!Demo/ALPS/Text

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!Demo/ALPS/Text

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk:	Home » Archimedes archive » Zipped Apps » Alps
Filename:	!Demo/ALPS/Text
Read OK:	✔
File size:	115B bytes
Load address:	0000
Exec address:	0000

Duplicates

There are 2 duplicate copies of this file in the archive:

Archimedes archive » Zipped Apps » Alps » !Demo/ALPS/Text
Personal collection » Acorn hard disk » apps » Alps » !Demo/ALPS/Text
Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Archimedes » ALPS.ADF » !Demo/ALPS/Text

m[nothing. I can see OkI don't see that here!I have $S already!I can't take that, sorry.It's pitch dark.I don't have that!
I'm carrying too many things to be able to take $D!I can't go $V from here. The only visible exit is  There are visible exits  and  to , .The door is locked.Really restore? (Yes/No)File name?I can't do that.It's already open.I'll have to close it first.It doesn't have a lock.It's already closed.It's already locked.It's too heavy to carry.It's not locked.I can't see an exit leading $V.Ouch! I've just bumped into a door.There's something blocking the way.

What now?
>I am carrying  through a closed door
I don't notice anything special about $S.That's just part of the scenery.I can't wear that.I'm already wearing the $O!I'm now wearing the $O. (worn)I'm not wearing the $O.I've removed the $O.I can't see the $o here.There isn't room for the $O in the $o.Ok, I've put the $O in the $o.I can't get at the $O.. It contains I can't put the $O in the $o because the $o isn't open!I'm sorry, but $s isn't a container.Which do you mean:
You must supply a noun.You can only use 'but' after 'all'.You must mention an object after 'but'.I don't know what you mean by 'them'.I don't know what you mean by 'it'.I don't understand that!I beg your pardon?I couldn't make any sense of that!What do you mean?I am I'm Glancing around, I see that I'm Looking around, I see I'm I need more information.Are you sure? (Yes/No)Another game? (Yes/No)What do you want to $V?ReservedReservedReservedReservedin room %R.a rusty key lying on the groundthe rusty keya small golden keythe gold keya large brass keythe brass keya small gold cointhe gold coina cloak of some unusual materialthe cloakTa small metal boxthe metal box with a scorched and blackened surfaceI can't open that!It's already open!There is a brilliant flash of light and you experience a momentary pain then ... oblivion.There is a brilliant flash of light and the cloak explodes in a million tiny sparkles.; Everything you were carrying has been destroyed.; Fortunately the box seems to have survived, rather scorched, but otherwise unharmed.in a small cylindrical room with smooth walls of un-jointed stone. It looks as though this chamber has been carved from the solid rock. I can see small alcoves north and in but the most impressive feature of the room is the northwest doorway or portal which shimmers with a strange blue light that crackles and dances.in a small featureless alcove north of the portal room. Like that room, this alcove also seems to be carved from solid rock and is illuminated only by the flickering light of the portal which shines through the archway connecting the two rooms.in a small featureless alcove off the portal room. The smooth stone walls look solid and impenetrable. There is not even the merest hint of a tool-mark anywhere. Whoever cut this chamber from the rock had access to methods far beyond my own humble abilities.in a huge vaulted chamber. In front of me there are three doors: a rusty door leading northwest, a massive gold door leading north and an ornately carved brass door leading northeast. Above the three doors, carved deep into the rock, is a huge inscription which reads:

  ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE

