>nod head You nod and the sultan smiles. "Oh good!" he says. "Now then, I have discovered that one of my wives is being unfaithful to me. I don't know which one it is - so I want you to find out. I'll put you in the harem for a few hours, and if you can get one of them to sleep with you, then we shall know that she is guilty. To ensure you try your best, the price of failure shall be your death." The Grand Vizier leans over and whispers into the sultan's ear. The sultan nods and continues brightly, "Of course if you succeed, I shall also have to kill you for dishonoring me, but that is a small price to pay for the honor of helping your sultan. Well now - here we go." The sultan once again takes you by the arm and leads you to the top of the stairs. He says to the eunuch, "Let no man enter or leave the harem this evening." The eunuch nods and pushes you through the archway into the harem. Harem You are in the sultan's harem. Exits lead in all directions. There is a large, divan here that looks very comfortable. On the table you see a bowl of figs. >take fig You take the bowl of figs from the table. [Your score has just gone up by 5.] >wait Time passes... Harem You are in the sultan's harem. Exits lead in all directions. There is a large, divan here that looks very comfortable. Moments later, all the wives emerge from their rooms dressed in their bathing gowns. The door in the north wall opens, they file through, and then it closes again. >w Jamila's bedroom You are in Jamila's room. The only exit is to the east. You see a green veil here. >take veil You take the green veil. >wear veil You put on the green veil. >e Harem You are in the sultan's harem. Exits lead in all directions. There is a large, divan here that looks very comfortable. >s The eunuch bows and steps aside to let you pass. Sultan's Palace The sultan's palace is sumptuous beyond belief. Beautifully woven carpets with intricate designs cushion your footsteps, the walls are covered with brightly colored silks, and everywhere you look there is brass and silver and gold. An or nate staircase leads north up to the harem, the entrance to which is guarded by an enormous eunuch. The Grand Vizier is here, a vain man dressed in a ridiculous multi-colored costume that he seems to think is the height of fashion. The vizier is wearing a bracelet. >sit This is no time for resting. >give fig to vizier The vizier takes a fig, gives you a low bow of thanks, and whispers in your ear "Tonight. Same time. Your room." >n Harem You are in the sultan's harem. Exits lead in all directions. There is a large, divan here that looks very comfortable. >w Jamila's bedroom You are in Jamila's room. The only exit is to the east. >take off veil You remove the green veil and it falls to the floor. >get under bed You slide under the bed. >wait 60 [I assume you mean 60 minutes.] Time passes... You hear Jamila come into the room, change into her bedclothes, and climb into bed. Do you want to continue waiting? >y A secret door opens in the wall and someone enters the room, but from your vantage point all you can see is a pair of purple slippers. The man takes them off and then you hear the bed creak above you as he gets in. Do you want to continue waiting? >n >Take slipper You take the slipper. >wait Time passes... Suddenly you hear the sultan in the outer room. The man leaps out of the bed, grabs his clothes, and bolts through the secret door, pulling it shut behind him. In his haste he fails to notice that you have taken one of his slippers. >stand You climb out from under the bed. Jamila gives a little shriek of surprise to see you. The sultan comes into the room, trailed by the eunuch. >Give slipper to sultan The sultan recognizes the distinctive slipper immediately. He summons the vizier and commands the eunuch to arrest him. The vizier tears the bracelet from his wrist and throws it to the ground in a fit of rage. The eunuch grabs him by the scruff of his neck, knocking off his turban in the process. The sultan picks up the turban and gives it to you as a reward, saying "Perhaps this ruby will be of some use to you someday." He puts his arm around your shoulder, escorts you out of the palace, and thanks you once more before disappearing back inside. [Your score has just gone up by 30.] You emerge from the sultan's palace. Bazaar Baghdad's bazaar is a riot of noise and confusion. Brightly colored awnings spill over one another, covering stalls stuffed with carpets, oriental silks, cooking pots, spices, figs, knives, fruit and countless other merchandise. Merchants cry out in a never-ending chant beseeching passersby to sample their wares. Veiled women finger the goods, shake their heads, and walk on. Young boys playing tag run through the crowds and trip over the dogs, pigs, and goats that also run free. The wall of the sultan's palace forms the western end of the bazaar, and a road leaves town to the south. >s Selene Gate You are standing outside the walls of Baghdad in front of the massive Selene Gate. The gate is beautifully decorated with intricate designs that pilgrims come from all over the Middle East to see. >s Caravan Trail You are on a north-south road in the middle of nowhere. A caravan has stopped here to rest, as they have done since time immemorial. The travellers are ignoring you and their attitude suggests that you would be well advised to do the same. Up the hill to the east lies the entrance to a cave. >e Secluded Cave You are in an abandoned cave on a hillside halfway between the ruins of Babylon and the burgeoning metropolis of Baghdad. The wall of the cave seems to shimmer, and the only exit lies to t he west. >in You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the interkron. Interkron The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches. Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it. Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg. Timeset Rome 44." >ts rome 452 You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out... When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that you have travelled to Rome, in the year 452. >out Cloaca Maxima You step out into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is shimmering. >out Street The vast Roman empire is on the verge of collapse. Attila the Hun has set up a camp just outside the city, and the streets are deserted as the citizens of Rome cower in their houses praying for deliverance from the barbarian horde. This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus, and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an opening. >nw The Vatican You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom. The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into the city to the southeast and another goes off northeast towards Ravenna. >wait Time passes... You see a man come out of the Vatican. A passerby calls out,"Greetings, Pope Leo. And good luck on your holy mission." The pope looks at you for a moment and says, "Good day, my son. Have you come to accompany me on my embassy of peace to Attila the barbarian?" >yes "Good," he says. "Let's go." He strides off to the northeast along the road to Ravenna. >ne You walk alongside the holy man for some time. Soon the walls of the city fall behind you, and after several hours you finally come upon Attila's encampment. There, you are met by a Hun who says to your companion, "Hail, Leo. Leader of the Romans." Road to Ravenna You are standing at the edge of Attila the Hun's encampment. Tents crowd in upon each other, separated only by paths long since trampled into mud. Warriors with hideously deformed faces sit around spits of roasting meat, sharpening their knives, axes, and swords. The entrance to Attila's tent lies to the west, and the road back to Rome lies to the southwest. >w Attila's Tent Attila the Hun's tent is crammed with the treasure he has amassed in the course of conquering half of Europe. Other than that, it is completely devoid of furniture. The only way out is to the east. You hear the pope say to the man, "I am no leader, merely a shepherd of men. Please take me to Attila." The hun takes the pope by the arm and guides him into the tent. >wait Time passes... A stocky barbarian strides into the tent. He is unshaven and foul-smelling. "You are the priest called Leo, are you not?" Leo nods and says, "Yes, I am he. I have come to ask you not to invade my city." "Do you have money enough to make this worth my while?" "No." "Hah! and you are but one man. Do you think you have the strength to stop me?" "I have only the strength given me by God." Attila laughs. "I have heard of this god of yours. He does not impress me." The two of them lapse into silence. >light mask [Lighting the lighter first.] You light the fuse. The mask rises into the air, with sparks coming out of its eyes and smoke coming out of its ears. It hovers in midair for a moment, spinning and emitting a high-pitched scream. Then it suddenly disappears with a flash and a bang. While all this is happening, Attila backs up against one wall of the tent. When the mask finally disappears, he removes his bracelet and says to Leo, "Please see that this gets back to Honoria. I'm sure she'll understand." He leaves the tent and Leo turns to you and says, "Thank you, my son. I know not what manner of mechanical device that was, and claiming it as a miracle is probably sacrilegious, but you have the thanks of Rome anyway. I have not much I can offer you as a reward, but I can give you this ancient parchment from the Vatican library." He gives you the parchment and leaves you alone in the tent. [Your score has just gone up by 30.] >read parchment It's the original version of Plutarch's lives, written in the biographer's own handwriting. Suddenly, the bracelet begins to glow. Then it disappears. >e Road to Ravenna You are standing at the edge of Attila the Hun's encampment. Tents crowd in upon each other, separated only by paths long since trampled into mud. Warriors with hideously deformed faces sit around spits of roasting meat, sharpening their knives, axes, and swords. The entrance to Attila's tent lies to the west, and the road back to Rome lies to the southwest. >sw The Vatican You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom. The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into the city to the