>l Darkness It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing. >i You are carrying: a knife an oil lamp >light lamp The lamplight flares outward, revealing the graceful sleeping form of your divine consort, golden wings and all. Turns out he looks just as good in the light as his touch feels in the dark. But as you raise the lamp aloft to get a better view, a drop of hot oil falls onto his shoulder. His eyes blink open in a stare of pain mingled with disbelief. After gazing at you with infinite disappointment for a moment, saying nothing, he unfurls his wings, and you swoon backward, shielding your face from the heated rush of his ascent... [Press any key to continue] Psyche's Lament An Interactive Geek Myth. Copyright (c) 2005 John and Lara Sichi. Release 1 / Serial number 050929 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/11 S As you come back to your senses, you see your mother-in-law (Aphrodite herself!) towering over your prone figure, sneering and slashing open a huge sack with a flick of her perfect nails. Where are you? What is she saying? It seems you'll never leave this place until you can carry out an easy task: tell her how many seeds she just sent flying. The words seep through your mind as she storms out, leaving you alone to repent at leisure. >l Granary The granary is an enormous room with knotty wooden floors and walls. Through one highly placed window, sunlight streams, illuminating lazy dustmotes floating like fairies in the air. A purple, exactingly patterned bead curtain hangs to the north. You can see a pile of seeds here. >count seeds Counting the seeds one by one would take forever. You're far too lazy for that. It's enough to make a girl break down and...I won't say it. >cry They say there's no use crying over spilt milk, but apparently with seeds it's different. As your chest heaves and you begin watering the seeds with your teardrops, the dustmotes above begin to stir and whirl, finally materializing into the shape of a dumpy old lady with gray hair, thick glasses, ridiculous gossamer wings, and a tall, pointy hat. Despite the rather ludicrous mythical mixup, she smiles kindly at you. "The ants were all at war, dear, so they sent me instead. I'd love to stick around and help, but I have a prior engagement with some servant girl and her pumpkins, and anyway, as your people say, the gods help those who help themselves..." With that, she spins around once more, wand outstretched, and some strange objects thump to the floor out of thin air. She begins spinning faster, giggling giddily, and suddenly disappears as the wand flies out of her hand. Her voices reaches you faintly from wherever she's gone, "Happy zapping; it was my spare anyway, dear!" [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >l Granary The granary is an enormous room with knotty wooden floors and walls. Through one highly placed window, sunlight streams, illuminating lazy dustmotes floating like fairies in the air. A purple, exactingly patterned bead curtain hangs to the north. You can see a counter, a mouse, a wand and a pile of seeds here. >get all counter: Taken. mouse: Taken. wand: Taken. pile of seeds: Counting the seeds one by one would take forever. You're far too lazy for that. It's enough to make a girl break down and...I won't say it. >x mouse On close examination, it's actually an electro-mechanical grain collector, cleverly fashioned in the shape of a mouse. The whiskers appear to be highly sensitive grain detectors, and wires protrude from the body. The back of the mouse has a rectangular slot, apparently for adding expansion packs. Inspecting the slot, you see: A small green wire sticks out from the back of the mouse like a tail. Near where it emerges, a small label reads INPUT. A small red wire sticks out from the belly of the mouse. Near where it emerges, a small label reads OUTPUT. >n Boudoir The walls and floor are made of the same plain, rough, wood as the granary, but in the center is a rug embroidered with golden apples. On it rests a vanity, a beautiful piece carved of ivory (probably by Hephaestus), including a mirror and a gold-handled drawer, along with a wrought-iron chair upon which Aphrodite sits, brushing her lovely gold hair. To the south is a purple bead patterned curtain. You can see a pair of sunglasses and Aphrodite here. >get glasses Aphrodite's hand darts out, her nails raking your wrist. "Trying to take a five- fingered discount, dearie? Those happen to be mine! Ares gave them to me on the last vernal equinox." >drop mouse Dropped. >zap green As the mouse scurries about, Aphrodite lets out an ear-splitting shriek and hops up onto her chair. >get glasses Taken. [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >get mouse Aphrodite sits back down, primping herself and trying to look nonchalant. "Get that awful creature out of my sight at once!" Taken. >s Granary You can see a pile of seeds here. >x mouse On close examination, it's actually an electro-mechanical grain collector, cleverly fashioned in the shape of a mouse. The whiskers appear to be highly sensitive grain detectors, and wires protrude from the body. The back of the