Behind is the shimmering portal through which I stepped some moments before.TIt's a simple box of some silvery metalThat would be a clever trick if I could do it!The cloak is woven from what appears to be some sort of light and flexible metallic thread.The coin is an unusual design with just the single word 'Charon' on both sides.I have $S.I've dropped $S.$D - As I turn the key in the lock it twists in my hand and drops mysteriously to the floor. A voice booms out "You are not yet worthy to pass this way."As I turn the key in the lock there is a click and the mighty door swings silently open. There seems to be nothing but absolute darkness beyond.Although the door is rusty it still looks very solid and impenetrable.The door is solid gold! Must be worth a fortune if we could only get it out of here!The massive brass door is covered with engraved pictures. They seem to tell the story of a strange land beyond the door.the rusty doorthe gold doorthe brass door

00000000  6d 00 5b 11 00 00 00 00  00 00 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e  |m.[.......nothin|
00000010  67 2e 00 00 20 49 20 63  61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 00  |g... I can see .|
00000020  00 4f 6b 00 00 49 20 64  6f 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65  |.Ok..I don't see|
00000030  20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65  72 65 21 00 00 49 20 68  | that here!..I h|
00000040  61 76 65 20 24 53 20 61  6c 72 65 61 64 79 21 00  |ave $S already!.|
00000050  00 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74  20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68  |.I can't take th|
00000060  61 74 2c 20 73 6f 72 72  79 2e 00 00 49 74 27 73  |at, sorry...It's|
00000070  20 70 69 74 63 68 20 64  61 72 6b 2e 00 00 49 20  | pitch dark...I |
00000080  64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61  76 65 20 74 68 61 74 21  |don't have that!|
00000090  00 00 0d 49 27 6d 20 63  61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20  |...I'm carrying |
000000a0  74 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79  20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20  |too many things |
000000b0  74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 62  6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61  |to be able to ta|
000000c0  6b 65 20 24 44 21 00 00  49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20  |ke $D!..I can't |
000000d0  67 6f 20 24 56 20 66 72  6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e  |go $V from here.|
000000e0  00 00 20 54 68 65 20 6f  6e 6c 79 20 76 69 73 69  |.. The only visi|
000000f0  62 6c 65 20 65 78 69 74  20 69 73 20 00 00 20 54  |ble exit is .. T|
00000100  68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65  20 76 69 73 69 62 6c 65  |here are visible|
00000110  20 65 78 69 74 73 20 00  00 20 61 6e 64 20 00 00  | exits .. and ..|
00000120  20 74 6f 20 00 00 2c 20  00 00 2e 00 00 54 68 65  | to .., .....The|
00000130  20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69 73  20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 2e  | door is locked.|
00000140  00 00 52 65 61 6c 6c 79  20 72 65 73 74 6f 72 65  |..Really restore|
00000150  3f 20 28 59 65 73 2f 4e  6f 29 00 00 46 69 6c 65  |? (Yes/No)..File|
00000160  20 6e 61 6d 65 3f 00 00  49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20  | name?..I can't |
00000170  64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e  00 00 49 74 27 73 20 61  |do that...It's a|
00000180  6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6f  70 65 6e 2e 00 00 49 27  |lready open...I'|
00000190  6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20  74 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65  |ll have to close|
000001a0  20 69 74 20 66 69 72 73  74 2e 00 00 49 74 20 64  | it first...It d|
000001b0  6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68  61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 6f  |oesn't have a lo|
000001c0  63 6b 2e 00 00 49 74 27  73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64  |ck...It's alread|
000001d0  79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64  2e 00 00 49 74 27 73 20  |y closed...It's |
000001e0  61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20  6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 2e 00  |already locked..|
000001f0  00 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f  6f 20 68 65 61 76 79 20  |.It's too heavy |
00000200  74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79  2e 00 00 49 74 27 73 20  |to carry...It's |
00000210  6e 6f 74 20 6c 6f 63 6b  65 64 2e 00 00 49 20 63  |not locked...I c|