southeast and another goes off northeast towards Ravenna. >se Street This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus, and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an opening. >s Academy You are in a small park nestled in the heart of the city. It is unusually peaceful here, a rare island of tranquility that is sheltered from the noise and bustle of the busy metropolis. Set to one side is a comfortable-looking bench. An old man is sitting quietly on the bench. As soon as he sees you, the old man smiles and says, "Welcome." He gestures to a spot next to him on the bench, and says, "Won't you sit with me and discuss the philosophical issues of the day?" >sit You sit down on the bench. The old man looks delighted that you have joined him. He says, "Here at the academy we search for the truth. Those around us believe Augustine's teachings that beyond the world of the senses is another world, an eternal realm of truth that is occupied only by God. We are not so sure and perhaps - in time - we shall learn more." >Ask about academy "As long as there is at least one student each generation, the academy will remain open. For remember, it is only by passing on what he has learned that a man transcends his own death." >Ask about aristotle "He undoubtedly was brilliant, but it's hard to tell because his writing is so incredibly boring." >Ask about attila "I don't mind him claiming half the empire as a result of Honoria's actions. But owning something doesn't give you the right to destroy it." >Ask about augustine "His 'confessions' is an inspired work that will stir the soul of anyone who reads it." >Ask about bench "It is a good place to sit, to think, to teach, to listen, and to learn." >Ask about caesar "He was brilliant in his time. But that was long ago." >Ask about cleopatra "History tells us she was beautiful, but it must have been much more than beauty that enslaved the hearts of two successive rulers of Rome." >Ask about cloak "It is a symbol of academic learning. Those of us who wear it are dedicated to acquiring knowledge and passing it down to new generations." >Ask about epicurus "He believed that serenity was based on pleasure - which he defined as the absence of pain. Those who practice debauchery and gluttony in his name are perverting his gentle philosophy." >Ask about god "Some believe God exists. Some don't. It appears to be a matter of faith, rather than of reason." >Ask about himself "I am just an old philosopher." >Ask about honoria "She is a silly woman whose actions have brought calamity to our doorstep." >Ask about issues "I'm glad you could spare the time to sit and chat. People seem to be in such a hurry these days." >Ask about key "Whatever knowledge the key unlocks, endeavor to use it wisely." >Ask about log He gives you an odd look. "There hasn't been a log here for a thousand years." >Ask about me "Obviously, you are a man of action who has had many adventures. Even you, however, may one day find it within you to lead a more contemplative life." >Ask about plato "Plato is the man who once wrote, 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' He is the undisputed master. All of philosophy is little more than a footnote to his works." >Ask about pope innocent Pope Innocent III is too far away to talk to. >Ask about pope leo "He is the only man in Rome - possibly in Europe - capable of dealing with Attila." >Ask about religion "I think religion is a question of what one believes, rather than what one can prove. And I think that each man believes what he must, that he believes what he fears the least, that he believes that which will allow him to sleep at night. I also think religion has been the cause of so much bloodshed through history that one can only hope it has provided sufficient consolation to the faithful to atone for its own sins." >Ask about socrates "He once taught, 'There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.' For this he was judged too dangerous to live by the citizens of Athens." >Ask about time "Time will ultimately defeat each of us, for each of us must die. But together, mankind can defeat time. Each of us can study and learn, and each of us can pass on that learning. If we do so, perhaps mankind will eventually learn to control time itself. Otherwise, we are nothing." >Ask about time travel "Obviously such a thing is not possible." >stand You stand up. >n Street This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus, and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an opening. >in Cloaca Maxima You climb down into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is shimmering. >in You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the interkron. Interkron The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches. Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it. Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg. Timeset Rome 44." >Take stopper You remove the stopper from the bottle. [Your score has just gone up by 5.] >Take handkerchief You pull the hanky out of the bottle. >ts rome 800 You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out... When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that you have travelled to Rome, in the year 800. >out Cloaca Maxima You step out into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is shimmering. >out Street The glory that was Rome has faded somewhat, and the city is no longer the center of a vast empire. At this halfway point through the Dark Ages, the city itself seems dark and deserted. This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus, and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an opening. >nw The Vatican You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom. The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into the city to the southeast. >w Saint Peter's This is the great cathedral church dedicated to St. Peter, the first bishop of Rome. The shadows here are laden with incense and muted prayer. From a distant chapel, chanted devotions float on the air, echoing and swirling until they are lost in the vastness of the remote ceiling. You are standing before the high altar, built upon the tomb of the apostle himself. Exits lie to the north and east. Charlemagne is kneeling before the altar, waiting for his noon coronation ceremony to begin. Charlemagne is wearing a bracelet. >n Chapel You are in a small, nondescript chapel off the north aisle. The only exit is to the south. There is an altar here, with a golden crown perched upon it, and in front of the altar a priest kneels with his back to you, lost in prayer. >Put ether on handkerchief You pour the ether onto the handkerchief. It soaks into the fabric and gives off a sickly sweet smell. >Put damp hanky on priest You hold the handkerchief over the priest's nose and mouth. After a brief struggle, he succumbs. >take crown You take the crown from the altar. [Your score has just gone up by 5.] >s Saint Peter's This is the great cathedral church dedicated to St. Peter, the first bishop of Rome. The shadows here are laden with incense and muted prayer. From a distant chapel, chanted devotions float on the air, echoing and swirling until they are lost in the vastness of the remote ceiling. You are standing before the high altar, built upon the tomb of the apostle himself. Exits lie to the north and east. Charlemagne is kneeling before the altar, waiting for his noon coronation ceremony to begin. Charlemagne is wearing a bracelet. >e The Vatican You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom. The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into the city to the southeast. >se Street This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus, and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an opening. >in Cloaca Maxima You climb down into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is shimmering. >in You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the interkron. Interkron The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches. Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it. Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg. Timeset Rome 44." >ts cairo 1361 You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out... When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that you have travelled to Cairo, in the year 1361 B.C. >out Tomb You are in a tomb in Cairo's city of the dead. The air is stale and musty, nevertheless, there is a certain shimmer to it. >n Avenue of the Dead From the Mediterranean to the first cataract of the Nile, the kingdom of Egypt has already been united for almost two thousand years. The great pyramid at Giza is over a thousand years old, and the country is still reeling from the new r eligion embraced by Akhenaton and his queen, Nefertiti. You are standing outside an ancient tomb on the Avenue of the Dead. This precinct has already been a cemetery for thousands of years. Tombs, mausolea, monuments and memorials of every size and design stretch as far as the eye can see. There are some steps here that lead down into the tomb from which you emerged, and the road continues off to the west. >w The street runs west until it crosses a narrow part of the river. Then you pass through some ornate gates and find yourself in the compound outside the royal palace. Royal compound You are in the royal compound outside a magnificent palace. The great pyramid rises to the south, the entrance to the palace is to the west, a path leads downriver to the north, and a road leads back across the river to the east. >n You walk north along the river. Riverside You are on a sandy beach alongside the river Nile, just to the north of the royal compound. You see a boy and his sister playing at the water's edge, and upon closer examination, you realize the boy is the future King Tut. You see a cradle come floating down the river. It comes to rest just opposite where the children are playing. >e You wade into the water, scoop up the cradle, and return to the shore. Tut's sister peers inside the cradle and squeals, "Ooh! A baby! Can I hold him?" Tut gets a worried look on his face. "You know it's illegal to hide Israelite babies." The girl shakes her head and stomps her foot. "I don't care. Besides, we're royalty. We can do what we want." She tugs at your arm and