mouse has a rectangular slot, apparently for adding expansion packs. Inspecting the slot, you see: A small green wire sticks out from the back of the mouse like a tail. Near where it emerges, a small label reads INPUT. A small red wire sticks out from the belly of the mouse. Near where it emerges, a small label reads OUTPUT. >put counter in mouse The counter snaps firmly into the slot in the mouse's back. >connect red to contact You connect the red wire to the contact. >connect pink to green You connect the pink wire to the green wire. >drop mouse Dropped. >zap green The whiskers on the mouse twitch in the direction of the nearest seed, and then the mouse scurries over and consumes it. The counter flashes the number 1 and emits a happy chirp. The whiskers on the mouse twitch in the direction of the nearest seed, and then the mouse scurries over and consumes it. The counter flashes the number 2 and emits a happy chirp. The whiskers on the mouse twitch in the direction of the nearest seed, and then the mouse scurries over and consumes it. The counter flashes the number 3 and emits a happy chirp. [...snip...] The counter flashes the number 57 and emits a happy chirp. The whiskers on the mouse twitch in the direction of the nearest seed, and then the mouse scurries over and consumes it. The counter flashes the number 58 and emits a happy chirp. The whiskers on the mouse twitch in the direction of the nearest seed, and then the mouse scurries over and consumes it. The counter flashes the number 59 and emits a happy chirp. The mouse sniffs a bit but finds nothing of interest. >get mouse Taken. >l Granary The granary is an enormous room with knotty wooden floors and walls. Through one highly placed window, sunlight streams, illuminating lazy dustmotes floating like fairies in the air. A purple, exactingly patterned bead curtain hangs to the north. >n Boudoir You can see Aphrodite here. >aphrodite, 59 "What? How did you...no matter, I have another task for you..." In an imperious rage, Aphrodite gestures to the north, and the wall opens out into the light of day. "I'd like to make some new wool undergarments for Ares. It gets cold on the warpath, and only the finest material will do for his sensitive skin. I am taking advantage of the fact that I just was able to *tee hee* BORROW Apollo's beautiful herd of sun rams from him, and am giving you the task of collecting a bit of it for me. I'd do it myself, of course, only the rams are a bit...skittish, at least around us divine personages. Toodle-oo!" [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >n Pond You are knee-deep in a muddy pond, which connects Aphrodite's abode to the south with a pasture to the north. You can see a thicket of reeds here. >x reeds Slender reeds whisper here as they sway in the wind. >listen to reeds Ever so faintly, you can make out the phrase, "In digital logic, a triangle is used to represent an inverter." >listen to reeds Ever so faintly, you can make out the phrase, "Sometimes when you count it helps to see double." >listen to reeds Ever so faintly, you can make out the phrase, "Let the bard sing what he has a mind to; bards do not make the ills they sing of; it is Zeus, not they, who makes them, and who sends weal or woe upon mankind according to his own good pleasure." >listen to reeds Ever so faintly, you can make out the phrase, "To dark recesses, the dire sight to shun Swift the pale sisters in confusion run. Their arms were lost in pinions, as they fled, And subtle films each slender limb o'er-spread" >listen to reeds Ever so faintly, you can make out the phrase, "One chime for each ram, no more, no less, and all in one go!" >n Pasture This large pasture is carpeted with lush grass. It is enclosed by what appears to be adamantium fencing on all sides except the south. You can see a flock of rams, a tuft of golden fleece, a bell and a triangle here. >get bell Taken. >get triangle Taken. >count rams Somehow this process makes you very sleepy, and you just can't seem to finish... >x rams These behemoths must be the fabled rams of the sun. Their most imposing features are two huge, curling white horns sprouting from their heads. Besides their beautiful golden coats, they look almost like large, imposing, but ordinary rams. >count horns It's hard to be sure with the rams moving around so much, but it looks like 20 horns all told. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >disconnect pink You disconnect the pink wire from the green wire. >disconnect red You disconnect the red wire from the contact. >get counter The counter emits a distinct burping noise. Taken. >x counter A plastic counter sporting a numeric LCD and a small metal contact. The counter is currently displaying the number 0. A small pink wire protrudes from the counter, near a small label reading OUTPUT. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 1 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 2 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 3 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 4 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 5 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 6 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 7 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 8 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 9 and emits a happy chirp. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 10 and emits a happy chirp. >x counter A plastic counter sporting a numeric LCD and a small metal contact. The counter is currently displaying the number 10. A small pink wire protrudes from the counter, near a small label reading OUTPUT. >put counter in bell You put the counter into the bell. >put triangle on blue Whoops! Talk about lack of dexterity! The triangle and the bell slip out of your hands as you attempt to juggle them. Dropped. Dropped. >get triangle Taken. >put triangle on blue You put the triangle on the blue wire. >get bell Taken. >connect blue to contact You connect the blue wire to the contact. >connect pink to clapper You connect the pink wire to the clapper. >zap contact The counter flashes the number 9 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 8 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 7 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 6 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 5 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 4 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 3 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 2 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 1 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 0 and emits a mournful bloop. The bell emits a loud, pure chime. The counter flashes the number 0 and emits a distinct burping noise. As if by magic, all the rams sway on their feet for a few seconds, and then collapse in unison, fast asleep. >l Pasture This large pasture is carpeted with lush grass. It is enclosed by what appears to be adamantium fencing on all sides except the south. You can see a flock of rams and a tuft of golden fleece here. >get fleece Taken. [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >s Pond You can see a thicket of reeds here. >s Boudoir You can see Aphrodite here. >show fleece to aphrodite Aphrodite stutters with rage, and then snatches the fleece out of your hands. "Blast you to Hades, girl...that's where you're headed for your next task!" [Press any key to continue] The next few days of your life pass as if in a dream: Aphrodite demanding that you bring back a box of beauty from Persephone, Queen of the Dead; despair at the top of a tall cliff as a fast track to the Styx; tricks to get past Cerberos and Charon; dietary advice for visitors to the underworld; and finally your return with this very intriguing black box which you have been instructed NOT TO OPEN under any circumstances... Butterfly Field The air is thick with butterflies in this lovely field, which seems to flow on forever and ever in all directions. You can see a puffy white cloud here. >x cloud Looking more closely, you notice that the cheery little cloud is making a curious pattern: **** **** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >i You are carrying: a black box >x box A small box crafted from ebony. A note on the side says "Shake to clear". The closed lid is inscribed with a curious glowing design: * >x cloud Looking more closely, you notice that the cheery little cloud is making a curious pattern: **** **** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >nw Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >nw Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >x box A small box crafted from ebony. A note on the side says "Shake to clear". The closed lid is inscribed with a curious glowing design: * * * * * >w Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >w Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >w Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >x box A small box crafted from ebony. A note on the side says "Shake to clear". The closed lid is inscribed with a curious glowing design: **** **** * * * >x cloud Looking more closely, you notice that the cheery little cloud is making a curious pattern: **** **** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >sw Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >s Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >se Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >se Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >se Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >se Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >x box A small box crafted from ebony. A note on the side says "Shake to clear". The closed lid is inscribed with a curious glowing design: **** **** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >se Butterfly Field You can see a puffy white cloud here. >se As you finish your design, the box falls from your hands and your body begins the kind of metamorphosis that only Ovid could describe. Lighter than air, rising up on delicate wings of your own, you are at last ready to be reunited with the one you hurt, the one you love, back in the... Darkness *** You have won *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 24, in 99 turns. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > quit