00000220  61 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65  20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 74  |an't see an exit|
00000230  20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67  20 24 56 2e 00 00 4f 75  | leading $V...Ou|
00000240  63 68 21 20 49 27 76 65  20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75  |ch! I've just bu|
00000250  6d 70 65 64 20 69 6e 74  6f 20 61 20 64 6f 6f 72  |mped into a door|
00000260  2e 00 00 54 68 65 72 65  27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  |...There's somet|
00000270  68 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 6f  63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68  |hing blocking th|
00000280  65 20 77 61 79 2e 00 00  0d 0d 57 68 61 74 20 6e  |e way.....What n|
00000290  6f 77 3f 0d 3e 00 00 49  20 61 6d 20 63 61 72 72  |ow?.>..I am carr|
000002a0  79 69 6e 67 20 00 00 20  74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20  |ying .. through |
000002b0  61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64  20 64 6f 6f 72 00 00 0d  |a closed door...|
000002c0  49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20  6e 6f 74 69 63 65 20 61  |I don't notice a|
000002d0  6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20  73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 20  |nything special |
000002e0  61 62 6f 75 74 20 24 53  2e 00 00 54 68 61 74 27  |about $S...That'|
000002f0  73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70  61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74  |s just part of t|
00000300  68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65  72 79 2e 00 00 49 20 63  |he scenery...I c|
00000310  61 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61  72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 00  |an't wear that..|
00000320  00 49 27 6d 20 61 6c 72  65 61 64 79 20 77 65 61  |.I'm already wea|
00000330  72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65  20 24 4f 21 00 00 49 27  |ring the $O!..I'|
00000340  6d 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 65  61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68  |m now wearing th|
00000350  65 20 24 4f 2e 00 00 20  28 77 6f 72 6e 29 00 00  |e $O... (worn)..|
00000360  49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20  77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20  |I'm not wearing |
00000370  74 68 65 20 24 4f 2e 00  00 49 27 76 65 20 72 65  |the $O...I've re|
00000380  6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68  65 20 24 4f 2e 00 00 49  |moved the $O...I|
00000390  20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 73  65 65 20 74 68 65 20 24  | can't see the $|
000003a0  6f 20 68 65 72 65 2e 00  00 54 68 65 72 65 20 69  |o here...There i|
000003b0  73 6e 27 74 20 72 6f 6f  6d 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68  |sn't room for th|
000003c0  65 20 24 4f 20 69 6e 20  74 68 65 20 24 6f 2e 00  |e $O in the $o..|
000003d0  00 4f 6b 2c 20 49 27 76  65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68  |.Ok, I've put th|
000003e0  65 20 24 4f 20 69 6e 20  74 68 65 20 24 6f 2e 00  |e $O in the $o..|
000003f0  00 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74  20 67 65 74 20 61 74 20  |.I can't get at |
00000400  74 68 65 20 24 4f 2e 00  00 2e 20 49 74 20 63 6f  |the $O.... It co|
00000410  6e 74 61 69 6e 73 20 00  00 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74  |ntains ..I can't|
00000420  20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65  20 24 4f 20 69 6e 20 74  | put the $O in t|
00000430  68 65 20 24 6f 20 62 65  63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68  |he $o because th|
00000440  65 20 24 6f 20 69 73 6e  27 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 21  |e $o isn't open!|
00000450  00 00 49 27 6d 20 73 6f  72 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74  |..I'm sorry, but|
00000460  20 24 73 20 69 73 6e 27  74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74  | $s isn't a cont|
00000470  61 69 6e 65 72 2e 00 00  57 68 69 63 68 20 64 6f  |ainer...Which do|
00000480  20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61  6e 3a 0d 00 00 59 6f 75  | you mean:...You|
00000490  20 6d 75 73 74 20 73 75  70 70 6c 79 20 61 20 6e  | must supply a n|
