open. Beyond it, you see the giant black train waiting on the tracks with a mist around the wheels. The two of you run past the service counter, through the accordion wall opening, and up to the first car. There is a red number 1 over its entrance. Ying goes up the steps to the entrance and shows her badge to the conductor. He thumbs through some cards in his hand, pulls out one with a red number 2, and shows it to her. She steps down and starts heading east toward the second train car. As she walks past you, she gives you a final look, without stopping, holding eye contact with you as long as she possibly can. You both know this will be the last train to cross the border. The expression on her face says, "We made it. Goodbye my friend. There is nothing more I can do for you." Eye contact breaks, and then she's gone. Outside of car 1 You are standing outside of the first train car. A conductor stands at its entrance to the north. The front of the train is to the east. > Come again? > i You have a ticket and a cell phone. > x ticket It's a tangled wad of thin strips of paper. Each one has writing on it. > read it You pick out the relevant ticket strip and read, in German, "The 9:00 AM train is always on time." > in In what direction? > n The conductor won't let you in. > show ticket to conductor You pick through the strips of paper trying to find the one in German. The conductor looks at you suspiciously and impatiently. You see it. You pinch it with your finger and thumb, extract it from the tangle. You show it to him. He thumbs through some cards in his hand, pulls out one with a red number 3, and shows it to you. He looks at his watch. "Lbh'q orggre or dhvpx!" he says, and gestures that you should hurry up. > w You walk west. Outside of car 2 You are standing outside of the second train car. A conductor stands at its entrance to the north. The front of the train is to the east. > w You walk west. Outside of car 3 You are standing outside of the third train car. A conductor stands at its entrance to the north. The front of the train is to the east. > in In what direction? > n The conductor won't let you in. He looks at his watch. It is almost time to depart. > show ticket to conductor You still have the strip in German held between your thumb and finger. You step forward and show the strip of paper to him. He says, "You have to read it out loud." You clear your throat, hold the paper at reading distance, and say, in German, "The 9:00 AM train is always on time." Your English accent comes through. He looks at your T-Shirt suspiciously. He begins to raise his walkie-talkie to his mouth. Then he looks at his watch, and sees 8:59 AM. He lowers the walkie talkie and says, in German, "Alright, you can go on in." > n You board the train. Car 3 The train car is full of passengers. You notice an open seat, and it happens to be next to the woman with the reddish hair who you met in the lobby. She makes eye contact with you. She looks pleased to see you. > x woman It seems to be harmless. > talk to woman There is no reply. > sit It is further down the aisle to the west. > w You walk down the aisle. So many seats are occupied. You inevitably bump someone on the shoulder. They look up at you and pull a peevish face. > w You continue down the aisle. > w You reach the open seat. > x woman It seems to be harmless. > sit You sit next to the woman you met earlier in the lobby. The time changes from 8:59 to 9:00 AM. The train's powerful engine engages loudly, and the wheels begin to roll. She says, in German, "Luckily, you're on time." "Yeah, lucky break," you reply in English. Tears well in your eyes. She sees it and continues in German, "Sometimes we are given grace and others are not. Whether you call it lucky breaks or grace is a matter of personal taste. But regardless, what you have to accept is that sometimes you have no control over who receives it. "So it's not a question of whether the grace you receive is fair. It is a question of what you make of it." The train accelerates. As it approaches full speed, the windows next to you turn black and you disappear into the mountain tunnel. Shortly thereafter, the bombs begin to fall. Game Over Would you like to: UNDO the last move, RESTORE a saved position, QUIT the program, or RESTART from the beginning? > quit Thanks for playing!