An Escape To RememberAn interactive fiction by the IF Whispers Team (2006) - the Inform 7 source text | |
| Home page Contents Previous Next Complete text | Part 6 - Because It is Bitter and Because It Is by Mordechai Shinefield
Section 1 - Shinefield's Part Whisper 6 is a scene. Whisper 6 begins when Whisper 5 ends. When Whisper 6 begins: say "Through the foilage to the north you spy the entrance to a hut. Perhaps in there are some of the answers you've been seeking." North of The Forest is Deformed Hut. Instead of looking at something in the mirror, say "You see the [noun], with a weird aura of blue around it." Instead of looking at the player in the mirror, say "You look tired in the mirror, always questing forward." Instead of looking at a stool in the mirror, say "In the light of the mirror, the stool looks longer - straighter - as though it were slowly turning into a ladder to the heavens." Instead of looking at gin in the mirror, say "In the light of the mirror, the gin sparkles. It looks very tempting in the blue glow." Instead of looking at bankcheck in the mirror, say "Though in the light of the mirror the bankbook still looks like a bankbook, a note on the bottom is visible. It seems to say, 'Never take a check without a discreet call to the bank." Instead of looking at roof in the mirror, say "When you look at the roof through the mirror, it still looks like a roof. Yet it seems as though if you squint, stars and moonlight gush through." Instead of looking at weasel in the mirror, say "He looks so very familiar when you see him through the light of the mirror. Like someone very important to you.". Instead of looking at letter in the mirror, say "Though the words still say the same things when viewed in the light of the mirror, the word 'liar' looks like it has been scribbled over the contents, dozens of times." Instead of looking at mirror in the mirror, say "Things are not generally reflected in themselves." North of The Forest is Deformed Hut. The description of Deformed Hut is "Cobwebs cover the curtains and counters of this contrary chamber that smells of orange and dust. [if fabric is in Hut]Red velveteen pieces of fabric have been flung over a bulky object in the corner of the room. Over the bulky object, words have been written in bold.[otherwise]A mirror has a dim blue glow in the crowded hut. Though you can't place your finger on it, everything it touches looks different. Words in red italic script sweep over the mirror.[end if]" A stool is in the hut. A stool is a supporter and enterable. Before going north from the Forest for the first time, say "You push back the insect-chewed curtain that covers this hut, and step forward." The Words are in the Hut. They are scenery. The description of Words are "[line break]'With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable. I stayed miserable for two days.'" Understand "quote" and "writing" as Words. Instead of reading the mirror, try examining the words. Instead of reading the words, try examining the words. Instead of examining Words for the first time, say "[line break]They read, 'With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable. I stayed miserable for two days.'[line break]You remember the quote, faintly, like the scent of orange grove trees in the tiny hut. Something at the tip of your tongue.[line break]" The Words2 are scenery. The description of Words2 are "[line break]'Every Third Merriweather Is Morbid, The Truth Is Not in the Delafields.'" The printed name of words2 is "words". Instead of reading words2, try examining words2. Instead of examining Words2 for the first time: say "[line break]They read, 'Every Third Merriweather Is Morbid, The Truth Is Not in the Delafields.'[line break]You read the words silently, moving your lips, remembering. As you finish, you see below the mirror: a shot of gin, and a bankcheck.[line break]"; move shot of gin to hut; move bankcheck to hut. Understand "words", "writing" and "quote" as Words2. The gaping roof flag is a number variable. The gaping roof flag is 0. shot of gin is a thing. The description of shot of gin is "A simple shotglass filled to the brim with gin. Inscribed on the side of the glass are the words 'Ad Astra Per Aspera.'" Instead of drinking shot of gin: if the player is on the stool begin; say "As you sip the gin, a stray blue ray from the mirror shines against the glass and slips through to the hatched roof. It is met there by the gleam of moonlight, and as the two lights bisect, the roof vanishes. The stars fill the hut with light. You think you could crawl out."; remove shot of gin from play; change the gaping roof flag to 1; otherwise; say "You sip the gin, waiting. Nothing."; end if. A roof is in the hut. It is scenery. The description of roof is "[if the gaping roof flag is 0]Thatched straw spans the length of the hut.[otherwise]A gaping hole is in the roof." Up from the Hut is a room called Top of the Hut. The description of Top of the Hut is "From the view up here it looks like the gardens and foilage stretch on forever. Orange groves and apple orchards line the vanishing points in all directions. The view is exhausting, as if the act of looking alone could tire you." Instead of going up from Deformed Hut when player is on the stool: if the gaping roof flag is 1 begin; if player encloses the bankcheck begin; say "You feel like the bankcheck is pulling you towards Earth. Its weight keeps you from climbing out to the heavens."; otherwise; say "You reach out and grab onto the side of the roof and pull yourself onto the hut."; move the player to the Top of the Hut; rule succeeds; end if; otherwise; say "The hatched roof is in the way."; end if. Instead of going up in Deformed Hut, say "The roof is too far off the ground for you to reach." a bankcheck is a thing. The description of the bankcheck is "A crisp brand new bankcheck. It is made out to you - surprise! - but the signature is blurred and unreadable. It is made out for more than you've ever needed in your life." fabric is in the hut. It is scenery. Understand "velveteen", "pieces", "bulky", and "object" as the fabric. The description of the fabric is "Something bulky is underneath the velveteen fabric." Instead of taking or pushing or pulling the fabric: say "You grasp the covering with both hands and pull it harshly, revealing a mirror beneath. The fabric coughs up a cloud of dust that wraps around you - causing you to cough - before settling to the ground. As you wipe your eyes of the particles, you notice the room has changed."; remove the fabric from play; remove Words from play; move Words2 to hut; move the mirror to hut. Instead of pulling fabric, try taking the fabric. mirror is scenery. The description of the mirror is "The mirror glows with a soft blue aura in the crowded hut. In it, you see a weary, tired person. Eyes are downcast, mouth is turned in a sigh, breathing is labored - it is not how you generally look, but closer to how you feel." Instead of searching the mirror, try examining the mirror. Whisper 6 ends when player is in the Top of the Hut for the first time. Carry out skipping ahead during Whisper 6: say "Skipping scene 6."; change the gaping roof flag to 1; remove the fabric from play; remove Words from play; move Words2 to hut; move the mirror to hut; move the player to Top of the Hut, without printing a room description; Rule succeeds. |