000004a0  6f 75 6e 2e 00 00 59 6f  75 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e  |oun...You can on|
000004b0  6c 79 20 75 73 65 20 27  62 75 74 27 20 61 66 74  |ly use 'but' aft|
000004c0  65 72 20 27 61 6c 6c 27  2e 00 00 59 6f 75 20 6d  |er 'all'...You m|
000004d0  75 73 74 20 6d 65 6e 74  69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 6f  |ust mention an o|
000004e0  62 6a 65 63 74 20 61 66  74 65 72 20 27 62 75 74  |bject after 'but|
000004f0  27 2e 00 00 49 20 64 6f  6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77  |'...I don't know|
00000500  20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f  75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 62  | what you mean b|
00000510  79 20 27 74 68 65 6d 27  2e 00 00 49 20 64 6f 6e  |y 'them'...I don|
00000520  27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20  77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75  |'t know what you|
00000530  20 6d 65 61 6e 20 62 79  20 27 69 74 27 2e 00 00  | mean by 'it'...|
00000540  49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20  75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61  |I don't understa|
00000550  6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 21  00 00 49 20 62 65 67 20  |nd that!..I beg |
00000560  79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72  64 6f 6e 3f 00 00 49 20  |your pardon?..I |
00000570  63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74  20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e  |couldn't make an|
00000580  79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20  6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 21  |y sense of that!|
00000590  00 00 57 68 61 74 20 64  6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65  |..What do you me|
000005a0  61 6e 3f 00 00 49 20 61  6d 20 00 00 49 27 6d 20  |an?..I am ..I'm |
000005b0  00 00 47 6c 61 6e 63 69  6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e  |..Glancing aroun|
000005c0  64 2c 20 49 20 73 65 65  20 74 68 61 74 20 49 27  |d, I see that I'|
000005d0  6d 20 00 00 4c 6f 6f 6b  69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75  |m ..Looking arou|
000005e0  6e 64 2c 20 49 20 73 65  65 20 49 27 6d 20 00 00  |nd, I see I'm ..|
000005f0  49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d  6f 72 65 20 69 6e 66 6f  |I need more info|
00000600  72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e  00 00 41 72 65 20 79 6f  |rmation...Are yo|
00000610  75 20 73 75 72 65 3f 20  28 59 65 73 2f 4e 6f 29  |u sure? (Yes/No)|
00000620  00 00 41 6e 6f 74 68 65  72 20 67 61 6d 65 3f 20  |..Another game? |
00000630  28 59 65 73 2f 4e 6f 29  00 00 57 68 61 74 20 64  |(Yes/No)..What d|
00000640  6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61  6e 74 20 74 6f 20 24 56  |o you want to $V|
00000650  3f 00 00 52 65 73 65 72  76 65 64 00 00 52 65 73  |?..Reserved..Res|
00000660  65 72 76 65 64 00 00 52  65 73 65 72 76 65 64 00  |erved..Reserved.|
00000670  00 52 65 73 65 72 76 65  64 00 00 69 6e 20 72 6f  |.Reserved..in ro|
00000680  6f 6d 20 25 52 2e 00 00  61 20 72 75 73 74 79 20  |om %R...a rusty |
00000690  6b 65 79 20 6c 79 69 6e  67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  |key lying on the|
000006a0  20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 00  00 74 68 65 20 72 75 73  | ground..the rus|
000006b0  74 79 20 6b 65 79 00 00  61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20  |ty key..a small |
000006c0  67 6f 6c 64 65 6e 20 6b  65 79 00 00 74 68 65 20  |golden key..the |
000006d0  67 6f 6c 64 20 6b 65 79  00 00 61 20 6c 61 72 67  |gold key..a larg|
000006e0  65 20 62 72 61 73 73 20  6b 65 79 00 00 74 68 65  |e brass key..the|
000006f0  20 62 72 61 73 73 20 6b  65 79 00 00 61 20 73 6d  | brass key..a sm|
00000700  61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 6c 64  20 63 6f 69 6e 00 00 74  |all gold coin..t|
00000710  68 65 20 67 6f 6c 64 20  63 6f 69 6e 00 00 61 20  |he gold coin..a |
00000720  63 6c 6f 61 6b 20 6f 66  20 73 6f 6d 65 20 75 6e  |cloak of some un|
00000730  75 73 75 61 6c 20 6d 61  74 65 72 69 61 6c 00 00  |usual material..|
00000740  74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 61  6b 00 02 00 00 54 00 61  |the cloak....T.a|