says, "Can't I hold him? Pl-e-e-e-ase?" >give baby to girl The girl takes the baby from your arms and says, "We must take him home and take care of him." She rushes off towards the palace. The young boy grabs you by the hand and says, "Let's go." The two of you follow her back into the royal compound. [Your score has just gone up by 5.] Royal compound You are in the royal compound outside a magnificent palace. The great pyramid rises to the south, the entrance to the palace is to the west, a path leads downriver to the north, and a road leads back across the river to the east. The girl is holding a cradle. In the cradle you see a baby. >wait Time passes... Tut watches his sister disappear into the palace. Then he turns to you and says, "Playing with babies is for girls. I know. Let's play Pharaoh. I'll be the Pharaoh, and you have to bring me a gift worthy of a king." >give crown to boy Tut takes the crown and looks it over. "It's not as good as the one I'll get when I'm king, but it's still a nice one." He looks at it again. "I know. Let's play a game with it." He leaps to his feet and disappears into the pyramid. Sometime later he emerges and hands you a freshly drawn map. Then he hears his mother calling and he disappears inside the palace. [Your score has just gone up by 5.] >e You cross back over the river. Avenue of the Dead You are standing outside an ancient tomb on the Avenue of the Dead. This precinct has already been a cemetery for thousands of years. Tombs, mausolea, monuments and memorials of every size and design stretch as far as the eye can see. There are some steps here that lead down into the tomb from which you emerged, and the road continues off to the west. >s Tomb You are in a tomb in Cairo's city of the dead. The air is stale and musty, nevertheless, there is a certain shimmer to it. >in You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the interkron. Interkron The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches. Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it. Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg. Timeset Rome 44." >ts cairo 1215 You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out... When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that you have travelled to Cairo, in the year 1215. >out Tomb You are in a tomb in Cairo's city of the dead. The air is stale and musty, nevertheless, there is a certain shimmer to it. >n Avenue of the Dead When the Pope calls for yet another Holy War to re-claim Palestine from the infidel, the Crusaders decide to invade Egypt and then march overland to Jerusalem. In defense, the Caliph in Baghdad has ordered his subjects in Egypt to strip the great pyramid of its protective casing stones and to use them to build fortifications. You are standing outside an ancient tomb on the Avenue of the Dead. This precinct has already been a cemetery for thousands of years. Tombs, mausolea, monuments and memorials of every size and design stretch as far as the eye can see. There are some steps here that lead down into the tomb from which you emerged, and the road continues off to the west. >w The street runs west until it crosses a narrow part of the river. Royal compound You are in the royal compound outside the ruins of a magnificent palace. The great pyramid rises to the south, a path leads downriver to the north, and a road leads back across the river to the east. >s You scramble up the crumbling wall and enter the pyramid. Descending passage You are in a dark passage within the pyramid. You see a dim light above you to the north where the passage leaves the pyramid. Another passage leads down into the darkness. >s Pit You are in a pit at the bottom of the descending passage, in the very heart of the great pyramid. The descending passage leads up to the north. A decorative stone panel has been placed in the west wall. >push panel A portion of the wall slides open to reveal a hidden passageway to the west. >w You step beyond the opened wall into the hidden passage beyond. Hidden passageway You are in a small east-west passage. Set into the wall are five rectangular tiles, each inscribed with a pictograph of an animal. The creatures represented seem to be a cat, hawk, snake, scorpion, and crocodile. Further passage into the pyramid is blocked by a set of sharp blades that are revolving at a blinding speed. The floor just in front of the blades is darker than in other places - it appears to be a platform of some sort. You can leave the pyramid by returning to the east. [Your score has just gone up by 10.] >look at map The map is a sketch of the interior of the pyramid. It shows a descending passage that ends in a pit, with a corridor leading west from the pit. In that corridor Tut has drawn pictures of various animals, with a line that connects them in the following order: hawk, cat, scorpion, crocodile, snake. At the end of the corridor is a bridge across a chasm, and on the other side is a quite recognizable sketch of Tut's amulet. In the final room, he has drawn another picture - a very realistic drawing of Charlemagne's crown. **** YOU SHOULD PRESS THE TILES IN THE ORDER LISTED IN THE MAP ****