>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