00000750  20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6d  65 74 61 6c 20 62 6f 78  | small metal box|
00000760  00 00 74 68 65 20 6d 65  74 61 6c 20 62 6f 78 00  |..the metal box.|
00000770  00 20 77 69 74 68 20 61  20 73 63 6f 72 63 68 65  |. with a scorche|
00000780  64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c  61 63 6b 65 6e 65 64 20  |d and blackened |
00000790  73 75 72 66 61 63 65 00  00 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74  |surface..I can't|
000007a0  20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 68  61 74 21 00 00 49 74 27  | open that!..It'|
000007b0  73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64  79 20 6f 70 65 6e 21 00  |s already open!.|
000007c0  00 54 68 65 72 65 20 69  73 20 61 20 62 72 69 6c  |.There is a bril|
000007d0  6c 69 61 6e 74 20 66 6c  61 73 68 20 6f 66 20 6c  |liant flash of l|
000007e0  69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64  20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70  |ight and you exp|
000007f0  65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20  61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74  |erience a moment|
00000800  61 72 79 20 70 61 69 6e  20 74 68 65 6e 20 2e 2e  |ary pain then ..|
00000810  2e 20 6f 62 6c 69 76 69  6f 6e 2e 00 00 54 68 65  |. oblivion...The|
00000820  72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20  62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e  |re is a brillian|
00000830  74 20 66 6c 61 73 68 20  6f 66 20 6c 69 67 68 74  |t flash of light|
00000840  20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  20 63 6c 6f 61 6b 20 65  | and the cloak e|
00000850  78 70 6c 6f 64 65 73 20  69 6e 20 61 20 6d 69 6c  |xplodes in a mil|
00000860  6c 69 6f 6e 20 74 69 6e  79 20 73 70 61 72 6b 6c  |lion tiny sparkl|
00000870  65 73 2e 3b 00 00 20 45  76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e  |es.;.. Everythin|
00000880  67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65  72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79  |g you were carry|
00000890  69 6e 67 20 68 61 73 20  62 65 65 6e 20 64 65 73  |ing has been des|
000008a0  74 72 6f 79 65 64 2e 3b  00 00 20 46 6f 72 74 75  |troyed.;.. Fortu|
000008b0  6e 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74  68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 73  |nately the box s|
000008c0  65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20  68 61 76 65 20 73 75 72  |eems to have sur|
000008d0  76 69 76 65 64 2c 20 72  61 74 68 65 72 20 73 63  |vived, rather sc|
000008e0  6f 72 63 68 65 64 2c 20  62 75 74 20 6f 74 68 65  |orched, but othe|
000008f0  72 77 69 73 65 20 75 6e  68 61 72 6d 65 64 2e 00  |rwise unharmed..|
00000900  00 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6d  61 6c 6c 20 63 79 6c 69  |.in a small cyli|
00000910  6e 64 72 69 63 61 6c 20  72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74  |ndrical room wit|
00000920  68 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68  20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f  |h smooth walls o|
00000930  66 20 75 6e 2d 6a 6f 69  6e 74 65 64 20 73 74 6f  |f un-jointed sto|
00000940  6e 65 2e 20 49 74 20 6c  6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 73 20  |ne. It looks as |
00000950  74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74  68 69 73 20 63 68 61 6d  |though this cham|
00000960  62 65 72 20 68 61 73 20  62 65 65 6e 20 63 61 72  |ber has been car|
00000970  76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d  20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c  |ved from the sol|
00000980  69 64 20 72 6f 63 6b 2e  20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73  |id rock. I can s|
00000990  65 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c  20 61 6c 63 6f 76 65 73  |ee small alcoves|
000009a0  20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 61  6e 64 20 69 6e 20 62 75  | north and in bu|
000009b0  74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f  73 74 20 69 6d 70 72 65  |t the most impre|
000009c0  73 73 69 76 65 20 66 65  61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66  |ssive feature of|
000009d0  20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f  6d 20 69 73 20 74 68 65  | the room is the|
000009e0  20 6e 6f 72 74 68 77 65  73 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 77  | northwest doorw|
000009f0  61 79 20 6f 72 20 70 6f  72 74 61 6c 20 77 68 69  |ay or portal whi|
00000a00  63 68 20 73 68 69 6d 6d  65 72 73 20 77 69 74 68  |ch shimmers with|
00000a10  20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e  67 65 20 62 6c 75 65 20  | a strange blue |
00000a20  6c 69 67 68 74 20 74 68  61 74 20 63 72 61 63 6b  |light that crack|
00000a30  6c 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20  64 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 00  |les and dances..|
00000a40  00 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6d  61 6c 6c 20 66 65 61 74  |.in a small feat|
00000a50  75 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20  61 6c 63 6f 76 65 20 6e  |ureless alcove n|
00000a60  6f 72 74 68 20 6f 66 20  74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 74  |orth of the port|
00000a70  61 6c 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e  20 4c 69 6b 65 20 74 68  |al room. Like th|
00000a80  61 74 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c  20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c  |at room, this al|
00000a90  63 6f 76 65 20 61 6c 73  6f 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20  |cove also seems |
00000aa0  74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 61  72 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f  |to be carved fro|
00000ab0  6d 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 20  72 6f 63 6b 20 61 6e 64  |m solid rock and|
00000ac0  20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 75  6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20  | is illuminated |
00000ad0  6f 6e 6c 79 20 62 79 20  74 68 65 20 66 6c 69 63  |only by the flic|
00000ae0  6b 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6c  69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20  |kering light of |
00000af0  74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 74  61 6c 20 77 68 69 63 68  |the portal which|
00000b00  20 73 68 69 6e 65 73 20  74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20  | shines through |
00000b10  74 68 65 20 61 72 63 68  77 61 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e  |the archway conn|
00000b20  65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74  68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 72  |ecting the two r|
00000b30  6f 6f 6d 73 2e 00 00 69  6e 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c  |ooms...in a smal|
00000b40  6c 20 66 65 61 74 75 72  65 6c 65 73 73 20 61 6c  |l featureless al|
00000b50  63 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66  20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 72  |cove off the por|
00000b60  74 61 6c 20 72 6f 6f 6d  2e 20 54 68 65 20 73 6d  |tal room. The sm|
00000b70  6f 6f 74 68 20 73 74 6f  6e 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73  |ooth stone walls|
00000b80  20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 6f  6c 69 64 20 61 6e 64 20  | look solid and |
00000b90  69 6d 70 65 6e 65 74 72  61 62 6c 65 2e 20 54 68  |impenetrable. Th|
00000ba0  65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e  6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20  |ere is not even |
00000bb0  74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 65  73 74 20 68 69 6e 74 20  |the merest hint |
00000bc0  6f 66 20 61 20 74 6f 6f  6c 2d 6d 61 72 6b 20 61  |of a tool-mark a|
00000bd0  6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 2e  20 57 68 6f 65 76 65 72  |nywhere. Whoever|
00000be0  20 63 75 74 20 74 68 69  73 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65  | cut this chambe|
00000bf0  72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74  68 65 20 72 6f 63 6b 20  |r from the rock |
00000c00  68 61 64 20 61 63 63 65  73 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65  |had access to me|
00000c10  74 68 6f 64 73 20 66 61  72 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64  |thods far beyond|
00000c20  20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20  68 75 6d 62 6c 65 20 61  | my own humble a|
00000c30  62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73  2e 00 00 69 6e 20 61 20  |bilities...in a |
00000c40  68 75 67 65 20 76 61 75  6c 74 65 64 20 63 68 61  |huge vaulted cha|
00000c50  6d 62 65 72 2e 20 49 6e  20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f  |mber. In front o|
00000c60  66 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65  72 65 20 61 72 65 20 74  |f me there are t|
00000c70  68 72 65 65 20 64 6f 6f  72 73 3a 20 61 20 72 75  |hree doors: a ru|
00000c80  73 74 79 20 64 6f 6f 72  20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67  |sty door leading|
00000c90  20 6e 6f 72 74 68 77 65  73 74 2c 20 61 20 6d 61  | northwest, a ma|
00000ca0  73 73 69 76 65 20 67 6f  6c 64 20 64 6f 6f 72 20  |ssive gold door |
00000cb0  6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20  6e 6f 72 74 68 20 61 6e  |leading north an|
00000cc0  64 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 6e  61 74 65 6c 79 20 63 61  |d an ornately ca|
00000cd0  72 76 65 64 20 62 72 61  73 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20  |rved brass door |
00000ce0  6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20  6e 6f 72 74 68 65 61 73  |leading northeas|
00000cf0  74 2e 20 41 62 6f 76 65  20 74 68 65 20 74 68 72  |t. Above the thr|
00000d00  65 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 73  2c 20 63 61 72 76 65 64  |ee doors, carved|
00000d10  20 64 65 65 70 20 69 6e  74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72  | deep into the r|
00000d20  6f 63 6b 2c 20 69 73 20  61 20 68 75 67 65 20 69  |ock, is a huge i|
00000d30  6e 73 63 72 69 70 74 69  6f 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68  |nscription which|
00000d40  20 72 65 61 64 73 3a 0d  0d 20 20 41 42 41 4e 44  | reads:..  ABAND|
00000d50  4f 4e 20 48 4f 50 45 20  41 4c 4c 20 59 45 20 57  |ON HOPE ALL YE W|
00000d60  48 4f 20 45 4e 54 45 52  20 48 45 52 45 0d 0d 42  |HO ENTER HERE..B|
00000d70  65 68 69 6e 64 20 69 73  20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69  |ehind is the shi|
00000d80  6d 6d 65 72 69 6e 67 20  70 6f 72 74 61 6c 20 74  |mmering portal t|
00000d90  68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77  68 69 63 68 20 49 20 73  |hrough which I s|
00000da0  74 65 70 70 65 64 20 73  6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65  |tepped some mome|
00000db0  6e 74 73 20 62 65 66 6f  72 65 2e 00 02 00 00 54  |nts before.....T|
00000dc0  00 49 74 27 73 20 61 20  73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 62  |.It's a simple b|
00000dd0  6f 78 20 6f 66 20 73 6f  6d 65 20 73 69 6c 76 65  |ox of some silve|
00000de0  72 79 20 6d 65 74 61 6c  00 00 54 68 61 74 20 77  |ry metal..That w|
00000df0  6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20  61 20 63 6c 65 76 65 72  |ould be a clever|
00000e00  20 74 72 69 63 6b 20 69  66 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c  | trick if I coul|
00000e10  64 20 64 6f 20 69 74 21  00 00 54 68 65 20 63 6c  |d do it!..The cl|
00000e20  6f 61 6b 20 69 73 20 77  6f 76 65 6e 20 66 72 6f  |oak is woven fro|
00000e30  6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 61  70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74  |m what appears t|
00000e40  6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d  65 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f  |o be some sort o|
00000e50  66 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20  61 6e 64 20 66 6c 65 78  |f light and flex|
00000e60  69 62 6c 65 20 6d 65 74  61 6c 6c 69 63 20 74 68  |ible metallic th|
00000e70  72 65 61 64 2e 00 00 54  68 65 20 63 6f 69 6e 20  |read...The coin |
00000e80  69 73 20 61 6e 20 75 6e  75 73 75 61 6c 20 64 65  |is an unusual de|
00000e90  73 69 67 6e 20 77 69 74  68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74  |sign with just t|
00000ea0  68 65 20 73 69 6e 67 6c  65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 27  |he single word '|
00000eb0  43 68 61 72 6f 6e 27 20  6f 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 20  |Charon' on both |
00000ec0  73 69 64 65 73 2e 00 00  49 20 68 61 76 65 20 24  |sides...I have $|
00000ed0  53 2e 00 00 49 27 76 65  20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64  |S...I've dropped|
00000ee0  20 24 53 2e 00 00 24 44  20 2d 20 00 00 41 73 20  | $S...$D - ..As |
00000ef0  49 20 74 75 72 6e 20 74  68 65 20 6b 65 79 20 69  |I turn the key i|
00000f00  6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f  63 6b 20 69 74 20 74 77  |n the lock it tw|
00000f10  69 73 74 73 20 69 6e 20  6d 79 20 68 61 6e 64 20  |ists in my hand |
00000f20  61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70  73 20 6d 79 73 74 65 72  |and drops myster|
00000f30  69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 74  6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c  |iously to the fl|
00000f40  6f 6f 72 2e 20 41 20 76  6f 69 63 65 20 62 6f 6f  |oor. A voice boo|
00000f50  6d 73 20 6f 75 74 20 22  59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20  |ms out "You are |
00000f60  6e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 20  77 6f 72 74 68 79 20 74  |not yet worthy t|
00000f70  6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 74  68 69 73 20 77 61 79 2e  |o pass this way.|
00000f80  22 00 00 41 73 20 49 20  74 75 72 6e 20 74 68 65  |"..As I turn the|
00000f90  20 6b 65 79 20 69 6e 20  74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b  | key in the lock|
00000fa0  20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69  73 20 61 20 63 6c 69 63  | there is a clic|
00000fb0  6b 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68  65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 79  |k and the mighty|
00000fc0  20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 77  69 6e 67 73 20 73 69 6c  | door swings sil|
00000fd0  65 6e 74 6c 79 20 6f 70  65 6e 2e 20 54 68 65 72  |ently open. Ther|
00000fe0  65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20  74 6f 20 62 65 20 6e 6f  |e seems to be no|
00000ff0  74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75  74 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75  |thing but absolu|
00001000  74 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e  65 73 73 20 62 65 79 6f  |te darkness beyo|
00001010  6e 64 2e 00 00 41 6c 74  68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68  |nd...Although th|
00001020  65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69  73 20 72 75 73 74 79 20  |e door is rusty |
00001030  69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c  20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 76  |it still looks v|
00001040  65 72 79 20 73 6f 6c 69  64 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d  |ery solid and im|
00001050  70 65 6e 65 74 72 61 62  6c 65 2e 00 00 54 68 65  |penetrable...The|
00001060  20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69 73  20 73 6f 6c 69 64 20 67  | door is solid g|
00001070  6f 6c 64 21 20 4d 75 73  74 20 62 65 20 77 6f 72  |old! Must be wor|
00001080  74 68 20 61 20 66 6f 72  74 75 6e 65 20 69 66 20  |th a fortune if |
00001090  77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64  20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65  |we could only ge|
000010a0  74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74  20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65  |t it out of here|
000010b0  21 00 00 54 68 65 20 6d  61 73 73 69 76 65 20 62  |!..The massive b|
000010c0  72 61 73 73 20 64 6f 6f  72 20 69 73 20 63 6f 76  |rass door is cov|
000010d0  65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74  68 20 65 6e 67 72 61 76  |ered with engrav|
000010e0  65 64 20 70 69 63 74 75  72 65 73 2e 20 54 68 65  |ed pictures. The|
000010f0  79 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74  6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74  |y seem to tell t|
00001100  68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79  20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 74  |he story of a st|
00001110  72 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 61  6e 64 20 62 65 79 6f 6e  |range land beyon|
00001120  64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f  6f 72 2e 00 00 74 68 65  |d the door...the|
00001130  20 72 75 73 74 79 20 64  6f 6f 72 00 00 74 68 65  | rusty door..the|
00001140  20 67 6f 6c 64 20 64 6f  6f 72 00 00 74 68 65 20  | gold door..the |
00001150  62 72 61 73 73 20 64 6f  6f 72 00                 |brass door.|
0000115b

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